Chapter 039 – Crossdressing Fetish and Succubus
...
Looking up, there was an endless plain.
Countless pits were scattered across the surface of the earth.
The sky was a grayish-brown color.
The horizon was the same.
A huge round moon hung between heaven and earth.
It flickered like the soul fire of the undead.
Silence was the eternal theme here.
Even the wind was silent--
Endless whirlwinds came from unknown places and blew towards the next unknown place.
The undead creatures swept up by the whirlwind either fell down or regained vitality.
Disappearance and transformation unfolded different stories in the same whirlwind of negative energy.
Matthew walked alone in this quiet land.
Different from the lively and somewhat noisy experience in the Oak Tree Domain.
Everything here was so quiet.
It resembled the belongingness of this place--
Death.
A skeleton walked towards him.
Almost none of its bones were intact, and its soul fire was weak and pitiful, as if a gust of wind could blow away the last bit of "life" from this newly born skeleton soldier.
However, it was tenacious.
Matthew saw it being blown into a deep pit by the whirlwind.
According to his guess, this skeleton would definitely be in a sorry state.
And that was indeed the case.
Matthew saw it stay in the pit for a long, long time.
So long that Matthew began to doubt if time in the domain still had any meaning.
But at a certain moment.
He saw it climb out of the pit again.
The unscrupulous whirlwind had destroyed its remaining thigh bone.
But it only made slight repairs and struggled to crawl up from the ground.
Matthew noticed.
The soul fire in its eyes burned even brighter.
"So, undead creatures also have such a strong will to survive."
Matthew was slightly moved.
This skeleton obviously didn't have high intelligence. It didn't even know where it should go.
But since the moment it ignited its soul fire, it had the instinct to survive.
Perhaps in the next moment, it would be completely extinguished by another whirlwind.
But before that.
It would still move forward, forward.
To that unknown place.
To that place where the flame of life might bloom.
After pausing for a moment.
Matthew continued forward.
Along the way.
He passed by various undead creatures: zombies, specters, sirens, vampires, ghouls, headless knights, death knights, black knights, abominations, tomb guardians, mummies...
Some were powerful, some were weak.
But they all moved forward towards the unknown.
Here.
No undead creature knew what lay ahead.
And few could explain the meaning of moving forward.
But moving forward was the only main theme.
"Death is eternal silence, and the undead are the existence that persistently moves forward in eternal silence. They may not be true living beings, but like living beings, they also tirelessly fight against death.
They are destined to be unable to escape the barrier of death, but they can no longer be simply regarded as the appendages of death.
This is the 'undead'."
Matthew arrived at the end of the horizon with such emotion.
He stood in front of the eternal and indestructible round moon.
A wind blew from above.
"So, the wind of negative energy blows down from the moon?"
He curiously observed the celestial body that was close at hand yet far away.
In the next second.
The scenery in front of him collapsed like delicate fragments!
The perspective slightly shook.
Matthew's consciousness returned to his own living room.
...
"Based on the accumulation of summoning undead creatures multiple times and the exploration of the negative energy plane, you have successfully entered the sub-domain of death, 'Undead'!
As a reward for entering the domain, you can choose one of the following three abilities--
...
1. Undead Body (Your body can instantly transform into a corpse-like shell. During this period, you will gain the immunity characteristics and other traits of undead creatures; in the 'Undead Body' state, you will have the opportunity to gain more insights into the 'Undead' domain; duration: 60 seconds, once a day)
2. Negative Energy Control (You will have the opportunity to control negative energy. After choosing this ability, you will have the chance to acquire some negative energy spells)
3. New Summoned Creature (You will randomly obtain a summoning creature of no lower than Tier 3)"
...
A difficult decision.
Matthew slightly furrowed his brows.
Unlike the Oak Tree Domain and the Moderation Domain, he wanted all three abilities granted by the Undead Domain!
The "Undead Body" goes without saying, it is a life-saving technique, and there is also a chance to improve the exploration progress of the Undead Domain.
"Negative Energy Control" is the ability that the Necromancer has always dreamed of.
Mastering this ability would greatly enhance the effectiveness of spells related to negative energy.
After all, the two major specialties of a Necromancer are summoning undead creatures and negative energy spells.
As for the third option, the allure of "New Summoned Creature" is somewhat weaker.
Matthew doesn't really lack lackeys at the moment, but if he were to summon a headless knight or a black knight, it would be perfect, as it would make up for his lack of strong male lackeys in close combat.
Although Peggy is also strong, Matthew is reluctant to use her to the point of risking her life.
After much hesitation.Matthew gritted his teeth and chose "Undying Body."
This decision was made after careful consideration.
He didn't want to miss out on any life-saving techniques, especially since this ability could also increase his exploration progress in the Undead domain. It might even create a positive feedback loop.
...
"You have completed the enlightenment of the 'Undead' domain. Your current status is: Beginner.
...
You have obtained a permanent status: 'Undead Army.'
Undead Army: The limit of your summoned creatures has increased to ten times the current limit!
...
You have obtained a temporary status: 'Pale Hand.'
Pale Hand: If not controlled, your right hand will continuously infuse and emit negative energy. When it comes into contact with any living being, it will result in an instant death judgment!
Duration: 30 days."
...
"These two statuses are pretty good!"
Matthew was quite satisfied.
The Undead Army meant that the limit of his single summoned creatures had increased to 120. This created a huge gap between him and ordinary Necromancers.
The 'Pale Hand' was equally powerful.
It could infuse undead creatures with negative energy, making them full of vitality. It could also deliver a fatal blow to enemies in intense battles.
Although the probability of an instant death judgment was low, what if it succeeded once?
Matthew only had to pay the opportunity cost of trying.
And the enemy could lose their life at any moment!
This was the power of domains.
Matthew noticed that the yin-yang symbol had once again become balanced.
The green dot on the right side was slightly ahead, but not by much.
What was more interesting was that there was now a brown comma just below the yin-yang symbol.
Its size was only 1/10 of the upper comma, and it also had dots, but in very small quantities.
Matthew knew it represented 'Moderation.'
Now he had entered three domains: Oak, Moderation, and Undead.
Although they were all in the Beginner state, with the accumulation of time, he would gain a higher level of mastery in these domains.
"The most ordinary legend only requires mastery of one domain. Being able to explore three domains already makes me an elite at the second rank."
Matthew had realized that the greatest convenience the system provided him was the door to the domains represented by Undead and Nature.
With an abundance of domains, all he needed to do was slowly plant trees, accumulate levels and spells, and eventually soar to the sky.
...
...
Two more days passed.
Unknowingly, it was already the end of March.
Rolling Stone Town welcomed the second festival of spring, the Spring Delay Festival.
With the assistance of the Silver Moon Zombie, Matthew's tree planting efficiency greatly increased in these few days.
Before the Spring Delay Festival, he finally strengthened Sodie to level 14!
The difference between Sodie, the highest-level summoned creature in Matthew's hands, and Little Phi was only one level.
In addition to the rapid progress in levels, Sodie also gained a series of abilities such as 'Clone Technique,' 'Merciless Combo,' 'Vanishing Technique,' 'Shrinking Technique,' and 'Onion Pulling Technique.'
Although the quality of these keywords was only blue and white, they greatly enriched Sodie's combat capabilities.
The current Blade Dancer had the appearance of a nightmare for low-level adventurers.
Of course, each enhancement also brought Matthew two gray keywords this time.
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'Alcoholism (Gray): Your skeleton has developed an addiction to alcohol. Every 72 hours, it needs to drink at least one bottle of beer to alleviate its restlessness.
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Cross-dressing Fetish (Gray): Your skeleton has awakened a consciousness for dressing up. It desires to wear some bright clothes or skirts. If it can be dressed up like a beautiful woman, it will feel very pleased."
...
To be honest, when Matthew saw these two keywords for the first time, he was completely dumbfounded.
A skeleton addicted to alcohol?
How does it drink?
Won't the liquid leak out of its mouth?
As for the cross-dressing fetish, it was relatively easy to satisfy.
Sodie's Dark Night Cloak was becoming more effective now. Even if Matthew found a few sets of beautiful dresses for him to wear, it wouldn't affect his stealth effect.
What annoyed Matthew the most was that whether it was cross-dressing or drinking, it required money!
To save costs, Matthew bought some of the cheapest beer. Sodie didn't mind drinking it, and as Matthew expected, the beer immediately spilled all over the floor from Sodie's throat.
But Matthew also noticed that during this process, some of the alcohol seemed to be absorbed by Sodie's soul fire.
This sign was quite interesting.
It seriously violated the rules of the undead.
And those who could break the rules were definitely not ordinary. In this regard, Sodie was showing signs of catching up with Peggy.
This was one of the few things that made Matthew feel relieved.
As for cross-dressing, Matthew went to the second-hand store in town and found two pieces of worn-out clothing. They were old-fashioned and looked like something an old lady would wear, but Sodie seemed quite content wearing them. It just pained Matthew's eyes a bit, as they were a bit too flashy.
But aside from these minor flaws, Sodie's strength had solidly improved.
On the day of the Spring Delay Festival, Matthew only brought Sodie and one lackey to the outskirts of the Lord's Mansion.
The sky was just starting to brighten.
The celebration of the Spring Delay Festival had already begun.Matthew could hear the lively sound of drums and gongs from the "Spring Delivery" procession outside the village.
The Spring Delay Festival was held on the third-to-last day of the last week of March.
Spring in Rolling Stone Town was short-lived. Two months ago, it was a snowy winter, and once March arrived, it became scorching summer. Therefore, there were grand festivals at the beginning and end of March.
These two festivals had a tradition of holding grand celebrations and were the most significant festivals for the residents of Rolling Stone Town in the first half of the year. If they missed the Spring Delay Festival, they would have to wait until the "Harvest Festival" in autumn for a festival of the same scale.
Today, both the residents of the town and the farmers in the countryside woke up early because most people were enthusiastic about participating in the various activities of the Spring Delay Festival.
Unlike the Spring Knowledge Festival, which focused on celebrations, performances, and gatherings, the Spring Delay Festival attracted attention with various competitions and activities organized by different residents.
This tradition originated from the Enlightenment era, where it was said that the gods held various sports competitions in spring to select warriors from among humans.
Later, it gradually evolved into a semi-official entertainment activity.
Anyone with a reputation could apply to the Rolling Stone Town authorities for a project. Once approved, they would receive subsidies from the City Hall, and all participants would register on-site, emphasizing a casual and lively atmosphere.
When Matthew passed by the entrance of the Mage District in the morning, he noticed that the organizers of the "Grass Eating Contest" and the "Ring Toss Contest" were already moving materials to the site.
Near Seven Saints Square, the most popular "Martin Fastrun" project was marking the finish line.
The "One-Handed One-Foot Wrestling Competition" and the "Fat Man Collision" were also in the preparation process.
The whole Rolling Stone Town was thriving.
Matthew felt a bit nostalgic as he watched these scenes.
In previous years, due to his obsession with planting trees, he didn't even have the opportunity to participate or observe the Spring Delay Festival activities.
Today, he was tempted to join a few activities and have some fun in this festive atmosphere.
Unfortunately, he had another task to complete.
"Today, I am Ronan the Archmage!"
With this thought in mind, Matthew and Sodie, led by the guards, arrived at the reception hall of the Lord's Mansion.
Although it was still early, the mansion was already bustling with activity. Servants were busy decorating for the festival, and the masters were not sleeping in.
As Matthew walked through a corridor, he heard Sif's voice.
"Oh, Dad, I'm not a fifteen-year-old girl anymore. I don't want to dress up like a princess from a fairy tale today!"
It was Sif's complaint.
"But even after tomorrow, you will still be a sixteen-year-old girl."
Raga's voice was very gentle.
"And what's wrong with dressing up like a princess? They are all happy in fairy tales."
Sif grumbled unhappily.
"I don't like it. Those clothes make me look too young. Even if it's a fairy tale, I want to dress like a queen!"
Raga fell silent for a few seconds before reluctantly saying:
"When you grow up, you will have plenty of time to wear mature clothes. But today, promise me, wear the clothes appropriate for your age. These clothes are beautiful and pitiful. You probably won't wear them for a long time in the future, so consider it as accompanying them."
Raga's voice contained a hint of reluctance.
Sif paused for a moment upon hearing this, then cheerfully agreed:
"Okay, okay, I'll listen to you. I'll pick a princess-like dress. Hmm, this one—I love you, Dad."
Raga's indulgent voice floated over:
"I love you more, my little princess. Go to the next room and let Hia help you get dressed."
...
"She's a perceptive child."
Matthew could even imagine the change in Sif's expression when she heard Raga's slightly strange words.
Although this girl had a strong personality, her nature was sensitive and gentle enough. At least she didn't disappoint Raga's love for her.
Matthew didn't linger in the corridor for too long.
Passing through three corridors in a row, he finally arrived at his destination—the residence of Zeller, Raga's only magical advisor, on the west side of the Lord's Mansion.
"You're here right on time. I just finished preparing as well."
Zeller, stylishly dressed and handsome, greeted him.
His gaze lingered near Sodie, who was wearing a dark cloak, for a few seconds.
Then he led Matthew into the house.
"I have already set up the Mirror Image spell. I tested it twice yesterday, and the results were perfect. Oh, have you eaten?"
Zeller asked.
"Yes, I had spring rolls and a cup of yogurt."
Matthew replied.
"Peggy is such an enviable partner."
Zeller showed a sudden realization:
"I heard Sif mention it. Her culinary skills are out of this world."
Matthew smiled and nodded.
"Then let me take you to the dressing room."
Zeller led Matthew to a room at the very back.
There were many mirrors here, as well as a large pile of bottles and jars of powders, most of which were beyond Matthew's knowledge.
"Charm may be a gift from heaven, but as a man, you should also know how to take care of yourself and cherish yourself."
Zeller explained with a smile.Then he had Matthew sit in front of a mirror like a barber.
Next, he snapped his fingers.
In the mirror in front of Matthew,
Suddenly appeared a blonde, blue-eyed girl with a body so hot it was explosive!
"Good morning, Zeller."
The girl lazily rubbed her sleepy eyes and walked out of the mirror.
An incredible fragrance wafted over.
A force named desire began to tease Matthew's nerves.
"Raisna, don't cast your charm on my guest, he won't fall for your tricks."
Zeller ordered seriously.
The girl stuck out her tongue.
The next second,
She provocatively sat on the table in front of the mirror, her legs alternately crossed, her short skirt silently pulled up, revealing large areas of white skin. A long, pointed tail with a heart at the end extended from underneath and swayed unconsciously.
This scene was enough to make most men's mouths dry.
However, Matthew looked calmly at Zeller next to him.
"Is this the makeup artist you found for me?"
Seeing this, Zeller breathed a sigh of relief:
"This is Raisna, my contracted partner, and also my family."
……
「Prompt: Your ability "Heart as Still Water" is in effect, you successfully resisted the charm of "Succubus Raisna"!
Your willpower +1」
……