The glory of the undead, we cannot refuse!

「I'm sure you all know that the Headless Knight Sergeant has been killed by the invaders.」 

The Skeleton Mage, his Intelligence rating a formidable 5, presided over the gathering. His telepathic voice echoed through the room as he slammed a skeletal fist onto the stone table. 

Clad in a tattered black robe that concealed his face, the Soul-Devouring Demon, a creature infamous for consuming human souls, let out a gloomy response. 「Strictly speaking, aren't we the invaders?」 

「Indeed,」 another voice chimed in. 「This castle was originally seized by us.」 

"Grrrraaaaaaaa!!!" The Blood Demon bellowed, its grotesque tongue flopping out of its fanged mouth. 

A horrific sight, the Blood Demon's blood-red skin revealed exposed muscle beneath. Its grotesquely disproportionate body boasted thick, clawed arms, a small waist, and short, muscular legs. A foul stench emanated from its gaping maw, making even the undead uneasy. 

The Skeleton Mage's skeletal hand shot out, slamming the table again. 「Regardless of who the invader is, we face a common enemy!」 

「Then I'll surrender. That way, we won't have a common enemy.」 

「Indeed.」 

「My god! You're too clever. I'll surrender too.」 

「I surrender to everyone's family.」 

"Grrrraaaaaaaa!!!" roared the Blood Demon, its words indecipherable to all. 

「Don't surrender so quickly!」 The Skeleton Mage's hollow eyes burned brighter with frustration. 「This time, the invaders are… humans!」 

The room fell silent, a heavy stillness broken only by the ominous flickering of torchlight. 

"Grrrraaaaaaaa!!!" 

The Soul-Devouring Demon finally straightened up, his curiosity piqued. 「Wait… you said humans?」 

「That's correct!」 the Skeleton Mage snapped. 

The Soul-Devouring Demon hissed in anger. 「Humans again?! Where are they? Let me kill them!」 

Another voice bellowed from the corner. 「How dare they invade our castle?! Insolent mortals!」 

「They killed one of our generals! Unforgivable! We must fight! Restore the glory of the undead!」 

"Grrrraaaaaaaa!!!" 

The hall erupted into a cacophony of rage. The undead who had so eagerly pledged to surrender moments ago now clamored for vengeance, frothing with fury as the air vibrated with their cries. 

...

"They're definitely in the meeting room…" Karen whispered, her keen senses locking onto the aura of the monsters inside. 

"How many?" Anyi asked, his voice calm but his eyes sharp. 

Karen's tone was grave. "Six. A Skeleton Mage, Skeleton Knight, Skeleton Executioner, Blood Demon, Bull Demon, and Howling Succubus. All of them are strong, with at least two attributes above 20. According to the Bestiary, they're Class 3 monsters." 

Ariana, startled, immediately shoved two more bites of food into her mouth. Her earlier casual demeanor evaporated as she hastened her Prana recovery. 

"Should we ambush them now, or wait for them to disperse?" Karen asked. 

"Let's attack!" Layton declared, grinning. "It's only six Class 3 monsters! Even sixty wouldn't stand a chance!" 

While his bravado felt exaggerated, it wasn't entirely unfounded. With their current attributes and equipment, they could handle six monsters—though sixty might be pushing it. 

Ariana turned to Anyi. "What do you think?" 

Anyi gave a simple nod. "I don't mind." 

"Alright, then let's go for a surprise attack!" Ariana pulled out her Goblin-enchanted staff, her other hand still occupied with a bite of food. Activating Encourage, a faint glow enveloped the group. 

Anyi glanced at Karen. "The Holy Maiden's skills have a restraining effect on undead. I suggest Princess Karen share her vision with her. Then, we can target effectively. Open the door and use a large-area spell." 

"Understood!" Karen and Ariana replied in unison. 

Quickly, they assumed their positions. Ariana stood by the door, ready to unleash her magic. Layton took the right flank, prepared to guard against ambushes. Karen held the left side, responsible for opening the heavy door. 

Anyi positioned himself strategically at the rear, ensuring he could provide cover or follow up with a second attack. His stance was defensive yet primed for swift action. 

Miruku, without a specific role, stood nearby. Her high Agility made her a potential scout or escape aid, but her contribution against Class 3 monsters was limited. 

At that moment, Miruku noticed Anyi pulling food from his bag, quietly eating as he watched the others. 

She immediately tensed, her expression becoming serious. If Anyi felt cautious enough to eat for preparation, then she had no reason to relax. 

[Holy Hero: Ready!]

As silence enveloped the group, Ariana raised her staff. Miruku braced herself. 

"3, 2… 1. Attack!" 

"Bang!" 

The massive doors flew open with a resounding crash! 

...

「The glory of the undead, we cannot refuse!」 

「I will lead the charge! Protect our castle!」 

「Kill the damned humans! Protect the glory of our undead!!」 

"Grrrraaaaaaaa!!!" 

The undead monsters roared and shouted, their fervor igniting the dark hall. 

Suddenly— 

"Bang!"

The massive door was flung open with a thunderous crash, its sound reverberating through the chamber. 

Dozens of undead monsters turned their gaze simultaneously, their glowing eyes locking onto the entrance. 

At the doorway, Ariana froze, her staff raised mid-spell. 

Her gaze darted to Layton, whose wide-eyed expression mirrored her own. 

"Uh, Karen… didn't you say there were only six?" Ariana forced a tight-lipped smile, looking over at Karen. 

Karen, frowning slightly, replied, "There are six." 

Layton gestured wildly to the sea of monsters. "There are actually sixty!" 

"Grrrraaaaaaaa!!!" The Blood Demon roared and charged forward, its hulking frame barreling towards them. 

「Kill!!」 the Skeleton Mage bellowed, pointing a bony finger. 

「Kill AAAAA!!!」 

With an earth-shaking clamor, dozens of monsters surged towards the doorway. 

"Holy Judge aaaaa!!!" Ariana cried out, snapping her staff forward. Light arrows erupted from its tip, flooding the hall in a dazzling barrage. 

Swish, swish, swish——

The party's vision was overwhelmed by cascading entries in the Bestiary, each flash marking another monster identified. 

"Run!!" Layton bellowed, his voice cutting through the chaos. 

Miruku acted without hesitation. Lightning-quick, she donned her shimmering Venom armor, her form blurring as she shot past the others. She slammed the door shut behind her, scooped up both Ariana and Karen, and bolted down the corridor. 

The Blood Demon crashed headfirst into the sealed door, snarling in frustration. But the intangible monsters slipped through effortlessly, their shadowy forms chasing after Layton, who was closest to the door. 

A tide of grotesque creatures swarmed forward—disjointed skeletons, spectral wraiths, and blood-soaked abominations. Even Layton, seasoned and stalwart, felt his heart hammer in his chest at the horrifying spectacle. 

Run! 

Run!! 

Run away!! 

[Sword Hero: Holy Maiden, quickly use the Barrier to block the path!]

As Layton's message flashed in the group chat, a radiant golden Barrier materialized before them, pulsating with divine energy. 

The horde screeched to a halt, their charge diverted. Over a dozen monsters slammed into the glowing wall, granting Layton the precious seconds he needed to escape. 

He rolled free of the encirclement and sprinted down the corridor, glancing back. His relief faltered when he saw Anyi still standing at the rear, unmoving. 

"Anyi, run! There are too many of them!" Layton shouted, his voice tinged with urgency. 

"It's fine. I'll cover the rear," Anyi replied calmly, his tone as expressionless as his face. 

Layton hesitated, his fists clenching. Finally, he nodded. "Okay! Then I'll go ahead!" 

Anyi's Agility surpassed his; Layton knew that even if he started running now, Anyi could catch up effortlessly. 

"Bang!"

The golden Barrier shattered, a cascade of light scattering like broken glass. 

At the same instant, a blinding white glow enveloped Anyi's hand. An ancient sword, its blade intertwined with vines and etched with luminous runes, materialized. 

[Goblin Priest Sword Lv99]

「Fiery Sword Technique, Flame Slash, Multiple release——」 

Anyi's voice rang out, steady and firm. "Burning The Sky!" 

"Boom——!!" 

A torrent of flames roared to life, rushing forward like an unrelenting tide. The inferno consumed the monsters in the hallway, their shrieks lost amidst the deafening blaze.