The Rise Of The Undead Emperor

Chapter 3: The Bony Party

 Rein had a grin on his face after getting a glimpse at one of their enemies. Without a single doubt, he chased after the enemy that separated him from Herm. But that wasn't easy as the enemy sniper continued to hunt, Rein. So Rein had to do something about the sniper. 

  Rein looked for a cover against the arrows and saw the wooden minecart. He dashes towards the minecart to protect himself from the archer sniping him. Rein takes a peek at where the arrows are coming from. However, Rein scratches his skull as he had seen no one. 

“Where's the enemy?"

   But Rein noticed something strange after looking at the distance, where the arrows came from. Rein noticed a wall about ten meters away from him. The arrows weren't coming from the wall. It appears closer to him, another strange thing he notices is how the arrows appear in thin air. 

   After a few seconds of analyzing the appearing arrows shot towards him. Rein had a cliched conclusion. He deduced that the enemy wasn't far but was close. With such a conclusion, Rein attempts to take another peek. But another arrow was fired towards him, Rein gladly managed to dodge the headshot from the enemy.

   “That was a close one, I'm already f*****g dead and I would be dead once again if I didn't react quickly. But wait what if I die here maybe I'll be reincarnated with better status and I might be handsome and not some low-ass dead guy." After saying that Rein felt a cold breeze stroke his neck signaling that his dreams would never happen.

  “Ok! I just had a feeling I might go to the afterlife if I die. And I still don't have a girlfriend. The f**k! How am I even going to have a girlfriend even in this life I'm all bones! *Sigh!* Anyway, back to reality. I guess my theory might be right: The enemy is near and is using invisibility to create an illusion that he's nowhere near."

   “This might be a bit dangerous, but this will work with no problem. Except I have to make a few sacrifices to my health points. If there are other ways to deal with this archer or sniper. I would be willing to take that chance, but I'm not that smart to make more plans. Wait a minute, I don't even have a brain for crying out loud. Even as a dead guy I still have to use my brain cells from my non-existent brain. ”

Rein suddenly jumps out from hiding behind the minecart. Exposing himself to the enemy he believes to be invisible. He started straight to where the last arrows came. Then, as Rein remembered, arrows did appear closer.

One after another, arrows piercing the air raced toward Rein. One of them landed in his ribcage that had been covered by the robe. Rein watches his health point bar lose one-fourth after being struck by the arrow. However, Rein immediately aimed his palm in where the arrows came. Rein then chants his skill as fast as he can.

“Fireball!”

   The fiery orb once again appears on his palm. The orb flies itself toward its target with blazing speed, before exploding into a sea of flames. After the explosion, black smoke covered the area. But as the murky haze covers the place. Inside the foggy area, a silhouette lit by the flames shines however, the silhouette was much familiar.

   The silhouette resembles a skeleton with a bow aimed at Rein. Its figure glowed in the black smoke as the flames from Rein's fireball took the form of the invisible enemy. Even with the bow aimed at him, Rein had a grin. He aimed his palm at the skeleton and without a second thought, used his unique skill to turn the undead marksman into a follower.

  The skeleton marksman puts his bow down and moves forward. The flames that engulfed the skeleton slowly disperse, as the undead walk toward Rein who helps himself to stand. Rein removes the arrow that damaged his robe. After he removes the arrow the hole created by the projectile closes itself. Rein ignored it, but he was still amazed at the robe. 

   Rein, gaze at the marksman trying to kill him stood harmlessly in his front. Then a pop-up screen appeared in his sight which he read quietly.

‘Ranger Skeleton Lonor has become your follower.'

Rein smiled, “looks like I'm slowly making a complete party. We only lack a vanguard that can take a ton of damage. But that wouldn't be impossible since I already found one." 

  Rein then gazed in the direction where Herm was bashed by a shield. 

  Rein walks toward the direction where the sound of two sheets of steel clashes. But before moving forward he gave a hand sign and asked the skeleton Ranger Lonor. 

“Follow me, we have some converting to do.”

   Everything has been going well for Rein as when he arrived at the scene. He saw Herm overpowering the enemy. Rein crossed his arms and thought to himself.

  ‘So that was another skeleton after all. But why does my ability doesn't activate? I can still tame another skeleton. Is there some sort of bug with my skills?’

   After his internal monologue, Rein raises his hand and aims his palm at the undead fighting Herm. Before chanting his unique skill to turn the shield-wielding skeleton into his follower. With a chant, a green magic circle appeared below the skeleton. The magic circle below the feet of the skeleton released a bright glow. It engulfed the shield-wielding undead. However, the skeleton didn't react to the skill. The skeleton instead continues his attack towards Herm.

   Herm backs away at a safe distance after witnessing the failed attempt of his master.  Herm, still chased by the enemy, blocks all of the enemy's attacks using his sword. Until Herm jumps away from the shield-wielding undead he then turns his gaze at his master. Using sign language Herm communicates with Rein.

“Boss, Help me! Don't just stand there! This guy's tough, all of my attacks have been blocked and stopped by his shield."

   “Wait a minute! You can talk! Wait, when did I learn to read sign language? I didn't remember learning such helpful skills before. I only took a ballet class and interpretative dance."

    Click-Clack-Bam!

   “MASTER! HELP!" Herm yelled through sign language. However, Herm's cries were useless since he's using his fingers. 

Rein couldn't hear as he was absorbed in his questions on how he learned to know sign language.

    This caused Herm to lose focus on his enemy. Leading for his entire body to be struck by his opponent's shield. However, the swordsman managed to lower the damage by blocking the attack with his sword. Lonor suddenly slaps Rein in his skull which grabs Rein's attention.

   “Why the hell did you do that? Bad skelly!"

   Instead of being worried and scared, Lonor points his finger at Herm. Rein looked at his follower and saw how badly injured he was. Herm had cracks on his ribcage and was slowly struggling to even stand straight. Without hesitation Rein raises his palm forward and chants.

      “Fireball!" Rein uses his favorite attack once again. The orb of fire successfully landed on the shield-wielding skeleton. How it was not a skeleton after being burned by the fireball. The skeleton disappears and what reappears was a living treasure chest.

       “A mimic!" Rein exclaimed.

Its lid opened revealing sharp teeth that could tear into anything. However, inside the monster's chest was a beating heart. Lonor aims his bow loaded with an arrow at the chest. Then with a single shot, Lonor kills the monster. 

    Herm walks back to his master and new comrade stomping his feet. Then with sign language tells Rein. “Why didn't you help me instantly, boss?"

   Rein was unable to answer his subordinates' questions. Rein didn't want to anger his followers so he replied to Herm. However, it was stopped by a sudden sound echoing throughout the mine shaft. This caused Lonor and Herm to be alerted. For Rein, he was filled with confusion.

*AWOOOOOH!*

  The skeletons except for Rein became alerted. Everyone raised their weapons and seemed to be preparing for combat. Then, Rein could hear the footsteps of a four-legged beast rushing towards them.