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The cleanup took a couple of days. With the soldiers working on killing the lower undead safely, while the captains and stronger individuals hunted down the more dangerous undead. The Chosen took great joy in the hunt, hoping for a treasured find as they ran after the undead like madmen.

By the end, the area finally returned to what it previously was like. Yet, the city couldn\'t relax just yet.

While tired, the soldiers got to work to repairing the walls. Thanks to the collapsed tunnels, this proved extremely arduous. Luckily, there were tons of massive stone boulders around. Some cracked, some rubble, some whole.

With the Chosen working to help move the rocks, or pieced thereof, to where they were needed, things moved smoothly. Their inventory truly was almighty.

It was as everyone was making great progress that a shocking announcement filled all the players\' minds.

ANW was getting a new update.

—

"That is the gist of it." Eldrian concluded, having just finished explaining the update to Pelaros. Other than the mayor of Kynigo, Myropsis, Vivian, Ceph, and Elizabeth were also present. A private gathering of most of those in the know, in Eldrian\'s estate.

"How long is it going to take?" Pelaros asked. The update, as Eldrian put it, sounded extremely useful for their defense. However, it really hammered home that his world is artificial. And so did Elizabeth\'s next words.

"It is said to take five days. However..." She paused, "According to Miracle, no time will pass in the game. Which means..."

"So..." Myropsis tried but failed to contain her shock. "Our time will be frozen?"

"Man, that really hits it home, hey, Myropsis?" Pelaros said, sinking into his chair even further. "What should we tell the duke and Hrothgar?"

"It is best if we say nothing." Vivian answered. "It\'s hard accepting... and it adds needless stress."

"Do you wish I never told you?" Eldrian asked.

Vivian did not reply immediately. "I won\'t lie. It was hard to accept. Still is."

Not wishing to push any further, Eldrian focused on their more immediate problems. The update would happen in three days, before then they still had a lot to do.

The wall repairs were coming along, albeit slower than they wanted. But that was to be expected. They were rebuilding it as a full stone wall. Even expanding it to the lost fort where the undead had made their camp.

"We\'ll have to be careful, but I do hope we can include the Watch fort into our walls." Eldrian said, looking at his map as he did. If they could reclaim it, then they might even prevent Pyknos from being used by the undead ever again.

\'Though its corruption is a problem? But perhaps my new power can enlighten me on it and how to get rid of it? That is... if the update doesn\'t make it a dungeon.\'

"The old Watch?" Pelaros asked, his interest peaked. "We abandoned it early on. Do you really think we can reclaim it?"

"Have you forgotten what we just explained about the update?" Eldrian asked.

"Ah... I see. Yes, if we hand its management to your guild, you can repair it through the help of the gods..." Pausing there, Pelaros seemed troubled. "It seems I am struggling to believe in them as I once did." He mumbled, only loud enough for Myropsis, who was seated next to him, to hear.

She nodded in agreement. While the gods were powerful, learning that they were ordered around like slaves was a revelation that stole much of their divine image from their hearts.

Sure, they could still strike down an entire empire... Actually, that was more than enough to keep Myropsis\' thoughts from wandering further. It was truly best to be on good terms with the gods.

It seems Pelaros had the same conclusion.

"Well, let\'s not keep the duke waiting any longer." With that, the group headed to the manor. Having made a brief stop at Eldrian\'s estate to hear the urgent news from the Chosen.

—

"Ah, there you are." Duke Vicar smiled as the group arrived at the manor. They all seemed quite haggard. Unlike himself and the dwarf next to him, both enjoying some tea and refreshments in the manor\'s garden. "How has the cleanup been going?"

"We\'ve killed nearly all the undead who didn\'t run. The wall is also progressing smoothly." Pelaros smiled. "Thank you for your support, and the soldiers you brought with you. They have been of great help."

"Of course. No sense in them guarding my estate when nothing\'s even near to put it in danger." The duke replied, turning his sights to Myropsis.

Had she not refused to return home, and even insisted she would fight on the wall, the duke wouldn\'t have gone out of his way. Sure, he was glad they had prevailed, but the dangers had been ever present.

\'Then again, we need to stop running and abandoning our cities at some point. If we\'re hemmed into just the capital and ducal regions, then only death awaits us.\' Yet, despite knowing this, it was hard to go to the front when you knew you could safely survive at home.

"And Hrothgar, I must truly thank you for your help." Pelaros said, turning to the dwarf. Like always, he was in his full armament. Plate armor of the darkest color. "Without your assistance, the miasma cloud the lich had summoned would have caused us great stress."

"Wasn\'t me who did anything. I just lent that young one my axe." The dwarf replied, looking at Eldrian. "How did you know that would work?"

"I have some experience with miasmas and... things related to necromancy." The topic was outlawed in the empire, so Eldrian was perhaps the most knowledgeable on it at this point.

"That right? Want to come help us in Ganalin? We\'ve got plenty of pesky undead there, too."

"Perhaps once we\'ve secured the kingdom\'s safety." Eldrian replied.

"Pelaros, that reminds me." Said the duke. "Once you\'ve repaired the wall, I expect your help in the East. Since your lot is experienced with the undead, perhaps you can save Navedan and Tripeak?"

"How is the situation in Tripeak?" Pelaros asked.

"Thanks to the empire\'s support, it hasn\'t fallen. But the reports say that the city is in ruins. They only have a few weeks left at most. And the area around Nevadan has been slowly corrupted. In fact, it is even nearing Verest."

Raising an eye in surprise, Pelaros asked, "How close to Verleuo is the corruption?" Because of the siege, Pelaros could not keep up to date with the happenings of the rest of the kingdom.

"Reached the lake, but not quite at the river." The duke replied.

Hearing this, Pelaros sighed. And Eldrian understood why. Looking at his map, this meant that the undead had corrupted almost as much land as the orcs had raised. Should Tripeak and Navedan fall, they would actually reach the same size. The encroaching was doing just that, encroaching on their fertile lands.

"Would you accept us preparing our defenses first? I would like to further expand the wall alongside the Verleuo lake. We\'ve never used it for fishing because of the monsters inhabiting it." Pelaros paused. "Should they become undead and spill forth..."

"I understand your concern, but if you do not move quick—"

"What about you, Duke Vicar?" Eldrian asked, interrupting the duke. "Surely you can offer more aid than us. Kynigo needs time to breathe. Why not send reinforcements from Taurtania? Why ask a depleted city to send exhausted soldiers?"