Chapter 39: Blood-Burning Demon Skeleton [Seeking Recommendations and Collections]

As expected, this thing has some real substance!

At this moment, in the execution chamber, there was no one else besides the skeleton archers summoned by Tacia.

Although they were all skeletons, this massive fellow glowing with blue light was clearly in a different league compared to those two flimsy skeleton archers.

Just then, the two skeleton archers began to draw their bows.

*Twang!*

*Twang!*

Following two sharp sounds of bowstrings, two powerful arrows shot toward the large blue-glowing skeleton.

At such close range, the arrows quickly struck its body.

【-6】

【-6】

Two pitiful single-digit damage values popped up above its head.

"It looks like this guy won't be easy to deal with," Zong Shen remarked, raising an eyebrow.

As soon as he spoke, the blue-glowing skeleton in the execution chamber launched a counterattack.

It swung its large cleaver horizontally toward the skeleton archers.

【-63】

【-63】

Two striking damage numbers appeared.

But it wasn't over.

As the large blade pulled back, it dragged two streaks of bright red fire across the bodies of the skeleton archers.

【-50】

【-50】

These two flames began to burn fiercely along the edges of the skeleton archers' wounds.

A Level 10 skeleton archer had 220 HP; after this round, only 107 remained.

This blue-glowing skeleton possessed formidable combat power; its slashing damage even surpassed that of the Wolf Cavalry.

"Colby, throw the net!"

"Tacia, have the skeleton archers retreat!"

Zong Shen deployed his orders rapidly. Although he had originally sent the skeleton archers to scout the path, he couldn't let them be wiped out so easily.

By retreating further back, they could still provide a certain amount of output.

Hearing this, Colby did not hesitate. He grabbed the catching net hanging from his lower back and threw it.

The net expanded in front of the blue-glowing skeleton, covering it completely from head to toe.

The catching net was a skill that carried a forced control effect, and as a skill, it could not be destroyed.

Simultaneously, the skeleton archers began to retreat, leaving the execution chamber.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Zong Shen focused his gaze to inspect the attributes of the blue-glowing skeleton.

【Blood-Burning Demon Skeleton Lv.16 (Green)】 【Race: Undead】 【Slashing Damage: 61–64】 【HP: 468/480】 【Armor: 30】 【Skill: Heavy Cleave (Uses full body strength to deliver a blow, dealing 1.5x slashing damage, with a 15% chance to cause equipment destruction, reducing durability to zero; Cooldown: 8h), Passive Skill: Blood Burn (Attacks carry a blood-burning effect, igniting health to deal 50 points of one-time fixed damage)】 (A withered Blood-Burning Demon. Nurtured by countless years of resentment, his bones have transformed into an undead skeleton warrior. Beware of his large cleaver; he will be a formidable foe.)

An elite monster—and a very powerful one at that!

With these attributes, a single hit would instantly strip away hundreds of health points.

If it used its Heavy Cleave skill, it could severely wound "squishy" characters like Zong Shen or Tie Zhu, whose health was under 200.

By this time, the control duration of Colby's catching net had ended.

The Blood-Burning Demon Skeleton strode out, its entire body covered in light black armor.

Within its skull, which featured demonic horns, two orbs of eerie blue flame were flickering.

That was the source of the blue light.

"Avid, Bjorn, take turns using the catching net skill to buy us time to retreat!"

"Everyone, try to use ranged attacks as much as possible!"

"Flank and maneuver; do not engage in a head-on collision!"

After speaking, Zong Shen led the retreat while simultaneously deploying the combat plan.

Against a monster this large—with high HP, high defense, and explosive damage—one absolutely could not charge in blindly, or the losses would be catastrophic.

Upon hearing Zong Shen's instructions, the group began to fall back. At the same time, Avid used the catching net skill, once again binding the creature in place for three seconds.

Meanwhile, as Zong Shen retreated, he and Tie Zhu threw the broken, scattered iron bars from outside the cells into the middle of the corridor.

By interlocking them, they used several broken iron bars to create a makeshift barricade.

Then, the group halted.

Stimulated by the presence of a powerful opponent, these soldiers required little direction; they began to launch their attacks with everything they had.

The Wolf Cavalry began throwing short spears.

【-8】

【-8】

【-38】

Two short spears struck the light armor, dealing only 8 damage each.

However, another spear hit an unprotected shoulder blade.

While dealing full damage, it also directly pierced through the Blood-Burning Demon Skeleton's shoulder.

Tacia also chanted her Double Necrotic Arrow.

Two streaks of pitch-black necrotic arrows shot out like black lightning, slamming directly into its chest.

【-75】

【-72】

Two high bursts of magic damage flashed above its head.

Although Tacia's magic damage attribute fluctuated slightly, the 1.5x multiplier of the Level 10 Double Necrotic Arrow was simply terrifying.

It was explosive damage.

However, the mana cost for this move was also as high as 40 points, instantly consuming one-tenth of Tacia's mana.

At the same time, the skeleton archers were firing diligently.

【-6】

【-6】

Zong Shen also drew his [Hunting Crossbow].

Relying on the aiming reticle from the Strategy Module, he fired a precise shot that hit the Blood-Burning Demon Skeleton's eye socket, directly extinguishing one of the eerie blue flames.

【-59】

【-30】

Zong Shen's base piercing damage was as high as 51, and the curved crossbow bolt provided an additional 8, totaling 59 points of piercing damage.

As for the extra 30 points of damage, it was likely related to the extinguished blue flame.

It seemed all skeletons had two flames within their eye sockets.

Only then did the Blood-Burning Demon Skeleton break free from the three-second immobilization of the catching net.

However, in just those three seconds, the group had already unleashed a massive wave of damage.

The Blood-Burning Demon Skeleton's health was now down to only 178 points.

Immediately after, the Wolf Cavalryman Bjorn used the catching net skill.

Having just endured a barrage of damage and regained movement, the Blood-Burning Demon Skeleton hadn't even taken two steps before another net caught it, pinning it in place once more.

Control combined with damage—it was a foolproof monster-slaying tactic!

If this Blood-Burning Demon Skeleton possessed intelligence and could speak, it would likely be cursing by now.

Frustrating! It was utterly humiliating!

A dignified elite-level monster with such powerful attributes was being pinned in a corner and beaten mercilessly.

So far, aside from its single attack against the two cannon-fodder archers in the execution chamber, it hadn't even scratched Zong Shen or his men.

"Tacia, stay still, save your mana!"

"Boys, keep the short spears coming! Aim for the unprotected spots!"

Zong Shen commanded again.

At the same time, he reloaded the [Hunting Crossbow] and aimed at the other eye socket.

"I'll poke your damn eyes out!"

The two skeleton archers were also working diligently to attack.

Following this, a long, dizzying string of damage values popped up.

【-8】

【-38】

【-38】

【-6】

【-6】

【-59】

【-23】

The Blood-Burning Demon Skeleton's health dropped to zero. Its skeletal frame collapsed into a heap on the ground, transforming into several clusters of reward light.