Chapter 682: [Bonus - 7/9] Tithe-Bearers.

Chapter 682: [Bonus Chapter 7/9] Tithe-Bearers.

Bang! Bang!

The undead Storm Tyrant swung its heavy hammer once again, bringing the enormous weapon down on the head of the last Weeper.

The heavy hammer struck its head with devastating force.

Bang!

The Weeper’s skull shattered into pieces, sending fragments of bone scattering across the stone ledge.

Its body convulsed briefly before collapsing, and the black tears that had been dripping from its eye sockets ceased to flow.

With that, the battle finally came to an end.

Looking at the bones scattered around the ledge, Thoren sucked in a cold breath and breathed a sigh of relief.

The sight of the shattered remains brought him some comfort as he slowly relaxed his clenched fists, trying to calm the uneasiness that had settled deep within him.

His gaze moved across the ledge, passing over the scattered bones and the smoking marks left behind by the Weepers’ black tears.

Even with the battle over, the cavern did not feel any safer.

The strange silence surrounding the black lake made him feel as though something was still watching him from beneath its dark surface.

His gaze shifted to the black lake, and instantly, his expression changed.

The surface, which had remained relatively calm during the final moments of the battle, began to stir once again.

Small ripples appeared near the center before spreading outward.

Then came the bubbling.

Glup. Glup. Glup.

The sound echoed across the cavern, breaking the already tense atmosphere.

Bubbles rose from beneath the black water, swelling on the surface before bursting and releasing a foul stench that drifted toward the stone ledge.

The water continued to churn, and the ripples spread in every direction, growing stronger with each passing moment.

Thoren’s expression darkened.

"Don’t tell me there are still more of them..." He gritted his teeth, fury burning in his heart.

His gaze fell on the bones at the center of the island, where the mysterious bone plate remained undisturbed.

Despite everything that had happened, the object continued to draw his attention, as though it possessed an invisible connection to him.

He could not explain why he felt compelled to investigate it.

Now, with the lake stirring beneath him and the possibility of another battle looming, the decision no longer seemed so simple.

’Should I make a run for it?’

A strange thought suddenly appeared in his mind.

Thoren stared at the black water, his expression twisting with frustration.

He had already come this far and retreating without investigating the bone plate might mean abandoning whatever opportunity had drawn him here.

Just as the thought appeared in his mind, the situation inside the lake changed.

The bubbling abruptly intensified, and the black water began to rise as though something enormous was moving beneath the surface.

The ripples converged toward a single point near the center of the lake, forming a widening whirlpool that pulled floating debris into its dark depths.

Thoren’s eyes widened slightly as he watched the disturbance grow.

From the center of the black lake, two figures slowly emerged.

At first, Thoren could only make out their enormous silhouettes beneath the churning water. They moved with a heavy, deliberate rhythm, and each step seemed to disturb the entire lake.

The black water rolled away from their bodies, spilling from their massive frames in thick streams as they gradually revealed their grotesque appearances.

They were hulking masses of bone, each standing several meters tall, with thick skeletal limbs and enormous fists that looked capable of crushing stone.

Unlike the Weepers, whose bodies were twisted and elongated, these creatures possessed a frighteningly solid build.

Their ribs overlapped across their chests like layers of armor, while their skulls sat deep between their shoulders, giving them a hunched and dreadful appearance.

However, what immediately caught Thoren’s attention was the enormous cage of ribs carried on each creature’s back.

The ribs curved outward from their spines, forming a grotesque cage that extended from their shoulders to their waists.

Inside each cage lay several long, sharpened ribs, their pointed ends glistening with black liquid.

Thoren’s expression gradually darkened as he watched them approach the ledge.

The two creatures continued walking until their enormous feet finally emerged from the black lake.

Water poured from their skeletal bodies and splashed against the stone, while the terrible weight of their frames pressed down upon the narrow ledge.

Crack!

The stone beneath the first creature’s foot fractured immediately.

Crack! Crack!

The second creature followed, and the ground broke beneath its weight as well. Deep cracks spread across the stone.

Thoren stared at the two new abominations with an ugly expression. He could not help wondering how many horrors the black lake contained.

Just then, a word appeared in his mind.

’Tithe-Bearers.’

Thoren’s eyes narrowed as the name settled into his thoughts.

The Tithe-Bearers possessed enough strength to break stones with their fists, and the cages of ribs on their backs served as weapons.

They could launch the sharpened bones like spears, sending them flying toward their enemies with tremendous force.

Thoren’s expression grew even uglier.

Long-range attacks.

The moment both Tithe-Bearers stepped fully onto the stone ledge, their movements changed. Their enormous shoulders rolled forward

Before he could issue a command, the two Tithe-Bearers launched their attacks.

Six rib-spears shot through the air, three from each Tithe-Bearer, flying toward the undead servants with frightening speed.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The sharpened bones tore through the cavern, leaving faint trails of black liquid behind them.

Their speed was astonishing, and the sheer force behind each projectile made the air whistle violently around its pointed tip.

Thoren’s pupils contracted as he watched the six rib-spears rush toward his undead vanguard.

Without thinking, he commanded through the mental link.

’Down!’

Although he reacted almost instantly, unfortunately for him. He was still a tad bit late.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The six rib-spears struck the undead vanguard one after another, each impact releasing a deafening bang.

The first spear pierced an undead Storm Tyrant’s chest and sent its massive body flying backward.

The second smashed into the undead General, throwing it several meters across the cavern.

Before the remaining undead could react, four more rib-spears struck their targets, sending them tumbling through the air.