Bro, I'm not an Undead!

One day later...

From the height, two men with their bodies coated in mana defensively gazed over the vast distance where, in diminutive sizes, a couple of small towns as well as three small cities could be spotted.

The fresh greenery all around created a beautiful picture but these two men were not interested in that in the least. All they cared for was the product of gold.

Every other day, resources were funnelled into this cluster of settlements a distance away. A lot of resources.

Their mission was clear.

"You never told me what the boss ordered," one of the two said.

"Ah, that's right! I never did, did I?" the other responded with an embarrassed laugh.

"Tsk. Forgetful prick. Did he say we should attack?"

"Ah, no. He told us to wait a few more minutes."

"I see. Will he be joining us?"

"I don't think so."

"Hmmm. And about the pests snooping around this base? How did he say we should deal with them?"

"He said to ignore it. 'Unless someone significantly powerful shows up, they will never be able to enter this place. The Shamans are making sure of that. Besides, we won't be staying here for long'. That's what he said."

"I hope he's right."

"Ah, cheer up brother. This will be easy. Our job is to procure the valuables and leave. We have greater numbers and strength than them all. What could go wrong, haha?"

"Procure the valuables and leave, ey? Is that all we are going to do?"

"Ah..." the other voiced as a devilish grin crawled up on his face.

***

Isise, Evic.

The 'capital' of the arrangement known as the Isise, three cities joined in order to share economic innovation and resources as well as to strengthen their mutual extreme devotion to the Deities, the city Evic, was slowly getting back on its feet.

Weeks ago, a terrible battle had taken place here, bringing about a catastrophic level of damage to both the infrastructure and the lives of the inhabitants.

What was shocking was that it was registered that there was only one assailant and he managed to defeat one of the top five Paladin Champions of the Purity and a Higher Order Priest.

With many dead, and the majority who were still lost in some form of trance after the assailant used a strange ability, it had taken a while for any form of stability to be established. Priests had flooded Evic along with dozens of Purity Knights to offer security which did have a minimal positive effect.

What truly boosted morale and peace of mind above the ground however, was the arrival of a Paladin Champion in Evic. To the devout residents, this was the best case scenario – the Deities sending another chosen to protect them.

Unfortunately, the budding peace and calm was ruined by the many groups of bandits that sought to take advantage of the relief that was being sent to Evic from different other cities and sponsors.

The attacks were constant and unyielding but ultimately they moreso drained the strength of the Purity Knights and Champion who guarded the city than cause much damage.

To continue to endure against the rush of attacks was the main problem, thus to relieve the pressure, the Paladin Champion stationed here as well as the City Lord organised for the hire of Contract Knights.

Fortunately, in this region, the Carpet Keep, a fortress that welcomed those willing to work as Contract Knights was well known for its rapid response and quality of combatants, especially against criminals.

The call had been made seven days ago for help and a Division of Contract Knights had been sent to the Isise, arriving on the same day.

The pressure had been lessened significantly with the arrival of these Knights as one of their strengths was the variety. Reconnaissance, power, speed - they had it all - and their well-coordinated movements won them many battles.

The Knights lived up to their name.

Yet, against this experienced Division, the might of the Purity and their streak of success, a particularly dangerous group of bandits had arrived four days, turning the victories into losses.

The tide shift had been so bad that the consequences of one raid were terrible.

"Please don't look so irritated, Sir Anara. They only got us once," a Purity Knight decked in silver armour said reassuringly. "We won't let it happen again."

"Right. It's easy for you to say that. I don't blame you. Do you know how else one goes about rising in rank amidst the monsters of Paladin Champions above them?" the man walking beside the Purity Knight, Anara, asked rhetorically, with a frown. "Accomplishments. You prove that you are efficient, especially when it comes to protecting innocents. The Purity strengthens its reputation by proving that they can at least protect to the devout."

"Failing at that as a Paladin Champion, even ONCE, just pushes my chances of building renown lower and lower."

To this, the Knight beside Anara couldn't find any more words to say to bring comfort. He would just be adding fuel to the fire.

Anara, tall, stout, long black haired Anara, was a rank 11 Paladin Champion, one rank above the last.

Past rank 10 was a different dimension it seemed, as Anara and the Champion below him were the only ones in the entire ranking to not have a purple core!

Even the woman Anara despised, Elita, who had vanished weeks ago had a purple core and she wasn't anybody special. She was famed for underutilising her strength and holding back in the name of honour.

Now that she was gone though, the spot she left could be his if he succeeded in, with the Contract Knights' help, repelling the waves of bandits.

But this particular group of criminals. They were different.

"Argh! At a time like this, one of those privileged Grand Priests keeps sending people here to help with the 'effort', as he calls it. If someone is to repent of their sins, let them do it at home! There's been tens of those useless civilians sent here to help build houses, cool or do some stupid mundane tasks to earn forgiveness and such. We need more fighters instead!" Anara growled.

He pushed his hair back viciously, which seemed to be the hundredth thing to annoy him today.

"The Grand Priests probably don't know what's happening here. They never have to fight, right? How many more are we expecting of these... sinners?"

"Hmph, probably tens more. I hear there's this one scum among them. Used to provide living sacrifices to Evenfall cultists. Tsk. How does one repent from that by stirring some broth? Can't wait to see that fool get here."

As the two walked through the streets which were chock full of unfinished houses, multiple camps for healing those with ghastly injuries, to feed the residents who could walk by themselves and house those who were still in the strange trances, Anara's mood softened.

As he gazed at these people, he couldn't help but be reminded why he chose to become a Paladin Champion in the first place.

With the latest attack by this new group of bandits, more damage had been sustained, with hundreds injured in the battle to repel the greedy bastards but the thing that caused Anara's heart to sting the most, was the thousands of hollow shells of humans that wouldn't eat nor drink.

Whoever had messed up their minds was powerful.

No Healers or Mages had been able to bring these people back to their right minds as of yet.

Anara shook his head and tore his mind from these thoughts. This wasn't the time.

"By the way, has anyone been able to found out where those people reporting missing went? They couldn't have been kidnapped right?"

"No. Strangely, all of them appeared to have been sick or dying. I doubt any bandit would abduct burdens. Maybe it's those cultists?"

"Right. Maybe. And that doll? Any clues or anything?"

"None yet."

"Perfect. Just perfect," Anara said with a bitter expression.

The two finally reached the spot outside the city where the Contract Knights had set up camp.

They seemed to be scrambling for their weapons with some rushing off in different directions!

Anara quickened his pace.

"What's going on?!" he asked, hoping for anyone to answer.

One of the Knight bulleting past him answered succinctly.

"They are coming!"