Chapter 121: Attacking the Cursed Fortress

“Eh? Someone’s coming.”

The sudden alert interrupted their discussion. Everyone looked up and saw vague figures emerging through the mist to the south.

Though their features were not yet clear, their manner of walking suggested they were not undead.

“On guard!”

Lei Ming, Zhang Chaosheng, and Chu Cheng immediately drew their weapons and shields, taking the front line. The rest of the team quickly took their positions, coincidentally still arranged as before in their small squads.

After a dozen seconds, the figures passed through the mist and revealed themselves—fifteen newcomers, just like them, Descendants.

This group had two leaders: a tall, burly man clad in full plate armor carrying a large shield, and a bald mage dressed in an exquisite red robe.

Seeing Lei Ming and the others ready for battle, they signaled for their group to halt. The red-robed mage stepped forward and said, “I know the rules. Just asking if you want to cooperate. If not, we’ll leave immediately.”

Lei Ming frowned and glanced at Zhang Chaosheng and Chu Cheng. “What do you think? Should we join forces with them?”

Zhang Chaosheng thought for a moment, then nodded. “Though we’d have to split the rewards, there’s strength in numbers. We won’t need to waste effort luring out the monsters—we can launch a direct assault on the fortress.”

“Chu Cheng, what’s your take?” Lei Ming and Zhang Chaosheng both looked to him.

After a brief pause, Chu Cheng nodded. “That works. Quick resolution is better.”

Lei Ming nodded. “Then it’s settled. Let’s cooperate.”

He waved to signal the alert lifted and stepped forward alone to exchange a few words with the opposing leader. Soon, he brought Zhang Chaosheng and Chu Cheng over to discuss the alliance with the two representatives.

Though the other side seemed puzzled about letting a newcomer at level 28 take the lead, they said nothing.

“We have more people, so we can launch a direct assault. By the way, how many tanks and mages do you have?”

The red-robed mage, Su Beisheng, quickly replied, “Two tanks, three mages.”

“We have three tanks, two mages,” Lei Ming said, stroking his chin.

“Let’s follow the default arrangement: mages and tanks each receive 10 gold in subsidies, and anyone who contributes merit gets an extra 5 gold.”

“Agreed.”

“No problem.”

“What’s the tactic? Straight frontal assault?”

“It seems that’s the only viable tactic.”

“Alright then.”

“We’re fifteen on your side, fifteen on ours. Let’s form six groups of five—each of five groups with one tank and one mage, and the last group as a mobile reserve, supporting whichever group faces danger. Sound good?”

“No objections,” Chu Cheng nodded, joining their discussion.

They were all veterans who had likely attacked the Cursed Fortress more than once; their experience was invaluable.

This grouping basically maintained the original squads, so no rearrangement was needed.

They returned to inform their teammates of the decision; no one objected.

Though the mission was risky, having more people to share the burden was welcomed. Less profit was acceptable if it meant preserving their lives.

Half an hour later, the two teams split into six squads. Five squads moved forward, spaced apart, while the final squad stayed in reserve at the back.

The squads began preparations. Feng Lingxing took out a scroll and began casting, while the other teams’ mages prepared to summon cannon fodder.

As several mages started their incantations, Chu Cheng suddenly sensed something and turned toward the Cursed Fortress.

At the same time, Feng Lingxing, having summoned a towering five-meter earth elemental, also seemed alert and quietly said, “The undead mages inside the fortress have noticed us.”

“The undead witch towers inside the fortress significantly boost the power of the undead mages. When combined with the necromancer’s magic, they can unleash devastating war-level spells capable of instant death. Don’t waste your life-saving or damage-reducing skills recklessly—save them for emergencies.”

Chu Cheng bowed gratefully. “Thank you for the warning.”

“No need. I’m just looking out for myself. If you fall, who’s going to cover me?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll protect you.”

“Pleasure working together!”

“Likewise!”

The teams cautiously advanced, soon entering the range of the mages’ spells. Under the protection of Wang Jing and Yao Ning, Feng Lingxing began chanting.

Other mages in nearby squads also stopped and began casting.

But barely three seconds into the incantation, as magical energies swelled, a ghostly light suddenly shot upward from the center of the fortress shrouded in deathly clouds. The dark clouds coalesced into a massive sphere, which split open to reveal a black pupil. A massive, eerie beam burst forth.

“Prepare to resist!”

Standing in the front line, Chu Cheng decisively activated the ‘Fortify’ skill embedded in his equipment, a radiant barrier enveloping him.

Others in the team quickly employed various defenses—some casting protective spells with scrolls, others drinking necromancer defense potions.

“Hum!”

The colossal beam swept across them. Chu Cheng felt as though the world had turned gray and lifeless.

*System notification: You are under the gaze of the Death’s Eye. Making a Fortitude saving throw.*

*System notification: Your Hero Template (Immortal) activated; you are immune to instant death effects.*

*System notification: The Death’s Eye dealt 10,000 magic damage. Your talent reduces spell damage by 100 points, your magic resistance cuts spell damage by 26%, Blood God’s Body reduces damage by 24%, and the Fortify skill reduces damage by 40%. You have taken 950 magic damage.*

Chu Cheng exhaled deeply. The gray pallor of the world quickly faded. He glanced back to see others staggering, their faces pale, but all alive. They were already retreating swiftly to put distance between themselves and the fortress.

Chu Cheng had borne the brunt of the attack at the front, so those behind had suffered less—no one endured the terrifying 10,000 damage he did.

Feng Lingxing, standing behind him, was unharmed but his spell had been interrupted.

No matter; he had anticipated this.

Other teams also absorbed a blast of the Death’s Eye. Having faced the Cursed Fortress more than once, they were prepared and none were seriously harmed.

As professional tanks, they all possessed damage reduction talents. At level 40, with superior gear and tank specializations, plus damage reduction skills, necromancer defense potions, and multiple layered defenses, they easily withstood the attack.

After a brief rest to recover, everyone regrouped and approached the fortress again. The mages began their second round of casting.

Just as before, when the undead mages inside detected the surge of magical energy near the fortress, they reacted by unleashing the Death’s Eye to interrupt.

This cycle would continue for several rounds, gradually draining the power of the necromancer towers. Meanwhile, the undead mages inside would dispatch numerous ghosts and undead armies beyond the fortress walls.

This was exactly their strategy: force the undead mages to deploy troops and defeat them piecemeal.

During the second round, Chu Cheng activated Blade Storm to reduce damage by 30%, taking 2,000 damage—still easily bearable.

After waiting five minutes for most skills to cool down, Chu Cheng regretted not using Blade Storm during the first round, since Fortify had a 15-minute cooldown and offered higher damage reduction. It would have been better saved for critical moments.