Building the Strongest Undead Empire from Scratch

Chapter 291: The Dark Forest is yours now

"I see," Alex replied, nodding in understanding.

Edgar turned his gaze towards the horizon, as if gathering his thoughts. "Now, let me tell you about the eras of this world..."

Every millennium, coinciding with the arrival of a new batch of Lords, was marked as an era. It was initially a term used amongst Lords, but somehow, it had spread to the local forces and eventually became a universally recognized system of timekeeping.

Each era represented the reign of a particular race, a testament to their overwhelming power. Eras were named after these dominant races – Angel Era, Sea God Era, Dragon God Era, Human Supreme Era, Demon Era, and so on.

As for the time before, when Astralon was still a primordial void, the Lords referred to it as the First Lord Era. The local forces, however, refused to acknowledge this, simply calling it the First Era.

No one knew for sure how many eras had passed. Perhaps only the gods held that knowledge.

The transition between eras occurred a century after the arrival of new Lords, giving them time to establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with. However, as the local forces grew stronger, this grace period would only shrink further.

The seven continents were currently mired in chaos, with no single race holding absolute dominance. Hence, the present era was known as the Chaotic Era.

It was now the 901st year of the Chaotic Era, marking the first year since Alex and her cohort had arrived.

If Edgar hadn't mentioned it, Alex would have remained oblivious. She hadn't bothered reading the books from the conquered dwarf kingdom. However, as an intelligent race, their records undoubtedly contained this history.

It explained why races like dwarves and orcs were so much weaker than humans. Their ancestors simply weren't as formidable.

Furthermore, if humans were indeed a blend of multiple Lord troops, it would explain the Holy Court's close ties to angels, a relationship potentially forged over several eras.

Ultimately, Alex believed that human dominance stemmed from the influence of those ancient Lords.

This naturally created an inherent animosity between Lords and the native powers. While smaller races might not care much for the arrival of new Lords, the rulers of powerful factions viewed them with open hostility, eager to eliminate the threat they posed. They feared the potential disruption to Astralon's power balance.

As for the humans' ambiguous stance towards Lords, Alex suspected they were biding their time, waiting to assimilate them and bolster their own strength. After all, Lords were fundamentally human. What difference would there be after a century of assimilation?

This realization unlocked a cascade of other mysteries for Alex. Even Eldrin's kindness towards her made sense now. It wasn't just because he was a friend of the previous undead lord. He was extending an olive branch on behalf of humanity.

The rise of the undead lord was inevitable. By fostering a connection now, Eldrin ensured that even if Alex didn't become an ally, she wouldn't become an enemy. As a friend of the previous undead lord, Eldrin was privy to information about Lords that most weren't.

Edgar's revelations had been a treasure trove of knowledge, illuminating the hidden workings of this world.

"So, every powerful Lord who rises in an era establishes their troops as a dominant force?" Alex asked, wanting to confirm her understanding.

"Indeed," Edgar affirmed. "The oldest among them are the dragons, while the youngest are the angels. The era preceding the Chaotic Era was the Angel Era."

It didn't take a genius to figure out why the Angel Era had fallen. Arrogance and greed were a potent combination for self-destruction. The angels were already at odds with demons, and their actions against the dragons and humans hadn't helped their case.

"By the way," Alex interjected, another question bubbling to the surface. "What's the deal with forbidden-level magic?" Edgar's words had hinted at something deeper, and she wanted to be sure.

"Forbidden-level magic?" Edgar mused. "Normally, high-level is the pinnacle for ordinary magic. Unless you have a unique understanding of a particular spell, advancing it to forbidden-level is nigh impossible. Even the system can't help you with that."

"So, it requires personal enlightenment?"

"Precisely."

Their conversation continued for a while longer, with Edgar patiently answering every question Alex threw at him. While this information might have been common knowledge to him, it was invaluable to Alex.

Edgar, too, held a sliver of hope that Alex, as the current frontrunner among Lords, might one day reshape Astralon's destiny.

As dusk settled around them, their conversation drew to a close. Edgar had shared all he could.

He stood up and extended his hand, three Race Tears materializing in his palm. "Take these. The Dark Forest is yours now."

"Race Tears?" Alex exclaimed, surprised by the unexpected gift. These were likely from the three races residing within the Dark Forest.

Edgar chuckled, seeing right through her. She already had the ability to establish a kingdom but hadn't done so yet. Clearly, her goal was an empire, and for that, she needed these Race Tears.

"You're giving me the Dark Forest?" Alex asked, her voice laced with disbelief as she accepted the Race Tears, her mind already racing with possibilities.

"The threat of the Source of Fear is gone, and I'm free," Edgar replied, a youthful energy returning to his voice. "Three hundred years I spent trapped in this place. My strength has waned. It's time I moved on."

"The spatial barrier surrounding this place is forbidden-level. Those below Emperor level can't break it. You can move your city here. It'll serve as your shield, ensuring your city's safety." Edgar had even considered the security risk posed by the Templar Knights' discovery.

Few knew the true nature of the Dark Forest's forbidden areas. It was why the previous undead lord had chosen this location for the sealing. Security wouldn't be an issue. With countless forbidden areas scattered across Eldoria, the major factions wouldn't waste resources on a place of no consequence to them.

"Where will you go?" Alex asked, her curiosity piqued. "Will you seek revenge for him?"

Edgar let out a dry chuckle. "I'm no match for that. If a genius like him couldn't succeed, what hope do I have? I've repaid my debt by sealing the Source of Fear for three centuries. I won't throw my life away for a dead man."

He pulled out a weathered piece of parchment and handed it to Alex. "I'm going to uncover the truth of this world. Why we're here, what our existence means. Take this. It will reveal certain information when the time is right."

Alex accepted the parchment, her mind buzzing with questions, and tucked it away in her spatial ring.

"I initially sought your help solely for the sealing," Edgar admitted, his gaze softening. "But seeing your talent...I believe you can stand above all else, ushering in the Undead Era."

His words were heavy with meaning, a passing of the torch. With a flick of his wrist, several spatial blades shot out, shearing away his unruly hair and beard. He straightened his back, a newfound determination in his eyes.

"Brak! Brok!" he boomed.

Two hulking trolls materialized before Alex.

"This is your new leader," Edgar announced, his voice firm. "I'm leaving. Guard this forest well."

The trolls, as if anticipating his departure, remained silent, their eyes filled with unspoken farewell.

Alex turned to Edgar, her expression a mixture of awe and a newfound sense of responsibility. Would she one day guide those who came after her, just like he had?

Edgar's form began to shimmer, fading into transparency. He offered Alex one last smile before vanishing completely.

No one knew where he went, but perhaps that was the true meaning of freedom.

"The leader said you're our new leader now," Brok rumbled, looking down at Alex with a surprisingly gentle expression. "But I gotta say, if the old leader ever comes back, he's still our leader."

"Sure, sure," Alex replied. "What do you guys usually do around here?"

"Eat, sleep, bash heads of anyone who enters uninvited," Brok answered matter-of-factly.

"Right. Well, carry on then. Just like always."

The trolls, looking slightly confused, lumbered off, following Alex's instructions.

Looking up at the sky, now blanketed by the darkness of night, Alex vanished, making her way back to Undead City. She wasn't sure if relocating the city would trigger any unforeseen consequences. It was best to wait until morning.

Back in Undead City, the palace was brightly lit.

Xiao Hui, Xiao Mu, and Sophie had been waiting anxiously in the main hall. A whole day had passed since Alex entered the Dark Forest, and her prolonged absence had filled them with worry.

"It's past eleven! Why isn't Miss Alex back yet?" Xiao Hui paced back and forth, unable to contain her anxiety.

"The undead in the city haven't moved. She must be fine. It seemed like she knew that person," Xiao Mu reasoned, stifling a yawn. He couldn't bear to watch his sister fret any longer. He pulled out a chair and gently guided her towards it.

"She's back!" Sophie announced, her voice laced with relief.

Xiao Hui and Xiao Mu immediately turned towards the entrance, just as Alex strolled in.

"Sorry to worry you all," she greeted them with a smile, settling down on a nearby chair. "But I have good news. That mysterious person in the Dark Forest was actually a Lord from the previous generation. I learned a lot from him."

Her words hung in the air, momentarily stunning her three companions into silence.

"Wait, did you just say...the previous generation?" Xiao Mu stammered, his eyes wide with disbelief. Sophie, too, stared at Alex, her expression mirroring her brother's astonishment.

"You heard right. There was another batch of Lords before us. He was one of the survivors," Alex reiterated, enjoying their gobsmacked expressions.

She proceeded to share some of the less sensitive information, like the history of Astralon and the theory about the Lords' origins. As for the undead lord and the sealing, that was a secret she would keep to herself for now.

Her companions listened with rapt attention, their minds struggling to process this deluge of information. It was like explaining calculus to toddlers.

"That's all ancient history," Alex said, waving her hand dismissively. "No need to dwell on it now. Besides, it's just a theory." Despite her words, she was convinced it was the truth.

"It's still mind-blowing," Sophie breathed, her mind still reeling. "To think that Astralon was shaped by Lords..."

"Hey, doesn't this mean the Dark Forest is our backyard now?" Xiao Hui interjected, her earlier anxiety forgotten. "And we got ourselves two King level bodyguards!" This was definitely a win. Their safety was practically guaranteed.

"Exactly," Alex agreed. "We'll move Undead City to the Dark Forest tomorrow morning. And another thing, from now on, whenever we conquer a new race, make sure to collect any books they might have." She was eager to learn more about this world. Knowledge, as always, was power.

"Yes, leader (big shot)!" they replied in unison.

It was almost midnight. They retired to their respective quarters, ready to rest.