Book 2 Ch. 22

Drew stepped out of the sub-commander’s office, the middle-aged woman in fatigues following behind him. Three undead crows landed on his shoulder, and he gave them verbal commands in front of the woman for her benefit.

“Start a sweep, starting from here outwards. Look for signs of survivors, as well as any monsters. If you see anyone under attack, ping me. If you see anything that looks like a living shadow, follow it. Discreetly.”

“CAW!” They cried out, taking flight in three separate directions.

“What were they?” The woman asked, sounding unsure.

“Minions. I have an undead pet class, if that means anything to you.” He said, turning to her.

“Not really.” She sighed. “I really wish I had paid more attention to my grandson’s video games now.” She spoke quietly.

“Things will work out. Wait until my people get here, the city manager will come to you directly. I don’t recommend any cannons though, he may not be as forgiving as I am.” Drew said in all seriousness. It was true, he had no idea how forgiving Robert would be after so many changes in his new life.

“That depends on the General.” The woman sighed.

“I don’t know anything about military rules, but isn’t there something that allows for the replacement of someone incompetent?” Drew asked. The woman just looked at him like he’d grown a second head.

“It’s just a suggestion.” Drew shrugged. “With your training, and those underneath you, you’re effectively responsible for whoever is left alive of the hundred thousand people who lived in this city, along with all the surrounding areas. A leader who cannot or will not adapt to the situation, is not who people need in charge. I can’t be everywhere, and neither can my people. We’ll help who we can when possible, but for humanity to survive, we need folks like you.” Drew said, looking her in the eyes. His words seemed like they aged her even further, but she only nodded.

“Right then, I’ll be off. Keep an eye out for Robert, my manager. He should be here within a day, and remember… no funny business. I take the lives of my people very seriously.” Drew added, leaving her with a warning. It was a simple warning. Fuck around and find out. He liked her, as far as leaders went, she seemed like she had a good head on her shoulders. But if that General was left in charge, Drew could see issues popping up.

Not that Drew hated the man or anything, he obviously did what he felt was right by responding to what he viewed as a threat. It’s just… he was kinda an idiot.

Drew left the base and began searching nearby homes and businesses for signs of life. He likely wouldn’t find anything so close to the base, but it was worth double-checking regardless. In the meantime, he took direct control of one of his crows he’d left with Robert. C Grade offered massive advantages to Drew as a necromancer, the range of his control was far, far higher than what it had been when he was in E Grade.

Robert had been waiting for his report, and was already mobilizing both the Goblin and Dark Elf allies, as well as Sanctuary’s minions, soulflames, and citizens for search and rescue and monster elimination efforts. It would be at least a day, and most likely a day and half until everyone arrived, they were limited by being in E Grade still. Robert would likely arrive much quicker, as would Amber and Freya if they were available. Spock was remaining behind for defense.

Drew decided to search the northern parts of Wichita Falls first, as it was the area closest to the Air Force base, and also the most rural. He left the base heading west on Reily Rd and began looking for monsters and people.

Being so close to the base, many of the homes were empty, as anyone who’d managed to survive would have likely fled on foot to the base, but it didn’t hurt to double-check. The rural homes were empty, their pantries raided and left bare, as well as most of the useful things like tools, ammo, linens, and toiletries. Drew cut down several scavenging beasts in the area, most of them used to be house cats or coyotes. A couple of feral Goblins were found and slaughtered as well. Drew wasn’t looking forward to dealing with a nest.

Feral Goblins bred fast. Very fast, and they had little interest in anything other than food, violence, and sex. Their nests could house thousands if not tens of thousands of the monsters, and dealing with them was time consuming. He wasn’t in any real danger from them, he just detested the idea of cleaning out the nests, as they were always disgusting cesspools. Drew 0sneered as he cut down two Feral Goblins engaging in their mating ritual.

He remembered the first time he’d seen the ritual in the training dungeon. At first he’d found it kinda cute, thinking that the two creatures were play-wrestling. They weren’t. It turned out that Goblins are a hermaphroditic race, the loser of the wrestling ritual carrying the winner’s children. The children themselves came in litters of up to twenty, and grew to sexual maturity in days. And people thought feral cats were a problem. Drew shook his head while continuing his search.

Soon he came to the nearby prison, apparently the military either hadn’t checked that far, or hadn’t bothered. Everyone inside was long dead, and they hadn’t been attacked either. It looked like the guards simply left and locked up when technology stopped working, shutting the whole place down. Hundreds of bloated corpses in jumpsuits all lay dead, likely starved from the lack of food for so many weeks left alone.

Drew needed some help searching the city, and he wasn’t going to turn down free minions. After cleaning the corpses of their flesh, Drew cast [Empowered Raise Dead (C-Grade)]. It was a new spell that he hadn’t messed around with yet. He’d recently upgraded his original [Raise Dead] ability after closing the Forgeborn incursion, the new upgrade included some nice bonuses.

[Empowered Raise Dead (Epic)]

Uses biological matter to create undead minions at one grade below the caster’s. Corpses are no longer required as long as sufficient organic material exists locally. Soulflames may be bound if lingering souls can be found locally. Minions can be given commands mentally and verbally, although each minion is sapient and capable of making their own decisions should the need arise. As minions are connected to the caster, they make independent decisions based on their master’s unspoken desires. Additional mana may be spent to give specialized classes, armor and weapons upon summoning.

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Needless to say, Drew was looking forward to the results. As he began, he noticed several options available to him within his mind. After a few seconds of thought, he chose thirty scout class minions equipped in medium armor, bows, and a sword. Drew watched as bones, leftover corrupted meat and other bits and bobs from nearby corpses flew together in a windstorm of magic. Thirty skeletons soon formed, gray muscle and pale skin growing over the bone, next came the armor and weapons, mana pulled from his body as basic equipment formed on his new minions.

As one, their eyes snapped open, blue fire bursting to life before simmering down to an ember within their eye sockets. Their right legs lifted in unison, stomping down on the ground as their right arm bumped their chest. Some kind of salute maybe? Drew walked around his new minions inspecting their bodies and armor.

In a way, they looked like Maud had. Almost lich-like. Ashen colored wrinkled and sunken skin, bright blue eyes. Some had hair, others didn’t, or he couldn’t tell from their hide helmets. A cross between a zombie and a lich maybe? One of the minions stepped forward.

“Your command, Master?” Its voice echoed like a frigid wind blowing through a mountain canyon. It was hollow and cold, lifeless yet somehow attentive.

“Uh… Standby for now. I need to raise more minions, then we’re going to perform search and rescue of human civilians, and monster elimination should it be required or as we run into them.” Drew said, scratching his head.

“Yes, Master!” They all stomped and saluted again, the outspoken on returning to formation.

Well… this is certainly new. It’s like they’re alive… but undead. They can’t be soulflames, none of the bodies here had lingering souls and I didn’t bind any. Drew pondered for a while before activating his [Soul Sense] skill from his Baleful Warden profession. They… have souls? They look strange though. Almost plastic or low-poly compared to human souls. Maybe they’re constructed souls that The Lady had mentioned previously?

Drew swept his thoughts aside, he had more minions to raise. This time he chose to raise fifty minions, heavy skirmishers, equipped with chainmail and two-handed axes. Like before, the process repeated, and the new minions joined the first batch. Next he added light skirmishers with leather and spears, fifty of those as well. Then he decided to change things up and add some protection to the ranks. Sixty heavy warriors, equipped in heavy plate armor like his own, with swords and shields.

To round out his frontlines, he added ten paladins. They were equipped with large one-handed maces and shields, plus plate armor. They’d stand side by side with the warrior on the frontlines, healing their nearby allies. Finally Drew added thirty mages, and fifteen dedicated healers, each equipped in armored robes and staffs topped with a casting focus. Most of the prisoner’s bodies were gone, so he nodded to himself, knowing it was time to move on.

“Form up in groups. Scouts party up in two’s, you’re to search for human civilians to rescue, and monsters to kill. Priority being humans to save. Fair warning, you’re undead, they will likely be afraid of you. Do not attack them, even if you’re attacked first. Retreat if you need to. Everyone else form up into parties and search. When the scouts find something, one of their party will break off and notify the closest teams. If you find a large group of living humans, contact me immediately. Scouts, if you see anything that looks like moving or living shadows, follow them discreetly, and contact me. Avoid the military base directly west of here. Questions?”

Silence greeted his question. Did they understand my commands?

“Understood?” Drew asked for clarification.

“Yes, Master!” They all stomped and saluted, the floor and walls shaking slightly from the two hundred and forty-five D Grade minions.

“Move out!” Drew commanded. The minions quickly organized themselves into parties and made like a tree and got the fuck out. Drew left the prison, watching his minions begin a search pattern in various areas in the near distance. Good, they don’t seem stupid at least. The last thing I’d want is for them to accidentally harm someone they’re meant to save.

Drew made his way down to highway two eighty-seven, turning east to cover the areas he hadn’t gotten to yet. His mood was a little low at this point, as he hadn’t found any survivors. He tried to stay positive, as he was still in the more rural north area of the city and hadn’t gotten to the suburbs yet. He eventually made it across the street from the Harley dealership, where a highschool was located.

The doors were locked, but several windows were broken in, he jumped through one of the windows and began knocking on locked classroom doors before kicking them in. He thought some people may have taken shelter at the school, and he was quickly rewarded when he found a raggard looking group of adults sitting in the cafeteria. They weren’t on high alert, and barely noticed when Drew walked in. Their far off stares, and darkened bags under their eyes told their story.

“Howdy folks, y’all doing alright here?” Drew called out. His voice caught them off guard, and they scattered to the farthest wall where some supplies were piled. They equipped themselves with baseball bats, golf clubs, and one sad fuck even had a tennis racket.

“We ain’t got nothing for ya! Be on yer way!” One of the middle-aged men called out.

“I don’t want your stuff, I’m just checking for survivors, seeing if folks are doing okay or if they need help.” Drew called out, showing his hands were empty. The group turned to each other and mumbled. Drew could hear everything they were saying, but remained quiet out of respect. Eventually the man turned back to him.

“What kinda help you offerin’?” Their blunt makeshift weapons no longer held high, but the group remained on alert.

“Whatever y’all need I suppose. I live over the border in Oklahoma, I came here to check on folks and offer assistance. Fight off monsters nearby, point them in the direction of our settlement if they need a safe haven with defenses, I have some spare food I can part with as well. Nothing fancy, but we’ve got some farms up and running and I can spare some if y’all are happy here.” Drew offered.

The group went back to talking amongst themselves, members taking quick glances at Drew in his armor. Like the survivors in the town near his house, they were in little more than rags or thrown together outfits. They weren’t as skinny or malnourished as he’d worried they’d be, so Drew guessed the school had food left and likely some gas stoves to cook with.

“What’s yer settlement like, an’ how far away is it?” He asked.

“We’ve got houses built and more are being constructed, we have tall fences and walls with towers, kinda like a miniature castle. People can do whatever they like as long as they contribute somehow. Whether that’s a profession, or farming, combat, security, pretty much whatever is fine, as long as you’re not a lazy bum.” Drew shrugged.

“How many people do you have?” A woman asked a bit loudly.

“Eh, I think about two hundred or so at this point. It’s growing every day. Children are welcome as well, we have some teachers there helping out. We’ll have running water up and running shortly, likely in a week or so, and we offer combat training if people want it.” Drew responded. The group were now holding their make-shift weapons much lower now, but a couple remained a bit higher.

“An’ what’s in it for you? It sounds too good to be true, an’ that usually means it is.” The man called back.

“Nothing really. We could use more people to help out, get our economy running, start making more weapons and magic shit. We all just contribute to the betterment of the whole.” Drew shrugged.

“That there sounds like socialism, an’ that shit don’t work. We ain’t no commies here boy.” The man called back, his golf club held a bit higher.

“It’s your choice, I’m not forcing anyone. You’re free to stay here and do whatever you want. If you decide to stay, let me know if you need some extra food or blankets. I can probably spare a spear or two.” Drew shrugged. He knew some people would choose to live how they wanted, or wouldn’t want to join Sanctuary for one reason or another. Although he didn’t view it as socialism since everyone had contribution points and had to buy what they needed.

The group cluttered together again, talking for several minutes while Drew looked around the cafeteria. Sleeping areas were set up with fabric privacy walls, several collapsable chairs were around, along with dishware. It was honestly better than he’d expected. Several minutes later the voice called back.

“A few of us will follow ya, some will stay here. You have those blankets and spears?” The man asked. Drew nodded and went to the center of the room where he pulled out five heavy blankets made from tanned hides, three spears, and a crate of food that contained various fruits and vegetables, along with several loaves of bread. He backed away slowly as people came to inspect the goods he offered.

Out of the thirty or so people there, twenty decided to join Sanctuary, and ten decided to remain. Two spears went to the group staying, as well as four blankets and the crate of food. Drew’s spirits were lifted after having found some survivors, and as they exited the school, a group of minions were waiting for him. All the people screamed of course, and either tried to run back to the school or fight them off, and it took several minutes to calm them down. Eventually he convinced the refugees that the minions were there to protect them and lead them to a safe space.

They’d be taken to a central area on some rural land in northern Wichita Falls, a meeting spot where Robert and his crew would come and get people back home. Overall, it was turning out to be a pretty decent day.