Chapter 38: Chapter 37: Assaulting the Main Keep

The Castle Main Tower of the Undead Mobile Fortress.

Li Ziyu stood by the window, looking out into the night-shrouded Wasteland. Amidst the swirling dust, Lizardman Warriors, weapons in hand, were charging toward him. This was a chase, and he was the one being hunted.

RATTLE...

The sound of grinding bone made him turn his head to look at the Skeleton Undead behind him, which held a Round Shield and Bone Saber.

"The enemy has reached the platform."

Just that one sentence made Li Ziyu’s eyes fly open. He truly hadn’t expected any Lizardman Warriors to actually make it up. After a moment of panic, he calmed himself again. "Get me a Curved Saber!"

The Skeleton Undead turned and walked to the Bone Wall, snatched a Curved Saber—the kind commonly used by Lizardmen—from a comrade’s hand, and delivered it to Li Ziyu. Then, it silently turned and merged back into the wall.

Li Ziyu tested the weight of the Curved Saber in his hand, then turned, walked back to the White Bone Throne, and sat down. He watched the main doors in silence. Before him, ten Skeleton Warriors stood in a horizontal line, motionless.

...

Ah Mu led a dozen or so members of the Lizardman assault team, breaking through all obstacles like the point of a dagger to storm the fortress platform.

Once on the platform, the number of Skeleton Undead they had to face multiplied. To protect the Castle Main Tower, the Skeleton Undead had poured out in full force, swarming the invaders.

Stepping onto the Bone Plates gave them solid footing. Ah Mu and the assault team members could finally unleash their full combat potential. Facing the tide of onrushing Undead, their faces twisted into savage expressions as they shrieked and met the charge, like rocks standing against a white wave.

The wave crashed against the rocks, sending up white spray—the scattered bones of the Skeleton Undead. The Lizardman Warriors of the assault team were even fiercer than the Undead. They trusted in their own Power, holding their ground firmly. Those Undead, mere skeletons, were light and easily sent flying.

More and more Undead swarmed them, but the Lizardmen didn’t budge an inch. They even began to push forward. Without the buffs from the Mobile Fortress, the Undead’s weakness was finally exposed. Their individual combat strength was far inferior to these assault team members. Even a hundred-strong force of Undead couldn’t halt their advance.

Ah Mu’s charge onto the fortress platform was like opening a floodgate. More and more Lizardmen followed their example, grabbing onto the Mobile Fortress and climbing up. They took advantage of the Undead’s focus on Ah Mu’s group to reach the platform and join the fray.

The Undead failed to eliminate Ah Mu quickly, and as a result, the Lizardman forces on the platform steadily grew.

"Hiss! Charge the doors! Get inside their main tower—!"

Ah Mu saw the towering Castle Main Tower directly ahead and its two tightly shut doors. Understanding dawned on him. ’Get in. If I can just get in, I’ll achieve final victory. I can get my revenge, reclaim my lost authority, and maybe even more.’ He raised his Curved Saber high and charged forward like a madman.

No matter how much they had looked down on Ah Mu before, seeing his madness now, the Lizardman Warriors were infected by it. They followed close behind, charging violently forward and spontaneously forming a protective screen for Ah Mu and the assault team, blocking wave after wave of Undead. Whether they would die among the Undead no longer mattered. This was battle. Everything for victory.

The assault team reached the main doors of the Castle Main Tower and began attacking them furiously.

Li Ziyu sat on his White Bone Throne, listening to the CLANGING and BANGING from outside. He grit his teeth, his expression grim. It was the first time he had been this close to danger, and uncontrollable fear rose in his heart. His hand unconsciously gripped the hilt of his saber, his muscles and skin growing stiff, feeling paralyzed by the terror.

The psychological pressure mounted. Fragments of memories from his past life flashed through his mind. He closed his eyes, and the fragments vanished, his mind going blank. When he opened them again, his eyes were bloodshot. His body trembled uncontrollably, twitching slightly. Suddenly, there was a SNAP in his mind, as if something had broken.

His heart began to pound powerfully. Blood surged and roared through his veins, adrenaline pumping. Li Ziyu shivered violently, and a smile gradually spread across his face. It was a savage, wild, ferocious smile—like the final madness of a cornered Wild Beast.

Some people crumble under immense pressure. Some go mad. It all depends on what’s inside a person. He was the latter type. ’Even if I die, I’m taking someone with me!’

’Death isn’t worth my fear. At least I’ll die on the battlefield!’

’I am the Master of the Undead, death’s own representative. Why should I fear death?’

’They’re pounding on my door, trying to beat me. Do I tolerate this, or not?’

The thoughts in his mind twisted and churned, dissolving into chaos. With bloodshot eyes, Li Ziyu slowly rose to his feet. He straightened his back, tightened his grip on the Curved Saber, and stared levelly at the doors. His blood was boiling.

"Open the doors! We meet them in battle!"

The suppressed, low roar, forced from between clenched teeth, echoed through the empty main tower.

Regarding the City Lord’s command, not only was there no attempt to dissuade him, but there wasn’t even a second glance. The City Lord’s will was not to be questioned.

GRR-R-R-IND...

Amidst the grinding sound, the two doors slowly swung open.

The Lizardmen outside, who had been attacking nonstop, halted their assault. They took two steps back, staring at the opening doors with vicious looks on their faces as they loosened their shoulders, necks, and limbs.

The doors opened completely, revealing everything inside the main tower. Flanking the entrance were Skeleton Undead that had detached from the walls. Directly ahead stood a line of Skeleton Warriors holding Bone Shields and Bone Sabers, their presence far more imposing. And further back, in front of the White Bone Throne, stood a Human holding a Curved Saber.

A Human?

The assault team members were stunned for a moment. They glanced at each other, seeing the same confusion and doubt in their teammates’ eyes. They couldn’t figure out why there was a Human among a horde of Undead. And from the looks of it, the Undead were even protecting this Human.

Ah Mu’s reaction was much faster than his assault team’s. He didn’t want to waste time thinking about why a Human was among the Undead. He only wanted revenge; he wanted to wipe away his previous disgrace!

"Kill—!"

With a roar, Ah Mu was the first to charge into the main tower. The members of the assault team snapped out of it and followed close behind.

Watching the charging Lizardman, Li Ziyu stepped forward to meet the attack, the Skeleton Warriors following behind him. "Slay the enemy!"

However fast Li Ziyu charged forward was how fast he flew back. His Curved Saber had barely clashed with Ah Mu’s when his arm went numb, almost making him drop the weapon. Then, a heavy kick landed on his stomach, lifting him off his feet and sending him flying through a gap between the Skeleton Warriors. He crashed down in front of the White Bone Throne.

The dream was beautiful, but reality was harsh. No matter how much fighting spirit he had, he was just an ordinary, out-of-shape Human. Against a battle-hardened former Lizardman chieftain who came from a background of raiding, the difference in skill wasn’t small. He was defeated the moment he engaged.

"Hiss, pathetic Human."

After kicking Li Ziyu away, Ah Mu flicked his tongue in disdain. In his mind, all Humans were like this: all bark and no bite. When a real fight started, they were less than nothing. He had plundered plenty of Human merchant caravans, and their so-called guards were just loudmouths with no real skill.

Li Ziyu used his Curved Saber as a crutch to struggle back to his feet, feeling like his guts had been tied into a knot. He clutched his stomach and raised his head, glaring viciously at the saber-wielding Ah Mu. The other Lizardmen were already tangled in a brawl with the Skeleton Warriors.