Chapter 53 - 21: [Undead Legion and Undead Elite]

Chapter 53: Chapter 21: [Undead Legion and Undead Elite]

The other option was the Spiritual Implant. It was a type of equipment coated in Nether Copper that allowed for micro-management of elite units. Crafting these implants required Nether Copper, and the number of units he could control was limited by both his resources and his mental focus. However, the control precision was incredibly high. It could also strengthen a single Undead Construct, turning it into an elite unit and a relay node for the Undead Legion’s control signals.

Wasn’t this exactly like the Infested Commander Aleksey Stukov from "StarCraft II"? He had a massive horde of cannon fodder for broad, bulk control, as well as powerful elite units for precise micro-management.

Samael snapped back to reality. He reached out and pressed his hand against the Nether Copper Bell-shaped Helmet, melting the Nether Copper and retracting it.

Right now, he had far too little Nether Copper on hand. Besides his sword and shield, this amount of Nether Copper could craft a maximum of two implant helmets, creating two elite units. He needed to figure out a way to unlock the "Nether Copper Generator" in the Level 1 Materials Tech Tree as soon as possible. But that would likely require him to venture deep underground and try his luck at finding Divine Era Ruins. He would have to worry about that later when the opportunity arose.

SNAP. He snapped his fingers, sending cyan sparks flying in all directions. The Skeleton Warrior fell backward, struggling momentarily amidst the loose dirt before half-burying itself back into the soil.

There were probably many Skeleton Warriors like this one in the Beast Bone Hills of the Kana Plain, hiding in the loose topsoil, waiting to ambush any living person who passed by. Samael was eager to give it a shot. A single resonant snap covered an area of roughly fifty meters in radius. If he activated the resonator and struck his sword against his shield, just how many undead could he awaken?

He halted his movements. Perhaps it would be better to save it for when they intercepted the convoy that night. Samael stowed his sword and shield away, taking the opportunity to reforge the shield and repair the sword marks left behind by the Blood Steel Sword’s charged impact.

"There’s a problem on the Sewage Workers’ end," Talia, who had been quietly keeping watch, suddenly spoke up.

"What is it?" Samael leaned in.

"They’ve moved too far away. They’re no longer within the deterrence range of our predator aura and undead halo. Some Demonized Creatures are trying to attack them." Talia looked toward the distant sky. "A Dragon Vulture."

A massive reddish-brown vulture circled above the camp. Its talons and long neck, covered in bright cyan scales, were exceptionally vivid. A row of dark cyan dorsal spines ran down its back, and its beak was densely packed with fine, sharp teeth like those of a crocodile.

Much like the flock of Demon Crows, it had been drawn in by the bloody stench of the bandits’ corpses. However, it had stumbled upon an unexpected bounty—there was a group of living humans here.

"This is a good opportunity. Weren’t they wondering why they hadn’t encountered any Demonized Creatures or undead attacks while traveling with us? We can use this chance to put on a show and clear ourselves of any suspicion." Samael gazed into the distance. "You quietly take control of that Dragon Vulture, and I’ll figure out a way to manipulate an undead. We’ll have them face off against us, put on a little act, exchange a few blows, and then either drive it away or dispose of it."

"No problem." Talia stared at the silhouette in the sky, a faint eerie blue light flashing in her eyes.

"Dragon Vulture!" Randall shouted, drawing his bow. A specialized Beast-Driving Arrow pierced the air, whistling with an ear-piercing screech as it shot toward the Dragon Vulture.

The Beast-Driving Arrow featured a hollowed and drilled arrowhead. As it cut through the air, it emitted a shrill, whistle-like shriek that could intimidate or scare off low-level monsters.

But it was completely useless against the Dragon Vulture. It flapped its giant wings, swatting the arrow away with its hard feathers.

The severely injured Eliot had already been moved inside the ruins of the beacon tower to prevent him from becoming dehydrated under the blazing sun. Ruby and Glad tended to him inside the structure, while Selena and Randall stood outside to fend off the Dragon Vulture.

The Rune Stone Wheel turned, and the Magic Array’s circuits pieced together and rotated in tandem. Selena placed two fire beast glands and a piece of flint into the Rune Stone’s grooves, raising her Magic Staff high into the air!

A tiny oil bubble appeared on the surface of the Rune Stone at the tip of her staff. With the CLICK of the flint, it transformed into an expanding fiery orange ball. Oil and fire continuously spewed from the Rune Stone’s surface, inflating the orange-red fireball like a balloon. It swelled from the size of a fingertip to the size of a human before breaking free from the Rune Stone Magic Array and drifting slowly toward the Dragon Vulture.

The Dragon Vulture let out a grating screech, dodging the massive flaming oil bubble with obvious wariness.

Selena gasped for breath, her focus entirely locked on the raised Magic Staff. She slightly shifted the staff’s head, manipulating the flaming oil bubble to track and drive away the Dragon Vulture.

However, the flaming oil bubble drifted far too slowly. The Dragon Vulture tucked its wings and darted past the side of the bubble. Suddenly, it opened its gaping maw and regurgitated a small clump of half-digested, rotting beast bone remains straight at the bubble.

The remains slammed into the flaming oil bubble, instantly detonating the fireball. Splashes of orange-red flames and burning oil erupted, blossoming in the sky like fireworks.

The Dragon Vulture banked away, escaping the blast radius and letting out a mocking cry.

"Conserve your Magic Power. The Spiritual Power burden and exhaustion of the Floating Fireball are too great." Randall glanced at Selena, who was leaning on her staff and panting in place.

"I know," Selena replied, clutching her throbbing forehead.

"Mr. Randall, let us handle this," a familiar voice rang out from nearby.

Randall turned his head to see the two knights already striding toward them.

"It’s fine. We just need to drive it away. The two of us can manage," Randall explained, reaching for the Demon Quenching Arrows at his waist.

But the Talan Cultivator in black armor had already snatched up a piece of broken firewood nearby and hurled it.

With a sharp shriek, the broken firewood slammed into the Dragon Vulture. Although it dealt no real damage, the beast seemed thoroughly enraged. The massive reddish-brown figure went into a steep dive, thrusting its sharp talons toward the Talan Cultivator to tear him apart.

The Talan Cultivator sneered coldly. He raised his Hammer Spear and delivered a ferocious strike, smashing the diving Dragon Vulture and knocking it off course. Carried by its own momentum, the creature skidded across the dirt, sending dust flying as it left a deep gouge in the ground.