"Master… what you're doing… it's very dangerous…" Felis whispered anxiously, feeling helpless toward his willful lord.
"Quiet. Keep up, and be careful not to expose us. Otherwise, we'll have to fight hundreds of skeletons one-on-one."
Ahead of Felis, Zhao Lun crouched low over his bony frame, trying to blend into the environment and make himself less conspicuous as he carefully advanced forward.
"Hey, hey! Don't forget about me! I'm still with you guys!" At this moment, Pask, held tightly by Felis, shouted to draw attention, trying to assert his presence.
"Shut up! If you don't keep quiet and blow our cover, I'll have Felis toss you over there. I want to see how they handle you," Zhao Lun hissed quietly. Felis's soul-flame flickered sharply as he glared at Pask—seems this little guy is quite the grudge-holder.
"Okay, okay… I'm quiet, I'm quiet. No need to scare me," Pask shivered at Felis's glare and reluctantly quieted down, which left Felis somewhat bored.
Zhao Lun had no time for such petty details. He was currently leading Felis to stealthily approach the nearby skeleton tribe. Zhao Lun really had guts—just two skeletons sneaking into their stronghold. Though stealthy, it still required courage. Of course, Zhao Lun wasn't foolish enough to expect to take down the tribe with just two skeletons. His goal was only to get within a hundred meters of the building Pask mentioned. At that range, his senses would activate, and he could finally understand the building's function to plan accordingly.
His soul-flame cautiously scanned ahead as they drew closer.
Time ticked by as Zhao Lun and Felis finally got within 300 meters of the skeleton tribe. From this vantage, Zhao Lun clearly saw the building Pask described.
"This the tall thing you mentioned?" Zhao Lun's soul-flame flickered as he spoke to Pask beside him.
"Let me see, let me see! You stupid skeleton, lift me up a bit," Pask commanded arrogantly, forcing the reluctant Felis to raise him. Peering in the direction Zhao Lun pointed, Pask nodded slightly. "Yep, that's it!"
About 300 meters ahead stood a roughly seven or eight-meter-high tower in a distinctly Western Gothic style, its bones white in color. Hovering above the tower was a black orb of energy. Just one glance convinced Zhao Lun this orb was extremely powerful.
Retracting his gaze, Zhao Lun carefully surveyed the area nearby. He immediately felt a headache coming on. "There sure are a lot of skeletons. Getting closer won't be easy."
Pask glanced around. "There are even more than when I last saw it. Looks like this territory is developing quickly."
"Master… we should go back…" Felis voiced his concern in time. He'd been opposed to Zhao Lun coming here from the start, and now seeing the dense mass of skeletons, he was truly unsettled.
"Wait, it's okay. Don't worry, Felis. Trust me," Zhao Lun turned and patted Felis reassuringly. He felt proud for bringing Felis instead of Orlis. Felis was easier to bluff; if Orlis were here, there'd be no talking—he'd drag Zhao Lun back immediately. Not that Orlis lacked courage—who else tore down Great Sword One?
"Master, if you're not going back, you should at least tell us what you're planning," Pask chimed in from the side.
"Wait and you'll see," Zhao Lun said, turning his glowing eyes to the front and then falling into thought.
Suddenly, his soul-flame flared bright. "Pask, how far is the attack range of that building you saw?"
"Attack range?" Pask blinked, silent for a moment as he recalled. After a pause, he answered, "It should be able to reach us here. Beyond that, probably not."
"So, the attack range is just over 300 meters?" Zhao Lun's eyes gleamed with a strange light, an almost dangerous flicker within.
"You… what are you planning?" Pask looked scared.
"Enough nonsense. Yes or no?"
Pask's soul-flame shrank back. "It should be."
Zhao Lun clapped his bony hand. "Good. I'll test it first. Felis!"
"Master… shall we… go back?" Felis's soul-flame flickered with concern.
"No, no. You go around to that side over there, then rush in and kill all the skeletons in that area. Then run to where Great Sword One and the others are. Remember, only kill those skeletons and leave immediately after. Got it?" Zhao Lun pointed roughly a hundred meters to their left, his soul-flame flickering.
"Master… it's too dangerous… you should—"
"Why won't you listen to me?" Zhao Lun had no choice with Orlis, but Felis was another matter. Once Zhao Lun pulled out this trump card, Felis obediently went up.
"What exactly… what are you doing?" Pask watched Zhao Lun's order and was instantly horrified, realizing this guy was up to something reckless.
But what could Pask do? Zhao Lun ignored him completely and hid, watching as Felis swiftly closed in on the target. Within a minute, Felis reached the designated spot.
"It's starting! I'm moving too."
Sure enough, Zhao Lun's words had barely faded when Felis charged forward, swirling his spear. In an instant, he slaughtered the row of skeletons Zhao Lun had targeted.
"Who! Who dares massacre my subjects? I will make them pay!" Suddenly, a domineering consciousness—or perhaps the collective voice of the skeletons—roared out.
In the next moment, the entire skeleton tribe sprang to action. Hundreds of skeletons swarmed toward Felis. Reflexively, Felis took a fighting stance, but remembering his master's orders, he lowered his guard and looked toward Zhao Lun's hiding spot—only to find it empty. This terrified Felis. He wanted to find Zhao Lun but hesitated due to the orders. Gritting his teeth, Felis turned and fled toward Great Sword One and the others.