Wizard: Starting from Escape from the Thorn Garden

Chapter 132 Grom

Kate emerged from the shadows, calmly watching the enraged skeletal warrior Grom.

His ethereal, demonic form appeared even more illusory and unpredictable in the dim light of the cave, while the chilling aura of death surrounding him carried a strange rhythm that compelled one to listen.

"Someone who can provide a real way out for you and your faction."

Kate repeated, her voice transmitted through mental fluctuations, directly affecting the soul with a seductive power.

Grom's massive skeletal body leaned slightly forward, his eyes, burning with ghostly green soulfire, fixed intently on Kate, the flames on his giant axe flickering erratically with his emotional fluctuations.

"A mimicry spirit? Whose subordinate are you? The Shadow Assassin? Or the Pale Lord? State your purpose, or I won't mind having another spirit's corpse as decoration!"

It roared, but beneath its ferocious tone lay a barely perceptible wariness and—inquiry.

The opponent, capable of infiltrating its lair silently, is no ordinary being.

Kate bowed slightly, performing a gesture among the undead that indicated "no direct hostility": "My name is Shadowfang. I am not directly subordinate to any monarch, but rather more like a—wandering advisor. I have heard of the fate of Chief Grom and have some knowledge of the tyrannical actions of the Skinner Legion."

We've come specifically to offer you, and your valiant warrior clan, a possible way to break this deadlock.

"Advisor? Break the deadlock?" Grom let out a dull, mocking laugh, his bone armor creaking as it scraped together. "You? A cowardly, camouflaged wraith? What can you do? Can you help me snatch the mine back from that madman Bloodsaw?"

"Exactly." Kate's answer was concise and certain, her eyes, barely visible in the shadows, gleaming with a calm light. "In a head-on confrontation, we are naturally no match for the Skinner Legion. But seizing the mine doesn't necessarily require defeating their entire legion in a direct confrontation."

He stepped forward, ignoring the increasingly wary postures of his two adjutants, his mental fluctuations becoming clearer and more organized: "The Skinner Legion is strong, but its weaknesses are equally obvious. They are extremely dependent on the immediate energy supply from that newly discovered Soul Crystal vein to maintain the operation of their live skinning ritual and the legion's ferocious offensive."

Their logistical chains are long and fragile.

My plan is to avoid the enemy's strength and attack their weakness.

"Step 1: Feigned Attack. The War Gang will send a small elite force to launch a high-profile attack on another secondary stronghold controlled by the Skinners, feigning retaliation and a bid for other resources. This will draw their main force's attention, especially diverting Bloodsaw and his personal guard away from the mining area."

"Step Two: A Surprise Attack on Key Locations. You, Chief Grom, will personally lead the true core forces, not by directly assaulting the mine's guards, but by bypassing the front lines and striking directly at their Flesh Furnace and Soul Crystal Refinery located near the mine." Destroy or severely damage these facilities.

If successful, the Skinners' offensive at the front lines will rapidly weaken due to energy depletion, and their legion structure may even descend into internal chaos due to the energy backlash.

"Step Three: Seize the Treasure Amidst the Chaos. While the destruction is underway, another mobile squad rushes straight to its relatively weakly defended storage cellar," where a large amount of refined but un-transported soul crystals must be piled up.

Seizing these readily available resources is far faster and less risky than starting to mine them again.

"Once you have succeeded, flee immediately and do not hold the mine. Spread the news that the Skinners' logistics have been destroyed, and their enemies will naturally take advantage of the situation. At that time, the Skinners will have neither the time nor the strength to retaliate against you."

Kate spoke at a steady pace, clearly explaining every step of the plan, every possible detail, and the corresponding solutions.

This plan perfectly aligns with the Grom Warband's strengths in siege warfare and raids, avoids the disadvantage of a decisive battle with the Skinners' main force, targets their vitals, and sets its ultimate goal as seizing tangible benefits rather than ephemeral territory, making it incredibly pragmatic and enticing.

Grom's soulfire flickered intensely, clearly impressed by this bold and ingenious plan.

It is aggressive but not stupid, and can clearly see the high success rate and low risk of this plan.

In particular, the two points of "seizing ready-made soul crystals" and "shifting the blame" greatly satisfied its urgent need for resources and its desire for revenge against the skinners.

"—A very cunning plan." Grom paused for a moment, the rage in his voice subsiding, replaced by scrutiny and calculation. "But how can you guarantee you'll accurately locate those workshops and cellars? And how can you ensure that 'Bloodsaw' will be lured away?"

"That's precisely where my value lies." Kate slightly raised her hand, and a pure fluctuation containing the rules of imitation and spying emanated from it. "My mimicry ability allows me to easily infiltrate and investigate, and obtain accurate intelligence."

As for the Bloodsaw—I will personally participate in the feint attack and simulate the scent of prey sufficient to pique its interest, such as—a lone, vengeful high-ranking wizard of the Hand of Life? It cannot resist such temptation.

A perfect complement.

Kate not only provided the strategy, but also took on the most critical and dangerous task herself, demonstrating her great sincerity and ability.

Grom was finally tempted. Its massive bone claws gripped the handle of its great axe, then released it: "—Fine! Shadowfang, if you can truly do as you say, help me reclaim the Soul Crystal, and severely injure the Skinner, then you will be the most honored guest of my Grom's Warband! But if you play me—"

It didn't finish its sentence, but the threat was obvious.

"You will get what you want," Kate replied confidently.

The plan was quickly put into action.

Using her mimicry abilities, Kate easily ascertained the exact location and defenses of the Skinners' logistical facilities.

The feint attack team was led by the Shadow Assassin lieutenant. Kate simulated strong life and arcane fluctuations, which successfully attracted the attention of "Bloodsaw" and lured its main force away.

Grom then personally led his elite troops, following the route and timing provided by Kate, to launch a deadly surprise attack.

The battle was thrilling but ultimately safe.

The guards behind the Skinners were completely unprepared for such a precise and fierce attack. The "Flesh Furnace" and the "Refinery" were reduced to ruins in the frenzied destruction.

The team responsible for raiding the cellar also successfully seized a large number of high-quality soul crystals.

When Bloodsaw returned in a rage with his main force, he found only devastation and towering energy turbulence. The Grom Warband had already fled with their spoils.

Big win!

The Grom Warband returned to their lair with a rich spoils of war and an unprecedented victory.

Grom's attitude toward Kate underwent a fundamental change, from initial suspicion to great trust and reliance.

It even publicly declared Kate as the Warband's "Chief Strategist," second only to itself in rank.

Kate naturally stayed with Grom.

Every time he offered advice, every time he fought side by side, he subtly used the ability of "soul resonance" in his spiritual communication with Grom.

This effect is subtle yet lasting.

He would reinforce Grom's sense of satisfaction and dependence on the idea that "following Shadowfang's advice will bring great benefits" when Grom was basking in the glory of victory.

While it hesitates, use enticing and suggestive language to depict the wonderful prospects of adopting its plan;

When it is raging, use gentle, slightly soothing soul waves to calm it down and redirect its anger toward the target Kate wants it to attack.

[Target: Grom. Trust level significantly increased to High Dependence. Soul Resonance Penetration: 21%]

It can exert a slight influence to guide their decision-making tendencies.

The time is gradually ripe.

Kate knew that a single victory and internal control were not enough; Grom needed to be given a higher position to gain access to deeper information.

He offered Grom another piece of advice, but this time from a more ingenious and profound angle: "Chief, this great victory is a testament to your bravery and the strength of the Warband."

But are you willing to spend your life in this desolate canyon, fighting with the likes of skinners for scraps?

Don't you want to truly step into the heart of necromancy and gain eternal power and honor?

Grom's soulfire flickered, clearly stirred by something deep within him: "Core? Honor? Hmph, have those kings and their direct legions ever given a second glance to peripheral forces like us?"

"That's because you lack a 'pledge of allegiance,' and a value they can't ignore."

Kate's voice was deep and seductive, "I traveled far and wide and once obtained a fragment of an arcane diagram in an ancient ruin."

This formation is called the "Bone Ascension Ritual," and it is said to be able to gather massive amounts of death energy, helping qualified undead powerhouses break through bottlenecks, and even—touch the threshold of the second tier!

"Second tier?!" Grom's soul fire surged violently, and his voice trembled.

Advancing to the second tier is its long-cherished but unattainable goal.

Once successful, it will completely shed its fate as cannon fodder and become a true hegemon.

"However, this formation is extremely complex and requires several extremely rare strategic resources that can only be activated by the monarch."

Kate's tone shifted, becoming serious, "There's absolutely no way we could gather the funds on our own. But—"

He paused deliberately, building Grom's anticipation to its peak: "—What if we pledge allegiance to His Majesty the Pale? What if we demonstrate our value with this great victory, and exchange our future potential and loyalty for His Majesty's appreciation and resource support?"

At that time, not only will you have a promising promotion, but you and your guild will also become an important force under His Majesty's rule, rather than pawns that can be discarded at any time.

This proposal is bold and outrageous, completely deviating from Grom's long-standing principle of neutrality.

But the temptation it offered was too great—the hope of advancing to the second tier, and the opportunity to enter the core of power.

Grom was in a tremendous struggle. It thrashed about, its bone armor scraping together with a grating sound.

"To seek refuge with the king—the risk is too great—what if—"

"There's no 'what if'," Kate interrupted it decisively, the power of their soul resonance subtly amplifying, soothing its unease and strengthening its anticipation for the future. "His Majesty is in dire need of capable people. His Majesty has no reason to refuse a new blood with boundless potential."

More importantly—only by relying on His Majesty's power can you gather the materials and activate the secret ritual as quickly as possible.

Otherwise, this array diagram will ultimately be nothing more than a useless scroll.

He then displayed a small fragment of a complex array written in necromancy and ancient runes—a forgery by Kate using the Seed of Origin's knowledge base, but one whose essence of the rules of death was genuine enough to impress Grom.

Grom's soul fluctuations became heavy.

The thirst for power, coupled with Kate's persistent and subtle spiritual influence, ultimately overwhelmed its caution.

"—Alright! As you say! Shadowfang, if this succeeds, you will be the greatest contributor to the Skullcrushers!"

[Target: Grom. Trust level reached "Trust". Soul Resonance Penetration: 47%. Deep influence possible, allowing access to fragments of his soul's memories.]

Once the plan was set, Grom immediately expressed his loyalty to the Pale King through special channels with the utmost respect.

As expected, the Pale King showed considerable interest in these neutral undead forces with some of the strength of the first ring.

After a thorough investigation, the Grom Warband was officially recruited and given the designation "Skullbreaker Vanguard." Grom himself was also granted the right to meet with the King's envoy and receive higher-level orders.

As his status rose, Grom began to learn more about the undead legion's deeper movements and plans.

Kate, who has deeply penetrated his soul, shares these messages like a silent ghost.

On this day, Grom returned to his lair after attending a war council chaired by the King's messenger, his soulfire filled with excitement and a new sense of anxiety.

"Shadowfang! Good news! His Majesty is very satisfied with our tribute and has agreed to allocate some resources to help me advance in rank!"

It first spoke excitedly to Kate, then lowered its voice, "But—His Majesty has also given us a difficult task, as a test and—in exchange for resources."

Kate's heart skipped a beat; she knew the crucial moment had arrived: "What mission?"

Grom's voice was grave: "His Majesty's long-planned ritual to awaken the zombie horde is about to enter its final stage. To ensure the ritual's energy supply, three ancient burial pits need to be activated simultaneously."

We, the Skullbreaker Vanguard, are ordered to clear all Life Hand patrols and scout points in the southeast area of ​​Burial Pit 3 during the next Shadow Moon cycle, ensuring the absolute unobstructed flow of energy extraction channels.

It's not too far from the seventh outpost of the Hand of Life, but the mission is quite risky—"

A horde of zombies has been awakened! An ancient burial pit! Southeast side of Burial Pit No. 3!

Kate was shocked; this was the core intelligence he had been dreaming of!

He forced down his excitement and calmly analyzed, "Risk and opportunity coexist, Chief. This is the perfect opportunity to demonstrate our value to His Majesty. If the mission succeeds, not only will promotions and resources be readily available, but your position in His Majesty's eyes will also be completely secured."

As for the risks—rest assured, I will devise the most meticulous plan, utilizing the terrain and our advantages to complete the mission with minimal losses. I have extensive knowledge of the Hand of Life's modus operandi.

Upon hearing this, Grom's anxiety lessened slightly, and his trust in Kate deepened: "Alright! Shadowfang, everything is in your hands! I'll tell you the specific deployment plan and the operation timeline right away—"

It shared the detailed intelligence obtained at the meeting with Kate without reservation.