Real Mount and Blade Game

Their opponent was none other than a black iron skeleton warrior whose physique was clearly more robust and whose joints gleamed with a cold, hard metallic luster!
The warrior was wielding his rusty, broken greatsword with all his might, his moves wide and powerful, precise and effective, perfectly in line with his usual fierce and refined style!

Its soul fire is a relatively pure ghostly green, carrying a cold stillness and an extreme hatred for the foul aura of its opponent.

Every parry and slash it makes carries a resolute determination, as if it were defending its territory.

A dark red skeleton had its arm bone severed by the massive blade, sending out a few streaks of dark red sparks. But it used its other twisted bone claw to tear even more frantically at the black iron skeleton's leg joints!

Meanwhile, the other two dark red skeletons took advantage of their companion's "sacrifice" to flank from both sides, their bone claws, imbued with sulfurous black smoke, piercing straight into the gaps between the Black Iron Warrior's ribs!
This is no longer a battle between the same kind; it's more like two monsters driven by two completely different primal forces tearing each other apart—a fight to the death!

Karen suppressed the shock in his heart and whispered a message through the thin vines on his wrist used for short-range communication: "West side, area three confirmed! Abyssal Corrupted Skeletons! Three against one! Target is a Black Iron Guard! Corrupted Skeletons characteristics: bones with dark red markings, behaving erratically, sparks present! The source of the abyssal sulfurous aura is them!"

Almost simultaneously, rangers from other directions also sent back similar reports:
"Abandoned vehicle bunker at seven o'clock! Two decaying skeletons are gnawing on a half-rotten zombie! The zombie shows no unusual reaction and seems unaffected by the Abyss!"

"The subway entrance on the northeast side has collapsed! Five decaying skeletons are attacking a black iron shield-wielding infantryman! The shield has been corroded and pitted by the abyss!"

"Important discovery! There appears to be sulfur crystal-like material at the core of the decaying skeleton! It flashes briefly and intensifies the stench when broken!"

These scattered fragments of "encounter battles" throughout the gray fog piece together a brutal yet clear picture.

The power of the abyss, like a greedy tumor, spread wildly deep within the core of Longcheng's dead body, forcibly eroding, distorting, and converting the original undead power for its own use.

Those skeletons, shrouded in sulfur and the abyss's aura, were the abyss's claws used to gnaw at the very foundation of Long City!

The remaining black iron skeletons and uncontaminated zombies, driven by instinct, are making a final, futile struggle.

Not all patrol teams can observe with the grace of elven scouts.

A patrol consisting of ten Rhodok infantrymen and two Vaegir archers stumbled upon a sudden melee at the edge of a relatively open abandoned square southwest of the fortress!

As they rounded a rickety billboard, a violent crash and the sound of bones cracking suddenly erupted from the swirling gray fog ahead.

Three twisted, corrupted skeletons were frantically attacking a small squad of Black Iron Skeleton infantrymen who were forming a defensive formation!
The roars of the decaying skeletons carried the pungent smell of sulfur, and their attacks were chaotic yet filled with destructive intent.

The shields of the Black Iron infantry bear charred claw marks and pits, constantly corroded and weakened.

A decaying skeleton, torn in half at the waist, was not "dead." Its upper body was still crawling on the ground with its bone claws, and its empty eye sockets were locked on the nearest infantryman's ankle!

The sudden appearance of the patrol broke the brief stalemate.

The Viktor reacted with lightning speed, almost instinctively roaring, "Enemy attack! Abyssal Bones! Fire!"

The armor-piercing arrow left the bowstring and instantly struck the sternum of a decaying skeleton that was swooping in mid-air.

However, the anticipated shattering did not actually occur!

The arrow shattered part of the bone, revealing a dark red crystal core the size of a ping-pong ball, resembling solidified lava!
The surface of the crystal nucleus shimmered with a sulfurous light, and an even stronger stench permeated the air!
The skeleton that was hit froze abruptly, emitting a silent, soul-piercing scream, before its remains suddenly exploded! Sharp bone fragments, burning with dark red sparks, shot out in all directions like shotgun pellets!
"Raise your shields!" the Rhodok sergeant roared, thrusting his halberd forward.

A soldier at the front groaned as a burning bone fragment pierced through a gap in his armor and embedded itself deeply in his thigh!
A piercing pain shot through him, but what was even more terrifying was that disgusting black and red lines instantly appeared around the wound. The burning pain made it almost impossible for him to hold his weapon!

Meanwhile, the small squad of Black Iron Skeletons didn't seem to consider the humans as allies. The moment a corrupted skeleton was severely wounded by a human arrow, drawing their fire, the two outermost Black Iron Skeletons suddenly turned, their empty eye sockets locking onto the Vaegir archer who had just fired his second arrow. They raised their broken weapons and charged!
They see the appearance of humans as opportunistic exploitation, or simply another target to be eliminated!

"Damn it! They're not all together! Watch out for both sides!" the soldier roared, shielding himself from the flying bone fragments with his shield while swinging his halberd to try and repel the charging black iron skeletons.

The scene instantly descended into chaos.

Corrupted skeletons from the abyss, remnants of the Black Iron undead, and human patrols have become embroiled in a three-way battle in this small area!

The stench of sulfur, the cracking sound of bones breaking, the clanging of metal, the muffled groans of the wounded, and the soul-piercing shriek emitted when the dark red crystal core shattered all intertwined together.

Ultimately, the patrol team suffered three minor injuries and one serious injury, before retreating in disarray after managing to destroy the decaying skeletons.

The burning pain and corrosion on the muscles of the severely wounded soldier's leg were clearly visible, proving that the abyssal filth on the bone fragment was no illusion.

This bloody report of the encounter, along with the earlier intelligence report from the elven scouts, was quickly compiled and sent to Shen Mu.

Inside the massive treehouse command center at the heart of the fortress, the air was cold and heavy.

"Sir, the scouts' report of encountering the soldiers has been verified."

Legolas's face was extremely grim. "It's certain that the power of the abyss is directly creating a large number of 'abnormalities' in the core area of ​​Long City through some kind of erosion we haven't fully understood yet. They devour, transform, and attack anything that isn't their own. Those dark red-spotted skeletons, the sulfur cores within them, their frenzied traits during battle, and the fragments that can corrode flesh... are all living proof! As for the black iron skeletons... they are resisting." He even felt that the word "resisting" was somewhat eerie when applied to these undead, but it was indeed the truth.

Shen Mu stood before the enormous tactical sand table, his deep gaze fixed on the core area, a region symbolizing absolute darkness.

On the 3D projection screen in front of him, the details of the scene described by the soldier and the morphological features of the decaying skeleton were constantly scrolling.

"Name the corrupted skeleton 'Abyssal Corpse'." Shen Mu's voice was like tempered steel, cold and carrying absolute authority. "Define its characteristics: caused by abyssal erosion, the bones are covered with dark red spots, sparks appear when the joints move, and the core energy is concentrated in an unstable sulfur crystal nucleus within the body. It is highly aggressive, corrosive, and explosive. Danger level: High. Prioritize destroying its core remotely."

He paused slightly, his gaze sweeping over the grim-faced generals present: "As for the Black Iron Skeletons' 'resistance'... it's the dying struggle of the old rules, and also an internal conflict triggered by the Abyss's Gluttony. To us, they are also a threat, but one that can be exploited. Order all patrol and guard units: when encountering areas where Abyss Skeletons are engaged with any other skeletal creatures, prioritize focusing fire to eliminate the Abyss Skeletons, but never let your guard down! Be wary of the Black Iron Skeletons' attack intentions! Be even more wary of the damage caused by the Abyss Skeletons' core exploding!"

His orders were quickly relayed.

On the ramparts, the soldiers gained a clearer understanding of this newly emerged enemy, who reeked of sulfur and was prone to explosion, and were on high alert.

At the same time, the cruel truth that the Abyss uses death itself to "feed" sent an even deeper chill through every warrior in the fortress—the enemy they faced was not only powerful, but also fed on the wailing of the undead throughout the entire city! This happened on the second dawn after the naming and order was issued.

Several Wood Elf hunter outposts patrolling the perimeter, from higher vantage points deep within the gray fog, clearly saw that in several directions closer to the core edge of the Black Domain, thick, dark red pillars of aura, exuding a strong sulfurous smell, were twisting and continuously flowing from the ground into the viscous, inky black fog, like the fangs of demons!
This scene, like the roots of hell, greedily draws on the last sustenance of Longcheng.

The brief tranquility of the fortress is merely the prelude to a deeper storm brewing.

The abyss's dining table is being prepared at an accelerated pace, awaiting the final feast to be served.

……

Under the dim light of the sky, the Elf Forest stood majestically, its gnarled walls as deep as an abyss.

However, the ruins of Longcheng outside the walls are no longer the same monochromatic scene of death and destruction as before.

The stench of sulfur emanating from the core area, mixed with the smell of burning corpses and corroded metal, created a scene more nauseating than mere death.

Shen Mu stood on high ground; the cold iron face blocked out the suffocating smell, but it could not block the extension of his mental perception.

At the edge of the core black domain at the edge of the horizon, which was as thick as ink, it was no longer the unified threat that had previously assimilated all spirits.

He could "hear"—no, he could "perceive"—a chaotic energy fluctuation—two deathly essences tearing at and devouring each other!
The monstrous remains of the abyss—those with dark red markings on their bones, sparks flying from their joints, and sulfurous lava-like substances solidified in their cores—are attacking in droves, driven by the most primal destructive instincts and the twisted rage bestowed upon them by the abyss, frantically assaulting everything in their path that is their native inhabitant.

Their enemy is none other than the elite of the Seventh Dynasty of the Black Arrow Tower!

Those Black Iron Skeleton Guards, clad in tattered bone armor, wielding massive blades or enormous bone shields, their soul flames a chilling, eerie green.

These former guardians of Longcheng are now using their remaining fighting instincts to defend their last "territory"—the deathly border that belongs to the very essence of Longcheng—under the relentless erosion of the abyss.

Everywhere you look, in the gaps between ruins and among the wreckage of tall buildings, you see these chilling encounters.

Three or five abyssal wrecks roared and pounced on a black iron shield-wielding skeleton guarding a broken wall. Their bone claws scratched at the shield, producing a piercing scraping sound and sending up dark red sparks.

The Black Iron Skeleton silently swung its bone hammer, each strike carrying a resolute determination to defend itself, smashing the head of a low-life along with its unstable sulfur core to pieces. The shockwave from the explosion sent other low-lifes flying.

At the entrance of an abandoned sewer, a squad of about ten black iron skeleton spearmen formed a tight formation, their spears thrusting out like a forest, pinning the abyssal wrecks composed of distorted aggregated bones that were trying to surge out of the opening.

The stench of sulfur clashed violently with the chilling aura of death, scattering fragments of bone and burning skin everywhere.

Higher up, an Abyssal Beast with distorted wing membranes on its back was fiercely fighting a Skeleton Hunter with significantly better equipment, dark-skinned bones, and a short dagger in hand on a broken beam.

Each collision was a bone-crushing blow, the movements so fast that only afterimages remained.

Ultimately, the Hunter was torn down by its opponent's frenzied attack, exploding in mid-air into a ball of dark red flames, while its bone dagger precisely pierced the core of the inferior skeleton's eye socket.

"The Seventh Dynasty of Black Arrow Tower... is desperately resisting the devouring of the abyssal wrecks..." Shen Mu's voice, deep and cold beneath his helmet, was like a precise judgment on the nature of the battlefield: "They are killing each other."

This bizarre phenomenon explains the abnormal contraction of the core black mist and also explains why the pressure on the Elf Forest has suddenly decreased.

The Abyss Creature has just completed its initial form and is greedily absorbing the essence of death from the entire city as nourishment. Its instinctive minions, the "Abyssal Corpses," primarily target the skeletons of the Black Arrow Towers that have not yet been corrupted by it and contain "pure" necromantic energy.

This is essentially a war between the Abyss invasion and the native undead forces, a "civil war of the dead" taking place deep within the ruins of Long City.

This is exactly the same strategy as the Abyssal Corpse, which is currently engaged in a fierce battle with the Second Necromancer Dynasty of the Dark Light outside—to first eliminate and devour powerful enemies, accumulate strength, and then plan to expand.

“This… is practically a breathing space given to us by the Abyss.” Legolas, standing to the side, looked at the chaotic, apocalyptic scene in the distance, a complex emotion flashing in his emerald eyes.

On the one hand, I am relieved that the pressure has been relieved, but on the other hand, I am also saddened by the tragic fate of Longcheng.

at this time--

Before Shen Mu's eyes, in the data stream invisible to others, a flash of icy blue light streaked across the screen. A pale gold task icon suddenly popped up, hovering in front of his retina:
[Strategic Hub: The Torch of Faith]

[Mission conditions met (territory expansion, faith cohesion reaching the target level, core fortress established)]

[Unlock Construction Permissions: Holy White Council - Holy Light Torch Tower]

【Function】:……

[Initial Network Architecture Recommendation]: Use Deherm as the hub and lay out two chains, one in the east and one in the west.

Western Flail: Deherim → New Uxhowl → Elven Forest Bulwark.

Eastern Flail: Deherim → New Rivadin.

[WARNING]: Each Torch Tower requires a huge amount of Faith to activate and forms a permanent node. Use the shield function with caution in non-emergency situations.

Shen Mu's heart skipped a beat!
Beneath the cold metal mask, an indescribable joy instantly washed away the fatigue of days of fierce fighting.

"The Holy Light Torch Tower..." He murmured the words, a sharper light flashing in his cold, iron-gray eyes than ever before! This was of immense significance! (End of Chapter)