Chapter 25: Basic Defense's
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1. A Morning of Purpose
The morning sun cast long shadows across the crumbling ruins as Alex stood near the center of their makeshift camp, his spear resting against the stone wall. Sentinel loomed nearby, its armored frame standing motionless like a sentry.
"We can't keep relying on luck," Alex said, addressing Lila and Ethan, who sat by the fire. "This camp needs proper defenses—walls, barriers, something to keep the monsters out."
Lila glanced at the shattered remnants of the village. "You're suggesting we fortify the whole place? It's massive."
"Maybe, but we have time," Alex replied. "The ruins give us a head start—stone walls, foundations, and some structures are already intact. We just need to reinforce them and add palisades for perimeter defense."
Ethan winced as he adjusted his injured arm. "You're ambitious, I'll give you that. But we'll need wood. A lot of it. And tools."
"We'll figure it out," Alex said, his tone resolute. "For now, we focus on clearing rubble and gathering materials."
Lila sighed, standing and sheathing her dagger. "Fine. But if this turns into some grand plan for a castle, I'm out."
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2. Summoning Reinforcements
Before starting on the fortifications, Alex stepped back from the group, focusing his mana. "If we're going to do this, we'll need more hands—or bones."
Lila raised an eyebrow. "More skeletons?"
Alex nodded, holding out his hand. The familiar pull of mana surged through him as he cast Raise Lesser Undead twice in succession. Bones scattered across the ground began to rattle and shift, assembling into two humanoid forms. Moments later, two skeletal minions stood before him, their green eyes glowing faintly.
"Two more skeletons," Alex said, wiping sweat from his brow. "This should speed things up."
"Don't push your mana too far," Ethan warned. "If you overextend yourself, you'll be vulnerable."
Alex smirked. "I've got this."
He glanced at one of the skeletons, pulling a Hivestalker Core from his satchel. "Time to see if we can make another Sentinel."
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3. Infusing the Core
Alex held the core in his hands, its faint purple glow pulsing in rhythm with his heartbeat. "All right," he muttered. "Let's do this."
He focused his mana, channeling it into the core as he pressed it against the skeleton's chest. Tendrils of energy erupted from the core, latching onto the bones as the skeleton shuddered violently.
A familiar system notification appeared in Alex's vision:
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System Notification:
Infusion Attempt Initiated
Mana Cost: 20 (Initial)
Maintenance Cost: +2 MP/10 Minutes (Added to Summon Maintenance)
Warning: Failure may result in hostile behavior.
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"Steady," Alex muttered, pouring more mana into the connection. The core pulsed brighter, its tendrils spreading across the skeleton's ribcage like veins.
The skeleton let out a low, guttural sound as the infusion completed. Its green eyes dimmed, replaced by a faint purple glow.
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System Notification:
Infusion Successful
New Summon: Parasite-Infused Skeleton (Enhanced Variant)
Increased Strength, Durability, and Regeneration
Autonomous Functionality: Basic Independent Commands
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Lila stepped closer, her expression wary. "And it worked?"
The infused skeleton bowed slightly toward Alex, its movements smoother and more deliberate than its unaltered counterpart.
"Looks like it," Alex said, though his voice carried a hint of tension. "We'll see how it holds up during the build."
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4. Gathering and Building
The group split into tasks, with Alex directing the skeletons to clear rubble and gather materials from the surrounding area. Sentinel and the infused skeleton worked tirelessly, hauling heavy stones and fallen timber to the edges of the ruins.
Lila ventured into the nearby forest with the unaltered skeleton, her dagger at the ready. Though the skeleton's movements were clumsier, it proved useful for carrying large branches and logs back to the camp.
By midday, a growing pile of wood and stone formed near the campfire. Alex sketched out a rough perimeter in the dirt, marking where the palisades would go.
"We'll start with the northern side," Alex said, pointing toward the most exposed section of the ruins. "If we can get one wall up, it'll give us a better sense of what we need for the rest."
Ethan, still recovering, offered advice from the sidelines. "Don't forget to leave room for a gate—or two. You don't want to trap yourselves in here."
"Good point," Alex said, making adjustments to the plan.
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5. Progress and Comparison
As the afternoon wore on, the differences between the infused skeleton and the unaltered one became clear.
The infused skeleton carried heavier loads with ease, its movements precise and fluid. It required less direction, often anticipating where materials were needed and adjusting its tasks accordingly.
The unaltered skeleton, by contrast, was slower and more mechanical, relying entirely on Alex's commands to function effectively.
"It's night and day," Lila said, watching the two skeletons work. "The core makes a huge difference."
Alex nodded. "But it comes at a cost. Maintaining the infused skeleton drains more mana. I can't field too many of them without running dry."
"Still," Ethan said, "if you're planning to build an army, I'd bet on the enhanced ones."
Alex smirked. "Let's focus on building walls first."
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6. A New Foundation
By nightfall, the group had completed the first section of the palisades—a sturdy wall of sharpened logs lashed together with rope and reinforced with stones at the base. It wasn't perfect, but it was a start.
As the group sat around the fire, Alex leaned back, exhaustion etched into his face. "It's not much, but it's progress."
"It's better than nothing," Lila said, stretching her legs.
Ethan nodded, a faint smile on his lips. "You've got a plan, and you're making it happen. That's more than most people can say in this world."
Alex glanced at the skeletons standing silently nearby. Sentinel and the infused skeleton seemed almost alive in the firelight, their glowing eyes watching the horizon. The unaltered skeleton stood stiffly, awaiting its next command.
"This is just the beginning," Alex said quietly. "We're not just surviving anymore. We're building something. A future."