46
Chapter 46
Zombie 1's left arm was severed by a sword, but I managed to sink its teeth into the neck of the one who swung it.
I've tried this a few times against Worshippers; in close combat, biting the neck is the most effective way.
Even though it's a vital spot, it's hard to armor, making it the most lethal target.
It ripped away a mouthful of flesh. Green fluid leaked out.
I'm just glad I can't taste or feel it.
"Ugh!"
The Worshipper tried to cover the wound with his hand, but it was already too late.
Left like this, he'd bleed out and die. That's how Zombie 3 is born.
"Die!"
"Unbeliever!"
"Enemy of the One!"
The problem was that the remaining Worshippers were stabbing Zombie 1 with all sorts of weapons, but that was actually part of the plan.
I ordered Zombie 1 to 'struggle with all its might' and took control of Zombie 2.
The distraction worked perfectly. Now that they're ruthlessly poking holes in Zombie 1, this is my chance.
Go, Zombie 2!
"Gah!"
It crept up on a Worshipper and tore into their neck. Another big bite.
It was a small woman, and since her strength was weaker than Zombie 2's, it was easy to snatch her weapon.
The weapon was an axe. Unlike a sword, which requires skill to wield, this was a great item that only required a downward swing.
"It hurts..."
Yeah, I bet it does. Hope you're born into a world without demons in your next life, ma'am.
I brought the stolen axe down on the female Worshipper's head. Result: instant death.
"Graaaa...!"
And thus, Zombie 4 is born.
As for Number 3... he finally stopped breathing. I turned him into a zombie immediately.
The order might seem weird, but you're mistaken.
"What is—"
"Dark Arts...!"
The Worshippers were terrified, likely seeing zombies for the first time.
If the demon they served had been nearby, they'd probably fight like Berserkers, ignoring death entirely.
I'm really glad they're scattered.
That means I now have... three mobile zombies.
Number 1's head hasn't been cut off yet, but thanks to the Worshippers, he's become a human pincushion and can't move.
Seizing the momentum, I ordered Numbers 2, 3, and 4 to charge with the command to bite their necks at all costs.
"H-Hieek!"
Thus, three zombies and seventeen Worshippers engaged in a fierce battle.
As time passed, the bodies piled up, and as the bodies piled up, the zombies increased—a fight where the odds only shifted in my favor.
Only seven Worshippers remained.
"Cut off their heads! Stop them from moving!"
One Worshipper screamed.
So they finally figured out how to deal with zombies. Too bad it's too late.
Zombie 11, acting as a shield, lunged forward, with 7 and 9 right behind.
Once 11 pinned the Worshipper down, 7 and 9 just had to deliver the finishing blow.
"Aaaagh!"
Another one down.
I'd gained a lot of experience while moving with the Golden Sun Tribe.
Now, dealing with about twenty Worshippers was just a matter of time.
"Master..."
The remaining Worshippers fell miserably, and the 20-to-1 fight ended in my victory.
Ah, what a truly magnificent battle.
Taking down twenty people on my own. Maybe I've actually gotten pretty strong?
...Then, memories of Rake instantly killing the Snail Demon and playing with the Beaver Demon flashed through my mind.
And Kanto hacking through dozens of Infected alone, and Abraham bursting dozens of low-tier demons with his whip.
- ...
Dammit.
No. They're just weird.
It's only because they're bloodthirsty warriors who've been trained in fighting since they were kids.
Abraham, like George, is probably a veteran soldier or former special forces.
I'm still plenty strong. Yeah. Definitely.
After finishing my mental gymnastics, I led five of the relatively intact zombies to ambush another scouting party.
"There are sixteen Worshippers to the west."
It was much easier with Paya's orders, since she was watching the situation from a safe hiding spot.
Those bastards have no radios or horns. They can't share the knowledge the Worshippers who fought me discovered.
"The head!"
They only realize zombies die when their heads are severed once the tide of battle has already turned.
This is why intelligence and communication are so important.
However, attacking scouting parties one by one was no longer an option.
"Over there!"
The Worshippers aren't stupid. After their comrades were repeatedly ambushed, they caught on and started gathering in groups.
Well, even so, it's just a game of time.
They probably have no information other than 'our comrades were attacked!' If I drag this into a war of attrition, I'm guaranteed the advantage.
Thinking that, I tried to control the zombie standing at the front of the five...
Whoosh! With a sharp sound, a thick, long wooden spear slammed into its body.
Damn it. The spear was moving so fast that I was too late to react.
This spear belongs to... as I suspected.
Wooooooo!
An Orangutan Demon riding a monster donkey revealed itself. A Rabbit and a Badger Demon were with it.
I tried to pull the wooden spear out from the center of the body, but it wouldn't budge, perhaps because the tip was driven deep into the ground.
The strength and accuracy are monstrous. This thing is only low-tier?
Even Kanto in Berserker mode might not be able to block an attack like this.
It's the same low-tier rank as the others I've killed, but the level of strength is on a different plane.
...The Chimpanzee Knight looked stronger than this guy. I shouldn't have let myself relax just because there were only two demons in the city.
For now, I'll try to draw as much aggro as possible.
The longer I can tie down those three demons here, the higher the Tribe Alliance's Main Force's chances of victory.
"...Should Tuntun-i and I step in?"
Paya spoke to me through Totem No. 3.
- No need. Protect my totem from a safe distance.
This is too dangerous. With three low-tiers, I can't guarantee Paya's safety.
"Enemy! Kill them!"
"The One is with us!"
The Worshippers, now full of confidence, attacked the zombies.
Worshippers who charge in without fear of death are twice as troublesome.
I ordered the remaining zombies to retreat.
I didn't mean for them to actually flee, but to pretend to run and lure the enemy into chasing us.
"Chase them!"
The Orangutan, who looked like he would have stepped forward to kill all the zombies himself, simply watched from behind.
The other three low-tier demons stayed by his side. He probably thinks there's no need for him to interfere.
What a complacent approach. In the end, he's just a primate.
You arrogant Orangutan bastard, I'm going to make you regret this.
I targeted the scattered Worshippers one by one using various methods.
Pretending to be dead then biting, grappling them to death, or using the weapons embedded in the body to stab back.
I constantly switched which zombie I was controlling. Dozens of times per minute.
The Worshippers were the ones who started struggling. The tide of battle hadn't shifted, but the constant rise in casualties and zombies left them in chaos.
Of course, disregarding death is fundamentally different from being nearly immortal.
No matter how bravely they charge, Worshippers are mortals who die when a vital spot is pierced, while zombies don't die unless their heads are severed.
Now, Orangutan. How about it? This is just going to drag on forever.
Once I had switched the five zombies I was controlling to other bodies, the Orangutan finally stepped in.
With a whistling sound of wind, a wooden spear flew toward one of the zombies.
I immediately released control of that zombie and jumped to another body.
If you can't dodge it, discard it. That's the conclusion I reached.
While that stupid primate was standing by with his hands behind his back, I had secured plenty of corpses. There's no need to cling to a single zombie.
Using the Orangutan's throw as a signal, the Badger and Rabbit demons lunged forward.
The Rabbit's speed is incredible. In an instant, it reached the front and bit through a zombie's torso, ripping it in half.
Hah. I expected this, but the gap in power is real.
After that, I was helpless. Since the demons' specs were overwhelmingly superior, the zombies were torn apart without dealing any damage.
As expected of Zombie Control, a skill recognized as trash even in the game.
What's the point of harassing Worshippers if I can't even take down a single low-tier demon?
Bwaaaaah!
It was just when I felt like this wasn't working anymore.
I heard the sound of a horn, similar to the one I'd heard in the city. The tone was slightly different from when Devil's Sight was summoned.
Is this... an order to regroup back at the city?
I checked my score. It had increased significantly since the last time I looked.
It was clear that our Main Force had conquered all five villages on the way to the city and was now fighting inside.
The Orangutan hastily turned his mount around. The other two demons also looked ready to move.
I can't let you go that easily.
- Attack the rat-like demon.
Holding back four demons would be impossible, but I could certainly snag one.
I targeted the Rabbit Demon. I didn't pick it just because it was small, but because it was the fastest.
It had the highest probability of reaching the group first.
"Yes!"
Thump!
Tuntun-i, the transparent pigeon, flew in at high speed and knocked the Rabbit Demon back with a Body Slam.
It was a total car crash. The Rabbit went flying with a squeak!
Fast speed, but the reaction time is lacking.
The demons heading toward the city paused for a moment, debated, and then decided to ignore us and leave.
They likely judged that the city, with its mid-tier demons, was more important than a single low-tier.
- I will help. Kill it.
Since it's come to this, I might as well make sure the Rabbit is dead before I go.