Chapter 80: Chapter 78: You Are Mine
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This was only the second time Lynch had seen a goblin of this caliber. The last one was the corpse of Steel-fang, which had since become one of his Skeleton Guards!
Killing a big guy like this during the academy assessment would have been worth five hundred points.
But unlike Steel-fang, this elite goblin warrior had a long leather quiver slung across its back, filled to the brim with sharpened bone javelins. It was a goblin warrior that specialized in throwing.
Behind it followed ten more well-built goblin javelin throwers, each carrying their own javelin quiver.
Their movements were swift and coordinated. They didn’t engage with any of the Skeletons, locking their target directly onto the most crucial unit of the Undead Army—the Skeleton Mage.
This supposedly sudden turn of events wasn’t alarming to Lynch at all; in fact, he was pleasantly surprised.
’That cunning brute... he finally took the bait.’
In fact, long before Lynch had even launched his attack, he had already spotted this elite goblin squad lurking in the woods, thanks to the Squirrel Skeletons he had scattered throughout the forest.
Unlike the hot-headed and reckless nature of typical goblin warriors, this Tier Two elite goblin javelin thrower was extremely patient, likely from years of hunting. It seemed to have been quietly waiting for an opportunity to deliver a fatal blow to the opposing Tidal Fishman leader.
Lynch, who always cherished his soldiers as if they were his own sons, naturally coveted this elite goblin squad.
Compared to their cousins in other regions, the Goblin Tribes in the Dark Forest seemed much more primitive and backward. They didn’t even have decent equipment, let alone a rare, organized unit of elite ranged soldiers like these goblin javelin throwers.
And for that very reason, aside from a few Skeleton Mages, Lynch hadn’t been able to recruit any decent ranged units himself.
These well-trained javelin throwers, once converted into Undead javelin throwers, would be an excellent source of ranged support. Besides, they even came with their own leader.
But as much as Lynch appreciated their talent, their hiding spot was too well-chosen, giving them an easy escape route. If he launched a large-scale encirclement, they would notice the danger, and using their familiarity with the terrain, could easily slip away into the depths of the dense forest.
Therefore, to increase the chances of successfully recruiting this unit, he had to resort to his usual fishing tactics.
As an experienced fisherman, Lynch naturally understood the importance of bait.
The best plan, of course, would have been to use himself—the Necromancer—as bait. But, being someone who cherished his life and feared death, he could only settle for the next best thing: sending out the Skeleton Mage.
The Skeleton Mage was already positioned away from the core of the battlefield and closer to the forest, seemingly giving the enemy a chance for a decapitation strike.
Moreover, the Skeleton Mage was surrounded by guards and could continuously resurrect Skeletons. It was only natural that the powerful goblin javelin thrower would mistake it for the leader of this Undead Corps.
As everyone knows, the best way to deal with an Undead Corps is a decapitation strike.
And now, the enemy seemed to have mistaken the current situation for a god-given opportunity and had emerged to carry out that very strike.
From about thirty meters away from the Skeleton Mage.
"Gikaa~"
The Tier Two elite javelin thrower gave the order, and eleven javelins, poised and ready, were instantly released. They tore through the air, transforming into a deadly rain of spears aimed squarely at the Skeleton Mage and its surrounding Skeleton guards.
However, the Skeleton Mage, being the bait, was naturally prepared.
Before the enemy even made their move, it calmly took a step back, instantly ducking behind a group of Black Skeletons.
At the same time, the Skeleton Mage unhurriedly waved its Magic Staff, its Soul Fire flickering calmly.
A goblin warrior Skeleton next to it instantly fell apart, its bones transforming into pieces of pale white bone that levitated and, as if guided by an invisible hand, attached themselves to the Skeleton Mage.
"K-CHAK K-CHAK K-CHAK~"
Amidst a series of grating and clicking sounds as bone fused with bone, a suit of stark white Skeleton Armor rapidly took shape.
Critical areas like the skull, cervical spine, and thoracic spine were all protected by extra-thick layers of reinforced bone.
This was one of the classic Defense Magic spells of a Necromancer—the Skeleton Armor Skill.
The Skeleton Mage had been proficient in this skill in its past life. Lynch himself had suffered at the hands of this very move when he’d first fought the Skeleton Mage, and it had nearly turned the tables on him.
At that very moment, a faint blue curtain of water also enveloped the Skeleton Mage.
This was the Fish Priest, seeing the dire situation, casting a water shield on the Skeleton Mage from afar.
After performing this action, as if it had already fulfilled its duty to the boss, the Fish Priest didn’t hesitate for a second. It swung its short little legs and scurried away from the danger zone.
The Skeleton Mage, for its part, took the opportunity to crouch down behind several Black Skeletons, further reducing the chances of a direct hit.
It all happened in a flash.
A dozen or so javelins descended from the sky.
"THWACK THWACK THWACK~~CRACK!"
Several Black Skeleton guards were pierced and shattered by the powerful javelins, instantly clearing a small area around the Skeleton Mage.
The bone spear thrown by the Tier Two elite, in particular—the one wrapped in a faint, blood-red aura—slammed deep into the reef at the Skeleton Mage’s feet with a loud BOOM.
Splintered rock flew everywhere. The power was truly terrifying.
Even Lynch was taken aback by such power, a faint sense of nervousness creeping into his heart.
’I underestimated that elite javelin thrower.’
’With that kind of power, if the Skeleton Mage gets hit in the head, it could actually be dangerous.’
’Looks like I’ll have to be even more careful in the future. I’d hate to go fishing only to end up as fish food.’
Too bad for the elite javelin thrower. The moment it dared to come out for a decapitation strike, Lynch had already considered it one of his Skeletons.
He immediately set his plan in motion, first ordering half of his Skeleton Guards to block the enemy’s retreat.
At the same time, he activated the Banshee’s Kiss ring, sending a Weakness Curse speeding toward the Tier Two elite.
Simultaneously, the Skeleton Mage began its counterattack, launching a Pain Curse.
The two Curses struck the Tier Two goblin javelin thrower at almost the exact same time.
The elite javelin thrower had missed its mark and was just about to organize a second volley. But it was suddenly struck by a wave of numbness. Nearly thirty percent of its surging power vanished into thin air. A feeling of weakness and soreness spread through its muscles and sinews, making it difficult to even breathe.
Immediately after, an intense pain, as if countless tiny needles were piercing and churning inside its body, erupted from the depths of its soul. It couldn’t help but let out a suppressed groan of agony. The veins on its forehead bulged, and its vision began to blacken.
Not only that, but a pile of "bone fragments" scattered on the ground nearby suddenly burst apart with a CLATTER.
Dozens of cannon fodder Skeletons of all shapes and sizes rose to their feet and charged into the javelin thrower squad, relentlessly tangling with them.
And leading them was none other than the king of cannon fodder—Bone Valor, the Witch Demon King.
Furthermore, other active elite units on the battlefield, such as old brother Black Corpse and Bone Jade, also began moving in, as if they had been prepared for this all along.
Even Bone Wolf and its squad of eight wolf-rider Skeletons began to gallop, starting to circle around to cut off the enemy’s retreat.
The Tier Two goblin javelin thrower had just impaled one of the pestering cannon fodder Skeletons, only to be swarmed by several more.
A sense of dread washed over it. ’It’s a trap!’
Watching this scene from afar, Lynch’s gaze was exceptionally gentle.
’I, Lynch, am a true connoisseur of Skeletons.’
’I’ve gone to such great lengths to get you.’
In that instant, Lynch had even picked out a name for it.
’Let’s call you... Bone Spear Haymen.’
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