Chapter 131: Skeleton Warriors (part 1)

Chapter 131: Chapter 131: Skeleton Warriors (part 1)

The battle continued as the adventurers gradually pushed the skeletons back. Although more undead creatures were emerging from between the gravestones, the party’s formation remained relatively stable. Brom stood at the front, using his shield to block incoming attacks, while Darian and Seraphina dealt with the skeletons that approached from either side.

Behind them, Liora continuously launched fire spells, taking advantage of the undead creatures’ weakness. Venn supported the frontline with defensive magic, occasionally attacking any skeleton that managed to get too close.

Ragnar remained near the back, dealing with the occasional skeleton that slipped through their formation.

However, as he watched the battlefield, he suddenly noticed something unusual.

From the left side of the cemetery, a much larger group of undead was approaching.

Unlike the ordinary skeletons they had been fighting, these creatures wore pieces of rusted armor and carried weapons that were still relatively intact. Their movements were also noticeably more coordinated. Some wielded swords, while others carried shields and spears.

There were at least twenty of them.

Skeleton Warriors.

Ragnar immediately recognized their type. Although they were still relatively weak monsters, they were considerably stronger than ordinary skeletons. Their bones were reinforced with magical energy, and their combat abilities were far better than those of the regular undead.

More importantly, they were approaching from the side where Ragnar was standing.

Before he could say anything, Venn noticed the approaching group.

Her expression changed immediately.

"Skeleton Warriors on the left! Protect Gil!"

Her sudden shout caught everyone’s attention.

Darian glanced toward the left and his eyes widened when he saw the approaching undead.

"That’s a lot of them!"

The Skeleton Warriors were already closing the distance.

Several of them suddenly accelerated, rushing toward Ragnar with their weapons raised. The ordinary skeletons around them also changed direction, creating a much larger wave of undead heading toward the rear of the formation.

Within moments, Ragnar found himself surrounded.

There were skeletons in front of him, behind him, and on both sides. Their rusty swords and spears were raised, leaving him with very little room to move.

"Gil!"

Venn immediately began preparing a spell, but she was too far away to reach him in time.

"Hold on! We’re coming!" Darian shouted.

Yet the Skeleton Warriors had already launched their attacks.

One swung a heavy sword toward Ragnar’s shoulder, while another thrust its spear toward his stomach. Several more approached from behind, attempting to overwhelm him through sheer numbers.

Ragnar raised his chipped sword.

He could have destroyed all of them in an instant. Even without using his actual weapon, these Skeleton Warriors were nowhere near strong enough to threaten him.

However, he couldn’t afford to reveal his true strength.

He was supposed to be Gil, a Level 15 adventurer.

Therefore, he decided to play along.

Clang!

Ragnar blocked the first sword, but the impact forced him to take a step backward. He deliberately allowed his arm to tremble slightly, making it appear as though he was struggling against the Skeleton Warrior’s strength.

Another spear thrust toward his side.

He twisted his body and narrowly avoided the attack before striking the creature’s arm. His chipped blade managed to break through the bones, causing the skeleton to drop its weapon.

"These things are stronger than the ordinary ones!" Ragnar shouted.

"Of course they are!" Venn responded from a distance. "Don’t try to fight them all at once! Just hold on until we reach you!"

Unfortunately, the Skeleton Warriors showed no intention of giving him time to recover.

Three more rushed forward simultaneously.

Ragnar stepped backward, using his sword to deflect one attack while avoiding the others. He made his movements deliberately clumsy, occasionally allowing a weapon to graze his armor.

From the outside, it looked as though he was barely managing to survive.

Meanwhile, the rest of the party had begun using their skills.

"Guardian’s Barrier!"

Brom slammed the bottom of his shield against the ground.

A translucent barrier spread outward, forming a protective layer around him and the nearby adventurers. Several skeletons struck it with their weapons, producing ripples across its surface.

Although Brom was only a Level 20 Guardian, his defensive skill was effective enough to hold back the ordinary skeletons.

However, the Skeleton Warriors were another matter.

One of them swung its sword against the barrier, causing a noticeable crack to spread across its surface.

"Brom! Your barrier won’t hold for long!" Darian shouted.

"I know! What about you do something!"

Darian immediately activated his own skill.

"Power Strike!"

A faint glow covered his longsword as he stepped forward and delivered a powerful horizontal slash. The enhanced attack smashed through two skeletons, sending their bones scattering across the ground.

Seraphina also moved.

Unlike the two men, she didn’t immediately rush toward the enemy. Instead, she waited for an opening before activating her first skill.

"Swift Blade!"

Her body accelerated in an instant.

She slipped between two attacking skeletons, her sword flashing several times as she dismantled their joints and severed their skulls. Before the remaining undead could react, she had already moved past them.

A moment later, she activated her second skill.

"Crossing Moon!"

Her sword traced two intersecting arcs, releasing a pair of sharp energy slashes that tore through the skeletons standing in front of her.

Several undead creatures collapsed simultaneously.

"That’s one side cleared!" Seraphina shouted.

However, the situation near Ragnar was becoming increasingly troublesome.

Liora raised her staff and began chanting.

"Flames of destruction, heed my call!"

The blue crystal at the tip of her staff glowed brightly as magical energy gathered around it.

"Flame Burst!"

A blazing explosion erupted among the Skeleton Warriors surrounding Ragnar.

The flames spread across the ground, engulfing several undead creatures and forcing the others to retreat. Their bones cracked under the intense heat, and a few collapsed into piles of ashes.

"Gil! Move away from them!"

Ragnar immediately took the opportunity to retreat several steps, allowing the flames to separate him from the surrounding skeletons.

"Thanks!" he called back.

Venn wasn’t idle either.

She raised her staff, directing her magical energy toward Ragnar’s position.

"Wind Barrier!"

A layer of swirling wind formed around him, deflecting the incoming arrows and slowing down the Skeleton Warriors attempting to approach.

Then she activated her second skill.

"Healing Light!"

A gentle green glow spread across the nearby adventurers, restoring some of their stamina and healing minor injuries.