Chapter 51: Step-by-Step Guidance

The impact of that moment dealt a heavy blow to Ryûji’s forces. Of the four squads of skeleton soldiers that had been bearing the brunt of the vanguard, at least half were obliterated in the explosion. Only the golden skeletons, protected by the layer of gold foil coating their exteriors, emerged largely unscathed.

The zombie forces fared similarly. The blast seemed precisely targeted against the skeletons, leaving the zombies relatively unaffected.

However, the towering giant skeleton now seemed to have locked its gaze upon the Fate-Weaving Arachne. When its thrusting spear missed its target, it abruptly executed a sweeping backhand strike, batting both the golden skeletons and the zombies flying.

With a single stride forward, the giant skeleton pursued the Fate-Weaving Arachne. Ryûji noticed that as the colossal skeleton charged ahead, a scattering of insect eggs fell from its body onto the ground.

"Release web, wrap up its body!"

At the sight of this, Ryûji issued an immediate command.

Though the Fate-Weaving Arachne understood the immense peril of the situation, she charged directly toward the enemy in obedience to Ryûji's orders.

Moving even faster than the Arachne was Videnina. The corpse-soul Naga threw herself straight into the enemy's path, using her longsword to deflect the adversary's spear and create an opening for the Fate-Weaving Arachne.

The Fate-Weaving Arachne did not waste the opportunity. Darting around the enemy in circles, she continuously expelled dense webs, wrapping them tightly around the foe’s form.

Uncertain of Ryûji’s precise intent, the Fate-Weaving Arachne sprayed the webs over the giant skeleton from head to toe.

The cascading webs bound the giant skeleton tightly. Within moments, the colossal figure looked as though it had just been freshly exhumed from a burial mound.

At this point, Ryûji’s remaining skeleton soldiers had retreated to his side. Watching the golden skeletons and zombies currently engaged in combat, Ryûji raised his Staff of Death once again.

"How is it over there?"

"Un... kill... able."

Videnina’s voice remained utterly flat, as if nothing in the world could stir her emotions.

Videnina was Ryûji’s most powerful combat asset; if even she deemed the target unkillable, the situation was gravely abnormal. Ryûji could not help but ask, "Is there any way?"

Yet Videnina had no response to offer. Instead, the Fate-Weaving Arachne took the opportunity to retreat to Ryûji’s side.

"I believe we must think of an alternative approach. That entity is likely not a true undead, but rather a composite construct. We should not view it as a single unified entity, but rather as an assembly of many parts. Since I have already bound those components together, we might find a way to crush the entire mass. I cannot guarantee the exact outcome once it is crushed, but it is abundantly clear that we have no other options left, isn't it?"

Hearing the Fate-Weaving Arachne's words, Ryûji queried, "With what do you propose we crush it?"

The Fate-Weaving Arachne fell silent. Ryûji possessed nothing at hand heavy enough to serve as a crushing weight.

After a brief moment of reflection, Ryûji asked, "Can we drag that thing out and spin a cocoon of insect silk around it as we did before?"

"That is impossible. It is not that I am unwilling, but the creature is simply too massive. Furthermore, as you witnessed, my web has very little actual effect on it—it causes virtually no harm, which is why it did not resist. If the target perceives a genuine threat, that tactic will fail. By the way, we could consider piling massive amounts of boulders upon it. I tell you, we could gather earth and stones and pile them high just like building a city wall; as long as the boulders are sufficiently heavy, a crushing effect can be achieved."

Ryûji contemplated the suggestion, then ultimately shook his head. "There is no time."

At that exact moment, Videnina was beaten back by a single spear thrust from the creature. Had she not been of substantial stature, the blow might have sent her flying backward.

Ryûji thought quickly. "Fall back. Drag that creature toward the perimeter of the city wall. Have the city prepare for a fire attack. Previously, when it wore that layer of monster hide, it might have been difficult to burn, but things are different now. I refuse to believe a pile of bones cannot be turned to ash."

"Burning it is feasible, but have you considered the insect eggs upon its body? I sense those might be the most crucial element."

Ryûji had already anticipated this. He had previously instructed a squad of skeleton soldiers to collect a portion of the insect eggs and dispatch them in advance back toward the Underworld Palace.

Naturally, Ryûji intended to have them examined to determine whether such items were flammable and what changes might occur if they caught fire. If the risk proved too high, he would forgo processing the entity near the walls of the Underworld Palace.

Under Ryûji's coordination, Videnina fell back to his side while the golden skeleton troops and the remaining forces pressed forward relentlessly, fighting a rear-guard action to lure the enemy toward the direction of the Underworld Palace.

Ryûji glanced back at the monster's discarded 'hide' not far away, letting out a long, heavy sigh in his heart. Damn it, this battle is deeply frustrating. We truly need to train more troops.

Muttering to himself, Ryûji kept a hand on the thin piercing sword at his waist. Had he not known his current inadequacy in defeating the foe, he would have charged in himself.

Cast one final fierce glare at the battlefield ahead, Ryûji led his troops in a steady retreat.

Under Ryûji's mental control, the skeleton archers unleashed volley after volley upon the pursuer with every span of distance they yielded.

Each arrow sank deep into the body of the giant skeleton, but it was painfully evident that the colossal foe cared nothing for these superficial attacks, keeping its hollow gaze fixed exclusively on Ryûji and the Fate-Weaving Arachne.

Were it not for the valiant obstruction provided by the golden skeletons, they might well have been overtaken by the giant skeleton by now.

Having lost two-thirds of the golden skeletons along with all the regular infantry, Ryûji finally retreated to the vicinity of the Underworld Palace.

Watching from afar as Ryûji lured the enemy into position, Mand had already issued a series of tactical commands.

Aside from the sixty skeleton archers Ryûji had taken with him, all remaining archers within the Underworld Palace had been positioned along the battlements by Mand. They had already completed their preparations, raising their longbows in unison the moment Ryûji fell back within range.

"This is your sole opportunity to prove your worth. If you miss a target of that size, you need never pick up a bow again. Useless refuse like that might as well be dismantled and melted down for scrap."

As undead, the skeleton archers possessed neither morale nor emotional fluctuations. At Mand's command, they organized themselves into squads of sixty and loosed a volley of specially prepared arrows toward the pursuing giant skeleton.

Since Ryûji had sent back the insect eggs ahead of time and Mand had been briefed on the plan, these arrows had been treated with various substances, including volatile lamp oil and combustion-enhancing powders.

Under this barrage of specialized fire-arrows, though the giant skeleton had yet to burst into flames, its entire frame had been converted into a highly flammable tinderbox, primed and waiting for the follow-up incendiary strike.