Chapter 35: Tutorial Battle

As Wilder spoke, the colossal mechanical monster hauled itself further out of the ground. Ryuji could now see its midsection, a structure comprised entirely of support struts and bleached bones. More than half of those who had been bragged about by Black-Armored Sean’s subordinates as being sent to fill the sludge pit were now here; Ryuji watched as layers upon layers of bones were fused into the monster’s waist. As the machine climbed, those bones writhed incessantly, as if struggling to tear themselves free from the creature’s frame.

Beneath these bones pulsed a ghostly light. It was clear that once this mechanical monstrosity fully emerged, the power of the Netherworld would flood into this plane through the breach. This final step was the most critical, and it was exactly what Wilder had been waiting for.

Seeing the mechanical monster on the verge of breaking free, Wilder took a step forward. With his back to Ryuji, he said, "Sandro, you did well to lure this monster out. After this battle, your reward will be substantial. Now, let me show you what high-level combat truly looks like."

As he finished speaking, four or five portals materialized behind Wilder. Ryuji felt the atmosphere shift, as if his surroundings had been transposed from the mundane world into the Netherworld. He turned his head and saw the sky had darkened without him noticing. The wooden houses and walkways around him had turned pitch black, the planks beginning to rot away, as if reality itself were surrendering to the Underworld.

Wilder walked forward with his hands clasped behind his back, drifting higher until he hovered in mid-air. Ryuji realized with certainty that this area had become a part of Wilder’s own city.

Then, Wilder’s voice resonated: "As a Mortician, regardless of whether you start with a manor, a graveyard, or a city, you must anchor your base to a node within the Netherworld. This is the unique method of professional evolution our Southern Swamp has developed over thousands of years. However, the Southern Swamp does not sacrifice its players to maintain this integrity. When a Mortician reaches level 5, they are granted a choice: fix their city permanently to a node or transform it into a mobile base. If you choose to anchor it, you gain the ability to temporarily manifest a district of your city into the physical world, just as I am doing now."

"If you choose mobility, there are several paths, including the possibility of becoming like that monster before us—a gargantuan entity composed of city fragments. In short, you’ve hit the jackpot; for some reason, the enemy forced their way into becoming a pseudo-level 5 player."

By then, the troops from Wilder’s portals had fully deployed. Ryuji noted that most were organized into squads of sixty, led by captains bearing war banners or unit insignias, forming square formations beneath Wilder. These formations were primarily skeletons, supplemented by zombies and ghosts, with only a tiny fraction consisting of kobolds or lizardmen. Yet, it was clear from their banners and gear that each served a distinct tactical purpose.

"Watch closely. This is how a high-level Necromancer fights."

Wilder hovered in the air and raised his right hand. "Stone Skin."

At his command, a layer of earthen-yellow light shimmered over every unit. Two squads of skeletons surged forward, wielding shields as tall as themselves and clad in heavy armor. As they marched, they rhythmically struck their shields with short swords, as if drawing something out.

"In battle, you must understand your enemy’s nature. These city-beasts rely primarily on physical attacks. All their troops are kept inside the city, unlike mine, which I deploy externally. Therefore, drawing the enemy's attention is the key."

Under Wilder’s direction, the two squads split left and right. The mechanical monster pursued the sound, seemingly calculating which to strike first. Then, three more squads moved out—skeletons armed with iron hooks and chains.

"Once you have their attention, you must pin them down so they cannot run. Control is essential. But be warned, crowd control often provokes a violent reaction. Against a giant city-beast, you need sufficient force, so always keep ample reserves."

Wilder continued to demonstrate the application of various units: trebuchet crews, shield guards designed to counter ranged fire, reinforced tank units to pull the enemy back when they threatened to break free, rapid-response teams for contingencies, as well as aerial strike forces and healers. Under the coordinated pressure of these troops, the mechanical monster—possessing level 5 power but lacking the combat experience to match—was dismantled piece by piece, unable to even mount a counter-attack.

Watching the enemy dwindle, Wilder remained vigilant.

"Remember, no matter the situation, the final step of breaching an enemy city is the most dangerous. Be cautious, keep your distance, and hammer their core at least three times. Do not worry about wasting firepower. Do not worry about reserves like before—just destroy their core structure. Note that if the opponent is a Necromancer, you must ensure their personal death and the total destruction of their main buildings. If it is a fixed city, clear every unit, including those not yet trained in the barracks. Never try to occupy a city while enemy units remain; the Necromancer’s 'Animate Dead' is not meant for such shortcuts."

"If the enemy is a mobile city, you must identify how it moves. This is critical. If you fail to discern this, they might escape at the final moment, just as in the current situation."