My Skeleton Soldier Is Strange - Chapter 111
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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111
Inferno
—Whoosh—
The twin blades whirled through the air, cleaving through emptiness. In the blink of an eye, the Giant Rat’s neck was severed. The blade pierced through its coarse, thick hide and severed the arteries within. Crimson blood gushed forth in torrents. With its neck nearly torn away, the Giant Rat collapsed without even a cry, its body going rigid.
—Thud—
A massive corpse that shook the earth itself. The Giant Rat lay motionless, drenched in blood. In that fleeting moment, life departed from its body. The colossal monster had become nothing more than a cadaver. Death’s silence descended upon the blood-soaked jungle.
—Swish—
With a heavy fluttering sound, I wiped the blood from my blade. My hollow eyes gazed down at the corpse, devoid of emotion. Only the cold satisfaction of having judged my enemy through death lingered within me. For me, death was routine—a part of life itself.
—Sssshhh—
Arulan strode toward the corpse with deliberate steps. He extended his long fingers and began chanting an incantation. Eerie darkness erupted from his fingertips, beginning to coil around the Giant Rat’s body. The flesh darkened as though on the verge of decay. A force that defied life twisted the cadaver.
—Uuuung—
A strange vibration rippled through the air. Unnatural movements began to manifest within the dead body. Shattered bones realigned themselves, finding their proper places. The flesh severed by the blade melted away, vanishing without a trace. Skin and muscle dissolved, leaving only white bone behind.
—Writhe—
A crimson radiance flickered across the pristine bone. As though dark magic had seeped into it, brilliant scarlet irises blazed with intensity. The skeleton rose slowly to its feet. It emanated a fierce vitality that even death could not deny. The undead Giant Rat, reborn through Arulan’s power, was grotesque—as though it had torn down the boundary between death and life.
—Crackle—
With the final syllable of the incantation, the undead was complete. A skeletal rat with blazing crimson eyes, its tail swishing obediently at Arulan’s gesture. A powerful servant cloaked in darkness had been born.
* * *
Thud—thud—
The heavy footsteps of the skeletal Giant Rat and Chimera shook the earth. Kim Jae-beom walked slowly behind the two leading monsters. His sharp eyes remained vigilant, scanning the surroundings. An unusual quiet hung in the air.
The party traversed the Dark Forest. Only the cries of beasts tickled the ears—the distant chirping of birds, the rustling of leaves brushed by wind. The sounds of nature filled the depths of the jungle.
The colossal monsters advanced with trembling footfalls, their steps echoing strangely through the primordial wilderness. As we pushed through the ancient forest, we moved toward the jungle’s heart. Beyond the horizon, a majestic silhouette emerged—a volcano towering so high it seemed to pierce the sky itself.
—Crackle—
I stepped upon moss-covered stone, advancing toward the volcano. Curiosity about this unknown world stirred, and the adventurer’s instinct within me awakened.
—Boom!
As I drew near the volcano’s peak, a System Message appeared before me.
[You have arrived at the volcanic region deep within the jungle.]
[If you defeat the Fire Guardian sleeping within this volcano, you can obtain a special reward.]
—Ku-ku-boom…!
A powerful tremor shook the earth. The volcano convulsed as though something were about to erupt. Scorching heat seared the atmosphere, causing the air to shimmer. Tension flashed across my eyes. I sensed instinctively that something powerful was about to appear before me.
—Kaboom—!
A massive explosion erupted from the volcano’s summit. Brilliant crimson lava shot skyward. Burning rocks scattered in all directions. In that instant, a colossal silhouette emerged from within the volcano.
—Crash—!
A massive figure engulfed in flames burst from the volcanic crater. Its entire body was wrapped in blazing fire. From its burning eyes poured forth scorching energy. It was a form befitting the title of fire spirit. The volcano’s guardian had awakened from its slumber.
—Roooaaarrr—!
A roar that seemed to pierce the heavens shook the earth. The Fire Guardian blazed with intense heat, glaring down at me. Within those searing eyes burned fury at the intrusion into its domain. Wielding the power of flickering flames, the guardian assumed a combat stance.
—Uuuung—
A wind laden with flame poured forth in all directions. The burning gale withered the jungle’s vegetation. Monsters that sensed the danger instinctively fled in terror. Only I stood firm. Standing behind Chimera and the skeletal rat, I stared directly at the Fire Guardian.
—Crackle—crackle—
Scorching heat poured from the guardian’s body. A temperature that burned the very air. With hot breath, the massive figure slowly approached me.
—How did a human reach this place?
The Fire Guardian’s response was filled with bewilderment.
Suspicion flickered across the Fire Guardian’s eyes. A human breaching the Barrier and reaching this place—it was something beyond imagination. With blazing eyes, he scrutinized Kim Jae-beom and his subordinates. An army of the undead. At the sight, a curious smile spread across the Fire Guardian’s lips.
―Become my subordinate. Then I shall share my power with you.
A voice that split through flames extended the proposal to Kim Jae-beom. The colossal fire spirit seemed to recognize his potential. If he could make such a powerful human his servant, he would become an invaluable confidant. This was the Fire Guardian’s calculation.
“Puhahaha!”
Kim Jae-beom burst into derisive laughter. His eyes mocked with contempt. An ambition hotter than molten lava burned within him. To him, the Fire Guardian was merely a stepping stone to climb over. With an arrogant expression, Kim Jae-beom opened his mouth as he stared at the Fire Guardian.
“Killing you would be more profitable.”
A provocative statement. Kim Jae-beom intended to drag down the fire spirit and take that position for himself. The stronger one dominates—that was the law of the jungle. He held no regard for the Fire Guardian’s authority.
―Insolent…!
The Fire Guardian, consumed by rage, let out a roar. A human daring to disrespect him. Murderous intent to punish him mercilessly gleamed in his blazing eyes. Swinging his massive arms while trailing scorching flames, he unleashed his attack.
―Shiiiiik―
Alongside intense heat, crimson gemstones materialized in the void. These scorching jewels were crystallized magical power infused with the Fire Guardian’s essence. The ultimate weapon summoned by the fire spirit. The energy radiating from the gems overwhelmed the surroundings.
A dance of writhing flames. The blazing red gemstones spiraled through the air, targeting Kim Jae-beom. The searing heat was hot enough to scorch skin.
―Uuuung!
At that moment, Arulan strode forward with great strides. An eerie radiance burst forth from the skeleton mage’s eyes. He chanted a spell reminiscent of terrifying screams. A biting chill began spreading in all directions.
―Pwoerk―
Pitch-black energy enveloped the Fire Guardian. The scorching heat seemed to extinguish in an instant. Arulan’s magical power consumed the fire spirit’s essence. The two energies clashed, creating a boundary between darkness and flame.
“What…?”
The Fire Guardian wavered at the unexpected magic. Dark sorcery overwhelming a fire spirit. Bewilderment was evident in his confused gaze as he struggled to comprehend this unforeseen spectacle. His power being sealed—he could not understand it.
Pwoofung―!
The Fire Guardian hurled a massive fireball at Arulan with a furious roar. The blazing sphere spiraled as it rushed toward the skeleton mage. The scorching heat warped the very air. An inescapable attack. The fireball seemed poised to engulf Arulan entirely.
Shwik―!
In that instant, Dercan, clad in jet-black armor, appeared like lightning. Twin blades flashed as they cut through the void. With a heavy strike, the fireball split in two. The shattered flames dissipated in the air.
―Boom―!
The heavy footsteps of Dercan striking the ground. A skeleton knight radiating cyan bloodlust. His form, shielding Arulan like a barrier, was like the incarnation of death itself. Empty eye sockets fixed on the Fire Guardian brimmed with killing intent.
―You wretches!
The Fire Guardian raged at the undead’s counterattack. But it was far from over.
―Kurrung―
Chimera snarled and charged at the Fire Guardian. Sharp lion claws tore through the flames as they descended. Blade-like talons raked across the Fire Guardian’s burning armor. Piercing lightning crackling from the horns penetrated the enemy’s body.
―Shwik shwik―
The undead Giant Rat joined Chimera’s assault. Death’s aura burst forth from its crimson, blazing eyes. Baring scarlet fangs, it moved with nimble speed, circling the Fire Guardian. It snapped at the flames with its tusks, searching for openings.
―Kwajik―!
The undead legion surrounded the fire spirit. Bombarded from all sides by relentless attacks, the Fire Guardian staggered. He swung his massive arms trying to shake off his enemies, but it was futile. The fantastic combination play of Chimera and the skeleton rat. An overwhelming chain of attacks with no gaps to exploit unfolded.
―Pwoerk―!
A whirling pillar of fire shot skyward. The blue liquid Chimera spewed mixed with the Fire Guardian’s scorching flames. Crimson fire and azure venom tangled together, causing a sinister explosion. Burning flesh flew into the air.
―Kuung―!
The undead Giant Rat swiftly hurled itself forward. It seized the opening in the Fire Guardian’s armor created by the explosion. Black fangs gleamed like a ghoul between the shattered flames. Driving its tusks deep, it pierced the defenseless vital point.
“Kraaaaaagh―!”
A scream of agony tore from the Fire Guardian’s mouth. Bright crimson lava seeped from his burning body. A torrent of blood gushed from the horrific wound. His form, twisted in pain, was losing its original majesty.
―Kukukukukung!
The Fire Guardian’s body began to collapse.
His flames dimmed, and vast form fractured with deep cracks.
—Shatter!
The Fire Guardian’s body shattered into dozens of fragments. Like broken glass, the shattered remnants met a tragic end.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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