On one side of the territory, the Earthquake Tower rumbled to life, its crystalline pillar glowing with a faint yellow light.
The ground quaked violently.
In the heart of the undead sea, the earth shattered, and a terrifying shockwave spread outward, distorting even the surrounding air.
Boom! Boom!
The earth trembled, mountains shook, and nature's catastrophe clashed with the undead's disaster.
The sea of bones, numbering in the tens of thousands, was primarily composed of weaker summoned skeletons. Among them, only a few thousand were actual invaders, mainly the Skeleton Summoners.
Yet even the summoned creatures were no trifles.
Each skeleton had formidable stats, capable of dashing over 100 meters in mere seconds, leaping several meters into the air, and smashing through trees with their bare hands. Their skeletal bodies were unnervingly durable.
When these monsters amassed into a "sea," they became a localized undead apocalypse.
But…
The Earthquake Tower was not to be underestimated.
At level 5, its area of effect was vast, encompassing the entire battlefield surrounding the territory. The devastating shockwave tore through weaker skeletons, killing countless frail Skeleton Mages outright.
Even some of the hardier Skeleton Swordsmen were split apart as the ground fractured beneath them.
The quake didn't just kill—it immobilized thousands of skeletons, pinning them within the cracked earth.
And then...
"Fire Trial!"
Lucian activated the Inferno Trial Tower, its crystalline structure flaring with golden light. The fiery bird etched into the crystal came to life, spreading its wings and ascending into the sky.
A massive phoenix, tens of meters long, materialized from the flames and soared high above.
"Screeeech—!"
The fiery bird shrieked, diving into the undead sea with an explosive impact.
BOOM!
A blazing inferno erupted, incinerating hundreds of skeletons instantly. The scorching flames rippled outward, consuming everything in their path.
"Holy… that's insane!"
Lucian gulped as he watched the fiery destruction, his awe quickly giving way to calculated focus.
He waved his hand, signaling the other towers to resume their assault.
Stink Gas, Earthen Vines, Frost, Lightning, Gunfire, Arrows, Fireballs…
The battlefield roared with attacks.
A Skeleton Swordsman charged through the storm of bullets, its durable bones shrugging off the reinforced rounds. It roared defiantly before being engulfed in frost and fire, only to be finished off by a piercing arrow through its skull.
Nearby, a squad of Skeleton Shield Warriors advanced cautiously, shields raised in a tight formation. Before they could make significant progress, a series of Explosive Fireballs detonated among them, scattering their remains.
Any survivors were swiftly eliminated by crackling Chain Lightning, leaving behind only piles of shattered bones.
Elsewhere, three Skeleton Mages attempted to conjure spells, but vines erupted from the ground, entangling them. In their panic, they dropped their staves to burn the vines.
But before they could free themselves, frost encased their bodies, and a trio of arrows finished them off.
The battle raged on.
The undead sea seemed endless, waves of skeletons replacing those that fell. What had once been a "tide" of monsters was now a relentless ocean of death.
Within the wooden walls, the defensive towers roared incessantly, their attacks lighting up the battlefield as far as the eye could see.
Lucian moved swiftly, monitoring the situation and replenishing the towers' ammunition with Void Crystals.
At that moment, Lin Daiyu approached gracefully, her brows slightly furrowed.
"Master, I suggest we target the Skeleton Summoners directly. They're the source of this endless tide. If we can cut them down, the undead sea will fall apart."
Her soft voice carried an undeniable urgency.
Lucian looked at her, contemplating for a moment before nodding. He leaned in close, whispering instructions into her ear.
Standing so near, Lin Daiyu's face flushed slightly, the fair skin of her neck tinged with pink.
She quickly nodded in understanding, her expression turning serious.
Lucian then sought out Qin Keqing, instructing her to lead a team of Great Qin Warriors to eliminate the summoners.
Qin Keqing's intelligent eyes blinked, and she promptly agreed.
Though nervous, she didn't hesitate. Just days ago, she had been an ordinary beauty. Now, she was a hero with the power to freeze enemies in their tracks.
Leading a team into the thick of battle felt surreal, but she steeled herself. Her determination shone as she leapt over the wall with the Qin Warriors at her side.
Lucian watched her retreating figure, a smile playing on his lips.
"That girl… she's really growing."