The Lich Castle was in a state of ruin, its foundations barely intact. To quickly increase its strength, Allen wasted no time and took action. That very night, he personally led the remaining ten Zombie Warriors and ninety Skeleton Warriors to a natural lumber mill several miles away.
The Sunset Wasteland spanned an enormous area. Compared to the vastness of the wasteland, the Cursed Valley where the Lich Castle was situated seemed like an insignificant speck. Yet, the valley itself was not small; it was more of an elongated plain stretching for miles rather than a grand canyon. The cliffs on both sides of the valley seemed endless, steep mountains towered over the landscape, and a continuous stream ran through the area, with a number of scattered mining sites. These small mines were of little value to the Lich King Ovissis, but to Allen, who was in dire need of resources, every bit of it was precious.
It was said that deeper within the Cursed Valley, there were large mining sites, yet they were occupied by countless powerful monsters, including ancient demon gods who had fallen and turned into vengeful spirits. Even Ovissis, a monster who had lived for over nine thousand years, dared not venture too deep, so Allen was naturally cautious.
Under the hazy moonlight, Allen and his guards avoided the wandering wild monsters in the wasteland, silently creeping towards the lumber mill.
The site was a flat small basin, surrounded by mountains on three sides, with tall trees growing along the slopes. Felling the trees would allow them to easily slide down the mountainside to the foot of the hill. From the perspective of logging and transport, it was a natural lumber mill. However, scattered throughout the basin and its surroundings were the wandering figures of Skeleton Guards. It seemed that the area was occupied by a substantial number of wild skeletons.
After absorbing enough energy, a first-tier Skeleton Guard could evolve into a second-tier Skeleton Warrior. Compared to the Skeleton Guards, the Skeleton Warriors had far stronger bones, and their speed, strength, and intelligence were in an entirely different league. A bare-skinned Skeleton Warrior could easily handle the siege of five Skeleton Guards.
"Arno, take a few Zombie Warriors and draw them out. Don't linger, and lead the skeletons inside and outside the lumber mill to us in batches!" After observing for a while, Allen commanded in a low voice, setting up a secret magic array on the hillside.
The lumber mill seemed plain, only occupied by a group of first-tier Skeleton Guards, but for some reason, Allen couldn't shake an ominous feeling. Additionally, there were strange energy fluctuations emanating from the depths of the mill, as though something was calling to him, accompanied by an air of extreme danger.
"Yes!"
Arno bowed in obedience, leading two towering Zombie Warriors to strike at a few nearby wild skeletons. Under the dim moonlight, the Asura Armor they wore shimmered with dark light, and their sharp spines looked especially ferocious. Not long into their advance, they attracted the attention of several Skeleton Guards on patrol. With several muffled thuds, their heavy axes swiftly felled the guards, and they continued forward. Soon, they disturbed a squadron of patrolling skeletons, and more and more surrounded them.
"Charge out!"
Having successfully drawn the attention of a squad of Skeleton Guards, Arno swiftly retreated, leading the skeletons into Allen's trap. As a third-tier Zombie Warrior, though slower than the Skeleton Guards, Arno's terrifying strength allowed him to break free from their encirclement and move closer to Allen's position.
After losing over a dozen guards, a small leader-like Skeleton Guard grew furious upon seeing Arno's team break through. It let out an ear-piercing wail and led a horde of Skeleton Guards in hot pursuit, closing the distance. However, as they advanced, the ground beneath their feet suddenly turned into an immeasurable quicksand. With each desperate struggle, they sank deeper into the ground. The flames in their minds were devoured one by one by Allen.
Quicksand Spell!
Unlike the powerful Illusionary Quicksand Magic Array within the Lich Castle, this was only a simple earth-based spell, but its effects far exceeded expectations. The loose soil of the hillside allowed Allen's spell to have a remarkable effect, trapping the reckless Skeleton Guards in an overwhelming situation. Soon, the squad of skeletons was completely wiped out.
Under the cover of night, the small hillside became the graveyard for countless wild skeletons. In less than an hour, Allen's group had lured and killed over five hundred Skeleton Guards. Slowly, the number of wandering Skeleton Guards near the lumber mill dwindled, but the sense of danger looming over Allen only grew stronger.
"Pity... If I could absorb the blood essence of five hundred Twelfth-tier Dark Knights, how far could I advance?"
After devouring the magical and soul energy of five hundred Skeleton Guards, the energy within Allen surged even more. His magical fluctuations subtly resonated with the energy tides of the world, advancing his cultivation further. However, he was still unable to break through the bottleneck at the peak of a third-tier Magic Apprentice. Many higher-level spells were beyond his reach. After a brief moment of contemplation, he led his undead forces toward the mill, determined to deal with the threat swiftly before it could grow more dangerous.
The Sunset Wasteland was fraught with peril, and the Cursed Valley even more so. A careless encounter with a powerful high-tier undead creature could easily result in the deaths of the Zombie Warriors and Skeleton Warriors accompanying him. Though the lumber mill was full of unknown risks, Allen carefully considered his options and decided that the situation required quick action.
Surprisingly, they encountered little resistance from the wild Skeletons along the way, and the group quickly reached the depths of the mill. After passing through a grove of towering poplars, a massive tower made entirely of bones suddenly appeared before them, exuding a terrifying, ominous aura. The bones were inscribed with arcane runes, and hundreds of Skeleton Guards were kneeling in a circle around the tower. Their number exceeded a thousand, and they appeared to be paying homage to the tower, as if conducting some kind of sacrificial ritual.
Before the tower, a particularly striking Skeleton lay prostrate. Small in stature, it wore dark red female armor, as if it had once been a warrior in life. Holding a long green bow, its magical and soul energy was unmistakable even from a distance, far stronger than a typical Skeleton Warrior. Its bony fingers, long and powerful, gleamed dark as if they were deadly claws of a venomous demon.
Sixth-tier Skeleton King!
Allen fixed his gaze on the Skeleton King, signaling to his group to halt. According to Ovissis' memories, each time an undead creature evolved, its power at least doubled. Especially for the Skeleton Mages and Archer Skeletons, whose natural racial gifts made each evolution far more terrifying.
The blackened fingers were a clear indicator of the Skeleton's progression to the sixth tier. A sixth-tier Skeleton Archer King's combat prowess was beyond what ordinary people could fathom!
Over a thousand Skeleton Guards, and a terrifying sixth-tier Skeleton Archer King— the enemy's strength far exceeded expectations. Without hesitation, Allen immediately ordered a retreat, but it was too late. The Skeleton King, lying prostrate before the tower, had already sensed their presence. As it turned, its cold, green eyes locked onto the group. With a terrifying roar, the Skeleton Guards rose in unison, their bone weapons drawn, and charged toward Allen and his forces.
"Fools! You dare interrupt our sacred sacrifice? You will all perish! I will tear your bones apart and bury you beneath this tower forever!" The Skeleton King's killing intent radiated from its words, and before they could react, it loosed a deadly bolt from its crossbow, whistling toward Allen's head.
Cold, black, and accompanied by an earsplitting sonic boom, the bolt sped toward him at an unfathomable speed!
The bolt from the Skeleton King seemed to pierce through the very fabric of space, its trajectory unseen, its speed incomprehensible. In that instant, Allen felt his mind go blank, and all the sounds of battle faded. All that remained was the approaching darkness.
Ding...
At the last moment, Allen instinctively raised the Black Magic Pen in his hand, deflecting the deadly bolt just inches from his head. His hands trembled, and his blood surged violently— the recoil almost causing him to spill blood. The Skeleton King's archery skills were not only impeccable but possessed unimaginable power!
"Fight to the death!"
In that single exchange, Allen understood that a battle to the death was inevitable. Without retreating, he led his guards into the fray. The Zombie Warriors, clad in heavy armor, charged at the Skeleton Guards, cutting through them with brutal force. The Skeleton Warriors followed closely, fiercely counterattacking, their unity and strength evident as they pushed forward. With their combined might, they cleared the way, moving ever closer to the formidable Skeleton King.
To escape the range of the Skeleton King's terrifying arrows, Allen's group had no choice but to press on. They plowed through the Skeleton Guards, charging directly at the Skeleton King. As they closed in, they encircled the formidable opponent, gaining the upper hand in numbers.
Howling...
Seeing the enemy's relentless advance, the Skeleton Guards outside the perimeter rushed to the aid of their king. The Skeleton King hesitated for a moment before unleashing a furious roar. Instantly, the surrounding Skeleton Guards surged forward, and the dark aura of the Bone Tower seemed to shake the very fabric of the space. From within, seven powerful Skeleton Guards emerged— some wielding longbows, others holding gleaming swords, and one even wielding a massive staff, surrounded by green flames.
"Skeleton Archers, Skeleton Mages... Could this be..." As the Skeleton Mages appeared before him, Allen suddenly recalled a memory from Ovissis' legacy.
The tower before him was no mere totem or altar—it was an evil Bone Tower. By infusing it with magical energy or offering sacrifices, one could summon seven powerful Skeleton Warriors each day from the Plane of Death. The more energy consumed, the stronger the summoned skeletons would become. If enough crystals and materials were gathered to upgrade the tower, even greater numbers of stronger undead could be summoned!
"This Bone Tower... it's mine!"
After a brief moment of shock, Allen's resolve solidified. Staring at the tower inscribed with runes, he gathered his magic and soul crystals, channeling his energy with all his might. With the Lich Castle still in ruins, losing one more Zombie Warrior or Skeleton Warrior meant fewer soldiers to reinforce his army. Finding this Bone Tower was an opportunity he couldn't pass up— no matter the cost, it had to be his!