Building the Strongest Undead Empire from Scratch

Chapter 318: Maulclaw agreed to Ruby's request

Dozens of black teleportation arrays materialized around Alex, and in a heartbeat, Monarch level Reaper Guards poured out, their ghost forms a stark contrast to the vibrant forest. Their black, chained scythes shot forward, reaping tools of death given unholy life.

The Winged Bird sub-dragons, caught completely off guard, were easy prey. The scythes ripped through their ranks, Dark Corrosion clinging to the wounds, dragging their lifeless forms down towards the forest below.

As they fell, gray magic circles bloomed beneath them. Before gravity could claim them, undead clawed their way out, taking to the sky to join the fray.

The initial charge of the Winged Bird sub-dragons was utterly decimated in a single, brutal exchange, their bodies quickly turned into undead by Alex.

Drake watched, momentarily stunned. He'd almost forgotten about Alex's unique talent. Even alone, she was never truly outmatched. As an undead lord, she had an army at her beck and call.

The remaining Winged Bird sub-dragons, finally realizing the threat, scattered as their hidden leader let out a piercing shriek. From the shadows of the canopy, Monarch level Winged Birds launched themselves into the fray.

Alex's head snapped up. This time, she'd pinpointed the source of the call, the unmistakable sound of their leader.

With a flicker of movement, she vanished from Drake's back, diving towards a specific point within the dense foliage.

Drake watched as a fiery red ring exploded outwards, momentarily illuminating the night sky. The tops of dozens of ancient trees were sheared off, engulfed in flames.

The forest floor was instantly cleared, revealing the Winged Bird leader, exposed and vulnerable.

It beat its wings furiously, its gaze fixed on Alex, who stood calmly amidst the inferno, a massive, flame-wreathed scythe gripped tightly in her hand.

The Winged Bird sub-dragon resembled an oversized, featherless bird, about the size of a gargoyle, perhaps ten feet tall.

An icy aura emanated from the leader, prompting Alex's choice of fire magic.

Judging by its presence, it was a low-level King level, just like her. But Alex was confident in her abilities.

She lunged, her scythe a blazing arc of destruction.

The Winged Bird leader retaliated, flapping its wings to conjure a blizzard that instantly encased the surroundings in ice.

Even Alex's flames, though still burning brightly, began to sputter and shrink.

"Mid-level fire magic is starting to lose its edge," Alex thought, a hint of annoyance in her voice. She needed to step it up.

With a snap of her fingers, the orange flames turned black, their heat intensifying as they devoured the blizzard, leaving behind a trail of corrosive smoke.

For a split second, the Winged Bird leader's eyes glazed over. When its vision cleared, it was no longer staring at the familiar expanse of the primeval forest. Instead, it found itself teetering on the precipice of an endless abyss.

It reacted instinctively, trying to deploy its realm to counter Alex's attack.

But that was precisely what Alex had been waiting for.

Just as the Winged Bird leader's realm was about to pierce through the oppressive darkness, Alex unleashed her full power. The two realms collided, locked in a stalemate.

Then, a black blur flashed past the Winged Bird leader. It flinched, a cry escaping its throat as a searing pain ripped through its side. It whirled around, its eyes widening in horror as it saw a gaping fissure in its once-impenetrable realm.

Alex's scythe, imbued with the power to sever anything, including the realms of those within her power range. Its only limitation was the need for direct contact. The shockwaves from her swings didn't carry the same potency.

The Winged Bird leader reeled, fear gripping its heart. This girl, this seemingly harmless human-like creature, could shatter its realm!

It had been a setup, a carefully orchestrated trap to lure it into a vulnerable position.

With a desperate surge of power, it contracted its realm, pushing Alex back. It couldn't afford to retract it completely while still trapped within her domain.

Distance. It needed distance to regroup, to prevent another devastating attack.

But this was Alex's domain, her world. Even if it managed to create some space, where could it possibly run?

Carelessness. That was its downfall. Two King level combatants, facing each other head-on, wouldn't be caught off guard so easily.

It bolted, choosing a random direction, hoping to tear through the fabric of her realm and escape.

The surrounding darkness churned, coalescing into towering reapers, their scythes raised high, ready to strike.

While these manifestations of Alex's realm power posed a minor nuisance, they weren't the real threat. They were merely buying her time.

Within the Annihilation Realm, all her magic was amplified. And unlike her scythe's unique ability, her other spells, except for dark magic, were not bound by range.

Her left eye glowed with an icy blue light, a beacon in the oppressive darkness. In her right hand, the black-flamed scythe hummed with power, a grim reaper ready to claim another soul.

Outside the realm, Drake, witnessing the sudden disappearance of both Alex and the Winged Bird leader, didn't hesitate. He charged into the fray, his draconic might unleashed.

Waves of ochre dragon breath swept across the battlefield, petrifying everything in their path. The two Rock Dragons, unstoppable forces of nature, tore through the remaining sub-dragons, their jaws crushing bone and flesh.

The Winged Bird sub-dragons, their Monarch level champions outnumbered and outmatched, stood no chance.

One by one, they fell, their bodies vanishing into the depths of the green abyss below.

Then, Alex reappeared, the lifeless body of the headless Winged Bird leader floating beside her.

Panic seized the remaining sub-dragons. They scattered, desperate to escape the carnage.

But Alex wouldn't let them deny her the experience points.

Her Ice Domain expanded, engulfing the battlefield in a flash freeze, trapping the fleeing sub-dragons in their tracks.

Then, her Spatial Domain descended, a wave of invisible blades reaping a bloody harvest. Most of the remaining sub-dragons were obliterated in an instant.

She left the stragglers to her undead, their fate already sealed.

Drake stared at the sheer scale of Alex's domain, awestruck. Was this the true extent of a King level's power?

Alex, still hovering in mid-air, casually resurrected the Winged Bird leader as an undead, tossing the worthless corpse to one of the Rock Dragons, who swallowed it whole.

"To the Featherfolk battlefield," she commanded, addressing the King level undead.

"As you command, my queen."

As the undead vanished into the night, Drake landed beside Alex, a wry smile on his face.

"Should I have just let you handle this from the start?"

"Nah, the undead will help you. There are plenty of King level ones now. I'll be leaving Undead City soon.."

Drake's eyes widened in realization.

He had a feeling she was showing off, but he couldn't deny the truth in her words. She had earned the right to be confident.

As they spoke, the Death Spirit materialized beside them, swiftly possessing a nearby Death Knight.

"My queen, Maulclaw defied my orders. He's agreed to Ruby's request!"