My Skeleton Soldier Is Strange - Chapter 119

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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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119
Inferno
Kim Jae-beom raised his voice toward the corridor beyond. Moments later, a figure emerged from the darkness. It was Arulan. He moved with deliberate slowness in response to Kim Jae-beom’s call, approaching his side.
“Open this door.”
Kim Jae-beom gestured with his head toward the stone slab as he spoke. Arulan nodded silently without a word. He slowly raised both hands and pressed his palms against the ancient door.
In that instant, a wondrous sight unfolded. Black light began to bloom from Arulan’s body. The power of darkness flowed through his arms and poured into the stone slab. Like a living creature consuming prey, the ancient door devoured the light.
Responding to Arulan’s power, the intricate patterns darkened one by one. The once-clear carvings grew hazy, replaced by pitch-black outlines etched upon the stone.
Black energy hovered above the slab, then writhed like a serpent, connecting the lines. The grotesque patterns gradually formed into a single, massive circuit.
The darkness intensified with each passing moment. Shadows rippled across the stone surface. The entire door seemed to breathe with life.
As the pattern completed, faint currents of electricity emanated from the pitch-black inscribed lines. Terrifyingly dark black lightning spread outward in all directions along the slab. Stone fragments scattered wherever the flashes struck. A tempest of electrical discharge raged around the door.
―Crackle!
Black currents spiraled and surged toward the door. The lightning swept across the surface as if devouring the slab, soon engulfing the entire door. Only darkness remained on the consumed stone.
Upon the pitch-black surface, the ancient patterns began to fade one by one. The mysterious lines scattered into the void, losing their existence. The mystical geometric designs vanished as if time itself were reversing, and the slab’s appearance returned to its original state.
Yet the silence was brief. Suddenly, a blue flash erupted from the slab. The ancient magic circle, dormant for ages, had awakened. Blue flames shot upward in all directions, illuminating the surroundings. The vibrant light rays resembled a guardian protecting the door. They burned brightly, resisting Arulan’s power.
But Arulan showed no intention of retreating. He poured more force into both hands. The black energy flowing through his arms grew denser, and the entire space was consumed by darkness.
Black waves surged forward, swallowing the blue magic circle. Darkness engulfed the radiance. Within it, the ancient protective spell flickered weakly before fading. The blue flames vanished without a trace, like a dying candle. The slab, robbed of light, seemed to have lost its very life force.
Everything was consumed by darkness. Only the deathly silence filled the corridor.
―Thud.
Breaking the quiet, the door slowly opened inward. The stone slab parted silently. What lay beyond was pitch-black darkness. Deep and heavy shadows slowly flowed out from beyond the door. Kim Jae-beom stared into the open doorway with curious eyes.
―Tap!
And immediately, he stepped into the space beyond the door.
* * *
Kim Jae-beom took a step into the darkness. As his foot crossed the threshold, pitch-black obscurity swallowed his vision. Before him lay only empty, impenetrable void. Absolute darkness where nothing could be seen. It evoked a sense of emptiness as if I had reached the end of existence.
Then it happened. Red energy began to bloom from my body. Like flames burning within, crimson radiance flowed across my skin. The vibrant red light pushed back the darkness and illuminated the surroundings. It was a flickering firelight that never ceased its vital pulse even in the depths of shadow.
Not to be outdone, Arulan extended his hand as well. Black mana poured forth from the tip of his staff like a spring. The power of darkness swirled in the empty space, then condensed into flame. The black fire took on a grotesque form, undulating. It resembled a writhing living shadow. The black flames licked the air like a viscous tongue, devouring the darkness.
Red light and black flames. Two light sources joined forces against the obscurity. Gradually, the realm of light expanded. What began to reveal itself was a Grand Hallway. So magnificent was the passage that its ceiling remained invisible. A height easily fifty meters or more. That overwhelming vertical expanse inspired awe.
Along both walls of the Grand Hallway stood stone-carved gargoyle statues in a row. The sculptures, seemingly crafted by ancient hands, each bore different forms. Grins baring sharp fangs. Expressions twisted by madness. Screams twisted by terror. Eyes seized by frenzy. Statues capturing grotesque emotions in their entirety.
The three-dimensional surfaces of the statues were further emphasized through the contrast of light and shadow. Deeply carved shadows and prominent contours. The texture of their rough and hideous expressions lived vividly. The stone statues reflected in the red firelight appeared to breathe, while the shadows of the black flames seemed to writhe.
Kim Jae-beom drew in a breath. A corridor filled with faces seized by madness. Statues emanating an eerie and grotesque atmosphere. It was a sight that seemed to exist only in nightmares. It was difficult to gauge what kind of place this was or what purpose it served.
―Thud. Thud. Thud.
Heavy reverberations crossed the corridor. Kim Jae-beom flinched and turned his head. What entered his vision was an unbelievable sight. The stone-carved gargoyle statues trembled ever so slightly. As if the lifeless sculptures had gained vitality, they vibrated faintly.
Red light began to seep from the eyes of the roughly carved gargoyles. Crimson radiance filled the empty eye sockets. A gloomy hue like rotten blood. It evoked fear rather than life. Eyes bearing death and curse. The slowly rising red eyes resembled soulless dolls.
The limbs of the gargoyles gradually writhed. The sound of stone scraping as if it might crumble. The statues were awakening from slumber and attempting to move. They thrashed about as if regaining consciousness, struggling to break free from their bonds.
At that moment, Arulan chanted an incantation. He extended his barbed fingers toward the gargoyles. Black smoke emanated from Arulan’s fingertips, pouring forth toward the statues.
The black energy surged forth as if alive, rushing at the gargoyles. The pitch-black mist engulfed their bodies and spread rapidly. The stone sculptures were instantly consumed by darkness.
The writhing movements of the gargoyles ceased. The bodies that had been awakening from slumber turned to stone once more. The black energy became a force of restraint, binding the gargoyles’ limbs.
Responding to Arulan’s incantation, the darkness mist transformed its shape. The grotesque smoke gradually stretched thin and long, then became rusted chains. Clanking shackles tightened around the gargoyles’ necks, arms, and legs. The friction between stone and metal rang out sharply.
The statues, their movements sealed, lost their vitality once more. The eyes that had burned crimson slowly faded in color. The blood-red radiance grew dim, then extinguished entirely. Only empty eye sockets remained. The deathly silence returned.
―Whoosh!
Yet the silence was short-lived. A remarkable transformation began to occur in the gargoyle statues. The stone sculptures, infused with Arulan’s power, trembled silently and began to change form.
The hard stone surface gradually fractured, then began to crumble. Revealed among the scattered debris were yellowed bones. The outer shell that had formed the statue vanished, and the skull hidden beneath emerged into view.
Protruding joints and skeletal fingers. Ribs swaying in the wind. Desiccated flesh clinging bloodlessly to cheekbones. Gargoyle-shaped skeletons stood in a line, bound by iron chains. It was a dramatic transformation from statue to undead.
The crimson eyes disappeared, replaced by a blue spectral glow emanating from within the hollow eye sockets. The radiance of a soul burning beyond death. Unfulfilled desires and resentments from life churned within.
The trembling joints of the skeleton twisted at unnatural angles, and the gargoyles snapped their chains and stepped forward. Click-clack—the sound of bone striking bone. A nerve-grating friction of joints.
The undead gargoyles slowly knelt before Kim Jae-beom. Creaking bones in submission. Skulls bowing their heads gradually. They looked exactly like retainers prostrating themselves before a king.
From the faces of skulls twisted by desire, a light of crazed reverence poured forth. Submission to Kim Jae-beom. A yearning to serve. Souls trapped by death lay prostrate, having found a new master.
[The gargoyle statues pledge their loyalty.]
Even the system itself was saying so.
Cold blue light emanating from empty eye sockets. Vacant gazes consumed by desire. They revealed an obsession unfulfilled even after death. The undead gargoyles seemed to be seeking something akin to salvation from Kim Jae-beom.
Kim Jae-beom gazed down at the gargoyle skeletons that submitted to him. The eye sockets of skulls mingled with awe and desire. At that grotesque sight, a smile played across Kim Jae-beom’s lips.
“Arulan, I’m quite pleased with this.” Gargoyles reduced to mere bones.
Though their appearance had become considerably weaker compared to their statue form, the power contained within them was undoubtedly beyond imagination.
For that reason, Kim Jae-beom looked at Arulan once more and reflected.
‘Indeed, these are my skeleton soldiers.’
The two skeleton soldiers operated on an entirely different level from ordinary minions.
“Arulan, summon all the undead monsters you’ve accumulated so far right here.”
With that in mind, Kim Jae-beom decided to conduct a test—to see just how powerful his Undead Legion truly was.
Undead toads and undead centipedes.
Along with massive rats made of bone and the gargoyle statues. He intended to unleash everything.

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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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