Chapter 253 - 147: Skeletons Piled High
The ones wearing Armor were difficult targets. Stabbing them with a Weapon required finding a gap. However, most Demonized Creatures wore no Armor; at best, their protection was merely Leather Armor, making them easy prey for the Undead.
Sacrificing one Undead to kill at least one Demonized Creature was a profitable exchange no matter how you looked at it. A one-for-one trade was definitely not a loss for the Undead.
At the start of the battle, the Demonized Creatures hadn’t realized the importance of the Soul Fire, and the Undead suffered heavy losses. When the two forces clashed, the Undead were thrown into complete disarray. But once the Demonized Creatures became aware of the Soul Fire, the battlefield descended into chaos, which paradoxically gave the Undead an opening.
The Low Level Skeleton Undead were not highly intelligent, but they could learn from experience. Discovering that the Demonized Creatures were all rushing for the Soul Fire, they immediately devised a tactic. They continuously baited the Demonized Creatures, and without getting greedy, they quickly carried away the corpses after each kill.
Their purpose in coming to these underground tunnels was to kill the Demonized Creatures and obtain their corpses.
The Undead and the Demonized Creatures were fundamentally different. Demonized Creatures could become selfish in their pursuit of power, but the Undead were absolutely obedient to Li Ziyu’s commands.
This method of luring and killing was highly effective, though it was costly in terms of Skeletons. After losing some of their own, the Low Level Skeleton Undead began a conscious retreat. They knew perfectly well that the closer they got to the entrance, the more Undead there would be, as a massive number of their comrades were waiting to enter the tunnels.
At the same time, the Alien Skeleton Beasts were in the rear. Their combat strength was even greater than their own. ’Hmph, we’re one group, they’re another. We can’t be the only ones taking casualties while the Beasts just watch the show.’
The Demonized Creatures, however, had no such complex thoughts. Their eyes saw only the Soul Fire. Even if they were ordered to retreat now, they wouldn’t. ’Opportunities to grow stronger are hard to come by! If we don’t fight now, when will we? Charge, brothers!’
Under the leadership of the Low Level Skeleton Warriors, the Skeletons at the front retreated in an orderly fashion. When retreat wasn’t possible, some Skeletons would actively sacrifice themselves, offering up their own skulls to attract the attention of a wave of Demonized Creatures and allow their comrades to fall back.
While retreating, they were also hunting Demonized Creatures and transporting their corpses out. The Undead might have looked panicked, but in reality, they were perfectly orderly and not flustered at all. They had already found a way to deal with the Demonized Creatures.
The Undead fought as they retreated, while the Demonized Creatures pursued them madly. In the eyes of the pursuers, the Undead were clearly losing. ’Haven’t you seen? They’ve started tossing their own comrades’ heads! That’s the best proof there is!’
The Demonized Creatures at the forefront chased with mindless frenzy, intending to give the Undead no chance to breathe. They wanted not only to trap the entire enemy force in the tunnel but also to seize their Soul Fire. And on top of that, they hoped to earn a grand reputation: ’The great Warriors of Kemelan who defeated the legendary Undead Race.’ The very thought felt wonderful.
However, the squad leaders and City Defense Army officers in the rear already sensed that something was amiss. They were still clear-headed. Those Undead were far from the point of collapse. They could still inflict casualties and were secretly carrying away the corpses of the fallen. ’How is that a sign of collapse?’
They wanted to call a halt to the Demonized Creatures, but discovered the creatures were too frenzied to pay them any mind. The situation was subtly slipping out of their control. A sense of foreboding rose in the hearts of all the officers. Their sixth sense told them something was about to happen, but they were powerless to stop it.
In the far rear, two High Level Skeleton Warriors had already learned the specific details of the battle ahead through the Soul Network, which was formed from the convergence of countless Soul Fires of the Undead. Their intelligence was clearly far superior to that of the Low Level Skeleton Undead, and their ability to learn was impressive. They quickly processed and analyzed the incoming information.
In the eyes of the Demonized Creatures, the Undead were at the end of their rope and could only retreat. But in the eyes of the High Level Skeleton Warriors, the situation was excellent. They should press their advantage.
’Hmm, and the way to press our advantage lies with those Skeleton Beasts.’
Whether it was the Skeleton Desert Wolves or the Skeleton Giant Tusked Boars, they only obeyed the commands of Li Ziyu, the Master of the Undead. They did not listen to the High Level Skeleton Warriors, who had no way to command the Skeleton Beasts.
But just because they couldn’t command them didn’t mean they couldn’t be controlled. Upon discovering their inability to command the beasts, the two High Level Skeleton Warriors had ordered the Skeleton Undead to surround the Skeleton Beasts and prevent them from leaving.
These creatures were the type to disappear the moment they were let loose. Once released, their tracks would be impossible to find. They ran incredibly fast and, moreover, did not share the Soul Network with the other Undead.
Since they all belonged to the Undead Race, the Skeleton Beasts would not wantonly attack the Skeleton Undead. Although being penned in annoyed them, they were still obedient enough to stay put.
Now was the time to use these creatures. Through the Soul Network, the High Level Skeleton Warriors discovered a tunnel where several thousand Demonized Creatures had gathered. They had completely routed the Skeleton Undead in that passage, inflicting extremely heavy casualties. Three thousand-strong companies had already been wiped out, and the enemy was advancing with unstoppable momentum.
The High Level Skeleton Warriors immediately gave the order for the Skeleton Undead to escort the Skeleton Beasts toward that tunnel. Upon arrival, the Skeleton Undead scattered, clearing a path.
The long-pent-up Skeleton Beasts were like wild dogs let off their leashes. They swarmed out and plunged headfirst into the tunnel.