Chapter 46: Taking the Initiative

Ultimately, the ideas of Ryueji and the Weaver of Fated Threads did not come to fruition. Their plan to release spiders in the moat and cultivate venomous mushrooms there was vetoed by Mand.

In Mand's words, managing the fire prevention of the moat already took up a considerable amount of time. Keeping spiders down there was acceptable, but cultivating mushrooms was completely out of the question. Spores flying everywhere would easily trigger explosions, which was extremely unfavorable for city defense.

Therefore, Ryueji and the Weaver of Fated Threads had to look for another location. Fortunately, there was ample space on the inner side of the Underworld Palace's walls. Ryueji found a few larger rooms to serve as dark chambers for growing mushrooms, and some spiders were also released here.

At the same time, Ryueji had the Weaver of Fated Threads stay here for a period, during which he would use his harvest divinity to accelerate the evolutionary rate of the local biosphere. However, the exact level these fungi and spiders would eventually evolve to would depend entirely on the efforts of the Weaver of Fated Threads.

As for the requirements for the spiders, Ryueji did not ask for them to reach the scale of giant spiders, let alone half-spider, half-human abominations. Ryueji's only requirement for the time being was that they could be deployed into the moat to act as piranhas clearing out the waterway.

Regarding this, the Weaver of Fated Threads was not worried. She had previously encountered masters who specialized in researching spiders. Although her level would reset to 1 every time she changed masters, certain knowledge and experience inevitably remained.

She understood the diversity of spiders, and she also knew how to make spiders smaller and more numerous, as well as how to make them grow larger and transform into a half-human, half-spider hybrid state.

After settling the Weaver of Fated Threads, Ryueji sought out Mand to discuss his idea of luring down and ambushing the enemies attempting to break through from the sky.

Mand did not have any major objections to Ryueji's idea. He merely evaluated the current defense level of the Underworld Palace objectively and analyzed the likely outcome if a siege were to occur right then.

"So, your point is that we shouldn't keep the battle inside the city?"

"No, my point is that we should deal with the enemies tier by tier, if you truly intend to lure the enemies into the Underworld to handle them," Mand said firmly. "Allowing the strongest enemies to confront the city walls directly is something our wall defenses might not withstand. Even if we manage to hold them off by force, the losses to our troops would be quite heavy. After all, we have far too many troops on hand that are unsuited for city defense."

"However, if we lure the enemies to a certain location outside the city for an ambush, the situation will be entirely different. Many of our irregular troops can be put to good use, especially defensive units like the golden skeletons. Those units are truly of no great use stationed on the city walls; ranged attacks and mobile forces are what matter most in a siege battle."

Hearing Mand put it this way, Ryueji understood as well. He turned his head and glanced at Videnina, who had been standing guard behind him. "What is your view?"

Videnina did not say a word, but her determination could be seen clearly in her eyes.

"Very well then, Videnina. Mobilize all available troops in the city and re-equip them. My goal is to contain the enemy, trading a small sacrifice for heavy damage to the forces. Therefore, prioritize the training of control-type and tank-type units. As for the rest, besides being able to fight, they must also be able to run."

Ryueji's orders were swiftly transmitted. At the same time, the alchemy hut and the blacksmith's workshop quickly sprang into action, preparing the various supplies needed for Ryueji's troops.

Although Ryueji appeared to be organizing troops this time, they could not strictly be considered an army; they were merely irregulars obeying orders, utilizing the standard operational methods of a necromancer without yet being organized into cohesive undead legions.

Yet Ryueji attached great importance to this battle. He still remembered Mand's words: all undead legions are forged in battle. The larger the scale of war, the more imperative it is to organize irregulars according to the standards of regular troops.

Such efforts might not yield remarkable displays in the first or second skirmishes, but as the frequency of battles increased, certain units would inevitably be fused together by the pressures brought on by warfare.

About three days later, Ryueji set out in advance with his troops. This time, aside from the units left behind for city defense, Ryueji had brought forth virtually all the power within his Underworld Palace.

The Weaver of Fated Threads, whose third underworld ecosystem had been confirmed to be temporarily stable, became the primary controller of this ambush, while Videnina served as the main offensive force for the ambush battle.

The skeleton soldiers previously sent out to scout within the underworld were all recalled. During this period, Ryueji had dispatched a total of three squads of sixty skeleton soldiers into the underworld. These units lacked commanders and unified standards, suffering some casualties after being sent out.

Ryueji did not break down and reorganize these skeleton skeleton units; instead, he replenished them with new skeleton soldiers, re-equipped them, and formed three new skeleton units: one squad of sword-and-shield skeletons and two squads of spear-and-shield skeletons.

In addition, the ritual skeletons that had suffered heavy losses in the real world last time were also re-formed into a unit, though this troop numbered fewer than twenty and had not yet reached Ryueji's ideal full-strength standard.

There was also a standard full-strength squad of sixty skeleton archers, and a standard full-strength squad of thirty plague zombies.

Following that, all the golden skeletons looked down upon by Mand were brought along by Ryueji. However, the number of golden skeletons this time was rather small; out of a standard full-strength squad of sixty, there were only thirty-six golden skeletons, leaving Ryueji quite speechless.

In addition, Ryueji brought out a squad of skeleton swordsmen. This unit was composed of skeletons that had mastered the Dark Night Piercing Sword technique. Although they lacked flesh and skin, having mastered the Dark Night Piercing Sword technique, they had unexpectedly learned the Dark Night Breathing Method as well. With each inhalation and exhalation, their bones gradually turned black—leaving only the need for Ryueji to prepare some black cloaks or the like for them.

Believing this unit might become the first standard troop trained under his command, Ryueji conscientiously inscribed a large letter 'Z' upon the top of every skeleton's skull.

With his forces prepared, Ryueji set out with the troops.

Since they were all undead and currently residing within the underworld, supplies were unnecessary. As for mounts, Ryueji did not possess any at the moment; he simply walked alongside his subordinate troops.

Their target was directly beneath the aggregate of workers attempting to pierce the spatial barrier. Ryueji's plan was to lure them down, trap a portion of them, and then launch a concentrated strike.

The method to lure them down was quite simple, and the intelligence Ryueji had previously requested from Ralph would come in handy right at this moment.