Apocalypse: Mad Necromancer’s Troops

Chapter 77: Capturing Bracelet

 

"Bring it up and secure it to the railing," Wu Heng said.

 

Several skeleton warriors with souls carried the looted plastic mannequins to the rooftop.

 

They used iron wire and ropes to secure them to the railing on one side.

 

Creating standing human-shaped targets.

 

"You guys, practice your spears on these targets, and work hard," Wu Heng directly instructed.

 

After the previous battles.

 

Wu Heng now had 77 skeleton warriors at level 5.

 

This number was beyond Wu Heng's expectations.

 

Previously, it was extremely difficult to level up skeletons; usually, a skeleton would barely level up before being shattered into pieces in the next battle.

 

As a result, while the skeleton warriors' levels kept increasing, their numbers kept dwindling.

 

It seemed like a vicious cycle.

 

However, recently, this situation started to improve.

 

Skeletons gradually reached level 5, unlocking basic souls.

 

These plastic mannequins were found in a roadside clothing store, so Wu Heng brought them back for the skeletons to train with.

 

When mannequins weren't enough, he used gathered rags and curtains to make human-shaped targets.

 

Weapon proficiencies can be unlocked through training and combat.

 

Skeleton warriors should find it easier to unlock proficiencies.

 

After all, they don't need sleep or rest; they can train whenever they have free time.

 

After a few days of practice, they should be able to unlock it.

 

Hearing Wu Heng's order, the level 5 spear-wielding skeletons approached the targets and began practicing thrusts.

 

Thud thud thud~!

 

The iron spears pierced the plastic, making a faint, unusual sound.

 

Wu Heng watched for a while, then returned to Blackstone Town to rest.

 

.........

 

Blackstone Town, Residence.

 

After eating instant noodles for dinner, Wu Heng took out the book 【Gray Eagle Swordsmanship】 and practiced with his sword while reading.

 

With his Strength and Constitution both enhanced.

 

He noticeably felt many differences compared to before; his arm no longer trembled after swinging the sword, and his movements became more precise.

 

Actions that were previously difficult to perform could now be done easily.

 

"So this was the problem."

 

No wonder progressing in this swordsmanship was difficult; it was because his attributes were insufficient.

 

While he mentally complained about being a mage with such high Strength and Constitution, he also knew it was a rare advantage.

 

Strength affects his melee combat effectiveness and also influences muscle power and carrying capacity.

 

Carrying capacity is also very important.

 

Now he wears leather armor, but in the future, he could wear full plate armor while standing among the skeleton warriors.

 

Killing him would be difficult.

 

Constitution is even more important; it's crucial for every class.

 

It represents the body's state and resistance to various negative effects. The higher the Constitution, the better the resistance to toxins.

 

People with low Constitution are like glass cannons in games; they might not even see the enemy before getting killed.

 

Wu Heng practiced until late at night, then washed up briefly before going to bed.

 

"With all this money, I should hire a couple of maids or something."

 

"Should I apply through the guild to go somewhere that doesn't mind necromancers?"

 

Thinking about this, he gradually drifted off to sleep.

 

.........

 

The next day, Wu Heng went out for breakfast.

 

When he returned, he saw an Adventurer's Guild staff member walking out of the alley.

 

The two met face-to-face, both momentarily surprised.

 

"Mr. Wu Heng, Captain Otruluk wants you to come over," the staff member immediately said.

 

"Is there a mission?"

 

"I'm not sure," the staff member replied with a smile.

 

"Oh, alright, I'll be right there."

 

The staff member nodded and left first.

 

Wu Heng returned to his room to prepare, taking his handgun and gas mask, then headed out.

 

Arriving at the Adventurer's Guild, he walked through the corridor to the team lounge.

 

Pushing the door open, he saw that the other three members were all present.

 

"Captain, is there a mission?" Wu Heng asked directly.

 

Otruluk shook his head and said, "No mission. I acquired a magical item. Since Kavina and Yuli are both here today, I called you over as well to take a look."

 

Captain Otruluk was always training in the guild's training room, so he was easy to find.

 

But the others rarely came to the guild, even Kavina only visited occasionally, spending most of her time on her own activities.

 

"Oh, okay!" Wu Heng sat down beside them.

 

Yuli kept making exaggerated expressions, though it was unclear what she was trying to convey.

 

"In the last mission debrief, we mentioned the lack of ways to restrain enemies. I bought an item from outside to address that. Let me explain how it works, so we can be mindful of it in future battles," Otruluk said.

 

"Alright!" everyone nodded.

 

Otruluk took a silver bracelet from a shelf and placed it on the table, "This is a Capturing Bracelet. It can release an illusion ray that traps the target in a mental illusion."

 

Wu Heng's eyes focused on the bracelet.

 

【Capturing Silver Bracelet】

 

(Description: A magical item engraved with mental illusion magic, capable of inflicting a single target with a mental illusion. The effectiveness of the illusion depends on the target's mental resistance.)

 

It really is an illusion item.

 

I've heard of it, but this is my first time seeing one.

 

"This item is a bit niche; against high-level adventurers, its effects aren't very noticeable. So, after the target is affected, you need to capture or kill them quickly," Otruluk added.

 

"Oh, it must have cost quite a bit!" Yuli asked.

 

"It was a bit expensive, but it's necessary to cover our team's weaknesses," Otruluk continued.

 

Yuli nodded her small head, agreeing that it made sense.

 

Wu Heng thought for a moment and asked, "Captain, what should we do if we encounter such restrictive skills?"

 

"These effects generally fall into two categories: traps and mental attacks. Traps include things like a druid's Entangling Roots or a mage's Web Spell. As long as your Strength and Constitution are high enough, you can break free, though it might take some effort. Mental attacks depend on your mental strength; the higher it is, the less you're affected."

 

"Wu Heng, why don't you learn the Web Spell?" Yuli pointed out.

 

"Why don't you learn Entangling Roots?"

 

"That's not the path I'm taking."

 

"Me neither..."

 

Otruluk glanced at the two of them and continued, "For our current enemies, the bracelet's effects are sufficient. When we have a mission, pay attention to the affected enemies."

 

"Understood." The three nodded.

 

"Alright, there's nothing else for now. I'll see if there are any commissions we can take in the next few days."

 

Recently, the guild organized a few capture missions for team members.

 

But the Fourth Squad hasn't been involved.

 

It seems Otruluk is planning to take on some missions himself.

 

The three nodded, exchanged a few more words, and then parted ways.

 

"Wu Heng, heading to the black market?" Yuli came over.

 

"No, I've got things to do today. Maybe next time."

 

"Tsk!"

 

Wu Heng returned to the Crowded District, packed his things, and headed directly to the Zombie World.

 

.........

 

Zombie World.

 

Wu Heng led his skeleton squad out of the neighborhood.

 

Outside the repair shop, he contacted Li Yahong.

 

They had agreed to go to the gas station for fuel today, though the morning had been delayed.

 

After waiting by the roadside for a while, Li Yahong arrived on an electric tricycle with a cargo bed, carrying two metal gas drums.

 

Even on the main road, the path was not smooth.

 

After a short distance, a pile of crashed cars blocked the road.

 

Large vehicles couldn't get through without spending time clearing or crashing through, but this small tricycle could pass along the sidewalk.

 

The only concern was whether it could bear the weight of the full gas drums.

 

After a brief conversation, they set off.

 

They followed the residential road to the main road and continued east toward a gas station.

 

Passing through a section of streets lined with karaoke bars, the number of zombies increased slightly, but it was only thirty or forty, and they were easily killed.

 

"Any news from the radio lately?" Wu Heng asked.

 

Li Yahong replied, "Nothing particularly useful. The central station is encouraging everyone to band together and stay away from densely populated areas, but that's just common sense. It's all about survival now."

 

"What about the survivor bases?" Wu Heng continued to ask.

 

Glancing at the skeletons around them, Li Yahong said, "There's a base in the south of the city, formed around a prison, where they recruit survivors."

 

"A prison?" Wu Heng frowned. Could the prison really be free of zombie infections?

 

But that kind of place, with its walls and electric fences, is indeed a good defensive location.

 

"According to the radio, they have rifles and sniper rifles and can fend off zombie attacks."