Pestilence: Rise Of The Pure Undead

Ourlst was with one knee against the ground, head low, eyes aimed directly as the ground, the lustrous black floor, right wrist resting on one the other knee, left knuckles against the dark iron, clutching his sheathed sword with strength only the grip of a dead man could muster, he felt like the moment could not have been more badly picked.

The knight had headed over to report immediately, convinced to have cracked the code and discovered exactly where the livings of the south had hidden away at, the only problem being that he had been tasked with utilising force and military might to destroy them, and as such, he did not have access to a majority of the utility castes, such as the digging and mining caste currently working with Horhir in the Eastern Peaks.

He probably had the firepower on his side to punch through the soil, but then, he would be breaking one of the major rules of conquest, which was to not meaningless destroy and ravage the lands that were to soon be part of the empire, it was to ensure the maintenance of the topography and many such things, but also because the livings were to be swallowed and made into undeads, keeping their homelands from being demolished could only aid in integrating them.

In an effort to do what was best, Ourlst decided to consult with Loimos, certain that the southerners would have nowhere else to hide once this underground area was invaded, soon enough, Ourlst would complete the operation in the south, or so he hoped.

Unfortunately, upon reaching the top of the black iron tower, something that had definitely not been there when he was walking to it from the ground had now appeared, Ourlst didn't even know what to call it, all that he knew was that multiple torrents of rot were forming a large vortex which was being absorbed into whatever was being created, sensing the usage of everything that could be used, Loimos was not messing around, the thing being crafted either required that much, or was important enough to warrant the best of what the champion could do.

It was often easy to forget, but the primeval rot was both a power of destruction and creation, what was moulded by Loimos could linger on for eternity, nearly impossible to tell that it had been built from rot alone.

"Ourlst, do speak up" not even mentioning what was happening all around, the general walked up to the kneeling undead.

"Sir Loimos… I believe that I have discovered where the last of the warriors of the south are hiding, only that they are hiding underground, similarly to what the feasters did in the east…" he explained the situation in details, from how he had figured it out to the problem it posed as there was no real way for Ourlst to get to them without breaking a rule of the vanguard, there was no circumstance that required the usage of extensively destructive force.

"So, I was wondering if I could be allowed to call upon the digging crew?" he kept the demand low however, knowing that once a way was carved out, victory would be assured as the livings would be trapped in a confined space.

"Ourlst, how long do you think until Belliste is completely under our control?" instead of responding to the question, the general asked another.

The left hand stayed silent for a few moments, taking his time to think of an appropriate answer.

"Greatly depends… The moment I and Horhir get our hands on the livings, we should be capable of defeating them in less than a month, at least for the south and east who have locked themselves underground… The Western Cliffs on the other hand, they are an unknown quantity so far- I would say minimum six months in the best of cases, after we discover their hiding spot, that is…" Ourlst made sure to show that he was uncertain about the numbers, but he felt rather confident about the Southern Shores and Eastern Peaks, the livings had done well to get out of reach and hide away, but they were also in a corner, without any means to run further.

The black knight looked up at his general, awaiting for what was next.

"Both you and Horhir have worked well, even when barred from your preferred methods, you demonstrated impressive flexibility, I am satisfied with what you showed me so far, the restrictions are hereby lifted"

"Huh-?"

'All restrictions? All?' Loimos was always precise and clear in the words he used, and what he had called 'restrictions' went beyond those imposed upon Ourlst and Horhir in their leading tactics.

"I do not doubt that your victory is imminent, but as Ghatr and his men are already busy, and also as digging another hole through the earth would be counterproductive, I will make sure you get there myself, in the future, when pinpointing such an unreachable area, you will have the support of countless mages and other castes capable of dealing with the problem"

"You have my sincerest thanks, My General! I will ensure that the livings don't suspect anything, when are we to deal the final blow?" not questioning that Loimos would be able of getting them there, it also answered the question Ourlst had asked himself, such an act would constitute as the champion getting personally involved in the war efforts, meaning that he was going to truly break the vows he had taken.

Loimos was truly going to absorb Belliste into the undead empire.

"Horhir is soon to reach the feasters, he will be informed that the usage of strength is no longer restrained, once the easterners are culled, the nightbirds will discover the westerners and then, will come the time of the south, until then, there is no need for you to do anything specific, no matter how suspicious, they will not see it coming" with these words, the thing being constructed above halted, all streams of rot disappeared, the great mass transforming and shaping itself into a specific shape.

"Your next mission will to oversee the transition of this land from life to death, the early days of the new Belliste will require much attention, the amount of those of live in death risks of being especially high"

Your adventure continues at My Virtual Library Empire

Indeed, the vanguard had never occupied such a wide territory, making small tribes and such submit, give into death, was easier when victory had been sudden and overwhelming, the people here had resisted and held ire toward the undead, convincing them of becoming subjects of the empire would be a challenge for certain.

Nodding his head, Ourlst stood up, going back to work, knowing that he had done his job as Loimos had wanted.