[NR] The Classic Commander Thing - Chapter 675

Another worry Siegfried had about the evolved zombies was that none of his people really knew how the green-haired zombie progressed. Now, Jason recognized them in theory, except he doubted the knowledge from his last life was going to fit one to one. Good thing once Courtney awoke, she knew some of what was up with them.

Courtney, “green-haired zombies are rarer to see, but not because they’re stronger. It is simply that the method to evolve them is less well known. On the other hand, a warrior zombie requires you to find a zombie that has maintained some of its source’s martial skills.

“On the other hand, green-haired zombies simply require you to take any zombie and enhance how tough their body is. It is simply more common for other methods to be used. Near salt water? Make a brine zombie. Desert or bog and you aren’t springing for an actual mummy? The bodies can still be mummified for that tough leather skin.”

Siegfried, “There are a bunch of those basic evolved zombie types. Why would someone bother with the green-haired sort? It seems like it would take more effort and resources than just chucking a zombie in a tub of salt water.”

Courtney shrugs, “While zombies aren’t known for their mobility, most of their evolved forms lose out on even more of it or have some other downside. A green-haired zombie is an evolutionary option for zombies which are unable to role evolve and that doesn’t also make them less mobile.”

Siegfried puts his hand over his face and groans, “We’re dealing with an informed corpsecrafting force.”

Courtney nods, “That does seem to be the case. Though whether this is some lone necromancer, lich, or a kingdom of undead hidden out in the Deep Wilds likely doesn’t matter. I doubt the System will actually let any of the beings in charge through.”

Siegfried shrugs, “That doesn’t mean we won’t be in for a tough, grindy fight. The exact sort of thing the undead are good at.”

Jason nods, “You don’t want to fight the undead in a battle of attrition if you can help it. So, let’s re-conceptualize this fight of ours. You already said we aren’t doomed by prophecy and so this isn’t truly a never ending horde of the undead. Rather, it is a timed defense.

“Also, we aren’t the only ones fighting. Remember, this town wasn’t the only one to suffer from the isolation dome thing. So whatever force we are fighting isn’t focused just on use. Now, isn’t it a lot easier to see ourselves winning when instead of a single hold out from an endless horde of undead, we are simply one front of a timed defense?”

Rosha, “Huh, you know what? It sort of does.”

Helina shrugs, “We’re still in hot water. If we start seeing undead that requires my brother here to join the fight? Well, things are going downhill fast. The walls might survive, but the undead are getting in anyway.”

Jason, “The System likes to pretend to be fair. I figure if we make sure that you”, he points at Siegfried, “And others of a similar break or higher don’t join the fight? The System should prevent similar level beings from being sent through. Well, that or at least delay things.”

Courtney, “Though if we do that, I expect the force on the other side will try to force things.”

Jason shrugs, “They’re going to try and force things, anyway. The second they can send ghouls with ghoul fever, shadows, or any of the other undead that spread, they will. The limit on what undead they can send must rankle to a force that is used to grinding away at enemies with inexhaustible numbers. Any method they can figure out to increase their forces on this side will be taken.”

Siegfried frowns, “What about when they reach the gate? Or incorporeal undead bypass it? So I stay out of things once they actually get into the town.”

Helina shrugs, “Lucky you, you get to do that classic commander thing where you have to sit back and watch your people die because to interfere would only cause more deaths. You’ve trained them as well as you could. Now is the time to trust in them.

“Anyway, Courtney, I think with last night’s numbers we should be able to figure things out. Or at the very least, figure out how many of what bottleneck we can expect.”

Courtney nods, “The ghouls were a good starting point, but clearly well above what they wanted to send. These evolved zombies are more inline with what we should expect of their tactics. Though their reaction to Jason only shows even more why we should keep the high level combatants off the field.”

Jason laughs, “I’m not exactly what I’d call high level.”

Helina raises an eyebrow, “You’re part way through the third break and still young. Most people don’t even manage to pass the third bottleneck until later in life. Even then, most of those later in life sorts are managing it by reaching apprentice in a production skill or being rich and paying people to help complete a dungeon.

“Though I will admit that for those to beat the second bottleneck, beating the third is more common than not. There are production masters in the less physical skills who never reach level 10 because they can’t beat a boss. At least not with gear they’re allowed to use while doing so.”

Rosha tilts her head to the side, “We were pretty restricted before level ten. How does that work with you locals? Because I can’t see it working the same way.”

Helina shrugs, “Yeah, the ‘tutorial’ phase can be a pain. Thankfully for you travellers, if someone really cares, you can keep trying. As for us locals? We can wait it out. Upon reaching adulthood, the restrictions are removed even if we haven’t hit level ten.

“But that’s us getting distracted. I think I see a pattern in these numbers and I need everyone besides Courtney out of the room. Now! You’re all distracting us.”