The undead army from the north invaded the mainland and brought immeasurable heavy losses to the empire. However, under the resistance of the people of the empire, various armies of the empire invaded the Castle of the Undead, killed the undead lord Crested, and eliminated the undead threat from the north.
After that, the Empire enjoyed decades of peace, but as industrialization progressed, it seemed that the Empire was once again facing the threat of the undead.
After decades of economic development, the empire has begun the process of industrialization. The towering chimneys and dark factories have brought a touch of modernity to this ancient country.
The Imperial Mining Company is a super giant that grew up here. It relied on its special relationship with the emperor to win the mining rights of Caroline City, a small town in the southern part of the empire.
The mining operations in Caroline City roar every day, and the entire city is filled with the smell of coal mines in the air.
Mining workers work like machines for more than ten hours a day. If any of them fall due to fatigue, they will be buried in mass graves like dogs. Their fate is very tragic.
“Efficiency is number one,” said Wallenster, president of the mining company.
When interviewed by reporters from the Empire Newspaper, Wallenst was always very excited: "Thanks to the emperor's grace, our company's performance is booming and mining efficiency continues to improve."
Because of this, "efficiency first" has become Wallenst's signature and motto and is widely circulated.
In addition to engaging in industry and manufacturing, the empire also has some specialized magic schools engaged in the research and study of magic. The best among them will be enrolled in the Empire's Magic Court and have the opportunity to become highly respected archmages.
Of course, like all other places that study magic, the Imperial Academy of Magic strictly prohibits the study of black magic, because there have been many cases in the past where many students became necromancers due to studying black magic, and the empire does not want the same accident to happen again.
However, the problem is that the boundaries between white magic and black magic are not very clear. In particular, many magicians privately encourage the study of black magic. Because it is not easy to cultivate mages with strong combat effectiveness, only 100 students can have the opportunity to become senior archmages every year.
But, in order to expand the combat capabilities of magicians, the imperial government requires that 500 senior mages be trained every year. Therefore, studying black magic has become the best choice to quickly master spell combat skills.
Magic student Croton is one of them.
Croten was originally just the son of a herdsman. After his father failed in business and committed suicide, Croten had no choice but to live in the capital with his mother.
In order for Croten to squeeze into the magic school and become a senior mage before the emperor, Croten's mother suffered a lot, working as a female worker for the rich during the day and doing needlework at night.
Croten finally entered the magic school and successfully became a full-time mage, but his mother died due to excessive fatigue. After losing his mother, Croton secretly vowed to become a senior archmage, which could be regarded as fulfilling his mother's last wish.
But studying magic is not an easy task. It requires the practitioner not only to have strong psychological abilities, but also to have strong ability to control thoughts. This is very difficult for a child like Croten who comes from a poor background.
As his grades in school continued to decline, his mentor Podock found him: "Student Croten, your magic grades continue to decline, which is constantly far away from your ideal of a senior archmage."
Croten said helplessly: "Teacher, I have tried my best. You should know my family situation."
Tutor Bodock: "Yes, yes, so I also want to help you." He paused and then said: "Have you ever heard of black magic?"
Croten was a little confused: "Of course I've heard of it, why do you ask this?"
Instructor Podoc: "With your current ability, it is impossible to reach the position of senior archmage through normal magic learning, so... you know."
Croten still didn't understand what his mentor meant.
Tutor Bodock was a little unhappy: "You are really an idiot. What I meant is that you can quickly improve your magic ability by studying black magic."
Hearing this, Croten was very frightened: "This is definitely not possible, teacher. Studying black magic is a very serious crime."
"I know, but as long as I don't tell it, and you don't tell it, how will outsiders know?" Podock smiled.
Croten was still hesitant, but Podock was a little impatient: "Classmate, do you know? Teachers like me need to train 500 senior mages for the empire every year. Through normal study, this is impossible. So we can only follow these crooked ways.”
"If you agree, then I can help you with all my strength. I have a book here that the necromancers studied black magic during the Undead War. You can refer to it." Bodock took out a long-dusted book from the hidden compartment.
Croten picked up the book and wiped it, and saw a red light suddenly flashing on it! Podock quickly took a black bag to cover it: "Are you crazy? If we are discovered by the agents of the empire, then both of us will be beheaded. Hide it well and never let others discover it. What are you doing today? You can go back early and I will give you special permission."
Croten returned to the simple apartment. After making sure that no one was there, he took out the book from the black bag. It was written by Death Knight Locke and Undead Earl Barrick with the blood of the victims during the Undead War. It records the situation of the Undead War in detail, and in addition, there are also methods of learning black magic.
It is said that those who have studied it will either become sacrifices to this book, or become powerful necromancers. The necromancer can summon powerful skeleton legions to open up territories for them.
Of course, having such a powerful ability usually means a very high price. Anyone who becomes a necromancer must sacrifice his body as a sacrifice, and he must become an immortal skeleton.
Croten seemed to be the person chosen by this evil book. After reading it, his magic power greatly increased. Of course, the evil aura in his body became more and more serious and difficult to cover up.
Members of the Empire's Order of Light Mage often patrol the streets and use their own magic to detect the evil spirits of passers-by. Once they find that the evil spirits are too high, they will be regarded as fellow travelers of the undead and burned alive by the Order of Light Mage.
As the evil aura in Croten became more and more serious, he knew that it was only a matter of time before he was captured by the Light Mage Order.
But he didn't expect it to happen so quickly.
One afternoon, several people from the Light Mage Order came to the magic school for a routine inspection. They suddenly discovered that the smile of school was very evil, so they asked all teachers and students to be inspected on the playground.
In order to avoid detection, Podoc customized a close-fitting robe for Croten to cover up his unique smell as a necromancer.
When the people of the Light Mage Order checked Croten, they found no problem because Croten's smell was covered by the magic robe.
One of the members of the Light Mage Order stopped Croten: "Why are you wearing a robe?"
"I'm cold," Croten said.
The inspector of the Light Mage Order was puzzled: "Why? It's midsummer now, you shouldn't feel cold."
Croten continued to hide: "I have a cold"
The people of the Light Mage Order seemed to understand somewhat, but just when Croten was about to walk away, the inspector suddenly shouted: "Stop!"
Croten was shocked. The inspector stepped forward and said, "I am from the Order of Light Mage. I am here to give you a light magic therapy so that you can recover faster."
Croten tried to get rid of the inspector of the Light Mage Order: "No, thank you."
The prosecutor was very puzzled, so he became suspicious: "Stop! Take off your robe, I want to check!"
This move was rejected by Croten, and Croten turned around to leave, but was held down by the inspector on his shoulders: "What are you hiding?"
The inspector of the Light Mage Order grabbed Croten's robe in one fell swoop, instantly exposing Croten's void skeleton!
The inspector was shocked: "He is a necromancer, brothers, magic attack!"
However, when they tried to attack Croten, Croten instantly killed the four inspectors of the Order of Light Mage, and in the horror of everyone, he picked up his robe and fled the academy.
Afterwards, the mentor Podoc was sentenced to death by the Mage of Light for encouraging his students to study black magic. He was burned to death in public in the Empire State Plaza the next day.
The entire empire began to search for the necromancer Croten. In order to avoid pursuit, Croten had to flee to the south for refuge.
At this time, the miners in Caroline City went on strike because they had been ruthlessly exploited by mining companies for a long time. As a result, they suffered a tragic massacre.
Several workers who were fleeing the massacre detonated a box of explosives in the mine, causing the entire mine to collapse. The striking workers and the staff of the mining company were all buried underground.
Due to the destruction of the mine and the bombing of the mine, the Imperial Mining Company was forced to withdraw from Caroline City. When Croten fled to Caroline City, it was already a month after the incident.
The workers who had gone on strike had long since turned into bones. Croten looked at the bones scattered all over the pit, and in connection with his own experience, a cruel idea of revenge was born in his heart.
As a necromancer, Croten has the ability to summon an army of the undead. He murmured to the corpses in the pit: "Wake up, wake up, warriors, and use human blood to wash away your anger and shame."
A red light shot out from the ground into the sky. As the earth's crust shook, the bones stood up one after another, picked up swords, guns and armor, and turned into a terrifying undead army.
At this time, Holt City, adjacent to Caroline City, was holding an anniversary celebration. Croton stood on a high place, looking at the fireworks in the city and said: "Let's take this city as our first sacrifice, warriors, start attacking!"
A tragic massacre is about to begin.
