Ryan noticed that the high-ranking zombies in command were about the same size as regular zombies, but they sat in seats strapped to the backs of giant zombies that were noticeably larger than the standard ones. As human forces pressed forward, these advanced zombies frantically ordered the rest of the undead to regroup.
Unfortunately for them, long-range attacking plants had already formed an impenetrable barrier, preventing any reinforcements from reaching the front lines.
Meanwhile, the giant robots commanded by Dave clashed with the towering zombies. The robots restrained their monstrous foes, allowing the plants growing on their frames to unleash a relentless barrage of attacks.
Ryan wasn't idle during the battle. He aimed his wand and fired rapid bursts of magic at the high-ranking zombies. However, he quickly realized that these creatures had strong magical resistance. Even the ancient magic of Unclean Silence could only momentarily hinder their movements.
Realizing he couldn't take them down alone, Ryan switched tactics. He spotted a giant zombie struggling against one of the robots, its commander attempting to flee. Seizing the moment, he cast Unclean Silence again, briefly paralyzing the zombie. That was all the opening his comrade needed—rushing forward with the robot, he used the dragon grass growing on its surface to incinerate the undead commander completely.
Ryan didn't pause to celebrate. He hooked onto a nearby robot with a grappling spell and swung across the battlefield. As he landed, he spotted a soldier who had been knocked off his machine during the fight. Without hesitation, Ryan cast an armor shield spell around him, blocking an incoming zombie attack just in time.
Everywhere on the battlefield, soldiers, robots, and plants worked in perfect unison, doing their utmost to eliminate the enemy.
Victory on the Green Leaf Plains
After ten minutes of brutal combat, the human forces finally eliminated the high-ranking zombies that had been commanding the undead horde. Ryan knew that the battle was won when the last of these elite zombies was crushed beneath a giant robot.
As expected, with their leaders gone, the remaining zombies reverted to their mindless wandering state. Though still drawn to human life forces, their attacks were now uncoordinated and weak.
Without proper command, the zombie army quickly collapsed. By sunset, the battle was over.
When the post-war statistics were compiled, the numbers painted a grim but victorious picture. Over 700 human warriors and more than 5,000 robots, supported by an army of magical plants, had managed to completely annihilate over 100,000 zombies on the Green Leaf Plains near Green Leaf City.
However, the cost of victory was high. Though no human lives were lost, at least ten soldiers had sustained permanent injuries. Half of the robots were destroyed, with only one-tenth of the giant robots surviving the battle. Many crucial plants were lost as well, with nearly all melee plants wiped out. On top of that, the massive stockpile of materials that had been painstakingly gathered over time was nearly depleted. The war effort had exhausted human offensive capabilities, making another major campaign impossible for at least six months.
Still, the rewards of battle were substantial. With Green Leaf City now under human control, they had finally regained a foothold in industrial production. Before the battle, they had scavenged every possible scrap of steel—dismantling old warehouses, abandoned train stations, and even entire trains—to construct the 5,000 war robots. Without the existence of certain miraculous plants that could create steel without fuel, even that would have been impossible.
Now, with enough land to grow food and develop industry, humanity had a real chance at reclaiming dominance in this world.
The Ritual of the Fallen
As night fell, the army refrained from entering the city for safety reasons. Instead, Ryan followed the traditions of the ancient Viking wizards. Under his guidance, the robots constructed a makeshift altar on the battlefield. There, he performed an ancient purification ritual to release the lingering spirits of the fallen zombies, allowing their trapped souls to finally rest in peace.
Standing atop the altar, Ryan raised his wand and began chanting in the ancient Viking tongue. As his voice echoed across the battlefield, countless silver lights emerged from the corpses below, coalescing into translucent ghostly figures.
Under the influence of the ritual, the expressions of these lost souls gradually softened. Some even seemed to recognize their past selves. One by one, they turned toward Ryan, bowed in silent gratitude, and dissipated into wisps of silver smoke.
The ceremony lasted the entire night. Fortunately, these were merely zombies—creatures whose power lay in their physical forms. Without their bodies, their spirits were even weaker than those of ordinary humans. Had they been resentful ghosts instead, this ritual would have been far more dangerous.
The next morning, the soldiers awoke to find themselves looking at Ryan with newfound respect and gratitude. Some had even seen the spirits of their lost loved ones among the departed, leading to a night filled with quiet tears and whispered prayers.
After breaking camp, they finally made their way into Green Leaf City. By noon, the last straggling zombies in the area had been cleared.
A Parting Gift
At the docks, Ryan and Dave bid farewell to Williams, who was about to embark on a steam-powered sailboat. As part of humanity's rebuilding efforts, Williams would travel to surrounding islands, searching for survivors.
As the ship drifted into the horizon, Dave turned to Ryan with a knowing smile.
"Dave thinks his friend is going home soon," he remarked.
"Yeah," Ryan admitted. "I've done what I came here to do. It's time for me to return. Next time, I'll bring back a potion—maybe one that can heal those wounded soldiers and help them stand again."
"Thank you," Dave said sincerely. "You made a real difference here. Your magic took out some of our toughest enemies and saved many lives. In times like these, every extra survivor means a little more hope."
With a firm pat on Ryan's shoulder, Dave motioned for him to follow.
As they walked toward the river, Ryan spotted a steamboat coming downstream, its deck loaded with various machine parts.
"I'm going to build a second energy tower in this city," Dave explained. "The old town was great for hiding, but it lacks space for proper expansion. This city, on the other hand, has room to grow."
He then pointed toward a highland near the river, where a swarm of robots was busily constructing something massive.
"Since our numbers are still low, we need to be cautious. To prevent a zombie counterattack, I've decided to build a giant fortress big enough to house everyone. This will be our base from now on, and we'll salvage as much as we can from the city to reinforce it."
As they reached the construction site, Ryan examined the building materials. He quickly noticed that many were repurposed from the city's existing structures. It was a necessary sacrifice for the sake of long-term security.
Dave entered a small temporary structure and returned moments later carrying a laptop, a portable hard drive, and a small bag of seeds.
"This is my gift to you," he said, handing them over. "It contains all my life's research, notes, and experience. The seeds, too, are valuable. They belong to you. And on top of that, we've set aside a large farm in your name—our way of thanking you for everything you've done for us."
Ryan accepted the items with a solemn nod. "I've learned a lot from you as well. I hope that when I return, I'll see a flourishing city instead of ruins."
He grasped Dave's hand firmly before stepping back. With a final wave, he activated the portal of time and space, vanishing into the unknown.
And with that, his journey in this world came to an end—for now.
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