Ted spent the following three days turning the ruined high-rise into something more than a temporary hiding spot.
He chose the 14th to 19th floors as his core territory. Using **Intermediate Horde Command**, he directed groups of controlled zombies to clear debris, drag in salvageable materials, and create basic barricades across stairwells and broken sections. The work was slow and methodical, he issued commands in small batches to avoid overexertion and to keep the activity from drawing too much attention.
By the end of the third day, he had a functional, if crude, bastion:
- Reinforced choke points on every accessible stairwell.
- Multiple escape routes through broken windows and collapsed sections.
- A small "larder" area where he could safely store and harvest lesser zombies when needed.
- A high observation post with a commanding view of several surrounding blocks.
He tested his growing control by maintaining a standing force of sixty controlled lesser zombies patrolling the outer perimeter in rotating squads. **Decay Aura** kept them slightly weakened and more obedient, making them easier to manage over long periods.
During this time, he fed regularly but discreetly. Small packs of uninfluenced zombies that wandered too close became fuel for his continued growth.
**Necro Essence: 1,892**
The numbers were climbing steadily. Level 4 no longer felt distant, it felt inevitable.
On the evening of the third day, Ted stood on his observation post, looking out over the ruins. The distant glow of the Central Military Hub was still visible on the horizon, a constant reminder that Marcus and the others had not given up. Search teams had swept the area twice more, but they had grown more cautious, never venturing too deep into the zones where Ted had established influence.
He opened the expanded shop and browsed the new Advanced Options that had become available at Level 3:
- **Horde Link (250 Essence)**: Allows basic sensory sharing with controlled zombies (sight and sound).
- **Personal Decay Shield (300 Essence)**: Temporary aura that weakens incoming attacks and accelerates enemy decay on contact.
- **Essence Reservoir (400 Essence)**: Passive storage that slowly converts ambient necro-energy from the environment.
Ted made his first major purchase.
*[Horde Link purchased (250 Essence). Remaining: 1,642.]*
Immediately, his perception expanded. He could now "see" and "hear" through the eyes and ears of his controlled zombies in a limited, hazy way. The world felt larger, more connected.
He smiled faintly.
As night fell, Ted felt a new presence through his expanded senses.
A small group of living humans, eight people, armed and moving carefully was approaching the outer edge of his influence zone. They weren't hub soldiers. Their movements were more ragged, more desperate. Survivors, perhaps from another camp.
Ted watched through the eyes of one of his patrolling zombies.
The group paused when they spotted the unusually organized movement of the controlled infected. One of them, a woman with a scarred face, raised her rifle.
"Something's wrong here," she muttered. "These zombies are acting… coordinated."
Ted considered his options.
He could ignore them and let his zombies drive them away.
He could reveal himself and attempt to recruit or trade.
Or he could use this encounter to test how well he could hide his true nature while interacting with others.
He chose the third path.
Ted descended from his bastion and approached the group openly, keeping his crowbar visible but lowered. He had used **Minor Flesh Crafting** to appear as a weary but capable survivor.
"Easy," he called out, raising his free hand. "I'm human. The zombies won't attack you if you don't threaten this area."
The group tensed, weapons raised. The scarred woman narrowed her eyes.
"Who the hell are you? And how are you controlling them?"
Ted kept his voice calm. "Name's Ted. I've got… a way with the dead. It's not perfect, but it keeps me alive. This building is mine for now. If you're just passing through, I won't stop you. If you want to talk trade or information, we can do that too."
The group exchanged uneasy glances. The woman lowered her rifle slightly.
"I'm Lena. We're from a camp north of here. We heard rumors of someone who can… influence the dead. Never believed it until now. You dangerous?"
"Only to those who threaten me," Ted replied honestly.
Lena studied him for a long moment, then nodded slowly.
"We might have use for someone with your… talent. And you might need allies. The hub is sweeping the entire sector looking for someone. They're calling him a 'Necrotic anomaly.' Sound familiar?"
Ted's expression remained neutral, but inside, the pieces were falling into place.