Chapter 170: The Threat of the Bone Dragon

"Release arrows!"

Following Honsu Nabu's command, two hundred archers released their bowstrings, and two hundred feathered shafts descended like a small dark cloud onto the heads of the skeleton army.

Amidst a flurry of crisp cracking sounds, a swathe of skeletons was beaten to the ground, creating considerable chaos at the vanguard of the skeleton horde.

Taking advantage of this confusion, a large number of Sandmen brandishing heavy clubs and spiked maces charged straight into the gaps of the skeleton formation.

These Sandmen did not greedily push forward too quickly; instead, they formed a fan-like spread to protect the Sandmen behind them as they advanced steadily.

Based on the fragile nature of skeletons, Sun Licheng had manufactured a large quantity of chain maces, spiked clubs, and studded wolf-teeth bludgeons. These items did not require exquisite craftsmanship—as long as they were sufficiently heavy, they could inflict massive damage upon the skeletons. Crucially, they consumed very little metal, making them convenient for large-scale production through the power of flame.

At this moment, these Sandmen were all towering giants over two meters tall. Wielding heavy weapons like chain maces, they operated like meat grinders, tearing the skeletons before them into absolute fragments.

"Ah..."

Abruptly, several Sandmen let out miserable cries. When Sun Licheng looked over, he discovered that a squad of skeleton archers had arrived, loosing bone arrows at the front-line Sandmen.

These bone arrows lacked formidable lethality, but their shafts carried undead venom, which would drastically reduce the combat effectiveness of anyone injured. Without prompt treatment, there was a high risk of fatal consequences.

"Vanguard Unit, advance!"

Honsu Nabu roared.

Instantly, the Vanguard Unit shouted battle cries and charged toward the skeleton archers with their weapons raised.

Most of the Sandmen had now dismounted from their camels, engaging the skeletons in foot combat. After all, cavalry could gain no advantage facing a tightly knit infantry formation.

The armored Vanguard Unit entered the fray and violently shattered the skeletal battle lines, quickly plunging into the ranks of the skeleton archers. Amidst the relentless slashing of the warriors, the skeleton archers were successively reduced to shattered bones.

Watching Sun Licheng and his forces slaughter their way through, the skeletal general remained entirely expressionless. With a wave of its left arm bone, yet another squad of skeleton soldiers surged onto the battlefield.

"If only that cyclops skeleton were still around."

Seeing the unarmored skeletons dissolving before the breastplate-wearing Vanguard Unit as swiftly as snow beneath sunlight, the skeletal general could not help but sigh inwardly.

Less than twenty minutes into the battle, nearly five thousand skeletons had already been reduced to broken bones on the ground.

By now, the Sandmen's weapons were vastly superior to those from the night raid; many possessed armor, and bolstered by the heroic powers of both Sun Licheng and Clark, their combat prowess had drastically increased, so to speak.

In contrast, aside from sheer numbers, the skeleton army had actually grown considerably weaker due to the loss of the cyclops skeleton.

Crucially, the Sandmen's weapons now carried purifying properties, capable of injuring even intangible undead entities. The balance of the war tilted further.

"Sun Licheng, these skeletons seem rather fragile now."

Caroline spoke up beside Sun Licheng.

Sun Licheng nodded. Although the sea of skeletons before them looked terrifying, it was actually nothing to fear—merely a batch of low-tier cannon fodder.

Yet this brought no joy to Sun Licheng. The future he had foreseen held immense perils, and such dangers evidently could not be brought by these brittle bones before his eyes.

"Order everyone to remain vigilant and maintain the integrity of the formation. Also, Abner, quickly treat the wounded with holy water, or their bodies will be contaminated by corpse venom."

Watching the wounded being carried back, Sun Licheng shouted to the Great Shaman Abner.

And so, Sun Licheng's army fought with increasing smoothness. The skeleton sea was continually thinned out, and the Sandmen grew increasingly confident.

Just as everyone thought they were about to charge into the mountain pass, a powerful oppressive aura emanated from within the valley.

"What is that?"

Sun Licheng's heart jolted with alarm, and he hurriedly looked over.

A colossal skeletal dragon, flapping wings devoid of flesh and blood, flew out from the valley.

"It has finally made it."

The necromancer riding atop the skeletal dragon breathed a sigh of relief and muttered to himself.

This was his final trump card—a holy-grade magic scroll gifted by his teacher upon leaving the Holy Shield Undead Academy: Skeleton Dragon Summoning.

Though reduced to bones and lacking the might of a living dragon, the skeletal dragon still possessed a dragon's oppressive aura, coupled with a dread attribute that immediately threw the Sandmen into disarray.

"Roar..."

Depositing the necromancer beside the skeletal general, the skeletal dragon let out a heaven-shaking roar, took to the sky, and charged directly toward the Vanguard Unit at the front.

"Not good! Vanguard Unit, brace for the skeletal dragon's charge! Archers, loose your arrows!"

Honsu Nabu screamed in alarm.

Instantly, the warriors of the Vanguard Unit abandoned their offensive, clustered together, and drove their massive shields into the earth to form a shield wall, while the archers in the rear rapidly released volleys of sharp arrows toward the swiftly approaching skeletal dragon overhead.

For a dragon—even one of bare bone—these inferior arrows were utterly useless. Roaring into the rain of arrows, it descended like a dive bomber and slammed fiercely into the shield wall.

Amidst the dragon's deafening roar and the thunderous impact, nearly ten Sandmen shrieked as they were sent flying backward, leaving a gaping breach in the shield wall.

"Such a formidable skeletal dragon! Boss, summon the angels! We have no counter for this monster!"

Clark shouted toward Sun Licheng.

Hearing this, Sun Licheng nodded and reached out with his right hand to touch the large blue crystal necklace around his neck. As his fingers rubbed the blue crystal, the entire necklace began to radiate brilliant light.

"What is happening?"

Gazing at the distorted space above the Sandmen, the necromancer experienced a sudden premonition of foreboding.

Soon, amidst the warping space, an angel with twin wings unfurled emerged.

This angel wore a suit of finely forged full knight's armor. In one hand, he clutched a massive lance, and in the other, he raised a large triangular cavalry shield. His golden hair fluttered in the wind, and framed by the pristine white feathers of his wings behind him, his appearance was breathtakingly handsome.

"Oh no! They can actually summon angels?!"

The necromancer was utterly dumbfounded. Among top-tier units, dragons could barely manage a draw against angels, yet skeletal dragons fell far short of true dragons. And now, the enemy's angel was no ordinary celestial being, but a true battle angel!

"Skeletal general, order the skeletons to fall back."

The necromancer sighed and issued the command.

Watching the retreating tide of skeletons, Sun Licheng finally breathed a sigh of relief and hastily ordered the wounded to be transported to the rear for medical care.

Rather than retreating deep into the gorge of the Megalithic Mountains, the skeletons established a new defensive line at the mouth of the valley.

As Honsu Nabu reorganized the assault formation, Sun Licheng summoned the angel to hover above his own position.

At that moment, the colossal skeletal dragon flew over.

Just as Sun Licheng prepared to dispatch the angel to intercept it, he abruptly noticed a figure sitting squarely atop the skeletal dragon.

"What is the meaning of this? Who is that?"

Observing that the skeletal dragon clearly showed no intent to attack, Sun Licheng was deeply perplexed. He raised his right hand, signaling the restless Sandmen to calm down and refrain from acting rashly.

Flying just beyond the effective range of the Sandmen archers, the skeletal dragon hovered in mid-air, beating its wings and coming to a halt.

"I am the necromancer Barak. For the sake of this world, I implore you to withdraw your troops immediately! Otherwise, even if it costs me my life, I shall never allow you to enter the Megalithic Mountains!"

Amidst the roaring flap of the dragon's wings, a clear voice echoed across to Sun Licheng and his comrades.

"What is going on? By his account, is he trying to save the world?"

Hearing the necromancer's words, Sun Licheng and the others were left utterly bewildered.