Building the Strongest Undead Empire from Scratch

Chapter 309: Unified the Arctic Tigerfolk

The crimson moon hung high overhead, bathing the Far North in an eerie red light. It was midnight.

Most of the tribe was asleep, and only the gentle lapping of waves against the shore of the northern coastline disturbed the peaceful silence.

But at the heart of the Far North, in the Arctic Tigerfolk territory, the seven mountain peak cities blazed with light, their fires casting a warm glow across the vast, icy expanse.

At the center, the queen's palace, the previously destroyed iceberg had been restored. Upon their return, Alex, Ruby, and the other Arctic Tigerfolk had immediately set about repairing it with their frost magic.

Reconstructing an iceberg was a simple task for four King levels working together. The underground chamber where Ruby had slept was filled in, and the iceberg was restored to its former glory.

Finally, Alex and Ruby reinforced it with spatial magic, making it virtually indestructible.

Meanwhile, Maulclaw and Shadowfang had been busy. Upon returning to the tribe's territory, they quickly summoned the Monarchs from their respective camps, instructing them to gather the entire Arctic Tigerfolk at the foot of the iceberg.

Soon, a massive crowd of Arctic Tigerfolk had assembled, surrounding the iceberg. They were unaware of the reason for this sudden summons, assuming it was another late-night meeting to discuss tribal matters or strategies against other races.

Maulclaw and Shadowfang hovered above, observing the gathering. Once everyone had arrived, Maulclaw descended, landing in the center of the crowd.

The Arctic Tigerfolk stared at the elder, who rarely made public appearances, wondering what announcement it was about to make.

"We have gathered you all here tonight for a very important announcement."

Maulclaw's voice boomed across the crowd, silencing the murmurs. It continued,

"Three hundred and seventy-two years ago, our queen perished, and the royal bloodline was thought to be extinguished. To prevent internal strife, the seven camps decided to rule the tribe jointly, forming the Elder Council.

But as time passed, the flaws of the Elder Council became apparent. Parasites emerged within the tribe, prioritizing their own interests over the tribe's well-being. They were selfish, corrupt, and formed factions.

They forgot the true purpose of strengthening and expanding the tribe, blinded by power. They betrayed the queen's legacy and are unworthy of their positions!"

Maulclaw's words were met with confusion. The Arctic Tigerfolk didn't understand why the elder was telling them a story.

To these Standard level beings, with their short lifespans, events from centuries ago were irrelevant.

"We have discovered that the queen's bloodline survives! Yet, these elders, clinging to their power, sought to eliminate the queen's only heir! They are guilty of treason!"

Maulclaw's declaration sent shockwaves through the crowd.

The queen's bloodline still existed!

The elders had tried to kill the queen's heir to maintain their grip on power!

To them, the queen from centuries ago was a legend, a symbol of their faith. Without her, the Arctic Tigerfolk wouldn't exist as they did today. They would still be wandering nomads.

Those who had heard rumors of these events finally understood the elders' recent actions and the reason for the tribe's mobilization.

"They are traitors! They betrayed the tribe! According to tribal law, they must be executed!"

Maulclaw's words stunned the Arctic Tigerfolk.

Executing elders? That was unthinkable!

But what happened next shocked them even more.

Thump! Thump!

Several heavy thuds echoed through the air, drawing their attention. They rushed forward, their eyes widening in horror.

The bodies of the elders lay before them!

Maulclaw wasn't joking. They had actually killed those elders!

Maulclaw, seeing their reaction, knew they were shaken by the elders' deaths. It continued,

"Today, I announce that the Arctic Tigerfolk will follow our new queen!"

Maulclaw and Shadowfang unleashed their King level auras, silencing the restless crowd.

They turned towards the palace, bowing respectfully.

"Let us welcome our new queen!"

Ruby, standing atop the palace, knew it was her cue. She stepped forward, walking on air, her aura flaring as she activated her bloodline power.

This was the most direct way to prove her royal lineage.

A giant white tiger phantom materialized behind her, roaring fiercely.

The soundless roar sent shivers down the spines of every Arctic Tigerfolk present.

This was a bloodline power far superior to their own. There was no doubt that the young girl in the sky was the queen's heir!

Maulclaw and Shadowfang's camps were the first to react, kneeling in unison, pledging their allegiance.

"Long live the queen!"

With the two largest camps declaring their loyalty, the smaller camps followed suit, their chieftains bowing before Ruby.

Three of the remaining five camps quickly joined them, two of them former neutral factions, the other sensing the shift in power and choosing to side with the winner.

The last two camps, facing immense pressure, reluctantly pledged their allegiance as well.

Maulclaw observed the scene, taking note of the hesitant chieftains. They were Bravetail's loyalists and would be dealt with later.

Ruby hovered in the air, glancing back at Alex, who stood outside the palace, a sweet smile on her face. Then, she turned to her subjects.

This day had finally arrived.

She had unified the Arctic Tigerfolk!

===

Three days had passed. It had been a week since Alex left Undead City.

She had spent her time exploring the Arctic Tigerfolk territory, reading their books, and investigating the Sea Folk situation along the coast.

Ruby, now queen, had many matters to attend to. Fortunately, Maulclaw, her loyal steward, handled most of the administrative tasks, easing her burden.

She consolidated her rule, purged dissenters from the camps, and formulated plans for the tribe's future.

Five of the seven camps, having lost their King level elders, were no longer at the top of the hierarchy. They were now on equal footing with the other camps.

Maulclaw and Shadowfang's camps became the largest, and to demonstrate their loyalty, they sent their elite warriors to serve in the palace atop the central iceberg.

The palace was being expanded, transforming into a city to accommodate them.

As for the seven vacant mountain peak cities, all Arctic Tigerfolk would have the opportunity to live there in the future.

The first thing Ruby did after becoming queen was to announce the abolition of previously unequal treatment, ensuring now that all Arctic Tigerfolk could enjoy the same treatment.

Alex was lounging in a room within the palace, her eyes closed, enjoying a nap.

It was time to fulfill her promise to Ruby. Undead City was running smoothly, and after much deliberation, Alex had decided to stay here for a while.

The Arctic Tigerfolk's library was surprisingly small, hardly befitting a race with centuries of history.

Perhaps they valued brute strength over intellectual pursuits.

The books chronicled the tribe's history and the surrounding regions of the Far North.

To Alex's surprise, there was no mention of the large island to the north.

She was intrigued by this mystery, but whether the island was real or just a legend remained to be seen.

The books also confirmed that the Far North was indeed on the edge of the Eldoria Continent, bordering the Endless Sea. The numerous islands and harsh environment had turned the coastal regions into a frozen wasteland.

Even the Sea Folk avoided this place, preferring the warmer depths of the ocean.

Yet, they had encountered Sea Folk just a few days ago. They had come ashore through tunnels dug in the ice.

These coastal Sea Folk were weak. They weren't true Sea Race. Even if they possessed valuable information, it would be useless.

"Why are the Sea Folk venturing onto land instead of staying in the ocean?"

Alex was puzzled, but it wasn't her concern. If the Sea Race were planning something, it would be the major land races that would bear the brunt of their actions.

The true Sea Race, it was said, were as powerful as the Angel Race, surpassing even demons and dragons. Humans were weaker than all of them.

Alex didn't believe such a powerful race would lack ambition.

The Angel Race was already making their intentions clear.

As for the Far North, its climate was harsh, with freezing temperatures year-round.

What lay beyond the Endless Sea, north of the Far North?

Was this world flat or round?

Perhaps she would have to travel to human lands or seek out a more knowledgeable race to find the answers.

But Alex wasn't just driven by curiosity. To survive in this world, she needed to understand it.

She hadn't been idle during these three days.

The Far North was two days' travel from Undead City, far beyond the range of her teleportation magic.

Unless she used a pre-constructed teleportation array, relying solely on her mana reserves would drain her completely.

Although she had successfully framed the human Mages' Association for the Beastman Empire incident, there was no guarantee they wouldn't investigate further.

As a precaution, after discussing it with Ruby, Alex had constructed an undead fortress to facilitate teleportation and provide support if needed.

Naturally, such a large structure had to be hidden.

The iceberg beneath her palace was the perfect location. She carved out a space within, reinforced it with spatial magic, and concealed the undead fortress inside.

Thanks to the sealing, the Arctic Tigerfolk couldn't see the fortress from outside.

Alex hadn't stationed any undead there. The fortress's sole purpose was to serve as a teleportation hub.

Just as Alex was about to doze off, the heavy wooden door creaked open.

Ruby entered, her face etched with exhaustion.

Alex straightened up, lowering her crossed legs, and opened her eyes, teasing,

"So, how does it feel to rule a tribe?"

"It's awful! It's so much work..."

Ruby groaned, clearly exhausted from the past few days.

"You can build a team, delegate tasks, and rely on Maulclaw and Shadowfang's advice. With those two elders, you don't have to worry about any unrest. Focus on the tribe's overall well-being, and you'll gain their trust and solidify your rule."

Alex offered her advice.

"But it's a long process. How long it takes depends on how much authority you command as queen."

Ruby's face fell. It would take a long time?

"Ugh, so I can't just go out and have fun..."

"Did you think ruling a tribe would be easy?"

If it weren't for her absolutely loyal undead, Alex would have to worry about consolidating her rule and preventing rebellions.

"Well, wait a few more days. I'll talk to Maulclaw, and then we can visit a human city together!"

Ruby's eyes lit up at the prospect of a trip. She was suddenly full of enthusiasm again.

Alex chuckled.

"Alright."