Undead Mage: I Have a Skeleton Clone

Chapter 627 - 427: Natural Expedition Team, [Masterful Command] Entry?

Zhang Wu let out a long breath, a hint of admiration lingering in his voice as he turned his head.

He was indeed correct. The wetland before them not only looked scenic, but the soft ground also bore the footprints of many small antelopes and horned deer. From the distant woods came the faint howling of wolves.

"Those tracks aren’t from gentle antelopes and deer... Damn it!"

The Forest Centaur guide, Kai, wore an expression of painful recollection as he cursed fiercely. He tightly knotted two ropes together, picked up a third, and then fashioned a loop.

"There are many strange monsters within the Withered Swamp... Lord Ark, give me a hand."

He handed one end of the rope to Fang Zhou and continued, "Those tracks were left by the Swamp Snake Monsters in the Withered Swamp. As for wolves, there are quite a few here, but they’re not ordinary wolves—they’re Werewolves."

"Barbarians, Half-Beastmen, Swamp Natives... Call them what you will. These guys are far more savage than wolves, so I hope we don’t encounter them. Although they’re slightly more rational than those evil Demons, they’re still enemies of nature."

After Kai tied the final rope, he passed the now-continuous long rope to the others.

"There are many walkable paths in the Withered Swamp, but only one is truly safe. Mud Spring Banshees and Swamp Slimes are often lurking in the bogs on either side, trying to drag the unsuspecting into the water. Everyone, tie the ropes around your waists. That way, if anyone is in danger, we can rescue them more easily."

As he spoke, Kai was the first to tie the rope around his own waist. The cadets from the Sea City Military Academy naturally followed his orders.

Over ten minutes later, the small team formed two lines and, following Kai’s directions, cautiously entered the Withered Swamp. The initial, tense period passed without incident.

The feeling underfoot was not as muddy as they had imagined. Although they were treading on soft, slippery water plants, the path wasn’t too difficult to walk on. The team members’ moods lightened, and their expressions eased slightly.

However, they were all highly experienced cadets from the Navy Military Academy. The other natural creatures in the party, despite their simple and kind-hearted dispositions, had also matured considerably through these trials. So, even though they felt more relaxed, everyone remained on high alert, refraining from idle chatter and keeping their guard up.

Sure enough, an incident soon occurred.

SPLASH! A sound suddenly came from behind a Support Professional cadet. A black shape leaped from the calm water, gripping the cadet’s feet with lightning speed.

"What is that!"

He cried out, trying to crouch down and pry off the thing clamped around his feet. However, the force gripping his feet was extraordinarily strong. The moment he crouched, he lost his balance and was dragged by the dark shadow toward the bog at the side of the path.

"Damn it, hold the rope!" Kai roared, and everyone immediately grabbed the ropes around their waists, hauling the cadet upward with all their might.

The shadow that had shot out of the bog was stronger than an ordinary Combat Professional, but it couldn’t stand against the combined strength of so many powerful arms. As it was dragged up along with the cadet, it let out a piercing shriek like metal being scraped.

"It’s a Mud Spring Banshee!"

"Damn thing," the cadet, now covered in muddy water, cursed in frustration as he struggled free. His ankles, which had been seized by the Mud Spring Banshee, were numb and throbbing, marked with long, dark-blue claw marks.

Fang Zhou looked at the Mud Spring Banshee. The shadowy creature was covered in foul-smelling muck from the bog. To an ordinary person, it would at most look like a humanoid creature with messy, tangled hair. Its pitch-black hands seemed exceptionally strong compared to its emaciated body.

However, when Fang Zhou activated his Soul Eagle Eye, the outline of a soul shimmering with a bright, grayish-yellow light appeared before him. Judging from its Soul Strength, it was merely an ordinary Black Iron Lower-tier Demon.

Looks like it’s not too much trouble.

Fang Zhou breathed a small sigh of relief. However, when he raised his gaze to look farther into the distance, his body couldn’t help but tremble slightly. Wherever his gaze landed, points of soul-light were as dense as the stars in the night sky!

"Everyone be careful! There’s more than one Mud Spring Banshee!" Fang Zhou immediately shouted a warning.

An incessant chorus of SPLASHING and GURGLING erupted as the bogs on both sides of the path began to bubble like boiling cauldrons. Countless heads with disheveled hair broke the water’s surface. On their ugly faces, covered with tumors and pustules, pairs of dark red eyes gleamed with greed.

"Mud Spring Banshees! So many, so many of them!" Kai’s wail was clearly filled with panic.

"Calm down and prepare for battle!"

Gu Yueyuan was clearly displeased with the combat capabilities of these Natural Allies. He casually shot out a swarm of insects that devoured the body of the Mud Spring Banshee that had been dragged ashore. Frowning at the creatures in the distance, he said, "What we need to know now is how to deal with these monsters called Mud Spring Banshees!"

"This shouldn’t be happening..." Kai, apparently terrified senseless, stammered. "Mud Spring Banshees aren’t brave creatures. Even though they appear in groups, they only attack lone travelers. There are so many of us... How could they, how could they..."

The Mud Spring Banshees let out a series of sounds that were part moan, part wail. Countless withered arms shot out from the bog, resembling a newly emerged thicket of dead shrubs from a distance.

Fang Zhou now realized they had been ambushed by the monsters lurking in these bogs. This was not favorable terrain for deploying his Undead Army. If he were to summon too many Undead Creatures on this narrow path, they would only get stuck in the mire.

However, the corner of Fang Zhou’s mouth curled into a cold smirk.

So what if my Undead Creatures get stuck in the bog? Skeletons and Zombies don’t need to breathe. They can still fight to some extent even when mired in mud.

Standing protected by his teammates, he took out the Undead Magic Ball and immediately began casting. Dozens of gray vortices lit up, and fully armed Skeleton Warriors and Zombies appeared around the disquieted party.

The well-trained Navy Military Academy cadets also stabilized their formation. Flashes of Mana and Battle Qi flickered one after another, causing the approaching Mud Spring Banshees to let out strange, hoarse wails and circle about, not daring to advance.

However, the sheer number of Mud Spring Banshees was overwhelming. Although the cadets’ swift counterattack deterred the ones closest to the path, more of them were already crawling out from farther away. Emitting wailing cries, they dragged themselves through mud and filth as they closed in on the group.

Fortunately, the expedition team Fang Zhou had organized had no weaklings. Although the combat awareness and experience of the natural creatures were severely lacking, their Black Iron Lower-tier strength was genuine. Following the example set by the Sea City Military Academy cadets, they gradually recovered from their panic and steadied their footing.

"Do not panic!"

At that moment, the voice of Miliou, speaking through Liu Diewu, rang out.

"We are all creatures of nature! For the will of nature! For the peace of the Forest of Nature! And for our companions in the tribe threatened by plague! We must break through this swamp and eliminate the source of the plague!"

The Flower Elf’s inspiring words made the faces of the natural creatures flush with shame, but their expressions quickly firmed with resolve. Under Fang Zhou’s direction, those unfamiliar with close combat, like the Flower Butterfly Girls and Thorn Bee People, retreated behind their companions. They began to either use their magic-like skills or attack with ranged arrows.

By now, Kai had also composed himself. He drew a long spear hewn from oak from his back, preparing to charge bravely to the front lines.

However, Fang Zhou quickly stopped him.