When dawn broke, the undead army was already far from its starting point, indeed it was over a hundred miles away from the graveyard where Keryan had awakened.
Rays of sunlight fell on them and Keryan felt instantly his power diminished, that was the same for his undead companions.
The undead army began to slow the pace, fortunately they weren't far from a deep and lush dark forest that would offer a shadow cover for them during the day.
Beside Keryan, the icy blue haired girl looked tired, she had bags under her eyes and her face was even paler than a dead man. Unfortunately for her, Keryan and his undead felt no fatigue and just went forward into the forest.
At first they just encountered normal animals, but soon they saw magical creatures that started to fight them fiercely, most of these creatures were fire foxes and thunder wolves.
Loss were unavoidable, and after some hours, most of the skeletons perished and only zombies remained.
The icy blue haired girl had her eyes wide open when she saw how strong the zombies were. She didn't expect this army of undead to be so powerful, of course she had understood that their leader wasn't a normal undead but the others were also a true force.
However when it appeared that they didn't even take time to collect all the corpses she wanted to hit her head on a truck, so she couldn't help but shouted madly at the hooded cape zombie beside her.
"Hey you, Zombo! At least order your monsters to take the corpses! They have high value and are very useful in alchemy and craft!"
When he heard her remark, it was like Keryan was struck by lightning. As a hardcore gamer, how could he had forgotte something so basic? Of course they had to collect the loot, these creatures were magical after all!
Moreover, his zombies didn't have a proper meal since they came back to life and even if they can 'live' without eating anything, some magical energy could only benefit them.
In the end, Keryan started to think that this girl he spared was really useful, furthermore she didn't complain about their situation even in her poor physical condition.
"You are right, we can't let these resources on the side of the road rot like us, however we don't have the manpower to transport them all nor a dimensional artefact."
Hearing his words, the girl looked like she was on the verge of collapse. She said in dismay.
"Lord Zombo… can't you just… REANIMATE THEM!" She yelled madly.
"..." Keryan.
"..." The girl.
They look at each other for a couple of seconds before the zombie scratches his head, trying to hide his embarrassment.
*Cough*
"Of course I can, it's just mana consuming, cough, cough…"
A moment later, he did raise his bone staff and channel a huge spell based on his death instincts, nearly emptying his pool of mana.
Fortunately, the effect was very efficient and a few seconds later, hundreds of magical creatures raised from the ground, their eyes filled with green glow.
However, this spell was only a fake summoning, it was temporary giving control over the nearly dead creatures but they didn't have any consistency, they were only empty vessels filled with dark magic.
With these new pets, the army was even more frightful and after this small break, the undeads resumed their march.
During this time, the girl took the opportunity to mount a reanimated wolf and was finally able to rest.
Danger was everywhere, it was the territory of strong magical beasts and the forest was so dense they were forced to reduce their pace even further.
Keryan began to regret having come here. He gritted his putrid teeth and gave command to his army to gather into one big arrow formation in order to pierce straight into this wall of trees.
Deep in the dark forest, a tide of undeads was devastating all in their path, the sight was very impressive and you could imagine how dreadful this army was.
Usually, undeads were used as canon folders and meat shields in wars opposing dark forces and holy armies. Only undead elites were used differently in terms of strategy, but in this world that was probably the first time an army of low grade undead were used like this.
Their leader, Keryan, didn't think about it, he just wanted to escape far away from the Holy Empire, especially the Kingdom of light where the hero came from.
With this new formation, the undeads moved forward quickly, destroying everything in their path, leaving behind only a dead and tainted trail.
Later that day, the environment finally began to change. Many streams and ponds could be seen around, no doubt that they were approaching the swamps.
Finally, after a long and crazy day in this immense forest, they arrived at their destination.
The dark swamps were covered in thick fog making the sun appear dim and far in the sky, and following their entrance in the fog, Keryan felt himself and his undeads regain their strength as if it was night time.
This location was indeed perfect for undead, and Keryan couldn't help looking at the icy blue haired girl in wonder. That was her who chose this direction and it turns out that was the right decision.
He couldn't help but be frustrated, no matter how mighty he was more powerful than her and leading an army of thousands of undead, he was after all an outsider and his meager knowledge of the game wasn't useful in this situation.
Bit by bit, his opinion about her changed. After all, she had helped him without flinching by having followed a monster like him and even being a holder of dark magic, she was not an undead.
Besides, he couldn't deny that she was really beautiful and attractive even to an undead heart and a loner like Keryan, he was not insensitive to her.
More than anything, she was the most knowledgeable person around him, and her help was undeniable.
The zombie was starting to wonder if he had a chance with her, obviously it was too early, but the thought crossed his mind for a moment.
It turned his selfish nature upside down by bringing so many conflicting feelings that it became difficult for Keryan to think properly.
"Is it the place that you spoke about?" He asked her.
She nodded slightly.
"En, it should be. I never come here myself but I'm sure we are in the dark swamps."
"The environment seems good for us undead but what about you? You're not even a dark elve so it would be hard for you to stay here. By the way, we can't settle here because if I'm correct we're still inside the border of the Holy Empire, right?
The girl furrowed her eyebrows and shook her head.
"The Holy Empire had no control over this place. These swamps stretch for hundreds of kilometers and as you've just said, the environment is unfitting for humans and other humanoid races. As for me, don't think too much. I can take care of myself, you said it, you can't take care of a girl because you have more important matters."
Keryan looked at her intently and replied.
"Of course I have more important matters to take care of. Can't you see these thousand undeads? We need to prepare in case the bloody prince chases after us up here."
"Maybe… You should meet with the Dark Alliance, but I won't return there, these people... "
Keryan was intrigued because for him the dark alliance was just the name of his enemy when he played the game as the hero of light, however their background was never mentioned. Hearing the girl, it seemed problematic so he decided to ask her.
"What about them? I don't want to be a pawn in their wars, I freed these undead myself and they accepted me as their natural leader, it may not be obvious for you but I hardly use any magic to control them."
The girl seemed a bit hesitant and lowered her head.
"I didn't have the choice to join them, I was used as a bargaining chip by my father to enter the good will of the dark alliance. Sold to a despicable man… Fortunately I escaped my fate because a high ranked dark mage of the seven circles saw my potential and took me as her disciple. Without my master, I fear that I would have been used as a plaything by that ugly old man!"
Keryan dead fish eyes flickered for a moment before he said.
"I can guess. What about your master, she seemed quite powerful with a high status, you should return to her."
"Impossible, my master went onto a secret mission, that why she sent me in the outpost of the war, thinking it was best for me because I would be far away from the head quarter and that peculiar old revengeful man."
While they were speaking, a sudden beastly roar resounded loudly in the fog in front of them.
An instant later, a horde of eerie crocodiles appear in their sight rushing fiercely toward them.
Keryan didn't hesitate a second, he stomped his bone staff onto the ground and shouted his orders!
"Tighten the formation! Prepare to fight!"