Chapter 239 - 142: Frenzy Rune (2)
The Demonized Beasts discovered that while these creatures were weak, they were completely fearless. What’s more, their numbers kept increasing, while their own companions dwindled.
However, once Demonized Creatures went berserk, all reason abandoned them, let alone an entire pack of Demonized Beasts. These Demonized Beasts were already in a bloodthirsty frenzy. Even though the enemy’s numbers grew and their own companions fell, they continued to fight with reckless abandon.
The Skeleton Undead had already halted the Demonized Beasts’ assault. The Undead pouring in from behind had the leisure to collect the bodies, passing them up a line of their comrades like a conveyor belt. For every beast killed at the front, a body was sent to the rear. Then, they would advance, sending even more corpses back up.
After nearly half an hour of slaughter, the charge of Demonized Creatures finally ceased. All the corpses had been sent to the surface. As for the Demonized Wild Wolf that first discovered the sky-hole, it had tucked its tail between its legs and fled long ago. It was smarter than its companions, having suppressed the frantic madness in its heart and chosen to survive.
In that half hour, the Skeleton Undead lost nearly a hundred of their own. The Demonized Beasts possessed greater Life Force and combat strength than the Wild Beasts on the surface. Fortunately, the cavern’s confined space made it difficult for the beasts to dodge and maneuver. They were forced to trade blows with the Skeleton Undead, which was the only reason the Undead managed to annihilate them. Otherwise, this pack of Demonized Beasts could have easily wiped out several hundred Skeleton Undead.
Under the command of the Low Level Skeleton Warriors, the Skeleton Undead began to advance. They cleared out any immediate threats, surveyed the environment, and made more room for the comrades pouring in behind them. After all, a full 100,000 Skeleton Undead had been dispatched this time.
Having experienced the sudden assault from the Demonized Beasts, the High Level Skeleton Warrior opted for a slow and steady advance, allowing more Skeleton Undead to descend and secure the area.
What do Skeleton Undead rely on in battle?
Their combat power?
Wrong!
They rely on numbers. And for the Skeleton Undead to leverage their numerical superiority, they must mass their forces. In a place like this underground passage—relatively narrow—they could completely fill the tunnel with bodies, robbing the Demonized Creatures of any terrain advantage.
’Your attacks may be strong, but don’t you need room to dodge? Your defense may be tough, but don’t you feel pain when wounded? Your regeneration may be fast, but if you bleed enough, won’t you still die?’
’I’ll pack this entire tunnel, leave you no space to dodge, and force you into a head-on clash. As long as you dare to come, I’ll wear you down until you’re dead!’
The Skeleton Undead advanced at a steady, unhurried pace, forcing a choice upon the Demonized Beasts: charge forward to their deaths, or turn tail and flee.
Advancing steadily, they arrived at a fork. The underground passages formed a sprawling labyrinth. While the Catman Expedition Team possessed the skill to map such a place in a short time, the Skeleton Undead took a more direct approach. They began to disperse, splitting into units of a thousand that entered each separate passage and continued to press forward.
On the roof of the main building, Li Ziyu watched as the Skeleton Undead gradually entered the cavern. He glanced at the corpses of the Demonized Beasts being brought out, then waved his hand, ordering the system to begin decomposition.
[Decomposing 1x Demonized Wild Wolf... Obtained 1 unit of Demonized Skeleton, 5 units of Mutated Soul Energy, and 1x Frenzy Magic Energy Rune (Fragment).]
[Decomposing 1x Demonized Giant Tusked Boar... Obtained 2 units of Demonized Skeleton, 10 units of Mutated Soul Energy, and 1x Frenzy Magic Energy Rune (Fragment).]
...
Huh?
’Oh? A new item.’ Li Ziyu quickly noticed that among the decomposed materials was a new one called the Frenzy Magic Energy Rune.
The Demonized Minotaurs had previously yielded the Darkness Magic Energy Rune, and now the Demonized Beasts were providing the Frenzy one. The system description was its usual unhelpful self: [Collect 10 fragments for a surprise!]. It had a certain sketchy feel to it, as if it had said nothing at all.
The Skeleton Undead had killed far more than ten Demonized Beasts, so Li Ziyu didn’t give it much thought. He casually synthesized the Frenzy Magic Energy Rune fragments and obtained a brand-new item: a Basic Frenzy Magic Energy Rune.
[Basic Frenzy Magic Energy Rune: Possesses the power to drive living creatures into a frenzy. Can be used for Enchantment. Do not discard this rune carelessly; it will affect living creatures in the vicinity, making them irritable, angry, bloodthirsty, and mentally unstable.]
In addition to this basic introduction, the Tattoo Workshop provided more detailed information.
[Basic Frenzy Magic Energy Rune]
[Effects: Minor increase to Power, Speed, and recovery.]
[Special Effects: 1. Frenzy: Upon activation, Power and recovery ability are greatly increased, and the sense of pain is lost. 2. Bloodlust: While frenzied, the user can absorb the essence of blood from fallen enemies; the more absorbed, the stronger the enhancement. 3. Berserk: The user loses all reason, retaining only their combat instincts.]
[Note: Frenzy is dangerous. Use with extreme caution. The Frenzy Magic Energy Rune affects the user’s sanity. The more it is used, the greater the influence.]
’Hmm... this thing feels more useful than the Dark Magic Energy Rune. It’s direct, simple, and effective. "Frenzy" is much easier to grasp than "Darkness."’
An idea sparked in Li Ziyu’s mind. ’Previously, the Alien Tomb had two special troop types: the Dark·Skeleton Ox Demon and the Dark Skeleton. Both were related to a rune. Now that I have the new Frenzy Magic Energy Rune, does that mean I have new troops?’
He opened the Alien Tomb interface, and sure enough, there were new troop types. And not just one—there were four: [Frenzy·Skeleton Ox Demon], [Frenzied Skeleton], [Dark Skeleton Beast], and [Frenzied Skeleton Beast].
’Just as I thought.’ The troop types from the Alien Tomb were related not only to special skeletons but also to the runes. ’Different runes can create different types of troops. It must be a difference in their power systems.’