Free Web NovelChapter 75: Chapter 74: Headhunter Race
After a long moment of contemplation, Li Ziyu sent a set of coordinates to the Conscience Merchant—the location of the treasure site he was heading to.
He had mulled it over and decided he should meet the Conscience Merchant. If they could form an alliance, life would be much easier. After all, the Conscience Merchant was a businessman with plenty of resources at his disposal. Being in close proximity would give him an advantage; it would be good if he could acquire more materials.
Besides, considering how chaotic the Wasteland was now, with the Natives targeting Transmigrators, uniting to resist was also a viable path.
After sending the coordinates to the Conscience Merchant, Li Ziyu put it out of his mind. Whether the Conscience Merchant genuinely wanted to team up or was just planning to trick him—he would find out once he reached the treasure site.
To conserve Soul Energy, the Mobile Fortress didn’t activate its Skeleton Engine. It just ambled slowly across the Wasteland like an old jalopy. Although the structure was tall and built entirely of bone, its leisurely pace gave off the impression that it was all bark and no bite.
The ones tracking and spying on the Mobile Fortress finally lost their patience. In the quiet Wasteland, the sounds of whistles and bird calls arose, answered from all directions.
The moment he heard the sounds, Li Ziyu got up and walked to the window. Using the moonlight, he gazed out at the Wasteland. One by one, dark figures emerged from the sand, from the shadows of rocks, or with no attempt at concealment at all, and began to approach the Mobile Fortress.
As the dark figures drew closer to the fortress, Li Ziyu could finally make out their appearance. He frowned slightly, a look of confusion on his face.
’What kind of race is this? I’ve never seen them before. I can’t tell.’
The information from the Undead was that Humans were surrounding the fortress, but Li Ziyu felt they looked more like a Sub-human Species.
They were similar to Humans, yet different. They were about 1.7 meters tall and as thin as bamboo poles. Not only were their bodies thin, but their arms and legs were skinny too. A long, slender neck supported a perfectly round, bald head. They had no hair, and their arms were so long they hung down to their knees.
"The Minotaurs request an audience with the City Lord," a Skeleton Undead reported, approaching Li Ziyu’s side.
"Let them in," Li Ziyu said casually, his eyes still fixed on the group approaching the fortress.
The Undead led Mumu and Tas Tuling into the main tower.
"What is it?" Li Ziyu asked without turning his head.
"Lord City Lord, the Headhunter Race is attacking. Should we engage them?" Although Li Ziyu had his back to him, Tas Tuling still bowed before speaking.
"The Headhunter Race?" Li Ziyu turned around, looking at Tas Tuling in surprise. He hadn’t expected the Minotaur to actually recognize these creatures.
"Yes, the Headhunter Race." Tas Tuling nodded. Seeing Li Ziyu’s confused expression, he began to explain.
In the Wasteland, there are several bully races, like the Lizardmen and goblins. You could say they’re strong, but only to a limited extent. You could say they’re weak, but they aren’t really weak either. They were experts at stirring up trouble and bullying smaller Tribes.
The Headhunter Race was also one of these bully races, and a preeminent one at that. Normally, bully races didn’t attack each other; after all, they all knew the score.
But the Headhunter Race was an exception. They didn’t care what race you were; if they targeted you, they would attack, and without mercy. They were ferocious in battle.
What was more interesting was that these creatures were indeed Human, just as the Undead had reported—only mutated.
The reason for their mutation was a very nasty habit: they ate everything. They were a genuine "Cannibal Race." The bodies of those from the tribes they attacked would all be devoured. This practice led to their mutation, transforming them into their current appearance.
And the reason they were called the Headhunter Race was their habit of cutting off their enemies’ heads and wearing them on their belts or stringing them together as ornaments.
’This... somehow feels like a perfect match for my Undead.’
’After all, the Soul Fire of the Undead is inside their skulls. The Headhunter Race has a habit of using skulls as decorations. If they hang the Undead skulls on their bodies and go into battle, their ornaments will be alive, jaws clacking and letting out a Soul Roar. Tell me, wouldn’t you be scared?’
The Headhunter Race had existed in the Wasteland for a very long time. Their wanton slaughter had even triggered attempts to exterminate them in the past. However, it was no use. These creatures were excellent at hiding. When faced with an encirclement, they would go into hiding. Even if they suffered some losses, their core numbers were never affected. After a while, they would reappear in droves. frёewebnoѵēl.com
Not only were they hard to encircle, but they were also hard to kill. No one knew what was up with the Headhunter Race, but their evolutionary speed was astonishing. Every now and then, they would give the races of the Wasteland a big surprise.
According to Human Constitution, the flesh of many races is inedible and highly toxic. But for some unknown reason, the Headhunter Race had broken this rule. They ate everything. Perhaps they had become immune after eating so much.
After all, this had been going on for more than ten generations. Those who couldn’t develop an immunity had died out long ago.
What Li Ziyu couldn’t figure out was, why had the Headhunter Race targeted him?
’My Mobile Fortress doesn’t exactly look like a meaty target. Have these guys changed their diet? Given up meat to gnaw on bones instead?’
A possibility occurred to him. He opened the system’s private chat interface.
Don’t Want to Get a Driver’s License: You said you were being targeted. Who’s targeting you?
Conscience Merchant: You probably wouldn’t know them even if I told you. Have you heard of the Headhunter Race?
Don’t Want to Get a Driver’s License: Heh, what a coincidence. Not only have I heard of them, I’m seeing them right now.
Conscience Merchant: ...Why do I have a bad feeling about this? You’re not being besieged by the Headhunter Race, are you?
Don’t Want to Get a Driver’s License: Guess what? I am, in fact, being besieged by the Headhunter Race.
Conscience Merchant: What the f... Can’t you be a little more serious? You’re in the middle of a battle, and you have the time to chat with me for fun?
Don’t Want to Get a Driver’s License: Just asking.
Conscience Merchant: Ask my ass! Just beat back the Headhunter Race and then contact me. I’m suddenly feeling like I might not have to go to the meeting point. You might not even make it there alive.
Don’t Want to Get a Driver’s License: It’s not that bad. I think I can handle it.
Conscience Merchant: You’ve got to be kidding me. With just those few hundred Undead you have, won’t you just get chased all over the place by the Headhunter Race?
’A few hundred Undead? Oh, Conscience Merchant, your information is out of date. I don’t have a few hundred Undead anymore, I have several thousand!’
’Not only do I have several thousand Undead, I also have Skeleton Warriors, Skeleton Ox Demons, and those unreliable Dark Skeletons. I’m not the same Undead City Lord I was before. I may not have gone bald, but I have gotten stronger.’
’But, I won’t tell you that just yet. I’ll give you a surprise after I beat back the Headhunter Race.’
Li Ziyu closed the system interface. Outside, the Headhunter Race had already drawn near and launched their attack on the fortress.
"They’re attacking!" Mumu said anxiously, listening to the battle cries from outside.
"Hmph. Fortress, activate! Full speed! Undead, to war!" Li Ziyu snorted coldly. He gave the order as he watched the Headhunter Race, who were howling as they hurled weapons and charged at the fortress.
In an instant, the Undead Fortress came alive, revealing its ferocious nature.
Powered by Soul Energy, the Skeleton Engine rumbled to life. Soul Fires flickered atop the structure as Skeleton Undead, brandishing their weapons, broke free from the constraints of the architecture and entered an all-out battle state.
