Building the Strongest Undead Empire from Scratch

Time flew by, and soon it was midnight. Alex, wide awake, awaited Selene's summons to the dream world. She was eager to witness how the Liberty Church used dreams for intelligence sharing and perhaps glean some valuable information herself.

**Time: 12:00 AM**

As Selene activated her ability, a wave of drowsiness washed over Alex. She realized she could resist it with her high-level soul magic, but she chose not to. Instead, she allowed her consciousness to relax, surrendering to Selene's influence as she drifted into slumber and the embrace of the dream world.

Alex opened her eyes to a bright, sunny day. The sun blazed overhead, radiating intense heat. She found herself atop a towering mountain, facing a magnificent cathedral. Its grand doors stood wide open, beckoning her inside.

Stepping through the threshold, Alex watched as the scenery morphed instantly, transporting her into a circular, amphitheater-like structure.

At the bottom, chairs were arranged in a circle, surrounded by ascending tiers of seats. A quick scan told her there were at least a thousand chairs.

Beside her, the air shimmered, and Selene materialized.

"Shall we take a seat?" Selene asked.

"This place is incredible! What are your limits here?" Alex asked, her curiosity piqued. Within this dreamscape, Selene was undoubtedly the ultimate authority.

"Indeed, I can shape this space into anything I desire," Selene replied with a gentle smile.

Alex felt a bit surprised, momentarily startled before her reason returned. It made sense. This ability was likely the key to ensuring loyalty within the Liberty Church.

Any traitor attempting to infiltrate the church would be met with a swift and painless death the moment Selene perceived their true intentions.

With a graceful wave of Selene's hand, their figures dissolved, granting them an omniscient view of the gathering below.

One by one, Freelancers materialized, their faces concealed behind black masks. They moved with practiced ease, taking their designated seats in silence.

Alex was struck by the lack of chatter. Instead of engaging in idle conversations, they settled in quietly, their focus solely on the task at hand.

Her gaze swept across the assembly, quickly locating Samson in the second row. He sat ramrod straight, his eyes scanning the room.

None of the attendees seemed aware of Alex and Selene's ethereal presence. The five bishops, including M, were the last to arrive, taking their positions at the very center.

A hush fell over the gathering. There were no long-winded speeches, no elaborate rituals. As soon as M declared the meeting open, the Freelancers began their reports, each taking their turn based on their seating order.

Twenty or so church personnel, seated around the five bishops, diligently transcribed the incoming information onto sheets of paper that materialized at a rapid pace.

"Did you do this?" Alex asked, her gaze fixed on the scene below.

Selene nodded. "It streamlines the process. I can manifest their reports directly, eliminating the need for manual recording."

Alex was impressed by their efficiency and discipline. Everyone played their part, their reports concise and factual.

As the reports went on, the information was categorized and organized, ready to be sold to the human nobles within the Empire.

Alex listened intently, Selene respectfully silent beside her.

The intelligence sought by these nobles was…interesting, to say the least. It was mostly gossip, ranging from the scandalous to the downright salacious.

A certain duke's late-night rendezvous with his mistress, a count's eldest son's affair with his stepmother…the list went on.

It was a bizarre mix of triviality and depravity, yet these nobles paid handsomely for such information, making it a significant source of income for the Liberty Church.

"This is how the church has always operated. Every member needs to integrate into human society. It's all about supply and demand," Selene explained.

Alex simply nodded, her attention still fixed on the proceedings below. Samson's turn was approaching, and she wanted to see if he would betray her.

Soon, it was his turn. His masked face betrayed no emotion as he rose and spoke in a flat tone.

"The honorary Magus from the Mage Guild arrived in Glory City. He visited the Imperial Palace and departed the same day. His purpose is unknown."

With that, Samson sat back, and the next Freelancer stood to report.

Alex didn't react to this piece of information. Many knew about the Magus's visit. It was harmless enough for Samson to offer it as intelligence, especially since he hadn't divulged anything else about Alex.

Selene, however, sensed a connection between Alex and this Magus, but she chose not to pry.

The intelligence gathering continued, but Alex heard nothing of real significance until the second-to-last member stood up. His report sent shockwaves through the entire assembly.

"The Holy Court has split! Nearly half of their knights have defected to the human race!"

Even the five bishops, including M, shot to their feet, their faces etched with astonishment.

Alex was equally stunned, barely able to believe her ears.

Beside her, Selene, as the weaver of this dream, felt the collective shock reverberating through the minds of everyone present.

"Selene, is he telling the truth?" Alex asked urgently, turning to her companion.

"It's true," Selene confirmed with a nod.

"Do you have more details?" M's voice boomed across the dream, only his second utterance since the meeting began.

The Freelancer who had delivered the report was taken aback by the impact of his words.

"I only know that the leader of the Holy Court, for reasons unknown, has chosen to sever ties. A faction of knights has openly sided with humanity, while another has declared their allegiance to the Angel race, becoming their sworn enemies."

His knowledge was limited, likely gleaned from Freelancers operating in Nytheria.

However, news of this magnitude wouldn't remain hidden for long. It was only a matter of time before it spread throughout Astralon like wildfire.

Alex was still reeling from the revelation, her mind racing back to the words of the Vice President of Yellowrock City.

Could this be the Mage Guild's doing? Or was the relationship between the Holy Court and the Mage Guild not as adversarial as it seemed?

She was tempted to contact the Mage Guild directly but quickly dismissed the idea. Her current status wouldn't grant her access to such sensitive information.

In the end, she decided to let it go. The power plays of these factions were of little concern to her. Her priority was to grow stronger and establish the strongest undead empire the world had ever seen.

With the conclusion of the intelligence gathering, the dreamscape dissolved, and Alex found herself back in Selene's room.

She rose from her seat, feeling surprisingly refreshed. Selene stood before her, her gaze steady.

"The Holy Court is bound by faith. How could they possibly split? Has their faith been shaken?" Selene asked, struggling to comprehend the sudden schism.

The Holy Court had stood for millennia. How could they simply fracture, dividing themselves in two?

"If I recall correctly, whispers of dissent within the Holy Court, voices advocating for the Angel race, began surfacing during the Angel Era. Somehow, the Angel race orchestrated a schism, swaying the Holy Court's radicals to abandon humanity and declare their independence.

This split likely stems from an agreement between the Mage Guild and the remaining conservatives within the Holy Court. Their methods may differ, but their ultimate goal, protecting humanity, remains unchanged," Alex explained, though these were merely her deductions.

The Holy Court, on its own, couldn't rival any of the top-tier races. Yet, they remained a constant presence, a curious anomaly.

Was it the Angel race emboldening them? Or were they content to be mere pawns in the angels' game?

"You're right. The Angel race has grown increasingly audacious in recent centuries. They're openly recruiting other races, annihilating those who refuse."

As the heart of the Liberty Church, Selene had gathered considerable intelligence on the Angel race over the centuries.

"Selene, we need to prepare ourselves. I have a feeling this world is about to descend into chaos." Alex wasn't being alarmist. It was a gut feeling, a premonition.

The recent actions of all the races seemed to be connected to the Angel race in some way.

"I understand," Selene replied with a solemn nod.

The Liberty Church was now Alex's eyes and ears, and their operations needed to be even more discreet. Their focus could no longer be on petty gossip.

"I need to rest. You should get some sleep as well."

With that, Alex left Selene's room and returned to the one M had prepared for her. She lay down on the bed, her mind buzzing with possibilities.

As for her Reaper Guard, they would remain hidden within the city for now. She would retrieve them upon her return to the undead empire.

The next morning, Alex awoke before dawn. It was time to leave Tomb City.

She had decided against bringing Selene to her undead empire. Selene was more valuable here in Tomb City. Besides her dream manipulation abilities, her King level strength made her more than capable of protecting herself.

"M, I'm leaving the Liberty Church's intelligence gathering in your capable hands. Remember, prioritize information on the major races and keep a close eye on the movements of the seven continents. Report any significant developments immediately."

Alex delivered her final instructions. She had already entrusted Sophie with Selene's incantation.

If Alex was ever unavailable, Sophie would take her place in the dream world, gathering intelligence on her behalf.

"Rest assured, leader. We understand," the five bishops chorused, vowing to remain vigilant and refrain from entering their prolonged slumber for the next decade. They would dedicate themselves to maintaining the Liberty Church's operations for Alex.

"Excellent."

Alex gave them a final nod, her figure vanishing in an instant.

The five bishops exchanged glances.

"Let's focus on serving her well. You all know the potential of an undead Lord," the Archbishop said, his voice laced with a hint of awe.

The other bishops nodded in agreement, each returning to their tasks. Besides gathering intelligence for Alex, they still had a church to run and profits to make.

Two hours later, Alex found herself at the edge of the Skyreach Mountains. Donning her mage robe to avoid unwanted attention, she consulted her map once more, pinpointing the location of Cliffside Mountain.

"This is going to take a while. At this rate, I won't reach Cliffside Mountain until tonight."

She checked the time on her system interface, then tucked the map away and picked up her pace.

Paying her respects to the previous undead Lord was a secondary objective. Her true goal was to establish an undead fortress at Cliffside Mountain, extending her influence to the southern reaches of Eldoria.

She couldn't remain confined to the north forever. That was another reason for her to go to Cliffside Mountain.