Chapter 163 [Anshiba]

Chapter 163: Chapter 55: [Anshiba]

He grabbed the other two corpses and repeated the process.

[Nether Copper Resonator activated.]

THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! He swung his fists and pounded his broad chest armor, producing a roar like war drums before turning to leave with his three newly created Undead.

"Tomorrow morning, at the exact same time, I—or my subordinates—will return to collect the corpse tax," Anshiba tossed out apathetically before departing.

The living were left behind. The Spiritual Energy pulses and the Annihilation Detector alarms within his helmet gradually faded away. Anshiba walked sluggishly, carefully stepping into the footprints he had left the previous morning as he made his way step by step toward his tomb.

Leading the three Undead, he once again returned to the calm, sluggish pace he had when strolling across the Gray Moss Far Field earlier that morning.

Overhead, dark clouds rolled lackadaisically, squirming bit by bit like some colossal, furry beast.

In the distant woods stood Skeleton Warhorses bearing Rusted Copper Tree Root antlers upon their heads. They lowered their skulls toward their distant Monarch, Anshiba. Roaming Skeleton Warriors hefted ancient weapons made of half-stone, half-bone, wandering aimlessly among broken flagpoles and spears.

CLANG! CLANG! Anshiba trudged sluggishly, listening to the reassuring sound of his heavy shoulder armor shifting as he lumbered forward.

On the way back, passing by that same bush, he once again struggled to crouch his massive frame. Through the narrow slit of his Frog-beak Helmet, he peered at the tiny bird’s nest hidden within the foliage.

Most of the berries he had brought that morning had already been eaten by the birds. The brooding mother bird seemed quite cheerful. When Anshiba’s Frog-beak Helmet poked into the bush once more, she did not shrink back with a startled cry; instead, she quietly met the gaze of the Frog-beak Helmet.

"I don’t like people, but beasts are good," Anshiba said gently. "Do not be afraid, bird."

He stood up and sluggishly made his way toward his tomb.

Anshiba’s "tomb" was a fortress built of grayish-white Molten Stone, located in the center of a sparse forest of Rusted Copper Trees behind the far-field hills. Sheltered among the Rusted Copper Trees, it looked like a gigantic deer skull. The gnarled, twisting Rusted Copper Trees on either side formed thick, sturdy antlers.

The tomb was surrounded by ring after ring of shrubs and semi-withered flowers. Crimson and bright yellow berries dotted the grayish-green brushstrokes of the landscape, resembling a muted, soft oil painting.

Heavy Armor Knights wearing Nether Copper Barrel Helmets dragged ragged cloaks woven from vines, lichen, and gray moss. They patrolled sluggishly among the bushes and flowers, acting just like their Monarch—slow, clumsy, yet powerfully strong.

Anshiba opened the thick Nether Copper Door Plate of the cellar and tossed the three Undead Materials he had collected today inside. The walls, floor, and ceiling of the cellar were all lined with Nether Copper insulation. Such a frigid environment could slow down the rotting speed of the Undead and corpses.

What was he supposed to do next? Anshiba thought sluggishly. It seemed he had no more tasks planned.

Nine-thirty in the morning. At this time yesterday, he had been tending to the Necro Earth-Devouring Demon Insect, mending its damaged Nether Bronze Armor. But the work was finished, and the Necromantic Demon Insect was currently hibernating in the cavern beneath the Deer Skeleton Fortress. There was no more work for now.

He slowly sat down in front of his tomb. Amidst the clinking of metal, his massive frame leaned gently against the Deer Skull Fortress built from Molten Stone.

CRACK. A Molten Stone Brick beneath his buttocks shattered under his weight.

He sat there dully, zoning out as he stared at the wide-open far field through the slit of his helmet. In the distance, Skeleton Warhorses ran with Rusted Copper Deer Antlers upon their heads.

FLUTTER.

A few small birds flapped their wings, flying down from a nearby branch to land in a row on the antlers of Anshiba’s helmet. They jostled against each other, fighting for a more comfortable spot.

The light tapping of bird claws and their chirping echoed within his gigantic Frog-beak Helmet.

What should he do today? Anshiba wondered. Should he go beat up Lahador again?

However, beating someone up required an excuse. He couldn’t just run off to the border to thrash Lahador simply because he remembered the guy and found him annoying. He needed to find an excuse at the very least. Perhaps he would wait until the next time Lahador acted up before beating him.

Should he pick another fight with Dekegon? It seemed Dekegon had collected another batch of Magical Beast muscles.

"Oya," an eccentric voice chimed in.

What was that sound? It seemed to belong to a small creature he had seen before—something like a hard-skinned taro with legs that burrowed through the soil. However, they usually stayed well-hidden.

With a head full of birds, Anshiba sluggishly raised his head, wanting to figure out why such a skittish and secretive little creature would take the initiative to approach him.

"Oya." A Rot Root Ball wearing a Nether Copper Bell-shaped Helmet on its head stood before him.

"Mhm," Anshiba responded with a rumbling hum. "A newcomer?"

"Good morning," said the Rot Root Ball in the one-eyed Bell-shaped Helmet. "Perhaps we can chat?"

"Come here," Anshiba replied. "I happen to have some free time."