While that last statement had been shocking, it had no importance at the moment. So what if his old teacher slash abuser was a Wight? Alaster did not know where the man was and considering the massive army of Demons camped outside the city, finding him did not even make the list of priorities.

Alaster sighed, "Is there anything about Wights that I should know right now?"

Lezrum shrugged, "They aren't really accepted anywhere. They aren't alive, but they aren't dead. Wights have pale gray skin and any old injury leaves behind a darker gray spot, so they are typically motley and ugly. Because they retain all their memories, or at least most, there isn't really anything to say about them. Well, except that they don't need to eat, drink, or sleep. Oh! And they have a high resistance against Magic."

"So that's why Magic didn't really affect him?"

"Oh no, even when he was alive he was known as the Manaless. When he died, and became a Wight, he just became even more resistant to Magic. I doubt there is anyone more resistant to Magic."

"Do you happen to know the percentage?"

"My liege, no sane person reveals that. Though I suspect you could unleash a few dozen Necrotic Bombs on him and he would be unfazed, though that might also be due to the natural resistance all Undead boast against Necrotic Magic. Realistically, he could likely walk through a Magical bombardment from the City Defenders and be only slightly injured.

That man is the bane of Mages.

Due to his body he is already highly resistant to Magic, then he spent his entire life training to resist it even further, then when someone finally manages to kill him, he comes back in a way that makes him even more resistant. You would think if Magic is practically useless against him, then use physical attacks.

Except you would be wrong because he also trained himself to resist Physical Damage and that's only if you can get through his guard that has been trained and honed against some of history's greatest warriors and Monsters.

I don't know how exactly you got that monster to train you personally, but I hope you never have to face him as an enemy.

The man might not be very capable on a large scale, but you might as well call him immortal. And since he is Undead, he does not need to rest, so he will never stop pursuing you or grow fatigued against multiple opponents.

I would say he is nature's greatest warrior, but nothing about that freak is natural."

Alaster had to suppress a smirk at the Lich's rant. Though he could not blame the Undead. Liches were Mages, their Minions were numerous, but they were weak. Liches pride themselves on their Spells and Magical Knowledge, devoting centuries to the research of a single topic or even single Spell.

And against Richter, it was all useless.

Alaster decided to drive the conversation another direction, "So how many Undead wish to pledge themselves to me exactly?"

Lezrum flinched back, looking at his Master as if he had made that clear, "Sir…All of them. Or just about. Most of them wish to discuss terms, or at least the intelligent ones. Pretty much that they will assist you in this war effort, but wish to be left alone afterward. That sort of thing. They are, for the most part, willing to defend your world, and in extension, their own, but they do not wish to become slaves to do so. They would rather destroy themselves before allowing that disgrace to fall upon them.

Especially the Vampire Houses.

Sir, I know you believe Liches to be prideful, but you have no idea. Imagine the most stuck up Human Noble you have ever met, now multiply that by a hundred.

A single, simple, mistake can and has, caused multiple Houses to wage war against each other for decades. And unfortunately for you, they all wish to fight under your command. Which means you will have to juggle all of their customs, traditions, grievances."

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Alaster nodded, understanding what Lezrum meant.

"This is good, but is it relevant? Will any of this matter to the current Siege?"

"Depends. The tunnels connecting the two worlds are few, but they are spread throughout, as are the Undead. Once you accept their pledges, they could attack from just about anywhere, given time of course.

But this is not a free victory sir.

Even if the entirety of the Undead fought without hesitation, we would still be outnumbered, and out skilled. We still don't know the extent of the Demonic Forces, their supplies, their politics, or anything else like that. For all we know, there are billions of Demons just waiting for their name to be called up to go through the Portal.

Meanwhile, we would be lucky if all of Humanity could muster a Million.

We simply know too little about our enemy."

"And unfortunately, the Gods are the only ones who do, and they are not responding to any prayers, not even from their Chosen. For all we know, they could already be dead."

Lezrum shook his head slowly, "I doubt it, and I do so for one simple reason. We have yet to encounter any Master or Demigod Tiered Demons. While the majority of Demons have been Experts, which is already enough to conquer the world, with so many, having been waging war for so long, I would expect there to be many Masters and even several Demigods. But we have not seen any.

I assume this is because any Demons who have reached that level of strength are the foot soldiers fighting against the Human Gods and their Angelic Soldiers."

Alaster nodded, "That is logical. And while real life is rarely logical, with no other theories, we will assume this is the truth. And hope the Gods survive long enough to make a difference on this world."

"You don't expect them to survive?"

"Lezrum, the Demons fought amongst themselves over whether to exterminate Humanity entirely or allow us a small plot of land to survive. Do you really think they would allow the very people who slaughtered their ancestors and children, forcing them from their home world, and chased them across the stars to live?

No, the Gods are doomed. They caused this mess to begin with. They can burn alive for all I care."

"Even Ebris?"

"Him less so. He at least showed some remorse and helped me occasionally. But I'm not going to stick out my neck to help him. Not that I could. I am just a Master."

"A Master who ripped out the organs of a one of the strongest Demi-Gods."

"Would that really matter against the foes of a God?"

"All it takes is one lucky strike." Lezrum countered.

Alaster decided not to respond, instead, he focused on the City Lord speaking to the shadows in the corners of his study high above the city.

"Its almost dawn Alaster. Finnish up whatever you are doing and ensure you are ready to accompany me to the negotiations at midday. We have to show a strong hand."

Alaster entertained the thought of Keylan talking to the shadows like a crazy person if he did not have a Shadow Assassin present. But Alaster had Shadows in nearly every room in the City Lord Castle, the Siphas Manor, and in every strategic location in the City. And the City Lord himself was smart enough to know that. Even if he did not quite understand or approve the Ability that allowed the young man to watch everything.

Alaster turned back to Lezrum, "How soon can the Native Undead send representatives? And would they even be able to get past the Demons?"

The Lich did his version of a chuckle, "They can be in the city in two hours."

Alaster frowned, "How?"

"One of the subterranean tunnels comes up pretty close to the surface in one of the abandoned warehouses in the slums. It'll take them roughly two hours to mine out to the surface."

"One of the tunnels leading to the World of the Dead just happens to come up in the City?"

"No. The closest one of the Deep Tunnels is actually about a day's trek to the South, but there are much shallower tunnels throughout the continent. That's how we Undead, and a few other Monsters, get around largely undetected. You have used these tunnels before. They are just so fragmented, dark, and riddled with various forms of Monsters, that despite them being an open secret among the Humans, you don't use them.

We Undead do, to great effect. Though to primarily travel in secrecy."

Alaster did not like that thought, but there was nothing he could do about it.

"Who is sending representatives?"

"Pretty much everyone who can. In the two hour window, I believe five of the eight Vampire Houses would have representatives present, but there are also smaller factions that will likely be present. And of course, I imagine there will be many individuals present, those who swear allegiance to none."

"Good," Alaster nodded, standing up, "Make it very clear to them that any violence between each other is strictly prohibited. Also make it clear that any who leave the Warehouse without my permission will be declaring war against me. A war that I will guarantee none will emerge victorious from."

Lezrum bowed slightly, "I will do my best to convey your instructions, I will also send a Minion to post messages throughout the warehouse."

Alaster nodded and opened the door to the subterranean hall. The loud and busy noises from the train station filled the storage room.

"Now follow me. We have work to do, and as we do them, you can further explain this hidden world and its politics."

"Of course my lord. Perhaps you would be interested to hear about the Sun War?"

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