The undead sea surged and roared, relentlessly battering the wooden walls. Some skeletons managed to reach the Withered Wooden Walls, attacking with frenzied abandon.
But few could break through.
The Withering Aura sapped their strength the moment they came close, leaving them weakened and brittle. The defensive towers promptly annihilated them with ruthless efficiency.
Meanwhile, behind the tumultuous sea of undead, a small team moved cautiously through the fog.
One Skeleton Summoner stood diligently at its post, chanting incantations. From the ground, skeletal warriors clawed their way to the surface.
Curiously, no matter how many emerged, the earth beneath remained undisturbed.
Clearly, these skeletons were not buried underground but conjured through dark magic.
"A fine wind… A fine hunt…"
Suddenly, a sharp whistling sound pierced the air.
The summoner turned just in time to see a bolt streaking toward it.
Thud! Crack!
The bolt struck the summoner's skull, shattering it and sending fragments flying ten meters away.
It struggled to rise, its cracked head twisting angrily in the direction of the attack.
But before it could retaliate—
Whoosh! Thud! Whoosh! Thud!
Several more bolts followed, each strike precise and devastating. The skeleton collapsed, its body reduced to shattered fragments.
Other Skeleton Summoners nearby sensed the disturbance. They began summoning reinforcements, but before they could complete their chants, frost descended from the sky, freezing them in place.
Through the fog, ten figures darted forward like specters, their long spears piercing the darkness.
Shunk! Shunk!
The spears found their targets with deadly accuracy, toppling summoners and pinning them to the ground.
Crack! Snap!
A moment later, the spears struck again, shattering the summoners into splinters.
With practiced precision, the Great Qin Warriors melted back into the mist, vanishing as silently as they had appeared.
They had become spectral hunters in the fog, mercilessly stalking their prey.
Time passed.
The undead sea continued its relentless assault on the territory, waves of skeletons crashing against the defensive towers. Explosions and magical detonations echoed across the battlefield as the towers unleashed unending volleys of destruction.
On the wall, Lucian worked tirelessly, repairing structures and replenishing tower ammunition, keeping the sea of death at bay.
In the fog, the Great Qin Warriors struck again and again.
Each strike was swift and decisive. Within a short time, they had eliminated thousands of Skeleton Summoners, carving a massive void in the undead sea.
Qin Keqing followed closely behind, struggling to keep pace with the warriors.
As a newly awakened hero, she had been entrusted by Lucian to lead this strike team. Yet in practice, it was the warriors guiding her.
Their discipline and coordination far surpassed her own.
Their attacks were precise, their movements calculated. When they struck, it was lethal. Even the Elite Skeleton Summoners, resilient as they were, could not withstand their onslaught.
Beneath their bronze masks, the warriors were fearless and unwavering. They moved like a single entity, navigating the darkness and fog with deadly intent.
Seeing their prowess, Qin Keqing couldn't help but feel a mix of admiration and determination. She began to adapt, learning from their techniques and striving to support their efforts.
During one skirmish, the Great Qin Warriors encountered a large group of summoners—eight elite summoners accompanied by over fifty regular ones.
The summoners were engrossed in their task, summoning an endless stream of skeletons to bolster the undead sea.
As the warriors approached within range, the summoners sensed their presence.
"Summon! Summon!"
Bolts flew from the warriors' crossbows, disrupting their formation. Ten shadows lunged forward, spears gleaming in the dim light.
Behind them, Qin Keqing took a deep breath, frost gathering around her hands as she raised the Wind and Moon Mirror.
The battle was fierce.
Amidst the chaos, a colossal figure emerged from the mist.
It was a towering Spectral Skeleton, standing over seven meters tall. Its silvery skeletal frame shimmered like liquid mercury, and its movements were disturbingly fluid.
The creature had been observing the battle from afar, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Now, with the Qin Warriors engaged, it decided to act.
"Grrraaah!"
Two ghostly flames flickered in its eye sockets as it activated its unique ability. Its massive body began to blur, fading into the fog.
It became invisible to the naked eye, undetectable by radar, and impervious to magical senses. It had stepped into a separate dimension, a realm of shadow and secrecy.
From this hidden vantage, the creature stalked closer.
800 meters… 500 meters… 300 meters… 200 meters… 100 meters!
Its skeletal frame twisted and writhed, transforming into a mass of sharp, spear-like appendages that radiated death and decay.
Silently, it raised its weaponized arm, aiming at Qin Keqing and the warriors.
This monster was a master of ambush tactics, careful and cunning. It had studied its targets thoroughly before striking.
Now was the perfect moment.
Screeeech!
With a burst of speed, the creature lunged forward, its monstrous form crossing 100 meters in an instant. Its skeletal spear descended upon Qin Keqing, death written in its every motion.
Victory seemed certain—until a soft, melodic voice echoed through the fog.
"Breathe in…"
"Swallow the skies!"