My Skeleton Soldier Is Strange - Chapter 138

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

138
Inferno
Kim Jae-beom’s eyes flashed with determination. He issued his command with unwavering resolve.
“Arulan, Dercan. Attack.”
The moment the order left his lips, two skeletal soldiers surged forward, the Undead Legion thundering in their wake. Rotting flesh scattered in their wake, black blood streaming from their forms, yet they pressed on relentlessly—a sight both grotesque and terrifying.
―Boom!
A heavy, resonant crash echoed through the chamber as a colossal iron mace slammed against the ground. The undead were torn upward into the air as if shredded by invisible blades. Dust billowed in thick clouds.
Yet with a gesture from Arulan, the fallen undead rose again. Bones clattered and scraped as they staggered to their feet and hurled themselves back into the fray. Their relentless assault on the Ogre never ceased.
Dercan darted swiftly before the Ogre, wielding his twin blades in rapid arcs to evade its devastating strikes.
In the same breath, he seized an opening and drove his blade deep into its flesh.
―Splurt!
Crimson blood erupted. The Ogre’s thick hide split under the force of the attack. Unable to bear the pain, it unleashed a bestial roar.
“Uuuaaahhh!”
With its anguished cry, the iron mace cleaved through the air. Undead soldiers were sent flying in all directions, yet they rose from where they fell and renewed their assault without pause. Their onslaught was relentless.
The Ogre’s breathing grew ragged as it erupted in fury at the unending barrage. Its muscles trembled and convulsed,
and then, in a final, desperate gambit, the Ogre’s body swelled with power. Its muscles ballooned, spines erupting from its back. It raised the iron mace high above its head and brought it crashing down with all its might.
―Crash!
The earth trembled beneath the creature’s roar.
The Ogre’s devastating blow fractured the ground. Through the widening chasms, darkness slowly revealed itself. Then the earth gave way entirely.
“Kyaaaaahhh!”
With screams of terror, Kim Jae-beom, Barcode, and the Undead Legion plummeted into the abyss. Covered in dust and crashing hard against the ground, they found themselves in an entirely new realm.
Yet what Kim Jae-beom witnessed forced him to doubt his own eyes.
“This cannot be…”
A Massive Underground Cavern stretched before him. The ceiling soared dozens of meters high, underground waters flowing in steady streams. And in the center of it all, terrifying shadows loomed ominously.
Ten Ogres—colossal monsters of staggering proportions.
“Roooaaahhh!”
With thunderous roars, the Ogres rose to their feet. The ground trembled beneath their heavy footfalls, their iron maces tore through the air. Even the Undead Legion faltered at the sight.
The Ogres charged toward the undead in a stampeding horde.
“Ha.”
Kim Jae-beom let out a dry chuckle. Then he drew a steel staff from his waist—its surface gleaming with crimson radiance, adorned with sharp, demonic ornaments that caught the eye.
He spoke lightly to Barcode.
“Looks like we need to do this properly.”
“Understood.”
Barcode, who had hesitated for a moment, nodded with steely resolve at Kim Jae-beom’s words. He gripped his shield firmly.
―Crash!
Barcode charged forward with shield raised, the Undead Legion surging in unison behind him. They rushed toward the massive horde of Ogres.
And there, in the midst of the Undead Legion, Kim Jae-beom appeared.
The steel staff blazing crimson in the darkness, he wielded it like a demon incarnate.
―Crash! Boom!
The collision erupted.
Bones shattered and flesh scattered in all directions. With grotesque crunching sounds, the undead hurled themselves at the Ogre. Yet their attacks proved futile against skin as unyielding as stone, leaving scarcely a mark.
Dercan lunged with steel talons, targeting the creature’s vital points. His swift, slashing movements resembled those of a master assassin.
Arulan ceaselessly resurrected the fallen undead, raising them back to their feet.
Meanwhile, Kim Jae-beom fought with his billowing black robes swirling around him. The frigid aura enveloping the area was utterly chilling. The Ogres sensed the threat posed by his formidable power.
―Boom! Crash!
An intense clash of forces continued unabated.
* * *
The tide of battle began to turn.
Despite their initial dominance, the Ogres were gradually pushed back. The destroyed undead rose again through Arulan’s power, launching relentless assaults.
The Ogres fought with desperate ferocity.
War hammers cleaved through the air, claws tore through flesh. Yet the undead that fell to the ground rose once more by Arulan’s will. Against the endless tide of soldiers, even the Ogres’ massive frames became helpless.
As time passed, corpses accumulated across the Battlefield. Ogre corpses. Hides torn to shreds, gaping wounds, faces drenched in blood.
When the last Ogre finally fell, the battle ended.
The Cave that had blazed with brilliant light now lay silent and lifeless. Only dozens of colossal corpses remained scattered in the darkness.
“Phew…”
With a sigh of relief, Barcode released the tension gripping him. He wiped the sweat from his brow and cast his gaze toward Kim Jae-beom.
Kim Jae-beom’s appearance, drenched in blood, was utterly grotesque. The Ogres’ crimson blood had seeped into his steel armor, creating bizarre patterns. Dark red droplets fell steadily from the staff he held.
Kim Jae-beom paid it no mind, casually brushing off his weapon.
“Well done.”
A casual remark.
Then he turned his gaze toward the skeletal sorcerer.
“Arulan. Raise them as undead.”
―Click-clack.
At his master’s command, Arulan responded with a rattling voice. He immediately stretched both arms toward the Ogre corpses.
From his fingertips, the essence of darkness rose forth. Black mist swirled and transformed into crimson luminescence. A radiance blending both colors floated suspended in the air.
Shiiiiing―
With that sound, red and black energy poured forth from Arulan’s hands.
The Ogres began to resurrect.
Flesh regenerated, shattered bones realigned.
Skin peeled away like paper, transforming into dark leather. Horns sprouted from their heads, and fingernails became razor-sharp talons.
Most shocking of all was their size. The undead Ogres had grown far larger than in life. They now appeared three times their original mass, overwhelming all who beheld them.
And then they opened their eyes, burning with crimson fire.
Kuuuuuung―
A roar that shook the very ceiling.
Shiiiiing!
The undead Ogre legion, that colossal army, knelt before their master.
* * *
Kim Jae-beom ascended the Tower of Infinity, leading the undead Ogre legion. Barcode, Arulan, and Dercan remained steadfastly at his side.
They continued to vanquish the monsters on each floor and transform them into undead. Zombies, skeletons, ghouls—diverse undead joined Kim Jae-beom’s army. His forces swelled like a rolling snowball.
Before long, Kim Jae-beom’s party had reached the 15th Floor.
It was finally when we arrived at the 16th Floor.
“There are so many players here.”
The moment Kim Jae-beom stepped into the Tower, his murmured voice carried an odd tension. I turned my gaze and surveyed the surroundings, taking in the sight of grand stone structures.
Massive castle walls, towering watchtowers, and an iron gate sealed shut—a fortress reminiscent of a medieval castle stood imposingly before us.
But the real shock came from elsewhere.
A crowd had gathered outside the fortress. Roughly a hundred players milled about, and they rushed forward in a frenzy toward Kim Jae-beom.
“It’s the Steel Necromancer!”
“It’s the Staff Warrior!”
People cried out with fervent enthusiasm, their faces brimming with admiration and wonder.
“Excuse me, but would you mind taking just one photo with us…?”
Some gathered their courage to speak, hesitant yet hopeful, their excitement palpable as if they’d encountered a celebrity from television.
A renowned player. A legendary adventurer conquering the Tower with undead at his command. Kim Jae-beom had already become an idol to countless people.
He responded to his fans with a light laugh.
“Of course.”
His calm voice brimmed with composure.
Barcode raised his voice from behind.
“Alright, everyone line up in a single file!”
At his command, the players straightened themselves instantly. Those who had rushed forward moments before now stood obediently in an orderly queue.
Kim Jae-beom began taking photos with each person, striking poses—taking selfies together and posing for commemorative shots with his arm around their shoulders.
Happiness radiated from the bright smiles on the players’ faces. For them, it was a miraculous moment.
Excited voices occasionally rang out: “Thank you so much!” “It’s such an honor!”
Kim Jae-beom interacted with dozens of people, not just one or two. It resembled a fan signing event. He responded to each of them with unwavering sincerity and care.
Nearly thirty minutes had passed when everyone finished taking their photos.
“Phew…”
Kim Jae-beom exhaled a long breath. Yet a subtle sense of fulfillment was evident on his face. The sight of people looking up to and following him had struck him as a fresh revelation.
Barcode too couldn’t hide his satisfied expression. It was the moment he truly grasped the fame of his colleague, which he’d only heard rumors about.
“You’re truly remarkable. I also wish to make a name for myself in the Tower like you, Kim Jae-beom.”
Kim Jae-beom nodded at his words.
“If you continue alongside me, your abilities will soon be recognized as well.”
Barcode’s eyes sparkled upon hearing those words.
“Yes! I’ll continue to follow you faithfully!”
His voice carried a resolute determination.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————