Chapter 14: A Sudden Enemy
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At Gu Su’s command, the two Skeletons searching for wooden planks quickly returned, walking into the storeroom one after the other, carrying several wide, thick, and relatively intact planks.
Though the planks were stained with dust and mildew and their edges were somewhat worn, they were sturdy enough. They might not be easy to use, but they certainly wouldn’t snap in half mid-use.
Gu Su immediately signaled for the Skeletons to begin. Several Skeletons bent down and carefully used their Bone Claws to scoop up the sludgy Corpse Oil, spreading it evenly across the planks to prevent it from piling up too thickly and leaking through.
Once each plank was carrying a suitable amount of the filth, Gu Su assigned two Skeletons to a group. In pairs, they lifted the planks and followed him as he led the way out of the storeroom.
At this moment, only one thought remained in Gu Su’s mind.
’I need to get back to the Graveyard Demon as soon as possible.’
The Corroding Mycelium needed to repair the Graveyard Demon had been acquired. The most urgent task now was to bring the materials back and complete [Repair Mission: The Barren Lands].
As for the remaining supplies in this supermarket, there would be plenty of time to come back and scavenge them later.
They hadn’t gone far from the freezer storeroom when they ran into the five Skeletons that had been sent to treasure hunt throughout the supermarket.
Each of them was dragging or carrying the supplies they had found, slowly converging on the entrance.
They had made some finds, but compared to the Corroding Mycelium and sludgy Corpse Oil Gu Su had discovered, their haul seemed quite ordinary.
He saw that they had collected intact, cast-iron ceiling fan blades, their bodies still thick and hard.
There were a few load-bearing shelf brackets, their Metal texture solid.
A few plastic boxes that, despite being stored for who knows how many years, had not fully degraded. Their seals looked decent.
And there were several large, relatively intact panes of glass, which were covered in dust but had no cracks.
The Skeletons had no sense of priority, simply picking up intact-looking objects on instinct. They collected whatever they saw, resulting in a messy but full load.
Eager to return to the Graveyard, Gu Su gave their findings a quick glance, but his eyes instantly locked onto the large-capacity plastic boxes, a glimmer of light flashing in them.
’These things have good seals and are lightweight. They’re perfect for carrying the sludgy Corpse Oil, much more reliable than using planks.’
He raised his hand and pointed at the Skeleton that had found the plastic boxes, ordering in a low voice, "You, take a box, go into the freezer storeroom, and bring it back out filled with sludgy Corpse Oil."
Upon hearing the command, the Skeleton immediately dropped the pane of glass it was holding, bent down to hoist a plastic box onto its shoulder, and, without a second thought, strode quickly toward the freezer storeroom. Its movements were stiff yet efficient.
Gu Su’s gaze then fell on the cast-iron ceiling fan blades. He bent down and picked one up.
The surface of the blade was coated in a thick layer of raw lacquer. Despite years of corrosion, it had barely rusted. The edge retained its sharp curve, and it felt heavy and solid in his hand.
’This is good stuff. After some polishing and cleaning, I can make it into a proper weapon for the Skeletons.’
He murmured in admiration, his fingertips tracing the edge of the blade as he mulled over its future modifications.
Before the words had even faded, a muffled but savage roar suddenly erupted from outside the supermarket, shattering the silence within. It carried an intense, intimidating force that made the surrounding wreckage of shelves tremble slightly.
Gu Su’s heart jumped. His expression turned grim in an instant. He immediately put down the fan blade and quickly issued orders, pointing at two of the sturdier-looking Skeletons.
"You two, stay here. Guard these supplies and the mycelium boxes at the entrance. Don’t let anything happen to them! The rest of you, with me. Let’s go check it out!"
After saying this, Gu Su tightened his grip on his Plague Cutter and was the first to rush toward the supermarket entrance.
The Magic Skeleton followed close behind, and the other Skeletons also gripped their weapons, keeping pace with stiff but hurried steps. The entire squad instantly entered a state of high alert.
The moment he burst out of the supermarket’s main entrance, Gu Su’s gaze hardened.
He saw a monster, its body the size of a lion’s and covered in a dark brown mane, furiously attacking the five Skeletons left outside.
These five Skeletons were the very team he had assigned to clear the weeds outside and transport supplies. At this moment, they were locked in a desperate battle.
The Skeletons were clearly stunned by the sudden assault. Although their empty eye sockets showed no emotion, their hasty movements betrayed their disarray.
They had already gathered the chopped vines, trees, and weeds, as well as dismantled car parts and dozens of rusted-out shopping carts. They had been pushing the pickup truck, preparing to return to the Graveyard Demon and report back.
But they had been unexpectedly ambushed by this lion-like beast that had appeared out of nowhere.
Fortunately, as Undead, the Skeletons felt no fear. Even at a disadvantage, they fought to the death without retreating.
A Skeleton that had been sent flying by the lion’s claw staggered to its feet and, against all odds, lunged forward to latch onto the monster’s head, its Bone Claws digging deep into the mane.
The remaining four Skeletons gripped their wooden clubs, chunks of rock, and even dismantled metal car parts, frantically hammering them against the monster’s body.
The clash of Bone Joints and the thud of blunt objects hitting flesh mingled with the monster’s low growls, creating a chaotic and brutal scene.
Seeing this, Gu Su didn’t hesitate for a second. He brandished his Plague Cutter and charged forward.
After taking just a few steps, he flipped a switch and revved the chainsaw to its maximum speed. The motor let out a piercing WHIR, and the toothed chain spun rapidly, becoming a blur of deep, dark green. A pungent, foul Poisonous Qi spewed from the chain, shrouding him in a Poisonous Fog.
The lion-like monster was focused on tearing at the Skeleton on its body and didn’t expect new reinforcements, so it was slow to react.
Gu Su seized this fleeting opportunity, swinging the Plague Cutter viciously at the monster’s back.
However, it was his first time using such a weapon, and his control over its power and center of gravity was poor. The chainsaw only managed to cut a shallow gash in the monster’s thick hide.
The wound wasn’t deep, but it instantly turned a strange, dark green.
Clearly, the Plague Cutter’s poison effect had been triggered.
The monster roared in pain—a deafening, furious sound. Its yellowish-brown eyes became bloodshot as it violently shook its head, breaking free from the clinging Skeleton. It opened its massive, fang-filled maw and lunged straight for Gu Su, a foul wind in its wake.
Seeing this, the Skeletons still on the monster immediately tightened their grip. Two latched onto its forelimbs, and two wrapped around its hind legs, using their bodies to hold it fast. They refused to let go, even as their Bone Joints creaked under the strain.
In their instinctual understanding, no enemy could be allowed to harm their master.
"ROAR!" The enraged monster put forth a sudden burst of strength. It stomped down hard with a thick hind leg, and with a sharp CRACK, a Skeleton’s sternum was crushed into pieces, sending bone fragments flying.
At the same time, it threw its head back and bit down, shattering the neck of another Skeleton in front of it. Breaking free, it lunged at Gu Su again, its massive jaws nearly upon him.
Instead of retreating, Gu Su advanced. Using the monster’s forward momentum, he planted his feet firmly on the ground, gripped the Plague Cutter with both hands, and plunged it deep into the monster’s open mouth. Then, with a surge of strength from his arms, he thrust upward.
"Burst!" he roared, instantly activating the weapon’s special Skill.
The Plague Cutter’s motor let out an overloaded roar. The dark green poisonous energy surged in an instant, and the chain’s rotation speed skyrocketed to its limit. With unstoppable force, it tore straight through the monster’s mouth, broke through its skull, and pierced deep into its brain.
The monster’s roar died in its throat. Its massive body shuddered violently, its limbs twitched a few times, and then it collapsed heavily to the ground, falling completely still. The dark green Poisonous Qi around it gradually dissipated.
[You have slain the Corrupted Jungle Lion King (Level 2). You have gained 16 Experience Points. Participating subordinates have each gained 8 Experience Points.]
Gu Su slowly pulled out the Plague Cutter. Its toothed chain was still dripping with dark red blood mixed with venom.
He took a breath and looked down at the monster’s corpse, a trace of lingering fear and relief flashing in his eyes.
’If the Skeletons hadn’t fought to the death to block it and create an opening for a fatal blow, the outcome of this fight would have been uncertain.’