Free Web NovelChapter 72: Chapter 71: Just a Toy
The most prominent features of the Undead Race, besides not consuming resources like food, were their maxed-out loyalty and extreme solidarity. They never had internal strife.
But the Dark Skeleton was a complete aberration. It possessed none of the other Undead’s solidarity and cared only for itself. freewёbnoνel.com
Through its Soul Fire, Li Ziyu knew with one hundred percent certainty that if they were to lose a battle, the Dark Skeleton would absolutely use other Undead as shields to cover its own escape. It was even entirely capable of killing its own allies to obtain greater Power.
’Seriously, I just don’t get it. How could I have created something like this?’
’This thing is nothing like an Undead at all.’
’If I use it, the enemy might fail to destroy the Undead Corps, only for it to be dismantled from within by the Dark Skeleton. But if I don’t use it, the thing is genuinely strong. It would be a waste to just let it sit there.’
What a dilemma.
Li Ziyu took a deep breath and slapped the Dark Skeleton on its skull. "You better behave, you hear? Or I’ll rip your head off and kick it around like a ball! Now get to the main building and don’t cause any trouble!"
Despite the inexplicable smack to its skull, the Dark Skeleton obediently got to its feet. Its body slowly faded, vanishing before Li Ziyu’s eyes.
Rubbing his brow, Li Ziyu felt like he had just brought trouble upon himself.
"B-B-B-Boss..." Liu Xingxing’s teeth were chattering, and he could barely get the words out. "Th-that... that Undead... it’s even scarier than the Minotaurs..."
The Dark Skeleton had already left, but Liu Xingxing still felt a chill creeping up his spine, making his whole body cold. He was filled with a sense of immense terror, as if he could die at any second.
"It’s fine, don’t worry. There won’t be any problems... Huh?" Li Ziyu didn’t even finish his sentence before his eyes shot wide.
’Holy hell, that thing is a real troublemaker!’
With no time to say anything more to Liu Xingxing, Li Ziyu bolted toward the main building. The High Level Skeleton Warriors followed closely, and in a flash, they were all gone, leaving Liu Xingxing standing there in a daze.
The main building was already in chaos. The Skeleton Ox Demons, who were supposed to be standing quietly as sculptures against the walls, were now hoisting their Totem Poles and chasing the Dark Skeleton, smashing the heavy columns down behind it. The Totem Poles slammed into the ground with a series of thunderous BOOMS.
The Dark Skeleton dodged and weaved with agile leaps, occasionally dissolving into a black shadow. It wasn’t the least bit panicked, rendering the Ox Demons’ attacks completely ineffective. It was like a Sheepdog herding its flock—easy and carefree. It even had the nerve to open its jaw at an Ox Demon, revealing the black Soul Fire within—an act of pure, unadulterated provocation.
The Ox Demons were going berserk. They were short-tempered to begin with, so how could they possibly tolerate this creature’s taunts?
By the time Li Ziyu burst in, the floor was already covered in cracks from the Ox Demons’ Totem Poles. ’Good grief! I look away for one second and you’re already trying to demolish the house! Are you possessed by huskies or something?!’
He glanced at the walls and saw them filled with Soul Fires, all flickering wildly. They were just like a crowd of gawkers who had stumbled upon some juicy drama, practically bursting with excitement.
The moment the Undead noticed their City Lord had arrived, the flickering of their Soul Fires slowed dramatically. They all adopted a dull, vacant look, each one feigning perfect innocence.
Li Ziyu slapped his own forehead and roared through clenched teeth, "Knock it the hell off, all of you!"
The Skeleton Ox Demon froze in place with its Totem Pole still raised, as if in a game of Statues. The Dark Skeleton emerged from the shadows, bounced and danced around the Ox Demon with flailing limbs, its bony frame undulating like a wave.
Li Ziyu’s fists clenched. Tightly.
’When I sensed your Soul Fire earlier, you were clearly the cold and aloof type! How did you get to the main building and suddenly turn into a damn husky?!’
’Actively provoking an Ox Demon? Is that something you’re supposed to be doing?’
Li Ziyu’s eyes blazed as he stared at the Dark Skeleton. He strode toward it, seething with rage.
A terrifying wave of fury washed over the Dark Skeleton. The creature finally quieted down, reverting to its previous cold and aloof appearance. It stood motionless, watching Li Ziyu obediently.
Li Ziyu walked right up to it and smacked it hard on the skull. "So my words don’t mean anything to you, is that it?"
The Dark Skeleton could tell the City Lord was truly angry. Just as it was about to protest, Li Ziyu grabbed its skull with both hands. With a mighty tug and a POP, he ripped the head clean off its neck and started walking out, carrying it under his arm.
The now headless Dark Skeleton chased after Li Ziyu, reaching the main entrance of the building.
Li Ziyu set the skull on the ground. The Dark Skeleton’s body was about to lunge for it when its world suddenly started to spin. From the skull’s perspective, its own body was getting farther and farther away.
With a powerful volley kick, the skull—its jaw still clacking open and shut—flew out of the main building. A wobbly, stumbling body scrambled along behind it.
"I said I’d kick your head like a ball, and I meant it!" Li Ziyu declared harshly. He dusted off his hands, turned to go back into the main building, and let his gaze sweep over the Ox Demons still holding their Totem Poles.
A chill ran down the spines of the Skeleton Ox Demons. The intensity of their Soul Fires died down, receding deep within their skulls. They cowered, having just witnessed the Dark Skeleton’s head get kicked away. They certainly didn’t dare provoke the enraged City Lord; they had no desire for their own heads to go flying, too.
"What are you big oafs doing, getting some exercise? Get back to the wall and be sculptures, all of you!" Li Ziyu yelled, pointing his finger at the Ox Demons.
The Ox Demons immediately dropped their pillars. They obediently and properly ran back to the wall, merged into it, and compressed their Soul Fires to the absolute minimum, once again pretending to be sculptures.
Li Ziyu then turned to the other Undead on the walls, gesturing around the room. "What are you all looking at? Retract your Soul Fires, now! Oh, so you’ve learned how to gawk at the drama, have you? Aren’t you all just so clever!"
Caught in this unexpected disaster, the Undead hastily retracted their Soul Fires. The City Lord was angry. Must not provoke. Cower, cower.
Outside, Liu Xingxing and the Minotaurs first saw a skull go flying into the distance, then heard Li Ziyu’s furious roar. They could only look at each other in dismay.
"Should we go try to calm him down?" Mumu asked, scratching his head as he stepped forward. Tas Tuling nodded vigorously at his side.
As far as they could remember, Li Ziyu had almost never lost his temper. For him to be this angry... well, it was a rare sight indeed.
Hearing this, Liu Xingxing immediately backed away from the two of them, shaking his head so fast it looked like a blur. "No way, not me! You guys go if you want. I’m not about to get in the Boss’s way while he’s seeing red." freewebnoveℓ.com
Seeing him chicken out, the two Minotaurs dropped the idea of going to Li Ziyu and gave up on trying to calm him down.
After venting his anger, Li Ziyu sat down on the White Bone Throne, panting for a long while. He stared at the cracks in the floor, grinding his teeth.
’What the hell was that? I withstood the Lizardman attack, and they couldn’t damage the fortress. I withstood the goblin assault, and they couldn’t damage the fortress. But in the end, my own Undead are the ones smashing cracks into the floor? Are they trying to kill me?’
Fortunately, the fortress had self-healing capabilities. Although the floor had been cracked, it quickly mended itself once the assault ceased, returning to its original state.
The Dark Skeleton finally retrieved its skull, put it back on, and returned to the main building. When it saw Li Ziyu sitting on the White Bone Throne, its entire body of bones gave a shudder.
Li Ziyu pointed at the Dark Skeleton, his anger flaring up all over again. "You listen to me. If you don’t want to go to the battlefield, you don’t have to. But if you dare cause any more trouble, your head is going to be a toy for those Minotaur children outside. Nothing more than a ball. Understand?!"
The Dark Skeleton glanced outside, pondered for a moment, and finally understood what being a child’s toy meant. It nodded its head vigorously.
Li Ziyu let out a heavy breath through his nose, tamping down his anger. He stood up, shot the Dark Skeleton a final glare, and walked away.
The Dark Skeleton looked left, then right, then walked over to the White Bone Throne and melted into the shadows.
