Chapter 283 - 157: Change in the Passage

"What!"

The Demonized Jackal Wolfman at the very front only saw a few black shadows before it was pounced on and let out a bloodcurdling scream. The Giant Demon and Ratman following behind didn’t fare any better. The three of them had been the fastest, so they received the special attention of the Skeleton Desert Wolves and were the first to be attacked.

The three Demonized Creatures tried to struggle, but with over twenty Skeleton Desert Wolves surrounding them, their efforts were completely futile. The Demonized Creatures behind them, having been a step slower, were inadvertently saved. This gave them time to prepare to face the Skeleton Desert Wolves.

The Demonized Minotaur, the slowest of the group, had fallen behind. Upon seeing the chaos, the once-eager creature was terrified and immediately turned to run. He had no intention of helping his companions. They were just a temporary team, after all. He felt no guilt about betraying them. In fact, he felt that if they could buy him some time to escape, it would be the best possible use for them.

He had barely taken two steps after turning around when he saw several red points of light appear in the tunnel ahead, and they were rapidly approaching him.

’What are those?’

The Demonized Minotaur was confused, but he didn’t stop running. There were Skeleton Desert Wolves behind him; if he didn’t run, he’d be caught.

He didn’t suspect the lights ahead were Undead. After all, according to the information he had gathered in Komeilan City, the Soul Fire of the Undead was always blue. The lights ahead were red, so they couldn’t be Undead. Perhaps they were other hunters like himself, and the lights were from their torches or something similar.

But to his surprise, they were indeed Undead—a herd of Giant Tusked Boars charging with their heads down. Of all the luck, he ran right toward them, meeting the full-force Charge of the Giant Tusked Boars head-on.

"Holy sh—"

It was too late for the Minotaur to dodge. Although he managed to swing his Stone Rod and send the first Giant Tusked Boar flying, the ones behind it slammed solidly into his body. A series of five or six impacts sent him flying backward to the ground, while even more Giant Tusked Boars thundered past him.

’M-my bones... they’re broken.’

Coughing up a mouthful of blood, the Demonized Minotaur struggled to raise a hand, feeling his chest and ribs. Those impacts had been severe. Thankfully, those Skeleton Giant Tusked Boars hadn’t stopped; otherwise, he would already be dead.

He could tell that his sternum and ribs were damaged to varying degrees. His ribs, in particular, were definitely broken in several places. Now, even the slightest movement sent waves of excruciating pain through him.

The Demonized Minotaur slowly shifted his body, managing to prop himself up against the stone wall. He tried to take a few deep breaths, but the pain twisted his face and sent him into a fit of coughing.

A light appeared before him. He lifted his head in a daze and saw a humanoid Skeleton, bathed in a blood-red glow, standing right in front of him and staring.

The Demonized Minotaur was terrified. Seeing the Undead just staring blankly at him, he slowly moved his arm and grabbed his Stone Rod from the ground. He gripped it tightly, which calmed his nerves considerably. A vicious glint flashed in his eyes as he swung the Stone Rod, intending to smash the Undead before him.

In his current state, injured and barely able to move, with Skeleton Desert Wolves and Skeleton Giant Tusked Boars behind him, escape was nearly impossible. But if he could kill this Undead in front of him and absorb its Soul Fire, he might just be able to heal his wounds and escape with his life.

The Demonized Creatures who had fought Undead before described Soul Fire as a Miracle Elixir. Not only could it help them grow stronger, but it could also cure illnesses and heal injuries. Whether the Demonized Minotaur believed it or not no longer mattered; at this point, he had no other choice.

But just as he was about to swing the Stone Rod, his arm was suddenly grabbed. Already injured, the abrupt pull made him lose his grip, and the Stone Rod flew from his hand, striking the nearby wall and shattering some of the stone.

Demonized Minotaur: o(ﾟДﾟ)っ!

He turned his head and saw two bony arms wrapped tightly around his own. From the shadows, a Skeleton Undead emerged halfway, its black Soul Fire fixed on him, seemingly mocking him, jeering at his overconfidence.

The Frenzied Skeleton turned its head, glanced at the Stone Rod that had hit the wall and fallen to the ground, then looked back at the Minotaur. Its jaw opened slightly as it grew angry. It stepped forward, about to pummel the Minotaur, when the Dark Skeleton drew a Dagger and deftly slit the Minotaur’s throat.

"Guh..."

The Demonized Minotaur clutched his neck, but he couldn’t stop the foul-smelling blood from gushing out. The light in his eyes gradually faded.

The Dark Skeleton ignored the collapsing Demonized Minotaur. Instead, it raised the Bone Saber in its hand and brandished it at the Frenzied Skeleton with a smug look.

’First blood. It’s mine. You mad?’

The Frenzied Skeleton’s Soul Fire flared violently, burning brightly. It pointed at the Dark Skeleton, speechless for a long moment, trembling with rage as its bones clattered violently.

’I was the one controlling those Skeleton Giant Tusked Boars! The kill on this big guy should have been mine! You shameless bastard, you stole my kill!’

The Dark Skeleton swayed its body back and forth smugly. Just before the Frenzied Skeleton’s punch could land, it slipped back into the shadows.

"RAAAGH—"

A shockwave from the spiritual roar erupted. The Frenzied Skeleton was so enraged by the Dark Skeleton that it almost went berserk. It took a great effort to control itself, but what was the use? The Demonized Minotaur was dead, the Dark Skeleton had fled, and no matter how furious it got, it couldn’t kill the Demonized Minotaur a second time.

’So annoying. I’m pissed.’

When the Undead stopped fighting the Demonized Creatures head-on and instead resorted to schemes, traps, ambushes, and guerrilla tactics, it was an absolute disaster for their enemies.