Skeleton Master Chapter 043
When did it start?
Though Moo-hyeok was clearly dominating, he feel like he being pushed back.
He finally sensed the strange atmosphere.
What is this...?
Just as he tried to step back to assess the situation, red light burst forth from the eye holes of the Dark Knight's helmet.
[You are exposed to the Gladiator's Fighting Spirit.]
[Your entire body is overwhelmed.]
[Physical abilities will decrease for 3 minutes.]
[Attack Speed decreased by (5 percent).]
[Movement Speed decreased by (2 percent).]
[Reaction Speed decreased by (0.5 percent).]
Moo-hyeok's brow furrowed.
Damn it!
The attack speed and movement speed make sense.
But reaction speed?
Moo-hyeok's current reaction speed hasn't even reached 103 percent. And now it's decreased by 0.5 percent from that.
It meant his reaction capabilities had dropped by one level. He had to endure this situation for 3 minutes.
And this was happening now, when he thought he'd been pushing forward but was instead being overwhelmed.
Moreover, the opponent's skill had the worst possible compatibility.
Of all things, a Gladiator...
It was absolutely maddening.
With its characteristic of getting stronger and faster as HP decreases, there was no way the Skeleton's normal attacks would work.
No, that's not right.
Moo-hyeok tried to stay calm.
There's always a way, no matter the situation.
Just as his excitement was starting to subside.
Whoosh.
The enemy charged in.
With overwhelming speed.
Moo-hyeok reacted belatedly.
Ah, damn it!
The moment he raised his shield to meet the enemy, it changed direction.
Crack.
One of Bone Sword 7's arms was shattered.
Everyone fall back!
There wasn't even time to organize his thoughts.
The excitement he had barely suppressed poked its head out again.
It's all or nothing now!
Bone Archer, rapid fire!
Bone Sword, charge!
Moo-hyeok charged in as well.
It's do or die anyway!
Just need to surround them and land a few more successful hits.
- Kirik, kiririk!*
But the Dark Knight sliced through the rapidly fired bone arrows with his sword. He dodged the charging Bone Sword's rush by twisting his body.
Of course, with so many Bone Swords, the Dark Knight couldn't hold his position.
While quickly moving left and right through the narrow dungeon path, he kept swinging his sword, inflicting wounds on the Bone Swords.
Hmm...
At this rate, there's no chance of winning.
Moo-hyeok abandoned his plan to wait for an opportunity and stepped forward to face him head-on.
"Hyaah!"
With a battle cry, he closed the distance and brought his sword down. The Dark Knight easily blocked the attack by tilting his sword.
- Clang.*
With the sound of metal, the Dark Knight's sword rode up along Moo-hyeok's blade and aimed for his hand.
Startled, Moo-hyeok held his breath and thrust out his foot.
- Thud!*
He retreated backward using the recoil from the kick to his abdomen.
Crazy...
The Dark Knight was incredibly fast.
And tricky too.
If only I were level 50...
Things would be different from how they are now.
His sense of purpose grew stronger.
He needed to reach level 50 to acquire proper fundamentals. After that, results would come with effort.
But in this situation, there was no time for such lengthy thoughts.
He approached the Dark Knight again, who was indiscriminately destroying the Bone Swords.
A sword thrust came.
Though he couldn't see it clearly, he trusted his instincts.
- Hup!*
He rolled forward while lowering his upper body. The pursuing Dark Knight's sword slashed across Moo-hyeok's back. His HP decreased from the hit.
[You take 311 damage.]
At least it wasn't a critical hit.
Immediately rising to his feet, he thrust his sword at the charging Dark Knight.
Perhaps because it was like an ambush.
The Dark Knight couldn't dodge or block it.
[You deal 176 damage.]
[Additional explosion damage (88) is applied.]
Almost finished...!
But simultaneously, Moo-hyeok was also hit by the Dark Knight's sword. His HP instantly dropped below 30 percent.
Hurriedly backing away, he pulled out and drank a Life Potion. As 200 HP recovered, he could breathe again.
But the Dark Knight was still pursuing.
Bone Sword, charge!
After giving the order, he rolled across the ground again.
The charging Bone Sword and Dark Knight collided.
Moo-hyeok got up and carefully approached to unleash attacks, but he couldn't land any hits.
The Dark Knight's movements were too flashy and fast, with his HP truly at rock bottom.
Damn it, just need to hit him once or twice more!
That's when the Bone Swords swung their swords, aiming for the Dark Knight's back.
- Spot.*
The Dark Knight in front of him twisted his body and ran toward the wall. Then he kicked off the wall with all his might, turned toward the Bone Swords, and launched himself.
Bone Sword, defend!
Bone Archer, rapid fire!
Despite his hurried commands, two Bone Swords were cut down by the Dark Knight's sword.
- Crash.*
Bone Swords 3 and 4, their bodies completely shattered, were unsummoned.
- Clang.*
The belated bone arrows struck the Dark Knight's armor. Though they bounced off, the slight impact must have gotten through.
Moo-hyeok furrowed his brow and began closing the distance with the Dark Knight again.
After all, he himself was the one capable of dealing the highest damage.
- Swoosh.*
While closing the distance, Bone Sword 5 was unsummoned.
Just as Moo-hyeok reached striking distance of the Dark Knight and attempted another attack, the creature ignored him and rushed at another Bone Sword.
As this situation kept repeating, Moo-hyeok's reason began to gradually numb.
"Uaaaaaah!"
Now only three Bone Swords remained.
Two Bone Archers had been unsummoned as well.
The Dark Knight was still darting around everywhere targeting the Bone Swords and Bone Archers, and meanwhile, the duration of the Light of Explosion and the strength, agility, and health potions had run out.
The advantage had shifted to him.
Damn it, damn it...!
Moo-hyeok's eyes caught sight of Bone Sword 1.
He should save it...
He wanted to use it after reaching level 50.
That would have been more efficient.
But now there was no other choice.
This was the only way.
Dying here would be too meaningless.
Damn it.
Finally, he had to take it out from his inventory.
The Variant Lizardman Knight's skull that he had been saving so preciously.
-
While the Dark Knight was attacking the remaining summons, Moo-hyeok stood in front of Bone Sword 1, holding the Lizardman Knight's skull in his hand.
"Hah......"
There was no time for lengthy deliberation.
Damn it.
Cursing inwardly, he gripped Bone Sword 1's skull.
"Bone Assembly."
With that, the skull detached cleanly.
He placed the Lizardman Knight's skull in the empty space.
['Bone Sword 1's' 'skull' has been replaced.]
[Evolution begins.]
Bone Sword 1's previously skeletal frame grew as thick as an adult's forearm.
Thanks to this, the previously empty spaces were filled completely, becoming as thick as if wearing armor.
As if that wasn't enough, it grew about 20 centimeters taller.
['Enhanced Skeleton' evolution is complete.]
[It is of the 'Non-Attribute' type.]
[HP increase per level rises from 5 to 10.]
['Lizardman Knight' traits applied, increasing 'Strength(5)' and 'Health(5)'.]
['Attack Power(10)' increases.]
['Defense(15)' increases.]
['Magic Defense(15)' increases.]
['Attack Speed(5 percent)' increases.]
['Movement Speed(5 percent)' increases.]
['Reaction Speed(1 percent)' increases.]
['All Stats(2)' increase.]
Attack, defense, and magic defense increased fundamentally.
HP and MP also increased by 5 per level, rising by 170 each.
Not only that. Attack speed, movement speed, and even reaction speed increased.
On top of that, with the Lizardman Knight skull's traits of 5 points each in strength and health, plus 2 points in all stats, it became incomparably stronger than before.
But even while witnessing this dramatic change, Moo-hyeok's expression remained grim.
Damn it...
The Enhanced Skeleton before him would evolve into an Armor Knight at level 100.
But that would be the end.
There would be no further evolution.
What if Moo-hyeok had reached level 50 and properly learned his skills?
What if he had changed the skull then with the upgraded 'Enhanced Bone Assembly'?
Then not only would it become a level 100 Armor Knight, but it could even evolve into an Enhanced Armor Knight at level 200.
That single difference.
That's why he had been saving it so preciously.
To use it as late as possible.
The regret was even greater after witnessing such an amazing transformation just now.
"Haah."
But he had already used it.
Late regrets were useless.
He'd have to make do with what he had.
Looking at the still rampaging Dark Knight, he gave his command.
Enhanced Skeleton, charge!
Moo-hyeok followed right behind.
Slash.
The Dark Knight, who had been attacking the Bone Archer, slightly turned his head and looked at the approaching Enhanced Skeleton.
As if dismissing it, he turned back to the Bone Archer and swung his sword.
Kirik.
That attack unsummoned the Bone Archer.
Swoosh.
Only then did the Dark Knight turn around. He collided with the Enhanced Skeleton that had just arrived within arm's reach.
The clash of swords rang out as their blades met in mid-air.
Kaggang! Kagang!
The Dark Knight's sword struck the Enhanced Skeleton's flank.
Tang.
But the sound was peculiar. It was like the sound of a sword being blocked by armor.
The evolution hadn't just made its bones thicker and its appearance more impressive. It had actually affected its combat ability.
The disappointing part was that despite evolving, it was still being pushed back by the Dark Knight.
Though the battle was incomparably more intense than before, it would mean nothing if they couldn't win.
Swoosh.
Moo-hyeok carefully approached their fierce battle.
Just need to succeed once.
Compared to the beginning, the Dark Knight had become so strong that it might as well be considered a different monster entirely.
It wouldn't be unreasonable to think its HP had dropped to the bottom.
The Enhanced Skeleton was keeping such a being occupied.
Though it couldn't land successful attacks, it was showing off its high HP and defense, along with movements quick enough to follow the Dark Knight's actions, albeit slightly delayed.
Just a little more.
Meanwhile, Moo-hyeok reached within three steps of the Dark Knight.
Still not within sword range.
Just one more step...
The battle ahead was still fierce.
Kagang, kagagang!
He stepped forward in time with the clashing of swords.
[Adapting to the Gladiator's spirit.]
[Decreased physical abilities return to normal.]
He got lucky.
His heavy body suddenly felt lighter.
He swung his sword with all that power.
Whoosh.
Moo-hyeok's sword cut through the air and struck the Dark Knight's shoulder.
[Correction effect activates.]
[Critical hit occurs.]
[Deals 352 damage.]
It was as if time had stopped.
"......"
Everything was silent.
Thud.
The delayed sound brought him back to his senses.
"Phew......"
Steadying his excited breathing, he took in the sight of the fallen Dark Knight.
[Experience points increase.]
[Level increases.]
He had defeated it.
-
As he watched the Dark Knight turn gray, he opened his mouth.
"Corpse Disassembly."
As the skill activated, his hands moved on their own.
When he removed the armor, the figure hidden inside was revealed. It was a skeleton no different from Moo-hyeok's summon.
The skill ended after his hands brushed over the creature's entire body.
['Dark Knight's Full Body Armor' acquired.]
['Dark Knight's Helmet' acquired.]
['Dark Knight's Boots' acquired.]
['Dark Knight's Skull' acquired.]
He obtained the exclusive armor set.
Huh, even the skull?
[You have cleared the Unique Dungeon.]
[Massive experience points gained.]
[Level increased.]
His level went up again.
If only it had ended there.
[Quest-related event.]
[You have cleared the Corrupted Unique Dungeon.]
[Reward: 'Special Item Box (x3)' acquired.]
[Quest updated.]
But expectations are always meant to be subverted.
A quest he hadn't even been paying attention to suddenly popped up.
[Encroaching Darkness]
Since ancient times, Necromancers have operated in the shadows, enduring the contempt and mockery of White Mages.
The founder of the Gangster Necromancers, unable to tolerate such treatment, accidentally discovered darkness lurking among the White Mages.
Believing that exposing this darkness would drive out White Magic and allow them to step into the light, he immediately began delving into it, though he has yet to fully grasp its true nature.
Those who become disciples of the Gangster Necromancer have a duty to seek out this darkness and help Necromancers emerge into the light.
=+Corrupted Dungeon. Confirmed that the Variant Lizardman Knight there was tainted by darkness.]
=+Corrupted Unique Dungeon. Confirmed that the Dark Knight there was tainted by darkness.]
[Success condition: ?]
[Failure condition: Loss of profession]
[Success or failure to be determined later]
Looking at the newly appearing message, Moo-hyeok couldn't help but let out a wry laugh.
