Chapter 329 Defeating the Entire Undead Legion with the Power of One Dragon (Two chapters updated in quick succession, please vote!)
"I could almost hear the cries of despair and smell the sweet scent of new life intertwined with fear."
The necromancer Phillips murmured silently, perfectly concealing his withered figure within the boundless horde of undead, sensing only the solitary outpost ahead with his mind.
Let's start here.
He will use the death power he has accumulated over hundreds of years to completely transform the vibrant Riverwood Territory into a desolate realm of the dead, and then use this as a foundation to unleash an even more magnificent wave of death that will sweep across the entire Ser Wilderness.
This was his most cherished vision.
However, this greedy delusion was suddenly interrupted by a throbbing sensation from the depths of his soul.
The thick, decaying gray-white mist was violently torn apart, pushed aside, and even evaporated instantly by an overwhelming and unstoppable force!
A massive shadow, carrying a terrifying force that seemed to burn and distort the air, crashed down like a meteor from outer space between the surging vanguard and the third outpost of the undead army.
More accurately, it struck the very center of the most densely packed vanguard of the undead army with unparalleled precision.
Only then did the sharp, piercing shriek, caused by the extreme speed tearing through the air like cloth being ripped apart, finally descend from the high sky.
Thump!!
The earth then let out a painful groan, and a violent tremor and a deafening roar exploded at the same time.
A shockwave, visible to the naked eye, suddenly exploded in a perfect ring, instantly clearing out all low-level undead within a radius of 100 meters, whether they were fragile skeletons or stiff zombies, as if sweeping away dust!
Countless broken bone fragments, rotting chunks of flesh, and rusted armor plates.
Like a toy smashed by an invisible yet enormous warhammer, it shot backward wildly in a radial pattern, the rising dust and lingering mist mixing and forming a brief, murky dome-shaped dust cloud.
The lich, hiding among the undead army, was also jolted by the sudden impact, his skull crackling with soul fire.
His heart was heavy as he gazed ahead.
The smoke and dust gradually dissipated.
A colossal dragon, defying all conventional understanding, stood proudly in the center of the battlefield.
Even though he was once a legendary necromancer with extensive knowledge and a broad perspective, he still felt somewhat incredulous when he looked at the dragon.
Its physical form surpassed all of Phillips's knowledge of dragons.
It was so strong that it looked like two red dragons standing side by side. The scales, which seemed to be cast from steel, were not covering the muscles, but rather like thick armor growing directly from the muscles that were twisted like steel cables. Each scale was as thick as a shield, layer upon layer covering the whole body, flowing with a heart-stopping luster.
Its menacing dragon horns, emerging from the smoke and dust, meandered and coiled, resembling a giant spear tearing through the sky.
The tips of its wings still churned with lingering flames, their edges sharp like two giant blades. Its thick, long tail was covered with dragon scales, forming protrusions resembling giant blades and spears. Coupled with dense, sharp thorns, the entire dragon seemed not to be a creature of flesh and blood, but rather a meticulously crafted weapon of war.
Its deep black dragon eyes, as dark as the night sky, pierced through the pervasive smoke and mist, indifferently sweeping over the entire tide of the dead. Its invisible yet substantial pressure, like a tsunami, instantly plunged the noisy battlefield into a deathly silence.
"A dragon from Riverwood Territory? Never seen one before."
"Judging from its physical characteristics, it seems to be a hybrid of a red dragon and an iron dragon?"
"Such a powerful life force! The pure power contained within this body is simply immeasurable!"
Phillips's long-withered heart clenched, but then a stronger, more insatiable desire, like a poisonous fire, quickly overwhelmed his vigilance.
Without a retinue of followers, does a mere dragon think it can stop his undead torrent? Wishful thinking!
More importantly, such an extraordinary dragon must have a powerful and unique soul essence. If it can be killed and refined using necromancy, his forces will surely gain a powerful undead dragon general capable of sweeping across the battlefield!
"Kill it!"
The cold, silent command was instantly transmitted to every undead unit via the mental link.
The undead know nothing of fear. Upon receiving the necromancer's supreme command, the soul fire leaping in their eye sockets simultaneously turned, and countless empty, lifeless gazes focused on the sole focal point of life—the dragon!
The Death Knights were the first to respond to the order.
These silent killing machines were battle-hardened elites in life, and after death they were reshaped by negative energy, making them even stronger and more defensive than before.
They were clad in dark, heavy armor that covered almost their entire bodies, with only two points of cold soul fire visible beneath their helmets. Their nightmare warhorses spewed out eerie blue flames, leaving behind quietly burning blue flames wherever their hooves trod.
"Form ranks! Charge!"
With a slight thought, Phillips subtly manipulated the formation, simultaneously casting a spell from afar. Obscure runes flashed by, bestowing the Death Knights with [Higher Brute Force] and [Shadow Armor].
Immediately afterwards, the fifty Death Knights split into five groups.
Like five black spears, they launched simultaneously from different tricky angles. There were no shouts, only the heavy, muffled thuds of nightmare hooves crushing the earth, converging into the drumbeats of death.
Their distance from each other was precise to the millimeter, and their charging trajectories perfectly blocked the dragon's space to maneuver.
The thick, long lance was held horizontally, its tip gathering negative energy powerful enough to pierce through city walls. A dark blue halo connected, forming a death net covering the dragon's body.
Seeing this, the necromancer's lips curled into an ugly smile, quite pleased with himself.
Although his power level had declined, because he had become a lich, he understood the mind and logic of the undead better. His control over the undead army not only did not weaken, but it improved even more. His command and manipulation were like a kind of art of writing death.
In his vision, regardless of whether the dragon chooses to confront it head-on or dodge, there will always be at least a few lances that can attack from the weakest point.
"Trying to break through the formation alone. Heh, do you think you're a holy king? Except for a very few abnormal beings, anyone who tries to fight against an undead army with an individual will only end up dead."
“Foolish dragon, you will soon become my toy.”
The necromancer focused his mind and commanded the army.
The skeletal behemoth, whose size rivaled that of a dragon, moved with heavy strides, like a shifting mountain. Its massive bone claws, accompanied by a whistling sound, slammed down on the dragon's head, sealing off the space above it.
In the air, the figures of the wailing banshees became even more ethereal.
They opened their mouths wide in silence—the instant the lances struck, the invisible shrieks of the souls would erupt simultaneously, combining with the behemoth's fierce attack, launching a combined assault from within and without, completely shattering the dragon's resistance.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
The clanging and clashing of metal, almost overlapping each other, echoed across the battlefield.
The anticipated scene of the dragon's scales shattering and flesh flying everywhere did not occur.
One after another, lances infused with negative energy accurately struck their targets—the dragon's neck, flanks, and joints… However, the moment the lances pierced the ground, they emitted a sound of being unable to bear the weight, the shafts bent, and cracks spread, as if they had not pierced the scales of a living creature, but some kind of indestructible divine iron.
The most powerful Death Knight leaders could barely pierce the dragon scales with their attacks.
However, what lies beneath appears to be not flesh and blood, but some kind of equally hard defensive layer, which has been significantly weakened and can no longer be breached by attacks.
Click! Click!
With just a slight movement of the dragon's body, the tips of the lances twisted and cracked amidst an ear-piercing metallic scraping sound! The enormous recoil force was violently transmitted back along the lances, causing the arm armor of the death knights gripping their lances to groan shrilly. Several knights' arm armor even succumbed to the pressure and exploded, their decaying bone arms breaking off inch by inch!
The Nightmare Warhorse let out a painful neigh, reared up, and the eerie blue flames between its hooves flickered violently, almost going out.
The Death Knight Legion's renowned Destruction Charge failed to even breach the enemy's defenses!
Almost simultaneously, the skeletal behemoth's terrifying bone claws, powerful enough to shatter granite city gates, crashed down, the gust of wind whipped up by the claws dispersing the dust and smoke below.
But just as that enormous bone claw was about to touch the rugged dragon horns...
Red Iron Dragon simultaneously raised its claws and swung them upwards with lightning speed.
Boom—!!!
The dragon claws and bone claws collided violently!
There was no stalemate, only a crushing defeat.
The giant claws of the skeletal behemoth, composed of countless thick bones and infused with negative energy, crumbled and shattered like rotten wood when they came into contact with the dragon's claws.
Countless massive, shattered bone fragments shot out in all directions, smashing a group of zombies who couldn't dodge in time into a bloody pulp.
The enormous skeletal beast was propelled backward by this irresistible force, each step leaving a deep crater in the ground.
In the air, the wailing banshees shrieked incessantly, their faces contorted with hatred.
However, the soul-tearing wail, when it struck the Red Iron Dragon's soul, was like a gentle breeze hitting an impenetrable wall, failing to even stir a ripple. Within that incredibly robust body, there also lay a soul of unimaginable resilience and strength.
The Red Iron Dragon alternates between wing slashes, tail whips, and claw strikes.
The undead creatures rushed forward one after another, only to be completely destroyed.
A simple charge can leave a long void in the vast horde of undead, creating a ground littered with broken bones and gore.
"What a powerful dragon, so incredibly strong."
"More than just a hybrid! Could it be a legendary alien dragon? Like that twenty-four-winged golden dragon king?!"
Phillips initially considered retreating, but the undead creatures' desire for powerful life filled him with greed for the Red Iron Dragon's body and soul.
Click, click.
The broken bones pieced themselves back together, and the rotten flesh transformed into a horrifying, twisted monster. The fallen undead rose again and continued their attack on the red iron dragon.
Not only that.
Although some of the undead were completely dead, the negative energy emanating from them merged into the surrounding space, forming a grayish-white mist that could suppress the living, weaken them, and gradually cause them to lose their minds. This caused the Red Iron Dragon to move slightly slower, and as if it were out of its mind, it continued to fight on the ground instead of rising into the sky.
"Even if we wipe out this legion, it will be worth it as long as we can obtain the dragon's body and soul."
The necromancer no longer hesitated, maneuvering his legion to continue the siege of the dragon, while also slightly altering his tactics.
"Waste it! Use endless skeletons to wear it down!"
"Surviving Death Knights, retreat! Skeleton Beasts, charge forward!"
"All skeleton warriors, bone shield array! Wraiths, fill every inch of the ground beneath its feet with your rotting bodies! Banshees, unleash relentless soul attacks to disrupt its will! I do not believe its power is inexhaustible."
The necromancer's orders spread throughout the undead legion.
The skeletal behemoth, which had just been knocked back, let out a silent roar.
Ignoring the wounds from its severed claws, it once again took hill-like strides, ramming its massive body and remaining bony arms into Garros, attempting to restrict its movements with sheer weight and impact. Two other skeletal behemoths also approached at the same time.
There were three skeletal behemoths in total, whose constant breaking apart was pulling the Red Iron Dragon along.
At the same time, the densely packed skeleton warriors began to transform and combine with astonishing efficiency.
Under the necromancer's skillful manipulation, they did not charge haphazardly, but rather moved like precise machines.
The skeleton warriors in the front row slammed their massive bone shields into the ground, while the warriors in the back row stepped on the shoulder blades of the front row, stacking a second and third layer of bone shields on top of each other, reinforcing and binding them together with negative energy.
Just a few breaths later.
Behind the Red Iron Dragon and on both sides, several walls made of layers upon layers of pale white bone shields were erected.
The undead horde, amplified by negative energy, seemed to coalesce into a single entity, becoming as solid as steel.
From the gaps between the bone shields, long spears of death knights and various weapons of skeleton warriors emerged, like steel hedgehogs. They formed a mobile fortress, advancing step by step, pressing towards the central dragon.
The rotting horde of zombies is like the cheapest cannon fodder.
Ignoring the crushed remains of their companions beneath their feet, they roared and wriggled, frantically lunging at the Red Iron Dragon's limbs and abdomen with their festering bodies. When they died, they would self-destruct, using their corpse poison and pure rotting flesh to defile and slow down the thick scales.
Countless zombies climbed upwards like a human pyramid, forming a nauseating mountain of rotting flesh.
The wailing banshees in the sky completely abandoned the idea of physical attacks. Their figures darted through the air at high speed, leaving behind illusory afterimages. The soul screams that were so piercing that they could instantly kill any living thing were like invisible storms, wave after wave, relentlessly crashing against the head of the red iron dragon.
The entire battlefield was completely overwhelmed by undead creatures.
From above, all that can be seen is a frantically writhing gray-white sea, completely submerging the red iron dragon.
"It's safe, it's safe."
Phillips twitched the corners of his mouth and smiled.
Individual undead are not powerful, but under his control, when different unit types cooperate perfectly and are enhanced by various spells, they are enough to surround and kill any enemy below the legendary level.
The necromancer's soulfire trembled, and his gaze narrowed slightly as he looked at the extraordinary red iron dragon before him.
Sizzle! Sizzle!
Under the necromancer's solemn gaze, streaks of golden lightning leaped through the gaps between countless undead, and the friction of countless bones could not suppress the soaring, exciting sound.
Boom boom boom boom!
The cage formed by countless undead kept bulging outwards, as if it were being violently bombarded by four giant arms. The negative energy dissipated, and cracks appeared in the airtight cage.
Tear!
A pair of dragon wings, seemingly capable of blotting out the sky, then cleaved through the toughest bone wall, simultaneously spinning and slashing, soaring into the sky amidst countless fragments of bone and rotten flesh.
The red iron dragon hovered in mid-air, most of its scales already fallen off.
The necromancer was not pleased by this, because he could clearly see that beneath the target's shattered scales, there was another layer of blackish-red dragon scales, covered with rough, crisscrossing cracks.
Battle-hardened markings?!
Ordinary people might not recognize it.
But the legendary Phillips certainly knew the meaning of those patterns.
The giant dragon, its body swelled to a huge size and crackled with golden lightning, soared through the air before crashing violently to the ground, shattering the surrounding undead.
At the same time, the red iron dragon stood upright.
He took a deep breath, lightning flashed around him, his chest, covered in thick scales, suddenly expanded, and at the same time, he opened his dragon mouth.
Golden lightning and crimson flames danced and leaped between the dragon's fangs.
As Garros grows and develops his enhanced state, the spherical flame thunder dragon breath in this state can transform into a raging torrent. Although it is not as powerful as the thermally enhanced destructive dragon breath, it is still much stronger than the normal dragon breath.
call!
The dragon lowered its head slightly and exhaled its breath.
A torrent of flames and lightning, formed from the mixture of fire and lightning, erupted from his mouth, instantly engulfing everything in front of him.
Sizzle—!!!
The chilling, violent vaporizing sound, like cold water being poured into boiling oil, became the main theme of the battlefield.
The first to be hit were the skeletal behemoths, whose massive bodies, pieced together from countless solid bones, were as fragile as wax figures thrown into a steel furnace in the face of this torrent of lightning and flames.
Upon contact, the bones that make up the behemoth's body melted and vaporized rapidly, like snow under the scorching sun.
The behemoth that had withstood Garros's attacks, constantly breaking and reforming, simply vanished.
Next up is a wall of bone shields, constructed from a massive number of skeletons and reinforced with negative energy, which should be indestructible.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Like a piece of cheap cardboard pierced by a red-hot iron, the layers of bone shields were no match for the torrent of flames and lightning. They were melted and vaporized, and the skeleton warriors hiding behind the bone shields were vaporized directly.
The breath, undiminished in its force, swept away a large circle of undead creatures, and the unstoppable scythe of death still plowed deep, terrifying trenches into the earth, billowing white smoke and dark red embers.
Within the ravine, all the dead, whether skeletons or zombies, were reduced to ashes.
The earth was scorched into a crystalline, glassy state.
Fire-based energy attacks are more effective than physical damage against these undead.
Realizing this, Hong Tielong did not stop.
His enormous head tilted slightly, and the destructive torrent, like a divine whip of light, began to sweep across as his gaze moved.
Wherever it sweeps, it is thoroughly purified.
A disgusting, twisted mountain of zombies? Turned to ashes!
Banshees swirling and howling in the air? As the fiery lightning swept across the sky, the banshees' translucent bodies evaporated completely, like thin ice being thrown into boiling water, before they could even utter a scream.
Countless skeleton warriors and hordes of zombies were wiped away like pencil drawings by an eraser under the sweeping dragon breath.
Disappearing piece by piece!
The entire left flank of the undead army was completely wiped out by the Red Iron Dragon's breath in just a dozen seconds, leaving a huge, steaming, crystallized zone on the battlefield.
The previous attempt to gather in large numbers to hunt down the Red Iron Dragons resulted in heavy casualties for them.
(End of this chapter)
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