This Necromancer Just Wants to Plant Trees - Chapter 33

The unique moonlight lasted for a full 15 seconds.

Once the radiance dissipated, both Eli and Matthew wore expressions of shock—

They witnessed a strong, silvery glow emanating from the five zombies.

This radiant glow appeared for about six seconds each time. Even though it was brief, it exuded a divine aura!

"A zombie with a divine presence under the moonlight? I must be going crazy!" Eli exclaimed as he rubbed his eyes vigorously.

However, his perception remained unchanged from the beginning.

On the other side, Matthew received a new notification:

"Your zombies have been blessed by the Moonlight Goddess upon their creation, granting them 'Level Up,' 'Divine Lunar Armor,' and 'Moonlight Power.'"

"Your zombies have evolved into 'Silvermoon Zombies,' and your necromancy (zombies) now has a new option!"

Level Up: Your zombies' average level increases by one (currently LV8).

Divine Lunar Armor: Under moonlight, your zombies gain a layer of divine moonlight armor (Armor +1), along with an impressive divine aura (Charisma +1/Intimidation +10). Until the divine lunar armor is broken, your zombies are immune to additional damage from spells or items that target undead creatures.

Moonlight Power: Under moonlight, your zombies gain +1 Strength and a 50% increase in movement speed."

Silvermoon Zombies?

Did the Moonlight Goddess just sponsor the naming rights for them? Matthew couldn't help but tease in his thoughts.

The strength of the Silvermoon Zombies was clearly higher than that of regular zombies. However, what intrigued him even more was the Moonlight Goddess's frequent displays of favor—why would a once aloof deity shower a mortal with blessings and gifts? It was either that the goddess had recognized Matthew's limitless potential and sought to secure his loyalty, or she was facing a precarious situation and needed all the help she could get, possibly even teetering on the brink of extinction. Matthew suspected the latter.

"First, it was the lightning strike on Ella, then the badges and blessings, and now even the zombie minions are benefiting. It's clear that dealing with a few mad guards is not on the same level," Matthew mused.

However, he wasn't too worried about any unreasonable demands the goddess might make. After all, he currently held the upper hand.

Hiss!

One of the Silvermoon Zombies suddenly raised its head. Between its rotting lips, there were faint wisps of white vapor. With its decaying teeth and festering sores on its neck, it appeared especially malevolent and eerie.

Matthew walked over to get a closer look, his eyes filled with satisfaction.

To ordinary people, zombies and skeletons might be considered similar undead creatures, but to a necromancer, the difference was stark. Zombies were significantly more powerful than skeletons, and the putrid flesh they possessed provided additional strengths.

Firstly, their levels were higher. Skeleton soldiers typically ranged from level 3 to 4, while zombies started at level 5. Matthew's Silvermoon Zombies were even stronger, with an average level of 8, giving them an overwhelming advantage.

Secondly, their defensive capabilities were impressive. Skeletons were notorious for their low defenses, often getting shattered easily even when their levels were high. Zombies, on the other hand, had a natural resilience due to their undead nature, combined with the cushioning effect of their decaying flesh. As for the Silvermoon Zombies, there was no need to mention their exceptional defenses.

Lastly, their offensive power surpassed that of skeletons. Most zombies possessed two key attributes from the beginning:

"Infinite Strength: A zombie's strength is never less than 15 points.

Paralyzing Toxin: In the process of battling zombies, living enemies will undergo a paralyzing check every 30 seconds. If they fail the save, they may enter a 3-5 second paralysis."

Zombies' true weakness lay in their slow movement speed and attack speed. Their sluggish movement and slow attacks were why necromancers, including Matthew, were generally not fond of zombies.

However, the Silvermoon Zombies were an exception. Thanks to the "Moonlight Power," they had a movement speed of around 6 under the moonlight, which, while still not fast, was considerably faster than their normal pace. The boost in strength and the existence of the paralyzing toxin made them more effective at capturing enemies.

"I can learn a few spells with control and deceleration properties, such as the 5th-level spell 'Frosty Path.' It would complement the zombies well for ambushing targets," Matthew thought.

Matthew was in high spirits as he interacted with his zombie subordinates. He paid no heed to Eli, whose teeth were almost ground to dust nearby.

Once he became familiar with the Silvermoon Zombies' attributes and abilities, Matthew concluded his inspection. Unfortunately, none of the five zombies had an elite template. Matthew had initially believed that Scarface would become an elite, but it turned out he was just a plain zombie.

However, the zombie created from Scarface's body was the largest, strongest, and most robust among them all. For the sake of convenience, Matthew named it "Big Zombie." The other four were designated "Second to Fifth Zombies."

Compared to Skeleton Soldier No. 123, Matthew felt that he was already showing substantial favoritism to his zombie minions.

After naming them, Matthew herded the Silvermoon Zombies into the oak forest. He needed to find them suitable accommodation. The skeleton dormitory was not an option because zombies and skeletons, despite both being undead, were natural enemies. If left uncontrolled, they would inevitably clash, and Matthew didn't want to deal with that problem.

After a brief search, he found a one-way tunnel about 200 meters away from the skeleton dormitory. The tunnel appeared dark, narrow, and deep. Matthew ordered the zombies to jump into it one by one. They complied meticulously.

"Alright, it seems like we can fit five more. Tomorrow, I'll get a carpenter to cover the entrance with some boards, and from now on, this will be the zombie dormitory!" Matthew declared.

He was ready to leave when Eli, who had been trailing him, finally spoke up.

"Wait a minute!" Eli couldn't hold back any longer. He asked angrily, "You're hiding the zombies here?"

Matthew shrugged and replied, "Where else would I put them?"

Eli was furious, but he reluctantly controlled himself. He muttered sarcastically, "You seem to love putting undead creatures in the forest. Why don't you just build a cemetery in the woods?"

Matthew's eyes lit up. After a few seconds of contemplation, he approached Eli, placed his hands on Eli's shoulders, and praised him sincerely.

"Eli, you're absolutely right. You're a genius! I should have thought of that sooner!"

He repeated his approval several times, then let go of Eli and turned to leave.

"Wait!" Eli's unease grew. "What did you just think of?"

"A cemetery, Eli! A massive cemetery in the oak forest. It might become an undead city in the future!" Matthew's mind was brimming with enthusiasm. Until then, he had only paid attention to specific undead creatures, like Peggy, Little Boil, and Corporal Bones. The idea of creating an actual graveyard for his undead minions had never crossed his mind. This not only increased the loyalty of his employees but also had numerous other advantages. The construction of the cemetery was no small expense, but Matthew had already decided to build it in the pit beneath the forest. At the same time, the empty underground city in the Prospector's Basin would serve as the perfect foundation for the cemetery. After all, the dead belonged underground, and oak trees thrived aboveground. It was a beautifully harmonious scene.

Matthew decided to discuss the matter with Peggy. The opinions of the Minotaur Skeletons were also crucial if he intended to build a cemetery.

With his newfound passion for creating a cemetery, Matthew returned to his wooden hut, prepared to jot down his ideas. However, it didn't take long for a tall figure to appear outside the window.

"Peggy?"

Matthew was surprised to see her and grew increasingly anxious. "Has something happened?"

According to their agreement, Peggy would only leave her home and come into the forest to find Matthew if there was an urgent matter.

Peggy said with a serious expression, "Matthew, there's a young man who's ten times more handsome than you looking for me. He says he wants to buy my freedom and have me go with him. Considering the feelings between us, why would I agree? But he offered to increase my wages, so I thought I should inform you before we run away together."

Matthew rolled his eyes, devoid of any nervousness. "Stop joking around, Peggy. Get to the point."

Peggy shrugged. "Alright, alright. A handsome young man did visit our place today, but he was here to see you. I told him you weren't here, and he said he'd come back at the same time tomorrow, as he has something important to discuss with you."

Matthew, surprised, asked, "You made a special trip here just for this? That doesn't sound like you."

Peggy blushed and said, "Because that handsome young man wanted you to receive this message as soon as possible, and he even complimented my charm!"

Matthew, even more incredulous, inquired, "Did he give you anything?"

Peggy responded unhappily, "Am I the type of person who won't do anything unless I get something in return? Can't it be because of love? Honestly, Matthew, the moment I laid eyes on that young man, I started planning where we'd elope to!"

Matthew rubbed his temples and suddenly said, "I know who it is!"

Surprised, Peggy asked, "You guessed? I was about to tell you his identity and his name..."

"Zeler," Matthew said, shrugging. "The sorcerer from the Lord's Manor, the one who's usually inseparable from Reiga. In all of Rolling Stone Town, he's probably the only one who could look more handsome than me."

Seeing Peggy nodding in agreement and still looking starry-eyed, Matthew couldn't help but tease her, "With his charm, who knows how many women have fallen for him? You might not stand a chance, Peggy."

Unexpectedly, Peggy retorted quickly, "Who knows? Maybe he hasn't had a go with a Minotaur yet and finds it intriguing!"

Matthew was temporarily speechless, unable to find a way to refute that. After all, Zeler, no matter how promiscuous he might be, probably hadn't been with a Minotaur.

...

The next day at 8 p.m.

Matthew's living room.

"Coffee, milk, or wine? We have some, but it's quite mild."

Faced with Matthew's hospitality, Zeler casually crossed one leg over the other. His face bore a self-assured and charming smile.

"Thanks, just water," he replied, taking a laid-back seat on the couch.

His relaxed demeanor was markedly different from the typical tension Matthew observed in first-time visitors.

Every detail about Zeler exuded a sense of calm. Tonight, he wore a short purple overcoat over a black inner lining and long trousers. His white belt, with a silver circular buckle, featured a continuously changing pattern:

A goat's horn, a rainbow, a sword, willow leaves, a young girl, an ox, a book, an assassin...

Several adorable frog plush toys hung from the right side of the belt.

They looked incredibly lifelike.

Matthew had noticed this the moment Zeler walked in and couldn't help but look multiple times.

There was no denying it—Zeler's attractiveness was innate. If one could only consider his looks, they were above average, but his deep charisma could easily captivate most intelligent creatures and leave them infatuated.

That's what being a charismatic sorcerer was all about.

"This kind of charm is almost as strong as Lulu's," Matthew marveled.

Meanwhile, Peggy was already bringing the water, but Matthew couldn't help but feel a prickling sensation when he saw the large water basin she had brought from the kitchen.

"Peggy, did you bring the whole water tank from the kitchen?"

She shot him a stern look. "What's wrong? I was afraid Zeler might not have enough to drink."

Matthew remained silent, and he couldn't help but think that Peggy was different from the rest of the undead. While most undead creatures were immune to enchantments, she seemed to be completely entranced. Even so, he suspected she was just acting.

"Are you going all out for a raise? Maybe I really didn't pay you enough?"

He even considered that angle.

While there was a mild altercation between the two, Zeler took out a magic trick from his sleeve, presenting an empty bottle filled with water. He then nonchalantly dropped some ginger slices into the cup.

"Ever since my awakening at thirteen, this is all I drink," he explained with a smile.

Matthew hesitated for a moment before finally accepting the gift, placing the plush toy on his palm and rolling it around. He didn't notice anything unusual.

"So, you also know about this?" Matthew casually asked.

Zeler chuckled warmly. "You didn't really believe that nonsense from those undead cultists in White Rock City, did you?"

Matthew coughed twice. "But it was Reiga who told me the true identity of that necromancer."

Zeler added, "In the events that transpired, the people who died at your hands belonged to the Catastrophe Cult, a newly emerging evil organization. And according to our latest intelligence, they don't intend to stop. They're recruiting more members to harass Rolling Stone Town, and their primary target is you."

Chapter 34 >>

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