夜三更 could not have imagined that he would lose his subordinates for the first time, and it turned out to be at the hands of his own people.
Sighing at the skeletal head on the ground, its soul flame already dispersed, Night Third continued forward.
Due to the temporary supply city of Lorand being built later, the distance between it and Thundering City was not far, similar to the distance to White Rock Village.
However, the not-so-distant journey was still challenging due to the swamp pits on the ground. Especially for the stupidly marching skeletal swordsmen, if one wasn't careful, they would be left with fewer companions. Fortunately, the later "radishes" benefited from the lessons learned, and the tragic accidents of heads being left behind did not repeat.
As they advanced, the number of skeletons wrapped in black mud increased, resembling a group of coal miners who had just crawled out of the mine and got caught in a light rain, looking quite miserable.
The surrounding ghost needle grass grew denser, and Night Third found himself rubbing his forehead more frequently. However, his expression relaxed upon hearing a distant sound of battle.
"Finally, some action!"
According to Bede's description, there must be some danger near Thundering City, and it was a good thing it revealed itself.
Hastening towards the crowded area ahead, Night Third saw that Old Gu and Dong Chen and Xi Jiu, along with over fifty skeletons, were already lined up, continuously swinging their knives.
Just then, with a crack, a lump of silvery substance knocked by Dong Chen fell in front of Night Third.
"What is this?"
Night Third frowned at the twitching piece of flesh.
[Winged Fin Fish] A mutated fish that likes to swallow flying insects and algae, adapted to live in a humid environment. Its robust tail allows it to leap high and, relying on well-developed pectoral fins, briefly fly in the air. The sharp dorsal fin can cut through the skin of large animals, so they may resort to carnivorous attacks if necessary.
"Just a fish..."
Night Third raised his head and refrained from further comments. Nearly a thousand fist-sized Winged Fin Fish resembled a group of startled silver frogs, continuously crashing into the temporary stronghold of Old Gu and the others like waves.
As one Winged Fin Fish tail slammed into the ground, it would leap over three meters high, then abruptly open its wing-like pectoral fins. When gliding towards the skeletons, it immediately contracted its body, and the raised dorsal fin cut through the skeletons as if it were a chopping knife.
Some stronger Winged Fin Fish even added a spin during the contraction, akin to a sharp circular saw, sawing towards the target.
Despite their chaotic attacks, they never harmed their own kind, as if an invisible hand controlled them.
Unfortunately, the targets were not flesh and blood creatures but skeletal undead. While the dorsal fins were sharp, they couldn't match the toughness of the skeletons' bones. Plus, their lightweight bodies couldn't exert enough force. At most, they left faint white marks on the skeletons' bones.
Old Gu continually used the back of his sword to smack incoming Winged Fin Fish, while the skeletal swordsmen, somewhat foolishly, only slashed diagonally. Nevertheless, with the overwhelming number of Winged Fin Fish, they managed to cut down quite a few.
Watching this, Night Third breathed a sigh of relief and felt intense curiosity about Thundering City, now turned into a swamp.
What kind of environment could give rise to such strange creatures? If Bede hadn't mentioned it, he might have suspected it was her experiment.
"However..."
Night Third squinted his eyes. Activating his Windstep skill, he swiftly maneuvered, evading and dodging within the dense school of fish.
Although his clothing was cut by two Winged Fin Fish, Night Third paid no attention to it, continuing to weave through the dense formation.
However, due to the sheer number and density of the school of fish, he eventually had to draw his longsword to assist in defense. Even so, he sustained a few scratches.
"Found you!"
With a swift move, Night Third narrowed his eyes and thrust towards a lump of mud on the ground.
Strangely, the mud instantly wriggled, and with a light plop, Night Third widened his eyes. He dodged sideways just in time.
"Aqua Arrow spell?!"
Night Third examined the blood hole on his left arm, thankful that it missed his heart by a fraction.
"Just a fish, yet it knows to target human vulnerabilities?!"
Though surprised, Night Third didn't slow down. Another thrust followed, but the strange mud spat out two more water arrows. This time, Night Third was faster.
"Moonlight Sword Slash!"
With a crisp sound of breaking leather, Night Third turned back to see the strange mud split in two, still oozing bloody liquid.
[Winged Fin Fish King] The king of Winged Fin Fish. Due to excessive obesity, it has lost its gliding ability but can jump higher. Moreover, it can unleash powerful Aqua Arrow spells. Fond of blood and flesh, it often leads its tribe to attack living beings.
After the Winged Fin Fish King's demise, the attacking school of fish lost coordination, inflicting injuries on each other.
In less than half a moment, only a dozen or so Winged Fin Fish remained, tirelessly leaping. Night Third swiftly knocked them out and used some ghost needle grass as makeshift ropes to string them together.
"Since it's red blood, I wonder if it's edible."
Night Third hung the fish on a skeleton, planning to take it back for Bede to inspect.
Even if inedible, he could let the skeletons deal with it. After all, they could be transformed into the life force he needed.
A group of skeletons was already squatting in the dark mud, fishing out fish chunks and stuffing them into their hollow mouths.
Night Third watched with satisfaction as his life force reserve gradually increased.
"Oh, another batch coming!"
Hearing the familiar pattering sound of Winged Fin Fish from a distance, Night Third focused his eyes and then paled, turning to run.
Only a fool wouldn't run!
Although this time, a thousand or so Winged Fin Fish were also present, the monsters following them didn't look like easy foes.
Night Third finally understood why there were so many Winged Fin Fish fleeing.
It turns out they were escaping!
Only a dozen or so giant black toads, resembling wooden huts, chased behind the school of fish. They could jump seven or eight meters in one leap, and their pink tongues, like lightning, swiftly wrapped around five or six Winged Fin Fish with each lash.
Night Third had no doubt that one bite from these creatures could swallow an entire skeleton, and the vague city walls of Thundering City were already faintly visible. The direction of escape naturally pointed towards that side...