Free Web NovelChapter 9: Feast of the Damned
[Zombie Feast] was a persistent summoning. Once triggered, the spell would continue until every undead was destroyed or the caster’s ritual collapsed entirely. Killing Heiss had not halted the horde.
Within minutes, the shadows outside the wooden shack thickened into a writhing mass of decaying limbs and glowing eyes. Moans and scratching claws echoed through the night air.
Xander made a swift decision. The room with the gaping hole from Corrosive Fire was indefensible. He signaled Elyra, and they retreated to the more intact living room. Working together with urgent precision, they barred the doors and windows using furniture and loose planks. It would buy precious time, but not much.
The atmosphere inside grew heavy. Heiss’s headless corpse lay sprawled on the floor, blackish blood pooling across the boards. Elyra lowered her head, shame evident on her face. She had underestimated the old man’s power. Without Xander’s decisive strike from the shadows, she might have fallen. Worse, her impulsive charge had allowed the summoning to complete.
"This isn’t your fault, Elyra," Xander said quietly. "You can’t easily guard against a Conjurer’s prepared spells. These cursed zombies were buried around the shack in advance — ready-made anchors. That’s why his casting time was halved."
Elyra nodded, worry creasing her brow. "All of them are cursed. Without holy water, injuring them will be difficult."
Xander’s lips curved in a faint smile. "Who said we lack holy water?"
He produced two sealed bottles from his pack, labeled with the Silver Order’s mark. "One advantage of the Silver Order: if you have coin, they’ll sell you anything."
He uncorked one bottle and carefully coated his curved dagger. Elyra followed suit with her longsword, the blessed liquid gleaming faintly.
While working, Xander’s gaze swept the living room. Beyond the immediate threat, this shack held another prize — the main reason he had sought Grave Robber Heiss. Rumors spoke of a hidden treasure chest containing years of plunder from the cemetery’s dead.
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The kill had granted a generous 220 experience points from the Conjurer. Combined with prior gains, it propelled Xander forward. He allocated 118 Battle Exp to his Ranger class.
A surge of warmth flooded his body. The system confirmed advancement:
[Adventurer Class: Level 3 Ranger (0/800)]
To reach level 4 required 800 experience, so he held the remaining 102 points in reserve. The free attribute point went straight into Dexterity, pushing it to 18. He needed 20 for the [Wall Climb] passive critical threshold. Leveling also granted 24 Skill Points. He banked 18 for future needs and invested 6 into Stealth, reaching 50 points and unlocking the crucial effect:
[Sneak Attack]: When attacking from Stealth, Damage ×2.
Paired with precise strikes, this could rival Thief burst potential. As a Ranger, his direct combat versatility already exceeded most low-level Thieves, but the enhancement was welcome.
Most importantly, level 3 unlocked a class specialty. Options were [Precise Shot], [Two-Weapon Fighting], and [Nature Affinity]. Xander chose without hesitation:
[Two-Weapon Fighting]: Wield two blades in harmony. Hands move as one.
His close-quarters experience as a former top player far surpassed 99% of adventurers. Dual wielding maximized his strengths over pure archery or beast taming. A dual-wielding Ranger’s explosive damage could match or exceed Assassins in the right hands.
His Health Points rose to 68, noticeably increasing his resilience. Yet practical limitations remained — one common curved dagger felt too light in his right hand, and his left held only a crude replacement blade.
"What are you searching for?" Elyra asked, applying holy water while watching him curiously. The shack groaned as zombies clawed at the walls outside.
"I heard Heiss kept a chest filled with loot from years of robbing the dead," Xander replied.
Elyra raised an eyebrow. "Heard?"
He maintained a calm lie. "While you worked during the day, I gathered information around Tanchapel. People talk about his dealings with shady figures and the cemetery." ƒreewebηoveℓ.com
She pressed gently. "On the way here, you also mentioned he might have hidden valuables. That’s unusually specific."
"I learned he traded with a necromancer," Xander said evenly. "Over time, such men accumulate secrets. Elyra, trust me. The guidance I received during my fever granted knowledge beyond ordinary reach. My teacher showed me things I could never have imagined. I will never harm you or our cause."
Elyra studied him for a long moment, then nodded. His recent feats — especially slaying the Conjurer, had proven his capabilities. She could not deny the transformation.
"Found it!"
Xander pulled back a worn carpet, revealing a concealed compartment. No complex traps — Heiss was a hermit Conjurer, not a skilled mechanic. He lifted the lid of the small chest inside.
The top layer gleamed with silver coins. Elyra’s eyes widened at the grave robber’s unexpected wealth. Xander handed her the coins to bag while removing the layer.
The second held Heiss’s personal grimoires: an [Advanced Conjurer Handbook], a casting notebook, and the spellbook from the corpse. Valuable on the black market, though dangerous due to the Wizard Alliance’s blacklist on necromantic arts. Xander wrapped them securely.
The third and final layer held the true prizes, covered in dust. ’Conjurers hoard power but rarely understand its best use.’
He retrieved two items with satisfaction: a pair of gloves and a plain ring. Both were genuine Uncommon quality — rare finds at this stage.
---
[Ghastly Gloves]
Quality: Uncommon
Effect: Ice Resistance +5, Fire Resistance +5
Requirement: 11 Intelligence freeweɓnovēl.coɱ
[Ring of Prayers (Counterfeit)]
Quality: Uncommon
Effect: Additional Spell – Rainbow Jet (once per day)
Requirement: 13 Intelligence
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Xander equipped the gloves immediately. The Ring of Prayers slipped onto his right index finger. Though a man-made imitation of the legendary Fairy Turin series, it still granted real power. Heiss likely never mastered triggering Rainbow Jet, but Xander knew the activation.
"Xander!" Elyra’s voice rose sharply.
A wooden log in the wall splintered under relentless claws. A bloated, pus-weeping zombie arm thrust through the gap.
"Don’t worry. The opening is still too narrow," Xander assured her, glancing over. Time was short, but sufficient.
He rose, curved dagger in his left hand, a straight blade in his right. The dual-wielding specialty hummed through his nerves, granting natural coordination.
"Leave them to me," he said calmly, stepping forward as more cracks appeared in the defenses. The Zombie Feast had become a siege, but with new levels, gear, and Elyra at his side, Xander felt the familiar thrill of battle.
