Everyone had been having a great time around the bonfire, but that atmosphere only lasted for half the night. A few hours later, Kanzaki Ren suddenly received a warning from the territorial core.
[Warning!][Watchtower has detected Dark energy!]
Kanzaki Ren had already anticipated a counterattack from the Dark Goblins.
That was precisely why he had constructed a territorial watchtower at the Red Rock Camp.
Dark lords did not possess the same level of mobility as human lords.
Because Dark Territories lacked the ability to refine territorial divine stones. Some high-level Dark lords might be capable of constructing teleportation arrays, but Umbral Valley clearly did not have such technology.
It wasn't difficult to infer.
This Dark unit most likely didn't come directly from Umbral City, but instead departed from the nearest outpost after receiving the news. That explained both their speed and why their numbers were probably limited.
In that case—
Of course they had to be wiped out.
Kanzaki Ren immediately issued a mission to the adventurers.
When the adventurers received the notice, they were stunned.
"What? Another fight already?!"
"Nice, nice. Didn't stay here for nothing. Today's contribution points won't just get reimbursed, we might even make a profit!"
Staying overnight only cost 5 Contribution Points.
This mission alone rewarded 10 Contribution Points.
If the enemy was successfully repelled, the reward would double!
The adventurers eagerly signed up.
Miracle City quickly assembled thirty-six combatants.
Shirasawa Yukari, Kaze Nemuri, Lone Wolf, Blackstone Hammer King, and Pig King were directly converted into combat units through the Soldiers' House for free, each transforming into the form of their respective life-soul troops.
[You are converting mercenary units. This conversion consumes "Zombie Essence Soul" ×31, "Mental Energy" ×155, "Soul Crystals" ×155!]
Among them, thirty-one adventurers were converted into Blast-Resistant Corpses through the Mercenary House.
At the same time—
At the monster camp.
The Tank Zombie stood ready.
Kanzaki Ren spent 2 Mental Energy to completely heal the injuries sustained in the previous battle.
One Witch.One Tank.
Two five-star combat forces.
That should be more than enough.
After a moment's thought, Kanzaki Ren spent another 200 Mental Energy and used the Skill Secret Crystal in his possession.
[You have mastered "Lord Possession Technique"!]
Current remaining territorial resources:Mental Energy 1709, Soul Crystals 184, Material Essence 251.
The income was high.
But the expenses were brutal.
Which meant he needed even more revenue.
And nothing generated resources fasterthan a decisive victory in battle!
...
The Dark Racewas not a single species.
It was a special collective within the Chaotic World.
Any race could be corrupted by Chaotic energy and fall into the Dark Race.
Compared to normal beings, the biggest difference was that Dark beings lost all virtues and most positive emotions.
Friendship?Love?
Meaningless to them.
Mercy and loyalty were long gone.
No matter what race they fell from, Dark beings were universally cruel, vicious, and extreme, pursuing profit and conquest above all else.
Their internal hierarchy was rigid.The weak absolutely obeyed the strong.Lower ranks absolutely obeyed higher ranks.
It was said they could all hear the whispers of the Mother of Absolute Chaos, which was why Dark beings universally worshipped the Chaos Cult.
They believed all Dark beings were agents of the supreme chaotic will.
Their sole purpose and meaningwas conquest.
Until Dark Territories spread to every corner of the world, and all living beings were corrupted and assimilated.
Kurohone.
He came from Umbral City.
A Dark Goblin.One of the commanders under the Lord of Umbral Valley.
Recently, he had been stationed at a camp less than five kilometers from the Red Rock Mountain Copper Mine.
Not long ago, Kurohone received news that the Red Rock Mine had been attacked. The culprit was almost certainly a human lord.
Upon receiving the report, Kurohone immediately gathered fifty goblin soldiers. Once the Chaotic Tide receded, they set off toward Red Rock Mountain without delay.
A human lord?
None had appeared in Umbral Valley for years.
These beings from beyond the Chaotic World were among the greatest threats to the Dark races.
But precisely because of that—
If he could defeat a human lord, the rewards would be immense. There was even a chance of receiving a blessing from the Mother of Absolute Darkness.
Red Rock Mountain was Umbral Valley's most important resource site.
Most of its output had to be offered as tribute to higher-ranked lords.
The mine could not be lost.
This battle allowed only victory, no defeat.
This wasn't the first time a human lord had appeared in Umbral Valley, and Kurohone had fought them before. That was exactly why he was confident.
The reason was simple.
This human territoryhad not existed for long.
At most, it was less than a month old.
Otherwise, Umbral City could not possibly have remained unaware.
A territory that had existed for less than a month would be small in scale and incapable of cultivating much combat power.
Perhaps they could seize Red Rock Camp through ambush or trickery.
But they wouldn't have surplus forces to defend the mine.
Kurohone trusted his own strength. With fifty goblin soldiers under his command, retaking the mine would be effortless.
Four hours later.
Near the mine.
The Umbral City force arrived at an open clearing.
They halted to rest and prepare for the upcoming assault.
"Stay alert," Kurohone warned. "Humans are cunning. They may have traps set nearby!"
Before his words finished—
A deep, rapid roar echoed through the area.
Moments later, trees ahead exploded apart under immense force.
A massive monster appeared before the goblins.
It stood nearly 1.9 meters tall. Its right arm was abnormally huge and muscular, while its left arm was severely atrophied, giving it a grotesquely unbalanced appearance.
Yet—
Its running speed was terrifying.
It charged straight into the goblin ranks in the blink of an eye.
"Hahaha! As expected of a Charger! This power feels incredible!"
Pig King, transformed into a Charger, smashed into the goblins. Not only did he completely shatter their formation, he grabbed a goblin soldier with his giant arm and used him as a weapon, swinging him wildly from side to side.
"Take this, Pig King style!"
The Charger Zombie was thick-skinned and blindingly fast.
The goblins had never seen such a monster. Death and severe injuries erupted instantly.
Worse still—
The formation collapsed completely.
The goblins hurriedly counterattacked, but blades, axes, and poisoned arrows were unable to stop the monster's brutal charge. Chaos spread through their ranks.
Kurohone roared in fury.
"Die!"
He drew a bone spear from his back and hurled it at the Charger.
The spear tore through the air.
A piercing shriek echoed.
Its speed rivaled a bullet.Its accuracy and destructive power were comparable to a sniper rifle.
Pig King's Charger was instantly killed by a headshot.
"Damn it!"
"Pig King's down?!"
"That was a three-star zombie!"
"Kill them!"
"Avenge Pig King!"
"Don't rush in! That boss is too strong, might be five-star level! Er Gou, control him now!"
...
Pig King's sacrifice was not in vain.
He shattered the goblin formation and revealed the enemy's strongest combatant and attack method.
As Kurohone prepared to throw a second bone spear, an extremely long tongue shot out from behind and wrapped around his throat.
"What?!"
Kurohone was yanked straight out of formation.
Lone Wolf, transformed into a Smoker, attempted to drag him into the forest.
Kurohone reacted instantly. With his left hand, he drew a dagger in a reverse grip and severed the Smoker's tongue in a single motion.
"Looking for death!"
He pulled out another bone spear.
Just as he prepared to kill the attacker—
A towering figure blocked his path.
A massive body of pure muscle, like a moving mountain.
Kurohone had never seen such a creature. From its exaggerated physique and the violent aura radiating from it, he could instinctively sense its terror.
What was going on?
The goblin commander finally realized something was wrong.
Wasn't this supposed to be a newly born dungeon?
From the charging monster, to the tongue-whipping creature, to this absurdly muscular behemoth—
Was this really power a newborn dungeon should possess?
What Kurohone didn't know was—
This was no ordinary monster unit.
This was a Tank Zombie personally controlled by the lord through possession.
Tonight, Kanzaki Ren would personally participate in this ambush and hunt.