Chapter 33: Power of the Paradigm

Naimi Xisi inhaled a breath of cold air; it seemed that the group of Drow Sixth Circle Mages were masters proficient in necromancy.

Those thousands of skeletons and zombies were created by the necromancy Third-circle Spell 【Animate Dead】; this powerful spell is the core of necromancy, and the caster can transform up to four corpses into skeletons or zombies each time, with the choice depending on the corpse's integrity.

The two thousand skeletons and zombies before us must be the opponent's stockpile of slave corpses accumulated over an unknown period.

This is only possible in the Underdark; on the surface, a Necromancer would have to painfully spend money buying corpses, and if they secretly become grave robbers, they could be hunted by the followers of the Good God Church at any moment.

Moreover, even with so many corpses to convert into Undead, the Necromancer still faces a difficult decision: the limit on how many they can control.

Skeletons and zombies are mindless Undead, yet a regular Mage can only control three per spell level.

Only a Necromancy Master with profound insight into necromantic arts can, through the power of the Magic Net, awaken a supernatural ability unique to necromancers—the Undead Crown.

The Undead Crown grants the Necromancer the ability to control unlimited numbers of skeletons and zombies.

In fact, when a spell line reaches the Sixth Circle, it can acquire a core supernatural ability, like the Undead Crown, causing a qualitative leap in its magical system.

This ability is called—Paradigm.

Of course, it varies by individual; some only obtain the power of the Paradigm upon reaching the Ninth Circle.

Beyond skeletons and zombies, the remaining several types of advanced undead are created by even more powerful spells.

Sixth Circle Necromancy Spell—【Summon Undead】.

Before the Sixth Circle, a Necromancer could only manipulate skeletons and zombies; only after acquiring the 【Summon Undead】 spell can they use precious magical gems to forge various advanced undead.

Compared to the cheap and feeble skeletons and zombies, these advanced undead each possess unique special traits.

For example, the hovering Wraiths are immune to all physical attacks.

Also the gray‑skinned, noseless, hollow‑eyed Bodaks can spread an Undead curse with their death gaze; any creature that dies under that gaze is transformed into a Bodak.

Naturally, controlling these intelligent Undead consumes a Necromancer's Spiritual Power greatly; the entire undead army's advanced undead total no more than thirty.

Beyond this group of Undead, behind them stood a slave army of three thousand Monsters and five hundred Dark Elves clad in fine armor! Naimi Xisi knows them well; the Drow's unique profession, five hundred Shadow Sword Warriors— all sixth‑level professionals.

Juan Ce Long couldn't help but wonder how this city had managed to hold out for so long.

Gode's face darkened as he said, "No wonder the attack was delayed so long; that Necromancer managed to raise so many Undead in just half a month."

Sarufar waved his hand; the Gray Dwarves on the wall immediately took their positions, some with bows, others hurling burning stones mixed with flammable fungi.

Behind the broad walls and gates stood three thousand robust Orcs, each a warrior comparable to a Coyote Wolf.

In the distant undead army, a male Drow standing on a tall platform brandished a staff; his eyes were white, pupil‑less, and he wore an ornate robe.

The staff was entwined by a winding black dragon shadow, a massive obsidian gem set at its tip. He lifted the staff and, in a serpentine, eerie voice, issued a command.

"Stop." A massive deathly light surged from his body, radiating across the undead army; the terrifying monsters froze in place as if under a ban.

The Necromancer's voice echoed across the battlefield under the spell's power: "Gray Dwarves, Orcs. The great Di Fo Family will give you another chance; submit to the greatness of the Dark Elves, and you may survive as slaves. If you resist, my undead army doesn't mind adding a few more members."

Sarufar and Gode wore expressionless faces; since the day they broke free from the Mind Flayer's control, they swore never to become anyone's slave again.

By modern psychological standards, they both suffer from classic PTSD.

After enduring the Mind Flayer's horrific enslavement, even the thought of returning to that life makes them feel an uncontrollable urge to kill themselves.

"Fine, fine, since you seek death, I will grant it," the Necromancer lightly tapped his staff; as the deathly light reappeared, the massive army surged forward.

The Undead army surged like a tide; they lacked a living breath yet bore an indomitable will. Goblin silhouettes flickered in the firelight, their sharp cries cutting the silence, intertwining with the shadows of Dark Elves to form a vile tableau.

"Prepare!" Sarufar raised his hand, and the soldiers on the wall instantly readied their projectiles.

"Release!"

"Swoosh swoosh swoosh!"

A massive rain of arrows mixed with burning stones rained down on the Drow forces, but for the Undead it had no effect; only the stones occasionally shattered a few skeleton skulls.

Instead, the Goblin and Orc Monster Army that followed suffered countless casualties.

Nevertheless, the Dark Elves' sacrifice to build a road proved effective; with the Monster Army and Undead casualties, the Drow were inching forward toward the wall.

Sarufar looked at Naimi Xisi and Sgena and said, "Now it's up to you; try to annihilate their army before they breach the city. Only your True Dragon can rely on its physique to resist the Necromancer's curse."

Sgena proudly nodded, the massive black dragon silhouette soaring toward the enemy, and with a teasing laugh said, "I'll go first, young boy; don't be so frightened that you flee the battle."

Naimi Xisi also flew into the sky; the cavern where Kura Gromsh dwells is enormous, reaching seven or eight kilometers in height, allowing him to fly freely in the air.

The black dragon swooped over the Undead army's heads and, before they could react, exhaled a deadly acidic breath.

The highly corrosive acid melted every skeleton and zombie in its path; only Bodaks and Mummies comparable to eighth‑level adventurers barely resisted, yet they were still severely damaged by the dragon's terrifying breath.

The skyborne Wraiths were immune to Sgena's acidic breath, yet they were equally helpless against the black dragon; the Wraiths tried to slip through the dragon's body to siphon its vitality, but the dragon's scales, imbued with strong anti‑magic, firmly blocked them.

Sgena unleashed her power at will; a casual swing of her dragon tail flung several weak zombies into the air, and the dragon's claws hammered the ground, the resulting massive seismic shock toppling countless skeletons.

For a moment, the entire Undead army seemed to be held back by her alone.

This is the might of the True Dragon: their overwhelming power, extraordinary physique, and potent breath make them the battlefield's deadliest weapon; unless one can pierce their scaled defenses, they are helpless against them.

(End of Chapter)