"…A lord?"
Pask's soul-flame flickered as he looked at Zhao Lun, who was rapidly approaching, flanked by two greatsword skeletons and leading an elite skeleton squad. He murmured the words so softly that even Orlis and Felis, both less than five meters away, didn't catch them.
But soon, Pask shook off that momentary daze. As Zhao Lun closed to within a hundred meters, Pask sneered, "What's with today? One arrogant fool after another."
"Damn you!"
"Kill!"
The instant those words left Pask's mouth, Orlis and Felis both roared in fury. Weaponless, battered, and in pitiful condition, the two skeletons lunged at him almost barehanded, as if intent on tearing Pask apart.
"Fools!" Pask snorted coldly. With a sweep of his greatsword, he prepared to cut down Felis, who reached him first—
When suddenly, darkness swallowed his vision. His soul-flame dimmed—he could see nothing.
"A mage!"
Pask's heart jolted. He instinctively leapt back a few steps—straight into Orlis, who rammed him with his bone shield. But Orlis was already at the end of his strength; the shield strike only made Pask stagger slightly. It did, however, stop his advance.
"Out of my way!" Pask's voice rose with both anger and alarm. Having survived from the previous era, he knew well the danger of facing a skeleton mage alongside two skeleton warriors. He had to break through before Zhao Lun and his squad could fully engage—otherwise his chances of escape would vanish. With that thought, he swung his greatsword by instinct, aiming blindly at Orlis.
"Stun!"
Before the blade could land, Zhao Lun's spell struck. Pask's head dropped heavily, and his greatsword swung off target. Orlis seized the chance to ram him again—this time, Pask wasn't so lucky. Off balance from the missed strike, he was knocked sprawling.
"Weaken!" Zhao Lun's third curse followed instantly, forcing the just-recovering Pask flat on the ground again.
"Take his head!"
At Zhao Lun's command, Felis and Orlis pounced. One pinned the stunned, weakened Pask to the ground, while the other seized his skull and yanked it free. In less than two rounds, the three of them had subdued him completely.
"You two okay?" Zhao Lun asked, finally walking over to inspect them. His soul-flame glinted with a cold light at the sight of their battered states.
The two loyal skeleton subordinates glared at each other, unwilling to show weakness, and shook their heads.
"Good. Let's head back." Zhao Lun nodded and turned to walk away. After a few steps, he paused. "Take his bones with us. And don't forget your own fragments."
…Not much of a talker—he'd rushed here like lightning, but this was all he said.
"My lord…" Felis spoke softly.
"What is it?" Zhao Lun turned, puzzled.
Felis hurried over to a nearby skeleton horse that had mostly recovered and was slowly getting to its feet. Pointing at it, he asked, "Can… I… take him… back?"
"What's this?" Only then did Zhao Lun notice the undead creature. Curious, he cast a sensing spell.
Race: Lesser Nether Beast (Skeleton Horse)
Level: 5 (Black Iron) – Elite
Skills: ???
"Lesser Nether Beast?" Zhao Lun didn't fully understand what that meant, but the word Elite caught his attention. "Bring it back for now."
With Zhao Lun's approval, Felis leapt in excitement and rushed to lead the skeleton horse away—
Only for it to suddenly rear up and kick him square in the ribs. The blow sent Felis flying, several bones snapping loose.
"What?" Zhao Lun was stunned. He'd thought the horse and Felis had at least some understanding. Instead, it had attacked him outright. Watching Felis sprawled on the ground, missing several ribs, Zhao Lun's soul-flame flared with killing intent. The skeleton horse sensed danger, its hooves pawing nervously, as if wanting to flee but too afraid to move.
"Heh… foolish thing. Did you think a skeleton horse was so easy to tame?"
"Who's talking?" Zhao Lun turned sharply toward Pask, who had just recovered from his stun and weaken effects.
Clop, clop, clop…
At that moment, the skeleton horse bolted.
"Stun." Zhao Lun's cold voice cut through the air, and the horse stumbled mid-stride.
Raising his hand, Zhao Lun fired a black Magic Missile, shattering the front leg of the escaping beast and sending it crashing to the ground. He ordered the elite squad to dismantle its limbs and carry it back.
Then Zhao Lun stepped up to Orlis, holding Pask's skull in his hand.
"What did you just say?"
"What else? 'Foolish thing,'" Pask replied, his pale soul-flame meeting Zhao Lun's gaze without a hint of fear.
Zhao Lun stopped Orlis from smashing him on the spot. "Looks like you still don't understand your situation."
"I never have—why don't you tell me, lord?" Pask said with a mocking smile.
"Don't you think… if you behaved, you might keep your life?" Zhao Lun asked.
"I don't think so. But… if it's my life you want, I've got plenty to trade for it."
"Oh?" Zhao Lun's interest was piqued. "Let's hear it."
"I'm not in the mood to talk." Pask's soul-flame flared, baiting Zhao Lun further.
"Not in the mood?"
Zhao Lun stared at him for a moment. "…Fine. Forget it."
With that, he tossed Pask to the elite squad and led the group swiftly back to the territory.