Its Two-Handed Warhammer struck the ground heavily, sending the surrounding skeletons flying as it leaped toward Fang Zhou!
However, as powerful as the Skeleton Lord was, it couldnât match Fang Zhouâs speed, as it was already a few hundred meters behind.
When the Skeleton Lord lunged toward the city wall, Fang Zhou leaped gently off it.
Then, with the sound of galloping hooves, the Yellow Springs Nightmareâwhich had been hidden on Fang Zhouâs commandâshot out like an arrow. Fang Zhou mounted the steed and swiftly disappeared into the vast twilight.
On the city wall, all that remained was the tall and terrifying silhouette of the Skeleton Lord, accompanied by a roar of fury that spread far and wide!
...
An hour later, in a desolate wilderness far from the Bone Castle, Fang Zhou brought the Yellow Springs Nightmare to a halt. This was the gathering place for him and his dozen or so Mutated Skeleton subordinates.
Looking at the handful of remaining Mutated Skeleton servants, Fang Zhou felt conflicted. To hunt and devour as many Mutated Skeleton Warriors as possible and collect materials for his Bronze Evolution, he had suffered devastating losses. Nearly a hundred of his ordinary skeleton servants were lostânot a single one was left.
Even Olaf, a Berserker Heroic Spirit of immense combat prowess, had perished in the previous siege and would need time in slumber before he could be summoned again. When the Skeleton Lord appeared on the battlefield, even a valiant warrior like Olaf was fragile in its presence. Olaf and a few dozen ordinary skeleton followers alone were no match for the Skeleton Lordâs vengeance.
After Fang Zhouâs massacre in the Bone Castle, the Skeleton Lord realized it had been lured away. It abandoned Olaf, who was still fighting bravely, and hurriedly returned to its lair. As it departed, however, it commanded its three Skeleton Legions to encircle Fang Zhouâs followers. They slaughtered every last one, including Olaf.
Back to square one after more than half a year of hard work. That was Fang Zhouâs current situation. Aside from the few assets before him, he was now utterly alone.
However, even though all his skeleton followers in that battle had been sacrificed and he himself had nearly been trapped in the Bone Castle facing the enraged Skeleton Lord, he had achieved most of his goals.
Feeling the Death Energy surging within him, Fang Zhou signaled for Tidamia to lead the Mutated Skeletons to disperse and keep watch. He then closed his eyes to concentrate, sensing the fundamental growth brought by this massive absorption.
The hunt in the Bone Castle had most notably enhanced his Spirit Attribute. Now, his Spirit Attribute, like his other Three-dimensional Attributes, had also reached the Perfection of 100 points. At that moment, a prompt appeared on his attribute panel.
"Detected a large amount of absorbable Mutated Skeleton Essence. Consume Soul Power to expedite absorption?"
Without hesitation, Fang Zhou chose to consume 1,500 points of Soul Power to accelerate the process.
A powerful energy surged within him, an invisible torrent flowing rapidly throughout his body. His form began to undergo significant changes, his bones and muscles growing and strengthening at a visible rate.
First was his height. Originally nearly four meters tall, his body now shot upward like rapidly growing bamboo. His bones emitted subtle cracking sounds as they grew, as if each one was being re-sculpted. His muscle fibers expanded in turn, becoming denser and more powerful.
Ten minutes later, when he had finished absorbing all the Skeleton Essence from the hunt, his height had increased from nearly four meters to four and a half. This change not only made him stand out prominently among other skeletons but also granted him an unprecedented aura of strength and authority.
Fang Zhouâs appearance had undergone a drastic transformation. He no longer bore any resemblance to a skeleton.
A layer of black armor made entirely of Skeleton Essence now covered his body. It was a suit of Light Armor, yet it enveloped his entire form, leaving only a small gap for his eyes. This was not real Metal Armor, but a Corpse Armor condensed purely from Skeleton Essence. Clad in this armor, he no longer looked like a skeleton.
The surface of the black armor was as smooth as a mirror, reflecting a faint light that made him appear both mysterious and powerful. The armor was not only extremely solid but also possessed a degree of flexibility, allowing it to withstand most Physical Attacks. Beneath it, the lines of his muscles were more defined, each one bulging with explosive power, ready to burst forth at any moment.
The Long Spear on his back gleamed with a terrifying chill. Its sharp tip and blade reflected a sinister light under the Blood Moon, making it look exceptionally lethal. Combined with the powerful aura now emanating from him, Fang Zhou looked like a Dark Warrior who had emerged from the depths of death.
If not for the Soul Fire still flickering in his eyes and the dense aura of Death Energy that clung to him, no one would have imagined that this powerful being, akin to a Dark Warrior, was originally a skeletonâan Undead from the worldâs lowest tier.
Is this... my new body?
An invisible yet clear soul wave spread from Fang Zhouâs Soul Fire. This was a new ability he had gained from the dual enhancement of his skeletal essence and Spirit Attribute. He was originally a skeleton, devoid of flesh and blood, unable to make a sound. After analyzing the Zombie Raceâs Talent Skill, Corrosive Poison Incarnation, some decaying flesh had grown on his body, allowing him to emit hoarse roars. But now, the appearance of this soul wave gave him the ability to communicate with other beings.
Any being with a complete soul could comprehend the meaning this soul wave conveyed. Beings with powerful souls could even communicate with Fang Zhou in the same manner.
Opening his eyes, Fang Zhou looked up at the Blood Moon hanging high in the sky and clenched his fists. He now had the distinct feeling that his accumulation of materials was nearly complete. He just needed to increase his hunting efficiency, stockpile more Corpse Essence and Soul Power, and the Bronze Evolution he had dreamed of would happen as a matter of course.
By then, the Skeleton Lord who now acted so high and mighty would be nothing more than a pig fattened for the slaughter, completely at his mercy.
No. I donât need to wait for the future!
Perhaps the disparity between him and the Skeleton Lord was already smaller than he imagined!
From Fang Zhouâs increasingly massive frame, it was apparent he was getting closer to the Skeleton Lordâs five-meter stature.
Fang Zhou tilted his head back and released a silent howl, calming his turbulent emotions.
Just a little longer. I just have to endure a little longer.
His evolution speed was far greater than the Skeleton Lordâs. Before long, it wouldnât be the Skeleton Lord seeking revenge on him, but him hunting the Skeleton Lord that had dominated the Corpse Hills for countless years.
It would be difficult for anyone to fathom Fang Zhouâs emotions right now. The very being that had posed a significant threat to him moments ago was now a foe he could surpass in a short time.
What kind of feeling was that?
It was...
Exhilarating!
...
ăA few days passed in the blink of an eye.ă
With the combined efforts of Fang Zhou and the Sea City Military Academy cadets, the location of the Flower Elf Queenâs tribe was finally discovered. However, the Queenâs Tribe, which the Flower Elves had longed to find, was not in a good state.
The Flower Elf outpost Fang Zhou had passed was originally only a three-day journey from the Queenâs Tribe. However, as the Energy Level of the Forest of Nature rose, the geography within the Spatial Fragment underwent drastic changes. The Calamity Squad had to travel for several days before finding any trace left by the Queenâs Tribe.