..
The next day.
Matthew woke up early.
Today was Saturday.
He didn't need to go to Seaver Public School during the day.
It was just the right time to complete the final mission target.
He carried a few bags of saplings from the greenhouse and hurried out.
Peggy was indeed meticulous.
In addition to the things needed for planting, she also placed lunch boxes and water bags on the shelf next to the sapling bag. This meant that she not only guessed that Matthew was going to do a big job today but also guessed that he would probably forget to get food from the kitchen.
Such attentiveness was a miracle for a low-level undead creature.
Sometimes, Matthew felt that it was not impossible for Peggy to plant trees for him.
But he was only thinking about it.
Although Rolling Stone Town was not a remote place where magic was extinct, and necromancers were far from being hated by everyone in the world of Aindor, a walking skeleton would always attract many strange gazes.
Not to mention that Peggy was a rare skeleton transformed from a dead Tauren.
Skeleton planting trees would definitely attract all kinds of criticism in a small place like Rolling Stone Town.
It was troublesome just thinking about it.
..
North of the oak forest.
Matthew walked steadily as he surveyed the land ahead.
He was choosing a location for the saplings.
Planting trees was never an easy task.
Seed selection;
Germination;
Foundation soil allocation;
Fixed planting in greenhouse;
Tree pit selection;
Transplantation and maintenance;
..
This series of steps had been memorized by Matthew in the past three years.
However, there were all kinds of problems that needed to be solved in practice.
For example, right now, Matthew had already prepared the saplings and tools, but he was unable to start work because of the difficulty of selecting a site.
"Rolling Stone Town is really not a good place to plant trees."
He looked at the billowing black smoke coming from the west.
Matthew sighed.
The Gold Digger Basin was famous for its various mines. The land here had been dug up several times by humans and kobolds, and most of the places were not suitable for plants to live.
Man-made pollution was one thing.
What was even more terrifying was the huge scar in the north!
Matthew stood on top of a mound and looked north.
"It's getting closer."
He looked at the black scar that was spreading from the north with a complicated expression.
..
[Scar of the Dead]
..
It was a scar left on the earth by a natural disaster many years ago.
It started from Jewel Bay in the east, passed through Jade Court and Eversong Forest, and extended to the Duke's Territory and Gold Digger Basin of the human kingdoms.
Near the Scar of the Dead, life force was extinguished.
Even undead creatures found it difficult to survive.
It was the purest and most brutal power of extermination.
Mortals couldn't fight it.
..
"There are many similarities between this world and the game world, but there are also many differences. There was no Scar of the Dead in the game world, and I have never heard of Rolling Stone Town and Jade Court. Could I be in the same game universe but not in the same plane?"
..
He retracted his gaze.
Matthew walked down the hill.
Behind him was the oak forest that was gradually taking shape. In front of him was a barren land, and behind the oak forest was Rolling Stone Town with red roofs and yellow bricks.
The three regions were clearly separated.
Sometimes, Matthew felt that the mission issued by the system might be related to the Scar of the Dead.
Because the more he looked at the oak forest, the more it seemed like a shield in front of the Scar of the Dead.
It was a pity.
"Just relying on an oak forest won't be enough to stop the Scar of the Dead from spreading." He thought casually.
..
Matthew walked around the hill.
He finally found a few suitable pits.
Although this place was beyond his planned location, it was still a distance away from the Scar of the Dead. The oak saplings planted here might be able to survive.
Limited by his physique and strength, Matthew could not be considered swift and decisive in his work, but he was more experienced.
He maintained a certain rhythm and speed.
Until the sun rises high in the sky
The saplings in the sacks had settled down at the foot of the hill.
Matthew wiped his sweat, took out a bottle of green liquid from his pocket, and sprinkled it on the oak seedlings one by one.
This was the " Green Growth Liquid " that he had asked someone to buy from the Druids of the Guardian Highland at a high price. It had the effect of accelerating and consolidating plants. If the plant were watered constantly, it would have 20 years of natural growth in a year.
Unfortunately, this was the last bottle Matthew had.
These three years.
Matthew had invested almost all of his savings into the vigorous planting of trees.
Now, it was finally time to reap the rewards.
His hands trembled slightly.
Puff.
Drops of green liquid fell.
The small sapling that had been wilting just a moment ago instantly flourished!
At that moment.
Matthew's eyes also lit up.
..
[Successfully planted five oak trees. Your Nature Affinity has slightly increased.]
[Accumulated number of oak trees planted and survived: 1001]
..
[You have completed the primary objective of the Main Mission: Plant Trees.]
[You have received the reward "Undead Summoning (Bone Dragon)" and "Massive XP"!」
..
[You have leveled up to Level 8!]
[Unable to continue level up, remaining XP has been accumulated, please upgrade as soon as possible]
..
Your [Undead Summoning] spell has been leveled up to level 8, and a contract slot has been added!
Your Intelligence +1
Your perception +1
..
You have obtained a new ability, Instant Summoning!
You have obtained a new ability, Fixed Drop!
Your ability, Rotten Sac Understanding, has been upgraded to Rotten Sac Mastery!
You can now learn higher-level spells!
..」
..
A dense stream of information flashed past Matthew's eyes.
A huge sense of satisfaction surged into his heart.
The increase in attributes and abilities did not exceed Matthew's expectations.
However, in terms of experience, he still had some left after leveling up three times.
This was much more than the amount of experience he gained from the Necromancy Meditation every day!
However…
What Matthew valued the most was still the Bone Dragon Summon!
..
[Undead Summoning (Bone Dragon): You can summon a Bone Dragon to serve you at any time.]
[Remark: This Bone Dragon is no higher than Level 15.]
[Contract status: Contracted]
..
"It's actually in a contracted state. I even saved myself a contract slot!"
Matthew was very satisfied.
Summoning was a necromancer's specialty, and it would increase with the level.
Every two levels of profession's advancement would result in an additional contract slot.
This was used to summon a specific creature.
The necromancer needed less mana to summon the contracted subjects.
The tacit understanding between the two sides was also higher.
As time passed, some necromancers would even develop feelings for their contracted subjects.
..
Kobold Mine.
In a hidden underground cave.
Matthew held the Withered Wood Staff and tried to summon the Bone Dragon for the first time.
An incantation sounded.
With the support of the new ability " Instant Summoning ", when the first syllable came out of Matthew's mouth, the dark cave flashed with a reverse hexagram array pointing to the negative energy plane. Grayish-white bone powder and dark green fire floated from the void like snowflakes.
Matthew looked over.
A giant skeleton beast that was mostly submerged in the darkness was lying there warily.
A deep blue soul flame lit up inside the skull of the skeletal dragon.
It stared coldly at Matthew.
Matthew was a little nervous under its gaze.
The air was constantly filled with the sound of the wind in the cave.
The man and the dragon were in a stalemate.
Matthew's muscles were abnormally tense.
This was the first time he had faced a monster that was twice his level!
The contract he had formed made him immune to the faint dragon's might.
However, the immense pressure from its body and the fear brought by its terrifying image could not be ignored.
..
"It's no wonder that people are always prejudiced against necromancers. The subjects in the field of necromancy are scarier than the last. How many people can face this fear?"
Matthew adjusted his state of mind.
He waved his withered wooden staff and ordered the skeletal dragon, "Bow your head."
The skeletal dragon's movements were slow but firm.
Its long neck slowly circled around the rocks and ceiling of the karst cave.
Then, it landed steadily on the ground in front of Matthew.
Its lower jaw was pressed against the ground.
The blue soul fire was jumping.
For some reason, Matthew actually felt a trace of nervousness from the spiritual fire of the behemoth in front of him.
Matthew was amused.
The skeletal dragon was nervous, but he wasn't.
He mustered his courage and stepped on the skeletal dragon's head.
The latter made a whimpering sound, appearing very docile.
Matthew was relieved.
He bent down and touched the bone dragon's bones.
It was dry.
It was also very rough.
At a glance, it was obvious that it was not an expensive bone.
"When we have money, we will definitely get you a new set of bones." Matthew couldn't help but say.
The bone dragon let out a low groan.
..
[The loyalty of Philolius (Bone Dragon) to you has increased to 85!」
..
Matthew was amused.
"So easily satisfied? Then I should make more promises."
The skeletal dragon slowly raised its head.
It lifted Matthew up.
Matthew was able to look down at the cave from a higher angle.
This place was originally a paradise for gold diggers. Later, when the mines were exhausted and idle, it was occupied by a Kobold tribe.
After the Suki Family took over Rolling Stone Town, the local lord issued several orders to expel the Kobolds. Under the hunting of the surrounding adventurers and mercenaries, the area gradually became silent and deserted.
As far as Matthew knew.
There were many similar karst caves in the Gold Digger Basin.
These karst caves were complicated.
Rumor had it that some of the karst caves were even connected to the vast underground world.
That was also where the kobolds had truly retreated.
..
Matthew rarely set foot in these areas.
However, the size of the bone dragon was too big. Even the underground karst cave could not accommodate it. One could imagine how big a storm it would cause if it appeared on the surface.
He was a low-key and pragmatic person.
He had never intended to hide his identity as a necromancer.
However, he did not want to cause trouble for no reason.
"In the future, I'll just stay in the cave with Philolius."
He thought about it.
Matthew carefully examined the skeletal dragon's body.
He also checked his stats.
..
[Name: Philolius]
[Race: Bone Dragon (LV15)]
[Attributes: Strength 24/Agility 10/Constitution 17/Intelligence 4/Will 10/Charm 14]
[Characteristics: Blind (60 feet)/Immune to acid/Immune to cold/Sensory sensitivity/Undead Creature]
[Ability: Flattery/First Attack/Undead Dragon's Might/Dash/Sweep Tail...]
..
"Flattery?"
Matthew realized it later.
"Was he trying to flatter me just now?"
It was as if it was to confirm Matthew's thoughts.
The bone dragon's bubbling sounds came from beneath his feet again. Coupled with the emotions transmitted by the leaping soul fire, this was definitely flattery.
The image of a strong man that Matthew had just built up because he thought the bone dragon was in awe of him instantly disappeared.
He could not help but stomp his feet.
"Your name is too difficult to pronounce."
"I'll call you 'Phily'!"
..
Philolius was at a loss for a moment.
Immediately after, its soul fire began to tremble violently.
Waves of joy surged through the contract.
..
[In appreciation of your name, the loyalty of Philolius (Bone Dragon) to you has increased to 90!]」
..
Perhaps it was too happy.
Phily's head shook too much.
Matthew was almost thrown off by it!
Fortunately, his perception and agility were both extraordinary.
He did a small, elegant jump.
Matthew landed steadily in the shadows of the cave.
But at that moment.
He suddenly felt that something was wrong.
He turned around and looked in the direction where he had landed.
He stepped on a piece of clothing covered in blood.
..