My Skeleton Soldier Is Strange - Chapter 79

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

Chapter 79
As Arulan raised his staff high, the air itself began to ripple. The incantations flowing from his lips resonated across the chamber, awakening ancient arcane forces long dormant.
A shrill whistling sound pierced the air.
The sand granules composing the Sand Golem’s body gradually shifted, taking on a dark luminescence. Stripped of their crimson radiance, the grains were consumed by encroaching shadow, emanating an ominous aura as though they might dissolve at any moment.
The instant Arulan’s eyes flashed with power, the darkened sand began to tear free from the creature’s form. Moving with deliberate intent, the black granules scattered into the void, writhing like living things. They coalesced into a roiling vortex of shadow suspended in midair.
A sharp whistling sound cut through the air.
Arulan swept his staff toward the sand cloud, his gesture commanding the space itself. As his fingers carved through the emptiness, the swirling grains responded as though bound by his will, spiraling inward toward him.
A brilliant radiance erupted.
An intense sphere of luminous energy materialized around Arulan. Within its glow, the sand granules shed their dark essence and reclaimed their natural hue—a purification so wondrous it seemed almost divine. The radiant sphere then absorbed into the tip of his staff and vanished. Yet I could sense a dark current seeping into my skin, permeating my very being.
“Surely not.”
Kim Jae-beom’s expression shifted to one of cautious anticipation as he witnessed the display.
For reasons I couldn’t explain, I could already foresee what magic Arulan would unleash next. So when I turned to him with that uncertain gaze—
Boom… boom!
A violent tremor erupted from where Arulan stood. The earth itself seemed to convulse in fury, shaking everything around us. Deep fissures split the ground beneath his feet, and stone fragments erupted skyward. The floor undulated like a turbulent sea, while dust and debris cascaded from the ceiling.
A deafening roar echoed through the chamber.
As the tremors reached their crescendo, the earth around Arulan exploded outward, and a towering column of black sand erupted skyward. The sight of obsidian granules surging upward like molten lava was absolutely overwhelming.
A piercing whistle resonated through the air.
Dark energy coiled around the sand column, and from its center, an enormous silhouette began to take shape. Limbs of compacted sand, a grotesque head—the creature was gradually assuming its monstrous form.
A sharp hissing sound filled the space.
The completed sand creature was composed entirely of the dark essence I had absorbed, its form radiating a deep, oppressive blackness. Beneath its obsidian skin, an ominous crimson radiance pulsed and writhed as though alive. From the creature’s eyes emanated the same arcane power that flowed through me.
A thunderous roar shook the air.
The newly formed Sand Golem bellowed and swung its massive arm. The ground trembled violently once more, and even the surrounding air itself convulsed under the creature’s overwhelming presence.
[A new monster has been born through Arulan’s power.]
[The dark-aspected Sand Creature obeys Arulan’s commands.]
Fortunately, this creature proved to be an obedient servant.
“Arulan. Command it to engage the other creature.”
As Arulan’s lips moved, dark energy swirled around him. His voice, infused with arcane power, resonated through space, issuing commands to the newly created Sand Creature.
A ferocious roar erupted from the dark creature.
The black monster’s eyes blazed crimson as it unleashed a thunderous cry and hurled its massive form forward. The earth split beneath its footfalls, and debris scattered violently in all directions.
A sharp whistling sound cut through the air.
The creature charged toward the original Sand Golem at full speed. The air itself split from the velocity, and wind howled in its wake.
A deafening crash resounded.
The moment the two colossal forms collided, a sound that shook heaven and earth erupted across the chamber. The ground convulsed, and sand storms erupted in all directions.
Boom! Boom!
The creatures grappled with one another, pushing and slamming their massive bodies together with ferocious intensity. Sand and dust exploded outward in all directions.
Slash! Slash!
The creature I had created raked its razor-sharp claws across the opponent’s torso. Though sand poured away continuously, the dark power within it regenerated the wounds, and the creature showed no signs of stopping.
Boom! Boom!
The opposing creature countered with devastating force, swinging its arms to generate colossal sand storms in its assault. The two monsters engaged in a relentless back-and-forth struggle, their battle unfolding like two sand mountains colliding in spectacular fashion.
‘This is actually beautiful.’
It was somewhat abrupt, but Kim Jae-beom was capturing everything on video. In truth, he’d been keeping the recording active all along—one never knew when a moment worthy of YouTube might present itself.
‘I can’t reveal everything about the Shadow Fortress, but… partial combat footage should be acceptable.’
—Kuaaagh!
That was when it happened.
The instant Arulan’s eyes gleamed, darkness erupted explosively from the sand creature he’d fashioned. Shadowy mana coiled around the monster’s form, swelling it at a terrifying pace.
Sand grains were drawn endlessly toward the creature, expanding its mass. Within moments, the monster had doubled, then tripled in size.
The colossal creature radiated an overwhelming presence, like a moving dune itself. Despite its bulk, it moved with startling speed, closing the distance to its prey. The earth trembled beneath its thundering hoofbeats as it surged forward.
Just as the opposing creature attempted to counterattack, Arulan’s monster opened its cavernous maw wide. A violent vortex erupted from that gaping void.
The enemy creature’s sand grains were immediately drawn inward. Helpless against an irresistible force, they spiraled into the abyss like matter falling into a black hole.
Sand poured into that gaping mouth like a torrent. The creature lost its form progressively, becoming nothing more than prey.
Eventually, the original sand monster was completely devoured. All that remained was the enlarged creature, drool dripping from its satisfied maw.
* * *
Thus the battle between the sand creature and the dark sand creature concluded with the latter’s victory. The dark sand monster Arulan had created continued to follow him even after the battle’s end.
Patter!
The dark sand creature Arulan controlled began trailing behind him obediently. Its once-colossal form had shrunk to the size of a human palm. The eerie aura it had emanated was gone, replaced entirely by an adorable lump of sand.
The small, writhing mass of sand appeared almost alive. What resembled round eyes glimmered before transforming into something resembling a smile. It moved like a puppy wagging its tail, and I couldn’t help but smile.
Wherever Arulan walked, the tiny sand mass scurried eagerly behind him. The crawling grains moved like a small living creature following its master.
Sometimes it clung to Arulan’s clothing, sometimes it climbed onto his shoulder. The way it extended its long, slender sand arms to grasp at his fingers was endearing.
The small mass soon approached Dercan as well. It wound around the skeletal warrior’s bones and began playing beneath his jaw.
“….”
Kim Jae-beom watched with an expression of disbelief. The creature that had devoured the sand monster moments ago had transformed into something round and adorable.
‘I need to record this too.’
If I uploaded the two contrasting versions separately, the reaction would be quite entertaining. With that thought, I stared intently at the creature.
Patter!
The dark sand creature then crawled toward me. The small mass regarded me with curious eyes before rapidly scaling my arm and perching on my shoulder.
Sand grains slipped between my collar and skin, tickling me. The creature on my shoulder wriggled like a small animal, pressing its form against my neck.
Patter!
The sand mass climbed my neck and scrambled onto my head. Once it reached my crown, it began spinning in place. Rolling its round body this way and that, it seemed to treat my hair like a playground slide.
Sand grains seeped between my hair strands, creating a ticklish sensation. The small mass wandered across my crown before rolling backward across my forehead. It appeared delighted, like a child on an amusement ride.
The creature tumbled past the back of my head and fell to my shoulder. After a soft landing, it descended along my arm. Upon reaching my palm, it played between my fingers.
Soon it climbed back up my arm. From shoulder to head, from head to forehead—it explored everywhere as if on an expedition. The small, plump sand mass freely traversed my body like an adorable pet.
The dark sand creature continued using my body as a playground, delighting in its exploration. It climbed from my shoulder to my head, then slid back down, repeating the motion. It moved from arm to hand to arm again, as if charting new territories.
Occasionally, sand grains brushed against my ears, tickling me. The creature crawled up my neck to my forehead, gently grazing the tip of my nose as it passed.
“That tickles.”
I carefully extended my hand and touched the small sand mass. The sensation against my fingertips was surprisingly vivid. The fine sand grains felt real against my skin, flowing gently between my fingers with an almost tangible quality.
The sand creature responded to my touch, moving like a living being. The tiny legs crawling across my palm, the delicate movements creating that ticklish sensation—it was just like petting an animal.
—Whoooosh!
Then red light flowed from my body, seeping into the dark sand creature.
Ding ding ding!
A cheerful alarm chimed in my mind.
[You can evolve the sand monster by utilizing the Overload’s authority.]

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