The eastern defense zone of Muxi City, one hour before the apocalypse is triggered.
The shadowy creature lay lazily on the grass, turning back to watch quietly as the veterinarian injected a vial of vaccine into its body.
Alfonso took off his helmet, took the cloth handed to him by his squire, and wiped the grime on his face, a mixture of sweat and blood.
As he wiped himself clean, he walked over to Shadow and said, "I didn't expect you to come and help us."
The shadow's voice sounded extremely harsh, like two pieces of glass rubbing together: "I am fulfilling my promise to your king."
Alfonso turned around and looked at the army of war beasts brought by the Shadow.
Inside, there were serpent wolves, venomous crocodiles, pterosaurs, and many other creatures whose names he couldn't recall.
Shadow glanced at Alfonso and said, "The Dragon King is willing to exchange his protection and the right to live on the ground for the support of the War Beast Lords. Unfortunately, there aren't many who are willing to believe in this agreement."
Alfonso: "But you came."
Shadow: "I have spent some time with you, and I know that the Dragon King is different from the humans of the past. I am willing to try to believe in him."
Alfonso: "Your trust will not be betrayed."
The shadowy figure raised its head and looked into the distance: "The undead have spread throughout the world. The sky, the sea, and even the underground have become their paradise. Those war beast lords who have long lived underground have always thought their lairs were safe, but it was only a matter of time before they were invaded by the undead."
"Rather than sit and wait to die, I would rather come to the ground and fight to gain a chance to survive."
Alfonso nodded, and just as he was about to say something, a knight came up behind him and said, "Captain, you should take a look at this."
Alfonso gave a slight apologetic bow to the Shadow and followed the knight to a corner of the battlefield.
The remains of a necromancer, covered in spikes, lay scattered in pieces on the ground.
Cumberland crouched beside the wreckage, examining it closely while listening to the medic's analysis.
"This undead possesses multiple superpowers, including increased speed, agility, and jumping ability. Moreover, its body has a unique function found only in war beasts—spike bursts. Therefore, we infer that the undead have begun to exhibit fusion between species and superpowers."
Cumberland said in a deep voice, "Explain in more detail."
The doctor pondered for a moment before saying, "Before this, the undead could be broadly divided into two types. One was the simple infection type, and the other was the supernatural infection type. The latter was also known as the alien undead."
"Simple infection type is very common. It is the ordinary undead that is transformed after an organism is infected by the undead parasite."
"The type of supernatural infection is less common. Most of them were different species in life and retained some supernatural abilities after death."
The doctor pointed to the bone-spiked undead on the ground and said, "However, this kind of undead has never appeared before. It possesses many different supernatural abilities and has fused the bodies of humans and war beasts together, forming an extremely terrifying monster."
Cumberland asked, "Why?"
The physician pondered for a moment: "His Majesty once said when he was researching the undead that the source of the undead—the undead virus—possesses the ability to filter and combine biological genetic information, but this ability has not been working before. However, the appearance of the bone spur undead means that the undead virus has evolved to a new stage, a stage where it can freely combine supernatural abilities and functions."
Cumberland frowned. "Things have gotten even more complicated."
Alfonso, who had been listening intently, finally asked, "What's a good way to eliminate them?"
The doctor scratched his head: "The necromancer vaccine is the best way to eliminate them, but the vaccine production capacity is currently severely insufficient... Another way is to target the weaknesses of different high-level alien necromancers and defeat them one by one."
"For example, this bone-spur necromancer, although its body is flexible, its skin is very fragile, and any weapon can penetrate its body... Therefore, severing its head is the safest method."
Alfonso pressed further, "What if new, higher-level undead appear? Even if we cut off their heads, it still won't stop them?"
The doctor paused for a moment.
After thinking for a long time, he could only shake his head and give this answer: "Then its weakness must be hidden in its body, but we are powerless until it is discovered."
Alfonso and Cumberland exchanged a glance, and unease appeared on their faces simultaneously.
The doctor was about to say something when he suddenly looked at the distant sky and was completely shocked.
Alfonso, noticing something amiss, followed the other person's gaze and immediately forgot to speak.
The sky, the entire sky, suddenly turned blood red.
The sun, moon, and stars were no longer visible, completely hidden in a sea of blood.
"This is……?!"
Cumberland looked up at the sky, his pupils suddenly contracting as his instincts told him something was wrong.
Moments later, a violent earthquake struck the ground.
Spiderweb-like cracks appeared on the ground, and from the air, large swathes of land looked like icebergs floating on the sea, beginning to break apart.
Alfonso gripped the ground tightly, turning his head towards the direction of Twilight City.
Under the crimson sky, buildings throughout Twilight City collapsed one after another.
The massive clock tower emitted a piercing crashing sound as it tilted and smashed into the fleeing citizens.
The inner city, a symbol of royal power, crumbled in the powerful earthquake, leaving half of it in ruins.
The entire city of Muxi, the sacred place that millions of people have fought and protected, is like a lone boat on a vast ocean in the face of natural disasters, and it is in danger of capsizing at any moment.
Cumberland staggered toward Duskwood, the blood-red light of the apocalypse reflecting the grief in his eyes.
"The undead have appeared, the earth is cracking, the sky is as red as blood... Is this really... the end of the world?"
Alfonso struggled to get behind Cumberland and shouted, "Grand Master, we must get back to the city!"
Cumberland lowered his head, looking at the black dragon emblem on his chest, and said in a deep voice, "His Majesty entrusted me with protecting everything in Twilight City before he left. I will not let him down."
"Mount up!" Cumberland mounted his warhorse and led his knights at full speed toward Twilight City.
Although the earthquake has gradually subsided, the city is still littered with dead and injured, and riddled with holes.
Beneath the collapsed building, cries and pleas for help from the injured could be heard everywhere.
The once orderly streets have been replaced by massive ravines, and looking down into the bottomless abyss sends chills down one's spine.
Cumberland dismounted and, seeing the devastation in Twilight City, immediately ordered, "Valkyries and War Beast units, take charge of patrolling outside the city. The rest of you, begin the rescue of the civilians!"
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