The Ruined Death Knight

It was in an instance.

Danzel only managed to take a small glimpse, but the three zombies that he raised were eliminated in an instance.

Sure, they were beyond weak compared to his standards.

In fact, if someone were to fight with a clear mind against them even if he had the same stats as the zombies. That, someone, could probably take 2 to 3 zombies head-on, if not more.

After all, except for how scary they look and all. The zombies were only driven by instinct.

And their actual intelligence was rock bottom.

He once had tried to command them to hold and use weapons, but that didn´t work that well. 

Overall, the zombies he raised were weak.

So finding them being decimated by someone else wasn´t much to his surprise. The surprising part was the one who did it.

It was so fast that even Danzel who effectively had 550 agility wasn´t able to see. All that he managed to see were some after-images from the elderly curved sword cleaving his undead.

That alone brought many concerns upon him.

As someone far stronger was before him.

"Grandpa! What´s wrong with those people? Are they sick?" The small girl asked while pulling his pants a bit. Though her face was hidden from the cloak on top of her clothes, by voice alone could one deduct that she was close to crying.

Looking at her grandaughter, the elderly showed a soft gaze for a split second before turning to that of serious, sharp eyes.

"Shiro, stay behind me. I will deal with this." Hiding the small girl behind him, the elderly eyes turned and gazed directly at Danzel. 

Feeling his gaze, Danzel cursed to himself.

`All of you, form a line and don´t engage.´ Danzel sent a command on the remaining undead which by now number more than 30.

Following their liege's command, the zombie who was aimlessly gazing somewhere turned their heads simultaneously towards the direction of the two living while forming a line in front of their liege.

The image of so many undead showing their hostility was one of the finest nightmares that one could find. 

The elderly who saw that frowned his eyebrows as he stayed silent.

"..."

"..."

With both parties staying silent, Danzel felt extremely awkward and didn´t know what to do. He could only try to look like the friendly undead next door and hope that he wouldn´t have to fight that guy.

Of course, the blood that stained his armor together with the 30 or so undead didn´t help him much with that.

The elderly who was observing silently, raised his curved sword slightly.

That small thing though made Danzel have no existing nerve to react as fast as he could.

Raising his sword and shield in front of him, he took his stance. It took him only a second to get in his stance.

He still remembered the day when he had his whole body destroyed by the magic caster two years ago. The desperation of being unable to do anything and being completely helpless towards someone else. 

He never wanted to feel like that and go back to that dark place.

And currently, looking at the elderly in front of him. It brought him the same vibes as back then. 

Staring at the undead horde in front of him, the elderly took a small step forward while looking coldly at Danzel.

`No good, that guy means business!´ Recognizing the man's look like a clear sight of hostility, Danzel's mind raced through various ideas of how to get out of the current situation he was in.

While he was starting to get more anxious about his current situation, his eyes landed on the small girl in the far back.

`That´s it!´ 

As the elderly seemed about to dash forward, Danzel raised his deep voice.

"Take another step and I will curse that child over there!" Danzel said as he revealed his dead mana coming out of his armor and sword.

Hearing that, the elderly halted his steps and looked at him with his frown turning for the worse.

"What did you just say?" The elder said with a threatening voice.

Hearing that Danzel celebrated internally.

'So he cares for the girl...' 

Between the few actions that he had, Danzel only managed to think of two.

Those were negotiation and treating him.

The reason why he chose the latter was that negotiations were only then possible if both parties had the same standing.

He knew that the elderly had nothing to gain by letting me go, neither would he lose something.

By his guess, that guy could annihilate both him and his undead without breaking a sweat.

With the reputation of the undead counted at that too, the chance of being let go we're extremely slim.

Making his choice to treat him.

Effectively making him receive a loss if he chooses to fight him.

'I need information...' Danzel thought as he answered the elderly question.

"It's exactly as I said, if you were to step any closer I will cast a curse upon that child that eats up her vitality and bring severe pain."

"..."

Seeing him starring daggers at him, he sighed in relief internally.

'He is hesitating'

"If I may ask...for what reason have you come in this bandit hole? Depending on the reason, we might not even need to fight...or forcing my hand to harm that little miss over there." Danzel said.

"You threatened me...do you think that you can win against me," The elder said with an angered voice.

"I would call it more of a self-preservation act than anything...I admit I get defeated..."

"But! I am fully confident that I can take that little miss to the grave with me." Danzel said with his cold voice.

Though he was putting a thought act, he was extremely worried.

Though using both of his curses on that little girl could maybe kill her.

That was all about it.

Once she dies, he would die shortly after.

And that was the last thing that he wanted to happend.

Both parties stayed silent for a few good seconds.

Only the growls of the zombies could be heard inside the cave.

The elderly turned around and glanced at the small girl, Shiro, his granddaughter.

Turning his gaze back at Danzel, the elder said.

"We came to kill the bandits and...loot their belongings. What about you?"

Hearing that Danzel grinned to himself.

"I see... I only came to kill those bandits as I...was of the need of some materials for my craft as you see." Danzel said while motioning on his undead as he bullish*tted his eat though.

He was only passing by and getting some quick XP from those guys. So technically he didn't lie.

"Sorry for beating you guys on that, but I have no need of their loot. You can have their loot..."

While showing a face that said 'I don't believe you' Danzel felt conflicted when suddenly the small girl looked at Danzel.

"Grandpa, isn't this guy the one who gave us the fish yesterday?" She asked innocently.

"Hmm?"

"Hmm?"

Both he and the elder looked at the girl confused before they started at each other.

"You are..."

"Oh...you guys are the ones of the tavern..." Danzel said finally recognizing the two pair of yesterday night.

Although their clothes were unique, the two didn't strike a strong enough image for Danzel to remember them.

With the situation growing a bit better, Danzel decided to strike while the iron was hot.

"We really don't have to fight... I will just go and you get the loot of those guys. Doing that everyone will be happy, right?"

Showing back his frozen, the elder pointed at the lineup of the undead.

"And what will you do with that undead of yours then?"

Starting at the zombies that he was pointing at, Danzel said in a solemn tone.

"I...will command them to stay guard on the exit in case you don't hold your word. Other than that I have no use for them."

The elderly stared a good few seconds directly into Danzel's eyes.

"Are you saying that we aren't going to hold our word?" the elder said with a serious voice.

To which Danzel wanted to scoff at, but decided against it as it wouldn:'t bring him much of any gain.

"Please understand my situation..."

With that guy being possible of the 4th-tier, someone who was still at the 3rd-tier was like a peasant in front of a dragon!

Taking chances against such being when it wasn't necessary would be beyond stupid.

He knew his limit, at that old man was way more than he could handle.

"I understand... We will do it as such. But once you have gone, we will eliminate that undead of yours, we got a deal?'

Nodding his head, Danzel walked slowly towards the tunnel as he had his ethereal eyes glued on the two.

When he was far enough, he began moving his man to the ground and raising a stone wall that blocked the whole entrance.

'Stay here and fight until your end!' Giving his undead their last orders, Danzel used his [Swift Movements] skill to surround himself with mana and make him faster.

Dashing towards the exit like a maniac, he celebrates internally.

'I did it! I actually managed to talk my way out from this monster of an old man!'

Though he only saw him kill three zombies, the speed he killed them was enough for him to avoid him.

If he couldn't follow the enemy's movement, how was he supposed to win in the first place?

The answer was he couldn't!

There were only so few tricks he had, but against absolute power, he knew that all these tricks would be utterly useless.

"I had enough of this kingdom.. It's time to go."