Skeleton Captain (Seeking Collection and Recommendation)

Two days later, because the Great Rift was only so wide and bringing too many people down was impractical, Zhao Fu took only ten archers, ten shield-bearers, ten infantrymen, Bai Qi, and old Rogge. They descended to the bottom of the Great Rift along the newly constructed staircase.

Their equipment could be described as brand new. First, the infantrymen's weapons had all been upgraded to iron blades. Next, the shields held by the shield-bearers were reinforced with a thick layer of iron plating, significantly increasing their defense. The archers' arrowheads had also been replaced with iron, and everyone was now outfitted in leather armor.

Great Qin Village was still unable to manufacture iron armor because the production process was complex, required blueprints, and cost eight times as much as standard weapons.

Bai Qi currently held a blue-grade sword, one of the few weapons recovered from the bottom of the rift and simply repaired. He wore a set of blue leather armor, crafted from the hide of the Fierce Fire Rabbit they had killed earlier.

Zhao Fu stayed in the rear rather than charging into the fray, so he wore standard leather armor, leaving the blue set for Bai Qi.

The group raised their torches and reached the bottom of the Great Rift. Bai Qi led the shield-bearers in the front, with the infantry following closely behind. Zhao Fu, old Rogge, and the archers stood in the third row, acting as two mages.

As they advanced, blue flames ignited in the skulls of five skeletons ahead. Raising their weapons, the skeletons charged at Zhao Fu's group. These five were all infantry-class skeletons, wielding swords, spears, and axes.

Seeing the five skeleton infantry charging, Bai Qi had the shield-bearers form a wall to block them. The skeletons instinctively swung their weapons, but every strike was caught by the shields.

The archers in the rear seized the opportunity to fire. Arrows did minimal damage to skeleton infantry unless they struck the skull, but they served well as a support unit, hindering the skeletons and creating openings for the infantry.

Bai Qi and old Rogge barely had to intervene. The shield-bearers separated the skeletons one by one. When the archers' arrows caused the skeletons to falter, the shield-bearers would deliver a heavy blow to knock them off balance, then step aside to let the infantry behind them finish the job.

After repeating this three or four times, the skeletons crumbled into piles of bone. Since it was soul energy that sustained their movement, once that energy was exhausted, the skeletons naturally perished. This encounter yielded three Souls of Martial Refinement and five weapons.

They continued forward, this time facing six skeleton infantry and two skeleton archers.

The six infantry raised their weapons and, without hesitation, sprinted toward the group on their bony legs. Behind them, the two archers drew arrows from their quivers and pulled back their rusted bows.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Two sounds of air being pierced rang out as the arrows traced arcs through the air toward the group.

The shield-bearers immediately raised their shields to block the projectiles. However, with the six infantry closing in, if the archers were allowed to fire again, it would completely disrupt the group's rhythm. One moment of carelessness could lead to casualties.

Zhao Fu ordered immediately, "Rogge, strike!"

Old Rogge obeyed, raising his Withered Wood Staff. Two blood-red fireballs shot out, blasting the six skeleton infantry back just as they were about to reach the front line.

Zhao Fu shouted again, "Archers, fire! Suppress those two archers!"

The archers drew their bows and unleashed a volley, interrupting the skeleton archers just as they prepared to fire again.

Zhao Fu called out once more, "Bai Qi, charge! Those two are yours."

Bai Qi obeyed, leaping over the six fallen skeleton infantry and rushing toward the two archers.

As the six infantry began to slowly climb to their feet, Zhao Fu quickly commanded, "Shield-bearers! Move up, separate them, and attack as we did before!"

The series of orders was executed rapidly. The shield-bearers and infantry split into six small squads to isolate the skeletons, while the ten archers kept up their suppressive fire. Up ahead, Bai Qi had already reached the two archers, swinging his sword with a burst of sword energy to strike them down.

The battle was quickly brought under control and began to shift in their favor.

Old Rogge looked up at Zhao Fu, who was watching the battlefield with intense focus. As someone who had once been his enemy, Rogge felt a twinge of fear. He was deeply impressed by how calm and resourceful Zhao Fu was in the face of a crisis.

In an instant, Zhao Fu had formulated a detailed tactic and issued a string of commands that turned a disadvantageous situation around. Losing to such a man was no disgrace. Without realizing it, Rogge's loyalty to Zhao Fu increased slightly.

With the two sides locked in close-quarters combat, Zhao Fu and Rogge could not intervene and could only watch from the sidelines.

Bai Qi was the first to succeed, slicing the head off one skeleton archer before backhanding the other, sending it flying into the wall where it shattered into pieces.

On the infantry side, following the established coordination, the skeletons were picked off one by one.

This time, they obtained ten weapons—eight blue-grade and two white-grade short swords used by the archers. Five Souls of Martial Refinement were dropped.

After a brief rest, the group moved on.

The tunnel ahead was pitch black, seemingly endless, and filled with a deathly silence. The group remained vigilant.

Suddenly, the sound of skeletons reviving echoed from the front. This time, there were twelve of them. Eleven were standard skeleton warriors, but the last one, wearing armor and carrying a large blade at its waist, was identified as a [Skeleton Captain].

The situation immediately turned grim.

"Howl!"

The Skeleton Captain drew its blade and let out a piercing, intangible sonic wave.

The captain then took the lead and charged. The skeleton warriors behind it moved with none of the clumsiness or disorder of the others; they followed the captain like a unit of living soldiers, surging forward with unstoppable momentum.

"Is this the effect of a Skeleton Captain?"

Zhao Fu muttered to himself before shouting, "Form up!"

The soldiers obeyed with grim expressions. The shield-bearers formed a wall, the infantry followed behind, and the third row of archers leveled their bows.

"Fire!"

Following Zhao Fu's command, a volley of arrows flew toward the charging warriors. The Skeleton Captain swung its blade, and with a flash of light, five or six arrows were swatted away.

At that moment, Zhao Fu shouted, "Rogge, release!"

Old Rogge, having prepared for this, raised his Withered Wood Staff with all his might. The two blood-red fireballs hovering above him were at least twice their original size.

With a wave of the staff, the fireballs shot forward.

Seeing the incoming projectiles, the Skeleton Captain showed no fear. It gripped its blade diagonally, and a gray aura began to spread from the steel. Just as the captain prepared to swing its blade to cleave the fireballs in two, Zhao Fu let out a cold snort. He had already drawn his Ironwood Bow, and wisps of mysterious yellow energy swirled around the arrow. He released the string.

Whoosh!

The arrow shot out like a bolt of lightning.