This Necromancer Just Wants to Plant Trees - Chapter 125

The sharp sound of friction, "zzz," reached their ears before they saw anything. It was as if thousands of brushes were simultaneously sweeping over a smooth floor.

Matthew quickly warned, "Be careful, it's a swarm!"

Samantha and Cleg's reactions were just as swift. Almost simultaneously, Samantha's body began to expand, and within two seconds, a robust, feathered owlbear was blocking the entrance.

She bravely confronted the first wave of the crazed larva onslaught, while Cleg emitted a strange red and blue glow.

The red light was a unique manifestation of the "Berserk Art" among the Beastfolk, which made them more powerful. However, the blue light was something Matthew had never seen before.

"Insight: You sense that Cleg (Sword Saint Candidate) has used 'Level 1 Berserk' and 'Sword Saint Meditation.'

Level 1 Berserk: Cleg's strength +2/agility +1, a 20% increase in relevant judgments, and gains 'Vulnerable' and 'Reckless.'

• Vulnerable: Cleg loses an additional 15% of his health when taking damage.
• Reckless: Cleg may gradually lose his sanity in battle.

Sword Saint Meditation: Practitioners of the Sword Saint's path possess greater self-control than ordinary Beastfolk. Even during berserk states, they can maintain calm and rational thinking.

Cleg's "Reckless" has been removed."

This meant that Cleg enjoyed the significant attribute boost from going berserk while being immune to its major side effect.

As for "Vulnerable," Sword Saints were not tanks. They were high-damage, high-resistance, high-immunity melee experts, but they were relatively squishy.

Despite Cleg being a Beastfolk and appearing robust, her health pool was not significantly higher than Matthew's once quantified. What made Sword Saints exceptional was their triangle-shaped build of evasion, resistance, and output.

Among the team, only Samantha's transformed owlbear was suitable for the frontline role.

The two women clearly had a well-established partnership. The owlbear held its ground near the gate, enduring the first wave of attacks, while Cleg deftly weaved her two long, thin blades through the swarm, efficiently cutting down the bugs, as if she were grinding meat in a meat grinder.

Before long, the first wave of insects had been entirely eradicated by her.

However, everyone remained alert because the commotion behind the gate continued, and there were likely more infected individuals and crazed guards converging in their direction.

To alleviate the pressure on Cleg, Layla and Afei moved forward, each taking charge of a direction. They not only supported Samantha and Cleg but also dealt with any stragglers.

Matthew, of course, wasn't idle. As soon as Samantha transformed, he began to unroll his scrolls.

"Bear's Endurance, Bull's Strength, Cat's Grace, Owl's Wisdom... Anything that boosts attributes is going to benefit the Beastfolk Sword Saint."

He also provided Samantha with defensive spells like Blade Ward, Lesser Mage Armor, and Thorn Shield. Samantha's "Natural Armor" was already close to 13, rivaling that of a Shieldbearer with a small shield.

Nevertheless, unrolling these scrolls cost him almost 200 gold coins, and he didn't feel any remorse. He knew the boost to their frontline's combat strength was significant.

"The way a real caster fights should be like this – dull but elegant," Matthew thought as he nonchalantly cast spells.

This scene was quickly noticed by Aela, who remarked, "Matthew, you seem just as relaxed as me."

Matthew immediately countered, "Not at all!"

Just as he said that, a crazed guard broke through the gate, covered in rusty door fragments. Although the boards were rusty, they were surprisingly durable, and Samantha, a Druid, struggled to kill it quickly.

Samantha's owlbear and the guard clashed, and her balance was slightly disrupted. Druids weren't typical frontline fighters, even with her "Natural Armor" and other protections.

Seeing this, Matthew acted quickly. He aimed his staff at the enemy and tried to recall Reiga's face.

In an instant, a gray light shot out smoothly – Dispel Magic! The light struck the guard, causing a significant portion of its chest to turn into a gruesome mix of red and white flesh.

Cleg seized the opportunity and lunged, expertly slicing through the guard's chest in two swift motions.

"Nice critical damage!" Matthew playfully remarked.

Aela scoffed, but Cleg managed to praise him, "Well done."

This surprised and pleased Matthew. He was satisfied with his well-timed spellcasting.

He had also mastered the rhythm of using the spells he had learned in combat, something he was proud of. For Matthew, the spells given by the system were as easy to use as game skills. Spells he had learned himself, however, had to follow real casting rules.

He had to stay highly focused in battle and overcome various discomforts to cast spells smoothly, just as he and Reiga had described. It wasn't a simple process.

He knew that he had mainly resorted to melee combat previously due to this complexity. But standing still wasn't his style; he wanted to have something of his own. He didn't want to be useless without the system.

So far, he was on the right path, but he needed more time and experience to master it.

"I hope that next time I cast Dispel Magic, I won't have to think of Regia's face," Matthew thought sincerely.

With everyone working together, the battle near the gate gradually came to an end. The crazed guards and infected individuals fell one by one. However, a large number of larva continued to crawl out of the passage, attempting to infect any living beings they could reach.

Crazed larva couldn't harm the team, but they did slow their progress. As the swarm gathered around the gate, some bugs even started moving in Matthew's direction.

Matthew observed for a while and decided to take care of the remaining pests.

"I'll count to three, and you guys hide behind me."

He took a small black umbrella, about the size of his pinky, from his bag and flicked it open.

The small umbrella floated in the air, spinning several somersaults, increasing in size as it went. In a matter of moments, it transformed into a translucent, bullet-shaped defense shield capable of covering five to ten people.

"Notification: You have used 'Roderick's Magic Umbrella,' obtaining a 180-degree magic defense shield (equivalent to a 4th-level spell)."

Roderick's Magic Umbrella was Matthew's second recent purchase of magical equipment. Along with the Dragonfire Amulet, it had cost him over ten thousand gold coins.

This magic item originated from the hands of the Northern Guardian, Roderick, a master of both Divination and Protection spells. The original magic umbrella he created could withstand legendary spells.

The one Matthew purchased was a high-quality imitation made by Roderick's apprentices – or rather, enchanters. It still cost over 5,000 gold coins.

The magic umbrella featured both the Reduce and Enlarge spells, making it easy to carry. When fully expanded, it could withstand five 4th-level direct attack spells. It was a highly reliable and versatile item.

After buying it, Matthew had also received a bonus: three free tickets to the Roderick Prophecy Castle. He had heard about this offer, and he didn't intend to miss the chance to learn about Prophecy magic for free.

Once the warning was issued, the rest of the team expressed their agreement, except for Cleg, the Beastfolk Sword Saint, who proudly declared, "I know you want to use magic to clear the area, but I'm not afraid of magic. You can cast it!"

Matthew didn't try to persuade her. After counting to three, Layla and Afei disappeared into the shadows, Samantha transformed into a leopard and leaped back, while Aela hid behind Matthew.

The next moment...

"Notification: You have cast a harmonized spell – Corpse Burst (Harmonized Moonfire). During each Corpse Burst, the corpse will explode and shoot out a burst of moonfire in all directions, causing burning damage to any attached objects."

The result was...

"Notification: You have used 'Roderick's Magic Umbrella,' gaining a 180-degree magic defense shield (equivalent to a 4th-level spell)."

Matthew's recent purchases included Roderick's Magic Umbrella, which was made by apprentices working in Roderick's factory. It was a high-quality imitation and still cost him over 5,000 gold coins.

The magic umbrella had Reduce and Enlarge spells, making it easily portable. When fully expanded, it could withstand the impact of five 4th-level direct attack spells, providing robust protection. It was also convenient for outdoor camping, with the ability to create a spacious tent.

Moreover, Matthew had taken advantage of a discount promotion when he made the purchase. He received three free tickets to the Roderick Prophecy Castle. As he had heard, these tickets would allow him to learn Prophecy magic for free.

After Matthew's reminder, the rest of the team readily agreed to hide behind the magic umbrella, except for Cleg, the Beastfolk Sword Saint, who boldly declared, "I know you want to use magic to clear the area, but I'm not afraid of magic. Go ahead and cast it!"

Matthew didn't try to convince her otherwise. After counting down from three, Layla and Afei vanished into the shadows, Samantha transformed into a leopard and retreated, and Aela took shelter behind Matthew.

In the next moment...

"Notification: You have cast a harmonized spell – Corpse Burst (Harmonized Moonfire). During each Corpse Burst, the corpse will explode and shoot out a burst of moonfire in all directions, causing burning damage to any attached objects."

The result was...

...

Bang! The white light representing Moonfire and the gray light representing Corpse Burst merged together.

Immediately, a melodious melody was composed near the entrance.

Pitter-patter.

A large amount of blood and bodily fluids joyfully splattered through the air.

Ten minutes later...

Matthew's magic umbrella in front of him was now covered in an abstract mix of red and green.

And on the ground...

There was not a single living insect left.

"Notification: You have cast a harmonized spell – Corpse Burst (Harmonized Moonfire). You have gained the following elements:

Corpse Burst × 6 (Death Domain) Blasphemy × 2 (Sacred Domain)"

"Blasphemy is part of the Sacred Domain?" Matthew was baffled. But what puzzled him even more was that by harmonizing Corpse Burst and Moonfire, he had been labeled as blasphemous. Was it Corpse Burst blaspheming Moonfire, or was it the other way around?

Matthew wasn't fond of contemplating philosophical questions, so he just glanced at it and redirected his attention to reality. He stowed away Roderick's magic umbrella and approached the entrance.

As he passed the Beastfolk Sword Saint by the door, he also cast "Untouched by Filth" on her. Her slightly embarrassed expression was immediately eased. Samantha laughed and approached her to have a quiet conversation.

Matthew stood at the entrance and gazed inside. Directly in front of him was a hall, already cleared of insects, with passages extending to the left and right.

The right-hand passage plunged deep into the underground bedrock, making it impassable. They could only proceed down the left-hand passage, which looked more like a corridor.

Rooms were symmetrically arranged on both sides of the corridor, some with open doors and others closed. The corridor was permeated with the smell of decay, but there weren't many corpses. Most likely, all the flesh that could be parasitized had already become part of the Chittering Horde.

After a brief discussion, they decided to proceed carefully, clearing each room on both sides to ensure no survivors were left behind.

Cleg and Samantha took the left side, Matthew and Layla took the right side, and Afei and Aela were on lookout duty.

The four of them soon got to work. Matthew pushed open the first room on the corridor, finding a neatly arranged living area. Everything was covered in dust, probably an employee dormitory for the laboratory.

As they entered, they found a separate shower room, a small cooking area on the left, and further ahead, a single bed, a small bookshelf, and a 1.5-meter-long desk, making up most of the room's furnishings.

Layla quickly searched the room but found nothing of value, except for some personal items. Matthew, on the other hand, discovered a stack of green paper notes in a drawer, the currency of the Antan Empire. They might not be useful on Aindar, but Matthew decided to keep them in case they could be of use in the future.

The two of them quickly moved to the next room, and then the third, and fourth...

There wasn't a single insect to be found in any of the rooms. The loot was meager, consisting of only a few green paper notes.

However, Matthew was patient. He knew that securing their rear was part of the battle, ensuring that no threats lurked behind them.

Finally, when they reached the ninth room, things took a turn. As soon as they entered, Matthew noticed that this room was much larger, almost two to three times the size of the previous ones.

The shower room featured a bathtub, and a few steps forward led to a small living area with potted plants. Although the flowers in the pots had withered, two paintings on the wall revealed the room's owner's status.

On the other side, in the master bedroom, there was even a double bed, indicating that it was likely inhabited by a senior researcher.

Matthew searched the room thoroughly and struck gold, finding a large bundle of green paper notes, two thick gold bars, and many dusty jewels. He added them to his collection, knowing that the 200 gold coins he had previously torn up were now recovered. He also had Layla take the safe with them.

In addition to the wealth, he found a small flashlight, an inkless pen, a diary, and a miniature figurine depicting a construct of necromancy.

Upon closer inspection, Matthew realized that these items were out of the ordinary.

"Notification: You have obtained a Psychic Flashlight (Unidentified / Luminary Knowledge); You have obtained an Automatic Pen (Centennial Celebration Edition of the Antan Empire); You have obtained the Laboratory Deputy Director's Diary; You have obtained a 'Necromantic Construct' (Constant Miniaturization Enchantment)."

"This isn't just a figurine! This is a genuine necromantic construct!" Matthew exclaimed. The construct appeared to be a skeletal warrior with a thin outer layer of skeletal armor adorned with intricate runic symbols, leaving one with a sense of macabre beauty.

"If it's under a constant miniaturization enchantment, I might have a chance to enlarge it and study its construction," Matthew thought excitedly.

He also examined the flashlight and pen, but like the psychic staff, they would likely require advanced identification scrolls to determine their exact properties.

Afterward, Matthew opened the diary. Unlike the previous researcher's journal, this one belonged to Stendron, the laboratory's deputy director. His entries were concise and often riddled with typos, making it challenging to decipher his handwriting.

"Corrupted Science Ministry!

I had just made progress in the study of necromantic constructs when those idiots from the Imperial Star arrived and snatched away my results. They brought in a new project manager who manipulated and bullied his way to get me reassigned. I'm supposed to be an expert in necromantic constructs, and now they want me to research that nonsense called 'psychics'! What do I know about psychics? I must write an anonymous report exposing those treacherous Imperial Star bastards. But, if they discover it's me, I could lose my job. My child may not be able to attend a good school, my wife may leave me, and I could end up as a wandering space vagabond, eventually captured by the space necromantic forces I've been researching, becoming one of them. How ironic. Damn the Empire! May it crumble!"

"Today, they brought in a new batch of 'monkeys.' To hell with it. They call them monkeys, but they're actually a bunch of stateless space refugees. They've been wandering around the Antan Star Cluster, and now they've been brought in as experimental subjects. The Empire used to hide the truth, calling them volunteers or even criminals. Now they don't even bother pretending. They just say they're a special breed of monkeys and want us to experiment without feeling guilty. Ever seen monkeys that can speak fluently like humans? I haven't. Damn the Empire! May it crumble!"

"Tomorrow, they say a 'big monkey' is coming. I don't know what this nonsense means. I'm in a bad mood today. Damn the Empire! May it crumble!"

"My word! That's no monkey; it's a divine creation! I feel like I've found inspiration. We might have discovered a shortcut to the path of the Ghisai people in psychic research! Today, I'm in a good mood. I won't damn the Empire, but just for today, not as a rule."

The diary ended there, and Matthew couldn't fathom what might have transpired in the latter part. "What kind of divine creation could they have found that led to a breakthrough in psychic research?" he wondered. Matthew knew that the Antan Empire had made significant progress, as evidenced by the various psychic items he had discovered. Still, he couldn't understand why the researchers had been wiped out by the Chittering Horde.

With these thoughts in mind, Matthew closed the diary and took a step out of the room. Suddenly, a distant, ethereal song emanated from the end of the corridor, as if a gentle, pitiable woman was calling out to them.

Matthew's heart raced, but he managed to resist the song's charm and mind control effects. However, the next moment, he heard a commotion from the room across from them, and Samantha abruptly burst out of the room, her eyes bright.

"Did you hear that? The goddess is calling us!" she exclaimed.

Without hesitation, she walked toward the darkness.

Matthew and Cleg exchanged a glance. Just when they were about to respond, Samantha opened the door, and an infuriated expression filled her face.

Cleg swiftly made his move, delivering a powerful slap that knocked Samantha unconscious.

"Well, that's one way to deal with it," Matthew remarked, feeling that the blow might have been a bit too harsh, but he couldn't help but praise Cleg's decisiveness.

"It must be the Chittering Queen!" Cleg explained. "That's a creature skilled in mind control. Without sufficient mental resistance, it's easy to be dominated."

"We need to find a room to restrain Samantha," Matthew said. "I'm afraid that even when she wakes up, she might still be uncontrollable."

Cleg nodded, and they swiftly carried Samantha into the deputy director's room. Matthew produced a length of magical rope and handed it to Afei. Afei, with flames in his eyes, expertly bound Samantha securely.

"Notification: Your summon, Afei, has used the ability 'Rope Master.'"

Cleg gazed at Samantha, bound and unconscious, and couldn't help but feel that something was amiss.

"Why is your skeleton so skilled in restraining techniques?" Aela asked. "Is this also knowledge from another world?"

Matthew was about to respond when, suddenly, the haunting song resumed, growing closer.

"I'll go and put a stop to her!" Cleg declared, drawing his dual blades and charging out.

Matthew decided to leave Aela and Layla to guard Samantha, and he and Afei followed Cleg.

Table of content

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