December 1st.
There’s only one month left until the next disaster appears.
Time has flown by quite quickly, but for now, the supply of badges is proceeding smoothly.
After the lecture, numerous users and guild masters started working on badge manufacturing, and the alliance has actively encouraged and supported the production of badges.
“Of course, the difference between black and white hasn’t narrowed.”
With their support, most users have made badges, and now, unless someone is entirely disinterested in the disaster, everyone is wearing one.
“I’m trying to aim for a ratio of about 7 to 3 as best as I can. It’s not easy, though.”
“No need to push yourself too hard. The important thing is just to make them.”
“Yes.”
In the conference room of the Headquarters of the Challenger Alliance.
Even at this moment, alliance-affiliated users are bustling about, and the alliance leader, Knight, nodded at my words.
A user who possesses the shield of the monster ‘Griffin’ that I sealed in the past.
Although he was attacked by the Grim Reaper in Teshiniria, he was comfortably ranked within the top 10 to 20.
“The leader’s role is also exceptional.”
The position of the alliance leader isn’t determined just by strength.
Wooooo…!
The mana screen in one corner of the conference room lit up.
“We originally planned to hold a formal meeting, but since everyone is busy, we will proceed in a more informal manner.”
“Okay.”
“First, please take a look at this.”
“…?”
“The world has warned us several times about the upcoming disasters. The light portals that have appeared here and there, the black and white badges, and the most recently discovered thing…”
Graaah…
It howls.
Or should I say it mourns?
A peculiar pair of corpse-like man and woman wandered the ground, emitting gloomy sounds.
A group of users approached them upon seeing them.
-What is that?
-It looks like a zombie monster?
-The dungeon’s already cleared… Well, they’re around level 90, so it should be an easy kill, right?
They were a relatively strong top-tier guild in the level 90 to 100 range and boldly charged at the corpse couple.
And then they all died.
“……”
No matter how much they stabbed with swords and spears, the corpses did not fall.
-Die! Just die!
-What kind of regeneration power is this…
Even using magic or abilities, they couldn’t burn the dead bodies.
The video ended with the hand of the corpse piercing the hearts of the users through all their attacks.
“These are zombies that can often be found during strong dungeons, field boss raids, and special quests. We casually call them Couple Zombies.”
“It’s a raid, and these are the couple zombies that we often encounter while doing special quests. We conveniently call them couple zombies.”
“Looks like they’re moving with magic.”
“I wanted to catch them myself if possible, but they were just too strong, and escaping was my only option.”
“Are you talking about the Knight?”
“Not just me, there are other alliance members. One of them is a mid-level 120, a well-known user.”
Being at mid-level 120 means they’re among the top users…
For someone like that to barely escape with their life means they have quite a bit of power.
“Must be the influence of the next disaster.”
“That’s right. The demon shown during the siege war seemed to be handling corpses.”
That couple zombie is an upper-class demon, a minion of the Silence of the Dead.
They have plenty of minions to spare, but from a user’s perspective, just those two are pretty threatening.
“Do you have any other videos?”
“We’ve received so many reports that there are a few more. Would you like to see them?”
“Yes.”
The Knight switched to a new video.
This time, zombies appeared in front of the guild after they had faced a massive field boss and were taking a break.
Even if they swarm in groups, should they be worried? But just two of them?
One of the guild members chuckled, shouldering his axe as he approached them.
And then his head flew off.
“……”
The startled guild members and the guild master grabbed their weapons and rushed in unison.
Indeed, they stood no chance.
They were all dead, and the video ended with the guild master getting his neck punctured by sharp claws.
The next video was similar, and the one after that followed the same pattern.
Though they were blurred out, the continuous slaughter furrowed the Knight’s brow.
“Ahem! I’m sorry.”
“…Huh? You don’t need to apologize. If anything, I asked to see it too eagerly.”
“Oh, no, we need to check what needs checking.”
“Hmm…”
“Did you figure something out?”
Well…
“I came across a couple of things, yeah?”
“What is it?”
“First, they possess murderous intent, but it’s neither predation nor infection. Usually, lower-tier undead seek the bodies of the living to expand their kind.”
As you can see from that strength, the tier of that couple zombie is pretty high.
The fact that they contain magic indicates a high soul’s rank and that they are receiving the powers of the Silence of the Dead quite well.
It’s a sign that one is well accepting the power of Silence.
That’s why they do not engage in unnecessary predation or infection.
“By observing their movements, they likely were quite remarkable individuals in life.”
“They didn’t seem much like corpses. At least, they understood military techniques and magic.”
“Yes. And secondly… if there’s good news, it’s indeed good news.”
“Good news… you say?”
A Couple Zombie with enough power that even top-tier users would have to flee.
“The level of undead coming afterward will likely be at most that level.”
“? Why is that?”
“Simply put, with the ‘user level’, those zombies are at their limit.”
No matter how strong the user, they cannot settle a score against those Couple Zombies.
Against someone as powerful as Leo or Yena, a Heavenly Horse, they might have a chance, but I can’t guarantee they’ll be able to kill them.
‘They are beings that move with magic.’
They cannot be killed unless you crush their souls.
“I don’t think they’ll summon such strong ones in droves. Otherwise, it would mean death for everyone.”
“That would be fortunate, but isn’t it a bit uncertain? During the Kraken event, much stronger bosses emerged than those previously encountered.”
“And I can feel a will.”
“?”
A will that only I, having encountered the Silence of the Dead and faced its power, can perceive.
From the movements and direction of strength of those zombies, I could deduce one thing.
“The demon that manipulates the dead always instills a special will into the most vital entity of the group. And that will is present in those Couple Zombies.”
“…Are those two the strongest entities?”
“Exactly. It means there won’t be anything stronger than those two.”
At my confirmation, the Knight appeared a bit relieved.
He must have thought it was hopeless if similar or even stronger ones came in groups, especially since they couldn’t do anything about the Couple Zombies.
He nodded and, even now, provided a suitable response to the alliance members reporting in, then turned his gaze.
“That is certainly a relief. If we can just manage those Couple Zombies, there’s a chance of victory. I think we need to significantly revise a few plans.”
“It might not necessarily be so.”
“?”
“Those two are indeed the strongest entities. The probability is very high.”
But ultimately, what is the ability of the Silence of the Dead?
‘The servitude of the dead.’
Their military strength is unmatched by anyone.
“Besides the Couple Zombies, hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of undead will pour in. And among them, there will surely be a few stronger entities.”
“They’re going to pour in. Among them, there will definitely be some strong entities too.”
“……”
“Of course, they won’t be as strong as the couple zombies, so capable users should be able to handle them. Users like mages who excel in multi-target battles should play a big role…”
“I’m already getting a headache.”
“We’ll do our best to hold them off. Don’t worry, I’ll take out the most.”
For the undead, holy power is a more toxic force than radiation.
No matter how much they rampage, just a single ray of holiness will send them soaring.
“I really hope that’s the case.”
“It won’t be too difficult.”
“First, I need to have a closer talk with the Master of the Magic Tower. If they’re coming in that much, we might need to adjust our plans a bit.”
The knight was pressing something in mid-air, sending messages to who knows where.
Then it was back to handling the incoming reports.
‘What a tough job I have.’
As the Alliance Leader, I was being tossed around left and right.
Of course, I would get some reward for it.
“The demons are a problem, but the angels, who provide little information, are a problem too.”
“Oh, that’s actually why I called you here today.”
“Huh?”
The knight placed a white jade on the long, semi-transparent table.
A faint sensation of holy power emanated from the jade.
I felt a bit uneasy from the unpleasant holy power, but I looked down at the jade with a nonchalant expression.
“I can feel the holy power.”
“About two days ago, we finally received contact from the Angel Guild.”
“The Angel Guild?”
The Angel Guild.
It is the number one guild in Deoen, comprised of the Seven Great Archangels led by Guild Master Michael, who fought alongside me in the Season 3 Siege War.
They had been hiding away for the past few months for a World Quest.
“Yes. They say they’ll participate in the disaster raid in a month. They said contact would come through this white jade.”
“…Did they send this?”
“Suddenly, it was here in the alliance. No one saw it.”
“……”
The return of the Angel Guild, which had gone missing, and a jade containing holy power…
“Sounds like a clear move from their ‘side.'”
“Of course, wouldn’t you think so?”
Given that their name is the Angel Guild.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.
