Chapter 11: The Queen of the Dead
The northern mountains glowed gold beneath the rising sun, their snowy peaks painted in light — a deceptive beauty that hid something far darker beneath. The cold wind howled through the cliffs, carrying with it whispers… voices that didn't belong to the living.
I, Devit, stood at the foot of those mountains, watching the distant ridges shimmer beneath the pale dawn. The air was sharp as knives, biting into my skin, while faint cries echoed from deep beneath the ice — the cries of the damned.
> System: Warning. Monsters will appear soon.
The words rang in my mind like a cold bell, filling me not with fear — but with resolve.
As I climbed the first ridge, they appeared. The dead.
Not mere corpses, but the twisted creations of dark magic — bare-boned skeletons in ancient armor, rotting zombies leaking a foul stench, and ghostly wraiths with eyes that burned red like embers of hate.
The first horde shambled toward me, weapons raised, moaning through broken jaws.
I drew my blade — its steel gleamed under the morning light — and muttered,
> "So it begins."
---
System: Battle initiated. Enemy count: 20.
The first zombie lunged. Its decayed hand reached for my throat. I sidestepped, swung my blade, and its head fell to the snow with a dull thud. But even without a head, its body still staggered forward, driven by some vile energy.
> "Tch… these things don't die easy."
Skeletons swarmed next, rusted swords clashing against my blade. Sparks flew. I struck back in a wide arc — steel against bone — shattering them one after another.
But for every one that fell, another rose.
The ground pulsed with necrotic energy.
Someone — or something — was calling them back.
System: New enemies detected. Enemy count: 35.
The battle raged for nearly an hour. My arms ached, and frost clung to my armor, but I did not stop. When the final corpse fell, silence swallowed the mountains once more.
System: Battle complete. EXP gained: 5000. Level up.
Strength: 6500 | Agility: 6500 | Endurance: 8500 | Intelligence: 6500
---
I climbed higher. The wind screamed louder, snow whipped at my face.
And then I heard it — laughter. A woman's voice, haunting and ancient, echoing through the blizzard.
The ground trembled. The second wave began.
This time, they were stronger — giant undead beasts, armored skeleton knights, and spectral mages casting magic from the shadows. Their movements were coordinated. Controlled.
> "So… there's a master behind this after all."
System: Battle initiated. Enemy count: 50. Boss presence detected.
A colossal zombie swung its axe — the ground shook as I dodged. My blade flashed, cutting deep into its chest, but it didn't fall. Spectral flames seared my arm as the mages attacked, yet my endurance held. I countered, slicing through their cores until the spirits screamed and vanished.
Still, the dead kept coming.
System: Enemy count: 100. Warning: Boss approaching.
The final horde emerged — skeletal bears and flaming-eyed wolves, snarling as they charged. Their howls shook the mountains. I met them head-on, steel against fang, until snow turned crimson and the battlefield fell silent once more.
System: Battle complete. EXP gained: 10000. Level up.
Strength: 7000 | Agility: 7000 | Endurance: 9000 | Intelligence: 7000
---
At the summit, the storm gathered — black clouds swirling like a living thing.
And from within them… she appeared.
A tall woman, wrapped in flowing black robes. Her long hair whipped wildly in the wind, her eyes burned red like dying stars, and a dark staff pulsed in her hands. Ghosts hovered around her like a crown of death.
> "You must be the one behind this," I said, raising my sword.
"Who are you?"
She smiled faintly, her voice smooth as ice.
> "I am Lira, Queen of the Dead. These mountains are my eternal kingdom. The corpses you've slain were mine — my loyal servants. Tell me, mortal… did the Queen send you? Does she fear my return?"
> "She sent me to stop the undead plague you unleashed," I replied, tightening my grip.
"End this now, or I'll end you."
Her laughter echoed like thunder. The air thickened with darkness.
> "You think you can destroy death itself? Fool. You will join my army before the day ends."
System: Boss Battle Initiated. Enemy: Lira, Queen of the Dead. Army count: 200+.
---
The battle that followed shook the mountains.
Lira raised her staff — waves of death magic surged outward, reanimating every corpse I'd slain. The undead returned, fiercer than before.
I charged, cutting through them in blinding arcs. She hurled black fire, and I rolled aside as it exploded, melting the snow into steam.
> "Impressive," she said, her crimson eyes gleaming. "No mortal has lasted this long against me."
> "You haven't seen anything yet."
I lunged. Our weapons clashed — steel against darkness — the sound like a thunderclap.
Her spells wrapped around me like shadowed chains, choking the air from my lungs. I broke free, slashed through her barrier, and struck her shoulder.
Dark blood spilled into the snow. She stumbled back, eyes wide.
> "That power… what are you?"
> "Someone who refuses to die."
She screamed and unleashed her full strength — hundreds of undead surged forward, a storm of claws and bone. I activated my new ability.
System: Skill unlocked — Denial of Death. Resurrection blocked.
Her magic faltered. The undead she raised began collapsing into dust, one by one. Panic filled her face.
> "Impossible… my power—!"
> "Your reign ends here, Lira."
I charged once more, breaking through her final barrier. Her staff shattered beneath my blade. She fell to her knees, the storm howling around her.
> "You've won," she whispered weakly. "But death never dies… my vengeance will return…"
Her form dissolved into black mist, carried away by the wind.
And just like that — silence returned.
System: Boss defeated. EXP gained: 50000. Level up.
Strength: 8000 | Agility: 8000 | Endurance: 10000 | Intelligence: 8000.
New Quest: Return to the Queen.
---
The blizzard faded.
Sunlight broke through the clouds, gilding the peaks in warmth once more.
I stood among the fallen, my sword buried in the snow.
The battle had changed me — my power, my resolve, my destiny.
Yago and the demons still waited beyond the horizon, but I was ready.
As I turned back toward the forest, I thought of my children… and the elves waiting for me.
The Queen's promise echoed in my mind: freedom for them all.
But then, carried on the cold wind, a faint whisper reached my ears — unfamiliar, distant, and ominous.
> "So you've defeated Lira… interesting."
I froze.
The true war, it seemed, was only beginning.