Chapter 299 162: The Journey Home

Recalling that the Dark Skeleton had already mastered various Skills related to shadows and Darkness, Li Ziyu had a feeling the fellow was likely hiding his true capabilities.

"Playing mind games with me, are you? Still trying to hold back on me? Feeling pretty tough, are we? Think I can't just pluck your head off and kick it around like a ball anymore?" Li Ziyu's face darkened as he spoke, rubbing the Dark Skeleton's cranium.

The Soul Fire in the Dark Skeleton's eye sockets flickered violently, bringing to mind a certain unpleasant memory.

"I'll give you one chance. Show me how much you've grown. If you don't want to, fine. But from now on, you'll have nothing to do with our battles. Weaklings don't belong on the battlefield." Feeling that wasn't quite enough, Li Ziyu decided to fan the flames.

This threat was far more effective than kicking its head like a ball. The rate of evolution on the battlefield was countless times faster than natural evolution. Banning it from the battlefield was tantamount to banning it from evolving. The Dark Skeleton couldn't bear such an injustice.

He couldn't bear the thought of stagnating while a group of Tattooed Skeletons, whom he considered his inferiors, surpassed him in power.

After speaking, Li Ziyu took two steps back and waited for the Dark Skeleton to make its move.

The moment he backed away, the Dark Skeleton's shadow suddenly shattered, transforming into a patch of Darkness that spread across the surroundings. The four Skeletons beside it reacted instantly, leaping away without hesitation to escape the shadow's range.

Li Ziyu didn't move. He was only a normal Human; even if he tried to run, he wouldn't be able to escape. He could only feign composure and stand perfectly still. But as the shadow reached him, it flowed around his feet.

The Dark Skeleton's shadow enveloped half the hall. Li Ziyu's White Bone Throne and dining table began to sink slowly, submerged in the Darkness as if being swallowed by a swamp.

The Dark Skeleton stood in the center of the shadow, now draped in a hooded robe as black as the shadow itself. The hem of the robe merged with the shadowy swamp on the floor, making it seem as if the mire was an extension of his cloak.

'Tsk, now *this* is the look I was going for. A spitting image of the Death God, right down to the Weapon. Nice.'

Li Ziyu nodded, satisfied with the Dark Skeleton's new look. It was a vast improvement over the plain appearance he'd had just moments ago.

After a moment's hesitation, Li Ziyu took a step forward. As his foot descended, the shadows receded, revealing the original bone floor beneath for him to step on.

'Hm, not bad. It still knows to make way for me.'

Since he wasn't going to be dragged into the mire, Li Ziyu no longer hesitated. He walked toward the Dark Skeleton and stood before him. The skeleton was so shrouded by its robe that Li Ziyu had to get close just to make out its face.

Strangely, the Dark Skeleton's Soul Fire was normally black. But after donning the robe, his Soul Fire had actually turned white, giving off a somewhat holy aura.

"Hmm, not bad at all," Li Ziyu said, nodding at the Dark Skeleton with a slight smile.

"Battlefield..." a message came from the Dark Skeleton.

"You'll have your time on the battlefield. A great war is coming," Li Ziyu replied with a wide grin, flashing a row of white teeth.

"Good." The Dark Skeleton was pleased.

He had benefited greatly from his time in the Underworld. The exhilarating rush of evolution was intoxicating, and he was now obsessed. As long as he could get on the battlefield, he didn't care who the enemy was. The stronger, the better.

After meeting with the five evolved Tattooed Skeletons, Li Ziyu issued his command: "Set out! We're returning to the Wraith Mountain Range!"

As the command was issued, the entire Undead Fortress shuddered, and Li Ziyu could clearly feel the Undead cheering in celebration.

To many of the Undead, the Wraith Mountain Range was home—a place where countless comrades were waiting for them!

They were going home!

Beneath the moon, cloaked in night, the Undead Fortress activated and began to move rapidly in the direction of the Wraith Mountain Range.

「Underworld, Komeilan City.」

The city gate opened, as it always did. Demonized Creatures swarmed out in droves, their eyes filled with excitement as they rushed into the tunnels.

They were accustomed to this life. The opening of the gate meant it was time to hunt Undead. They would either die in the tunnels, their bodies lost forever, or absorb vast amounts of Soul Fire and return victorious.

But today seemed different. It was too quiet.

The Demonized Creatures that entered the tunnels were somewhat bewildered, searching aimlessly through the passages.

Where was the bait?

Where was the ambush?

Where were the Undead?

They wandered for half an hour but found nothing. This was completely unlike before.

In the past, whenever they entered the tunnels, they always found something. The Undead would set up bait and traps, lying in wait. For the powerful, these very traps and decoys would become opportunities to hunt even more Undead.

Even if they didn't find any traps or decoys, they could usually find some straggling Undead or Skeleton Wild Beasts and still come away with a prize.

But today, there was nothing. Not a sound in the tunnels, nor any sign of the Undead.

This wasn't normal.

The bewildered Demonized Creatures searched all over the tunnels. Occasionally, they ran into other squads, and after a brief exchange, discovered that the others had found nothing either.

This was bizarre. Where had all the Undead in the tunnels gone?

They continued to search, pressing forward until they reached the very end of the passage and saw the massive hole leading to the surface.