Chapter 8

"Run!"

Robinson let out a low growl. If there were only a dozen mindless ghouls, he and Pire could handle it, but with a 'Lord' directing them, the combat effectiveness of these undead creatures would double.

Tony sadly realized that they didn't even have a choice of which direction to run; the entire field of vision was filled with monsters.

From a high vantage point, as the ghouls ran, a large semicircular formation became clearly visible. If there were more of them, the seven unfortunate souls would have been surrounded immediately.

"Run faster, they're within a hundred meters!" Pire's reminder drained the color from Will's face. He didn't dare look back and used all his strength to sprint.

The silence of the cemetery was broken!

Crows, which were digging through the foul-smelling soil and picking out maggots to eat, were startled and flapped their wings, flying up into the sky.

Thud! A ghoul sprinted too fast, its right Achilles tendon snapped, and it fell to the ground, its head plunging into the soil. However, it quickly got up again. Despite its right foot being twisted irregularly, it felt no pain and continued to pursue them.

When humans or sub-humans die, if their souls are not appeased, there is a certain chance they will turn into ghouls. However, at this point, they have long lost their former appearance, becoming incredibly ugly, with rotten flesh, and only the instinct to eat remains.

Over time, some ghouls with better potential will grow a soul seal in their heads. The seal can absorb magical energy from the space around them, continuously transforming their bodies, making them stronger.

The fragmented soul will gradually repair itself during this process, eventually gaining a basic level of intelligence. At this stage, the ghoul is officially considered a mid-level undead creature, equivalent to a human reaching adulthood.

The tall ghoul behind them actually knew how to set an ambush, at least it was high-level.

High-level ghouls have the ability to think independently and are fiercely combative, roughly equivalent to a fifth-rank war mage.

Among the seven people, Robinson was a fifth-rank soul mage, the strongest, but even he would be instantly killed by such a creature.

In less than a minute, the seven people had already spread out.

The four mages were in the lead, Danton, who had developed strong physical endurance from years of delivering mail on foot, was third from the back, Will was ten meters behind, and as for Kil, he was already far behind.

"Don't leave me behind!" Kil wailed.

Robinson seemed not to hear, not even turning his head. As for Pire and Tony, they wouldn't care about him either.

"Uncle Kil is falling behind!" Danton warned, already having a bad feeling.

"Leave him, he's beyond saving!" Robinson had brought Kil along to use him as cannon fodder in case of emergencies.

Danton tightly pursed his lips. Rationality told him that Robinson's judgment was correct. Kil was in his mid-forties, his physical condition had declined significantly, and he couldn't sustain such a long sprint. Saving him would only slow everyone down, making them all lunch for the ghouls.

"Save... ah!" Kil's plea for help turned into a piercing scream.

Danton turned back and saw a ghoul pounce on him, its rotten teeth biting into his neck, then shaking its head violently, tearing off a large piece of flesh and clothing.

Three of the fastest ghouls arrived, pouncing on Kil and submerging him. Like hyenas that had caught their prey, they viciously tore and bit, blood and flesh flying everywhere.

"Robinson, think of a plan! This is open terrain, if we keep running, we'll eventually be caught!" Pire shouted, throwing away everything he didn't need to reduce his weight.

"Run in the direction of 11 o'clock, there should be a town there where we can hide!"

Robinson was not incompetent. Knowing the risks of the mission, he had made detailed preparations. He had bought a rough map from adventurers who had visited the Raven Ridge Cemetery.

This decision would bring them closer to the ghouls on the left, but they had no choice. Seeing Robinson change direction, everyone followed.

"How far is it?" Danton, who was about to throw away his backpack, stopped his action.

"More than two thousand meters!" Robinson pulled out the map, glanced at it, and at this moment, he could only pray that the person who sold him the map hadn't marked the position incorrectly.

"No problem, the distance isn't far, I can keep up!" Danton knew his physical condition. If he could reach the town, he needed to plan for the next steps.

"Still not throwing away your backpack, it's a waste of energy." Duran was anxious. Even Robinson had thrown away his backpack, but Danton was still carrying his, and he hadn't forgotten that his friend had brought the most supplies.

"Don't talk, it increases the burden on your heart and lungs!" Danton adjusted his breathing, turned back, and saw that the ghouls had fallen behind because they were feasting on Kil. He immediately slowed down to conserve energy.

"Haha, that kid is falling behind." Tony gloated.

The ghouls devoured Kil in less than a minute and then resumed their pursuit. These creatures, driven only by the instinct to eat, never knew fatigue.

The distance was gradually closing, less than a hundred meters away. Danton turned back and even saw maggots crawling on their bodies, leaving trails of disgusting green slime.

"Why are they still chasing?" Will was exhausted like a dead dog, and the constant threat of death was almost driving him to the brink of collapse.

No one explained, they were all conserving their strength.

Pire cursed inwardly. After becoming undead, ghouls have an innate hatred and extreme hostility towards all living beings, desiring to tear and devour their flesh, so they would pursue relentlessly until the end.

"I hope there aren't too many ghouls in the town!" Robinson prayed inwardly. Only by getting out of their sight was there a chance of survival.

"Why hasn't that kid fallen behind yet?" Tony was shocked. Danton was like a piece of chewing gum, always hanging at the back, and the ghouls couldn't catch up.

"Amazing!" Robinson glanced and found the key. Danton always maintained a safe distance from the ghouls. Once they got too close, he would immediately speed up, and once he was safe, he would slow down to adjust his breathing and rest, conserving energy for the next sprint.

"I'm actually less calm than a teenager!" Pire smiled bitterly. At least in terms of mental state, he had lost to him. And he believed that if the ghouls caught up, Will would be the one to die.

"There it is, the town!"

Duran's shout filled everyone with joy. After running for more than three minutes, the town finally appeared in their field of vision.

"We're saved!" Will was overjoyed, but due to the long run and poor control of his energy, he stumbled into a pit, his calf giving out, and he fell hard, hitting a sharp rock.

"Get up quickly!" Danton caught up, grabbed Will's arm, and pulled him up.

"My leg!" After running a dozen steps, Will screamed and fell to his knees.

"Try harder!" The ghouls were already seventy meters away, and they would soon catch up. Danton dragged Will a few meters, then looked down and was completely stunned.

Will's left calf was broken, bent at a sixty-degree angle, barely held together by skin and muscle. Blood flowed from the wound, soaking his pants.

"What's wrong with my leg?" Will's face turned pale with pain, his body convulsing, and he didn't have the strength to even look down.

"It's fine, just a sprained ankle!" Danton comforted Will, glanced at Robinson and the others who were running farther away, and then looked back at the approaching ghouls. He suddenly raised his arm and wiped the sweat from his face.

"It's broken, my leg is broken!" Will saw his broken leg and cried out in pain. He knew he was doomed and grabbed Danton, pleading, "Don't leave me, please, don't leave me!"

"I won't leave you." Danton moved his backpack to his chest, squatted down, and grabbed Will's arm, preparing to carry him.

Will, lying on Danton's back, was overwhelmed with emotion, tears streaming down his face. He knew he shouldn't do this, as it would mean death for both of them, but he still harbored a glimmer of hope and didn't want to give up his chance of survival.

"Look at Danton, that kid is crazy!" Pire, hearing Will's cries, turned back and was shocked.

"Is that kid insane? Carrying Will, both of them will die!" Tony was almost speechless.

"Run!" Robinson's intention was to use them as cannon fodder. Although Danton's actions were unexpected, he wouldn't be swayed.

"Danton, leave him, or you'll die too!" Duran's eyes were red with worry. "Will, you coward, are you going to betray your friend of three years to save yourself?"

"No, no!" Will cried, his arms loosening around Danton's neck.

"Danton, be rational!" Duran wanted to run back, but his legs wouldn't move. He knew he was afraid and didn't dare to save them.

Will was overwhelmed with shame. He thought of Danton's care over the years and suddenly pushed him away, jumping off his back.

The ghouls pounced, bringing a wave of foul odor with them.

"Danton, go!" Will leaped forward, his hands raised high, grabbing the right leg of a ghoul and pulling it down.

Danton stumbled a few steps and turned back to see Will struggling with the ghoul. More ghouls pounced, pinning him down, and one even leaped over them, charging at Danton.

"Run!" Tony shouted.

Danton didn't listen. He drew his dagger, his face stern, and stared at the approaching ghoul. If he ran now, the time it would take to turn around would leave his back exposed, enough for the ghoul to kill him three times. It was better to fight.

The approaching ghoul let out a hoarse roar from its damaged vocal cords, like a death knell!

Danton held his breath, eyes wide, and as the ghoul's claws swung, he used all his strength to push its arm away with his left hand. Then, he gripped the dagger in his right hand and stabbed it into the ghoul's head with all his might.

Thud! The dagger pierced the ghoul's eye socket, and Danton twisted it, killing it.

However, due to the momentum of the charge, the corpse still crashed into him, its weight nearly a hundred pounds, forcing Danton to take a few steps back. Some maggots even crawled onto his body.

"Amazing!" Pire was stunned. He hadn't expected such a brilliant performance from the kid, who had achieved a one-hit kill. He had been worried that if Danton had listened to Tony, he would have been doomed.

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