38: Attack on the Skeleton Veterans 3

The longsword slashed down, carrying the power of the Holy Light.

This was the signature skill of the Order of the Glorious Knights, 'Holy Light Slash'.

It dealt extra damage to the undead.

Big Bone casually raised his spear to block.

Clang!

Roderick felt as if he had struck a mountain; the webbing of his thumb split open, and the longsword flew from his hand.

Big Bone grabbed him by the neck and lifted him off the ground.

"Blade of Radiance?"

Big Bone sized up the young human.

"Is your father one of Karl's subordinates?"

"Let... let go of me..."

Roderick struggled.

"Wrong answer."

Big Bone tightened his skeletal hand.

"Yes! My father is the Vice Commander!"

Roderick shouted hurriedly.

"Lord Karl is my uncle!"

"Uncle?"

Blue fire flickered in Big Bone's eyes.

"Very good. Then you should know where he lives, what his habits are, and when he is alone..."

"Tell me everything, and I can give you a quick death."

"I won't say anything!"

Roderick laughed; how could he ever betray his uncle?!

"Quite the man!"

Big Bone wasted no more words, pressing his other hand against Roderick's forehead.

The power of the Devil King's Origin invaded his brain.

Soul Search.

"Aaaaaagh—"

Roderick let out a shrill scream, his eyes rolling back.

A few seconds later, Big Bone let go. Roderick collapsed to the ground like a pile of mud, having lost consciousness.

"General, the fortress is under control."

Shattered Bone reported.

"Seventy-three prisoners, one hundred and twenty killed. Our losses are minimal."

Big Bone nodded.

"Lock up the prisoners. Torture any useful information out of them. The useless ones... get rid of them."

"What about this one?"

Shattered Bone pointed at Roderick.

"Bring him back to camp. There is plenty of useful information in his head."

"Additionally, send someone disguised as a human."

"Spread the news back to the Kingdom of Glorious Light that 'the Demon Race attacked the fortress and Commander Roderick has been captured'."

Shattered Bone was puzzled.

"Won't that just make them tighten their security?"

"Tighter security is exactly what I want."

A hint of calculation flashed in Big Bone's eyes.

"Philys is a woman with an extreme need for control."

"She won't allow any surprises in her plans."

"With the fortress lost, she will surely send someone she trusts to handle it... like Karl."

"You want to lure him out?"

"To catch the bandits, first capture their leader."

Big Bone looked toward the human territories.

"Karl is a symbol for the humans. Kill him, and human morale will suffer a devastating blow."

"And..."

He recalled his past life, and the self-righteous look Karl had when he slew Dark Lis.

"I also want to see if this 'Paladin of Justice' can maintain his hypocritical nobility when faced with desperation."

The fortress was soon completely under the control of the Demon Race.

Big Bone stood atop the highest tower, overlooking the occupied human outpost.

This was only the beginning.

Next, he would pluck out the human outposts along the border one by one, forcing Philys and Karl to react.

Deep within the human territory, First Princess Philys soon received the news from the border.

"That idiot Roderick!"

Philys slammed the report onto the table, her beautiful face contorted with rage.

"I told him to be careful, that there were unusual movements from the Demon Race recently!"

Her confidant, Court Mage Soren, said cautiously,

"Your Highness, the report mentions an unusually powerful skeleton general appearing among the demons."

"He was able to easily resist Explosive Flame spells and blow open an enchanted gate with a single punch..."

"No matter how strong, he's just an undead."

Philys calmed down, a sharp glint in her eyes.

"However, this has indeed disrupted my plans."

"I haven't been able to contact Dark Lis lately."

"I suspect something has changed within the Demon Race."

"Should I send someone to investigate?"

"No, now is not the time."

Philys walked to the window, looking out at the garden outside the palace.

"The loss of the fortress and Roderick's capture are major blows to the kingdom's morale."

"Father has already ordered that the fortress must be retaken and the prisoners rescued as soon as possible."

She turned around.

"Send word to Karl. Have him lead an elite squad to the border."

"Remember, I want that demon general alive. I need to know what is happening inside the Demon Race."

Soren hesitated.

"Lord Karl is currently training recruits."

"And recently, regarding some of Your Highness's decisions..."

"He seems to have some doubts."

Philys smiled, a smile that was beautiful yet cold.

"Karl is a simple idealist; he believes in justice and the light."

"Just tell him that the demons are harming our people and have captured our knights, and he will set out without hesitation."

"As for his doubts..."

Her gaze became profound.

"Once this mission is over, I will have a good talk with him."

"Now, go."

Soren bowed and withdrew.

Philys stood alone by the window, her fingers absentmindedly tapping the windowsill.

"Demons... you'd better not ruin things for me."

She whispered to herself.

"This kingdom will be mine sooner or later."

"And Karl... you will be mine too."

Her ambition went far beyond simply eliminating the Demon Race.

Her father's throne, her brother's inheritance, the entire Kingdom of Glorious Light... she wanted it all!

And the Demon Race was merely the first stepping stone in her plan.

Philys just didn't know yet,

That this stepping stone had already turned into a blade of vengeance,

Waiting to pierce her heart.

In the border fortress, Big Bone received a report from a scout.

"The humans have made a move."

"An elite squad is heading toward the border. The leader is..."

"Karl himself!"

The Soul fire in Big Bone's eye sockets burned even brighter.

"He's finally here."

The Paladin who slashed him in his past life—they would finally face off in this life.

This time, the outcome would be completely different.

As Karl rode through the border forest, his heart was filled with fury.

Roderick was the son of his best friend and a Junior he had watched grow up.

When he heard the boy had been captured by demons, Karl had almost immediately volunteered for the mission.

"Karl, be careful."

Before his departure, First Princess Philys had gently adjusted his armor for him.

"That demon general is not simple. Do not underestimate your enemy."

"Rest assured, Your Highness."

Karl said firmly.

"Justice shall surely triumph over evil!"

"I will bring Roderick back!"

"And I will make that undead pay the price!"

Philys hesitated, but eventually just nodded.

"May the Light be with you."

Now, leading twelve of the most elite Paladins, Karl could already see the demon-occupied fortress in the distance.

The white stone was stained with black filth.

The kingdom's banners had been torn down and replaced with hideous skull flags.

"Lord Karl, there is a demon patrol ahead."

A scout reported.

Karl drew his longsword, the blade reflecting a dazzling golden light in the sun.

"Prepare for battle. Leave none alive."

The Paladins spurred their horses, charging toward the demon patrol like arrows from a bow.

The battle was one-sided.

The patrol, consisting of low-level skeletons and a few shadow assassins, scattered instantly under the Paladins' charge.

Wherever the Holy Light Slashes passed, skeletons turned to fragments and assassins screamed as they dissipated in the sunlight.

The battle was over before Karl even had to personally intervene.

"Too weak."

A young Paladin said dismissively.

"How could trash like this take the fortress?"

"Roderick really disgraced himself."

"Do not underestimate the enemy."

Karl said in a heavy voice.

"The reports said that skeleton general possesses extraordinary power."

They continued forward and soon arrived before the fortress.

The fortress gates were tightly shut, and the walls were deserted; it was eerily silent.

"Watch for an ambush."

Karl raised his hand, and the troop stopped.

At that moment, the fortress gates slowly opened.

A tall skeleton walked out alone.

In his hand, he carried the unconscious Roderick like a bag of trash.

"Karl."

Big Bone's voice was calm and steady.

"I've been waiting for you for a long time."

Karl's gaze narrowed.

"Put him down, undead."

"I can do that."

Big Bone casually tossed Roderick onto the ground.

"As long as you can defeat me."

"Arrogant!"

One of the Paladins couldn't help himself and charged forward on his horse.

"Die, monster!"

Holy Light enveloped his longsword as he slashed at Big Bone's skull.

Big Bone didn't even look at the knight properly; he simply raised his skeletal hand and flicked a finger.

Bang!

The knight and his horse were sent flying, crashing into a large tree. His armor was dented, and his fate was unknown.

The other knights gasped.

Karl's expression grew solemn.

"All of you, stand back. I will deal with him."

"But Lord Karl..."

"That's an order!"

Karl leaped off his warhorse and walked toward Big Bone.

"State your name, undead."

"My sword does not strike the nameless!"

"Big Bone."

The skeleton answered simply.

"Once a veteran under Dark Lis's command. Now... the one who has come to take your life."

Dark Lis?

Karl's heart stirred.

There had indeed been no news of that demon princess lately. Could it be... "Where is Dark Lis?"

"Dead. I killed her."

Karl's pupils contracted.

"You killed your own master?"

"She betrayed the Demon Race. She deserved to die."

Big Bone raised his spear.

"Just like you, who killed the innocent Dark Lis for your so-called human justice. You deserve to die too."

Karl shook his head in confusion.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Dark Lis was a leader of the Demon Race and an enemy of humanity."

"Killing her was my duty!"

"Duty?"

Big Bone laughed.

"What a grand-sounding excuse."

"You don't even know why she appeared alone before you, do you?"

"You don't even know that she actually wanted to defect to the humans, do you?"

"You just saw a demon, swung your blade, and then basked in your own sense of justice."

"Nonsense!"

Karl was furious. Without the memories of his past life, he had no idea what the other was talking about.

"How could a demon ever defect to humanity!"

"Because she fell in love with you, you foolish human."

Big Bone spoke each word deliberately.

"For you, she betrayed the entire Demon Race!"

"And in return, she got your sword through her heart."

Karl was stunned and even more confused.

Dark Lis... loved him?

How was that possible?

They were enemies, opponents fighting to the death... Her loving him would be no different from a cat loving a mouse or a wolf loving a sheep.

But in his memories, the way that demon princess looked at him was indeed a bit strange.

And before that final battle, she seemed to want to say something, but he had cut her off... No! Impossible! This is a demon trick!

"You want to shake my conviction?"

Karl gripped his longsword tightly again.

"It's useless, undead."

"The Light shall surely dispel the darkness! That is an eternal truth!"

"Then let me see how bright your Light really is."

Big Bone pointed his spear directly at Karl.

"Come, fight!"

Holy Light erupted, and Karl charged at Big Bone like a golden meteor.

Longsword and spear collided, creating a deafening roar.

A shockwave spread out, uprooting nearby trees. The Paladins were forced to retreat to avoid it.

"So strong..."

A knight murmured.

"That undead can actually hold his own against Lord Karl..."

On the field, Karl grew more alarmed as the battle progressed.

The skeleton's strength was beyond imagination; every block left his arms feeling numb.

Even more terrifying was that the opponent's combat techniques were exquisite, completely unlike a normal undead that relied only on instinct.

"Is this all you've got?"

Big Bone knocked Karl back with a thrust of his spear.

"You were only able to kill me in our past life because I was defenseless, heavily wounded by the Holy Brilliance Annihilation Grand Array."

"In a fair fight now, you are no match for me at all."

"Past life? What nonsense are you talking about!"

Karl gritted his teeth, unleashing his Holy Light swordsmanship to its full extent.

Sword shadows formed a net, enveloping Big Bone's entire body.

This was the ultimate technique of the Order of the Glorious Knights, 'Holy Light Thousand Slashes'.

It had slain countless powerful demons.

Big Bone neither dodged nor blocked, letting the blades fall upon his skeletal frame.

Clang, clang, clang, clang—

Sparks flew, but only shallow white marks were left on Big Bone's bones, and they disappeared in an instant.

"Impossible!"

Karl cried out.

Holy Light was supposed to counter the undead.

This move was enough to shred a high-level demon into pieces.

Yet it couldn't even scratch this skeleton?

"My turn."

Big Bone spun his spear, thrusting it out like a bolt of black lightning.

Karl barely managed to raise his sword to block, but he was sent flying.

He rolled several times on the ground before stopping, blood leaking from the corner of his mouth.