Chapter 741, What Kind of Weapon Is That?
After the others left—
Wu Heng said to the skeleton, "Well done. You've pushed this far in such a short time."
The skeleton lifted her skirt slightly and gave a curtsey.
These high-level skeletons had distinct personalities. Their behavior often revealed what they had enjoyed in life.
Wu Heng gestured for her to sit to the side, then looked into the air and said, "Go scout the fortress—check the level of high-ranking Professionals, troop strength, and any defenses or dangers."
"Alright," the three specters replied and flew out.
Wu Heng turned his gaze to the map Jeffrey had left behind.
The detour Jeffrey mentioned came only after repeated failed assaults.
But to Wu Heng, that option wasn't worth considering. There were many ways to take a fortress like this.
It was just a matter of choosing one.
He sat in the room for a while, casually praising Bone Demon No. 2.
Xiaoxiao was the first to return. "Uncle, I checked the walls. Tons of weird machinery, and lots of people moving stuff."
"Let me see."
Xiaoxiao entered his body, sharing the visual feed.
On the towering walls, torches lit the way as workers hauled bundles of arrows and barrel-like containers.
Mounted crossbows, ballistas, and cauldrons of oil lined the walls.
After inspecting the walls, Xiaoxiao flew further in. Many people were trading recovered arrows and gear for food.
The scene resembled a refugee zone in the zombie world.
Once the feed ended, Wu Heng let Xiaoxiao out again.
Soon after, Glenda and Beni returned.
Glenda reported, "The Commander-in-Chief is a level 17 Professional, likely a Warrior based on the weapon. Three sub-commanders are level 15. The rest are around level 10."
"So many high levels."
Glenda continued, "They all retreated north—refugees from cities that fell before. It makes sense they're gathered here."
"Right. Beni, what about your side?" Wu Heng turned to her.
She said, "I wandered the city. The conscription teams are out at night rounding up people. Even civilians who fled here are being forced to the front lines."
Those who escaped might've been better off staying.
Those who stayed weren't harassed by skeletons—as long as they didn't cause trouble.
But escapees got drafted into the war against the so-called evil undead.
Of course, from a human point of view, anyone would flee from a skeleton army invading the kingdom.
Wu Heng would've run too.
After the reports ended—
Glenda asked, "What's the plan?"
"What else? Attack. We're taking the city tonight," Wu Heng said.
"Need us to do anything?" Glenda asked.
Beni nodded too.
"Once the attack starts, Glenda—you take out the sub-commanders. Beni—spread panic. Xiaoxiao—stay close and protect me." Wu Heng assigned tasks quickly.
"Got it."
"Understood."
The specters nodded and dispersed.
Wu Heng, with two skeleton attendants and Bone Demon No. 2 in a lady's dress, walked out.
......
Clatter—
Tens of thousands of skeletons began to move.
Bone grinding, weapons clashing—the sounds echoed far and wide.
Jeffrey and the others, who had just turned in for the night, hurried out with their cloaks still on.
They saw the army regrouping again.
Their eyes widened.
"They're attacking again? That's suicide!"
"We gave our advice. If Lady Wen Mansa gets mad, it's not on us."
"And there's still that Island Lord. If Rentam gets attacked, he won't just watch."
"Yeah, let's just do our part."
They sighed, convinced the attack would fail.
......
Wu Heng checked his watch—it was 3 a.m.
Dawn was nearing—the time when living beings were most drained.
Even the toughest could hardly stay alert now.
Looking toward the fortress, he activated [Mansion Spell], revealing precise equipment and the massive barrel of an electromagnetic cannon.
From here, the fortress looked like a tiny model.
"Target the front wall. Fire once to test accuracy," Wu Heng commanded.
Inside the mansion, skeleton gunners loaded a shell and adjusted the cannon's angle.
Boom—!
A thunderous blast rang out, and the distant wall erupted.
......
Rumble.
The blast echoed like a tsunami, shaking the fortress and the ground.
Everyone inside woke up in terror.
"The wall's down! Run!"
"If we don't run now, it'll be too late!"
Voices shouted in the streets.
No one saw who yelled first, but the cry spread fast.
The wall's down?
That explosion must've been it.
Damn it!
People scrambled for their things and fled toward another gate.
Inside the fortress, war council room—
The chandelier above shook wildly from the blast.
The commanders shot up, alarmed.
"That came from the wall!"
"The skeletons picked this time to attack again."
"People are yelling the wall's breached. Stop them before panic spreads."
"Commander, we need to check the wall!"
They whispered urgently—but the Commander said nothing.
They turned to see him frozen in his seat, face red, veins bulging.
His teeth were clenched, grinding audibly.
"We surrender... spare me..." he croaked.
Surrender?
Spare him?
Shock spread.
"He's being controlled! Use a holy scroll!"
But before that—crack!
His neck twisted 180 degrees.
His body slammed onto the table.
Everyone froze in horror.
Their highest-ranking, most experienced commander—dead.
"Damn it, necromancer trickery. We have to get out!"
With the commander dead, they had no chance.
Someone shouted, and the rest bolted for the door.
But one by one, their bodies stiffened.
Some crashed into walls; others had their necks snapped.
Soon, all lay on the ground.
Clack clack clack—
A squad rushed in from the wall.
"Commander! The wall is under... under..."
The words caught in their throat.
Their eyes filled with terror at the scene.
The commander and his officers lay everywhere.
Their twisted necks left no doubt—they were dead.
Damn it!
The leadership was wiped out.
The city couldn't hold.
......
Outside the city—
The shell tore through the wall's top, blasting stone and dust. The wall visibly shook.
But only the impact zone collapsed—the rest still stood.
"Whoa! That blast was huge," Xiaoxiao exclaimed.
Inside [Mansion Spell], skeletons loaded another shell and adjusted the cannon.
Wu Heng cast [Summon Arrow Rain] on the cannon.
Then said, "Ready? Fire!"
Boom—!
The shell roared through the air, leaving a glowing trail.
Then [Summon Arrow Rain] triggered—the shell split into many, like a shotgun blast.
Boom! Boom boom—!
The shells tore through the wall, pockmarking it with craters.
Under the smoke and dust, the wall crumbled like a sandcastle, collapsing completely.
Clatter—!
The skeletons charged.
Like a tide, they spread out wildly, with no formation, rushing forward.
With the wall down, the last obstacle was gone.
Now it was simple—the kind of fighting skeletons excelled at.
Behind them—
Jeffrey and the others stood wide-eyed.
Serted Fortress had fallen. The same fortress that once held off orcs and withstood days of skeleton assaults—
Now crumbled like a wall of pebbles.
Pathetic.
Damn—what kind of man did Sister-in-law invite?
Since the Spikes Gang's former boss died, they'd climbed to terrifying heights.
......
"The city's breached! The army's in!" Glenda and Beni flew back.
Wu Heng nodded, "Let's go—into the city."
Surrounded by his army, he stepped over the ruins and entered.
Bones and fallen human soldiers littered the ground.
Once war begins, it always ends with countless lives lost.
"Where's Jeffrey?"
"Sir." Jeffrey ran up.
"Send people to tell the citizens—our army won't harm them. Stay inside, don't attack the skeletons, and we'll accept the kingdom troops' surrender," Wu Heng said.
"Understood." Jeffrey ran off to relay the order.
Human soldiers sprinted into the city, shouting announcements.
......
Wu Heng looked ahead and asked into the air, "Is there a Guild here?"
"Yes, just saw it. Doesn't seem like anyone's inside," Glenda pointed.
Wu Heng nodded and walked toward the local Guild.