Facing the towering Ox Demons, the Headhunter Clan People showed no fear. Instead, their ferocity was ignited, and they charged forward in waves.

These were the Headhunter Clan People, evolved over dozens of generations, a legacy left behind by their Human Ancestors. They eked out a living in the Wasteland, where a single step back meant utter annihilation.

The cunning of the Headhunter Clan People was always laced with savagery. When faced with a powerful enemy, they would not retreat easily. Instead, they would rise to the challenge and fight to the death!

Not for Faith, and certainly not for glory, but simply for survival!

A Headhunter Clan member leaped high, but before his weapon could even touch the Ox Demon’s body, he was smashed mid-air between his chest and abdomen by a Totem Pole.

CRACK.

The sound of shattering bones echoed from within his body. The Totem Pole, carrying immense Power, sent him flying. While still in the air, he spewed a torrent of blood mixed with internal organs.

Their skin had defensive properties, capable of resisting slashes and even offering some protection against piercing attacks. But against a heavy weapon like the Totem Pole, which caused direct internal injuries, it was utterly useless.

The Headhunter Clan member was already dead before he hit the ground, his corpse thudding onto the earth. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

The Ox Demon didn’t even spare him a glance. After sending him flying, it charged without hesitation toward the other Headhunter Clan People, roaring as it plunged back into the fray.

’So strong!’

Li Ziyu’s eyes widened as he watched the Ox Demons unleash their might. Even when surrounded, they didn’t lose an inch of ground. ’These big guys are just too fierce,’ he thought. ’They’re on a completely different level from the regular Skeleton Undead. Not even the Skeleton Warriors can compare.’

The Ox Demons’ Speed wasn’t high, but their blows were heavy and powerful. A single hit could cause severe injuries, if not outright death. Their Defense Power was equally terrifying. The attacks of the Headhunter Clan People clanged against their bodies, sending bone fragments flying, but had no effect whatsoever.

Not only that, but the Ox Demons actually had Skills!

’Damn it, I’ve finally got a unit with Skills.’

Tears welled up in Li Ziyu’s eyes.

Besides their initial tank-like Charge, when they stomped the ground, they could create a shockwave to blast surrounding enemies. Foes who got too close would be weakened, their Power and Speed reduced. This was the effect of Dark Energy, which both enhanced the Ox Demons’ Power and automatically applied a negative buff to their enemies.

Then there were their Totem Poles. The fact that they could so easily shatter the bones of the Headhunter Clan People wasn’t just because of the Ox Demons’ great Power. Li Ziyu guessed that the Totem Poles themselves were not simple; they were likely enhanced with an Enchantment or inherently possessed a bone-shattering effect.

The ten Ox Demons were an insurmountable barrier for the Headhunter Clan People. No matter how fierce their assault, the Ox Demons would steadfastly block their path, deflecting all their attacks and taking out a group of them in the process.

The Undead on the outermost ring slowly closed in, compressing the space for the Headhunter Clan People and making it even harder for them to dodge attacks.

When the Headhunter Clan People were forced to cluster together because of the encircling Undead, the Ox Demons changed their attack pattern. Instead of smashing them one by one, they began swinging their Totem Poles in wide arcs, sweeping through entire swathes of enemies.

The Dark Energy coiling around the Totem Poles like smoke seeped into the bodies of the Headhunter Clan People. This frigid Energy made them tremble, slowed their blood flow, and caused their bones to creak and groan. It even had a corrosive effect, melting their muscles.

In a short time, the Headhunter Clan People had lost over a hundred of their number to the Ox Demons’ attacks. They finally realized something was wrong.

’This is bad, we can’t keep fighting!’

If they couldn’t break through the Ox Demons, they couldn’t breach the main fortress tower. Fighting consumed stamina, and the Headhunter Clan People could already feel their energy draining. Meanwhile, the surrounding Undead and the ten Ox Demons before them were as relentless as ever. ’Undead don’t get tired, do they?’

The Headhunter Clan People were fierce, yes, but they also knew how to assess a situation. The Ox Demons were clearly an obstacle they couldn’t overcome quickly. Continuing the fight would only lead to more losses and nothing else.

Even if they managed to kill the Ox Demons, it was uncertain whether the remaining survivors would have the strength to storm the main tower and destroy the fortress.

With their reason returning and their hot-blooded fury cooling, the Headhunter Clan People began to consider how to escape.

But retreating now was no simple matter. While they had been fighting the Ox Demons, the Skeleton Undead had completely surrounded them.

The fearless Undead had formed several layers around the Headhunter Clan People. Trying to break out and carve a path to safety was as difficult as ascending to heaven.

The Headhunter Clan People near the center continued to fight the Ox Demons, while those on the outer ring began attacking the Skeleton Undead, trying to find a weak point to break through.

As the situation grew more desperate, one of them pulled out a Bone Whistle and blew it, signaling their other comrades for help. The plan was for the others to attack the Skeleton Undead from behind, break through the Undead’s defensive line, and after regrouping, they would all break out together.

Soon, an answering Bone Whistle was heard. But its sound made their blood run cold—it was a call for help. The group of Headhunter Clan People that had split off to attack the two-story building was also locked in a desperate battle!

Both sides were waiting for the other to save them. Unfortunately, neither could save the other.

When Li Ziyu saw them split their forces to attack the two fortresses, he had already anticipated this. He sent almost all of his Low Tier Skeleton Warriors and more than half of his mid-to-High Level Skeleton Warriors over to Liu Xingxing’s side to help him deal with the Headhunter Clan People.

He wasn’t worried about his own position. At the time, his thinking was, ’Even though I don’t know if the Skeleton Ox Demons’ combat power is sufficient, their defense is definitely not a problem. The Ox Demons’ bones are incredibly tough. At worst, they can just hold out for a while. Once Liu Xingxing’s side is dealt with, he can send reinforcements back, and the siege will be broken.’

But even Li Ziyu hadn’t expected the Ox Demons to be so ferocious. Not only did they stop the Headhunter Race from breaking into the main tower, they actually beat them so badly that the enemy had to blow their whistles for help.

With both enemy groups losing, there was nothing left to say. The battle was basically won.

The Headhunter Clan People had never imagined they would find themselves in this situation—completely surrounded. They used every trick they had to try and break out of the Undead’s encirclement, but it was all in vain. Having lost the space to dodge and maneuver, they were forced into a head-on clash with the Undead, and their losses were far greater.

After all, as long as an Undead’s head wasn’t smashed and its Soul Fire didn’t dissipate, it was perfectly fine. But if a Headhunter took a single stab, the pain was real, and the blood they shed was real. As one side weakened and the other remained tireless, the Headhunters’ resistance grew feebler, and their war cries faded.

What surprised Li Ziyu was that the Headhunter Race never once tried to surrender. They fought to the bitter end, still trying to find a way to escape even in their final moments. This will to survive left him deeply astonished.

The last Headhunter Clan member in the encirclement was bludgeoned in the head by an Ox Demon’s Totem Pole. As his body fell, the battle was officially over.

"Clean up the battlefield. Drag any survivors to me," Li Ziyu commanded.

The Undead began moving corpses and searching for living Headhunter Clan People. Any who were still alive were grievously wounded—impaled with Spears, bellies sliced open with guts spilling onto the ground, or with severed arms and legs. In any case, none were left unscathed.

Leaving the Undead to clean the battlefield, Li Ziyu took stock of his casualties from the fight.

He hadn’t felt it during the heat of battle, but now, as he tallied the numbers, Li Ziyu’s heart ached. The Headhunter Race was truly vicious; he had lost nearly 500 Skeleton Undead.

Ever since crossing over to the Otherworld, he had never suffered such heavy losses. Not even against the Lizardmen. No wonder the Headhunter Race was called the most malignant of tumors!