Chapter 39: Chapter 38: The City Lord Is Dead

The evolution from a common Skeleton Undead to a Skeleton Warrior, even just a Basic Skeleton Warrior, was a qualitative leap in combat power.

According to the system’s description, Skeleton Undead were not part of a Combat Sequence—they were practically peasants. Skeleton Warriors, on the other hand, were a proper Combat Sequence, the real deal. Their skeletal strength and fighting techniques were all drastically improved.

The Lizardman Warriors were, after all, battle-hardened veterans. Relying on their ferocity and combat Experience, they managed to suppress the Skeleton Warriors. Still, they couldn’t finish them off quickly, and the fight became a back-and-forth struggle.

Ah Mu glanced around. Seeing that the Lizardman Warriors he’d brought weren’t at a disadvantage, he turned his attention to Li Ziyu. He hadn’t expected the leader behind the Undead to be a Human. Did that mean that if he killed this Human, the Undead would simply fall apart?

’What an attractive idea.’

Watching Li Ziyu struggle to his feet, Ah Mu broke into a savage grin. He strode forward, saber in hand, and swung it down.

Li Ziyu raised his sword to block, but he hadn’t anticipated the overwhelming force behind the blow. The strike sent his own sword flying and left a bone-deep gash on his shoulder.

"Fuck!"

The intense pain twisted his features into a grimace. He spat a single word through his clenched teeth as his injured arm went instantly limp.

’I can’t believe my first battle ended so pathetically. It’s like a joke.’

The saber was yanked from his shoulder, pulling a spray of blood with it. Li Ziyu staggered back but didn’t fall. Instead, a ferocious light flared in his eyes. He straightened up like a cornered beast.

"Human, tell me how you’re able to control these Undead," Ah Mu sneered. "Tell me, and kowtow a few times. If I’m in a good mood, I might just spare you."

Li Ziyu’s fierce gaze didn’t intimidate Ah Mu in the slightest. He’d seen that look too many times before. And the result was always the same: he was still alive, while those with the fierce eyes had long since vanished.

’This Human before me is no threat. A complete weakling.’ He hadn’t even bothered to defend himself. If Ah Mu hadn’t wanted to learn the secret of the Undead, his last strike would have been fatal.

As for whether the Human would give him the answer he wanted, Ah Mu felt the odds were high. After all, Humans were weak and terrified of death. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

’Once I get the answer, it won’t be too late to kill him then.’

’What’s that? The promise to spare his life?’

’Heh, I’m a robber. What robber’s promise is ever good? Believing a robber’s promise is an act of foolishness in itself, isn’t it?’

"HOCK, PTUI~"

The only response Ah Mu received was a glob of phlegm. Li Ziyu clutched his wound, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, but his face was a mask of pure disdain.

’Dumbass. You really think you can get the secret to controlling the Undead from me? Keep dreaming.’

Ah Mu looked down at the phlegm on his body, his face darkening. "Since you won’t talk, then die!"

He took two quick steps forward and thrust his Curved Saber, plunging it into Li Ziyu’s abdomen. Then, with an upward jerk, he used the blade’s curve to slice up and pierce his heart.

Li Ziyu’s body swayed. He stared fixedly at Ah Mu as blood poured from his mouth. The light in his eyes gradually dimmed, and his life force faded away.

Ah Mu supported Li Ziyu’s body with one hand, pushed it back, and pulled out his Curved Saber in one smooth motion. He habitually wiped the blade clean, then let go, allowing the corpse to fall to the ground.

He turned around, a victor’s smile on his face, and raised his Curved Saber high. "Stop, Undead! I have killed your leader!"

’Victory?!’

The Lizardman Warriors, still locked in combat with the Undead, froze. They looked toward Ah Mu and his raised Curved Saber. After a moment’s hesitation, they erupted in cheers.

’The City Lord is dead?!’

The Undead also ceased their movements. They scanned their surroundings with their Soul Fire. The familiar life aura was gone. They stood stunned in place.

"We, the Lizardmen, have won!"

At that moment, Ah Mu was incredibly smug. ’Who else can say they’ve personally killed an Undead leader?’ he thought.

’The Undead are terrifying legends, death itself. They bring fear and disaster.’

’But today, he killed an Undead leader. This was a heroic feat! From this day forward, the name of Ah Mu will spread across the Wasteland, and no one will ever dare to question him again!’

’It would be even better if these Undead surrendered and followed him. That would be even more impressive.’

Ah Mu felt this shouldn’t be too difficult. After all, if a weak Human could command these Undead, why couldn’t a powerful Lizardman like himself do the same?

"Undead! Surrender! Submit to me and become my strength! I will lead you to glory!" Ah Mu looked toward the Skeleton Warriors and extended his invitation.

The Skeleton Warriors ignored his invitation. Instead, they confirmed it again and again: the City Lord’s life aura had indeed vanished. Their Lord was gone.

WHOOSH—

The Soul Fire of one Skeleton Warrior began to mutate from its core. A touch of blood-red appeared in the center of the eerie blue flame, spreading rapidly like ink dropped in water until it consumed the blue entirely. Its bones, as if rusted, slowly lifted its head to look at the still-cheering Lizardman Warrior beside it.

The other Skeleton Warriors, and even the Skeleton Undead, also began to mutate. One by one, their eerie blue Soul Fires turned blood-red, radiating an aura of brutality and madness.

Undead with a Lord were an obedient, somewhat calm group of Skeletons. But when their Lord returned to the embrace of death, it was as if their shackles had been broken. They no longer needed reason. Their true nature returned—the source of legends, the origin of fear, death itself. They were true Skeleton Undead.

They no longer needed to think. They only needed to kill, to avenge their Lord, and to bring death to this world!

Their jaws opened, and their Soul Fire surged like a bonfire doused in gasoline. A Soul Roar erupted. With so many Undead gathered together, the Soul Roar formed a shockwave, sweeping through the fortress like a hurricane.

The cheers of the Lizardman Warriors died instantly. A terror that stemmed from the depths of their souls made their bodies tremble uncontrollably as they looked in horror at the Undead beside them.

Ah Mu had sensed something was wrong the moment the Undead’s Soul Fires began to change. The Soul Roar’s assault turned his expression exceptionally grim.

’This is wrong. This is all wrong. It’s not what I expected!’

’Shouldn’t the Undead surrender when their leader is killed? But look at them... they’ve gone completely insane!’

They had indeed gone insane. All the Undead suddenly lunged at the nearest Lizardman Warriors. Their fighting style had changed completely—it was now savage, brutal, and hysterical.

The sudden chaos stunned Ah Mu, leaving him frozen in place.

...

His consciousness gradually sank, like the feeling of drowning.

The River of Weakness, where not even a feather can float.

That sentence suddenly surfaced in Li Ziyu’s mind, and he snapped back to his senses. ’What the hell am I thinking?’

He snapped his eyes open to find himself in complete Darkness. His body was still slowly sinking, and he felt an oppressive, suffocating sensation.

’Where am I?’

His memories returned: the wounded shoulder, the pierced abdomen, the Curved Saber plunging into his heart, the excruciating pain...

’Ah, so I’m dead. But that’s not right... I’m still conscious.’

Li Ziyu didn’t quite understand his current state, but regardless, the feeling of suffocation was not pleasant!

Since he could still move, he had to at least struggle. Li Ziyu took control of his body again and subconsciously began to swim upward.