They moved through the forest at a slower pace.

The horned horses were left deeper among the trees, tied and hidden with simple concealment spells from Seris. From there, the three continued on foot.

The ground sloped downward as they approached the village.

Mike stopped at the edge of a small rise and signaled the others to get down.

Below them, the village came into view.

Or what was left of it.

Several houses were damaged, doors torn apart and walls cracked. Pale blue flames flickered between buildings. Dozens of undead moved through the streets—armored skeleton warriors, skeletal archers on rooftops, and heavier units dragging rusted weapons behind them.

At the center of it all floated a skeletal mage.

Its bones were darker than the others, etched with glowing runes. A cracked staff hovered beside it, mana pulsing steadily from the core in its chest.

"Skeleton mage," Seris whispered. "And a strong one."

Mike narrowed his eyes. "That's the one controlling them."

The undead were methodical. They moved in groups, breaking into houses one by one, tearing apart floors and smashing walls.

"They're searching," Elina said quietly.

Mike nodded. "The villagers are underground."

The village chief's house stood near the center of the settlement. Unlike the others, it was mostly intact—but several undead were already surrounding it.

Heavy skeletons slammed their weapons into the ground, cracking stone and wood. Others clawed at the walls, trying to force their way in.

"They're close," Elina said. "If they break through—"

"We don't let that happen," Mike said.

Seris quickly pulled out a small device. "I can deploy two golem units to draw attention. Five minutes, maybe more."

Mike shook his head. "Too risky. If they regroup, the villagers die."

He studied the layout one more time.

"Seris," he said, "can you lock down the mage?"

Seris grinned. "For a short time. Yes."

"Elina," Mike continued, "support only. Heal, barriers, no big spells unless needed."

Elina nodded firmly.

Mike took a slow breath.

"Target priority," he said calmly. "Mage first. Then the heavy units."

Seris activated a small mana core. A faint hum filled the air.

"On your signal," she said.

Mike's eyes locked onto the skeletal mage below.

"…Now."

Seris slammed the device into the ground.

Blue mana chains shot forward, bursting from the earth and wrapping around the skeletal mage. The runes on its bones flared violently as it struggled, screeching in rage.

At the same time, Mike jumped.

He landed hard on a rooftop, tiles shattering under his feet.

The undead reacted instantly.

They all turned toward him and then rushed at him.

Using the opening, Elina raised her staff and slammed it into the ground.

Emerald-green vines burst from the earth and rapidly spread, wrapping around the entire village chief's house. They layered over one another, forming a thick dome-like barrier. The vines hardened, glowing faintly as they absorbed impact from incoming attacks.

The undead struck the vines, but they couldn't break through.

"Elina!" Mike called.

"I've secured the house!" she shouted back. "You can fight freely now!"

Mike smiled.

"Good."

He snapped his fingers.

Mana surged outward.

Two summoning circles appeared beside him.

From the first emerged a beautiful silver wolf, its fur glowing softly, eyes sharp and calm. Wind-like mana rolled off its body as it stepped forward silently.

From the second circle rose a massive volcanic python. Its scales looked like cracked lava rock, glowing red-orange from within. Heat distorted the air around it as flames leaked from its mouth.

Pyra was the newest beast he got last year, he got it from Seris family.

Both came to him nudging him affectionately.

"Zephyr" he said to the wolf, "clear the archers."

The wolf lowered its body and vanished in a blur.

"Pyra," Mike said to the python, "crowd control. Keep them away from the house."

The volcanic python let out a deep hiss. Flames poured from its body as it slammed into the street, crushing skeletons and igniting the ground.

The undead formation broke instantly.

Skeleton archers on rooftops were ripped apart as the silver wolf leaped between buildings, claws slicing clean through bone.

At the center of the village, the skeletal mage screamed as it struggled against Seris's mana chains.

Seris clenched her teeth. "I can't hold it for long!"

Mike jumped down from the roof and walked forward, mana hardening around his arms.

"Then I'll finish it fast."

The ground cracked under his steps as he advanced toward the mage, undead bodies collapsing around him.

Mike drew his sword.

The moment his hand wrapped around the hilt, his Sword Saint talent activated. His breathing steadied, his stance sharpened, and the world seemed to slow just a little. Every movement of mana around him became clear.

The skeletal mage shrieked and raised its staff.

Dark magic surged.

A volley of bone spears shot toward Mike.

He stepped forward and swung.

Slash.

The spears were cut in half midair.

The mage reacted instantly, chanting faster. Black mist spread across the ground, skeletal hands clawing upward.

Mike didn't stop.

He moved.

Each step was precise. Each swing was clean.

Sword light flashed as he cut through the spell formation itself, slicing apart the mana flow that sustained the magic. The skeletal hands collapsed into dust before they could reach him.

The mage screeched and fired a compressed orb of death mana.

Mike twisted his wrist.

Clang.

The orb split apart, its energy dispersing harmlessly into the air.

Seris stared. "He's cutting spells…"

Elina explained clearly. "No—he's cutting the mana structure."

The skeletal mage panicked. Its rank was high, but against Mike it meant nothing. Every spell it released was dismantled the moment it formed.

Mike closed the distance.

The mage tried one last chant.

Too slow.

Mike appeared in front of it and drove his sword straight through its chest core.

Crack.

The necromantic core shattered.

The skeletal mage froze, then collapsed into a pile of lifeless bones.

Silence fell over the village.

The remaining undead, no longer controlled, staggered aimlessly—only to be finished off by Pyra's flames and Zephyr's swift strikes.

Mike pulled his sword free and exhaled slowly.

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