Building the Strongest Undead Empire from Scratch

"You've seen the island at the world's center, haven't you? It's called the Aether Isle," Poseidon said, pausing thoughtfully. "The World's Heart resides there."

Alex nodded gravely, confirming her suspicions. But how did her God's Path relate to the World's Heart?

Surely, ascending to godhood didn't mean replacing the system and opposing the World's Heart?

Both the system and the World's Heart were beings from the realm of creation, beyond the reach of even true gods, let alone a third-stage Sovereign like herself.

The logical progression was for her to ascend, destroy both the system and the World's Heart's will, and then choose one of three paths: become this world's God of Creation, her own world's God of Creation, or merge her world with the Astralon planet.

Wait, *merge*?

"You're saying that to ascend, I have to confront the World's Heart directly?" Alex asked, a glimmer of understanding in her eyes.

"You've already guessed, haven't you?" Poseidon replied, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Follow your heart."

"If that's the case, how long will I be trapped?" Alex asked, a note of worry in her voice. "I won't be able to do anything, will I?"

"I don't know," Poseidon admitted. "What do you think your chances are?" He was a true god, but not omniscient. He subtly prompted Alex to assess the current situation.

These gods and their riddles! Alex understood the underlying message: if the undead empire could win, she could deal with the World's Heart later. But if they couldn't, she had to gamble *now*.

The Angel race, the Titan race, the dragon race, and their subjugated races, like the Behemoths and the Shadow race, were all enemies. They had at least two true gods and countless gods and pseudo-gods.

On her side, she had the undead race, the Sea Race, the Demon race, and *half* of the human race. The Divine Mage's allegiance was still uncertain. Only the Mage Guild president, Wind, and Thunder had openly supported her.

She had one true god and a considerable number of pseudo-gods. It seemed like an even match.

But in reality, Alex was at a disadvantage. The Divine Mage's neutrality made it difficult for Alex to commit to a course of action.

"Our chances aren't great," Alex admitted, shaking her head. "Do you know the human Divine Mage's stance?"

"That young one? Perhaps he has no ambition beyond protecting the human race," Poseidon mused, his knowledge of the outside world surprisingly detailed despite his long slumber.

The Divine Mage was neutral, caught between the World's Heart and its opposition. A strange stance indeed.

The human race was under attack, yet he refused to choose a side. How could neutrality protect them?

"So, given the current situation, I can begin my ascension once I reach the third stage of Sovereign level?" Alex asked.

She was close to the third stage. Destroying another continent's core of will should be enough.

Then, it would be the final battle. She wondered where the previous undead lord had fallen.

"The Sea Race will intervene," Poseidon assured her. "If you can become a god, I won't have to leave the Astralon planet." He, too, was placing his hopes on Alex.

His repeated awakenings had been a search for the right opportunity. Pseudo-gods often sided with the World's Heart, lacking the potential to become true gods.

Within the Sea Race, the hierarchy was absolute. Under Poseidon's guidance, the Sea Race had spent millennia preparing for their attack on the land, using external conflicts to eliminate internal dissent.

The Sea Race might be weaker now, but they were united.

"Thank you. The Sea Race's support strengthens my resolve," Alex said sincerely.

With some of her questions answered, she returned to the undead empire.

The Arsen continent's battlefield fell silent, the uneasy truce unnoticed by the other races.

The decisive moment was approaching. The pseudo-gods and gods were ready.

But even ordinary individuals could play a role by weakening the pseudo-gods' faith through attrition.

And the undead race had numbers. This was the last task Alex could ask of them.

"What's the situation with the dragon race?" Alex asked, urgency growing after her conversation with Poseidon.

The longer this dragged on, the more unpredictable the war would become. The Angel race's true strength remained a mystery.

"My Queen," Death Spirit reported, "the dragon pseudo-gods seem to have fled the Mossvale continent."

"Fled?" Alex was surprised. This was problematic. Without eliminating the dragon race, the Mossvale core wouldn't appear, preventing her from reaching the third stage.

"Then send Ice Cream and Drake back to the dragon race," Alex ordered. "Let Ice Cream unify the remaining dragons, and Drake can gather faith power."

With the pseudo-gods gone, third-stage Sovereign was the highest combat power. If Ice Cream revealed the truth, the dragon race's faith would crumble, weakening the fugitive pseudo-gods.

And if the other dragons abandoned their pseudo-gods and supported Ice Cream, he would become the new ruler, and the core of will would appear.

"Xiao Hui, have the undead establish hidden undead fortresses on all continents for easy transportation," Alex instructed.

With her millions of undead, she would unleash chaos. No race, except the top-tier factions, could withstand the horde.

"Yes, Leader," Xiao Hui replied, vanishing without question. The decisive moment was at hand.

Success meant the undead empire's rise to dominance, ending the cyclical disasters. Failure meant death.

"But where did the system's power go after being purged?" Alex wondered. "Is it truly unconscious, only to reappear in a hundred years to confront the World's Heart?"

After purging the system's influence, it seemed to have vanished completely.

Was the system merely a simple program?

Alex doubted it.

===

Arcadia continent, Elemental Empire.

The Mage Guild was down to its last three gods, their forces showing signs of exhaustion against the relentless Angel race.

Inside the meeting room, the president's face was etched with worry. The undead race's timely intervention, halting the dragon race's advance, had been a godsend. Otherwise, their situation would be even more dire.

"President," Earth pleaded, "if we continue fighting, the human race will be destroyed! We should seek peace." Of the original Seven Guardians gathered here, less than half remained, a grim testament to the war's brutality.

"This is an era war, a struggle for dominance!" Thunder snapped, glaring at Earth. He despised cowardice. "Do you think hiding here and preserving our strength will keep us safe?"

"Then we should seek help from other races!" Earth insisted.

"Which race isn't embroiled in war?" Thunder retorted. "Who can spare the resources to save us?"

The three bickered amongst themselves, their voices rising in frustration.

The president knew the Angel race wouldn't relent until they forced the Divine Mage to ascend.

The human race was simply too weak. If only he were more talented, capable of breaking through to true godhood himself. Even if it meant accelerated ascension, he would gladly sacrifice himself to secure the human race's future.

"Enough!" the president said, his voice heavy with resignation as he looked out the window. "All is not lost. We still have hope."

Thunder remained silent, understanding the president's meaning. Earth and Fire, however, looked confused, unsure where this hope lay.

Just as silence fell upon the room, a young man in white robes materialized before them. The four were startled, stepping back in surprise.

"Great Divine Mage, you've arrived!"

The young man waved a hand dismissively, and the three Guardians withdrew, leaving him alone with the president.

Even without moving, the Divine Mage commanded the surrounding elemental energies, drawing them towards him, leaving the others powerless.

"They've arrived," the Divine Mage said, his voice flat and emotionless, as if discussing the weather. "I will ascend this time. The future of the human race rests on your shoulders. Perhaps you were right all along. Take your trusted companions and leave."

The president froze, his face hardening. This meant pseudo-gods and gods had already arrived on the Arcadia continent, too many for them to handle.

The Angel race had become desperate, willing to sacrifice anything to achieve their goal.

"But the others..." the president stammered, struggling to accept this.

"They won't harm ordinary citizens. Obey my command. I hope your judgment is sound."

The Divine Mage turned and walked away, vanishing before the president's eyes.

The president immediately summoned Thunder, relaying the Divine Mage's words. "Send word to the undead empire. We're leaving the Arcadia continent."

Once the Divine Mage ascended, the president was the most likely candidate to become the next Divine Mage. His safety was paramount.

...

High above, on his Elemental Empire, the young man in white robes stood with arms outstretched, eyes closed, drawing in the surrounding elemental energies.

Beams of light appeared on the horizon, the unmistakable signature of the Angel race's gods. Several massive dragon silhouettes joined them, converging on the divine kingdom.

"Only twenty?" the Divine Mage scoffed, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Do you underestimate me?" He opened his left hand, revealing a golden orb pulsing with energy.

Crack!

He crushed the core of will in his hand. The entire continent shuddered violently.

The Divine Mage vanished, charging towards the twenty approaching gods.

"I just hope I don't ascend before I kill them all."