The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 3

Chapter 3: The Might of the Undead Mage

After eliminating this batch of cultists, Gu Xi and Luna acted in perfect coordination, splitting up.

Gu Xi extracted souls, Luna looted corpses—their efficiency in dealing with these bodies was remarkable.

The only pity was that these cultists were all paupers, with nothing of value on them. The weapons they carried lacked any attributes, and some were so poor they didn’t even possess a dagger.

This situation made Gu Xi wonder if he’d been defeated by such impoverished fools.

What had he done to be defeated by such nobodies?

At that moment, a chill ran down Gu Xi’s arm. He glanced sideways and saw Luna beside him, gently patting his arm, her empty eyes focused on his face.

“Don’t overthink it, you’re not alone now.”

Gu Xi’s face twitched slightly.

Was he being comforted by his undead subordinates?

Was his dejection that obvious?

Gu Xi shook his head, dismissing his thoughts and quickly approached the recently processed corpses.

As Gu Xi passed these corpses, his fingers repeatedly flicked outward.

With each flick, a ball of light landed on a complete or incomplete corpse.

“Summoning Spell!”

“Inferior Bone Shield!”

“Summoning Spell!”

With each of Gu Xi’s actions, corresponding system prompts echoed in his ears:

[You successfully used Summoning Spell, obtaining a Skeleton (Level 0), Summoning Spell experience +1.]

[Skeleton (Level 0, Summoned Creature): Experience (0/100), Attack 1, Defense 1, HP 10, Skills: None]

[You successfully used Summoning Spell, obtaining a Skeleton (Level 0), Summoning Spell experience +1.]

[You failed to use Summoning Spell, Summoning Spell experience +1.]

[You successfully used Inferior Bone Shield, Inferior Bone Shield experience +1.]

[…]

Simultaneously, the corpses on the ground exploded, some transforming into withered yellow skeletons standing behind Gu Xi, others into greyish-white wisps swirling around him and Luna.

“Alright, let’s go.”

After dealing with all the corpses, Gu Xi greeted Luna.

Luna was just finishing distributing weapons to the newly created skeletons.

The weapons they used were all salvaged by Luna—broken scimitars, iron rods, wooden staves, and the like.

While these weapons were subpar, in their current situation, having any weapon was an improvement.

Upon hearing Gu Xi’s command, without Luna’s direction, the three newly created skeletons charged forward.

Their steps were light and decisive, their targets clear, unlike the aimless wandering of typical unintelligent undead.

They displayed aggression, attacking anything destructible.

Even roadside plates and water jars were kicked aside.

Gu Xi trailed behind, one hand holding a curved blade, the other a dagger. He couldn’t help but wonder if these skeletons were unlike those described in the books.

Luna, beside him, remained oblivious. Like a sprite, she flitted around Gu Xi, sometimes appearing before him, sometimes vanishing instantly.

Regardless of her position, Gu Xi could clearly sense Luna’s presence.

This brought Gu Xi a sense of reassurance. Perhaps this was the meaning of having a contracted partner.

Just then, urgent voices echoed from a distance.

“Skeletons! An Undead Mage!”

Another wave of cultists charged from afar.

They were no different from the cultists Gu Xi had just annihilated—black hooded robes, wielding whatever weapons they could find.

Gu Xi even saw some charging forward with candlesticks and stools.

Their frenzied charge made Gu Xi feel like he was facing a mob of lunatics.

“Howl!”

Gu Xi roared, charging forward.

Luna, understanding Gu Xi’s command, instantly appeared before him, unleashing a piercing shriek at the oncoming cultists.

The Banshee Howl activated.

The shriek, imbued with power, surged towards the cultists, causing them all to simultaneously bleed from their seven orifices (a common Chinese expression indicating profuse bleeding from all openings in the face).

In that instant, Gu Xi had already dashed over twenty meters, hurling his dagger, striking the foremost cultist.

Gu Xi then pointed at the dagger-struck cultist.

“Inferior Corpse Explosion!”

Boom!

The cultist’s corpse exploded, the blast affecting several behind him, instantly killing those already gravely wounded by the Banshee Howl.

[Killed Cultist (Level 1), experience +9.]

[Luna (Contracted Undead) killed Cultist (Level 1), you gain experience +6, Contracted Undead gains experience +8.]

[Killed Elite Cultist (Level 2), experience +22, due to cooperative kill, Contracted Undead gains experience +11.]

[…]

“Old tricks are reliable,” Gu Xi happily mumbled, pointing at another exploded corpse and striking again.

“Inferior Corpse Explosion!”

A cultist, just crawling from the explosion, was instantly killed by the second blast.

Also obliterated were two hidden rogues behind him.

[Killed Elite Rogue (Level 2), experience +35.]

[Killed Rogue (Level 2), experience +28.]

Looking at the iron rod dropped by the rogue, Gu Xi felt his frustration inexplicably lessen.

Before Gu Xi could ponder, the three skeletons had already reached the corpses.

Without waiting for Gu Xi’s orders, they picked up the dropped weapons, equipping themselves with better ones.

They didn’t discard their old weapons but held them, awaiting Gu Xi’s instructions.

Gu Xi dashed forward, reaching out towards the battleground, gathering numerous soul fragments from the mangled bodies, forming five new soul orbs in his hand.

Gu Xi then arrived at the corpses and, after a brief assessment, released two soul orbs into two relatively intact corpses.

[You successfully used Summoning Spell, obtaining a Skeleton (Level 0), Summoning Spell experience +1.]

[You failed to use Summoning Spell, Summoning Spell experience +1.]

Another failure. The Summoning Spell’s success rate seems low.

Gu Xi mused, about to order his three skeletons back to distribute extra weapons to the new recruits, when he heard the clash of weapons from the corridor ahead.

More enemies. Gu Xi glanced at Luna. Before he even gave an order, Luna had already darted off, flashing into position near the turn.

Gu Xi drew his dagger, his right hand poised for Inferior Corpse Explosion.

As he’d said, old tricks are reliable.

(Chapter end)

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