After chatting with Yingzi in the summoning space, Terry El gained a clearer understanding of his newfound realm.
The summoning space was an alternate dimension where time flowed differently—one year in the space equaled just a single day in the real world. This meant that Terry El could potentially produce nearly four thousand zombies annually from the graveyard. With two years since the space had been activated, he now commanded a formidable army of eight thousand undead. Yingzi, the first zombie produced by the graveyard, naturally took on the role of their leader.
In the years that followed, Terry El occasionally visited the summoning space to check on its progress. The rest of his time was spent diligently learning about the knowledge and skills of this new world. Though he occasionally contemplated finding work to help support his sister, Chris adamantly refused, forbidding him from taking on any jobs.
When Terry El turned ten, he secretly secured a delivery job in the city. While he was too small to handle heavy goods, his size made him perfect for transporting smaller items. Dashing across the bustling streets of Kodo City every day, the boy began to develop a sturdy physique. This newfound income brought much-needed relief to their humble home. For three years, this rhythm of life continued.
One day, an old man unexpectedly stopped Terry El.
The elder circled him, scrutinizing him from head to toe with an expression of incredulity.
"Boy, would you like a spatial ring?"
Terry El exhaled deeply, stifling a chuckle. *Great, another scammer trying to sell fake magic trinkets.* Spatial rings were priceless treasures in this world, and the idea that an old man like this would peddle one was laughable.
"No, thanks," he replied dismissively and turned to leave.
"Wait!" the elder called out hastily. "Are you sure you don't want it?" As he spoke, he pressed on the ring, causing a faint white halo to shimmer around it.
Terry El froze. That wasn't just any glow—it was spatial energy. Anyone with the slightest knowledge of magic would recognize it instantly. His disbelief turned to awe as his eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Sir, I'd love it, but… I'm just a poor kid. I could never afford something like that."
The old man chuckled heartily. "You think I'm selling this? Boy, I have no need for money. All I ask is that you agree to a single condition, and the ring is yours."
"What's the condition?" Terry El asked warily. *As long as it doesn't involve murder, I can probably manage.*
"Simple," the elder replied. "Beyond Kodo City lies a forest teeming with low-level magical beasts. Bring me proof that you've slain one hundred of them and submitted the task at the mercenary guild of the Reysa Empire within five days. Do that, and the ring is yours."
"That's it?" Terry El sighed in relief. He had braced himself for a far more daunting demand.
"You think it's easy, do you?" The old man smirked. "Fine. Prove it, and this ring is yours."
"Deal." Terry El grinned confidently. *You don't know what you're up against, old man. I have an army of forty thousand zombies. A hundred low-level magical beasts? Piece of cake.*
The elder maintained his relaxed demeanor. "I'll be waiting at the tavern's third floor. Remember, you've got five days—not a minute longer."
Without hesitation, Terry El dashed toward the city gates. This task aligned perfectly with his long-standing dream of leaving the confines of Kodo City to hone his skills and prepare for a future as a mercenary. At fifteen, he planned to embark on his journey, leaving Chris behind in comfort. This mission was the first step toward that goal.
The timeline was tight. With no money for transportation, he would have to walk to the nearest magical beast habitat, which took a full day. Another day would be needed to reach the Reysa Empire's guild, and two days were required for the return journey. That left him with just one day to hunt.
Terry El's destination was Spider Forest, an infamous area where venomous Emerald Spiders resided. These creatures, standing half a meter tall, could spew deadly toxins, making the forest a place even seasoned mercenaries avoided. However, this danger made it ideal for Terry El—he could summon his zombies without prying eyes, and their immunity to poison gave them a significant advantage.
After carefully scouting the forest's perimeter, he spotted a signpost marking the entrance. The large, ominous characters read: *Spider Forest.*
Terry El glanced around, confirming that no one was in sight. With a confident smirk, he opened the summoning gate. Yingzi was the first to emerge, answering his call.
This time, Terry El only summoned three hundred zombies—more than enough for his plan.
"Master," Yingzi said, surveying their surroundings. "Are we here to fight?"
Terry El nodded, pointing ahead. "Our targets are in that direction."
Yingzi frowned slightly, puzzled by the absence of human life nearby. However, she followed Terry El deeper into the forest without question.
They hadn't gone far before Terry El abruptly halted, raising a hand to signal silence. He pointed upwards.
Following his gesture, Yingzi looked up to see a massive spider dangling from a web, its dark body streaked with emerald-green patterns. The creature appeared to be resting.
"Attack," Terry El commanded with a wave of his hand.
The zombies, however, didn't move.
Confused, Terry El turned to Yingzi.
She hesitated, looking embarrassed. "Master, how exactly do we… uh… eat that?"
Terry El chuckled. "Yingzi, I know your methods. Form teams of three—two will pin down the spider while the third extracts its heart. We only need a hundred. Easy enough, right?"
Yingzi's hesitation vanished, and she swiftly relayed the orders with a piercing screech. The three hundred zombies surged forward, and the first Emerald Spider quickly became their initial target.