"I'd like you to focus on another project instead of putting all your energy into this 'mother organism.'"
The speaker was a thin man clad in heavy black armor.
An enormous greatsword hung on his back, its entire blade pitch-black as well.
"Lord Black Knight, my 'mother organism' project is almost complete." Professor Putricide looked faintly deferential. Clearly, this so-called Black Knight was someone of consequence. "If you could just give me a little more time..."
"I'm afraid we don't have much time left." The Black Knight answered Professor Putricide coldly. "The Alliance army has arrived. Before long, they may establish a base and launch an all-out assault on us."
"But didn't they only just arrive? They haven't even built a base. How could they possibly launch an attack?" Professor Putricide made a show of furrowing his brows, though he barely seemed to have any eyebrows left. "That would obviously be suicide."
The Black Knight waved a hand. "We have to pick up the pace if we don't want them dictating our every move. Look, if you hadn't rushed to develop a way to counter the Plague Potion, their army could have marched straight in. Many of our Scourge soldiers would have been little more than decorations!"
"Yes, I understand..." Professor Putricide nodded, but scratched his head at the same time.
Was the Black Knight praising me or criticizing me?
Professor Putricide continued, "Now our large-scale plague only has one problem left to solve: harming our own people..."
Before he could finish, the Black Knight interrupted him. "What about your other project? The more powerful... what was that potion called again? How far along is it?"
"The Death Frenzy Potion," Professor Putricide answered. "Once it succeeds, we'll be able to produce an endless army of powerful undead. And that army