Dead Man Walking: Living By Day, Dead By Night

Luo Cheng was influential enough in the Beijing area to have heard rumors, as well as gained some evidence regarding the existence of Horde Kings. But until now, he had never met one. I mean it was a secret kept by the highest ranking members of humanity and its many factions that had emerged out of the Apocalypse.

Beijing was home to a Tier V Horde King. And he and his Divine Sword Sect would need to go out into the countryside if they wanted to clash with a Horde King that they were capable of surviving against.

Something which naturally he had not done. But that did not mean he was not aware of Horde Kings and how terrifying they could be. I mean, with the evolution of humans it wasn't like Horde Kings had stayed stagnant.

Especially with the evolution of mutated beasts as well. Horde Kings could gain strength by consuming awakened humans, which by now was pretty much the only variant that remained outside of isolated groups like the Remnant.

In addition to this, they gained a significant boost in power by slaying and eating mutated beasts, as much as they would an awakened human if not Moreso. It was a free for all for control of Earth after all, and the Undead were still at the top of the pyramid so to speak.

Even Tier I Horde Kings who had previously been at Level 25, were now around the same level as the highest level Awakened humans, and had all the advantages over them that Horde King naturally had.

Hell, there were very few tiers I Horde Kings left, with those who survived the attacks of awakened humans or worse yet their own kind during the civil war having naturally grown to an extent where this simply wasn't possible.

Because of this, Zane's abnormally high strength all of a sudden made sense to Luo Cheng, even if his subordinates and the accompanying Zhao Qiu did not understand what he had just witnessed. With the man falling to his knees and apologizing profusely with tears in his eyes. For ever wicked and covetous thought, he had towards Zane upon learning his strength.

"My King, I, no, my Divine Sword Sect are but your humble servants! I had eyes but could not see! I did not know you were one of them… From here on out every resource our sect has is yours to claim!"

Personally, if Zane had wanted to make Luo Cheng and his lackies his servants, he would have simply killed them and added them to his army. But he had no need to do so. He also didn't know the consequences this would have.

His mother had told him that upon turning an awakened being into an undead, their magic would change to that of undead magic. If that was the case, then didn't that mean the awakened human who had the so called legendary flying tamed beast? Would they even be able to control the beast anymore?

Would the beast also turn undead? Would it still have the ability to fly if it did so? There were too many unknown quantities in the equation that could easily be a massive detriment to Zane's goals of returning to North America if he was foolish enough to turn the Divine Sword Sect into the undead.

In addition to this, he had no use of minions in China. Maybe as spies for his future return when he eventually grew powerful enough to challenge Beijing's Horde King. But that… That was not going to become a reality for a very, very long time. As a result, Bruno felt making such preparations so early would be a waste, as there was no telling whether the Divine Sword Sect would survive until then.

Because of all of this, Zane gazed upon Luo Cheng and his cronies with indifference. Speaking to him in a callous tone as he did so.

"There's only one reason you and your ilk are still alive. Because you said you have the ability to get me to North America. Fulfill this promise, and I will spare you all, so long as you don't reveal what happened here today to anybody…"

Luo Cheng felt like an enormous boot made of tungsten had just been lifted from his chest as he promised to fulfill Zane's every desire.

"My King, you do not need to worry. Within two weeks, the member of the sect I told you about will be returning from the mission they are then. When they do so, you will be properly compensated for the benevolence you have shown us here today!"

Zane did not respond to this statement, instead turning to Zhao Qiu. His gold gaze fell upon her trembling figure as he gave her a command.

"Zhao Qiu come here…"

The woman shot Luo Cheng and his men a fearful gaze. Of which they turned their heads in response, with shameful expressions no less. Seeing as how these bastards were basically ignoring her entire existence, let alone her plea for help, Zhao Qiu had no choice but to do what Zane said.

Somehow finding the strength in her feet, Zhao Qiu stood up and approached Zane where she lowered her head before him as if he were her lord and sovereign. She was just about to ask why he had requested her presence when Zane revealed his blade.

Cutting the woman's throat, she fell to the floor bleeding out, while pressing her hands against the open wound in a desperate yet futile attempt to stop it from spilling out. Her eyes asked a simple question as the light faded from within them. "Why?"

In the next moment, however, Zane lifted his hand over the woman's fresh corpse and uttered a single command. In doing so, black smoke exuded from his palm and enveloped her body. Healing the wound, and restoring the life in her eyes, if you could even all it that.

Zhao Qiu found herself kneeling before Zane with her mind compelled to utter a single phrase against her will.

"What are your commands, my prince?"

Zane gazed upon his newest death knight, and her stats with intrigue in his eyes.

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[Name: Zhao Qiu]

[Race: Death Knight]

[Level: 45]

[HP: 3,500]

[Attributes:]

Strength: 45

Dexterity: 45

Constitution: 45

Intelligence: 45

Wisdom: 45

Charisma: 45

[Skills:]

Conjure Hex

Effects:

Tier I: Soul Leech: Hex - 80 Health whenever target foe casts a skill.

Tier II: Spoil Victor: Hex - Causes 130 Health loss whenever target foe attacks or casts spells on a creature with less Health.

Tier III: Icy Veins: Hex - For 45 seconds deal 146 cold damage to nearby foes if target foe dies. Initial effect: cold damage: 122

Tier IV: Lingering Curse: Hex - For 40 Target and nearby foes have 50 Health degeneration and receive 25% less benefit from healing.

Tier V: Spiteful Spirit: Hex – For 25 deal 50 damage to target and adjacent foes whenever this foe attacks or uses a skill.

Professions:

Alchemist: Level 45

---

Upon observing Zhao Qiu's skills, which had clearly been converted to undead magic, Zane understood that she must have been a supporting character, one that specialized in buffs. And had likely not been used in battle, but was rather someone that people frequented before going out to fight monsters in order to receive her boons.

Unfortunately, upon death and resurrection as a Death Knight this made her have the Undead equivalent which was casting hexes on the enemy. It was a useful skill in its own right. But still, Zane couldn't help but question the woman. Ignoring all the bystanders as he did so.

"You have been hiding your strengths from me… Was I that suspicious that you would not reveal you were so powerful and useful to the community? By now I don't doubt that you have more than enough blood crystals stashed away to pay off your debts to the Divine Sword Sect. Unless you're so foolish as to give away your services for free?"

The hatred that Zhao Qiu currently felt in her heart towards Zane was immense. The man had not only killed her and resurrected her as a minion and without any warning or chance for her escape at that. But he had also revealed her secrets in front of the people she had previously hated the most of all.

That honor now being reserved for her new master, even if she couldn't act on such intense feelings. Because of this servitude which she was now forced to undergo, she could not resist Zane's request for information and was quick to inform him of the matter.

"That's right. I concealed the fact that I was level 45 and had the alchemy skill to match. In addition to this, I charged those in the sect and the settlements under their control to pay me excessively for my services, all of which were watered-down versions of my tree buffs.

Is it so wrong for me to milk these bastards for all they're worth when they're the ones who killed my family?"

Zane looked over at the Divine Sword Sect with a new glint in his eye? It was a sense of malice which he previously did not harbor towards these fools. But he was quick to lean down, so that he was on Zhao Qiu's level, grabbing hold of her dainty chin as he asked which was on his mind.

"Go on…. Tell your master how these men have wronged you…"

Though Zhao Qiu had no choice but to help Zane, she felt it was strange that he was willing to hear her out, when the Divine Sword Sect was clearly the ones who could provide him with what he desired. Either way, she was forced to tell the man, and thus she spent a long time venting the hate in her heart to Zane.