Chapter 246 - 144: Komeilan City (3)
The purpose of their patrol was to investigate the underground tunnels. Citizens had reported unrest, and it was their job to find the cause.
Sachelli was a native-born Demonized Human, which meant his parents were both Demonized Humans, and he had been a Demonized Creature since birth. It was because of this status that he became a squad leader in the City Guard, commanding nine members: four Demonized Minotaurs, three Demonized Jackal Wolfmen, and two Ghouls.
Even as Demonized Creatures, they had to be extremely careful when moving through the underground tunnels. The Demonized Beasts down here were mindless; they didn’t care about your identity. In their eyes, it didn’t matter if you were a Demonized Creature or not. As long as you weren’t one of their own kind, you were food.
Fortunately, they all lived underground and were exceptionally familiar with the tunnels, allowing them to easily spot hidden Wild Beasts and avoid them ahead of time.
After traveling through the tunnels for a long time, Sachelli’s brow furrowed slightly. He felt that something was indeed strange today. Usually, the tunnels were teeming with Wild Beasts, but after walking for so long, he had seen far fewer than usual.
’Where have all the Wild Beasts gone?’
Puzzled, he led his squad forward. At a bend in the tunnel, he suddenly raised his hand. The squad members behind him saw the signal and immediately took cover behind the rocks, melting into the darkness.
Sachelli pressed his back tightly against the stone wall, hiding himself completely. He almost became one with the Darkness, leaving only his eyes visible as he stared around the corner.
CLACK, CLACK.
The sound of scraping grew closer, followed by a figure rounding the corner. Sachelli froze at the sight.
’A Skeleton?’
’No, that’s not right. It can’t be a Skeleton. Skeletons don’t move. Besides, there shouldn’t be any Skeletons in the tunnels—the Demonized Beasts wouldn’t pass up anything edible. They’d never ignore a meal as nutritious as bones.’
A flash of insight struck him. ’It’s an Undead!’
’This is one of the legendary Undead!’
Sachelli was horrified, but there was also a hint of excitement. His horror came from seeing a legendary Race appear before his very eyes, while his excitement stemmed from the great benefit the Undead could be to them.
Other Races might fear the Undead, but for Demonized Creatures, it was the opposite. According to their legends, not only were the Undead a terrifying Race, but there were also rumors that absorbing their Soul Fire could make one stronger.
But legends were just legends. No one had ever seen an Undead, so naturally, no one had ever absorbed a Soul Fire. It was all just a story passed down by the elders, something children listened to as a bedtime tale. Sachelli had never imagined that one day he would actually see an Undead.
’This Skeleton looks so fragile. I wouldn’t be afraid to take it on by myself, let alone with my nine squad members. We’ll capture it!’
Just as Sachelli was about to signal his squad, more rustling, scraping sounds came from the tunnel around the corner. He quickly lowered his hand, not daring to make a rash move.
His caution proved wise, because following that first Undead, more Skeletons came around the bend—over a dozen in total.
Sachelli frowned. He wouldn’t mind taking on one or two Undead, but a fight with more than a dozen would be loud enough to attract the surrounding Demonized Beasts.
’Wait, Demonized Beasts?’
’If the Undead have made it this far, where are the Demonized Beasts? They wouldn’t just let the Undead enter the tunnels like this, would they?’
A bad feeling crept over Sachelli. He pressed himself deeper into the Darkness, planning to wait for the Undead to leave before returning to report to his superiors.
Tempting as it was to experience the legend firsthand, he had no desire to throw his life away.
The dozen or so Undead swiveled their skulls, scanning the area. Suddenly, they all went still. They stared silently into the Darkness. Although Sachelli and his men were well-hidden, the shadows providing perfect camouflage, their life force blazed like a beacon in the eyes of the Skeleton Undead.