Wow, we sure have a lot of new faces. After traveling another day, Rebecca and I made it back to base. We were both already exhausted since we had never walked so far in our previous lives. By now, we had about 500 people. Only about 200 or so were Humans. There was even small animals that I could raise as well.

All in all, counting members and Units, the Undead Clan had over 800…things. None of the Undead or Units had earned Skills so they would have to wait until I personally went in and Upgraded them. The only difference were those who had made it to Level 2 purely by rewards and then killing an Ability User.

Like Sammy, or the Amigos…even Scratch, if I remember correctly.

But that reminds me of earlier.

=============

Earlier

=============

Oh…I…oh man…

“Hey, Andrew. What’s up? Notice someone? Hehe…whoa, hey, man.”

Reese was joking at first, until he noticed my pained expression.

“Hey, Reese. Naw, it’s just that this…um…say hello to my mother and brother.”

I gesture to the two corpses I was about to raise.

“Oh…hey, sorry.”

“No, it’s fine. I kind of figured this had happened since I didn’t get called and they didn’t try and come find me after the shit hit the fan.”

“…”

Reese doesn’t know what to say, huh?

“Look, it’s fine. I can just raise them back up to awareness like I did to you guys. It’ll be fine.”

Reese came up and patted my shoulder. Geez, these damn tears! Get back in there! I thought I could handle it, but…

“Oh, hey, your cat is here.”

Reese motioned towards the door where a humanoid feline kind of walked our way. I say kind of because she still moves around on all fours. I scratch behind her ears before she begins to nuzzle me. I haven’t done this in a while. Hmm? She’s leading me away.

“Oh, this is where we keep the animal corpses.”

Scratch led the way to a certain carcass of a cat with mottled gray, black, and white fur.

“…it’s Pepper.”

“Who?”

“Scratch’s sister. When I left, I took Scratch with me. I am surprised she remembers her family so well…”

FUCK YOU TRAGEDY!

God dammit!

AARGH! This fucking shit fest!

“Uh…I’ll be right back…with help.”

I guess Reese didn’t know how to respond.

I lifted Pepper’s body and brought her back to my brother and mother. Now all of us were together again. Shit, but the only one left alive is actually Scratch! I don’t know for how long, but I had all five of us in a group while I just let that terrible feeling crawl all over my back. I was shaking with anger, with sadness, and with guilt.

I couldn’t save my family. Maybe I could, if I had left the house earlier, but…they must have died pretty close to Day 0. Ugh. Well, they all turned into zombies and were promptly taken out by my men on patrol. I also see familiar faces of the people I use to go to school with, teachers, friends, and even enemies. Of course, that matters little right now.

Eventually, Reese came back with three other people. I looked at Rebecca, Sarah, and Lucy with embarrassment.

“Umm…see anyone you know?”

I didn’t want to move, but I didn’t have to. Lucy went to find her parents and Rebecca went to find her husband and son. Only Sarah remained behind, too young to understand what I meant.

She walked over to me while I was still huddled with my family. Then she hugged me too.

“Sarah…what are you doing? You’re going to get your clothes dirty…your mother is not going to be happy with me.”

“Nn nn.”

She switched from hugging to laying against me and she started petting Scratch. The cat person just inclined her head, making it easier for Sarah to reach. Aww…my heart feels a little lighter, after that. But that was only removing one pebble from a basket of boulders, not much of a difference.

Soon, both of the other girls came back. I reluctantly left my family to Sarah and Scratch.

Lucy was first. We walked around and found a couple a little older than Rebecca’s age. They weren’t raised yet, so I went to do so. However, Lucy stopped me.

“I want them to sleep happily. I can take it from here.”

What the shit?! I am literally crying buckets! How the hell can one little girl be so strong?! I wanted to bring my family back and she doesn’t? I don’t even understand.

Well…I guess a proper burial would work…

Rebecca said the same thing. She had already come to terms with her husband’s and child’s death so having them be brought back against their will seemed wrong. Chris and Kuvali had apparently met a kid that thought the same way back in Brookbend. Am I weird?

Could I be wrong? Unlike those weird magic novels, where Necromancy is a taboo and doesn’t actually bring a person back, this is surely different! They can become stronger, become alive again! But…would my family like that?

Probably…not.

But wouldn’t they be happy to see me and live again? They…aren’t like me. That’s right. They aren’t like me at all. There’s no way they would enjoy living forever and watching others continue to die. My mother is a diehard religious woman of God, for crying out loud.

I…don’t…

I may have not believed in the God my mother and brother believed in, opting for a Creator more than a Savior, but would they be able to rest in peace if they ever died after being raised once before?

I don’t want them to suffer because of me. That! If I were to raise them…then they would have to join in the battles to come. And how we are treated, I don’t want to subject them to that!

I can finally see a glimpse of how these girls thought. I was about to endanger my family’s lives instead of saving them. Raising the dead is not the holiest of powers, huh?

After every one of us gathered together into one big pile for a hug, the five of us, Rebecca, Sarah, Lucy, Scratch, and myself. We asked for the others to pick out their families and friends and choose what to do with them.

We decided to remove several hundred bodies because of this.

However, we still had quite a bit of Undead left over.

We had a massive burial, burning the bodies to ash so they wouldn’t be raised and used against their will. Then we all received an alert.

“As a solemn sign of respect, the Undead Clan has created a Holiday to respect the dead and loved ones that have passed. The Day of Burial has been added to the Calendar. On this day, raising the dead in any way is prohibited. Those who partake in the services will receive rewards depending on their contributions. For the creation of the first Holiday in the world, all of your Units under the Level of 2 will be Leveled Up once and you will receive 500 GP. Our condolences.”

For every body treated with respect this way, the person would get 5 GP. We were all filled with reverence and gloom until Chris and Kuvali brought out some alcohol.

“Man, why are all of you crying? They don’t have to live in these fucking troubled times!”

Chris was clearly drunk since his heavy Hispanic accent disappeared. The new Day of the Dead, huh? Kuvali always paid respect to his ancestors because they held power. Thanks to the two of them, the mood was lightened and people began to reminisce of the good times and laugh while crying their eyes dry.

For every story told, people received 1 GP but for each full bottle of liquor drank would give you 10 GP. It was a perfectly reasonable excuse to get drunk. However, as an Undead, I didn’t feel it until I was already screwed, the world practically flipping upside down.

The night was filled with hollow laughter and people were distracted from the misfortune that surrounded them. Ribcage was busy howling to the sky, making his cracking sounds. Sammy was there, too, raising his fist to the air in the same direction.

Damian was having a drinking competition, completely in tune with his new predicament. Kuvali couldn’t drink, but he still participated by telling stories of his ancestors. Chris was passed out holding a bottle of tequila in his arms like a teddy bear.

Reese was chilling off to the side away from everyone else with Brandon sitting nearby as well. Renzo was being really uptight by taking everything seriously. He made precise movements and bowed several times. He spent so much time, he apparently earned 20 GP from his actions.

Spot was not here, apparently he went back to Jane for the night. David was trying to outdrink Damian, but he wasn’t going to do it. Chance was actually busy staring off into the night, probably still doing guard duty. Or…remembering lost loved ones as well, since I see his eyes are wet.

The two little girls had already gone to bed and Navi came back and rested on my shoulder. On my other shoulder, Rebecca had fallen asleep. The Builders were busy taking out Resources and tearing down unused buildings. The Undead continued to patrol.

I now had many Level 2 Units since most of them were stronger Skeletons when I raised them, but I had Leveled Up the Spell a couple times due to all the bodies. Tomorrow, I would have the toughest Units become Mid BOSSes. I plan on changing this Region before I leave again.

I need to get stronger…not for me…but for those who I lead.