How can glowing orbs of crimson light "stare" at you?

I'm not about to ask them how they're doing it, but I can tell they are.

"Why", perhaps, would be a better question. Or how they know where I am; I want to say they weren't looking at me when I climbed up here, but they weren't really looking anywhere- being eyeless and all.

'So, of course, it's "magic".' I decide in frustration.

I move horizontally along the wall and the mostly rotten heads turn to follow me. If I go lower the closest ones reach towards me. They're not really putting any effort to get to me, but I'm sure they'd try to grab me if I got close enough.

Their passive behavior is such a contradiction to every zombie movie I've watched. The fact they didn't move during the "daylight" would make more sense if they were ravenous now, but this?

I take a moment to stare at a random zombie and activate Identify, hoping it will provide some insight

Cursed Zombie: An Undead creature.

'Yea, that's what I should have expected.' I think flatly. 'But isn't calling it cursed redundant?'

Walking around the wall of the building I soon realize it's surrounded. 'No, more accurately: I'M surrounded.' I correct myself as I watch every head turn, following my movement. I'd probably be frightened by this situation if they weren't so… passive. 'This has to be the most peaceful zombie apocalypse ever.'

With nowhere else to go I move to an open 2nd story window, taking a peek in to make sure it's empty before going through.

This was definitely a rich person's house: a king size four post bed centered in a room bigger than my old living room, two large wardrobes, a dresser with mirror, and a mirror on a stand- or what's left of it. All this may not sound like much by modern standards, but for a place I imagine is a medieval world I doubt many commoners could afford to spare the excessive floor space.

I check the decrepit closets and cabinets, finding only cobwebs and dust. I pause in front of the mirror on the dresser: it's the first time I've gotten a good clear look at myself, and it may be the last– for this form at least. Once I realized I could get too big for certain forms I've been trying to pay more attention and I can tell I'm at my limit for this one: if I absorb any more mass I won't be able to compress my body down enough for this size.

'Not that I know where it goes, or how much I can put there.' I think, striking threatening poses in front of the mirror.

The reflection of the furniture behind me in the mirror causes me to pause with a realization that makes me want to smack myself in the forehead: 'I should be eating the furniture, shouldn't I?' I think, remembering the solid crates that were in the first room on the hill. 'Those would have been a perfect disguise: the medieval version of an Amazon shipping box.'

I climb off the dresser, my reflection in the mirror copying my actions a step behind.

Most of the furniture in the room is too big or falling apart to use, but I decide to swallow sections of the broken stand mirror, a small broken music box, and once detached and a quick form change the large mirror from the dresser.

I'm tempted to use the Living Armor form, but afraid it's slow gait and size may work against me if there's more zombies in the building. Instead I return to the Iron Spider form, climbing up the wall and exiting onto the roof of a hallway.

The hall is lined with paintings, most heavily damaged or peeling. I'm rather surprised they're still on the wall all things considered. The other three doors nearby lead to similar rooms as the first, but have no salvageable furniture in them.

The hallway ends near a landing for imperial staircases, the twin stairs curving along the walls to the floor below.

Looking down through the broken banisters I see the back side of the main doors, currently held shut with a large wood beam mounted across them. Just inside, laying strewn on the floor are several corpses. Unlike the ones outside these are neither standing nor have glowing red eye sockets. Just to be safe I tap an Inspect on one

Corpse: a corpse.

Seeking to look below I pass through the guardrails, attaching spidersilk to the first floors roof and slowly lower myself down.

I figure I could spot something if it were hiding behind the stairs, but find nothing there to back up my concerns. The first floor is around fifteen feet tall beneath the landing and as I near five feet down, the area fills with candle light.

I watch in surprise as the spent candles ignite, followed by them growing taller as the wax flows backwards as they reform. The chipped paint laying on the floor begins to float into the air, rejoining onto the walls as they piece themselves back together. Furniture falls in reverse as it repairs itself and the muted color of the room becomes vibrant.

The bodies become fresh and stand up to begin soundlessly pounding against the doors. They, clothing suggesting they're likely maids and butlers, begin silently arguing with each other, followed by failed attempts to remove the bar keeping it shut.

As they begin to walk backwards away from the doors, looks of fear and silent conversations shared as their steps echo beneath their weight, I realize this must have been their final moments– now strangely being played out in reverse.

As they begin to pass through an adjoining hallway I start to lower myself to keep them in view, debating if I should follow them, when something smacks against me, sending me spinning around my line, swinging like a pendulum in the air.

I desperately grasp at my line and climb higher, the world swirling as I try to get my bearings and gain sight of my attacker.

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

Looking around I see nothing but a clean, empty room.

The focus of eight eyes darts around from object to object. It takes a minute of spinning in place before I remember to check my notifications.

Warning: You have been attacked by a [Cursed Zombie].

Force damage has decreased your health by [One] point! [22/23]

(Infused Offense Unavailable)

My attention darts between the notification and the empty room. Or the not-so-empty room? I climb up my web and begin to wedge past the banister when the sound of footsteps echo from below before the stairs begin to groan under the weight of multiple creatures. I realize what I earlier thought were the sound of the servants, wasn't.

Or, perhaps not the ones I'm seeing?

I move back to my line and begin lowering myself again, and once I am about ten feet above the floor the sound of footsteps halts, turns around, and heads back to the first floor.

'... so they're invisible zombies?' I question, and after thinking it silly, realize it may actually be correct: I always imagine illusions adding things to a place, but who says it can't hide things too?

'That would have to be a more powerful spell, right? Does that mean the things I'm seeing have some meaning to it?'

Assuming that doesn't help with the situation; I would try to use fire on the invisible zombies, but the Core clock is still ticking and I cannot easily hold a fire crystal in this form while hanging around. 'So what else have I got to use?'

None of my forms are suited to fight an enemy I can't see. I've got some weapons in my Gut but I would need to switch back to my base form then return to the Living Armor form to use them, and I have no idea if I'd be able to get into a room without the chance of a zombie being there too. 'So, should I create a form to fight the zombies?'

It seems excessive, but as-is I'd be fighting blind and everything thus far isn't made for fighting against a group.

Looking around the first floor shows plenty of nice furniture, but nothing tall enough to be out of reach- let alone likely to still be solid beneath the illusion.

My focus moves to the stairs, and while I didn't see anything tall on the landing, my gaze pauses on the extremely large chandelier above. 'Considering it wasn't on the ground, I'm assuming it's still up there?'

Curious how they lit it I find steps in a support column leading up from the second story to the floor level of the third story and what appears to be a long pole with a candle on the end.

'Well, not using that. Another moment I wish I could shoot webbing like in comics, because I… wait, maybe I can? Might not be the same, but I can make it work.'

Even if it's thin making roughly twenty five feet of normal silk takes time, including letting your body rest to replenish its supply. While the sound of footsteps echo on the floor beneath me I take aim, firing an iron silk arrow into the chandelier. As the tip passes harmlessly through a visibly lit candle the line goes taunt as its length is reached, the arrow falling down to bring the sticky end of the silk line in contact with the chandelier.

Pulling it taut I attach it to the edge just past the banisters and slowly transfer my weight to the line before climbing up. I can't help but to smirk at the "game logic" of the zombies and scenario, triggering on the first floor right at ten feet and requiring me to contact the rail or landing to trigger on the second story. I'm not sure if they would have any way to get to me now, but the fact they don't automatically move higher when I do is amusing.

Once safely on the chandelier I spin a small web, then Disgorge the Earth crystal onto it and painfully use it to build a larger web with iron infused silk. With the preparation done I get comfortable while I focus.

'I can't trust what I'm seeing and will have to basically fight blind. So first requirement: stonebark or steel body for the natural armor.'

'Next, speed: I don't want to get overwhelmed, and since I don't know how many zombies are in here, I don't want to use a large slow form. That rules out both the Living Armor and Chest forms. If I get caught in a crowd like the one outside, I'll need some way to move besides walking. Hmm, put that on hold for now.'

'Weapons: I've got swords, an ax, ball and chain, daggers, and a bow.

I won't be able to swing a weapon in a crowd. Arrows won't be easy to aim either. Actually, I made the arm bow for the Stonebark Goblin Treant, so that takes care of the width. I don't want to rely on the earth crystal though, so what can I replace it with?'

My gaze wonders as I try to think of new weapon options: 'I could try to emulate a jackhammer setup and use spikes. While it would be great for close combat against heavily armored opponents, it would leave me open to being grabbed in a mob like the current concern. I'd also need to use metal, so the Goblin Treant form is out.

'I need to keep compact for safety, and anything extending from my body needs strength. Actually, extending a limb alone is dangerous in a crowd, so if I can avoid that altogether it would be best.'

My sight lands on the chandeliers chain and a new thought sparks to life. 'Cable: Steel cable. I can make iron thread now, if I can push it to make a Steel cable instead, I can use the Goblin Treants crossbow rig to fire daggers attached to cables. I can shoot the zombies and pull the dagger back to reload it. I can hit something solid like a wall and pull myself to it on the line. And I can make legs that fold against the body for safety and out of combat movement. Compact, quick way to move with less risk, and built in weapons. Yea, I think this'll work!'

With a bit of excitement I mentally reach into my Gut and Absorb a dagger and the double headed ax. I start by enlarging the buckler shield I absorbed before, bringing it to two and a half feet wide, then line the edge of the round shield with that of the ax blade: while I can make it reasonably sharp on my own, using a "source" as a template allows a much sharper edge.

Next I add a thickened dagger on top of the small half dome on the front center, then make a space the base of it can be pulled into to keep it upright. I add in poison and fire Infusions like the Squirrel Archer, then add in the Eels electric gland so I can send a shock through the line.

I incorporate the spiders thread ability and while in contact with the earth crystal, push the concept of steel cable into the design based on the Iron Spider. My intent solidifies, and I add a cavity after it to store the created thread inside.

I start to have trouble attempting to design a self winding spool and after getting a headache from the push back I have a flash of inspiration, recalling an article I read about an insect called "Issus coleoptratus" that has mechanical, toothed gears to control its legs. With several sets of these I combine it with a sheet of muscle on a "floating bone" the line attaches to so I'm able to manually, but quickly, wind the line back in while maintaining resistance so it can't be forcibly pulled back. Thanks to how thin the line is it all fits in a relatively compact space.

With the mechanics designed I copy the assembly to eight points along the edge, replacing the edge blade in the areas with the daggers extending out, allowing me to move in any direction along my edge, plus "forward" from my center.

Finishing it out I line the bottom of the shield with legs that I can fold against my body to make a flat surface with my mouth hidden under their tips in the center. I ditch the original leather straps from the design, but leave the attachment points so it looks like they could be added: you never know if I'll need to fool someone in the future.

With offense and defense covered I finish it off by adding a ring of eyes between the half sphere base of the daggers on top and another set to the bottom on my legs, giving me a near 360 degree view whenever I'm in the air. Finally satisfied I lock in the design and shift to my new form.