Gone and Returned

Not only Benjamin—the bone dragon waiting nearby noticed it too. It immediately rose from the ground and stared at the figures on the horizon, its deafening roar echoing throughout the Undead World.

The black mist, which had been still for nearly ten hours, began to surge violently once more.

Benjamin's heart sank.

This is bad...

As the figures drew closer, he realized they were several of the mages who had joined the Undead expedition. Benjamin had never imagined that, having only just split up to flee, they would turn around and come running back!

These suicidal idiots!

Benjamin was frantic. He wanted to open his mouth and curse them into going back, but in his current state, he could not make the slightest sound. He could only remain pinned there in helpless anxiety, watching them fly closer and closer...

The bone dragon beat its wings and rose into the air again. The black soul-fire in its eyes fixed upon the approaching mages, as though it could spew ash-gray dragon breath at any moment and reduce them to ashes.

"Headmaster, we found a way!"

The mages flew a little closer, their voices carrying over from afar. Benjamin was somewhat confused, but all his attention remained fixed on the bone dragon.

Yet to his surprise, the bone dragon hung in the air, glaring furiously at the mages, but did not attack.

Before long, they flew straight over, looking in surprise at Benjamin, who was immobilized there. Only then did Benjamin see that the mages were holding the bone staffs they had seized from the liches. Moreover, the staffs had somehow been dyed black by some potion. Their shafts were carved with dense runes, while the skulls at their tips glowed with faint white light.

The white light spread outward, forming a wondrous