Free Web NovelChapter 76: Chapter 75: Close Combat
The Headhunter Race had a simple way of life—they ate whatever they hunted.
They never considered farming or settling in one place. Instead, they roamed the Wasteland, searching for food. If none could be found, their own companions became the best meal.
The first of the Headhunter Race were just a group of Human refugees. In a wasteland overrun by Alien Races, Humans were weak and helpless. They wailed and groaned, begging for help, but every Alien Race rejected them, mocked them, and even slaughtered them for sport.
After enduring devastation, pain, and torture, some of them finally snapped. They no longer begged the Alien Races for help, but instead found ways to hunt them. If they lacked supplies, they stole and robbed. If they lacked food, they slaughtered and devoured the very Alien Races who had mocked them!
Many refugees died, but some always survived, evolving to become stronger and more crazed. Generation after generation passed, forming the Headhunter Race of today. Given to plundering and mad for slaughter, they wandered without a home—a cancer upon the Wasteland feared even by the other Alien Races.
The Headhunter Race acknowledges their Human Ancestors but refuses to call themselves Human. They believe they are beings that have transcended humanity. After all, when they were Human, everyone mocked, exiled, and slaughtered them. That doesn’t happen anymore.
In truth, the modern Headhunter Race looks very different from Humans; otherwise, Li Ziyu wouldn’t have classified them as Sub-humans.
Through repeated hardship and evolution, the bodies of the Headhunter Race became better adapted for life in the Wasteland.
Their bodies were lanky, seemingly nothing but skin and bone, but beneath their skin lay muscles as hard as stone. This gave them immense explosive power. Their long arms and legs made them excellent runners. To enhance their combat prowess, they grew claws, and their teeth became as sharp as those of a Wild Beast.
For the sake of survival, their stomachs adapted to raw meat, and they became nearly immune to parasites, viruses, and toxins. Their Weapons were sourced from their enemies. They didn’t loot their foes’ armaments, but rather used their bones, selecting the hardest ones and crafting them through chiseling and grinding into whatever implements they needed.
As the cancer of the Wasteland, other Tribes were deeply wary of them. Even the Lizardman and goblin Tribes would steer clear, hoping to avoid conflict, all because the Headhunters were simply too insane.
The Headhunter Race’s assault was incredibly swift. Upon spotting their prey, they would drop to all fours and suddenly explode with immense Power, closing the distance at extreme Speed. As they charged the Undead Fortress, they looked like black streaks shooting straight toward it.
They unwound the vine and grass ropes coiled around their bodies, tied stones or bones to one end, and swung them twice before flinging them toward the fortress. The makeshift grappling hooks caught in the crevices, and the members of the Headhunter Race pulled the ropes taut, using them to begin their ascent.
Some of the Headhunter Race held back, drew Bows and Arrows, and fired upon the fortress to provide cover for their climbing kin.
Such an offensive strategy was usually very effective. Unfortunately, they seemed to have overlooked the fact that their target this time was the Undead—beings who felt no pain, had no fear, and were heedless of death. The damage from the arrows was negligible. The Undead emerging from the fortress’s architecture paid the arrows no mind, simply raising their Weapons to face the approaching Headhunter Race.
These creatures scaled the walls with incredible speed, like a cross between a gecko and a frog. With a few quick scrambles followed by a powerful leap, they covered great distances. By the time the first of the Undead had emerged, the first member of the Headhunter Race was already on the fortress walls.
"They’re on the walls!" a Minotaur cried in alarm as he saw a member of the Headhunter Race leap onto the fortress.
Before his voice had even faded, three Undead surged forward to intercept it. The one in the lead swung its Bone Saber without hesitation. The blade felt as if it had struck Leather Armor—hard, yet resilient. The blow failed to even break the Headhunter’s skin.
Talent: Resilient Hide!
Through their long evolution, the improvements to the Headhunter Race weren’t limited to just Power and Speed; their Defense Power was also outstanding. Their skin, long since different from a normal Human’s, had become incredibly tough. Even without armor, they possessed a natural defense.
The Headhunter glanced down at the point of impact, then looked up at the Undead wielding the Bone Saber. A savage grin spread across its face. ’Since you can’t kill me, you’re finished.’
As it raised its Weapon to retaliate, two Spears thrust at it from the left and right. The Headhunter had no time to dodge, but its skin rippled as if stirred by a breeze, revealing a layer of incredibly fine scales.
Talent: Fine Scales!
Both Resilient Hide and Fine Scales were Passive defenses, as natural to the Headhunter Race as eating or breathing.
But even with the additional layer of fine scales, the Spears still plunged deep beneath its ribs. The Undead’s Power was immense, and this time, the Headhunter failed to block the attack.
"Gah!"
It let out a cry of pain, but it wasn’t dead. It thrashed, swinging a scythe-like Weapon in a desperate attempt to strike the Undead with the Bone Saber. Before its blade could connect, its feet left the ground, hoisted into the air by the two Undead wielding Spears.
Viscous, acrid, toxic blood streamed down the shafts of the Spears. The two Undead calmly carried the impaled Headhunter to the edge of the fortress, gave it a firm shake, and tossed it over the side.
Unable to find purchase, the Headhunter plummeted from the sky and slammed into the ground, raising a cloud of dust.
As the first of the Headhunter Race fell, more swarmed onto the ramparts, clashing with the Undead in a chaotic melee. The entire platform echoed with the unending cries of battle.
The Minotaurs of the Tabu Tribe did not hide this time. Instead, they took up their Totem Poles and stood guard over their people, their eyes fixed warily on the Headhunter Race, ready to join the fight at a moment’s notice.
Mumu had told them they couldn’t cower behind the Undead forever. They couldn’t hide during every battle. They were Minotaurs, not gophers. They had Power, and their Ancestors had once been glorious. freёweɓnovel.com
When battle came, they could choose not to lead the charge, but they could never be a burden to the Undead.
Otherwise, sooner or later, they would be abandoned!
So this time, the Minotaurs did not flee. They chose to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Undead. If the Headhunter Race came for them, they would show those creatures with their Totem Poles that they were not to be trifled with.
Standing at a window in the main tower, Li Ziyu saw the Minotaurs gathering together and taking up their Weapons. An eyebrow arched, and a satisfied smile touched his lips. freēwebnovel.com
’That’s more like it,’ he thought. ’Hardships should be faced together. That’s what being an Ally is all about. It can’t always be my Undead doing all the work while I support a bunch of useless Minotaurs. I’m not their dad.’
’It doesn’t matter how great their Power is; as long as they have the courage to fight alongside us, they are good friends and good comrades.’
His gaze then shifted to the Headhunter Race, and his smile vanished, replaced by a look of exasperation. He rubbed his temples.
’These creatures are full of surprises,’ he mused. ’I didn’t expect their Charge to be so fast. They reached the fortress platform in an instant, moving as if they’d done this a hundred times before. A miscalculation on my part. I planned on using the fortress’s height to our advantage, but they’ve completely bypassed the siege phase and gone straight to close-quarters combat.’
’Still, it doesn’t matter. I have faith in my Undead. And if the worst should happen, I still have even stronger Skeleton Warriors and Skeleton Ox Demons to call upon.’
