Building the Strongest Undead Empire from Scratch

Chapter 9: I need to get stronger

2000 units of roasted chicken, gone in a flash. Billions of hungry lords, and Alex was the only supplier. It was a feeding frenzy.

The sale netted her 24,680 wood, 12,320 stone, and 150 Magic Stones. Adding that to her existing stockpile, she now had 25,890 wood and 12,610 stone. Five digits! And her Magic Stone count was at 185, closing in on 200. Another massive win!

Immediately, Alex upgraded her castle.

**[Upgrade castle for 3000 wood and 2000 stone?]**

"Yes!"

**[Castle Level: Lv4]**

"Keep going!"

**[Castle Level: Lv5]**

...

**[Castle Level: Lv6]**

Alex spent a total of 12,000 wood and 9,000 stone, reaching level 6.

**[Castle Level: Lv6]**

**[HP: 60k (Invincible State)]**

**[Territory Range: 3000-meter radius]**

**(Same functions)**

**[Upgrade Requirements: 6000 wood, 5000 stone]**

"3000-meter radius!" Alex thought. "Almost to that dragon's lair! Dragons love treasure, right? Its lair must be full of it! Once my territory covers it, I can monitor the dragon's movements. The moment it leaves, I'll raid its lair!" *Perfect plan!*

She couldn't upgrade further because she was out of stone. **[Wood: 13,890, Stone: 3610]**. The next upgrade needed 5000 stone.

"No problem. Another day of selling roasted chicken, and I'll have enough."

Tomorrow, she could summon again. Another Skeletal Dragon. More fire, more roasted meat. Two dragons working together... double the fun!

"I might get over 10,000 units of cooked meat tomorrow! Imagine the resources I can get for that! Massive castle upgrades! Yes!"

The Undead Altar, however, remained stuck at level 1. She had 185 Magic Stones, but zero Red Crystals. "Do I need to kill higher-level monsters for Red Crystals?" she wondered.

A dilemma. Higher-level monsters *might* drop Red Crystals, but would mean less cooked meat. Sticking to low-level monsters meant more meat, but maybe no Red Crystals.

Life always presented choices. Alex decided to stick with low-level monsters for now. "The cooked meat gravy train won't last forever. Someone else will figure out how to cook soon. I need to maximize my profits while I can."

She opened her **[Contacts]** and was greeted with 530 million friend requests!

"Alex, how did you get fire? Teach me!~"

"Alex, add me! I have questions!"

"You've caught my attention, man!"

"Add me, I have a sister!"

...

Alex scrolled through the bizarre requests and rejected them all. This was a competition, against both native forces and other lords. She didn't know who these people were. It wasn't time for random friend requests.

She was looking for her family. "Mom, Dad, brother, sister..." But there was no search function! How was she supposed to find them in a sea of billions?

"Ask Sophie how she found me!"

**[Alex]:** Sophie, you there? How did you find me on the friends list?

**[Sophie]:** Alex, I'm scared!

Alex's heart leaped into her throat.

**[Alex]:** Don't be scared, Sophie. I'm here! What's wrong?

**[Sophie]:** There's a big gray wolf outside my castle! It killed my Golden Retriever King! I'm so scared!

*Oh no!* Sophie must have let her Golden Retriever King out at night, after the monster boost.

**[Alex]:** Stay inside, Sophie. The wolf can't hurt you in the castle.

**[Sophie]:** I know, but... my Golden Retriever King is dead!

**[Alex]:** Did you only have one?

**[Sophie]:** I had two.

Two... So, King Tier, like Alex. 5 points per stat, 5 points per level. A top-tier troop. Losing one wasn't a disaster. She could summon two more tomorrow.

**[Alex]:** Don't worry, Sophie. You can summon two more tomorrow. Remember, stay inside if there's danger. And watch the time! Don't go too far from the castle, and always get back before nightfall. Monsters get stronger at night.

**[Sophie]:** Okay...

**[Alex]:** How did you find me on the friends list?

**[Sophie]:** I don't know. There was a recommended friend, and it was you.

"Recommended friend?" Alex checked her contacts. Nothing. The trail went cold.

*"Mom, Dad, brother, sister... you have to survive!"* This world was dangerous. A place where cooked meat was a luxury item couldn't be safe. She worried for her family, but she couldn't find them. She could do nothing.

*"I'm too weak. I need to get stronger. If I had a million undead, if my territory covered all of Eldoria... I could find them in an instant...*"

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