"A player? I have to say I'm surprised. There's nothing anywhere about becoming undead as a race option.", Torch spoke while placing a palm to his chest.
The damage the weapon caused was minimal. Well within his expected tolerances. The undead player's arm and shoulder floated and reattached to their body. Raising the weapon the undead spoke with a rough and gravely voice, "A machine? You must be Torch. I've heard much about you."
"My name is quite known, but mostly for my business standpoint. Very few know of my combat capabilities. So why me?"
"You're the only one who looks like they're giving orders. I get rid of you, I can push past this army."
"That so?", Torch rotated his wrist and two compressed robots in his back rolled free.
Landing on the ground they unfolded and revealed the two hound-type robots. Flipping his left hand he disconnected it at the wrist and revealed a machine-gun barrel. Pointing it at the undead player he threatened, "Sorry, but I'm not going to play fair."
The undead player grinned. Rotting flesh making it a sore sight for eyes. Leaning forward he began to charge forward. Immediately Torch unleashed a flurry of bullets. Many began to implant themselves into the undead, but slowly they were pushed out as the player continued to be restored by the Territory. The two hound-type robots began to sprint, circling around the battle and away from the hail of bullets.
Click-click-click.
Torch flicked his hand back into place, he had been using several bullets at the front lines and hadn't gotten the opportunity to reload. His remaining ammunition in his arms were depleted, reducing his ranged options.
Sprinting across the distance the undead player brandished their broad machete. Torch lifted a forearm and blocked the simplistic swing. The two hounds caught up and gripped their jaws onto the undead's legs, pulling him back. Stepping forward the undead player ripped the rotten flesh free from his bone and as a result escaped the hounds. Torch was slightly shocked at this move. Sure it was a typical undead response, but coming from a player? Usually they held some sort of mental block from willingly tearing themselves apart.
Torch took a step forward and brandished his mana blade. The fact that it was jutting out of his forearm made its reach be less than the broad machete of the undead player. However it was clear from a certain standpoint that his weaponry was superior. Still the player was unhesitating!
Swinging the machete forward in a simplistic downward slash Torch side stepped it and swung his mana blade in response. It cut through the undead's torso, but the machete was swung again! This time it dug into Torch's shoulder blade, and a few sparks made it known that damage was dealt.
A physical blade jutted out of his off-hand. Punching upwards he impaled the player's head and tore it free. Tossing aside the head he inspected the damage. Unfortunately his replicated mana lines were damaged, reducing the efficiency of his mana blade. However nothing critical was damaged, he could still perform in battle!
From his thigh a compartment ejected. Pulling out a small vial he threw it towards the undead player's corpse. As the vial landed it exploded into a furious flame, burning the player apart. Slowly the undead head rolled across the ground and connected itself back onto the burning undead. Despite being aflame they rose back to their feet. A gravely laughter echoing.
The flames reflected off of the machete's gritty surface. Running across the battlefield the player began to close the distance! The two hounds leapt forward and sunk their jaws into the shoulders of the player, attempting to use their weight to slow him down. Still the player let them rip free the flesh and continued to charge!
Grabbing the machete with both hands they raised it above their head, ready to swing downwards! Torch flexed his back and two compressed robot shapes shot out. Unfurling in the air they revealed to be the elite personal guard, brandishing two mana blade-tipped spears. Thrusting them forward they impaled the undead player's head and threw him aside.
Tumbling across the ground caused the flame to extinguish, at least mostly. Rising back up they adjusted their jaw back in place. It was dislodged from one of the spears. Speaking in their gravely voice they said, "The greatest thing is that I can keep trying. Infinite lives. Compared to you who's machine body will only continue to fall apart."
"You think you can keep up that mental anguish of dying again and again?", Torch released another compressed machine.
A turret appeared and began to spin its barrels. Placing a palm on it he spoke in his mechanical and cold tone, "Let's put it to the test."
Brrrrt-!
The undead player refused to even dodge as bullets ripped them to shreds. As a piece of flesh flung off another returned back into its place. Despite the impacts causing his body to move uncontrollably, the undead player still took a step forward! The two elite guards spun their spears and took position. Ready to guard against the player. As another step was taken forward the two guards acted and stabbed the player. This time they didn't bother flinging him and instead used their spears to keep him at a distance away from Torch.
Even though the player tried to push through the spears, the constant barrage of bullets along with the guards fending him off prevented the player from taking anymore steps. Helpless to the barrage of bullets the player continued to receive every last projectile. The turrets barrels slowed as its ammunition was spent. The player still stood, albeit leaning back. Catching themselves from falling they pushed forward, their torn body not showing any signs of giving up!
The two guards began to thrust their spears repeatedly, severing many pieces of rotten flesh. The hounds, refusing to give up, began to change strategy. One leapt higher than usual and gripped the undead's head. Twisting in the air using their tail they ripped the head clean off and sprinted away. Torch held a hand at his interface and would have grinned at this moment. He would like to see how the undead would-
The headless body took a step forward. Torch was suddenly glad he didn't have any facial expressions on this body of his. The shock would've been incredibly apparent. Was it just reflex? Or was the player capable of controlling their body despite their head being severed?!
Gripping the spear the undead player tugged the bot forward and brandished their machete. Swinging downwards they cleaved the robot into two, sparks and a glowing blue fluid spread across the ground. Torch immediately frowned, they didn't have this level of strength before.
Even though his special guards lacked the defensive properties his body had, they were still made of the same material. The sudden change meant the player was growing stronger, but it wasn't a Berserk skill that much was obvious! Using his sensors he ran some calculations, with the newfound numbers he came to a quick conclusion.
This wasn't power granted overtime, but rather one that was gained the more damage they took! No wonder the undead was so careless! They were willingly using the damage to slowly gain more strength! From his calculations the actual amount of strength he got was very poor compared to the amount of health he'd normally lose. If anything it would've originally been considered a small buff. However with the Territory essentially guaranteeing the player couldn't die, this was. . .
"I fed you with those bullets, that damage is the reason for the sudden increase.", Torch's lack of tone in voice hid his emotions.
The other hound ran and tore off a leg before sprinting off with it. Torch continued to change the commands of the hounds, "Regardless I'd like to see you use that strength when you're in several parts across the battlefield."
Pang~!
Torch looked up and saw the hound holding the undead's head fly across the air. The side of its body heavily bent inwards. It crashed and fell apart into pieces, a slight whine from the machinery faded as it stopped entirely. The undead's head rolled back onto the body and they twisted it back into place. As they removed their hands from their head Torch spotted a glowing rune in their palm. From the ground arose a large undead, heavily armored and wielding a double-sided axe.
The undead's gravely voice spoke, "Death Knight."
"As you command tiny general.", the giant undead spoke.
"Destroy this machine."
Torch pressed a few buttons on his interface and the other hound returned, freeing the leg from its mouth. It leapt upwards towards the Death Knight and began to beep. As soon as the metals made contact it exploded into a massive fireball. Torch felt his body readjusted to the shockwave. This clearly wasn't enough, but it bought enough time for him.
The Death Knight swung his double-sided axe through the inferno, and it clashed with another weapon! The massive mecha wielding the longsword had blocked the blow, the gap in its helmet let off a menacing red glow.
The undead player walked through the flames slowly, "Impressive, but can you keep it up?"
"As long as it's functional, a machine will never stop its purpose.", Torch ejected the physical metal blade from his forearm and began to close the distance.
It was clear this player commanded part of the undead army. It was Machine and Bone, Commanders of the two largest forces in this war!