Apocalypse: Mad Necromancer’s Troops

Chapter 86, Undying Physique

 

Beyond three meters, it was hard to see the figure of a companion.

 

“Barson, locate the squad members,” Wu Heng placed his hand on Barson’s shoulder as they rushed forward together.

 

The path was littered with weakened guards on the ground.

 

There were few who had brought anti-poison gear, and gas masks weren’t widely available in this world.

 

Wu Heng quickly found the other members.

 

Kavina had put on that crow-beak mask.

 

Otruluk and several members of the Second Squad also used scarves to cover their mouths and noses.

 

“Let’s retreat first,” Wu Heng said directly.

 

In this situation, fighting was impossible; the rotting corpses weren’t affected by the poison gas, but the living couldn’t withstand it.

 

“Cough, cough~! My aunt... cough, cough,” Yuli said while coughing dryly.

 

“You’re about to die, and you’re still worried about your aunt?” Wu Heng said.

 

Yuli ignored him, transformed into a terror crow, and was about to fly inside.

 

Wu Heng grabbed her leg and said, “You get out first; I’ll check on the Deputy Deacon and the others.”

 

Yuli glanced at him and then nodded, “Alright!”

 

The squads began retreating, the fog filled with the sound of companions being dragged across the ground.

 

Wu Heng continued, “Let’s check out the stone fortress.”

 

Leaning on Barson’s shoulder, he moved closer to the stone fortress.

 

.........

 

Stone Fortress Hall.

 

The poison fog poured in through the doors and windows, instantly filling the hall.

 

The fighters used items or activated protective scrolls to fend off the effects of the poison fog.

 

But it still affected their combat abilities.

 

Crack~!

 

The panther was struck by a troll corpse, smashing through the staircase railing and falling down.

 

Immediately after, the troll corpse, clutching two guard commanders, tumbled down the stairs, crashing into the wall behind them.

 

The troll corpse swung its massive arms, hurling one person away before raining down blows on the remaining commander’s chest.

 

The chest armor dented, and blood spilled from his mouth as he coughed uncontrollably.

 

The others’ expressions changed drastically; seeing their companion about to be crushed to death, they were too late to intervene.

 

At that moment, gunshots rang out.

 

Bang, bang, bang~!

 

Bullets struck the troll corpse, causing it to stagger slightly.

 

The commander, drenched in blood, managed a difficult roll to put some distance between himself and the monster.

 

Wu Heng, with Barson, quickly rushed into the hall, his muffled voice coming from behind his mask, “Hold off these corpses.”

 

The Deacon and commanders quickly responded, charging at the troll corpses again to block their advance towards the staircase.

 

“Hmm?” The black-robed figure’s gaze fell on the rushing figures.

 

When he saw the leather armor of a common Guild member, he sneered.

 

“You think you can play hero at a time like this?”

 

Wu Heng didn’t respond, reloading his magazine as he advanced.

 

Then he started pulling the trigger.

 

Bang, bang, bang~!

 

A barrage of bullets hit the target one after another.

 

Cutting off whatever else the figure was about to say, the force of the bullets drove his body back.

 

As his black robe tore apart, the black-robed figure looked down in disbelief.

 

Raising his staff, he shot a 【Fireball Spell】 at his opponent, the blazing ball of flame flying straight out.

 

Barson quickly moved in front of Wu Heng, his body exploding into a shower of sparks as the fireball hit.

 

“You have necromancer’s minions too?” the black-robed figure said in a surprised tone.

 

Wu Heng didn’t answer, instead pulling the trigger even faster.

 

Bullets poured out as if they were free, shredding the once-black robe until it was nothing but rags.

 

“My servants, protect me!” the black-robed figure shouted.

 

But the surrounding rotting corpses were being held off by the others.

 

Seeing the strange weapon-wielding figure charging at him, the black-robed necromancer released a thick cloud of black fog and turned to flee upstairs.

 

Wu Heng and Barson quickly followed.

 

In terms of speed, both Wu Heng and Barson were faster than the necromancer.

 

But fearing a trap, Wu Heng let Barson run ahead.

 

Catching up to the black-robed figure quickly, Barson stabbed a dagger into his back.

 

The necromancer staggered and fell to the ground.

 

The black robe fell away, revealing a face as shriveled as a corpse.

 

Wu Heng’s eyes widened instantly.

 

How did this necromancer end up like this?

 

“Are you insane? Helping them...,” the necromancer shouted.

 

Wu Heng didn’t stop, continuously pulling the trigger.

 

Bullets quickly turned the necromancer’s head into mush.

 

【Gained Experience +77.】

 

Whew~!

 

The experience notification confirmed the target was dead.

 

Wu Heng sighed in relief beneath his gas mask.

 

He crouched down and began rifling through the dead body’s satchel.

 

Just as he started searching, hurried footsteps echoed from downstairs.

 

He grabbed something that looked like a skill book and stuffed it into his backpack.

 

Wu Heng stood up just as Deacon Yazde and the others rushed up.

 

Seeing Wu Heng and the corpse on the ground, they also sighed in relief.

 

“Wu Heng, are you alright?”

 

“I’m fine,” Wu Heng responded as he stood up.

 

Yazde glanced at the corpse and continued, “Bring the body with us; we need to get out of here. The rest will be handled by the guards.”

 

“Alright!”

 

.........

 

Outside the manor, it was utter chaos.

 

The ground was littered with guards.

 

Coughing, vomiting, and the wounds on their bodies were starting to rot.

 

Everyone was drinking potions.

 

A lot of money was spent this night.

 

So many people for one target, and it still turned out like this—considered a failure in some ways.

 

Yuli first checked on Slater, then rushed over, shouting in surprise, “Did you kill that black-robed necromancer?”

 

The others were also stunned.

 

Then they all turned to look at Wu Heng.

 

“When I got there, he was almost done for, so I just finished him off,” Wu Heng casually made up an explanation.

 

“Lucky you.”

 

Soon, the Deacon and Deputy Deacon walked over.

 

The panther, limping, hobbled along, and Yuli crouched down beside it, comforting it tenderly.

 

The Deacon said, “Alright, leave the rest to the guards; let’s get out of here.”

 

The necromancer’s body was handed over to the guards.

 

The professional squads then began heading back toward Blackstone Town.

 

Yuli looked much better now.

 

She walked beside Wu Heng and said, “I suddenly thought of something. He was also a necromancer, and you killed him. Does that make you a traitor to your profession?”

 

“Damn it!”

 

Back in Blackstone Town.

 

The Deacon addressed the group, “Once you’re back, treat your wounds. Today’s mission was a success. Your merits and rewards will be recorded. Alright, everyone, go get some rest!”

 

The group dispersed, each heading back.

 

The sky was already brightening as Wu Heng returned to his residence. He had Barson guard the door and then went to bed.

 

.........

 

Knock, knock, knock~!

 

The door was pounded urgently.

 

Wu Heng opened his eyes to full daylight.

 

Barson was still sitting at the table, watching the door.

 

Hearing the knock, he immediately got up and went on alert.

 

Can’t even sleep without someone knocking.

 

“Who is it?” Wu Heng shouted.

 

If it wasn’t something important, he would tell them to come back later.

 

“Wu Heng, have you had breakfast yet? Let’s eat together,” Yuli’s voice came from outside.

 

Damn it~!

 

Youth is great—so much energy.

 

Opening the door, he saw Yuli standing there, with some bruises on her cheeks, likely from yesterday.

 

He stepped aside to let Yuli in.

 

Wu Heng asked curiously, “Aren’t you tired?”

 

Yuli sat down at the desk, “What’s there to be tired about? I can go several days without sleep.”

 

“Come in, did your aunt mistreat you? Didn’t even feed you?”

 

“You’re not very nice,” Yuli replied, sitting down, “My aunt went out. Killing that necromancer yesterday solved Blackstone Town’s problem; otherwise, the Kingdom and the Guild would have sent investigators.”

 

"Oh, no wonder the town hall and the Deacon were so anxious, afraid that someone higher up would come."

 

"Yeah! That must be it."

 

Wu Heng made two bowls of noodles, then sat back at the table and began to browse through the book he obtained yesterday.

 

【Book of Necromancy, Volume Two】

 

This was what he had found on the corpse yesterday.

 

He thought it was a skill book, but it turned out to be a second volume.

 

As he waited for the noodles to be ready, he started flipping through it.

 

This second volume was much thinner, but the content was far more advanced.

 

One section discussed the profession of a necromancer after transformation.

 

For melee professions, after transformation, they could retain their class traits or most of their skills.

 

But for mages and some special professions, it was different.

 

Because the body is infused with a false soul by necromancy, it changes the inherent magical elements.

 

In other words, if you transform a mage, no matter what school of magic they practiced in life, they can only become a necromancer after transformation.

 

Because they can no longer sense other types of magical energy.

 

The same goes for clerics, warlocks, and similar professions where their power comes from divine sources, whether granted or exchanged, it's not their own.

 

After transformation, they can't retain this power.

 

Especially clerics, who often collapse immediately upon transformation, so the Book of Necromancy explicitly warns against converting corpses related to deities.

 

It offers no benefits and is likely to cause trouble.

 

Wu Heng continued flipping through the book and found another page.

 

【Pure Soul, Ancient Organ, Special Bloodline, Gathered in a Flesh Body, Can Acquire Necromantic Power Later, Create a Ghoul Body, Undying Physique.】

 

It turns out that necromantic power can be acquired later on.

 

That must be the condition of the necromancer from last night.

 

Although it grants immortality, being in a state between human and ghost would be hard for most to accept.

 

Besides, these things aren't easy to collect.

 

A pure soul refers to a wraith, which is naturally invisible and can pass through walls, making it nearly impossible to catch.

 

An ancient organ, this kind of thing, is not something just anyone can obtain.

 

As these thoughts crossed his mind, his brow furrowed.

 

He hadn’t been involved in many captures since coming to Blackstone Town.

 

The first was in the mining village, where they brought back a sealed ghost infant; the second involved organs, where Bagdong's organ had already been lost.

 

Could it really be just a coincidence?

 

A chill ran down his spine.

 

Yuli, who was munching on potato chips beside him, noticed his increasingly serious expression and hesitated to put another chip in her mouth.

 

She asked quietly, "What's wrong?"

 

"Uh, nothing," Wu Heng glanced at the content on the page again and casually asked, "Has Blackstone Town recently captured any fugitives with special bloodlines?"

 

"I don't know."

 

But she still tried to recall.

 

"Wasn't that child-stealing guy last time a warlock?"