Chapter 983: Chapter 554: First Encounter with the Ruins
"Clack clack clack..."
A strange sound emanated from the shadows of the ruins, followed by a skeleton whose clothes had long decayed and only bits remained, wandering for an indefinite time and seemingly sensing the presence of the living. It showed unabashed hatred toward them, staggering as it gathered to the footsteps heading this way.
The few present were all accustomed to trudging through mountains of corpses and seas of blood, so such an astonishing scene was naturally unusual.
Their words weren’t out of fear, but surprise at why such a thing would appear here.
"This is blasphemy!" Junia expressed strong anger upon seeing the scene, raising a torch and casting a Light of Judgment that struck the skeleton.
Under the intense Holy Light, the skeleton seemed ablaze but instantly extinguished, as bones have little to burn.
Just when the Holy Flame extinguished, the skeleton seemed to lose something, collapsing into a scattered pile of bones before everyone’s eyes.
Yet this could not stop others from appearing in various forms from all around the ruins, surging towards the squad.
They varied in size, seeming to still bear traces of their past selves, but all without exception had turned into skeletons.
Within merely a few seconds, around a dozen had gathered.
No ordinary people were present, and a battle was unexpectedly initiated.
"Fight first, talk later."
Lance wasted no words, stepping forward to slash at the skeletons. The years turned bones brittle, allowing the Longsword to easily sever necks.
The heads that fell to the ground were crushed by Lance’s foot, yet the skeletons seemed indifferent as they continued to claw at him.
In the next moment, a kick broke one’s bones, fragile as if they were potato chips.
What surprised Lance was that this didn’t let the skeletons truly rest; even slicing them into several pieces, they continued moving until completely destroyed, ceasing response.
But they posed no threat to the squad, especially with Junia like she was tallying scores—most skeletons fell under the Holy Light. Facing such corruption, even Lance had to admit the efficacy of the Holy Light.
A dozen skeletons reposed again in moments, yet Alhazred appeared gravely serious, not forgetting his advisory role, beginning to explain.
"Necromancy, a power far beyond mere corpse manipulation, cannot be accomplished by an apprentice, let alone sustained long-term.
Rather, it is a genuine Necromancer, not weaker than me and possibly even stronger." He continued.
Standing without muscles or tendons is undeniably the work of Supernatural Power.
Thus, the scholar’s reaction was understandable; no one wishes to become the enemy of a powerful spellcaster, especially one as eerie as a Necromancer.
Lance wasn’t surprised by a Necromancer’s existence, which is why the skeleton’s appearance didn’t elicit much reaction, as part of the game’s obscure narrative left him little information.
Lance focused more on the skeletons themselves, crouching down to examine the intact bones under the Divine Arts.
Experienced killers know that even as corpses turn to bones, traces of flesh’s decay endure despite time.
Yet these bones seemed cleansed like treated with potions, leaving only one truth.
Lance believed the flesh vanished before the skeletons even died.
"These skeletons likely were native Hamlet villagers; the evil cult’s ritual succeeded, their flesh stripped, and now even their souls enslaved."
Speaking, Lance raised a hand intending to offer them complete peace, but suddenly faltered.
Lance realized something, furrowing his brow, a reaction unlike even when alone amidst hundreds of heretics charging.
Understandably so, as the skeletons couldn’t be "Sacrificed."
But seconds later, understanding dawned; these skeletons were already waste generated post-sacrifice, how could they be sacrificed again?
The Ancestor repurposed them, the Necromancer’s power raised them anew.
These circumstances made the ruins feel more troublesome to Lance, even more so than the heretics, as tests showed they were immune to bullet damage.
But the true concern for Lance wasn’t this; it was that killing these skeletons yielded no benefits.
The urban ruins’ alley battles were already distasteful, compounded by immense consumption, only for a heap of bones?
Efforts without gain severely violated his principles.
"Retreat."
Lance drew a deep breath, retracting his hand and standing up.
This order puzzled others; they just arrived, could a few bones make their Lord consider retreat?
"Boss, why? Weren’t we here to investigate?" Boudica disliked thinking; it was troublesome.
"Because proceeding holds no meaning; the natives numbered hundreds of thousands. Even if some escaped, we’re faced with unending skeletons." Lance shared the truth resignedly, "Unless we find the hidden Necromancer, killing more skeletons is pointless."
"Necromancers can casually use corpses to spawn more skeletons; only by killing the Necromancer can they truly rest. Losing power’s support, they’ll crumble on their own." Alhazred added, confirming the Lord’s statement technically.
