My Skeleton Soldier Is Strange - Chapter 89

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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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Chapter 89
Even after slaying Hydra, my footsteps did not falter.
I wandered through the endless expanse of the Dark Forest, seeking ever stronger adversaries.
The forest surrounding the Shadow Fortress harbored a diverse array of monsters.
Creatures resembling Hydra—massive serpentine abominations—prowled between the trees.
With their jagged fangs and razor-sharp claws, they were nothing less than the tyrants of this woodland realm.
The savage gleam in their eyes as they stalked their prey was utterly chilling.
The forest also harbored scorpion-like monstrosities.
These creatures, towering to human height, boasted massive venomous stingers jutting from their backs.
The sickly green toxin dripping from those barbs carried a lethal, murderous intent.
The scorpion monsters concealed themselves in rocky crevices and shadowed alcoves, waiting patiently for prey.
Their eyes blazed with cunning and malice.
In the thick darkness, their gleaming pupils resembled those of demons themselves.
Beyond Hydra and the scorpions, the forest teemed with countless other horrors.
Colossal wolf-like beasts, plant-based abominations fused with the very trees—
Each possessed unique forms and abilities, yet all were armed with savage ferocity.
The creatures’ wails filled the forest.
Growls and seething shrieks echoed from every direction.
The relentless roars spoke volumes about the peril that lurked within this woodland.
Yet none of it frightened me.
Instead, my heart raced with anticipation.
A place overflowing with opportunities to test my newfound strength—a stage where the intoxicating dance of battle would unfold.
The forest was an irresistible temptation to me, a playground where I could unleash my newly acquired power without restraint.
The smile playing at my lips carried the primal instinct of a warrior thirsting for combat.
“This is… quite the spectacle.”
After dispatching the monsters and gathering their corpses in one place, I found an astonishing number of fallen creatures. Beneath my feet lay a mountain of monster carcasses.
The bodies of the monsters I had slain were piled high like a grotesque monument.
Their final moments had been nothing short of horrific.
Crushed armor and burst entrails intermingled, creating a blood-soaked tableau of carnage.
Green blood and dark ichor pooled together, drenching the earth.
Among the rotting flesh, shattered bones and teeth lay scattered in chaotic disarray.
The massive corpse of a scorpion lay overturned on the ground.
Its hardened carapace was shattered, its limbs torn away—a grotesque sight.
The venom stinger hung limp and broken, devoid of any remaining threat.
Its compound eyes, once gleaming with life, had become hollow, vacant sockets.
The unidentifiable tentacled abomination had met an equally gruesome end.
Its elongated tentacles lay scattered about, drenched in blood.
Dried blood stained the appendages a sickly yellow hue.
Its torso lay split in half, spilling its viscera. The corpse reeked with the stench of decay.
Even the forest’s air had grown thick and putrid with the reek of death.
A sharp hiss.
Yet standing atop the monster’s corpse, Kim Jae-beom’s face bore a satisfied smile.
His eyes gleamed with accomplishment and pride.
Ding!
[You have achieved the Monster Slayer Achievement.]
[The Achievement grants you the ability to instill fear in monsters weaker than yourself.]
“Interesting.”
The notification of the Achievement’s completion appeared before me. My eyes widened at the message. The alluring effect—the ability to instill fear in weaker monsters—immediately captured my attention.
―Grrr….
―Awoooo!
The small wolves that had been drawn toward the heap of monster corpses suddenly stumbled backward.
Terror instantly flooded their eyes.
Crushed beneath the oppressive aura radiating from me, the wolves tucked their tails between their legs.
The wolves that had been snarling with bared fangs vanished from sight.
The predatory gleam that had flickered in their eyes moments before was replaced entirely by anxiety.
Their pointed ears drooped, and their tails retreated between their hind legs.
Paralyzed by fear, the wolves cowered before me, trembling.
―Whimper….
The robust wolves that seemed as though they wouldn’t die even under a beating whined with their tongues hanging out.
Frightened whimpers escaped from deep within their throats.
Under normal circumstances, they would have snarled and lunged forward. Now, they resembled terrified puppies.
―Grrr….
I let out a low growl toward the wolves.
In that instant, the blood seemed to drain from their bodies.
Their teeth chattered as they trembled with dread.
Frozen as if encased in ice, they remained motionless, watching my every move.
Their eyes reflected the image of the weak submitting before an absolute superior.
The primal fear they felt seemed to have numbed their reason entirely.
The howling beast had transformed in an instant into a cowering rabbit consumed by terror.
Looking down at the ragtag assembly of wolves, I curved my lips into a smile.
I never imagined the power granted by the Achievement would be this intoxicating.
I was thoroughly satisfied by the potency of a force that could make even the smallest creatures submit in fear.
―A deeper growl….
As I released an even more menacing growl, the terrified wolves bolted in retreat.
Fleeing desperately, they resembled a pack of rabbits escaping from hunting dogs.
With rustling footsteps, the wolves vanished into the forest.
“Hoo.”
I smiled at the sight.
I found it quite an entertaining spectacle.
* * *
After concluding my adventure in the Shadow Fortress, I turned my steps toward Fortress Dairn, my stronghold.
The fortress’s appearance had transformed dramatically from before.
It now boasted a grandeur doubled in scale, displaying a massive and majestic presence.
Most notably, the change that caught the eye was the triple Castle Wall encircling the fortress.
Previously, a single Castle Wall had enclosed the fortress, but now three towering layers of walls stood in its place.
They resembled guardians protecting the fortress with an iron grip.
The Castle Walls were not constructed from ordinary stone.
Woven together by magical power, the Castle Walls seemed to be composed of mana itself, emanating an air of mystery.
The azure-glowing Castle Walls writhed as if alive.
Vortices of magical energy spiraled upward from countless points along the walls, creating a breathtaking spectacle.
Runic inscriptions carved into the Castle Walls radiated an ethereal brilliance, standing guard over the fortress.
As one progressed from the outer walls to the inner walls, the height of the Castle Walls increased.
The towering walls, reaching skyward, commanded an overwhelming presence through their sheer existence.
Within the spaces between the Castle Walls, countless magical devices had been installed.
Along the top of the Castle Walls, runic cannons for mana bombardment stood in dense rows.
Hidden throughout the walls were traps powered by magical energy.
At the base of the Castle Walls, a mana Barrier stretched forth, repelling any who would breach it.
All of these elements harmonized fantastically to protect Fortress Dairn.
The triple Castle Walls infused with mana were nothing short of an impregnable fortress.
No enemy could breach them easily—they were as formidable as they were threatening.
As I stepped inside the Castle Walls, an even more wondrous sight unfolded before me.
The interior of the fortress radiated brilliant light, as if composed entirely of crystallized magic.
Crystal structures brimming with concentrated mana adorned each building, evoking an atmosphere of mystery.
Mana-powered platforms drifted through the air.
Energy-polished mechanical devices moved diligently, breathing life into the fortress.
Ornate fountains in the magical Plazas scattered throughout the fortress sprayed streams of mana-infused water.
“What in the world…?”
I stood bewildered, taking in the fortress’s magnificent transformation.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
Just then, mage players draped in elaborate robes crossed through the Plaza. As dozens of mages appeared simultaneously in the Plaza, the players nearby naturally stepped aside to make room.
“It’s the Arhan Guild mages.”
“They’re the ones who built the Castle Walls.”
“Impressive.”
The procession of mages crossing the Plaza was a magnificent sight.
Clad in elaborate robes, they carried themselves with the dignity of nobility.
Each robe’s distinct color revealed individual character while achieving a subtle harmony.
Red, blue, green, purple—a tapestry of vibrant hues wove together in their garments.
The fabric, flowing as smoothly as silk, displayed an elegant grace.
The robes were intricately embroidered with the mages’ emblems and runic patterns.
Around their waists hung mana-infused belts and pouches.
A walnut-colored leather belt cinched the robe with exquisite harmony.
The pockets bulged noticeably, stuffed with various magical artifacts and scrolls.
In their hands, they wielded staffs imbued with mysterious power or grimoires of arcane knowledge.
The staffs, ornately adorned with rubies, sapphires, and other precious gems, symbolized the authority of mages.
Thick tomes containing ancient magic seemed to flaunt their wisdom and capability.
The mages walked with their heads held high, exuding confidence and poise.
Their gait was suffused with assurance and elegance.
The way they strode forward, their robes billowing behind them, resembled a royal procession.
‘The Arhan Guild….’
This collective of mages bore the name Arhan Guild. The lion emblem, symbol of the Arhan Guild, was emblazoned upon the banner they carried.
The Arhan Guild’s banner was in a league of its own compared to those of other guilds.
It was not fashioned from ordinary cloth or fabric.
Their banner was a wondrous object composed entirely of mana.
Azure-luminous mana formed the shape of the banner.
As if woven from pure energy, the banner floated weightlessly through the air, devoid of physical substance.
Rippling in the wind, the banner emanated an aura of magic and radiated an ethereal glow.
At the center of the mana-wrought banner gleamed a lion emblem shining in golden light.
The majestic lion, roaring with pride, was the very symbol of the guild itself.
The flowing mane and glinting claws appeared startlingly lifelike.
Remarkably, the lion depicted upon the banner moved with subtle animation.
Like a living creature, it writhed up and down, radiating vitality.
The lion’s breathing-like movements were phantasms conjured by magic.
The golden lion sometimes roared magnificently, displaying its valor.
At other times, it moved with serene grace, its mane flowing peacefully.
The lion prowling across the banner overflowed with majesty, embodying the guild’s power and authority.
Tap!
“?”
At that moment, the mage leading the Arhan Guild approached Kim Jae-beom. With a bashful expression, she spoke.
“I-I’m a fan of yours, Stagnant Water!”

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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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