Chapter 21 - Chapter 21: 15. Hidden Crisis

The army was ready to set out, with all the soldiers gathered at the stairway entrance.

Corporal Mars led his squad members in formation, quietly waiting for Sergeant Alvin Stafford to issue the attack command.

There were four staircases leading down to the first underground level, each located at a corner of the ground floor hall.

Sergeant Alvin Stafford decided that all personnel would descend using the staircase that Mars’ squad had reconnoitered.

The reason was that the staircase Mars’ squad had reconnoitered was the only one with an open metal gate, while the metal gates on the other three staircases were closed.

This was not to imply that Mars’ squad had failed in their reconnaissance mission. In fact, they were the best of the four reconnaissance squads.

The other three reconnaissance squads had also been attacked by the big skeleton, but their sergeants had ordered the metal gates to be strictly guarded and closed.

Although this move did indeed cut off the undead’s route to the surface, it came at a heavy price.

Noland Lee took advantage of the time when the army was gathering to quietly observe the other three reconnaissance squads.

Five startling casualties had been suffered by each of the three reconnaissance squads, with some dead, injured, and disabled.

The dead sin soldier, it was said, had his thigh bitten off by a skeleton hound and was dragged to the foot of a skeleton warrior, where he was hacked into a muddy mess by a bone sword.

The two surviving sin soldiers, one had several pieces of flesh bitten off by a skeleton hound, and another had his nose broken; both were nearly killed by the chaotic sword strikes of the skeleton warriors.

If it were not for the swift support from the squads remaining on the ground level, nine out of ten of the three reconnaissance squads would have perished underground.

This also indirectly proved that Corporal Mars was a wise commander who knew how to conserve his forces, tactically retreating, unlike other sergeants who were recklessly…

“Attention everyone.”

Sergeant Alvin Stafford, with his short black hair, blew his whistle and walked past the neatly arranged soldiers:

“Soldiers of the Empire, it’s time to cleanse this filthy land.

“In the name of the Empire, we shall punish our enemies with the weapons in our hands, pave the way forward with their bones, and let the Empire’s wrath burn away the wickedness within the graves.”

Sergeant Alvin Stafford took his honey hammer from a guard, raising it high:

“Now, let’s all move out, follow me into the darkness, and fight to clear Tomb No.1079.”

With that said, Sergeant Alvin Stafford, like a fearless warrior, took the first step into the poisonous fog-filled staircase, and his guard squad followed closely behind, acting as the pioneers for the rest of the soldiers.

The reconnaissance squads had already paid for this operation with their blood during the scouting phase.

During the formal fighting stage, they were granted a little privilege, allowing them to move at the rear of the army.

With the other squads stepping onto the staircase one after another, Noland Lee followed suit with Corporal Mars to return to the staircase which he had temporarily left for 1 hour.

On this downward path, Noland Lee saw many bones.

The fully armed Imperial Army, with an overwhelming force, had fought their way from the ground level down to the first underground level, crushing all the skeleton warriors and skeleton hounds they encountered into fragments.

When Noland Lee reached the end of the staircase and returned to the damaged metal gate, the remains of the soldier who had died from the “Death Pulse” had already been tidied up by the soldiers who had arrived first, and had not been trampled on by the Imperial Army as the skeleton bones had.

Corporal Mars took out a prepared metal can, collected the soldier’s remains, and spoke with some sorrow:

“Private Second Class Jack, when this battle is over, we will return you to your loved ones.”

Corporal Mars took out a strap, wrapped it around the metal can, and tied it to himself.

Seeing this scene, Noland Lee’s mind stirred, and he stepped forward and said:

“Chief Officer, let me carry him. Although I spotted the big skeleton’s aberration in time, I couldn’t save him, and I regret that.”

Corporal Mars’ determined face showed a slight softening.

The other soldiers also showed their approval and admiration for Noland Lee’s words.

Private Second Class Koben, who was carrying honey bombs, had his eyes twinkling and was about to come over and pat Noland Lee’s shoulder…

“…Jarvis, I appreciate your kindness, but I’ll take care of this. It’s my duty as the squad commander. Besides, you haven’t injected the strengthening potion yet, so carrying the metal can would be inconvenient for you.”

Corporal Mars gently refused Noland Lee’s request, then waved his hand forward:

“Keep moving, brothers, let’s use the undead’s bones to send off Private Second Class Jack.”

The soldiers followed Mars through the damaged metal gate. As they passed Noland Lee, they patted him on the shoulder to show their approval and consolation.

Noland Lee nodded his head to the soldiers in salute, falling to the back of the line.

Ah, how embarrassing…

Noland Lee sighed quietly in his heart…

Before crossing over, he was rather introverted.

Usually, he was either working as a socially awkward employee at his company or playing games at home, with very little social interaction.

However, as a hardcore player of role-playing games, he knew very well how to use words to gain character favorability.

After crossing over, when he learned about the “Imperial Fist” and encountered undead creatures he had only seen in games, he couldn’t help but feel that he had stepped into a game world.

Just now, seeing Corporal Mars take care of the fallen subordinate’s remains, Noland felt an impulse to gain some favorability points and followed through with it.

Although the results proved to be significant, and he indeed won more approval from the soldiers, Noland Lee always felt a bit uncomfortable…

Noland Lee shook his head slightly, dispelling the strange feeling in his heart.

After all, he was a little too innocent because he had little social interaction before the crossing.

If it were an experienced socialite who had fought in society for many years, would they be ashamed to take advantage of other people’s feelings?

…

Grave Vault Underground Level One.

After being equipped with targeted weapons by the Imperial Army, the skeleton warriors were no longer a threat.

Only the tall, spell-casting Big Skeleton was troublesome.

Fortunately, Sergeant Alvin Stafford had extensive experience.

He led his team to set up several launching positions and sent a team to lure the Big Skeleton scattered around the Grave Vault Underground Level One.

The Big Skeletons that came after the scent of the living hadn’t released the “Death Pulse” when they were bombarded by the Bee Syrup Bombs, turning them into beehives in name and reality.

With a series of battles that were too smooth, Noland Lee always felt an uncertain unease in his heart, feeling that he had overlooked some critical details.

As he swung the Honey Hammer to clear the Skeleton Warriors from the edge of the battlefield, he asked Corporal Mars, who was next to him:

“Chief Officer, can you tell me about the Spirit Pivot? I heard about it while scouting the first level of the grave vault. What is it, and what does it do?”

Noland Lee asked three questions in succession, but Corporal Mars didn’t feel annoyed.

On the contrary, Mars saw Noland Lee showing his curiosity as something to be acknowledged.

Heaven knows how many Sin Soldiers he had seen who were waiting for death and thinking about escaping every day. Noland Lee Jarvis was the first Sin Soldier he had met who was thirsty for knowledge. It was no wonder he was a top student at City College.

“Jarvis… These questions you’re asking are exactly what I wanted to tell you.”

Corporal Mars calmly said as he smashed a group of Skeleton Warriors with his hammer:

“The Spirit Pivot is a very sinister death-type magic building. Its scope is vast, covering the entire Grave No.1079 where we are now.

“The level of Spirit Pivot varies according to the magical effects it possesses.

“If it possesses only one magical effect, it is a Level 1 Spirit Pivot. If it possesses two magical effects, it is a Level 2 Spirit Pivot, and so on.

“Every Spirit Pivot is at least Level 1, which means it must possess the magic effect of ‘Resurrecting the Lost Souls.’ It can resurrect undead creatures on a large scale, allowing them to rejoin the battle.”

Mars kicked the melted bones at his feet:

“Just like these Skeleton Warriors. They may seem like mush right now, but if we don’t destroy the Spirit Pivot on the Third Underground Level, they’ll just stand up again in a few hours and fight us once more.”

Mars took a breath, waved his hammer, and crushed the struggling Skeleton Warriors under his feet, continuing:

“As for the Spirit Pivot on the Third Underground Level of Tomb No. 1079…”

His expression became serious, and he lowered his voice:

“That Spirit Pivot’s situation is very bad. Sergeant Alvin hasn’t announced his guess. But as far as I’m concerned, I estimate that the Spirit Pivot is at least Level 6 because it has shown six magical effects so far.

“The Wide Range Resurrection of the Lost Souls’, the ability to summon three types of undead constructs: Skeleton Warriors, Skeleton Hounds, and Big Skeletons, the Stitching Magic that creates Cavern Stalkers, and the magical effect that grants spellcasting abilities to the Big Skeletons are the six magical effects controlled by that Spirit Pivot.”

Corporal Mars put down the hammer in his hand and flicked it lightly:

“Hmm… Level 6 Spirit Pivot… I’ve only seen it twice in my years in the military, and this is the third time. In those previous battles, Necromancers from the Undead Cult were present, and we had to fight them off with great effort.”

Corporal Mars paused as if briefly lost in memories, with a hint of regret and sadness flashing in his eyes.

Two seconds later, he focused his thoughts and said firmly:

“The battle this time is likely to be as fierce as the previous two battles. We have to be mentally prepared… I don’t know how many more people will fall here…”

Corporal Mars continued to clean up the wandering Skeleton Warriors.

Behind him, Noland Lee’s eyes showed a thoughtful look.

If the two characteristics of “Bone Supply” and “Death Supply” were also conferred by the Spirit Pivot, wouldn’t that make it an 8-level Spirit Pivot?

That’s two levels higher than what Corporal Mars expected…

Noland Lee squinted his eyes at the battlefield illuminated by the coal lamp and suddenly realized that the Imperial Army seemed to have fallen into a trap.

From the beginning of the battle to the present, no Skeleton Warrior or Skeleton Hound had been used as a Bone Supply for the Big Skeletons.

From the start to the end, the Imperial Army never discovered the two magical features “Bone Supply” and “Soul Supply.”

It was as if the Undead Cult had planned it…

The Undead Cult seemed to be concealing something… plotting something…

Sinister, cunning, and patient…

The Undead Cult’s scheming was quite deep…