"Haaah! Haaah! Phew!"In the dark city, Simon's group was running frantically through the streets."Hang in there, Kami!""Yes! You too, Simon!"Just a few minutes ago, there was no one around, but suddenly, the number of zombies had exploded, appearing from who knew where.Their entry routes were varied. Zombies swarmed from every alley, and even burst out of houses."What in the world is going on?!"Mei-rin shouted."Zombies are coming out of places we already checked!""We must have missed them! Just run!"As the four sprinted through the streets, zombies closed in from all directions, tightening their encirclement. The sheer number of them teeming in the darkness was dizzying, making it hard to even think of fighting."There are some ahead too!"Kamibarez cried out.Simon and Dick exchanged glances and nodded. The two pulled out their swords from their magical inventories and dashed forward, faster than the girls.Swoosh!Thwack!The two and the zombies passed each other. A zombie's head could be seen flying into the air.Dick's strike was a little shallow, so he turned around and plunged his sword into the zombie's back again."Ugh!"Black blood splattered on his face as he pulled out the sword, making Dick shudder in disgust."Mei-rin!""I know!"Whoosh!She conjured black flames in both hands. Then, she dropped the flames into an alley between houses, setting it ablaze.The zombies rushing into the alley hesitated. Some foolishly leaped into the flames and burned to death, while others turned back, or even jumped over the fire. "Now!"Taking advantage of the opening, the four picked up speed.As they fled, their roles naturally fell into place.Simon and Dick, with swords in hand, cut down zombies charging from the front, while Mei-rin intermittently conjured flames on the flanks to block the zombies. Kamibarez covered their rear with Blood Bullets."My goodness!"Dick's eyes nearly popped out as he looked back.The horde of zombies chasing them from behind had already swelled to well over a hundred.Each time Kamibarez's Blood Bullet struck, dozens were swept away and fell. And the sight of new zombies surging forward, trampling over the fallen ones, was like an angry wave.―Uwaaaah!―Kiiiii!Simon was dripping with sweat. At this rate, their stamina would give out, and they'd be caught. They needed a place to catch their breath, even for a moment.Simon's eyes gleamed with concentration. His gaze, frantically scanning his surroundings, fixed on the roof of a nearby mansion.His deliberation was brief, and his action swift.'Come out.'Simon opened his magical inventory and summoned four skeletons. Then, he immediately activated Bone Armor.Clack!Thud!The bodies of the four skeletons disassembled and began to attach themselves to Simon and his group members."Kyaaaah! What is this?!"Mei-rin shrieked in surprise, pulling her legs together."It's dark magic I'm using. Just bear with it for a bit!""Ah, you startled me! Tell me if you're going to use it!"Simon, though panting, applied Bone Armor to all four of their bodies.To fully equip one person would require two skeletons, but operating eight skeletons simultaneously was too much. So, Simon opted to only arm their lower bodies with skeletons."Everyone, stand in a line next to me! Legs together!"The four awkwardly huddled next to Simon. Dick looked back and let out a hollow laugh, as if he'd seen something he shouldn't have."Oh, wow. I don't know what you're trying to do, but you'd better do it fast!""They're still coming from the front! We'll be surrounded at this rate!"Failure was not an option.Simon heightened his concentration and activated the magical inventory on his left ring.'Open Gate!'Whoosh!Overlord's tentacles shot out from the magical inventory on the ground like catapults, launching the four of them upwards."Kyaaaah!""Wooow!"They flew through the air.They saw the zombies immediately swarm the spot they had just been.An 'hill' had been created in mere seconds. The thought that they would have been crushed there if they had been even a few seconds late sent shivers down their spines.'To the roof in one go!'The Bone Armor pulled their bodies. The skeletons' attraction alone wouldn't create such a dramatic flying effect, but it did help the four, launched by Overlord, stay airborne longer.Now, the mansion was right in front of them."Grab on!"Thwack.Grab!Three of them grabbed the edge of the mansion's roof. However, Kamibarez, being shorter, missed the edge and fell. "Kami!!""I'll go."Simon let go of the roof without hesitation. Then, he pushed off the mansion wall with his feet, blasting Jet Black like a booster.Thump!Simon's body shot out, pushing off the wall.He then embraced Kamibarez, who was curled up with her eyes tightly shut, and pointed his two legs downwards.'Open Gate!'Whoosh!A magical inventory opened on the building wall, and Overlord's blade shot out in a straight line.Simon stepped onto the blade with both feet, bending his knees to absorb the impact, as if sitting on an invisible chair in mid-air."Hoooh!"He dropped a bead of sweat and looked up. Like stairs, Overlord's blades protruded from the wall at regular intervals.Simon threw himself forward without hesitation, stepping onto the second 'stair' with his right foot. And immediately extended his left foot to step on the third.Tap-tap.Tap.Tap-tap.Dick and Mei-rin gasped in admiration at Simon's wild animal-like agility. Simon climbed the Overlord's stairs and safely reached the roof.Only then did Simon let out a long sigh of relief. He looked down at Kamibarez, who was still in his arms, and smiled gently."I'm sorry. Were you very scared?"Kamibarez's face was flushed red, and she was trembling, her hands clasped tightly together."I-I'm sorry.""This isn't your fault. It was my miscalculation… Ugh!"Simon's legs finally gave out, and he collapsed to his knees."Simon! Simon! Are you okay?""Ah, my legs just gave out for a moment.""Is everyone unhurt?!"Dick and Mei-rin also rushed over to them.* * *[Hoo, not bad.]Thwack.Thwack.On top of a ruined building, a pale-skinned boy was playing with a pebble, tossing it up and catching it in his palm.His eyes were fixed on Simon and his group, who were catching their breath on the mansion's rooftop.[I can't let them escape so easily.]He slowly moved his palm. Then, the zombies, who had been bewildered after losing track of Simon's group, began to march towards the mansion again.Watching the bewildered expressions of Simon's group, the boy chuckled, as if enjoying a game.―Grrr.Just then, a zombie crawled up behind him. The boy frowned, like a child whose fun had been interrupted.[What is it? I'm busy.]―Grrr.―Grrr.[Skeletons? Is this the first time they've done that?]―Grrr.[This time it's different?]The boy turned around and listened carefully to the zombie's story.[Hmm, if Manus is involved, it's annoying.]Deathland was currently in a sharp confrontation between two undead factions.The most dominant force was the boy and the zombies who followed him.And 'Manus' and the skeletons who followed him, a new power emerging in Deathland.[Well, let them do what they want. I have a more urgent problem right now.]The boy turned his gaze back to the Kizen students.[A Legion Commander appearing in Deathland. And Pier. Their intentions are obvious.]The boy spread his arms. In the darkness, zombies, like an ant swarm, began to advance.[I will destroy the Legion with my own hands, no matter what.]* * *Deathland's underground crypt.Swish.Swish.A man was holding up a sword, meticulously wiping the blade with a cloth.He was clad in a fabric garment patterned with red flowers, but what was unusual was that his body was made entirely of white bones, without a single shred of flesh—he was a skeleton."Do you know the legend of the Zombie Throne, Manus?"The skeleton, who had been wiping his sword, turned his head.There, leaning against the wall, was an old human man, smoking two cigars simultaneously."They say the main body of the Zombie Throne lies dormant somewhere in Deathland. If you get your hands on the crown it wears, you can control the zombies of Deathland. Furthermore, you'll gain ownership of Deathland itself."The skeleton lowered his head again, focusing on cleaning his sword.[I'm not interested.]"I know you very well."The man uncrossed his arms and slowly approached Manus."You want to bring down Kizen, and this Dark Alliance, don't you? Don't you want revenge?"[.......]Manus did not reply. The old man's tongue flickered like a snake."Then, taking control of Deathland is the first step. Isn't this originally your dominion?"The man curled the corners of his mouth and added,"O Swordmaster of the Old Empire."Clang.Manus's sword pointed at the man's neck. The man's body stiffened, but his mouth did not stop."Your decisive battle with the Prince is inevitable. And you possess overwhelming power, enough to turn the tide of battle alone. What are you hesitating for?"As the man said, Manus had now reached the realm of an Ancient Undead.Manus opened his mouth.[Where is the crown?]"I found it."The man rubbed his palms together and smiled."And I've confirmed that the Zombie Prince has left his post for some reason. It's the first time in almost 10 years. This is a chance that won't come again."Manus slowly lowered the sword pointed at the man's neck. But his characteristic sharp gaze did not waver.Kizen.The axis of evil that had brought down his homeland, Talhern, which boasted a long history and culture.He had fallen victim to their schemes, reduced to nothing but bare bones as an undead, but the only reason he continued to live in this cursed body and maintain his will was for revenge."The Rose Retreat plunged the continent into terror by turning the Empire's 50,000 elite troops into undead. But imagine this."The man said with a smile."You, and your former people, now undead, completing your revenge against Kizen."[.......]"Isn't that magnificent?"Manus turned his head to look at the man again.[Why are you helping me?]"As I've said repeatedly, I also bear a grudge against Kizen. A common enemy! Isn't that a very simple logic?"The man gave a chilling smile."That's all there is to it."
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