40: Attack on the Skeleton Veterans 5

"Those captives also brought back another piece of news,"

"Humans willing to pledge allegiance to the Demon Race will receive protection."

Philys's eyes turned cold:

"It's dividing us."

"Tell the front-line commanders that any soldier who comes into contact with the Demon Race, regardless of the reason, will be executed for treason."

"All returning captives are to be isolated for interrogation. Those with inclinations to defect... deal with them secretly."

Soren felt a chill in his heart but still responded:

"Yes."

"Also, accelerate the new recruit training schedule."

Philys walked to the map, pointing at the Demon Race territory.

"Within three months, I want to see an army of 100,000 gathered at the border."

"This time, it's not a small-scale conflict; it's an all-out war."

"Your Highness, the treasury might..."

"Raise taxes."

Philys said without hesitation,

"War tax, Demon Race threat tax, under any pretext."

"I'll handle the nobles; as for the commoners... if they're unhappy, suppress them."

Soren hesitated to speak.

If this continued, the kingdom would collapse from within sooner or later.

But he dared not speak, as Philys was no longer listening to any dissuasion.

"By the way, what has my dear younger brother been up to lately?"

Philys suddenly asked.

"His Royal Highness, the Second Prince, is inspecting the North,"

"It seems... he's secretly contacting some nobles."

"As expected."

Philys sneered:

"Father is gravely ill, and he's already so impatient."

"Send people to keep a close eye on him, and if necessary..."

"You know what to do."

Soren lowered his head:

"Understood."

Philys gazed out at the prosperous Royal Capital, her eyes devoid of warmth.

This kingdom was hers, the throne was hers, everything was hers.

Any obstacle, whether it be the Demon Race, her younger brother, or the wavering Karl...

Must be eliminated!

"Skeleton, no matter who you are, no matter how strong you are..."

She murmured softly,

"I will erase you and your Demon Race from this world."

...

Three months later, at the Demon Race border.

The previously scattered fortresses and outposts had now formed a solid defensive line.

Big Bone had used this time not only to consolidate the occupied territories,

but also to absorb thousands of humans who had defected, as well as other races oppressed by the kingdom.

The Demon Race army had doubled in size, and more importantly, their morale was high.

"General, the human army has assembled."

Shattered Bone reported,

"One hundred thousand regular troops, plus auxiliary forces, totaling over one hundred and fifty thousand."

"Leading them are Karl Huite and Court Mage Soren."

"One hundred and fifty thousand..."

Big Bone stood on the newly built watchtower, gazing at the dust rising on the distant horizon,

"They really think highly of us."

All the Demon Race forces combined amounted to less than thirty thousand, a vast numerical disparity.

But Big Bone wasn't worried.

Quantity, in the face of quality, was sometimes just a number.

"Are the defensive works ready?"

"All set."

Twin Horn replied,

"According to your design, we've laid out a magical minefield, a Undead Swamp, and Shadow Traps in front of the defensive line."

"The city walls have been reinforced three times, and all arrow towers and magic towers are activated."

"Very good."

Big Bone nodded,

"Have everyone take their battle positions."

"Remember our tactics: defensive counterattack,"

"attrit the enemy's living forces, then concentrate elites for a Breakthrough."

The orders were quickly relayed.

The Demon Race's defensive line began to operate like a precise machine.

The human army camped ten miles away, their continuous tents almost covering the entire plain.

Inside the main tent, Karl was discussing battle plans with his generals.

"The Demon Race's defensive line looks very sturdy."

An old general frowned,

"A frontal assault would result in heavy casualties."

"We don't have time for a slow siege."

Mage Soren shook his head,

"The kingdom's internal situation is unstable; we must achieve a quick victory."

Karl stared at the map, silent.

For these three months, his inner struggle had never ceased.

The skeleton's words were like a poisonous thorn in his heart.

He had wanted to ask Philys for the truth countless times,

but each time she cleverly evaded or refuted him.

Moreover, reality did not allow him to hesitate any longer.

The Demon Race occupying human territory was a fact.

As the Leader of the Holy Knight Order, he had to fulfill his duty.

But deep down, he could no longer believe in his own righteousness as unreservedly as before.

"Launch a full assault tomorrow at dawn."

Karl finally ordered:

"The first wave will be heavy infantry and shield bearers, with the Mage Corps providing ranged support."

"After breaking through the outer defenses, cavalry will flank from both sides."

"What about that skeleton general?"

Someone asked.

"Leave him to me."

A complex look flashed in Karl's eyes,

"I will deal with it personally."

...

The human army surged towards the Demon Race's defensive line like a tide.

Shields formed a moving wall, behind which were dense rows of infantry.

In the sky, the Mage Corps began chanting, fireballs, ice cones, and lightning rained down.

The Demon Race's defensive line was instantly engulfed by explosions and magic.

But soon, the human army tasted bitterness.

The vanguard troops stepped on magic landmines; a series of explosions sent hundreds flying into the air.

Survivors continued forward, only to fall into a suddenly appearing Undead Swamp, where countless skeletal hands reached out from the mud to drag soldiers into the abyss.

Shadow Traps triggered, and shadows coiled around soldiers like living things, draining their vitality and courage.

The first wave of attack lost over three thousand men before even reaching a mile from the city wall.

"Continue the attack! No retreat!"

The supervising officer roared.

The second and third waves followed, using bodies and magic to forcibly fill the trap zones.

Finally, the human army reached the base of the city wall, ladders were erected, and battering rams began to strike the city gate.

The true bloody siege began.

Arrows rained down like locusts, rolling stones and logs fell like rain, and magic clashed in the air above the city wall.

Every minute, human soldiers died, and Demon Race warriors also fell.

But the Demon Race held the geographical advantage, and their casualty ratio was far lower than that of the humans.

Karl watched from the rear, his fists clenched.

This kind of war of attrition was exactly what he wanted to avoid most.

"Mage Soren, can we use large-scale magic to directly blast open the city wall?"

"We can, but it requires time to prepare, and the Demon Race will certainly have countermeasures."

Soren replied,

"However... we can try that."

Karl followed his gaze.

There were ten huge catapults,

throwing not stones,

but glass jars filled with Holy Water.

Holy Water had a powerful suppressing effect on the Undead.

"Permission to use."

The catapults began to operate, and jars filled with Holy Water arced through the air, flying towards the city wall.

But just then, a tall figure appeared on the city wall.

Big Bone raised his spear and pointed into the Void Realm at the incoming jars.

All the jars exploded simultaneously in mid-air, and Holy Water rained down,

but it couldn't reach the city wall, being evaporated by dark energy in mid-air.

"How is that possible..."

Soren was dumbfounded,

"That's concentrated Holy Water, specifically designed to counter the Undead..."

"He's here."

Karl said in a deep voice.

Indeed, Big Bone leaped from the city wall, walking alone towards the human army formation.

"Karl!"

Its voice echoed across the battlefield,

"Dare you fight me!"

This was a clear provocation, but Karl couldn't refuse.

If he retreated, human morale would suffer a heavy blow.

"As you wish."

Karl leaped onto his warhorse and charged out of the army formation.

The two armies temporarily ceased fighting, all eyes focused on the center of the battlefield.

Skeleton versus Holy Knight, darkness versus light, confronted each other once more.

"Three months, and your injuries have healed?"

Big Bone asked.

"Enough to slay you."

Karl drew his longsword.

"Then let's try."

The battle erupted again, but this time, Karl found his opponent to be stronger.

Not an increase in strength or skill, but... resistance to Holy Light.

Every sword strike of his carried Holy Light, but its effect on Big Bone was negligible.

"Is it strange?"

Big Bone said while attacking:

"These three months, I've studied you and Holy Light."

"Light restrains darkness because darkness fears it."

"But what if darkness doesn't fear it?"

"What if darkness is strong enough to devour light?"

The spear thrust out like a venomous snake; Karl barely dodged, but his shoulder armor was deeply gashed.

"What exactly are you?"

Karl gritted his teeth and asked,

"An ordinary Undead couldn't possibly be this strong!"

"I am the Devil King's envoy."

Big Bone's spear thrust forced Karl back,

"He sent me to correct the existence of this twisted world."

It suddenly stopped attacking, looking towards the rear of the human army formation:

"Moreover, your Princess Your Highness doesn't seem to trust you, and has sent reinforcements."

Karl looked back to see Soren and three high-ranking mages preparing a large magic array,

not targeting Big Bone,

but encompassing both Karl and Big Bone!!!

"Soren! What are you doing!"

Karl roared in anger.

"My apologies, Lord Karl."

Soren's face was expressionless,

"Princess Your Highness has ordered that if there are signs of you being swayed by the Demon Race,"

"or if you cannot defeat the target alone..."

"Then activate the alternative plan!"

The magic array was complete, and a Cage of Light descended from the sky, trapping both Karl and Big Bone.

"She wants to capture us both?"

Karl was incredulous.

"No, she just wants to make sure you die."

Big Bone sneered:

"If you win, you're a hero."

"If you lose, or show signs of wavering..."

"You are an unstable factor that must be eliminated."

"See, this is the person you pledge allegiance to."

Karl looked at Soren outside the cage, who avoided his gaze.

His faith completely collapsed at this moment.

"Now, there are two choices."

Big Bone said,

"Die here together, or... join forces to break this cage."

Karl looked at Big Bone, then at the human army formation,

at the knights he had brought,

who were trying to rush to save him,

but were blocked by the Royal Guard.

Philys had even plotted against his subordinates.

...

"...How do we do it?!"

Karl asked in a low voice.

"Merge your Holy Light with my darkness!"

"The collision of light and darkness will generate immense energy, enough to blast open this cage."

"That's impossible, light and darkness repel each other..."

"Repulsion makes it more powerful!"

"This is called Yin and Yang Taiji!"

Big Bone extended its hand,

"Trust me this once!"

Karl looked at the skeletal hand,

then at the increasingly bright magic array.

This array would not only trap them,

but also continuously contract, eventually crushing them.

There was no time to hesitate.

He grasped Big Bone's hand.

The moment Holy Light and darkness touched,

a piercing shriek erupted,

as if two forces were fiercely clashing.

But immediately after, guided by some higher-tier power,

they began to undergo Fusion, forming a grayish-white Chaos energy.