Beneath the abandoned mausoleum was a complex system of tunnels. The cracks on the wall radiated purple light. Appendages of the undead stick through the floor. It tried to grab the adventurers and city guards, but they chop them off. Inattentive adventurers got startled by the squiggling limbs and spurting maggots. Whispers from the dead scatter through the tunnels. Thick miasma enveloped the air, choking weakened adventurers, city guards, and clergymen. Those who can’t further advance agreed to retreat back to the camp. It is better to reduce casualties rather than expend troops.

“Young master, our troops are reduced to one-third. It is unwise to proceed further.”

“Don’t worry too much, Solus. Our brave troops can survive. Besides, we are already deep down in the mausoleum. We are close to our goal.”

“How are you certain?” Corbin wondered with Randor’s optimism.

“We, the templars, can detect heretics. This one is quite sneaky.” Brindles concentrated on the adventurers’ backs. His ability to detect evil was quite weaker than before.

“We’ve been walking in circles. Are you sure this is the right way?” Rez scratched his head while minding off the headache.

“Yeah, it’s quite wearing me out.” Milas felt dragging herself with the prolonged walking.

“You all have a valid point. Why don’t we set up another altar here?” Calma suggested since they haven’t reached their destination.

“We don’t have much time. The necromancer might escape if we linger more in the tunnels.”

“Young master, Calma is right. I suggest taking a rest with the others. We shall inform you if we find something suspicious.”

Solus took a handful of adventurers, city guards, and clergymen to join him. Brindles insisted on joining Solus’s group. They continued to descend through the tunnels while leaving trails of blessed salt. The salt came from the Church of Solne, used for purifying unholy places.

The remaining clergymen built another altar. The divine insignia of Solne illuminated the surroundings. Unlike earlier, everybody felt relieved by the altar’s divine presence. Rez, however, stayed away from the altar. Both the divine and unholy presence made him weak.

“You okay?” Corbin assisted his companion.

“I just need a huff.” Rez lit up his medicinal herb and inhaled deeply.

“Just don’t overdo it. You might choke up.” Milas gave worrying advice to Rez.

While the rest are regaining their strength, Calma meditated and conjured a holy aura. He cleansed the vicinity of unholy energies. He attempted to use the templar’s ability to detect evil. His inexperience as a cleric made him sweat profusely while draining his stamina. As the young cleric meditated, the unholy atmosphere slowly dissipated.

“My head feels clearer now.” Millas felt invigorated again.

“Brother Calma, should we follow Father Brindles below?” A clergyman asked the young cleric.

“Give me a moment. I’m nearly close to finding the necromancer.”

“While you do your job, I’ll follow Solus down the tunnels. You three, take good care of the cleric.” Randor eagerly moved out with the rest of the adventurers and clergymen. They carefully followed the salt trail so that they never get lost.

“My intuition tells me to take the other route.” After hours passed by, Calma ended his meditation and got a glimpse of a divine vision where the necromancer was hiding.

“Are you sure? We might get separated from the others.” Milas questioned Calma since her initial idea was to follow the salt trail.

“I’m ready to move with you.” Rez emptied his medicinal herb and stomped it.

“Take the lead.” Corbin trusted Calma despite his inexperience. Any kind of intuition in their situation would suffice.

“Thank you for waiting for me. I’ll do my best.” Calma bent his right knee to the ground and whispered a prayer at the temporary altar. He took Corbin, Milas, and Rez to their destination.

Back at Capital City, the undead were still ravaging in waves. The combined forces of Arche’s allies were slowly weakening. The prolonged battle was exhausting for everybody fighting the undead.

“Captain, you look too worried.” A city guard noticed Fuji looking very anxious.

“I think the adventurer’s lodge is not holding well. They only got the eastern priestess repelling the undead. I better check them out.”

“We shall hold off the undead in the meantime. We will wait for your return.”

“Make way for the captain!”

The Jagganatha military force escorted Fuji back to the adventurer's lodge. They rode their armored equidae towards their destination. Upon arrival, he noticed the massive destruction. The undead were feasting on the citizens who guarded the first floor. Above the stairway was a magical barrier protecting the remaining maids.

“Thank goodness you arrived. I gave my best, but the undead managed to enter the adventurer’s lodge..” Nia sadly explained the situation.

“No need to feel down. I shall avenge them.” Fuji replied to Nia.

Fuji and the Jagganatha military forces chopped down the undead. They repelled them away from the adventurer’s lodge until the entire floor got cleared. Fuji carefully removed the victims’ corpses and wrapped them with tablecloths. He whispered a short prayer to the dead.

“Thank you for escorting me. Let me protect this place. You must return to your previous posts and let’s communicate through the hunting avian.”

The Jagganatha military force saluted at Fuji. They left immediately for the city's central district.

“Nia, call the remaining maids. Fortify the doors and windows. I’ll slay any approaching undead outside.”

“How about you? There are undead remaining. You can’t handle them by yourself.”

“I’ve fought situations worse than this. I’ll protect everybody here.”

“May victory be on your side.” Nia reached beyond the magical barrier. She gave Fuji a magical enchantment. He got slightly invigorated and stronger than before.

The four adventurers traversed the separate tunnel. Calma brightened up their way using divine magecraft. At first, the tunnel looked longer and more rugged than what Randor took earlier. The alternate tunnel was cramped, damp, and dim. There are no signs of both the living and the dead.

“Trekking this tunnel feels very familiar,” Milas remembered their first adventure back from the ruins of Florescent Woods.

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“You mean nostalgic?” Rez suggested the proper term for a memorable event in the near past.

“Have you ever explored a ruin or dungeon before?” Calma inquired about the adventurer's experience.

“We found one in Florescent Woods. It was corrupted by evil.” Corbin clearly remembered the incident.

“Oh, the ruins that Prince Randor ventured many moons ago? Everybody was talking about it.”

“Where did you get that gossip? We fought the corruption there!” Milas was dumbfounded by Calma’s story.

“The prince told himself. He even brought a trophy from his exploits.”

“I never imagined he’s a pretty little liar.” Rez sighed in dismay. He may be a pathological liar, but he never imagines that Randor would do such things for fame or glory.

“Doesn’t matter. What’s important is Florescent Woods is safe.” Corbin never cared if the citizens believed in Randor, or if they got recognized for saving Florescent Woods.

“The truth would eventually surface someday. I hope the prince knows what he’s doing.” Calma reluctantly believed whether the adventurers or Randor were saying the truth.

After their momentary conversation, they noticed that the tunnel changed. The tunnel began to resemble more of a newly-polished dungeon rather than a mausoleum. The rugged tunnel walls blended with a fortified structure. Pillars, stones, and unholy carvings make up the hallway. The path looked pristine but sinister. They can feel that somebody was already waiting for them. The presence dragged them away from venturing into the other rooms. At the end of the dungeon’s hallway, Corbin and Calma pushed an iron door, revealing a gaudy throne room.

Arriving at the throne room, the four saw Brindles, Randor, and Solus surrounded by armored skeletons. The skeletons pointed their weapons at them. The other adventurers, city guards, and clergymen were weakened, incapacitated, or unconscious. Beyond the throne was a portal leading to Capital City.

“Hey look! I think those are the missing citizens. But something's not right.” Milas noticed that the missing citizens were chained to the walls. They looked more pale and sick than ever.

“They are in the process of turning undead. We better hurry up!” Calma tried to rush forward but Corbin prevented him by grabbing his arm.

“Don’t be reckless. Think first.”

“I know Corbin, I can’t stand here and do nothing.”

Packs of walking corpses suddenly appeared at the sides of the throne room. They have rusty armors, gladius, and glaives.

“Well, well, well. Here comes the meddling Arche mercenaries. Looks like somebody has figured out my bait.” A gangly figure with a staff proceeded to sit on the throne. He barely has hair remaining on his head. His blackened pupils contrasted with his glowing purple irises. He wore a formal purple and red cloak. His wooden staff has an embedded skull, glowing in purple light.

“Release them immediately!” Corbin demanded the necromancer, pointing his sword towards him.

“That’s not how to praise a genius!” The skull at the necromancer’s staff began to shake and cackle.

“What do you want, you stinky jester?” Milas pointed her fist toward the necromancer.

“Where are your manners? Didn’t your parents teach you anything? Call me Master Milders!”

“Drat, we actually bit the necromancer’s trap. The path we took was bait for us.” Randor leaned back at Brindles and Solus. The three were trapped by the skeletons surrounding them.

“We’ve been too rash on deciding. Apologies for my hindsight, young master.”

“Not only our companions are incapacitated, but the tunnels also sapped our strength as well.” Brindles looked more exasperated than ever.

Milders glanced at Rez, who begins loading up his firearms.

“You there Infernal, I suggest you come with me. You will gain nothing from them. Avenge your kin from those murderers. Imagine the years of being hunted down by everybody. Now it’s the time to liberate yourself!”

“Sorry, but I’m already paid handsomely. It’s time to end your madness.”

“Okay sir necromancer, why invade Arche?” Calma confronted Milders. He prepared to unleash divine magecraft against the necromancer.

“My cause is simple, you little cleric. I wish to establish the seventh civilization under my influence!”

“What do you expect from a filthy necromancer?” Brindles mocked him and a skeleton kicked his stomach.

“Silence old dwarf! What do you know about a genius?”

“Necromancy is one of the forbidden knowledge in Aeon Frigg. The Magi’s Collective forbids anyone to master it due to its corruptive nature.” Randor remembered the lecture of one of his personal instructors.

“Nice observation, little prince. Unfortunately, you haven’t seen the full potential of the undead. They’re virtually immortal! They never question you or get tired! They obey their master blindly!”

“I sympathize with your foolishness.” Solus prepared to draw his firearm from his sleeves.

“I’ll demonstrate to you the might of the undead. See it for yourselves!” Milders showed the portal towards Arche. Waves of undead coming from the dungeon cellar entered the portal. Beyond the portal was Capital City’s central district overflowing with the undead. They completely overwhelmed the allies of Arche with their sheer numbers.

“A portal? How did you reach Capital City without getting caught?” Milas was still confused.

“Excellent question, little lady. Little did you know that the Capital City of Arche used to bring the dead through trenches. After the fourth civilization, Arche decided to abandon the trenches and haphazardly covered them up with soil. It was easy for my undead thralls to dig toward the city center. And by leaving their tainted blood in the city, it’s easier for me to conjure a portal.”

“You already have the trenches. Why bother setting up a portal?” Randor questioned the mad necromancer.

“As you can see, it is easier to bring hordes of undead from the mausoleum. Besides, this fertile ground has a plentiful supply of the dead. With my portal, I can also capture citizens and turn them into ghouls. It was easy for my skeletons to capture those foolish citizens. You imbeciles have abandoned this place out of silly superstitions.”

“You better not desecrate the departed! The mausoleum is built to honor those who have gone before us!” Calma removed his cleric garb and grabs a divine tome from his back. He has been carrying a tome that Brindles gifted him after their sparring.

“Try to defy me and your companions shall die. I will also turn the others into my thralls!”

“Not if we try stopping you!” Using his last bit of strength, Brindles impaled his staff to the ground. The staff released a divine shockwave, knocking down the skeletons. He enchanted his fists with divine magecraft, preparing to strike.

“Begone fiend!” Randor charged toward Milders via a surprise attack. Leaving behind Solus and Brindles, he went towards the necromancer who escaped from the throne. Milders strode to the back of the throne, opening a secret passage.

“My thralls, protect your master!” From the throne room’s backdoor, the necromancer called three flesh golems. Unlike the war golems in Jagganatha, their bodies were composed of assorted body parts. They even wielded rare anti-magecraft armor.

“Pull back, young master, you can’t handle them alone!” Solus ran towards Randor who got surrounded by the flesh golems. He shot the flesh golem with his firearms. Despite Solus’s warning, Randor proceeded to chase down Milders. He evaded the swipes and punches of the flesh golems.

“We handle the golems, you save them!” Corbin ordered Calma to save the citizens and their allies.

Before Calma could approach the chained citizens, the ghouls blocked his way. They shouted at him for intimidation.

“May the souls of the damned and suffering find eternal peace.” Calma projected a divine mace from his right hand. He smote the group of walking corpses by growing his mace, crushing them in the process. He transforms the mace into spears, firing at the chains binding the citizens.

“Way to go kid!” Brindles exclaimed while pulverizing some of the skeletons with his fists.

“Take this!” Milas leaped and swung her gauntlet to one of the flesh golems. Her lunge managed to topple down the tall flesh golem.

While Brindles got busy handling the armored skeletons, one of the walking corpses attempted to stab his back.

“Out of my way!” Rez lunged forward and kicked the armored skeleton.

“What’s that for?” Brindles was about to hit Rez who almost landed his fist.

“I’m trying to save your arse, old dwarf!”

“Will you stop interrupting me? I already anticipated that attack!”

“I make a proposal this time, I watch your back, you watch mine.”

“Fine then, don’t block my way.”

Using their ranged attacks, Rez gunned down the skeletons and Brindles fired divine bolts.

Corbin faced two flesh golems who attacked in coordination. Every time he swung his sword, one of the flesh golems interrupted him with jabs. Their flabby, leathery flesh was too tough for Corbin’s new sword to cut them in pieces.

Milders entered the portal to Capital City but Randor followed him. The two arrived at the city’s central district. Chasing at the rooftops, they dueled as their weapons clashed. Randor was surprised that the necromancer was very dexterous. He thought at first that Milders only specialized in necromancy.

At the adventurer’s lodge, Fuji fended off the undead. Some of them lunged at him, but Fuji made a slashing stance. He slid his feet and winded up his sword. A few split seconds later, he released an afterimage of lightning-fast slashes, slicing the charging undead. It was not a magecraft but rather a fabled swordsmanship. Many swordsmen and fencers attempted to master the afterimage technique. Unfortunately, only a few managed to conjure one. Some of the maids observed the captain’s swordsmanship, admiring him. Nia witnessed an extraordinary talent from a prodigy for the first time.

The Jagganatha military force, elven soldiers, goblin troopers, forest shaman and forest militia were pushed away from the city’s center. They have also lost large numbers of warriors.

“Keep pushing forward!” The city guards rallied up their allies, urging them to never surrender. As the allied forces made their way to the city center, another portal appeared. The necromancer finally emerged to the rooftops while avoiding the prince.

“After him, he’s the necromancer!” Randor leaped across the rooftops and followed Milders.