When the high-level skeleton mage walked out of the Skeleton Mage Temple, even Andel could tell that he was very excited.
Why?
Well, why else? If the soul fire inside a necromancer's skull starts to flicker wildly, it's usually from either anger or excitement. Judging by the high-level skeleton mage's posture, Andel didn't think he was angry.
Even so, Andel had no intention of communicating with this high-level skeleton mage. The only reason he was staying in the vicinity of the temple was that battles couldn't occur within the temple's boundaries—otherwise, Death Lord Haderich would come to deal with anyone breaking that rule.
Could he sneak away with his subordinates?
Andel did think about it, but the two black knights standing outside the temple made him abandon that idea. He had to stay put in the small plaza outside the Skeleton Mage Temple.
"You, come to Lord Kordelon."
Unfortunately, just as Andel had feared, after the high-level skeleton mage came out, he pointed at Andel, who was hiding behind his skeleton servants, and transmitted another wave of consciousness to him, this time without using "dark coercion."
Though reluctant, Andel walked over with a sense of confidence. What could this Kordelon possibly do to him?
"Hold this—"
Just as Andel reached Kordelon's side, a black knight's head flew at him with a whoosh, landing straight in his arms.
Andel was completely caught off guard. Since when did a high-level skeleton mage like Kordelon engage in a sneak attack? Almost immediately, he was about to curse at the cowardice of it—throwing hidden weapons at him!
Panicking, Andel caught the black knight's head and looked at Kordelon, who was hidden beneath a tattered cloak, trying to figure out what he was up to.
"Don't understand what I'm saying? Pathetic low-level being... then take my words as an order."
Kordelon tightened his cloak, then continued transmitting his will to Andel.
"This worthless black knight's soul fire, I'm giving it to you."
With that, Kordelon didn't wait any longer and, with his two black knight servants, walked off, leaving the temple grounds.
Just like that?
Andel was utterly confused. When had it become a normal thing in the world of the undead to get paid for being forced to do work?
Normally, low-level undead who served high-level undead were treated like laborers tricked into slave work—they'd be lucky to survive with their lives, much less be rewarded.
Damn it, if he had known helping to carry two heads would get him this kind of reward, he wouldn't have been slogging away in the zombie caves. He could've just waited here at the temple entrance!
But Andel didn't know—
Kordelon had recently upgraded a long-desired skill after offering several black knights' soul fires, so he was in a very good mood. Plus, Kordelon was no ordinary skeleton mage—he had been wandering the undead plane for nearly two thousand years and had signed contracts with necromancers from the main plane. He was well-versed in the ways of both worlds and didn't view things from the usual "kill or be killed" undead mentality.
So, seeing something interesting in Andel, Kordelon casually passed him the black knight's head that Death Lord Haderich had refused to take. There was nothing particularly strange about that.
But Andel had only been in the undead realm for a short while—he had no idea about these things. Not understanding what was going on, he just happily accepted the black knight's head.
The black knight who had been decapitated by Kordelon was at least a level 3 or 4 undead.
A level 3 or 4 black knight? That was almost on par with the Electric Zombie Lord!
Andel chuckled for a while, then hesitated... should he consume the soul fire or try to subdue it?
Eating the soul fire? Andel felt that doing so might immediately level him up to level 5, which would greatly expand his army of skeleton servants. This was a game-changer—over a hundred undead together would be enough to scare anyone!
Subduing the soul fire? If he could find a way to reattach the head to a body and mount it on a skeleton warhorse... Andel was confident he could defeat the Electric Zombie Lord head-on!
Eat it or subdue it?
Andel was so frustrated, he almost considered smashing the skull against the wall.
"Dammit, Kordelon, you're just messing with me, huh? I'm dying here, trying to decide!"
Well... unable to figure it out on his own, Andel ended up venting his frustrations by cursing at Kordelon, not realizing that if Kordelon ever heard what he said, he might come back and annihilate him on the spot.
After a long internal debate, Andel finally managed to control his impulse to devour the black knight's soul fire. Instead, he decided to keep it.
"Hey, are you still alive? If you are, give me a sign!"
Tentatively, Andel reached out with his consciousness to the black knight's head, which was now placed on the steps.
The black knight's soul fire flickered, and a fierce, chaotic wave of spiritual energy surged back at Andel.
"Damn it! You're not gonna play along, huh?"
Quickly severing the connection, Andel, irritated, kicked the black knight's head away. It flew a long distance. Of course, as he did so, three of his right toes snapped off and flew with it.
Despite being angry, Andel limped over and retrieved the head with the helmet still on it.
Andel was always like this—he might hesitate before making a decision, but once he made up his mind, he would stick to it without looking back. The poor black knight's fate was sealed from the moment it landed in his hands.
"Listen, you now have two choices. First, you voluntarily surrender your soul fire fragments and become my servant. Second, I'll force you to serve me with necromantic control. Choose. I've made it clear that the treatment in the first and second cases will be completely different. Now choose!"
Holding the black knight's head level with his own cheek, Andel roared in his mind.
Though the black knight was only a head now, its spirit was still proud, and it made no response to Andel's threats and entreaties.
"Fine. Fine!"
Andel placed the black knight's head on the ground, then pulled out his bone staff and began preparing his spell. His target? The defiant black knight's skull.
Looking up at the rising crimson moons, Andel felt a sense of urgency. He didn't have time to waste with this black knight. He had his plan to level up and evolve his skeleton mage servants, and he needed to test it.
After some delays earlier, Andel was not in a great mood, and the poor, stubborn black knight's refusal was going to cost it dearly.
"Magellan—go make a round of the temple and keep an eye out. Red, you take the skeletal hounds and do the same. Watch for any ambushes. If you see the skeleton mage or spot any black knights, report back immediately."
Andel lingered outside the temple plaza for a reason—who knew if Kordelon was waiting around the corner?
After assigning the tasks, Andel cracked his knuckles and began casting Necromantic Control on the black knight's skull.