Then, Fang Zhou felt his perspective return to normal, and he could move freely.

Ignoring the shelter guards and refugees, he quickly took out his Undead Magic Ball and began chanting spells to cast Summoning Magic.

As Fang Zhou cast the spell, gray vortices rose into the air, finally settling on the watchtowers inside the wooden walls. Dozens of Skeletons appeared silently on the towers, taking up strategic firing positions. Subsequently, Fang Zhou's Skeleton Blade skill armed all these Skeletons, transforming them into Skeleton Archers. They held longbows with arrows already nocked, making the previously sparse shelter defenses as solid as a fortress.

At this moment, a refugee, having apparently lost his mind to fear, screamed and rushed toward the winch that controlled the main gate. Behind him, two or three similarly panic-stricken refugees also charged forward. The camp guards tried to stop them, but their efforts were half-hearted.

Soon, the leading refugee reached the winch and grasped it tightly with both hands. Just as he prepared to turn it, he suddenly felt a heavy, cold touch on his shoulder.

The refugee turned to see a colossal Skeleton Warrior standing behind him, holding two sharp and heavy giant axes. The axe blades, glowing with a ghostly blue light, rested steadily on his shoulders.

"Master Mage… The Demons are coming! If we don't close the gate, we'll all die!" the refugee shrieked, his voice hoarse. His legs trembled so much he could barely stand.

The surrounding refugees chimed in, and the scene descended into chaos.

Clearly, this was a small challenge at the start of the normal difficulty Shelter Defense Battle. Sealing the camp gate would naturally aid the defense. However, doing so meant the loggers desperately fleeing outside the shelter would face certain death right under the Trial Students' noses. This would undoubtedly lower their final evaluation scores significantly.

Fang Zhou recalled the strategy guide Lu Renjia had given him. Such unexpected situations were a test of a Trial Student's adaptability; there was no standard answer. If one lacked the strength, they shouldn't force themselves to play the Holy Mother and sacrifice their hard-won defenses for a few dozen people outside the camp. But if one was powerful enough, they didn't need to overthink it and could act on their own judgment.

What should he do?

Fang Zhou remained calm, quickly issuing an order to his main combatant, Olaf. Olaf's hand on the axe was steady and powerful, not trembling in the slightest.

CRACK!

Olaf swung the axe. The sharp blade, leaving a silvery trail in the moonlight, easily sliced through the thick rope on the winch. The moment it snapped, the rope whipped through the air like an enraged snake, coiling and lashing with a whistling sound.

No longer restrained, the heavy wooden gate collapsed with a deafening, thunderous crash.

Among the refugees who were dumbstruck with fear, Olaf led a continuously emerging host of armed Skeletons. They formed a Death Array and slowly advanced out of the gate.

Just then, a group of Sheep-headed Monsters on bizarre mounts charged out from the depths of the forest. They gripped long spears and machetes, the crimson bloodstains on their weapons shockingly conspicuous. These mindless creatures and their steeds let out beastly roars, circling the clearing before the shelter. Their eyes gleamed with greed and ferocity, but they did not attack immediately, seemingly waiting for something more terrifying.

Then, the Black Armored Abyss Knight appeared at the edge of the dense forest. Both rider and horse exuded a bone-chilling aura. The hooded cloak it wore billowed in the wind, a symbol of darkness and ill-omen that stirred an indescribable fear in the hearts of all who saw it.

"Go, kill them!" the Abyss Knight's low, hoarse voice commanded from the shadows of its hood.

For the Sheep-headed Monsters, this command was absolute.

A short Sheep-headed Monster was the first to move. It urged its mount into a charge, guttural gibberish spilling from its mouth. It raised its long spear high, preparing to viciously stab the middle-aged warrior standing at the rear, who was protecting the retreating refugees.

The middle-aged warrior remained exceptionally calm in the face of the threat. He planted his feet apart, standing as firm as an ancient oak that had weathered the ages.

The long spear whistled toward him, but the warrior was already prepared. He deftly sidestepped the deadly blow while simultaneously bringing his lumber axe down with the force of thunder. The axe blade tore through the air with a sharp whistle. It instantly sliced through the Sheep-headed Monster's tough hide armor, penetrated its body, severed sinew and bone, and finally embedded itself deep in its spine.

SQUELCH!

With a sickening, wet sound, the middle-aged warrior forcefully pulled the axe free. It sprayed a shower of sulfur-scented blood from the monster's body, splattering his armor. Frightened by the scene, the Sheep-headed Monster's mount wailed in panic. It fled to the side, throwing its master—who had not yet drawn his last breath—heavily to the ground.

"Send two more!" the Black Armored Abyss Knight ordered coldly, completely unmoved.

The Sheep-headed Monsters, devoid of any moral compass, immediately complied. Two of them emerged like ghosts from either side. They charged at the middle-aged warrior, holding long spears tipped with a foul-smelling poison.

The middle-aged warrior smirked. He swung his arm mightily, and the heavy lumber axe whistled through the air as he threw it, sending it flying straight toward one of the charging monsters.

SQUISH!

A nauseating sound echoed, like something rotten being smashed to bits, and a suffocating stench filled the air. The Sheep-headed Monster had not expected the warrior to so decisively throw his only weapon. It had no time to defend itself before the lumber axe solidly struck its head. The flimsy leather helmet it wore was as fragile as paper, offering no protection. With a dull crunch, the monster's head burst under the tremendous impact. Bizarre crimson growths splattered everywhere, creating a horrific scene.

Startled, the other Sheep-headed Monster saw the warrior's now-empty hands and grinned bloodthirstily. It raised its long spear high and, brimming with rage and greed, thrust it forcefully toward the middle-aged warrior.

However, the middle-aged warrior still stood his ground. He simply leaned his upper body backward, skillfully evading the deadly thrust. The Sheep-headed Monster's spear whistled past his face.

Having believed the strike was a sure thing, the monster had used its full strength. The overexertion caused it to sprawl across its mount's back, completely losing its balance. Seizing the opportunity, the middle-aged warrior let out a low roar. He gripped the spear shaft in front of him with both hands and yanked down hard.

The warrior used the monster's own momentum against it. Combining the inertia from leaning back with the force of the spear's forward thrust, he pulled the shrieking monster from its mount. It crashed to the ground with a heavy thud.

Such a fall would have caused multiple fractures in an ordinary person, resulting in severe, debilitating injuries. But the Sheep-headed Monster's body was extraordinarily resilient. It endured the intense pain and struggled to its feet.

Yet, before it could let out a roar, a spear had already been thrust through the air.

THUNK!

The spear unhesitatingly penetrated the Sheep-headed Monster's forehead. Its tip embedded deep, and blood gushed forth.

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