The entrance to the castle was guarded by two strange creatures, their lower bodies resembling giant spiders, each supported by six thin legs, and the other two limbs barely resembling human arms, but mutilated. Their current physical condition is even more fascinating than what these creatures look like. Their bodies are heavily scarred, and the most severely injured parts have been roughly bandaged. One of the guards' arms was bent at a strange angle, pus-like fluids dripping from the other's teeth, but the guards didn't bother to wipe them clean.

Although the two exuded the familiar stench of corpses, they showed no signs of confusion like his real rats. These arachnids must still have retained their original strength and coordination. Otherwise, they will become very weak. Their creator is undoubtedly a skilled necromancer.

To his surprise, they made way for him to pass. He didn't ask about his luck, but walked straight into the castle, which was much warmer than outside. In front of the hall is a shattered statue of a half-spider creature. The building looks like it was built recently, but the statue is old. He suddenly remembered that he had passed by an ancient ruin on his way to the Northlands, and the statues in it were very similar to these. The cold slowed his mind a little.

He guessed that perhaps the wizard had conquered the realm of the half-spider creatures, succeeded in turning them into undead, and used their wealth to fight in the north and south. Ecstasy instantly filled his body, and he was about to learn great spells here.

At the end of the hall, a giant creature clumsily walked into his sight: a strange hybrid with the characteristics of a beetle and a spider. It slowly walked towards him, and Kel'thugad noticed that its massive body was covered in scars and bandages. Like the guards, it was an undead, but its sheer size made Kel'thugad feel more terrified than shocked. He doubted that he was capable enough to defeat it, which was more difficult than transforming it into an undead creature.

The creature greeted him in a deep voice that echoed and vibrated through its body. Even though it was speaking in a way that was easy to understand, the sound made him shudder. There was a strange buzz lurking in its words: "Master is looking forward to your visit, mage. I'm Anubaraq. ”

It's both intelligent and eloquent! It's amazing!" I hope to be his apprentice. ”

The giant creature looked down at him. Maybe it's fighting internally whether or not to treat him as a tasty snack.

Kel'thugad cleared his throat nervously: "Can I see him?"

"At the right time. Anubarakron replied with a long, "So far, you have devoted yourself to the pursuit of knowledge. This is admirable!, though, you don't have enough experience as a mage. You are not prepared to serve your master. ”

What was it that made it say that? Could it be that the butler felt that Kel'thugad was a rival?

"As a former member of the Kenrito Council, I have more magic than you can imagine. I am fully prepared, no matter what task my master has given me. ”

"We'll know. ”

Anubrak led Kel'thugad through tunnels and into the depths of the earth. Finally Kel'thugad and his guide came to a magnificent pyramid that Anubarak called Naxxamas. It can be seen from its architectural structure. The building was built by a half-spider creature. The first room that Anubarak showed him was filled with undead creatures. True spiders also live here, and they quickly crawl among the undead creatures, busy weaving webs and laying eggs.

Kel'thugad hid his disgust, he didn't want to upset the "great" butler. He pointed to one of the undead spider creatures and asked, "You are somewhat similar to them, are you derived from the same species?"

"Spider Kingdom, that's right. When the master appeared, his influence was far and wide, and we fought a war with him, foolishly thinking that we still had a chance to win. As a result, many compatriots were killed. Then it became an undead creature. I was a king when I was alive, and today I am a Crypt Lord. ”

"You have attained immortality, so you agree to serve him. Kel'thugad said loudly.

"'Agree' means choice. ”

This means that the wizard can force undead creatures to submit to him. Kel'thugad may have been the first living creature to come here with a self-will. He was slightly uneasy, so he changed the subject: "This place is full of your people, are you ruling here?"

"After my death, I led my people to occupy this pyramid and dedicated it to our new master. I'm also responsible for overseeing the entire building being renovated according to his designs. But Naxxramas is not under my rule, and it is not only my people who live. It's just one of four wings. ”

"Crypt Lord, take me to see the others. ”

The second wing was full of things that Kel'thugad particularly wanted to see. Magical artifacts, real utensils, and other high-end items that make Kel's honest yàn room seem humiliating. A large room could hold as many assistants as an army. The undead creatures are cleverly stitched together from a hodgepodge of animals and organs, and there are even some undead humanoids. Their body parts come from a variety of human races. The human parts had no wounds: unlike the subjects of the Spider Kingdom, the humans did not appear to be fighting for their fate, and the wizard presumably took the corpse from a local grave. It would be wise to keep a low profile, otherwise the Kenrito Council would surely take immediate action.

It's a pity. The third wing is not so interesting. Anubaraq showed him a military factory and a training camp. The Crypt Lord then led him through a room containing hundreds—nay, thousands of sealed barrels and wicker crates. Why did Naxxramas need so many supplies? Well, maybe in the event of a siege - of course it is unlikely - the pyramids were good storage warehouses.

In the end, he and Anubaraq reached the last wing. In the garden grew incomparably large mushrooms, which emitted poisonous gases that made Kel'thugad feel sick. The soil under each mushroom doesn't look so healthy and may have been**. He wanted to get closer and observe. There was a "creak" under his feet, and something was smashed: it was a maggot-like creature the size of a fist. (To be continued.) )