My Skeleton Soldier Is Strange - Chapter 221

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

Chapter 221
The Fallen Angel’s crimson eyes blazed with intensified brilliance. He extended both hands forward, gesturing toward the swords suspended in the air above. As his fingers traced intricate patterns, the dozens of blades hovering in the void began to move with deliberate slowness.
The scattered swords gradually converged toward a single point. Like metal drawn to a magnet, they began to orbit above the Fallen Angel’s head in a perfect circle. Their velocity accelerated steadily, and the circular formation soon appeared to the eye as a single spinning disc.
The disc of dark light rotated with increasing speed, compressing toward its center. The blades began to dissolve their boundaries, fusing into one cohesive form. It resembled molten metal being cast into a new shape. Black mist and crimson currents erupted from the fusion process, enveloping the surrounding space.
The disc’s diameter shrank progressively while its density intensified. The rotating disc suddenly halted, releasing a brilliant flash of light. As the blinding radiance swept across the battlefield and dissipated, a single colossal sword materialized in its place.
This blade was incomparable to any weapon that had come before it. Its length exceeded ten meters, and the blade’s width surpassed the height of an adult man. The sword’s surface was as deep and dark as the Abyss itself, within which tiny points of light flickered like distant stars. Crimson radiance flowed along the blade’s edges.
The Fallen Angel extended his right hand toward this enormous sword. The blade responded to his gesture, rotating slowly and shifting its orientation. As the sword settled into a horizontal position, the Fallen Angel’s gaze fixed upon the distant horizon beyond.
A towering mountain rose in the distance. Its peak was sharp and jagged, covered in dense forest. The mountain’s height was considerable, and its majestic form seemed to embody the beauty of nature itself.
The Fallen Angel pointed his finger toward the mountain. As his eyes filled with resolve, the colossal sword suddenly surged into motion. Beginning with a slow vibration, it rapidly accelerated. Like an arrow released from a bow, it shot forth in a straight line toward the mountain.
The blade tore through the air with tremendous speed. Behind it stretched a long trail of darkness. Where the sword passed, black marks remained as if the very fabric of space had been torn, and these scars slowly healed as time progressed.
As the enormous sword approached the mountain, the air around it began to vibrate violently. A bizarre phenomenon unfolded as if the world’s fundamental laws were collapsing. Birds scattered in terror in all directions, and the mountain’s creatures instinctively sensed the danger and fled.
Finally, the sword reached the mountain’s peak. For an instant it halted, then plummeted downward at tremendous velocity.
Boom!
A catastrophic impact shook the entire battlefield. The moment the sword drove into the mountain, the world seemed to pause. All sound vanished, leaving only profound silence.
In the next instant, a black explosion erupted from the sword’s impact point. What began as a small dark spot expanded explosively. Black energy rippled outward in all directions like a shockwave.
The explosion spread across the entire mountain in moments. Everything touched by the black energy began to disintegrate. Trees crumbled into ash and scattered, rocks shattered like grains of sand. The mountain’s surface gradually ceased to exist.
As the black explosion reached its apex, the entire mountain trembled. The earth fractured, creating deep chasms from which black mist surged upward. The mountain’s form grew increasingly indistinct until finally, only a swirling vortex of black mist remained where it had stood.
As the vortex weakened and the mist dispersed, an astonishing sight was revealed. Nothing remained where the mountain had been. An entire massive mountain had been completely obliterated. In its place lay a deep and expansive Crater, and from its depths, faint black light still lingered and danced.
A single colossal sword summoned by the Fallen Angel had completely annihilated an entire mountain through sheer force.
Kim Jae-beom watched the entire sequence unfold in stunned silence. His eyes were wide open, and astonishment was written plainly across his face.
“Incredible….”
It was absolute perfection.
Whoosh.
The Archangel—now properly called the Fallen Angel—approached Kim Jae-beom slowly.
His black armor vibrated subtly with each step, and though his six leather wings remained folded, their presence was still formidable.
The Fallen Angel stopped before Kim Jae-beom, then bent his body slightly to meet his gaze. His crimson eyes locked with Kim Jae-beom’s. His sharp voice resonated quietly through the air.
“We can invade the Heavenly Realm.”
At those words, Kim Jae-beom’s eyebrows rose.
“We can invade?”
Anticipation colored Kim Jae-beom’s voice. He observed the Fallen Angel intently.
Rather than answer, the Fallen Angel slowly rose and raised his right hand high toward the empty sky. His fingers extended like sharp talons, pointing upward. After remaining still for a moment, he suddenly swept his hand with tremendous force.
In that instant, reality fractured. A fissure began to form in the void where the Fallen Angel’s hand had passed. What started as a microscopic gap widened and opened like a window. Beyond the fracture, the landscape of an entirely different world became visible.
The Heavenly Realm. The sight visible through the fissure was almost impossible to believe in its beauty. Structures dominated by golden and white hues were erected upon clouds. Towers, temples, and colossal palaces all radiated brilliant light. Between the buildings flowed a crystal-clear River, and around it bloomed magnificent flowers that seemed they would never wither. Angels with wings spread wide soared freely through the sky.
The Heavenly Realm’s sky perpetually bore the color of twilight. Multiple moons hung above the sunset-hued heavens, and stars sparkled between them. The inhabitants of the Heavenly Realm—the angels themselves—could be seen flying freely with their wings spread wide.
Kim Jae-beom observed this sight with intense focus. He moved closer to the fissure and examined the Heavenly Realm’s appearance in greater detail. There he discovered a colossal temple located at the Heavenly Realm’s center. It was larger and more magnificent than any other structure, and it was surrounded by a powerful energy barrier.
Kim Jae-beom carefully observed the Heavenly Realm’s topography, defensive installations, and the angels’ movements. Like a strategist, he appeared to be identifying possible invasion routes and vulnerabilities. He paid particular attention to the defensive systems surrounding the temple.
The Heavenly Realm’s appearance through the fissure was bordered by dark edges. It was like peering into another world through a window. Kim Jae-beom narrowed his eyes in concentration, as if trying to commit every detail of the Heavenly Realm to memory.
“Hmm….”
Kim Jae-beom murmured while lost in deep thought. He slowly withdrew his body from the fissure and turned his head toward the Fallen Angel.
“I must prepare for the invasion.”
His voice carried unwavering resolve. The Fallen Angel bowed deeply in acknowledgment of Kim Jae-beom’s words. The rift began to close slowly, and the celestial landscape transformed back into the scenery of the mortal world.
Kim Jae-beom fell silent for a moment. His eyes reflected the traces of deep contemplation as he formulated a new strategy. It seemed he was already sketching out a plan for the invasion of the Heavenly Realm in his mind.
* * *
The next morning, sunlight bathed the land. The sky was clear, and the breeze was refreshing. Kim Jae-beom rode alone on horseback toward the west. His destination was a fortress known as Daeken Fortress.
Daeken Fortress was situated between towering mountain ranges. Built from gray granite, this fortress was a naturally blessed stronghold that maximized the surrounding terrain. Tall castle walls, pointed spires, and a deep moat encircled the fortress. The fortress’s coat of arms depicted a crimson dragon on a black field.
Kim Jae-beom arrived before the fortress and dismounted. He gazed slowly up at the structure. His eyes held both familiarity with this place and a profound sense of nostalgia. The smoking chimneys, the flags adorning the high walls, the Guard Soldiers on patrol—all of it was a familiar sight.
Kim Jae-beom walked slowly toward the fortress’s main gate. The Guard Soldiers at the entrance recognized him and immediately bowed their heads. They opened the gates wide to allow him passage.
Upon entering the fortress, Kim Jae-beom passed through the central plaza and made his way toward the training grounds. In the training grounds, several warriors were engrossed in their drills, weapons in hand. Kim Jae-beom paused to observe them. His expression was difficult to read, but his eyes held profound contemplation.
Kim Jae-beom gazed upon a massive stone tower positioned at one side of the training grounds. The tower stood at the fortress’s center, rising far higher than its surroundings. Its surface was carved with intricate patterns, and atop its peak, a great crystal gleamed with radiant light.
As Kim Jae-beom quietly observed the tower, a familiar voice suddenly called out from behind him.
“Master!”
It was Barcode’s cry. When Kim Jae-beom turned around, Barcode, clad in white armor, approached with hurried steps. His armor was crafted from silvery-white metal, its surface inscribed with azure patterns. A black cloak hung from his shoulders.
Barcode’s face was filled with joy. He approached Kim Jae-beom and bowed respectfully.
Barcode stood before Kim Jae-beom and regarded him with eyes full of reverence. His appearance was that of the usual Barcode, not the dark warrior witnessed in yesterday’s battle. The white armor gleamed brightly in the sunlight, and his posture appeared relaxed and free of tension.

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