Chapter 51: Chapter 50: Undead Reinforcements
"Clan Leader, this..."
"We want to defend it too, but can we hold out?"
"That’s right, Clan Leader. There are too many of them!"
The young Minotaurs were still hot-blooded, ready to fight the Demonized Minotaurs to the death, but some of the older Minotaurs saw things differently. They felt Mumu had made the worst possible decision.
The land of their Ancestors was important, true, but the lives of their people were even more so. His actions were undoubtedly leading the Tribe to their deaths. For their hundred-odd members to resist over a hundred Demonized Minotaurs was like throwing an egg against a rock—certain death.
It wasn’t that they feared death, but they couldn’t let the entire Tribe be wiped out. The old Minotaurs like them could stay behind to hold back the enemy, but they had to at least send the young Minotaurs and the children away.
"We’ll stay! Let the children leave!"
"No, we’re not leaving! We’ll fight alongside the Clan Leader!"
"Yeah, we fight together!"
"You’ll die..."
The Minotaurs descended into a chaotic argument. The older ones tried to persuade the hot-headed young Minotaurs, but it was no use. After all, stubbornness was in a Minotaur’s nature. ’I’ve made up my mind, and nothing you say will change it. Do what you want. Kill me if you’ve got the guts.’
Mumu couldn’t stand it any longer. He slammed his Totem Pole onto the ground again, and the dull thud silenced his people’s war of words.
Looking at his now-silent people, Mumu spoke slowly but firmly. "Listen to me. We are not fighting alone! We have an Ally! We have reinforcements! We can hold them off!"
An old Minotaur, leaning on a Wooden Stick, hobbled out of the crowd. "Clan Leader, just be honest with us. Where would we get reinforcements from? And who are they?"
"The Undead," Mumu laid his cards on the table. "The same Undead who fought alongside us last time. They are our reinforcements."
Hearing that their reinforcements were the Undead, the surrounding Minotaurs were stunned. They had thought another Minotaur Tribe might be coming to their aid, but they never expected it to be the Undead. Their hearts began to pound with anxiety again.
True, the Undead hadn’t attacked them last time, nor had they gone on a killing spree as the legends described. But that didn’t mean they were benevolent. How could the Clan Leader trust those creatures?
"We don’t have much time. I’ve already spoken with the Master of the Undead, and he has promised to help us."
"Clan Leader, even with the help of the Undead, I’m afraid we still can’t deal with that many enemies."
Having help was a good thing, but whether that help was strong enough to beat the Demonized Minotaurs was another matter entirely. Last time, there were only a dozen or so Demonized Minotaurs, but this time there were over a hundred. They truly didn’t believe the Undead could handle that many.
DOO—DOO DOO—
Mumu was about to say more, but the sound of a horn echoed from outside the Tribe’s settlement. While they had been arguing, the Demonized Minotaurs had arrived.
The faces of the Minotaurs in the Tribe paled. Well, that settled it. There was no need to debate fighting or fleeing anymore. They had no choice but to defend.
"Grab your Weapons and follow me!"
Mumu shouldered his Totem Pole and called out to the other Minotaurs. One by one, the young and able-bodied Minotaurs took up their own Totem Poles and followed him out of the settlement.
Under the moonlight, a horde of gray-black skinned Minotaurs had gathered outside the settlement. Their eyes were bloodshot, filled with a brutal and frenzied killing intent. They hadn’t come just to slaughter—they had come for revenge!
Without a word, the Demonized Minotaurs launched their attack on the Tribe. Mumu led his Minotaurs surging out to meet them, swinging their Totem Poles at the enemy as battle cries echoed across the empty Wasteland.
Mumu’s forces were outnumbered and weaker, but they fought like cornered beasts with no path of retreat. In a desperate struggle for their lives, they actually managed to block the Demonized Minotaurs’ assault. But everyone knew this was only temporary. The moment their stamina gave out, it would all be over.
...
"Minotaurs will never be slaves!"
"For the glory of our Ancestors!"
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
With roar after roar, Totem Poles slammed down heavily. The eyes of the Tabu Tribe Minotaurs were bloodshot as they desperately resisted the Demonized Minotaurs’ attack.
Mumu roared as he attacked relentlessly, but out of the corner of his eye, he kept watch on the situation. It was already turning grim. His people’s Power was starting to fade, and against the fierce assault of the Demonized Minotaurs, they were fighting purely on grit.
The Undead still hadn’t appeared.
He dared not show the slightest hint of his inner urgency. He could only swing his Totem Pole again and again, repelling the Demonized Minotaurs that charged at him. He was the pillar of the Tribe, the source of his people’s confidence. As long as he didn’t falter, his people would still have hope.
The assault grew more ferocious, and more and more of his people fell. Mumu felt his heart clench. ’Those are my friends, my brothers, my elders... and they’re dying just like that.’
The Totem Pole in his hands grew heavy. Each swing consumed more of his strength. Mumu’s breathing became ragged, and puffs of white steam shot from his nostrils. As Clan Leader, he stood at the very front, blocking the fiercest part of the enemy’s Charge. By now, his own strength was failing.
’If the Undead don’t get here soon, we’re all really going to die here.’
Even now, Mumu never suspected that Li Ziyu was toying with him, nor did he regret leading his people to resist the Demonized Minotaurs.
Just as he slammed his Totem Pole down again, sending another Demonized Minotaur flying, he suddenly heard his people cry out in alarm.
"What is that?!"
The deadlocked battlefield suddenly fell silent. Everyone’s gaze turned to the distance, where dust billowed and a great clattering sound arose, like a sandstorm sweeping across the desert.
Through the swirling dust, a tall, white fortress gradually came into view. The fortress was built from countless Skeletons, grim and terrifying, yet also solemn and magnificent. One by one, Soul Fires ignited, and the Undead brandished their Weapons, letting out a Soul Roar.
"Reinforcements—"
"It’s the Undead!"
"We’re saved! Charge!"
Never before had the Minotaurs found the Undead to be so lovely. The blood in their veins boiled once more. Gritting their teeth, they summoned their remaining strength and charged at the Demonized Minotaurs.
Li Ziyu stood atop the main tower, looking down on the distant scene. The corners of his mouth slowly curved into a savage grin. He raised his hand, pointed at the battlefield, and commanded, "Full assault!"
A massive amount of Soul Energy poured into the Skeleton Engine. The Soul Fire burned even more violently. The mouth of the alien-like skull opened in a silent roar, driving the towering fortress forward with terrifying force, straight toward the Demonized Minotaurs.
Faced with a thirty-some-meter-tall Mobile Fortress hurtling toward them at high speed, even the Demonized Minotaurs weren’t stupid enough to face it head-on. They scattered, clearing a path for the fortress to plow into their midst. The Undead then leaped from the fortress like falling dumplings, brandishing their Weapons as they threw themselves at the Demonized Minotaurs.
The combat prowess of the Skeleton Undead was far inferior to that of the Demonized Minotaurs; even the normal Minotaurs could easily knock them over. But their sheer numbers were overwhelming. With over two thousand Skeleton Undead against a mere hundred-plus Demonized Minotaurs, what did a disparity in Power matter?
A dozen or so Undead would surround a single Demonized Minotaur and attack relentlessly, completely ignoring defense. The Demonized Minotaur would roar in fury, smashing a few Undead to pieces, only to fall to the ground as a corpse itself.
