A Core Ship From The Start

Chapter 34: Chapter 24 Strategic Shift_1

Under the holographic projection, a blue planet appeared in front of everyone. To them, this scene was so dreamy that it was beyond imagination.

“Ah……”

Elisa’s mother covered her mouth with both hands, staring in astonishment at the planet before her, while Kado and the elf scout were just as dumbfounded. Elisa, however, was relatively calm — after all, she already knew that Duanmu Huai had abilities similar to a mage, so it was not surprising that he could do something like this. Instead, she curiously approached and looked at the holographic projection in front of Duanmu Huai.

“Sir Knight, what is this?”

“This is the map of this world.”

“Huh? Do we live on a sphere? Then where do we live??”

Hearing Elisa’s question, Duanmu Huai quickly stretched his hand out and tapped on the holographic projection, then quickly enlarged it. Subsequently, the entire City of Silver and its surrounding area appeared in front of everyone.

“Wow, is this the City of Silver? So, it’s like this??”

At this time, other people also gathered around, curiously staring at the holographic projection in front of them. This scene was truly incomprehensible, as they had never seen such a sight before.

“Ah, this is our castle! And the guards patrolling on the city wall! Even at night, I can see it so clearly…..”

Elisa was now like a child with a new toy, eagerly peering around, then she stretched her hand out in confusion, pointing to the edge of the map.

“Huh? What are those dense shadows over there?”

“Hmm? Let me see……”

Hearing Elisa’s question, Duanmu Huai noticed that there was a group of moving shadows in the lower left corner of the map outside the City of Silver. He also stretched his hand out and tapped there. The view then enlarged again, and everyone saw a swarm of Ratmen and Corrupted Believers accelerating toward the City of Silver…

“Enemy raid!”

At the same time, the bells representing the alert sounded outside.

After these days, there were not many people left in the City of Silver. Apart from a group of old soldiers who followed Captain Kado, the other residents had left the City of Silver earlier to flee elsewhere, and the servants in the castle had all been dismissed. At this point, the total number of people in the City of Silver was less than a hundred. The opposing Ratmen Army had at least hundreds, if not thousands, which naturally could not be resisted in any way.

Fortunately, everyone was already prepared to flee. At this moment, they hastily packed their belongings and boarded the carriages.

“Sir Knight, what will you do?”

Elisa looked at Duanmu Huai and asked anxiously. No wonder she was nervous. After all, Duanmu Huai’s armor was so heavy it might weigh several tons. If he were to ride a horse, he would flatly crush the horse to death. And if he were to sit in a carriage, the carriage would collapse as soon as he got in.

“I will cover the rear to make sure these guys won’t come after us.”

Duanmu Huai quickly gave his answer, then looked at Ogis.

“Ogis, you go with them and make sure they are safe.”

“………”

Hearing Duanmu Huai’s command, Ogis didn’t say anything, she just nodded slightly.

“I will take the lady and the young lady to Blackwood River. I have a secret hideout there which should be safe.”

The elf scout was already sitting in the carriage and then said to Duanmu Huai.

“I marked its specific location on the map. With that strange device of yours, it should be easy to find.”

“I see, you all withdraw first, Sir Kado as well.”

“Alright, you too, take care.”

After a brief conversation between the two sides, the Elf Scout issued a rebuke, driving the carriage to leave at high speed under the guard of Sir Kado and his soldiers, while Duanmu Huai took a quick glance at their retreating figures then withdrew his gaze, returning to the castle.

Now, it was late at night.

The originally bright moonlight was covered by clouds that had appeared at some unknown time, leaving the entire city in pitch blackness. Standing on the balcony of the castle, one could see nothing beyond the light from the torches of the castle. Duanmu Huai simply stood there, staring at the land before him shrouded in darkness – until red life signals appeared in his field of vision.

They’ve finally arrived.

Gazing at the Ratmen and Corrupted Believers steadily approaching The City of Silver, Duanmu Huai’s eyes were cold. He stood up and reached out his hand, a card appearing at his fingertips, then quietly disappeared.

Subsequently, a peculiar mansion radiating a ghostly blue light emerged, vaguely visible behind Duanmu Huai. He then flicked his right hand down.

In an instant, almost a hundred puppets quietly surfaced, neatly arranged like soldiers. They lifted their weapons and pounced on their enemies like Panthers in the night.

As this happened, the army of Ratmen and Corrupted Believers had broken through the city gates and returned to the city once more.

The silence of the city had clearly disoriented these filthy creatures used to constant turmoil. They had expected another delightful ritual to spread the “love” of the Filthy God to the masses. However, the city before them felt more like a graveyard rather than the joyous dance hall they expected. While these invaders were at a loss about what to do, countless puppets fell from the sky, charging straight into the ranks of the Corrupted Believers and Ratmen.

The sudden appearance of the Puppet Army caught the Corrupted Believers and Ratmen off guard, but at the same time, they found their enemy. Though the sharp blades of the puppets were deadly, it was hard for their physical attacks to make a dent on the bloated, disease-infested Corrupted Believers as before. And with a defence as low as 1 point, the puppets were no match for the Ratmen and Corrupted Believers. Almost instantaneously after their charge, the puppets were smashed into pieces, their attack seemingly having no effect other than causing a slight undulation in the Filthy Army.

This was, however, just the beginning.

While the puppets were being smashed into pieces, the sinister mansion behind Duanmu Huai, shining with the light of ethereal flames, started to stir. Then, its windows and doors opened abruptly, as if haunted, unleashing an invisible cold wind that swept past Duanmu Huai and sped towards the front.

Soon after, the Ratmen and Corrupted Believers noticed a change.

While they were crushing the suddenly appearing puppets, a multitude of white-robed spectral spirits radiating a mortuary chill emerged. They opened their mouths, letting out a mournful wail of death that sent shivers down the spines of all living creatures. These spirits then pounced on the Filthy Army like a pack of starving wolves.

This was the power of the card “Ghost Mansion” that Duanmu Huai had obtained from the Soul Shard!

“Ghost Mansion (Bronze)”

“Cost: 1”

“Whenever one of your servants (excluding resentful spirits) is destroyed, summon a resentful spirit onto the battlefield.”

From the sky, the army of spirits erupting everywhere resembled a white lotus in full bloom, which was a beautiful sight. But for the Ratmen and Corrupted Believers, such a pure embodiment of death was their natural enemy. They started desperately running in all directions. The diseases and toxic substances carried by the followers of the Filthy God were entirely useless against the resentful spirits, and they couldn’t even attack the spirits’ bodies. While every attack of the spirits weakened their vital spirits bit by bit.

Although the offensive strength of the spirits was not particularly high, their advantage lay in their spiritual forms, immune to ordinary physical attacks and only vulnerable to elemental and magic damage. Unfortunately for the followers of the Filthy God, they lacked prowess in this aspect as well. Soon, Corrupted Believers and Ratmen fell to the ground, touched by the “caress” of the undead. They lay there, cold and rigid, their hearts no longer beating, and even the viruses dwelling on their bodies withered and died under the gust of death.

This was why Duanmu Huai chose the Undead Card Deck. Nothing could withstand the power of death. Not even viruses, parasites, and bacteria were exceptions. Every “fire of life” would be extinguished amidst the wails of resentful spirits.

The only regret was that, as proven by the blood and tears of countless players, this deck could only be potent against high-level demons. Great Demons and Chaos Evil Gods were immune to these undead spells and effects, their magic resistance making them impervious. To deal with them, there seemed to be no other way than a head-on confrontation.

Of course, if there existed any divine artifact in this world capable of killing anything and everything, it might be of use… Unfortunately, no such item or card existed in the game.

For Duanmu Huai, however, this was already enough.

Looking at the enemy forces, already reeling amidst the army of spirits, Duanmu Huai nodded in satisfaction. Then he turned around and left – after all, there was no point in him staying there any longer.

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