Blaze turned towards the spire. It was intact, working as it should. That’s what confused him.
According to the description, he should be able to control any zombie within the spire’s range, as long as they were weaker than him or on the same level.
Yet the brat before him wasn’t affected at all.
No matter what Blaze asked, he didn’t get an answer from him.
If anything, it looks like he can control zombies like me.
Given the way the zombie kept ordering everyone around, that was an obvious deduction. Just as obvious as why the guy couldn’t control anyone.
The spire didn’t work on him, but it worked on the zombies, the guy might have claimed.
No wonder he’s crashing out.
Blaze could wonder what it would feel like to lose his horde. He could sacrifice them with no regrets, but having someone take away what was his? Yeah, that was unacceptable.
As for why the spire didn’t work on the creature, it was quickly revealed.
Subject: ??? (Subject Code: A#001)
Status: Untameable (higher-level being)
— Durability: Mediocre
— Dominion: Once a blightlord steps into a blight zone, every undead in the zone belongs to them, no matter the distance. However, the undead have to be weaker than the blightlord in terms of grade.
— Transcendent: Blightlords are unique creatures, capable of taking control over any form of zombie. They can give their ego, intelligence, and everything else to a zombie. Essentially, their consciousness is immortal, making them next to impossible to kill.
— ??? (System restriction. Subject cannot view this trait.)
— ??? (System restriction. Subject cannot view this trait.)
— Enhanced Regeneration: Blightlords can reattach severed limbs or reform lost flesh using absorbed corpses. They can do it in any form, even as dribblers.
Blaze read the status page multiple times, and only one thought echoed in his head.
I should never doubt my luck.
Now it made sense why, despite being so weak, the walker didn’t fall under the spire’s control. Someone as strong, perhaps even stronger than Blaze, was controlling it.
As for why he was lucky, that’s because he made the spire at the right time. If not, his horde would be snatched from him.
At least, that’s what he thought.
The spire must have overpowered this blightlord’s dominion. Otherwise...
Blaze looked around. The zombie he made stronger would turn against him in a heartbeat. Not to mention, over thirty thousand zombies under the spire’s control would be against him.
Suddenly, he was getting flashbacks from the time he fought against the Headless in that crater. Countering someone with visible weaknesses was easy, but how was he supposed to fight someone who was practically immortal?
From the subject code to the hidden abilities, everything screamed that the blightlord was the main character of a story. Apart from regeneration, Blaze didn’t have a single skill to counter the blightlord.
A strange feeling swallowed his mind.
He couldn’t remember the last time he had felt like that. Hell, he didn’t think he ever felt like that. Then again, he had led a privileged life.
Now in death, Blaze realized how others might have felt. No longer was he naturally gifted. Whatever he had, he had to work for it, while the blightlord got most of it as mere abilities.
Other than that, Blaze understood what might have happened. When the spire went online, the zombies must have stopped obeying the blightlord.
Then he must have followed the zombies as the spire attracted them. That brought him to the zoo. The blightlord noticed the base and wanted to have it for themselves.
Suddenly, the annoying voice interrupted his thoughts.
"This is the last warning," the walker said. "Put me down, accept me as your lord and savior, and I’ll let you become my herald. I’ll have your base, your horde, and that suit, oh, and also your body."
Blaze didn’t think anything or anyone could annoy him anymore. Unfortunately, he was wrong. The blightlord didn’t just annoy him. The fucker made him furious.
Not just his words, but the thought that the blightlord wanted Blaze to become a part of his horde and serve him, irked Blaze to no end.
However, Blaze knew losing his cool wouldn’t help him. He knew nothing about the Blightlord, while he knew everything about him. His base, his defenses, and probably the secret of the spire.
One wrong move and he could lose it all.
"Why should I do that?" he asked.
"To live? Man, I don’t know if you’re alive or not," the walker frowned. "But yeah, if you don’t... if you don’t... what’s that word? Plead your elegance?"
"Pledge your allegiance."
"Yeah, that! If you don’t, then I’ll still take everything from you."
"That’s a nice offer," Blaze replied, pretending to think for a while. "How do I do that?"
"Oh, it’s easy. Just leave that strange tower’s range. I’ll handle the rest. Obviously, you’ll have to be alone."
Blaze raised an eyebrow and re-read about the blightlord’s traits. It clearly said they can control those weaker than themselves. He was in the same grade as the blightlord, so why did the creature think they could control him?
It can’t see my status page. Either that, or the rascal is on the verge of a breakthrough. Hm... this battle won’t be as dull as I thought.
Blaze was about to agree to the proposal when the walker began talking again.
"Oh, better yet! To prove your loyalty, you should destroy that tower right now! It would be much easier without that annoying thing around."
"Of course, I’ll do it at once!" Blaze laughed, heading towards the spire. "Oh, it’s too big. How can I destroy it?"
The walker, still hanging upside down, tilted its head.
"How am I supposed to know that? You made it, so you must know how to destroy it, right? First, put me down. Talking will give me a headache."
A second later, the blightlord’s vision turned back to normal. But something was still weird. Everything around it seemed taller.
"What is happening...?"
"Oh, you’re still alive? Sorry, my hands slipped when I tried to put you down," Blaze said, dangling the walker’s headless body before its head. "I severed your head. Accidentally, of course."
"Huh..." the zombie sighed. "It’s always tiring to play these games. Oh well, if you want to doom yourself, then who am I to stop you?"
A second later, the walker’s body began to melt, including the severed head.
"Just remember," the voice echoed. "You brought this upon yourself."