The air was thick with an oppressive chill as hordes of undead emerged from the gray fog.
These were no ordinary creatures.
The shambling Frost Rot Corpses moved in unison, their decayed bodies radiating frostbite that seemed to freeze the ground beneath them. Interspersed among them were Elite Frost Rot Corpses, whose eerie glow and menacing aura set them apart.
The sheer number was staggering—like a black tide rolling toward the wooden walls.
Lucian stood atop the ramparts, his sharp gaze sweeping across the battlefield.
"Two hundred meters," he muttered. "Good."
He knew accuracy would hardly matter with such dense numbers.
The defensive towers activated as the undead approached.
The Vine Tower unleashed writhing tendrils that erupted from the ground, ensnaring the Frost Rot Corpses' legs. While they struggled to break free, an explosive Inferno Tower incinerated groups of them in fiery blasts.
On the other side, the Fart Tower released green clouds of putrid gas, which slowed the already sluggish undead to a crawl. Meanwhile, the Crossbow Tower rained piercing bolts, each shot precisely targeting a corpse's head.
Boom! Splat! Thwack!
The sounds of magic, gas bursts, and arrows filled the air, blending into a symphony of destruction.
The control-and-damage combination held back two of the four waves with remarkable efficiency.
But Lucian noticed the gaps.
The range of the Vine Tower and Fart Tower was limited, capable of affecting only small groups at a time. Worse still, the firepower of the Inferno Tower and Crossbow Tower lagged behind against tougher targets like the elite corpses.
Even under the fiery explosions and piercing bolts, some elite Frost Rot Corpses staggered onward, undeterred.
Lucian furrowed his brow. "We need reinforcements."
Without hesitation, Lucian summoned five Steel Armored Boars from the pen.
Void Crystals -25
These boars were no ordinary beasts. Blessed by his domain trait, their attributes were amplified tenfold, making them far stronger than ordinary creatures of their level.
"Daiyu!" Lucian called, looking toward the cabin where Lin Daiyu stood silently. "I'll leave two sides to you. Can you handle them?"
Lin Daiyu stepped forward, her movements graceful yet exuding a quiet intensity.
"Of course. I will not let you down, Lucian," she replied calmly, her melodic voice unwavering.
With that, she leaped from the wall in a blur of motion. Her figure became a streak of light as she descended, landing effortlessly among the undead.
With both hands wrapped in cloth, she crushed the first Frost Rot Corpse's head with a swift strike.
Lucian couldn't help but marvel at her poise.
"Let's go, Peppa Squad."
Turning to the armored boars, Lucian opened the southern gate and directed the beasts forward.
The Frost Rot Corpses surged toward the wall, now only thirty meters away.
"Charge!"
At Lucian's command, the ten boars roared in unison.
Boom!
The earth shook as the steel-clad beasts barreled into the horde, their massive bodies sending undead flying like ragdolls. Even the elites, with their enhanced durability, were trampled underfoot or gored by razor-sharp tusks.
Lucian stood on the wall, providing cover fire with his newly refined Gauss Sniper Rifle.
Thwack!
A spirit bullet shot forth, shattering an elite corpse's arm.
"Not bad," Lucian remarked, impressed by the weapon's power.
With a steady rhythm, he fired shot after shot, each bullet either slowing the horde or finishing off weakened corpses.
Meanwhile, the Peppa Squad wreaked havoc among the undead.
Their sheer bulk and defensive plating allowed them to plow through the horde with ease, leaving crushed bodies and frostbitten limbs in their wake.
Lucian grinned. "Good pigs. You've earned your lunch."
A soft voice interrupted his thoughts.
"You've done well, Lucian."
Startled, he turned to see Lin Daiyu standing beside him, pristine and unscathed.
"Already done?" he asked, glancing toward the area she'd been tasked with defending.
Beyond the walls, a field of motionless corpses stretched into the distance. Not a single enemy remained standing.
They were eerily arranged, almost as if Lin Daiyu had been meticulous in her strikes.
Lucian blinked. "You cleared all of them… by yourself?"
Lin Daiyu offered a serene smile. "It was nothing."
Lucian didn't know whether to feel awed or inadequate. He looked back at his own mess of corpses, battered walls, and injured boars.
"Well… I guess that makes me the amateur here."
Lin Daiyu chuckled softly. "You're far too modest, Lucian. You inspire us all."
Her words, gentle and sincere, sent a warmth through Lucian's chest that he wasn't quite ready to acknowledge.