Chapter 002 – Undead Summoning: Bone Dragon
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The next day.
Matthew woke up early.
Today is Saturday.
He doesn't need to go to Westville Academy for classes during the day.
He can take the opportunity to complete the final mission objectives.
He hurriedly left the greenhouse after carrying several bags of saplings.
Peggy is indeed meticulous in her work.
In addition to all the necessary items for planting, she also placed lunch boxes and water bags next to the sapling bags - which means she not only guessed that Matthew would be working hard today, but also guessed that he would probably forget to bring food from the kitchen.
This attentiveness is a miracle for an undead creature with a low level.
Sometimes Matthew thinks it wouldn't be a bad idea to let Peggy plant the trees instead of him.
But he's just thinking about it.
Although Rolling Stone Town is not a remote place where magic is extinct, Necromancers are far from being hated in the Aindor world, but a walking skeleton will always attract many strange looks.
Not to mention that Peggy is a rare skeleton transformed from a deceased Minotaur.
The idea of "skeleton planting trees" would definitely attract various criticisms in a small place like Rolling Stone Town.
Just thinking about it feels troublesome.
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North of the oak forest.
Matthew walked steadily, surveying the land ahead.
He was choosing a location for the saplings.
Planting trees has never been an easy task -
Choosing the seedlings;
Promoting germination;
Soil preparation;
Greenhouse planting;
Selecting tree pit locations;
Transplanting and nurturing;
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Matthew has become proficient in this series of steps over the past three years.
But there are always various troubles to solve in practice.
For example, now, Matthew has already prepared the saplings and tools, but he is delayed in starting due to difficulties in selecting a location.
"Rolling Stone Town is not a good place for planting trees."
Matthew sighed as he looked at the rolling black smoke coming from the west.
The Prospector Basin is famous for its various mines, and the land here has been dug by humans and tauren repeatedly, making most places unsuitable for plant survival.
Human pollution is one thing.
What's even more terrifying is the large scar in the north!
Matthew stood on a high point of a mound and looked north.
"It's getting closer."
He looked at the black scar that was constantly spreading from the north with a complicated expression.
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"Mark of the Undead"
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It is a scar left on the earth by a natural disaster many years ago.
It starts from the Gem Bay, passes through the Emerald Jade Court and the Eternal Song Forest, and extends to the Duke's territory of the human kingdom and the Prospector Basin.
Near the Mark of the Undead.
Life is extinct.
Even undead creatures find it difficult to survive.
It is the purest and most violent power of extinction.
Mortals are no match for it.
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"This world has many similarities with the game world, but also many differences; the game world does not have the Mark of the Undead, nor have I heard of Rolling Stone Town and Emerald Jade Court - maybe it's the same universe, but not the same plane?"
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Matthew withdrew his gaze.
He walked down the hill.
Behind him was the gradually forming oak forest, and in front of him was a barren and barren land. Behind the oak forest was Rolling Stone Town with its red roofs and yellow bricks.
The three areas were clearly demarcated.
Sometimes Matthew feels that the mainline tasks issued by the system may be related to the Mark of the Undead.
Because the more he looks at the oak forest, the more it looks like a shield blocking the Mark of the Undead.
Unfortunately.
"Just relying on an oak forest is not enough to stop the spread of the Mark of the Undead."
He thought absentmindedly.
...
Matthew circled around the foot of the hill.
Finally, he found several suitable pit locations.
Although this is beyond the scope of his plan, it is still a distance from the Mark of the Undead, so the oak saplings planted here should be able to survive.
Limited by his physique and strength, Matthew's work is not fast, but he is experienced.
He maintains a certain rhythm and speed.
Until the sun is high in the sky.
The saplings in the sacks have all found their new homes on the hillside.
Matthew wiped off his sweat and took out a bottle of green liquid from his pocket, sprinkling it on each oak sapling.
This is the "Growth Green Liquid" he bought at a high price from the druids of Guardian Heights. It has catalytic and consolidating effects on plants. With long-term watering, it can achieve twenty years of natural growth in one year.
Unfortunately, this is the last bottle in Matthew's possession.
In these three years.
Matthew has invested almost all of his savings into the grand project of tree planting.
Now, it's finally time for the harvest.
His hands trembled slightly.
Plop.
Drops of green liquid fell.
The wilted saplings instantly straightened up!
At that moment.
Matthew's eyes also lit up.
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"You have successfully planted 5 oak trees, and your affinity with nature has slightly increased.
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Cumulative number of planted and surviving oak trees: 1001.
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You have completed the primary goal of the mainline mission: Planting Trees.
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You have obtained the rewards 'Undead Summoning (Bone Dragon)' & 'A large amount of XP'!"
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"Your level has increased to level 8!
(Unable to continue leveling up, remaining XP has been stored, please advance as soon as possible)
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The spell level of your Undead Summoning has increased to level 8, and an additional contract slot has been added!
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Your intelligence +1.
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Your perception +1.
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You have gained the new ability 'Instant Summoning'!
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You have gained the new ability 'Point Drop'!
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Your ability 'Decay Grasp' has been upgraded to 'Decay Proficiency'!
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You can now learn more advanced spells!
..."
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A dense stream of information floated in front of Matthew's eyes.
A great sense of satisfaction surged in his heart.
The increase in attributes and abilities did not surprise Matthew.
But in terms of experience, to level up three times and still have some remaining, it can be said to be very generous!This is much more experience than he gains every day through Undead Meditation!
However.
What Matthew values most is summoning the Bone Dragon!
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"Undead Summoning (Bone Dragon): You can summon a Bone Dragon to serve you at any time.
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Note: The level of this Bone Dragon does not exceed level 15.
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Contract Status: Contracted"
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"It's already in a contracted state, saving me a contract slot!"
Matthew is very satisfied.
Undead Summoning is the signature skill of Necromancers, and it improves as their level increases.
And for every two levels they advance in their profession, they gain an additional 'contract slot'.
This is used to form contracts with specific summoned creatures.
Necromancers consume less mana when summoning contracted targets.
The cooperation between the two parties is also higher.
Over time.
Some Necromancers even develop feelings for their contracted creatures.
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Goblin Mine.
In a hidden underground cave.
Matthew holds a withered wooden staff and attempts to summon the Bone Dragon for the first time.
The incantation begins.
With the support of the new ability "Instant Summoning".
As the first syllable leaves Matthew's mouth, a reverse hexagram magic circle that points to the negative energy plane begins to flicker in the dark cave, and gray bone powder and phosphorescent green phosphorus fire float down from the void like snowflakes.
Matthew looks intently.
A skeletal behemoth, half submerged in darkness, is alertly lurking there.
"Phip~"
A ghostly blue soul fire ignites within the skull of the Bone Dragon.
It gazes at Matthew with indifference.
Matthew becomes a little nervous under its gaze.
The constant sound of "phiphiphi" fills the air like a gust of wind blowing through a cave.
The two of them remain in a stalemate.
Matthew's muscles are unusually tense.
This is the first time he has faced a monster whose level is nearly twice his own!
The contracted contract makes him immune to the faint dragon's might.
But the immense pressure and terrifying image brought by its size cannot be erased.
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"No wonder people have prejudices against Necromancers. The things in the Undead domain are scarier one by one. How many people can face this kind of fear head-on?"
Matthew adjusts his mindset.
He waves the withered wooden staff and commands the Bone Dragon:
"Bow."
The Bone Dragon's movements are slow but firm.
Its long neck slowly bypasses the rubble and ceiling of the cave.
Then it lands steadily on the ground in front of Matthew.
Its lower jaw bone is pressed against the ground.
The ghostly blue soul fire flickers.
Somehow.
Matthew actually feels a hint of nervousness from the soul fire of this giant creature in front of him.
Matthew immediately feels relieved.
If the Bone Dragon is nervous, he won't be nervous.
He boldly steps on the Bone Dragon's head.
The latter emits a "woo woo" sound, appearing very docile.
Matthew's mind is at ease.
He bends down and touches the Bone Dragon's bones.
Dry.
And very rough.
It doesn't look like precious bones at all.
"When I have money, I will definitely get you a better set of bones."
Matthew couldn't help but say.
"Phip..."
The Bone Dragon murmurs.
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"Philurius (Bone Dragon)'s loyalty to you has increased to 85!"
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Matthew is delighted.
"Is it so easy to satisfy? Then I'll write more blank checks in the future."
The Bone Dragon slowly raises its head.
Its movement is small.
Matthew can stand at a higher angle and overlook this cave--
This place was originally a paradise for gold prospectors, but later, after the mineral resources were depleted, it was occupied by a Goblin tribe.
After the Blood Flag family took over Rolling Stone Town, the local lord issued several Goblin expulsion orders in succession. Under the hunting of surrounding adventurers and mercenaries, this area gradually became desolate and uninhabited.
As far as Matthew knows.
There are many similar caves in the gold prospector basin.
These caves are complex and intricate.
There are rumors that some of these caves even connect to a vast underground world.
That is also the direction where the Goblins truly retreated.
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Matthew rarely ventures into these areas.
But the Bone Dragon is too large, and even this underground cave can barely accommodate it. It can be imagined that if it appears on the surface, it will cause a great disturbance.
He is a low-key and pragmatic person.
He never intended to hide his identity as a Necromancer from the outside world.
But he also doesn't want to cause trouble for no reason.
"It's better to play in the cave in the future."
Thinking like this.
Matthew carefully inspects the Bone Dragon's body.
He also checks its data.
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"Name: Philurius
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Race: Bone Dragon (LV15)
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Attributes: Strength 24 / Agility 10 / Constitution 17 / Intelligence 4 / Willpower 10 / Charm 14
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Traits: Blindsight (60 feet) / Acid Immunity / Cold Immunity / Sensitive Senses / Undead
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Abilities: Flattery / First Strike / Necrodragon's Might / Charge / Tail Sweep..."
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"Flattery?"
Matthew realizes it late.
"He was trying to please me just now?"
As if to confirm Matthew's thoughts.
The Bone Dragon's "phiphiphi" sound comes from its feet again, and with the emotions conveyed by the flickering soul fire, there seems to be a hint of flattery.
The image of a macho man that Matthew had just established due to the Bone Dragon's tall and mighty appearance suddenly disappears.
He couldn't help but stomp his foot:
"Your name is too difficult to pronounce."
"From now on, I'll call you 'Little Phi'!"
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Philurius is confused for a moment.
Then its soul fire trembles violently.
Waves of joy flow through the contract, confirming the name bestowed upon it.
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"Grateful for giving me a name, Philurius (Bone Dragon)'s loyalty to you has increased to 90!"
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Perhaps it is too happy.
Little Phi's head shakes too much.
Matthew almost falls off!Fortunately, his perception and agility were both exceptional.
With a casual little hop,
Matthew landed steadily in the shadow of the cave.
But in that instant,
He suddenly felt something was off.
Turning around to look in the direction from where the strange sensation under his foot came,
He realized he had stepped on a piece of clothing covered in blood.
......