“Fuck! We barely made it out alive! Huff, huff… puff…” William collapsed onto the ground, his energy spent like a deflated balloon.

  “Please no more…!” Storm groaned, hugging a tree to keep himself from collapsing.

  “Why are we this exhausted when our acolyte robes are supposed to replenish stamina?” Zero questioned, leaning against a rock and clutching his wounded knees, which were being healed by Rainbow.

  Everyone was dog-tired. Their breaths were ragged and their bodies trembled from overexertion—like athletes who finished running a marathon in a desert.

  The battle against the encircling undead had been nothing short of grueling. Even though the zombies and skeletons were weak individually, in large numbers they proved to be extremely troublesome. It became especially hard to fight back when skeleton archers joined the fray, firing volleys from a distance and forcing the party into a desperate scramble.

  If not for the defensive spells they had wisely learned in advance, they would have been doomed. But even with those protections, escaping the encirclement of hundreds of undead creatures was no easy task. Every step had been a struggle as they swung weapons and cast spells, alternating between offense and defense while retreating inch by inch toward safety.

  Finally, they managed to break free of the cursed Land of the Dead, but even then their escape was far from over. The undead pursued them relentlessly, forcing the party to abandon the fight and simply run for their lives. They sprinted through the dense forest, covering tens of kilometers in a desperate bid to shake off their pursuers.

  It wasn’t until they reached the outskirts of the forest, gasping for air and on the verge of collapse, that the unnatural silence behind them confirmed the chase was over.

  “Still,” Zero said between bated breaths, “I think I figured out a few things about the undead army from this investigation…”

  Mike nodded in agreement as he wiped the sweat from his forehead. “Mm, so you’re saying the horde we encountered wasn’t even their main army. Is that it?”

  “Can you stay still? I’m trying to heal you!” Rainbow scolded as she cast {Healing Touch} with her wand, the soft glow of her spell mending the deep wound on Mike’s left arm.

  “Ah, sorry.”

  “Indeed,” Zero continued, frowning as he tapped his temple. “It looks like the enemy’s numbers are being replenished from somewhere. Plus, there’s something odd…”

  “What’s odd?” William asked, tilting his head curiously.

  “Most of the skeletons and zombies we encountered were humanoid,” Zero explained. “But there’s no way they could’ve gathered that many bodies from the forest alone. Unless… unless they’ve been attacking villages. But, supposedly, there aren’t any settlements nearby.”

  “Isn’t it possible that the game just generates undead creatures out of nothing?” William suggested.

  Storm chuckled, shaking his head. “No way. This game prides itself on being as realistic as possible, even when it comes to magic. If these undead exist, there’s got to be a logical explanation—maybe some hidden source or an unknown location where they’re being created.”

  “Well, it’s just a guess at best,” he added with a shrug, “but still…”

  Zero offered a hypothesis of his own. “I feel like this is the game’s way of balancing out the players’ resurrection ability. By giving the undead an endless supply of reinforcements, it ensures they can last longer and maybe even overwhelm us.”

  William froze, then clutched his head in dismay. “Shoot! If that’s true, we’re fighting an endless army!”

  “Mhm… if that’s the case, the academy is doomed.”

  The following morning, after his harrowing investigation of the forest, Victor decided to make a speech for the players. But rather than immediately summoning them to the grand auditorium as was customary, he first inspected the fields. Today was harvest day. After nearly three months of tireless effort, it was finally time to reap what they had sown.

  Victor arrived at the sprawling wheat fields, observing the golden stalks swaying gently in the morning breeze. Life-skill-focused players were already hard at work, using their spells to magically harvest the wheat. Some wielded Anemo magic, slicing through entire plots with precise gusts of wind, while others used gentler Dendro magic, animating the stalks to sprout tiny legs and walk themselves into neat piles. It was a strange mixture of magic spells at work.

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  Wheat wasn’t the only crop being harvested. Nearby, players harvested rows of carrots, potatoes, onions, and other staples, each using their unique abilities to speed up the process. In fact, over the past couple of months, the earthnug had been harvested multiple times and had become one of the academy’s staple foods. Of course, whether it fit the players’ taste or not was an entirely different matter altogether.

  Nevertheless, some players—particularly those who had been professional chefs on Earth—managed to transform the bland earthnug into something at least palatable. Even Victor had to praise their effort, though he wouldn’t go so far as to call the dishes delicious. Still, their ingenuity was impressive. Moments like these reminded him of the players’ remarkable adaptability. Despite their chaotic tendencies and unorthodox methods, they often found ways to turn even the simplest tasks into something extraordinary.

  One player, a burly man with the username FarmSimGod, stood atop a wagon piled high with wheat, directing others with exaggerated hand gestures. “Keep it coming, people! We’re setting records today!”

  Another player rolled his eyes and quipped, “Dude, this isn’t a dungeon raid. Chill out!”

  “Every harvest is a raid against hunger!” FarmSimGod retorted, earning a round of laughs from the surrounding players.

  Victor watched the scene unfold with a quiet smile. Their enthusiasm, even for something as mundane as farming, was infectious, as though they were unaware of the danger approaching. To see all of this destroyed and razed to the ground would be such a shame. Not to mention the consequences that Victor would have to bear—that was the most important!

  With that in mind, Victor activated the Master Shadowlink Mark and sent out a summons to every available player. It was time to address them in the grand auditorium. The storm on the horizon could no longer be ignored.

  In the grand auditorium, Victor’s voice reverberated with a commanding and inspiring cadence, reaching every corner of the hall.

  “Darkness is encroaching, the shadows of the Thornwood Forest finally revealing themselves, and an ominous chill hangs in the air. Before us stands a calamity unlike any we have faced—an invasion of the undead. These abominations, brought forth by foreign invaders and born of corrupted magic and restless souls, march ever closer to our academy. They seek to extinguish the light of our sanctum and to ravage the bastion we have built together. From this moment forward, every little action matters! We must stand ready to face this threat with every ounce of strength, with every spell at our command!”

  The gathered players, both veterans and newbies, fell silent as their gazes locked on Victor. His words carried a gravity that no one could ignore, igniting a spark of determination in their hearts.

  Victor stepped forward, spreading his mana force ever so slightly. “I know I have said this multiple times, but now, more than ever, heed my words: This will be the battle of fate that decides the academy’s very existence. Either we prevail, or we perish beneath the enemy’s relentless onslaught. The fate of the Sanctum of Interdimensional Magi rests in your hands. Will you rise to the challenge? Will you stand as the shields that guard our legacy?”

  The players clenched their fists, steeling their resolve. Even the most hesitant among them appeared convinced of the importance of prevailing against this calamity.

  Seeing their fervent expressions, Victor smiled inwardly. Just one more push, and their resolve would solidify into unwavering loyalty. Raising his hand, he activated the newly acquired spell—{Indomitable Will}. A wave of radiant energy rippled through the auditorium, imbuing every listener with an almost tangible sense of courage and determination.

  After pausing to allow the moment to settle in, he continued, “As you all know, the virtual shop and the physical store have been significantly expanded. By contributing to the academy’s survival, you earn benefits that match your efforts. Your merit, your dedication, will be rewarded.”

  The announcement sent ripples of excitement through the crowd. While many had already seen the update notification, hearing it delivered by Victor, their charismatic and commanding headmaster, made it feel more genuine. The spell’s amplification only intensified the thrill.

  “In addition, the mission list has been updated with critical tasks that must be completed. Barricades must be fortified, traps laid, and scouting parties dispatched. These missions are not just a means to earn rewards but an essential step in defending what we hold dear. The rewards are great, but the responsibility is greater. We must leave no stone unturned in preparing for this assault!”

  His gaze swept across the room, sharp as steel. When he spoke again, his voice dropped to a solemn tone. “This is our test of fate, my acolytes. I urge you to give everything you have—not only for your survival but for the academy that has nurtured your growth. Let this be our stand against the darkness. Together, we will rise above the threat, or together, we will fall. I hope we will emerge victorious in this time of emergency, but the choice lies in your hands.”

  A thunderous cheer erupted from the players, their voices echoing through the grand auditorium like a tidal wave of determination. At this moment, their loyalty to Victor and the academy had been doubled as they united with a single purpose.

  “Long live Sir Astralium! Long live the academy!”

  “I’ll crush every undead in my path! They won’t even make it past the first barricade!”

  “Ooh! I’ll fight to my last breath to protect this academy!”

  “I’m one of Lillie’s knights! I offer my life to protect her! She’ll have the best protection in the academy!”

  “You? A knight? You can’t even keep up with making bricks!”

  Their shouts and cheers filled the hall. Most importantly, the players were more than eager to do everything, even losing their lives to fight for the academy, and this pleased Victor. His work here was done; he had turned them into warriors preparing to defend their home.