We were already on the upper road, marching in columns along the narrow mountain path. The terrain here was perilous, with towering peaks and ridges, each mountain rising in jagged formation.
Those vultures from earlier would find it nearly impossible to fly in here. Besides, at the higher points of the peaks, there were many black ropes strung about, resembling spider webs. With these barriers, it was even harder for them to get through.
Judging by the way those vultures moved, they must have circled in from the flanks of the mountains.
Within those tangled, spiderweb-like black ropes, I saw clothes, armor, and even bows and arrows hanging—meant to prevent airborne troops from attacking us like before.
The mountain road was treacherous, and we had been marching for a long time, still deep within the peaks. I was surprised to see some clearings on certain ridges, where light infantry advanced while the heavily armored troops brought up the rear. I was assigned to the front lines.
Everything was meticulously ordered—this was a real army. As expected, most of these were soldiers who had died in battle, from various eras. Even in death, they continued their endless war here.
"Yuna Ji is going too far," I muttered.
I whispered under my breath, but just then, a massive skeleton only a few meters ahead seemed to notice me.
"One more word and you'll face military discipline," it warned.
I quickly shut my mouth and said nothing more, continuing to march with the army.
Here, it was impossible to tell day from night. All that existed was a gray, hazy sky—like the aftermath of war, the air above a burned city, bleak and hopeless.
Gradually, the road ahead widened, and our pace began to quicken.
At that moment, I saw another road at the base of the mountain. There, columns of skeletons marched, their hands bound by ropes, driven forward by whip-wielding skeleton overseers.
"See that? Those are deserters, troublemakers, and those who disobey orders. This is their fate—to spend eternity mining military supplies in distant quarries."
A massive skeleton standing atop a roadside boulder shouted this. I saw many skeletons with vacant eyes glance over, but none dared make a sound.
"Listen up, soldiers! Soon you’ll be on the battlefield. Don’t be afraid—remember, you are undying. Even if you fall, you’ll resurrect in the Bonefield after a few years. We’ve deciphered the mechanism behind Empress Yuna Ji’s resurrection of her troops. Ours may be slower, but soon we’ll have overwhelming numbers. The reclamation of the Styx River is progressing steadily. Victory will be ours! Overthrow Yuna Ji’s rule—soldiers, you are the blades that will pierce her throat and shatter her bones!"
Another rallying cry to boost morale. Many skeletons joined in the shouting. I sighed; it was clear the locals were suffering—that’s why they rebelled.
Gradually, I saw what looked like a city in the distance. Everywhere, houses made of bones, and crowds of people moving about.
As we drew closer, I realized it was like a marketplace. Many skeletons were busy, most of them trading weapons.
The army skirted the city, heading to a vast area beside it—packed with skeletons arranged in neat, dense formations.
"All troops, listen up! Rest for three hours, then head to the front lines."
I finally found an opportunity and planned to head into the city to ask the locals what was really going on.
When I was at the foot of the mountain, I considered escaping—turning into mist and drifting away.
"Hey, you! Trying to run, huh? Didn’t you see what happens to deserters? Their fate is miserable."
A skeleton beside me grabbed my arm. I yelped, and at that moment, a skeleton on horseback ahead turned its head. We quickly fell silent.
Once inside the formation, the skeleton next to me held on tightly.
"Let go," I said quietly.
I spoke softly, but he wouldn’t release his grip.
"Listen, at least we’ll have company. What do you think? You’re a bit odd, but your mind is recovering faster than most. How about it? Let’s escape together—two is better than one."
I didn’t want to cause a commotion, so I agreed.
All around us were massive skeletons standing guard. At that moment, many skeletons seemed to regain their senses and began to talk among themselves.
"Quiet! No talking!"
A giant skeleton shouted. I sat on the ground, anxious to leave. The skeleton beside me held my hand tightly, clearly aware of my intent to escape—it was obvious, and he refused to let go.
"Aren’t you tired of this? Why do you keep grabbing me?"
I was getting annoyed and glared at the skeleton. Its jaw clacked up and down, letting out a sharp, eerie laugh.
Just then, I saw a pair of skeletons on horseback rushing over from the distance.
"Report! General Huoyan orders you to set out immediately—ride without stopping to the front lines. The front is about to fall!"
Suddenly, we were called to action and told to run to the front lines. I glanced at the skeleton beside me, then decided to ignore him. I was about to turn into mist, but something felt wrong.
I couldn’t transform into mist. Surprised, I checked my ghostly soul—it seemed fine, but strangely, my ghost energy was sealed inside, unable to escape. Eyes wide, I stared ahead in shock.
I kept checking myself. It was that river—I had swum in that black river for a long time, and it seemed the aura of the Styx River had entered my body, wrapping around my ghost soul.
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This shocked me—I was now just like the skeletons beside me, only I was in ghost form and they were in skeletal form. I tried to use my power to break free.
"You’d better not, Qingyuan. If you cause trouble, it might end badly."
Zhu Tang reminded me.
"Meeting Yuna Ji isn’t difficult, Qingyuan. You should slowly get to know the situation here first."
I responded with an 'oh' and nodded, having no choice but to keep marching with the troops.
Gradually, we entered a broad-leaved forest. The area was spacious, the trees dark green, their leaves shaped like blades.
We moved slowly through the woods. After skirting a vast lake, I saw a city at least dozens of kilometers away, nestled between two mountain passes.
"Advance! Prepare for battle! Half the city is already occupied by the Pink Plume Legion. Follow orders when we arrive and retake the stronghold in one sweep!"
Shouts rang out again and again. I could only follow along, thinking that as long as I could blend into Yuna Ji’s army, I’d eventually find General Pink Plume naturally.
I saw thick black smoke rising, and heard the clash of weapons and constant battle cries.
Stunned, I watched as a large-scale urban battle unfolded before my eyes.
We kept running, and the closer we got, the clearer the shouts and killing became.
"What am I even doing here?"
I muttered under my breath.
After several hours, we reached the outskirts of the city. I saw towering skeletons gathered around one engulfed in red flames—they seemed to be discussing tactics over a map. Being in the front row, I could see clearly.
"Quiet."
Immediately, the troops fell silent. I looked at the skeleton—it must have been General Huoyan.
"The resistance forces are here—they’re about to break through. We’ve suffered heavy losses against their heavily armored troops. Now, I need a squad of light infantry to cross the mountains and cliffs on the left, launch a surprise attack, and buy us time to regroup and enter the city. If possible, scatter the enemy’s rear ranks."
As he spoke, General Huoyan gave the order. We were called out by name, and the lightly armored troops in chainmail were directed up the mountains on the city’s left.
It seemed things were getting stranger and stranger.
I climbed up the mountain with the others and found a flat area at the top, from which I could see the fierce fighting still raging in the distant city.
"Young people, listen up. The emperor here is a tyrant—she’s trapped us in this place. We’re doomed to be its residents forever. The only way out is to defeat her, to kill her. Only then can we escape this land of eternal night."
"So it really is Yuna Ji’s fault."
I sighed. Now I understood why the Ghost Sovereigns held such resentment toward Yuna Ji—she had trapped countless souls in this place.
"Our Western Army’s main task is to break through the gates of Yuna Ji’s empire and create opportunities for the other armies. Our forces far outnumber those of the Pink Fortress. Once we take the gate, victory is within reach. All right, boys, let’s go—follow me!"
It sounded like an old soldier speaking. A large group of us followed, climbing the steep mountain.
We reached a spot where we could see the summit. Suddenly, skeletons appeared above us.
"Not good—enemy attack! Fall back!"
Then I saw clouds of smoke, followed by red, boiling magma pouring down the mountainside—dumped from carts pushed by the skeletons.