The Knight Captain suddenly stopped advancing.

Its burning red eyes flickered violently while the surrounding formations shifted unnaturally fast afterward. Shield knights abandoned defensive positions while several spear users stepped backward instead of continuing their attacks.

"That thing is changing tactics again," Zich frowned, having a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach.

A second later, the Knight Captain raised its sword high above its head.

Every undead knight nearby froze.

Black energy suddenly leaked out from the bodies of the surrounding undead soldiers afterward. One by one, several knights dissolved directly where they stood while dark streams of energy rushed toward the Captain’s body instead.

Varok’s expression changed instantly.

"It is absorbing them!"

The black energy slammed into the Knight Captain’s armor continuously afterward. Cracks spread across the rusted metal while larger sections expanded outward violently as though something inside was growing stronger.

A massive system panel appeared above the battlefield.

[Knight Captain Lv30 → Knight Captain Lv33]

Helen’s face paled slightly after seeing the level rise.

"It can strengthen itself using the soldiers?"

Nearby, even the giant Velhari stopped cursing briefly after seeing the transformation begin. More than twenty undead knights had already dissolved completely while the black energy flooding into the commander continued increasing nonstop.

Jayden’s expression darkened hard.

"We need to interrupt it now."

More energy flowed into the Captain’s armor afterward.

KRRRRRK!!!

The metal plates shifted outward unnaturally while black smoke burst through the widening gaps. Several sections around the chest area slowly opened further as the absorption continued.

Zich’s eyes narrowed slightly.

The Knight Captain was no longer moving.

Its armor gaps widened too much during the absorption process, and deep inside the chest cavity, a glowing red object slowly became visible beneath layers of black smoke.

Its core!

’There... that is where all the energy is being stored. Technically, it is its heart.’

The moment he realized it, Zich immediately raised his voice.

"Helen, pressure it with fire! Aim for the chest!"

Helen nodded and shifted focus despite still breathing unevenly from the earlier kick.

Fire exploded around both hands before compressing tightly again.

BOOOOOM!!!

The flames smashed directly into the Knight Captain’s torso while Slimy immediately spat poison toward the widened leg joints. Corrosive smoke burst outward afterward as several sections of armor began melting further.

The Captain finally moved, its massive sword shifting slightly as though trying to defend itself, but the ongoing absorption slowed its movements too much.

"Blood Leech," Zich said coldly. "Go through the opening."

Blood Leech burst forward instantly.

The summon crossed the cracked courtyard at terrifying speed before diving directly through the widened armor gaps beneath the flames. Its clawed arm stabbed violently into the exposed chest cavity afterward.

SKRRRRK!!!

The core cracked visibly.

A distorted sound burst from the Knight Captain immediately afterward while black energy leaked violently from the damaged opening. Nearby undead formations suddenly became unstable for half a second.

Zich did not hesitate. His veins bulged slightly afterward while red energy gathered rapidly around his right arm.

Overcharged Blood Arc!

BOOOOOOM!!!!

The crimson attack exploded directly into the damaged chest cavity from less than two meters away. The impact blasted through the already cracked armor while violent red energy tore across the Knight Captain’s upper body.

The entire courtyard trembled!

A crater nearly five meters wide exploded beneath the commander’s feet while fragments of black armor scattered across the battlefield. Several nearby pillars collapsed entirely from the shockwave afterward.

The Knight Captain staggered backward, it’s absorption coming to an abrupt halt.

Cracks had spread through the core visible inside its chest while black energy leaked uncontrollably through every section of the damaged armor. The burning red glow inside its visor flickered violently now.

Seeing that it was weakening, Helen’s eyes flashed.

"Again!"

Compressed flames slammed into the exposed chest opening once more while Slimy continuously spat poison toward the destabilized armor joints. Blood Leech ripped violently at the cracked core from inside the chest cavity itself.

CRAAAAACK!!!

At that moment, the core shattered completely.

For one brief second, the Knight Captain stood motionless.

Its massive sword slipped from its hand afterward.

BOOOOM!!!

The armored undead collapsed heavily onto the cracked courtyard floor. Black energy erupted outward violently before dispersing uncontrollably into the air.

Following its fall, every remaining undead knight across the battlefield froze.

The shield formations stopped moving, archers lowered their bows slightly and spear users stood motionless.

A second later—

CRACK!!! CRACK!!! CRACK!!!

Every remaining undead soldier collapsed apart simultaneously.

Rows of rusted armor shattered across the courtyard while black energy leaked upward endlessly from the destroyed bodies. Hundreds of spirit orbs suddenly rushed across the battlefield afterward.

The spirit orbs flooded toward him nonstop.

One after another, the glowing spheres entered his body rapidly enough to make even his breathing pause briefly. Warm energy spread through his chest continuously while system notifications exploded before his vision faster than he could fully read them.

[Ding! You have collected Level 10 Undead Knight Spirit Orb.]

[Ding! You have collected Undead Knight Spirit Orb.]

[Ding! You have collected...]

[Ding! Your tomb slot is full.]

[Ding! Lucky Handband activated!]

Following that, a loot column appeared right before Zich.

His eyes widened.

This was the longest loot screen he had ever seen!

He looked around, but it seemed the others were not seeing it. Slowly, he shifted his gaze back toward the screen before him.

[Rusted Knight Sword x17 — Weapon (Normal)]

[Corrupted Iron Ore x29, Mana Potion x4, Ancient Gold Coin x147, Undead Knight Captain Soul Stone x1, Black Iron Armor (Rare) Ring of Withered Strength(Rare) Level 1 Shield Bash Skill Scroll, Blood Knight Commander Cloak(Elite)]

’So many...’

Zich nearly gasped out loud, but he forced himself to stay calm because his greedy side wanted every single item for himself.

Just then, Helen’s voice snapped him out of his daze.

"We actually cleared it..."

Nearby, Varok exhaled quietly while wiping black blood off his spear.

The giant Velhari dropped heavily onto one knee afterward while breathing hard. Even Jayden looked visibly exhausted now despite trying not to show it openly.

Right afterward, a massive golden system panel expanded above the courtyard.

[Outer Courtyard Cleared.]

[First Trial Completed.]

---

Treasure rankings and skills are as follows:

Common, Normal, Rare, Elite, King, Mythic, Legendary, Divine