Authentic Ragtag Army

For some time now, I have been enduring rigorous training. Even without any enhancements to my strength, my physical prowess has become astonishingly formidable.

Coupled with the specialized training I received from Master Horus on Skeleton Island, I have acquired adept combat skills, enabling me to swiftly incapacitate two or three dozen adversaries.

Moreover, the ethereal blue flame of the Heart of the Undead Warrior remains unaffected. I tested my ability to summon the Breath of Death and the Skeleton War Spear—these weapons, obtained from Skeleton Island, are still usable.

However, their attributes are peculiar; unless I wish to transform into a skeletal warrior, the enhancement to my combat effectiveness is rather negligible. Unless absolutely necessary, I prefer not to resort to such extremes.

Among the ten individuals that appeared, there are six men and four women. Gradually asserting leadership amidst the quarrels is a portly middle-aged man with a round face, who claims to have held high-ranking positions in the past.

His name is Tang Lei, and five others lean towards supporting his assertions. Among the remaining four, one individual, a bespectacled man who has remained silent, piques my interest.

I have reviewed the profiles of everyone here, and this man is named Wang Zhong. He appears refined and educated, yet hails from a military family and has earned commendations within the army, rising to the rank of colonel—a formidable figure indeed.

Notably, his profile indicates that he served in a special forces unit, primarily engaged in research, and met his demise through a covert execution. Additionally, there is a detail in Wang Zhong's profile that brings me some joy: he has achieved a high level of skill in the external martial art known as Iron Sand Palm since childhood, and with a little guidance, he will likely adapt swiftly to the brutal killings here. 

"Among these ten individuals, he is the only one with a genuine opportunity to be trained as a warrior, perhaps even to become a high-level fighter; the others are simply too inept." As I assess their potential, the portly middle-aged man has already bellowed, "I do not know why we have suddenly found ourselves here, but I believe we should unite. I shall lead everyone in finding our way back."

Aside from Wang Zhong, who remains inscrutable, the others display varying degrees of dissent. One capable-looking woman, resembling a polished office worker, acknowledges the need for unity but questions the middle-aged man's leadership abilities, posing several pointed inquiries that leave him flustered, prompting him to call for a vote.

"Do you think I am right?"

Tang Lei, perhaps believing I am young and impressionable, neglects to focus on the five who have already supported him, instead attempting to intimidate me, a mere high school student. Should he secure the backing of six out of ten, commanding the majority, even the competent office worker would have no choice but to acquiesce to his leadership.

This man, despite his cunning, has miscalculated. During their quarrels, I familiarized myself with the powers of the Heart of the Undead Warrior, feeling far more composed than before. I discovered that the Heart of the Undead Warrior is even more effective than I had anticipated. 

Confronting Tang Lei's imposing visage, eager to force my submission, I executed a simple maneuver, delivering a swift kick to his chin, sending the former official tumbling backward in an effortless arc.

He lay sprawled on the ground, and I proclaimed, "You are absolutely right; I will now lead us all in seeking our way back. You will either perish here or obey my commands.

With a piercing gaze, I surveyed the group. The first to yield were the five individuals swayed by Tang Lei; they were clearly lacking in resolve. With a single kick, I easily toppled a two-hundred-plus-pound man, thus earning their "respect." 

The office worker, witnessing my brutality, opened her mouth to speak, but upon meeting my fierce gaze, instinctively tugged at her blouse and prudently fell silent. I silently scoffed, "At her age, she is already a faded beauty; does she truly fear my advances?"

This office worker, named Wang Lili, was thirty-one at the time of her death—not particularly old. Though not breathtakingly beautiful, she possesses a certain allure as a seasoned professional woman. Her profile, however, reveals that she was caught having an affair with her superior, only to be discovered by her husband during a confrontation that led to her accidental death at the hands of her lover.

It seems rather implausible that she would fear the advances of a bright young man like me. When have I ever had such appetites? Even if I prefer a more mature taste, it would at least need to be at the level of Lilis; I have no desire to pursue a woman of such dubious character. 

After surveying the dilapidated farmhouse, I gathered over a dozen farming tools that could serve as weapons and distributed them accordingly.

Wang Zhong took a pitchfork and silently swung it a few times to test its feel. He appeared to accept my leadership quite readily, which struck me as somewhat unusual.

According to his profile, this man has killed more than ten adversaries and is proficient with various weapons, so his apparent compliance suggests ulterior motives. However, the more cunning he is, the more advantageous it is for me. 

Tang Lei, now unconscious from my kick, seemed devoid of any guiding value, so I intended to disregard him. I picked up two sickles and swung them a few times, finding them quite comfortable to wield, and prepared to leave the farmhouse. A tall, gaunt man, one of the dissenters against the middle-aged man, stepped in my way. I recalled his profile—he is a middle school teacher named Gu Lengzhai. He addressed me, saying, "We have all died once.

Although we do not know why we are here, I believe we should prepare adequately. This farmhouse still has some food and a horse;

we should gather these resources, and it would be prudent to secure some drinking water as well." Gu Lengzhai, who succumbed to illness from overwork, made a suggestion befitting his meticulous nature as a teacher, understanding the importance of sustenance and hydration. 

Nodding in agreement, I saw him raise his voice, "Everyone, split up and search for anything useful, and preferably items that can be exchanged for currency.

Let's reconvene here in half an hour!"

His words quickly took effect, and the others dispersed to scavenge the farmhouse for anything of value. He turned to me with a smile, saying, "I often confiscated novels from students in class; those stories contained absurd depictions.

Yet, I never imagined I would find myself in a scenario akin to those tales after my death. This place is certainly not our homeland.

Just now, I spotted a scrap of paper with strange writing on it—characters I have never encountered before. I am an atheist, yet I find myself reconsidering my beliefs after death. Is this realm a heaven or a hell, or perhaps...

a wondrous magical land? You appear to be a student; how did you meet your demise?" 

"I consumed something spoiled..."