The Villain Professor's Second Chance-Chapter 470: The Secret Chamber (3) Evolved Undead

The chamber hummed with a low, resonant energy, a palpable weight that made the air thick with anticipation. My eyes roamed over the assembled ranks of my undead army, their forms still and disciplined as they awaited their orders. Each one stood as a testament to meticulous planning and the relentless pursuit of perfection—not a single movement wasted, not a single detail overlooked.

The black undead goblins formed the spine of the force, their numbers a testament to their necessity in both versatility and strength. From fragile skeletal husks, they had been transformed into disciplined soldiers, engineered for war through painstakingly complex necromantic rituals. Their frames were now encased in matte black plate armor that seemed to drink in the surrounding light, giving them an eerie, almost spectral presence. Each goblin wielded a weapon forged from shadowed iron, their blades and axes etched with faintly glowing runes of power—shadow swords capable of cleaving through enchanted barriers and necrotic axes designed to sever not just flesh but the ethereal essence of their foes. Within this formidable legion, special units had been cultivated: scouts with lighter armor that granted them unmatched agility and the ability to traverse treacherous terrain unseen, and shield-bearers whose reinforced shields created a mobile bulwark, ideal for absorbing assaults and protecting their brethren. Together, they operated as a cohesive force, their roles intricately designed to complement one another, creating a formidable synergy that turned them from a mere undead horde into a strategic weapon.

At the center of it all stood the Undead Goblin King, a towering figure of ominous command. Its blackened armor was a masterwork in itself, each plate etched with glowing runes that pulsed in synchrony with the magic saturating the chamber. The runes weren’t just decorative—they emanated power, reinforcing its already formidable presence. A crimson cape flowed from its massive shoulders, fluttering faintly in the arcane breeze generated by its sheer existence, a stark contrast to the darkness that surrounded it. The King’s great sword was an artifact of destruction, its jagged edge inscribed with intricate glyphs that shimmered like trapped starlight, radiating both menace and majesty.

I approached it slowly, my gaze locked onto the creature that now knelt slightly in acknowledgment of my presence. "Report," I commanded, my voice sharp yet calm, carrying the weight of authority that required no excess force.

The Goblin King’s hollow eyes glowed faintly as it raised its head, the deep, resonant growl of its voice cutting through the charged air. "Twelve knights, armed and stationed. Mage variant prepared, master."

From behind the King, the summoned knights emerged, their massive frames clad in obsidian armor. Their spears, etched with faintly glowing runes similar to their lord’s, gleamed with an eerie light. Shields reinforced with necrotic magic completed their forms, transforming them into impenetrable sentinels of destruction.

Beside them, the undead mage variant stepped forward, its skeletal form cloaked in layers of shadow and glowing sigils. With a wave of its clawed hand, a swarm of shadowy creatures—bats and crows—materialized, circling the chamber in perfect formation. Their presence was as unsettling as it was effective, designed for reconnaissance and disruption.

I let the silence linger for a moment, studying the assembly before me. "Adequate," I remarked, the word deliberate, as I noted the synchronization of their movements.

And then there were the Liches. Two skeletal figures, each clutching staff weapons crackling with raw energy. Their magic radiated an intensity that even the undead goblins seemed to sense, their hollow eyes flickering faintly when in proximity to their masters. When I first summoned them, I had only theorized their potential, basing my expectations on the raw energy they radiated and the intricacy of their skeletal frames. To truly understand their capabilities, I decided to test them.

"You," I called to the taller of the two liches, its hollow eyes glowing faintly. "Summon skeletons. Let us see what you are capable of."

The lich raised its staff, the motion deliberate and smooth, as though even its smallest gestures carried purpose. The air around it thickened, shimmering as the staff began to glow with an otherworldly hue. Slowly, the ground beneath it darkened, and a ripple of necromantic energy spread outward. Ash and bone began to coalesce from the air, swirling into faint outlines of humanoid forms. Within moments, the outlines solidified into fully-formed skeletons, armed with basic weapons.

I stepped closer, studying the forms that materialized. "How many?" I asked, my voice sharp.

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The lich did not speak but raised its staff again. Another wave of energy pulsed outward, and more skeletons emerged—swordsmen in the front, their rusted blades gleaming faintly; archers at the rear, their bows drawn; and shield-bearers forming a solid wall between the two groups. The precision with which they organized themselves was striking.

"Interesting," I murmured, walking among the summoned units. "Your control is impressive. But let us not assume this is your limit."

The lich seemed to understand the unspoken challenge. It raised its staff a third time, and I felt the weight of its magic intensify. The air itself seemed to hum as the chamber filled with additional skeletons, their hollow forms moving seamlessly into preordained positions within the ranks. By the time the lich lowered its staff, I counted five hundred. The chamber was now a sea of grey skeletons, each standing motionless yet brimming with latent power.

"Five hundred," I said aloud, nodding slowly. "A commendable number. But can you sustain them?"

The lich turned its glowing eyes toward me, as though answering without words. I gestured toward the other lich. "And you? Match your counterpart."

The second lich mirrored the first, raising its staff and conjuring its own army of five hundred skeletons. Together, the two skeletal mages had summoned an impressive force of one thousand grey skeletons, each unit poised and waiting for command.

"Disperse them," I instructed, watching closely.

At my command, the liches waved their staffs in unison. The skeletons dissolved into ash, their forms vanishing as quickly as they had appeared. I stepped back, my gaze narrowing as I observed the strain evident in the liches’ movements. Their magic was powerful, but the toll on their mana reserves was clear.

"Resummon," I ordered.

The liches complied, though their motions were slower this time. The skeletons reformed, their units once again taking shape with military precision. I noted the faint flicker in the liches’ auras—their mana reserves were not limitless, but their efficiency in casting was undeniable.

"Fascinating," I muttered, watching the process unfold. "You can summon and sustain up to five hundred skeletons each. But your limit lies in mana regeneration."

I turned to the floating magical notes, where my psychokinesis pen scribbled furiously. "We need to address this bottleneck," I said, half to myself and half to the liches. "Mana regeneration chambers will be required."

The liches remained motionless, awaiting further orders. I walked among their summoned forces, running a critical eye over the composition of the skeleton units. "Archers, swordsmen, shield-bearers," I mused. "A balanced force, adaptable to various scenarios. But what of their durability? Their effectiveness in prolonged engagements?"

I gestured toward the nearest lich. "Disperse your skeletons again," I said. "This time, resummon only when I instruct."

The lich obeyed, the skeletons vanishing into the ether once more. I stepped closer to it, watching the faint glow of its aura dim and then steady. "You are intelligent," I remarked, addressing the lich directly. "Not a mere automaton. Your understanding of magic rivals that of a seasoned mage. Impressive."

The lich tilted its head slightly, an almost imperceptible gesture that I chose to interpret as acknowledgment. I allowed a rare smile to cross my lips. "Very well. Let us see how far your intelligence extends. Show me your limits, and we will ensure you surpass them."

I crossed my arms, watching them in silence for a long moment. The sheer potential of this force was undeniable, but potential without refinement was nothing more than wasted opportunity. It was time to test them—to push their limits and find where they would break.

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With a single gesture, the chamber transformed, its very essence bending to my will. Walls shifted and groaned as if alive, expanding outward to reveal a sprawling arena that brimmed with potential challenges. The stone floor rippled, reshaping itself into a myriad of terrains—narrow tunnels that twisted into shadowed depths, open fields marked by scattered obstacles, and jagged cliffs that jutted sharply upward like the teeth of a slumbering beast. Each detail was masterfully crafted through the enchantments that fortified this sanctum, designed to test the mettle of any who dared step within. The transformation was seamless, a symphony of magic and architecture intertwined.

The goblins moved at once, their synchronization almost unnerving in its precision. Their ranks broke apart like water flowing around rocks, each unit peeling off with purpose to occupy their assigned roles. Scouts darted forward, their movements fluid and silent as they slipped into the narrow tunnels, vanishing into the shadows like whispers carried by the wind. Shield-bearers advanced steadily, their reinforced shields locking together to form an impenetrable barrier. Behind them, sword- and axe-wielding units followed in perfect formation, their weapons glinting with faint necrotic light. The liches stood tall at the edges, their skeletal frames unmoving, as if they were sentinels observing their pawns with cold calculation.

"Efficient,"