Undead Mage: I Have a Skeleton Clone-Chapter 579 - 403: The Terrifying Power of the Corpse Explosion Skill, Massive Spoils! _2

The Evil Fire Monsters were a highly militarized race; one could say their entire population was an army. Although their lifespans were far shorter than humans, their growth rate was even more astounding. Trained as warriors from a young age, nearly every Evil Fire Monster was a competent combat unit. This rapid growth and high-intensity training made the Evil Fire Monsters the most reliable and effective cannon fodder under the Magma Demons.

Fang Zhou took special notice of a pitch-black horn hanging from the waist of one of the elite Evil Fire Monsters. It also carried a net on its back, which seemed to belong to the commander Ye Yinzhu had mentioned earlier. However, after looking back and forth several times, Fang Zhou couldn’t discern any difference in appearance between it and its companions. The elite Evil Fire Monsters were nearly identical, with the only distinctions being the horn and the net.

But that wasn’t important. What mattered was that under Fang Zhou’s Soul Eagle Eye, the Energy Fluctuations of even the strongest Evil Fire Monster did not exceed the Lower tier of Black Iron. This meant they posed no threat to him at all.

Liu Diewu and the other members of the Calamity Squad maintained a relaxed demeanor, clearly not taking the situation seriously. They were merely waiting for Fang Zhou’s command, ready to act at any moment.

Ye Yinzhu chuckled and asked, "Master Fang Zhou, do you have a way to release some of the prisoners? It would create some chaos among the Evil Fire Monsters and make our attack easier."

This coincided perfectly with Fang Zhou’s previous plan to ambush the Jackal Wolfmen, so he replied, "I can try, but I can’t guarantee complete success. Our primary target remains the Evil Fire Monsters. If those prisoners are foolish enough to get in our way, then after we’re done with the Evil Fire Monsters, we’ll just go ahead and slaughter them all as well."

The key to this mission was whether they could successfully assassinate the commander before it could send a signal. Otherwise, attracting three Evil Fire Monster patrols at once would only create unnecessary trouble, despite their confidence in Fang Zhou. After all, an unknown number of Magma Demons lurked behind these Evil Fire Monsters.

Since Fang Zhou had spoken, Ye Yinzhu and the others naturally had no objections. They quickly adjusted their formation, preparing for the battle to come.

Fang Zhou took the lead, using the Celestial Curtain Magic Bottle to release the Undead Sky Screen, which enveloped his entire Undead Legion. As the distance closed, he initiated the attack.

"Skeleton Heart-Piercing Flying Spear!" Fang Zhou commanded in a low voice. A terrifying, ghostly-white spear formed entirely of bone sliced through the air, heading straight for the lead elite Evil Fire Monster.

Moving as fast as lightning, the spear pinned the completely unresponsive target to the ground. The elite Evil Fire Monster’s body twitched a few times before going still. This blow not only swiftly dealt with the leader but also bought precious time for the subsequent attack.

At the same time, a volley of bone arrows, also infused with Death Energy and Corrosive Poison, rained down. Their targets, however, weren’t the remaining elite Evil Fire Monsters. Instead, they instantly killed the others guarding the perimeter. A single volley from the thirty Skeleton Archers was more than enough to kill them, especially since the arrows were enhanced by the effects of the Skeleton Armory and Brutal Aura, which further boosted their Attack Power.

In an instant, the Evil Fire Monsters on the perimeter fell, and the scene plunged into chaos. The Fishmen and Demon Swamp Frogs seized the opportunity to scatter, trying to escape their captors’ control.

Although Ye Yinzhu’s team was surprised by the power of the arrow rain, they immediately followed the plan and unleashed their own long-range attacks. Crossbow arrows, flying blades, and Magic Missiles flashed in succession, all aimed at the Evil Fire Monsters they had marked beforehand. According to their plan, after Fang Zhou assassinated the horn-blowing Evil Fire Monster, their next objective was to kill all the squad leaders as quickly as possible. This would deprive the Evil Fire Monsters of a unified command, allowing them to wipe out the remaining forces in one fell swoop.

Thanks to the meticulously planned ambush, most of the elite Evil Fire Monsters were eliminated in the first wave. Another one tried to issue a command, but a second Skeleton Heart-Piercing Flying Spear from Fang Zhou sent it to meet the Evil Fire Monster god. This blow not only eliminated another commander but also further exacerbated the chaos among their ranks.

Meanwhile, the Undead Army charged from both flanks. Their goal wasn’t solely to kill but also to prevent any Evil Fire Monsters from escaping. The Undead Soldiers rushed into the enemy’s ranks, surrounding and dividing them to ensure none could slip away.

But it was here that the Evil Fire Monsters’ strict military discipline showed itself. Under the command of a sturdier-looking Evil Fire Monster, the panicked survivors quickly began to form small battle formations. Although they lacked the strength and constitution of humans, their military training was rigorous, allowing them to restore order even amid chaos. The sturdy Evil Fire Monster screeched loudly, directing the others to form a defense formation to resist the assault.

However, because they had been escorting prisoners, they were somewhat spread out. This might not have mattered under normal circumstances, but at such a critical moment, Fang Zhou wasn’t about to give them the chance to regroup.

With a series of commands, the elite Skeleton Lieutenants led by Olaf, along with the Close Combat Professionals from Ye Yinzhu’s group, pressed forward together. Not only were these elite Skeleton Lieutenants powerful, but they were also tactically flexible, swiftly cutting into the enemy lines to divide and surround the Evil Fire Monsters.

Fang Zhou also cast group attack skills like Poison Cloud Skill and Skeleton Shock Wave. A surprise attack like this demanded speed and decisiveness, so there was no point in trying to conserve Mana. Under the perfect Dusk State triggered by his Dusk Robe, these direct damage skills received a power boost of roughly twenty percent.

The Poison Cloud Skill spread rapidly, enveloping a large group of Evil Fire Monsters, slowing their movements and making it difficult for them to breathe. They struggled within the toxic mist as their bodies gradually rotted and their strength rapidly waned. The Skeleton Shock Wave then surged forward like a tide, knocking down the struggling monsters one by one. The continuous, bone-chilling sound of cracking skeletons filled the air. With the continuous onslaught of these skills, the Evil Fire Monsters’ combat effectiveness plummeted.

However, his spellcasting drew the attention of the last few elite Evil Fire Monsters. They roared in anger and charged, brandishing their curved sabers. These elites were more robust than the regular ones, and the flames covering their bodies burned more intensely, making them look extremely fierce. Several other Evil Fire Monsters unhesitatingly followed them, clearly identifying Fang Zhou as the biggest threat. As a Chaotic Evil humanoid race, the Evil Fire Monsters were not as intelligent as humans, but they weren’t far behind. They were especially perceptive when it came to battle.

Ye Yinzhu grew anxious. "Master Fang Zhou, be careful! They’re targeting you!"

But Fang Zhou’s expression remained calm as he slightly shook his head. He had long anticipated this move and had already devised a countermeasure.

With a flash, a wide swath of murky green light washed over the charging elite Evil Fire Monsters. The instantly expanding Rotting Aura gave them no time to dodge, completely enveloping them all. They let out a series of pained whimpers before their charge came to an abrupt halt.

Without exception, the bodies of these few Evil Fire Monsters were coated in a gruesome, sickly green glow. Their limbs grew weak and powerless, and they collapsed to the ground. Although Evil Fire Monsters excelled in agility and speed, their strength and constitution were sorely lacking—at least, not enough to resist the effects of Fang Zhou’s Rotting Aura.