"Big sister, focus on that brute and leave these fools to your little brother and his handsome uncle," Klaus said, stepping between the Zombie King and the War Goddess, who had just pushed the Zombie Emperor back with her powerful strike.
"Are you sure?" the War Goddess asked, her eyes narrowing in concern.
"One hundred percent confident! Watch me kill a Tier 7 Zombie," Klaus joked, lunging at the Zombie King, who was now caught within his Ice Domain. Although his star qi was nearly drained, he wasn't worried. His goal now was to kill this creature, trusting that his stamina and strong physique would carry him through.
Klaus swung his sword, sending an arc of ice, coated with ice qi, toward the Zombie King. The attack struck a wall of earth that rose suddenly to block it.
"Well, that's a problem," Klaus muttered, eyeing the Zombie King, who now held a spear and was charging at him. The Zombie had a strong affinity for the Earth element, giving it incredible defensive abilities.
"Tsk, fine, I'll just beat you to death!" Klaus said, abandoning his active skills for close combat. He rushed forward, closing the distance between them. Soon, the sound of their fierce battle echoed across the battlefield, as Klaus's blade clashed with the Zombie's spear, each strike reverberating from their brutal exchange.
Klaus grinned as their weapons collided, the force of each strike sending shockwaves through the air. The Zombie King's earth affinity made it tough to penetrate its defenses, but Klaus wasn't deterred. If the Zombie wanted to rely on brute defense, then Klaus would simply wear it down.
The Zombie King lunged again, thrusting its spear with frightening speed. Klaus narrowly dodged, feeling the rush of air as the weapon whizzed past his side. He retaliated instantly, swinging his sword with fierce precision. His blade connected, but once again the Zombie's earth barrier absorbed most of the impact.
"Stubborn, aren't ya?" Klaus muttered, wiping sweat from his brow. He could feel his body tiring, but he wasn't going to back down now. His mind raced, searching for a weak point, something he could exploit.
Suddenly, Klaus switched tactics. Instead of focusing on breaking through the Zombie's defense, he aimed to outmaneuver it. With a burst of speed, he darted to the side, forcing the Zombie to adjust its position.
Klaus stomped hard on the ground, and ice erupted from beneath him, sending a burst of freezing shards toward the Zombie King. The sudden explosion of ice knocked the Zombie off balance, giving Klaus the opportunity he needed. With a swift, calculated strike, Klaus's sword sliced through the air, connecting with the Zombie King's armor.
The attack landed, but it barely made a dent.
"That's some tough skin," Klaus grumbled. The creature's hide was incredibly thick, almost metallic. It was clear that the Zombie's prolonged exposure to the Humium mineral had fortified its skin, making it nearly impervious to his blows.
"Thick skin, huh? Then watch me beat some softness into you," Klaus declared, his eyes narrowing with weird ideas.
He lunged forward again, his movements swift and decisive. He focused on exploiting every opening, his sword slashing with precise strikes, aiming to wear down the Zombie King's defenses bit by bit.
On the other side of the battlefield, Uncle Mark was engaged in a fierce clash with the other Zombie King. Unlike Klaus, who was cautious and strategic, Uncle Mark was all about brute force. His style was raw and relentless, reflecting his nature as a powerful, intimidating shieldbearer.
Among the five Uncles, Uncle Ziggy was known as the most lethal. However, under normal conditions, Uncle Mark could be just as formidable. With just a single blow from his shield, he could reshape the earth itself. Today, he was showcasing his incredible strength, proving just how powerful he could be.
Despite his might, the new Zombie he faced was tougher than he anticipated. This Zombie wielded a massive club, and unlike the one he had previously defeated, this one had a rather strong defense. Uncle Mark found himself struggling to gain the upper hand.
But Uncle Mark was undeterred. As a fighter who relied on his sheer strength, he embraced his advantage. His attacks were powerful and punishing, and the Zombie certainly felt the impact. Yet, the creature's affinity for the earth element was holding its ground, making it a tough opponent.
Uncle Mark's brute force was effective, but it was clear that overcoming this Zombie would require more than just strength—it would take a relentless assault and the right moment to break through its defenses.
The War Goddess sent the Zombie Emperor flying once more, but this time she was ready for the follow-up. She slashed her sword, sending a chilling wave of sword light toward the Zombie, who was struggling to find a way to defend itself.
The attack struck the Zombie Emperor's chest, cutting another deep wound into its already battered form. Without pausing, she followed up with another attack. Her goal was clear: defeat the Zombie Emperor quickly so she could aid Klaus.
At the same time, Klaus was having a moment of clarity. The Zombie King was like a metal doll, but it wasn't impenetrable. On the contrary, Klaus saw that it had many flaws. One particular flaw made him question whether the heavens were aiding him or if the Senior in his soul sea had exaggerated the strength of these Devil monsters or King Zombies.
"Since you want to play hard to cut, why don't I heat things up?" Klaus mused. He realized that the Zombies, particularly those from the Arcadian mine, were not fond of fire.
Recalling his earlier attack with the fireball, Klaus noted how its blast had been unexpectedly devastating. The strength of the fireball seemed excessive, making him question its intensity. He had noticed something peculiar during the initial clash with the Zombie—none of the Zombies used flame attacks.
It suddenly clicked. Humium, the mineral they were exposed to, was highly reactive to fire. This meant that when fire came into contact with it, their defenses would be significantly weakened.
Klaus smiled, dismissing his Ice Lotus Flower and freeing the Zombie from the Ice Domain's effect. But this didn't mean the Zombie's troubles were over. On the contrary, its nightmare was about to get even worse—and it was going to be devastating.
Klaus grinned as his presence began to radiate intense heat. Across from him, he saw Uncle James's flaming boomerang slice off one of the Zombie King's arms. Klaus knew he was right about the Zombies' vulnerability to fire. Without wasting any time, he unleashed a barrage of fiery arcs from his sword, attacking relentlessly.
The Zombie King raised its earth defenses, but it was futile. Klaus's attacks were far more lethal now. Cornered and overwhelmed, the Zombie was forced into a defensive stance, unable to mount an effective counterattack.
Klaus's smile widened as he saw how easily he was handling the situation. Yet, he was aware that this was far from dominating Tier 7 Devils or Kings. If he were up against a Zombie King with powerful offensive skills, he would likely be on the defensive.
"But hey, since I got lucky, why not make things even more shocking?" Klaus thought, his smile growing as he closed the gap between them. What followed was a relentless beatdown that would be etched in the memories of all who witnessed it.
On this day, Klaus, a Level 3 Master stage expert, completely dominated a Tier 7 Zombie King in a one-on-one battle. The headlines would call him a Monster. And yes, Klaus was a monster—a true force to be reckoned with.