Chapter 46: Combat Outpost
The three options from the system prompt appeared clearly before him. Gu Su took a single glance, instantly grasping the core purpose of each one without the slightest hesitation.
The "Broadcasting Station," just as the name suggested, was used to attract scattered Undead from the surrounding area. Its core function was to expand the domain’s population and replenish the ranks of the Undead.
The Combat Outpost was for upgrading the Undead, capable of systematically transforming ordinary non-combatant Undead into a proper, combat-ready Undead Team.
The Gate Guard Post, meanwhile, focused on defense. It specialized in training Undead into defensive units for guarding the domain’s gates and defending its strongholds.
While the latter two options both converted Undead into military units, their functions were fundamentally different.
One focused on offense, the other on defense. Their purposes were clearly defined.
Furthermore, Gu Su instantly grasped a key detail.
The Combat Outpost performed a generic unit conversion, not a specialized training path tailored to a specific type of Undead. It was suitable for both Ordinary Skeletons and Elite Skeletons.
The Gate Guard Post, however, was more reliant on the presence of a gate.
Compared to the warriors converted by the Combat Outpost, the units from the Gate Guard Post were somewhat like a police force compared to the military.
And at this moment, what Gu Su needed most was a proper fighting force capable of engaging in direct, head-on combat.
In the last battle against the Orcs, his Undead Squad had suffered heavy losses, only scraping by with a victory because of traps. If he’d had a proper Undead Team, he wouldn’t have needed to be so reactive.
With this realization, Gu Su no longer hesitated. He issued the command directly: "Select Combat Outpost."
The instant the command was confirmed, a bizarre scene unfolded.
The ground still bore traces of the camp. Wood chips, scraps of Beast Skins, and even the topsoil itself began to dissolve and collapse at a visible rate, like snow under a blazing sun. In the blink of an eye, it all transformed into wisps of gray-white mist and was utterly consumed by the Corroding Mycelium underground.
In just a few short minutes, the once-disorderly yet organized Orc Camp vanished completely. All that was left was the collapsed, broken ruin of a two-story building, standing alone as the only proof that a camp had ever existed on this spot.
Gu Su glanced at the empty ground, understanding what had happened.
Everything in the Orc Camp that could be consumed had now been completely devoured and absorbed by the Graveyard Demon’s mycelium, leaving not the slightest trace behind.
He didn’t linger. After all, he had more important things to do.
He turned, waved to the remaining Skeletons at his side, and took the lead, striding quickly in the direction of the Graveyard Demon.
When Gu Su arrived back at the entrance to the Graveyard Demon, he could see from a distance that everything inside was calm.
The Suburban Wolf Squad was, as expected, astonishingly efficient. They had already transported all the supplies from the Orc Camp and the Orc corpses from the woods, piling them haphazardly in an open area inside the Graveyard Demon.
Suburban Wolf and his squad members were nowhere to be seen. ’They must have gone to haul more Exotic Beast Skeletons, as usual,’ Gu Su thought, ’stockpiling materials for future Undead conversions.’
Gu Su’s expression remained neutral at the Suburban Wolf Squad’s initiative, but he nodded inwardly with approval. He said nothing.
’Efficient and hassle-free. The finest hauling squad, indeed.’
As soon as he stepped into the Graveyard Demon, Gu Su’s gaze immediately swept across the interior.
He ignored the mountain of supplies and corpses, his gaze fixed on a spot against the wall on the right side of the Graveyard Demon.
A brand-new structure now stood there.
It was a square area fenced in by thick wooden stakes. Heavy Beast Skins were stretched between the posts, forming a simple but orderly training and conversion post.
This was precisely the Combat Outpost he had just chosen.
Inside the outpost, dozens of Longswords, round Shields, and heavy Warhammers leaned in neat order against the wall, glinting with a cold, metallic sheen. They were obviously the weapons and equipment prepared for the Undead Warriors who would soon be converted.
Gu Su strode forward. The moment he approached the outpost, the cold voice of the system sounded in his ear, clearly listing the conversion rules and attribute details for the Undead Warriors:
[Consume 15 units of Yin Qi, 5 Gold Coins, 1 unit of Metal, and 1 unit of Wood (a small amount of Leather can be added) to convert one Skeleton into a Skeleton Warrior.]
[Skeleton Warrior (Level 0, Summoned Creature): Experience (0/100), Attack: 5, Defense: 4, Life: 16, Traits: Undead Creature]
[Consume 20 units of Yin Qi, 7 Gold Coins, 2 units of Metal, and 1 unit of Wood (a small amount of Leather can be added) to convert one Walking Dead into a Walking Dead Warrior.]
[Walking Dead Warrior (Level 0, Summoned Creature): Experience (0/100), Attack: 5, Defense: 8, Life: 22, Traits: Undead Creature]
[Undead Creature: Immune to Mind Magic and Blindness. Unaffected by Morale. Reduces the Morale of non-Undead allies by 1. Immune to Death Ripple and resurrection/rebirth Magic. Vulnerable to Undead Slayer and Spirit Gathering Magic. Cannot be subject to Blood-draining.]
[Note 1: Both ordinary and elite Undead can be converted.]
[Note 2: Only displays conversion paths for Undead types you currently possess.]
A hint of satisfaction flashed in Gu Su’s eyes after he carefully read all the notifications.
’This is exactly what I need.’
The conversion costs in Yin Qi, Gold Coins, and other materials weren’t low. Each Undead Warrior represented a significant investment, but in Gu Su’s view, the expense was entirely worth it.
The Skeleton Warrior’s Attributes alone far surpassed those of the standard Skeleton Soldiers created through normal conversion, to say nothing of the basic Ordinary Skeletons who hadn’t been converted at all and operated on pure instinct.
Their Attack, Defense, and Life were on a completely different level.
’If I can mass-produce these and form a squad of Skeleton Warriors, my combat power will increase dramatically.’
If his two existing squads weren’t unsuitable for conversion into Skeleton Warriors, he would have summoned Bone Ash’s and Suburban Wolf’s squads right now and converted them on the spot.
Gu Su couldn’t help but think back to the battle with the Orcs. ’If I’d had ten of these Skeleton Warriors back then, I wouldn’t have needed to waste time setting traps. I could have just led the squad in a frontal assault. Those Sharp-toothed Orcs would have been no match for them, and the Undead Squad wouldn’t have taken such heavy losses.’
This was exactly what Gu Su had been looking for.
’But first, I need to convert these corpses into Skeletons and Elite Skeletons.’
With that thought, Gu Su delayed no longer. He turned to the Skeletons waiting in the distance and gave a stern command: "Come help me move the corpses. Your priority is to fully replenish the ranks of the fallen Elite Skeletons!
After that’s done, take all remaining corpses to Pit Number Three of the Great Gravepile. Move quickly!
And you, go notify Bone Ash. Tell him to send the Elite Skeletons back."
Once the command was issued, the waiting Skeletons and nearby Zombies all started to move. They stiffly grabbed the Orc corpses from the ground and methodically shuffled in the direction of the Great Gravepile.
The inside of the Graveyard Demon once again fell into a state of busy, yet orderly, activity.