The Rise Of The Undead Emperor

Chapter 4: Bad Time For Being Bones

   Everyone prepared their weapons and gazed at their surroundings with vigilance. The howl echoed throughout the entire mine shaft. The sound of a four-legged beast tapping on the mossy cobble floor became closer. 

   The howling of this beast then came near. Rein became puzzled at his party's actions. However, he realized something causing him to slap his skull with his right hand. 

“Oh yeah, I forgot that we're made of bones. Then wolves are practically dogs. Why would I even forget about such things?”

   After realizing that problem, Rein raised his defenses and used his hardening skill. Surprisingly, activating the defense skill didn't require any chants, unlike the fireball skill which Rein only employs. After increasing his defensive capabilities, Rein listens carefully to the sound of the howls.

  Rein seems more confident and least confused. But the howls of their enemy suddenly stopped. The skeleton party looks in every direction. All focus on where the enemy might strike. The group covered each other's backs. Lonor faced the south and east, Herm faced the west, and Rein was in charge of the north.

   The two of the three skeletons faced the walls of the mine shaft; none dared to blink an eye. But due to them being undead and their eyes are only empty sockets. This party of undead didn't even have to blink. Their eyes are empty and there is only a glow inside the empty sockets to prove they are monsters alive.

   Rein didn't command the others to act. So he thought: ‘wolves must be the common enemy of my species if they act like this. This is so stupid! I have steep so low that a mutt is one of my worst enemies.’ Rein knew that there is invisibility in this world after fighting the archer. Due to this Rein didn't even think of letting his guard down. Since the enemy might be like Lonor, someone who can turn invisible. Then moments later, the other skeletons laid their eyes at the sight of their nemesis.

   A beast with red fur emerged from a distance gazing at them with its golden eyes like it found its perfect prey. Its salivating mouth opens exposing its sharp canines that are ready to maul them. Rein's empty sockets on his eyes glowed brightly as he gazed at the beast's size.

“That thing is huge! Do we have to take that thing down!? That thing is about five feet tall and might be taller when it sits. Can we guys run away from that thing instead of confronting it directly?"

The other skeletons looked at Rein, since they can’t talk, the two skeletons replied through sign language. “No”, with their heads shaking sideways.

 Rein lets out a disappointed sigh. Before yelling the order, “ATTACK!"

   The skeletons charged towards the beast with full might. Herm charged at the front lines.Herm slashes the wolf with his sword. The beast took the hit but wasn't receiving that much damage due to its thick red fur. However, arrows flew behind Herm. The arrows engulfed by a golden glow caught the wolf off-guard. The beast, however, was quick to react even when caught off guard. It jumps away from the arrows completely avoiding the attack.

   Herm didn't waste any chance to charge while Lonor's arrows still had the wolf's attention. With his double edge sword, Lonor slashes the wolf with a more powerful attack. The beast still evaded the attack but did not escape unscathed. The wolf had a wound on its neck created by Herm after penetrating the thick red fur that protected the wolf. The beast wasn't happy with such a scar as it growled loudly.

   The raging beast charged toward Herm at full speed. The sword-wielding skeleton raised his sword as he awaited the wolf to be in range but it was only a bait. Herm used a skill which created a purple shield that is slightly transparent. Herm successfully blocked the attack of the wolf with his skill. Causing the wolf to bash its head against the purplish transparent shield, which leads to the beast becoming dizzy.

   Herm deactivates his unique skill and exposes the dizzy wolf to his sharp but slightly rusted sword. The undead swordsman rushed towards the beast prepared to launch a full swing. Herm managed to get his swing to connect which dealt massive damage to the beast. The wolf howled in pain as Herm gave it a scar across its face. 

   The beast jumps away from the second swing that Herm was about to do. But as the beast jumps backward, arrows are fired by Lonor which lands on the beast's back. But it growls at the skeletons and seems to not have learned its lesson.

  The wolf controlled by emotions charged Toward Herm. But before he could even get halfway through. An orb of fire flew in the beast's direction and exploded in its face. The body of the wolf burns in flames. However, the beast even with heavy injuries still stood its ground.  Rein had a baffled look as he witnessed the beast still willing to fight. 

“Why won't you just go down easily!” Rein exclaimed.

  The beast replied with a growl, its face covered in blood and its body burning. This made the wolf more terrifying and almost resembled a demon not to hunt but something that's out for blood. Rein felt his spine turn cold as the beast looked him straight in the eye. The wolf then launched another attack towards the party. Driven by rage and hate, the wolf raced at the skeletons with full speed.

  Herm successfully blocks the wolf with his skill shield. However, he was pushed a few meters away by the raging beast. Then the purple shield shattered into pieces. The wolf did not let go of such a chance. It stretches it's head forward Herm who’s behind the shield. The wolf reached for Herm’s head as it opened its mouth. 

  Herm’s end was clear as day since escaping such an attack is impossible. The wolf got one inch close to crushing Herm’s skull with its mouth. However, the skeleton made a quick decision and saved himself.

*Shiiiing*

  Herm, with a swift decision, used his sword to block the bite of the beast. Saving himself from going to undead heaven. The wolf then stares directly into Herm with a raging gaze.