Reborn As A Ghost: Time To Build My Undead Army!-Chapter 1816: Floor 26, Grainhold

-----

The group of creatures seemed intimidating at first, but they quickly lowered their heads and became Maria and Nyx’s "friends."

They encountered assassin medics, serial killer mutants, and even long-tongued things that crawled along the ceiling.

Yet they were all "tamed."

After an hour and a half of touring the creepy hospital, the monsters guided them to the entrance.

"We’re here! Finally, I hate this place..." Nia sighed in relief.

"I don’t like it either. It’s creepy..." Celes nodded.

"Eeeh? Really? I thought it was kinda nice," Nyx said. "Can’t we sleep here, Mom? I saw a room with big beds! Would you guys like to do a sleepover? We can eat snacks and chat!"

The monsters looked at one another and growled happily.

It was perhaps the first time they had ever experienced what it felt like to be cared for...

"Sorry, dear, but some of our members don’t really want to," Maria sighed. "So we’d better move on..."

While touring this terrifying place, Maria learned a few things about its inhabitants.

One was that these "beings" were alive, not undead.

However, that did not mean they weren’t strange.

They were embodiments of past traumas, horrors, and even people from within the hospital.

Similar to the cursed haunted manor, this place was also cursed, constantly exuding both Death and Nightmare Essence.

Yet there was no ruler. It simply created these beings over time, and none seemed to control everything.

The monsters obeyed the strong or fled from them. Sometimes a larger monster would appear, and they would all follow it.

Maria had accidentally killed a few and discovered they contained strange red cores inside their bodies.

These were concentrations of their suffering, agony, and despair—similar to the Nightmare Cores of Nightmares from Azure Star.

"So this is a Nightmare World of sorts... I see."

Maria decided to leave some Phantom Clones behind. They would constantly overpower and recruit more and more monsters.

This way the place could remain safe for travelers, so they would not all be slaughtered. As Ferleen had warned, this was a notorious newbie-killing floor. Many newcomers never dared venture beyond it because of how terrifying and dangerous it was.

"And make sure not to hunt innocent players, okay?" Maria instructed. "But if you see Vampires or the like, you can eat them. All right, bye!"

As Maria vanished, the monsters were left without purpose now that their masters were gone.

However, the Phantom Clones remained.

"Let’s go recruit more for now."

The monsters nodded and followed.

FLUOSH!

Maria and her family stepped onto Floor 26, feeling a little tired and sleepy.

This world was quite mysterious, yet not particularly strange for the most part.

It was a vast desert realm with towering pillars of stone and a sky covered by what appeared to be glass.

They decided to camp near the tower for the time being, admiring the sands and the moonlight reflected through the glass ceiling.

"So what is this world called?" Nyx wondered, devouring her dinner.

"This is a nice world. It’s Grainhold," Ferleen explained. "Floor 26."

"People made of granite live here. They’re gentle giants!" Melianna added. "They also have cool psychic powers. But the world is mostly desert. Their town is beautiful because they use sand to make all kinds of glass sculptures!"

"Oh, that sounds nice! Can’t wait!" Celes nodded eagerly.

After chatting and enjoying a hearty dinner, everyone settled into the large tents Maria had set up.

When morning arrived, the sun’s bright light reflected off the glass ceiling, making everyone groan.

It was blinding!

The reflected sunlight acted like deadly beams, burning exposed skin.

"Ah yeah, you need protective gear for this place..." Ferleen apologized. "Sorry for not telling you earlier."

"Eh, it’s fine. It’s just hot," Maria shrugged. "I’ll create some shade."

After breakfast, the family continued their journey, marching through the dunes for several hours.

They admired the shimmering sands, the towering stone pillars, and the unique flora and fauna.

The animals here resembled desert creatures, but much larger.

Giant desert sand worms chased them constantly.

"Damn it, you guys are annoying!"

RUMBLE!

"SHYAAAAAH!"

A group of three enormous sand worms pursued them, each over a hundred meters long.

They made the sands tremble with every movement.

"Okay, you win. Die."

Maria fired three arrows of darkness as the worms leaped toward her, jaws wide to swallow her whole.

BOOOM! BOOOM! BOOOM!

All three beasts were struck by a single arrow each. They flew backward, their bodies exploding into countless pieces.

"Arise!"

Their flesh and bones fused together as they rose again, giant sand worm zombies brimming with newfound power.

"Bring us to the city over there..."

Maria and her family climbed atop the massive worms. The creatures carried them swiftly across the dunes.

Sand worms moved by swimming through the sand, sending cascades of grains flying behind them.

It was quite a spectacle and a truly unique experience.

The children especially loved it, and even Ferleen and Melianna watched in amazement.

"There’s the glass city!" Nyx exclaimed.

The worms stopped just before the city walls. Maria and her family leaped down.

A dozen Granite People floated in midair, resembling large golems. They pointed their hands at the worms and charged psychic energy.

"Woah, wait! They’re my familiars! Don’t kill them!" Maria called out.

"..."

The Granite People glared back, analyzing the group for a moment before withdrawing into the city.

"I guess they wouldn’t have a city like this without great security," Maria laughed.

Once inside, the family marveled at its simple yet stunning beauty. The Granite People loved crafting glass and decorating their homes with it.

Glass statues, ornaments, and decorations of every color filled the streets. It was a truly memorable sight.

"Greetings, travelers."

A voice spoke directly into their minds as they explored.

Maria turned and saw a Granite Person floating nearby, composed entirely of stone.

"Ah, hi," Maria replied.

"Are you the owner of those sand worms?" the being asked.

"Yeah..." Maria said. "Sorry, are they disturbing?"

"A little, but they were more surprising than anything. A necromancer... it’s very rare," the Granite Person said. "But you came from above. Why?"

"We’re heading to Earth! We’ve been traveling a lot," Maria explained. "Are you a chief or something?"

"I am the chosen leader by the people. We practice democracy and vote for a new ruler every year," the Granite Person replied. "But yes, something like a chief."

"I see! That’s interesting," Maria laughed. "Your world is nice, despite being so hot... though I always look at the glass dome and wonder what exactly it is."

"That is the ceiling," the Granite Person answered. "We are nothing but a speck of sand in the great Desert of Time."

"Huh?" Maria looked confused.

"Come. Bring your family. We must talk," the being said.

Maria followed, and her family came along. They entered a huge temple made of hard stone, decorated with cactuses, palms, and intricate glass works.

Inside, they found a monument with a bowl filled with sand.

-----