Chapter 113 - Destruction of Werewolf Kingdom

The Pope, finally aware of the man’s presence, immediately raised a cry of alarm. “Who are you? How dare you breach the sanctity of Radiant Harbor?”

This intruder was Xu Tie. Upon learning of Han Wu’s skeleton army attacking Radiant Harbor, Xu Tie had mobilized his Iron Skins with the intention of coming to the holy city’s aid. Unfortunately, he arrived too late to prevent the devastation. Nevertheless, the situation was not entirely without hope; a weakened church would prove considerably easier to control than one at the height of its power.

Xu Tie gently cleared his throat. “Esteemed Pope, please do not be alarmed. I am here to help.”

The Pope, naturally wary and suspicious of this unexpected visitor, was in dire straits, and desperately needed all the help he could get. He was prepared to do whatever it took if it meant avenging his lost clergy and simultaneously eradicating the skeleton army.

The following night, the skeleton army launched yet another attack on Radiant Harbor. After a night of rest, Han Wu had successfully reanimated an additional 5 million skeletons, providing him with ample forces to wage another full-scale war.

The church, however, was in no condition whatsoever to endure another fight. Its members were riddled with wounds, wrapped in bandages and many were physically incapable of combat.

The skeleton army effortlessly repelled the remaining guards and surged into Radiant Harbor once more. The clergy members, filled with rage, watched helplessly as the undead defiled their sacred grounds, knowing they were too weak to intervene. The skeletons were too strong and they were powerless.

The skeletons were gleefully slaughtering their way through Radiant Harbor when the Pope personally stepped forward to confront them. Physically, he was not a large man, but in that moment, in the eyes of his devout clergy, he loomed like a towering giant. Clad in pristine white robes, he radiated an aura so profound it made him seem like a God.

With a voice ringing with conviction, he proclaimed, “

Oh

, lost undead, cease your abominable march and withdraw from Radiant Harbor! I promise you mercy if you do so! However, if you persist, the gods themselves will deliver justice upon you!”

The skeletons stared at the Pope, their vacant gazes conveying a clear sense of ridicule, poised to simply trample him into meat paste. However, a brilliant light suddenly appeared, enveloping the Pope. A shimmering magic array formed beneath his feet, and from it, groups of powerful units began to step out.

Han Wu immediately recognized the summoning array and the units emerging from it. They were, unmistakably, Xu Tie’s Iron Skins!

The Pope exclaimed loudly, “Almighty forces of God, unleash the iron fist of justice upon them and annihilate these pitiful undead!”

The Iron Skins advanced, effortlessly tearing through the skeletons as if they were made of paper. The clergy members erupted in cheers, their voices ringing with newfound hope.

“Go and destroy those undeads!”

“Avenge our fallen brothers and sisters!”

“The almighty God has descended. Praise be to our God!”

The previously unstoppable skeleton army was now gradually being pushed back by the Iron Skins. Faced with this unexpected resistance, Han Wu had no choice but to command his Heroic Osteomancers to enter the fray.

The Osteomancers, utilizing the scattered bone fragments, transformed into colossal bone giants. With their massively powerful frames, they brutally flung Iron Skins to the ground, then mercilessly stomped them into the very earth. However, the Iron Skins employed their unique technique to challenge the Osteomancers.

The Iron Skins merged, transforming into numerous towering Iron Skin giants that immediately confronted the bone giants. The fierce battle raged on relentlessly, with skeletons and Iron Skins perishing at an alarming rate.

Yet, amidst the chaos, the Pope perceived a glimmer of hope. He discreetly contacted Xu Tie, seeking to know the exact Warfront Essence necessary to summon more Iron Skins. The church was prepared to pay any price to ensure their victory.

Xu Tie smiled inwardly and readily accepted the deal. With more Warfront Essence now at his disposal, he summoned even more Iron Skins, sending them against the skeleton army. Under the weight of this new wave, the skeletons were gradually being pushed back by the Iron Skins.

Realizing he had already lost 2 million skeletons, and with more Iron Skins pouring onto the battlefield, Han Wu was forced to order a temporary retreat for his forces, now planning to wear the church down in a lengthy, drawn-out war.

Once the skeletons were driven off, the clergy members erupted in cheers and gazed at the Iron Skins with deep reverence and awe, convinced they were divine emissaries from God. The Pope exhaled slowly, a wave of relief washing over him. He had, at least, managed to successfully defend Radiant Harbor from the skeletons this time.

To prevent any further attacks, the Pope expended a significant amount of the church’s treasures to summon even more Iron Skins to bolster Radiant Harbor’s defenses. Within a mere two days, Xu Tie successfully summoned 6 million Iron Skins, effectively transforming Radiant Harbor into an impregnable fortress.

Assessing the numerical superiority of the Iron Skins, Han Wu determined that engaging them would be too great a risk even if he possessed 20 million skeletons, let alone the mere 3 million he currently commanded. He therefore made the strategic decision to withdraw from the vicinity.

Soon, the news of the skeletons’ defeat at the hands of the church spread rapidly among each of the kingdoms. The werewolves and minotaurs, upon hearing this, declared their intent to join forces and eliminate the undead and immediately sent resources to the church to aid its recovery.

In contrast, the human king and the elven kingdom remained silent. The human king even went so far as to secretly send Han Wu the full payment he had demanded: 20 Runic Lexicons, one of which was an Advanced type, 20,000 base runes, various treasures, and even three Divine Essence. In return, they earnestly requested that Han Wu refrain from invading the territory of the human kingdom any further.

Han Wu accepted the human king’s offer and completely ignored the human kingdom from that point forward. Instead, he led his remaining 3 million skeletons—still a sizable army despite their recent losses—to launch an attack on the werewolf kingdom. With the help of his locusts, Han Wu effortlessly laid waste to the werewolf cities and plundered their riches.

After successfully destroying five cities, he had even managed to swell his skeleton army to 8 million, 2 million of which were Unique undeads. It had truly become a monstrous army. The werewolf king, enraged by the loss of five of his cities, believed Han Wu had completely dismissed him as an easy target.

He issued a direct command for all his soldiers to assemble, aiming for a single, decisive battle with the skeleton army. All 12 million werewolf soldiers immediately heeded his call, prepared to fight valiantly for the sake of their king.

If the church could repel them, then so can I!

he thought to himself with conviction.

The fierce battle spanned five days and nights. However, without any means to prevent the continuous reanimation of skeletons or to purify the deadly Mourning Deathcap infection, the werewolf army was utterly annihilated, their 12 million soldiers ultimately becoming skeletons.

Finally consumed by terror, the werewolf king relented and belatedly agreed to pay the price Han Wu had previously demanded, but the opportunity for negotiation had long passed. Not one to suffer such a blatant attempt at manipulation, Han Wu coldly dismissed the werewolf king’s offer. He instead split his 20 million skeleton army into four distinct battalions, unleashing them to destroy the werewolf kingdom.

Within a mere month, Han Wu had brought about the complete destruction of all 42 cities, converting every single werewolf into a skeleton. The werewolf kingdom was officially annihilated.

The minotaur king, now consumed by profound fear, instantly withdrew all support from the church and sent an emissary to offer his kingdom’s surrender to the skeleton army. In response, Han Wu, seizing the moment, ruthlessly demanded double the original amount from the minotaurs as a condition for their continued survival.

After the brutal, month-long war, Han Wu had not only amassed a formidable army but also a substantial collection of treasures. Among these, his most prized treasures were, without question, the ten Advanced Runic Lexicons.

Considering his body’s limits, he carefully selected four from the ten to incorporate into himself.

[Runic Lexicon: King (Advanced). Grants the King’s Dominance skill. +100% damage to every skill learned]

[Runic Lexicon: Battle Frenzy (Advanced). Grants the passive ability, Battle Frenzy. Increases strength based on number of kills. Capped at 1,000%]

[Runic Lexicon: Redlust (Advanced). Increases all physical parameters every time the color red is spotted. Capped at 500%]

[Runic Lexicon: Nature (Advanced). Grants the passive ability, All Language. Can communicate with any life form through telepathy]

Han Wu felt his body and soul surge with a massive boost after successfully incorporating all four Advanced Runic Lexicons. He then surveyed his skeleton army—now boasting 60 million units—and decided to get revenge on the church. This time, he resolved to permanently eliminate Xu Tie!