This well-trained elite squad was decisive and made the most sensible choice.

But having come all this way, leaving wasn’t going to be so easy.

"RUSTLE~~"

In the sparse woods, the crimson sand churned and dry leaves scattered as Skeleton Servants rose from the ground one after another, springing up like mushrooms after a rainstorm.

They came in all shapes and sizes—Fishman skeletons, goblin skeletons, Gnoll skeletons, and more. In short, the force was a motley crew, but their numbers were immense. In an instant, they formed a circle around the small camp, cutting off all avenues of escape.

As a cautious Necromancer, would Lynch ever set up camp without making thorough preparations?

Just then, the red glow in Esther’s eyes intensified. She let out a soft, excited hiss, and with a single flap of her wings, she transformed into a black blur, lunging straight for the Tier Two Warrior who was retreating the fastest.

"Get away!"

The Tier Two Warrior, a mix of fury and alarm, unleashed the cyan aura on his two-handed sword. It erupted into a fierce arc of light, slashing viciously at the approaching Vampire.

However, as a Vampire, Esther’s strengths were speed and agility. Moreover, her rank was higher than her opponent’s. Seeing the attack, she made a deft twist in mid-air, effortlessly dodging the powerful blow and appearing instantly at the Warrior’s side.

The Warrior felt a sudden chill on his neck, followed by an irresistible, numbing sensation that spread through his entire body, making his legs grow weak.

He knew he’d been bitten by the Vampire, but surprisingly, it didn’t hurt at all. It was actually... comfortable. There was a bizarre sense of euphoria.

The blood from his entire body began to rush madly toward the bite.

"ARGHHHH~~~"

Though there was no pain, the absolute terror and the imminent threat of death made him scream wretchedly. He struggled desperately, but the Vampire’s grip on his neck was ironclad. His body grew weaker from the anesthetic effect and the rapid blood loss, and his vision began to fade to black.

Meanwhile, the other battles erupted.

"THUD THUD THUD!"

Heavy footsteps thudded as Zombie Blood Fang also sprang into action.

He charged toward the three Shield Warriors blocked by the Skeleton Servants. Though his movements were stiff, he advanced with the overwhelming, oppressive force of a war chariot.

He was even more hulking than he had been three months ago. His skin had taken on a deep, purplish-black hue, as if he were already evolving into a Purple Zombie, and his entire body radiated a dense, baleful corpse aura.

His strength had now reached Tier Two Peak, just one step shy of recovering his full power from his prime as Chieftain Blood Fang. Even so, his presence was utterly terrifying.

"BANG!"

With a dull thud, Zombie Blood Fang didn’t dodge or evade, simply ramming his body into one of the Warriors who had his shield raised to block.

The Warrior flew backward as if struck by a Siege Hammer, shield and all. Blood sprayed from his mouth as the sturdy iron shield in his hand was severely warped by the sheer force of the impact.

Immediately after,

Zombie Blood Fang swung his warhammer in a Horizontal Sweep, and the other two Warriors scrambled to raise their shields to parry.

"CLANG! CRACK!"

The ear-splitting clang of metal on metal was followed by the sharp crack of splintering shields.

The two Warriors cried out as the immense force sent them staggering backward. The recoil sent excruciating pain shooting up their arms, splitting the webbing between their thumbs and forefingers. They nearly lost their grip on their weapons.

The color drained from their faces, their eyes filled with utter horror as they looked at Zombie Blood Fang.

ROAR~

Zombie Blood Fang let out a deafening, guttural roar and lunged once more at the two despairing Shield Warriors.

Meanwhile.

On the other side.

The Dual Blade Scout, who had the fastest reflexes and had been using an acceleration skill, had already used his superior Body Technique to break through the encirclement of skeletons.

Noticing the tragic state of his companions, he felt a surge of relief at his own narrow escape.

However, just then.

The shadows beside him seemed to suddenly stir into life.

A ghostly figure emerged from the shadows without warning. A dagger flashed, quick and deadly as a viper’s tongue.

"TSSSK~~"

A thin red line appeared on the Scout’s neck.

His eyes went wide. He clapped his hands to his neck, but warm blood still gushed irrepressibly between his fingers, instantly staining his chest crimson.

It felt as if his strength was draining away along with his blood.

His body staggered forward a few steps from momentum before he collapsed to the ground with a soft THUD. The light in his eyes quickly began to fade.

In just a few short breaths, his face turned pale. The last traces of color drained away, and after a few twitches, he fell silent.

Only then did Bone Shadow fully materialize beside his corpse. The Soul Fire in her eye sockets remained calm and steady, as if she had just completed some trivial task.

Compared to three months ago, her bones were denser and more refined, and her movements were more fluid and graceful. Clearly, her power had reached the level of a Tier Two Skeleton Assassin.

The entire battle, from start to finish, had lasted no more than a dozen seconds.

With the Scout’s fall, silence returned to the camp, broken only by the occasional crackle and pop of the bonfire.

Esther let the body of the warrior leader fall limply to the ground. She had drained nearly half his blood, and his face was ashen.

She contentedly licked a trace of blood from the corner of her mouth, her scarlet eyes returning to their calm state. Then she flew back to Lynch’s side, retracted her wings, and reverted to her usual appearance as a quiet, petite girl.

Only the faint blush on her little face indicated how much she had enjoyed her "meal."