Chapter 24: A Lord’s Army

Chapter: A Lord's Army

The Summoning Gate pulsed with power, its runes glowing with an eerie blue light. Leon stood before it, gripping the summoning scrolls he had obtained after the battle.

Fifteen common military scrolls.

And one rare necromancer scroll.

The former would reinforce his army. The latter… Well, that was the real mystery.

Taking a deep breath, Leon activated the scrolls one by one.

---

The air shimmered, and figures began stepping through the portal.

First came ten swordsmen, each clad in simple armor, their weapons gleaming in the dim morning light. They carried themselves with trained discipline, immediately kneeling before Leon.

Then, five marksmen, each carrying longbows and quivers full of arrows. Their eyes were sharp, their stance steady—valuable assets for defending the walls.

Murmurs spread among the gathered people. With this, their standing army had grown significantly.

But the biggest catch was still waiting.

Leon unrolled the last scroll.

A deep, chilling wind swept through the settlement. The light of the Summoning Gate dimmed for a moment, then flared with dark energy.

A lone figure stepped out.

---

He was tall, draped in black robes with silver runes stitched along the fabric. His pale skin contrasted with his piercing, almost glowing blue eyes. Wisps of dark mist curled around his fingers as he stepped forward, surveying the world with an unreadable expression.

Immediately, the people recoiled. Some clutched their weapons. Others whispered in fear.

"A… necromancer?"

"Didn't we just fight those cursed sorcerers?"

"This is madness!"

Leon remained calm, watching as the necromancer slowly turned to him.

Then, in a single swift motion, the man dropped to one knee.

"My Lord," the necromancer intoned, his voice a smooth, chilling whisper. "I am Malrik, Seeker of the Veil. I live to serve you."

The fear in the air was palpable, but Leon stepped forward, meeting Malrik's gaze.

"Then serve me well," Leon said firmly. "You are my subject now, and your power will be used for the good of this territory. I do not tolerate betrayal."

Malrik bowed his head lower. "I understand, my Lord."

Leon turned to the gathered crowd. "This man is loyal to me. That means he is loyal to all of you. Do not fear him. He will help us uncover the mysteries of this land—and ensure our survival."

Slowly, the tension eased. The people were still wary, but they trusted Leon. If he said Malrik was an ally, they would accept it.

---

[System Notification!]

[Because you have proven yourself by surviving overwhelming odds, your summoning ability has been enhanced!]

[Daily Summoning Bonus: +5 Common Scrolls per day (instead of 2)]

[Weekly Summoning Bonus: +1 Uncommon Scroll per week]

Leon's eyes widened. This was huge. Most lords barely had two summons per day, but he had five. That meant his forces would grow at twice the speed of others.

And the uncommon scroll? That could summon stronger units, possibly even knights or specialists.

His advantage over other lords had just increased drastically.

Satisfied, Leon turned to check his territory's updated status.

---

[Territory Status – E Rank]

Population: 78

Dedicated Soldiers: 30

Defenses: Stone walls, reinforced gate, watchtowers

Notable Structures: Forge, Summoning Gate, Lord's Keep

---

With things settled, Leon turned his attention to expansion.

He needed more people.

---

That afternoon, he gathered his most reliable warriors and formed an exploration squad. Their task was simple—find survivors, bring them to safety.

Led by one of the newly summoned sergeants, the squad would scout the surrounding regions, marking potential threats and settlements.

At the same time, Leon assigned Malrik his first mission.

"Your knowledge of the undead is greater than ours," Leon said. "I need you to investigate. Find out how deep the Eclipse Covenant's influence runs in this land."

Malrik's eyes gleamed with intrigue. "As you wish, my Lord."

With that, the necromancer departed into the night.

---

The following week was a flurry of progress.

Using Extraction, Leon refined materials, helping craftsmen expand the settlement's resource production.

Farms were established, ensuring a stable food supply.

Fishing techniques were improved, providing more food for the growing population.

Silver weapons continued to be forged, giving their warriors an edge against future undead threats.

More people arrived—both summoned and rescued by the scouts.

By the week's end, the settlement had more than doubled.

[Territory Updated!]

Population: 132

Dedicated Soldiers: 46

Things were looking better than ever.

Until the scouts returned.

---

They arrived exhausted, their faces pale.

Leon met them at the gate, sensing urgency.

One of them, barely catching his breath, spoke quickly.

"My Lord… We bring an urgent report."

Leon frowned. "Go on."

The scout swallowed hard.

"We found a survivor. A Lord like you!"

Leon's eyes widened slightly. Another Lord? That was the first he'd heard of one in this cursed land. "Where?"

"Southwest, beyond the hills. His settlement is under siege—Hollowborn are attacking in overwhelming numbers."

Leon's expression darkened.

Another Lord had been thrown into this deadly world like him. But unlike Leon, this man had not been as prepared.

"How many undead?"

"Too many," the scout admitted grimly. "They have defenses, but they won't last long. If we move now, we might be able to save them."

Leon exhaled slowly, already running calculations in his head. His forces had grown, and his walls were strong—but did he have enough to intervene?

This was a gamble.

But one thing was certain.

If they let another Lord fall… that would be one less ally against whatever darkness was still waiting beyond the horizon.

Leon turned to Garrick, his decision already made.

"Rally the warriors. We march at dawn."