Chapter 13

Chapter 13 : Skeleton Warrior

｢You have transformed into Nahgalo, the Lesser Sailor’s Skeleton!｣

｢Your current level and stats are low, so you cannot draw out the Skeleton’s full power. Agility decreases. You become extremely vulnerable to Divine Power. Insight is fixed at the lowest value.｣

｢Due to the traits of a Lesser Skeleton, Strength decreases.｣

｢You can gather Bone Fragments to strengthen your body!｣

My flesh was enveloped in black mist, then rotted away in an instant, transforming me into a yellowed Skeleton.

At the same time, a voice filled with shock came from behind me.

“U-Undeadification...? I heard that only a very small number of chosen Black Mages were capable of turning their bodies into Undead...!”

Malton looked up at me with his eyes wide, but I had no time to pay attention to him.

Because the moment I put strength into the skeletal hand clutching the Orb, an ominous warning message appeared in my vision.

｢The treasure of the Cult of Andira, the Supreme-Grade Orb of Curses, is being damaged!｣

｢Warning!!! If the Orb of Curses is destroyed, a permanent Curse will take root in your body.｣

｢If you apply only a little more force, the Orb will be destroyed.｣

｢Will you not regret this?｣

‘Regret? Why is it talking so much?’

Ignoring the warning, I gripped the Orb even harder.

Taking on an eternal, undying Curse with no cure was reckless beyond belief, but this was not an action without basis.

A phrase that had appeared even when I stole the Orb from the Ghost Ship.

｢An object belonging to the Cult of God Andira, capable of placing a powerful Curse or greatly strengthening Undead.｣

‘This Orb has the effect of strengthening Undead...!’

That was the reason Andira was both the source of all sorts of black magic and the God of the Dead who presided over death.

Of course, no one would use such an extremely rare and powerful Sacred Relic, one capable of temporarily binding even a pure-blooded Dragon, merely to strengthen a single Undead.

Also, because transforming into an Undead in the game usually resulted in a death judgment, there had been no chance to test it. However, the Orb of Curses from the Cult of Andira had been one of the topics that occasionally came up in the community.

If a player directly transformed into an Undead and then used the Orb of the Cult of Andira, could they take only the buffs without the debuffs?

And how strong would an Undead strengthened in that way become?

It was time to confirm for myself the rumor that had drifted around like the wind.

But I did not have the leisure to calmly admire the change.

The moment the Orb, which had slowly been cracking, shattered, my vision was dyed crimson along with tremendous agony.

｢The Orb of Curses has been destroyed!｣

｢The Curse of God Andira does not disappear even when white bones become dust! The Curse placed on the Elf Malieverton is transferred to you.｣

｢Because you are in an Undead state, some of the Curse acts as an advantage.｣

｢You have achieved the Hidden Piece ‘Orb of the Dead’s Blessing’! All stats permanently increase by 3.｣

｢Due to the powerful Curse, the restrictions of the Undead have been removed! You can exert transcendent power for a short time.｣

｢...However, remember this: the price of touching a god’s Sacred Relic is never light.｣

｢A Great Being has noticed that part of its Authority has been unleashed into the world.｣

｢Darkness seeps into your body.｣

―Guhhhhk!!

Terrible pain swept over me.

It felt as though my soul were being shredded into fragments like shards of glass.

As though someone were violently hacking my spirit apart.

Malton had been going through this periodically?

I thought I had lost my sense of pain after turning into an Undead....

No, this was not simple pain.

Emptiness, disillusionment, loneliness, rage, regret.

Remorse, despair, sorrow, thirst, fear.

Pain as though the curses of all kinds of dead were being branded onto my soul.

The Curse of God Andira was not a mere Curse.

―Guuuuuh....

After indescribable pain toyed with my entire body like a tidal wave and passed, I quickly regained my reason and checked my condition.

‘Fuck... What kind of Curse is this...? First, the noticeable changes are....’

My body felt light.

I could feel that the Undead’s unique debuffs, which had suppressed my movements like shackles, had disappeared cleanly.

Not only that, but strength surged through my body as though I had awakened from a long sleep.

It felt as though I could face a horde of Monsters even if they came rushing in now.

It felt as though I could mercilessly cut down worthless humans, wet my throat with their blood, and feel not the slightest guilt.

And....

―Ah, ah... Now my voice comes out properly too....

“Y-You....”

―...I will go first, so follow after me. Let us deal with the bandits for now.

｢You have chosen the path of opposing the bandits! The Emergency Quest, ‘Resistance,’ is activated!｣

I did not wait for Malton’s answer before rushing out.

The mercenaries who had been driven onto the defensive were beginning to look dangerous.

With my cutlass drawn, I moved toward the rear of the bandits who were in the middle of their standoff. Several of them spotted me and shouted.

“A-A Skeleton!!”

“Why did a skeleton pop out in a place like this?”

“Did it just spawn naturally...? Wait here. I will deal with it and come back.”

｢The bandits are flustered.｣

｢They seem slightly startled by the sudden appearance of an Undead.｣

｢Due to the passive skill [Chaos], Strength temporarily increases by 1.｣

｢The bandits still think of you as a small fry! To increase even more stats, disturb the enemies further!｣

One bandit swaggered toward me.

From the frivolous look on his face, I could tell he was looking down on me.

He swung his sword with force, but―

‘He has no experience fighting Undead.’

I stared at the approaching blade with a contemptuous gaze.

Why had I struggled so much while dealing with the Skeletons on the pirate ship?

Because a simple ‘sword strike’ did not work on a Skeleton.

SCRAAAPE!

“Wh-Why is it so slippery...!”

When the sword blade slid along my bones, the startled bandit swung his sword again, but I did not bother blocking it. Instead, I stepped forward and took it with my body.

A combat method only a Skeleton with no flesh or blood could use.

Not cutting flesh to break bone, but cutting bone to sever flesh.

―Tsk... I suppose there is no helping my clothes getting damaged.

“Wh-What...?! The skeleton is talking!?”

―Die.

While the bandit’s blade was tangled in my ribs, I used the curved edge of my cutlass to tear open his abdomen.

I drove the blade in with my strengthened grip, then twisted and pulled out the sword that had sunk in as far as my wrist, drawing out long entrails with it.

A nearby bandit whose eyes met mine swung his sword in terror and haste, but―

SLASH!!

I deflected the blade, then cut the bandit’s forearm with the tip of my sword.

An attack thrust out blindly in fear was nothing but laughable.

Had they truly never imagined that they might be hunted in return?

‘...What is this?’

For an instant, an unpleasant emotion boiled up inside me like maggots.

―How laughable!!

Even when fighting Monsters, there had been fierce exchanges of tactics where lives were put on the line.

Even a lowly Kobold, a mere insignificant creature, knew how to throw away its own life like a blade of grass and burn its whole heart.

And yet humans, who prided themselves on being the lords of all creation, were reduced to this?

Where had that iron-blooded fighting spirit they boasted of gone? Where had that shining pride vanished?

―How ridiculous!

I laughed arrogantly and swung my curved sword.

Each time I swung my sword, the bandits’ agonized screams burst out.

Whenever the sword light flashed, blood welled up and pooled inside my eye sockets.

My entire body was painted red with the blood splattering from my enemies.

There was no need to think of complicated swordsmanship or tactics.

Because right now, I am a skeleton.

｢You have succeeded in drawing all the enemies’ attention!｣

｢They no longer think of you as a mere Skeleton! Strengthened by the Evil God’s Orb, you are a terrifying existence!｣

｢The bandits fall into fear, and your stats temporarily increase greatly!｣

｢To increase your stats, attract even more attention, deceive them, and make it burst!!｣

‘...How base.’

Even if they were bandits, they were not assassins who had learned special techniques.

In premodern society, most bandits were ordinary people who made a living through farming, milling, and the like, then temporarily strayed from that life.

There was no way people who could do little more than knock down a tree on a forest road to block a carriage or use numbers to launch an ambush would have ever encountered a Monster like me.

As I mercilessly butchered the bodies before me, the bandits screamed and shouted.

“This fucking insane Undead!! It is not an ordinary Skeleton! Everyone, be careful!!”

“Silver! Does anyone have a silver weapon?! Or anyone who can use Divine Power!”

“F-Fire!! They said Undead fear fire, so let us try this!”

As though he had thought of some brilliant plan, a bandit swung the torch he held in one hand at me.

―Ridiculous! Did you think a candle like this would work on me?!

I was the one who had returned even from a fire that burned an entire building to the ground!

CRUNCH!!

When I bit down on the torch and extinguished it, flames fluttered outside my eye sockets, and the bandit’s face turned white.

｢The energy of death devours the flames!｣

｢The bandit feels intense fear and wets himself! Intelligence temporarily increases by 1!｣

―How ridiculous!

I laughed arrogantly like a Death Knight and sliced off the bandits’ necks.

Each time I haughtily swung my curved sword, fresh bodies rolled across the ground and piled up!

‘The Undead Swordsman tree... It might be worth seriously researching....’

Just as in reality, all swordsmanship in Velheim was based on defense as a principle.

Because in this place, where every hardcore element had been crammed in, even a Top-Ranked Player could pointlessly lose their life to the blind blade of a beginner.

Therefore, all swordsmanship, or at least the swordsmanship of humans who had fragile skin and regenerative ability, was basically designed to cut down the enemy while protecting the user.

But now that I had thrown off the restrictions of a fragile body, I could use far more aggressive swordsmanship.

A miraculous damage trade where I took trivial blows with my bones and used the time I would have spent dodging the enemy’s attack to drive my blade in even deeper!

The swordsmanship of the Undead, which pushed forward only with attacks, without fear or flinching!

―Kahahahaha! How laughable!! Ridiculous, truly ridiculous!!

“This fucking insane Undead!!”

“H-How is a Skeleton speaking like a person...?”

“That aggression...! That swordsmanship...! It is not just a Skeleton!!”

““A-D-Death Knight!!””

―...Hmm?

You bastards have never seen a real Death Knight, have you?

I let out a faint chuckle.

If Orgilian had heard that, he would have snorted and taught them what a true Death Knight was, but he was not here.

Still, considering the shock the bandits must have received, it was not unreasonable for them to make such a mistake.

As I approached with enemy blood dripping from my entire body, the thoroughly frightened bandits hesitated and stepped back.

Perhaps realizing that they could not deal with me with only a few of them, the bandits desperately racked their brains and formed a clumsy line.

Were they planning to surround me and attack from several sides when I approached?

‘In that case, shall I try using that?’

When I gestured into the air, a white flower grew from the field.

A flower that glowed beautifully as it held the gentle moonlight.

But its true nature was utterly chilling.

A flower made of human finger bones, a Bone Flower.

Bloodshot eyes opened in the center of the flower and glared at the enemies.

―Memorial flowers of the dead, you shall punish those who disturb your rest... Bloom!

When I snapped my fingers with a click like the flintlock of a musket, the bone flowers burst apart and swept over the bandits.

A hideous distortion of mana, bone fragments tearing through the battlefield, and blooming screams.

The bandit group, experiencing the black magic of the Undead that they had never known in life, fell into utter panic and fled, but....

―Do you think there will be rest where you flee?

When I snapped my fingers once more, an even stronger bone storm swept them away.

A spell designed for total slaughter, where no safe zone or distinction between friend and foe existed.

I laughed insolently as I watched bone fragments erupt in all directions.

It was the moment when my experience researching magic whenever I had the time during the days I raised a Necromancer side character shone.

Since I could freely use magic thanks to the aftermath of absorbing the Evil God’s Orb, I had to use it while I could.

｢The bandits are terrified. Due to the effect of [Chaos], Strength increases!｣

｢The mercenaries are frightened. Luck increases!｣

‘Hm? Why the mercenaries?’

At the puzzling Log, I turned toward the wagons and saw the mercenaries staring this way while awkwardly holding their swords.

Strong questions were written in their gazes.

A Monster? Should we help it or not?

Seeing it kill the bandits, maybe it is not an enemy...?

But in terms of appearance, the Skeleton looks much more evil!

―Well, no matter! Ridiculous! Ridiculous! Kahahahaha!!

“Fuck!! Why is a crazy Undead like that wandering around this field?!”

“I-It is karma! The heavens have sent divine punishment...! We are all going to die....”

While the bandits whose will to fight had broken were scrambling around trying to find a way to survive, a faint discordant sound tickled my skull.

Amid everyone trying to move away from me, I sensed someone quietly approaching, brushing over the grass.

The unique aura of a strong warrior.

I laughed heartily and caught a longsword with my cutlass. The face of the man who had attempted a surprise attack twisted.

―You have finally deigned to appear, mercenary captain! ...Or should I call you the bandit chief now? Lord Rihman!

“...I do not recall having an Undead acquaintance.”

―And I do not recall hiring a robber as an escort. Am I wrong?

“...You bastard, do not tell me!”

―Let us leave the idle chatter at that.

CRACK―!

Laughing boldly, I stepped forward with the soles of my bony feet, and the mercenary captain’s longsword, which had been aimed at my chest, slid straight in.

The sharp blade tore through the place where my heart should have been, but there was only cold air for it to cut.

The mercenary captain was momentarily flustered, but he immediately pulled back his sword and responded to my attack.

‘He is skilled...!’

His Strength, Agility, and reactions were all superior to those of the ordinary bandits.

His swordsmanship, using the structure of a long blade to defend and attack at the same time, was also orthodox.

The fact that a sword could defend and attack at the same time was one of the powerful traits of the weapon.

So he had not become the leader of a bandit gang for nothing.

―Oh... You certainly know how to handle a sword! I suppose you learned at some shoddy Swordsman Guild somewhere?

“You insane Undead bastard...!! How did you disguise yourself as a person? For a full three days, no less!”

―When you die and become my subordinate, I will tell you. I am sure you will find it interesting!

“...You fucking orphaned Monster bastard!!”

Rihman let out a furious shout and swung his sword.

I inwardly admired his response and continued my slashes.

Each time our two blades swung, sword light flashed and killing intent burst out.

I met the incoming slashes with my blade, entangled them, twisted, and deflected them.

What if a sword strike rushed in from an unexpected angle?

―Kahahahaha!!!

“Kh?!”

I did not bother blocking it. Instead, I charged beyond the sword path and thrust out my cutlass. When I pierced through his metal gauntlet, red blood seeped over the chain.

The mercenary captain retreated, his face twisting in pain.

The more he did, the more fiercely I drove him back.

―Ridiculous!!!

Slashes! Blood! Skeleton!

The principles of swordsmanship crossed cruelly and fiercely.

A banquet of eerie trajectories dripping with blood.

I mixed killing intent into every step and every breath.

A single sneer beyond the sparks. A single sword strike beyond thunder.

I cut, and cut again!

Until my joints broke apart!

An attack without force behind it?

‘I take it with my body!!’

As I burst into an arrogant laugh and suddenly thrust my head forward, the startled Rihman’s sword was blocked by bone.

One of my ribs broke under the heavy longsword, but what of it?

Right now, I am a Skeleton.

One who had risen from death and walked the present world.

Scars carved into an aged body and gaunt bones were nothing but trivial things.

―Kahahahahaha! How enjoyable!! Mortal! Entertain me more!!

“Ghh...!! You insane Undead...!!”

―Are you reaching your limit already? Have your movements not grown sluggish?

“Guh...?!”

At the instant our bodies crossed, I mixed magic into my left hand and placed it against the mercenary captain’s abdomen.

When I softly recited a spell, the mercenary captain’s bones twisted and protruded outward with a chilling CRACK.

Perhaps it was a fatal wound, because red blood flowed from his mouth.

The mercenary captain was driven onto the defensive in an instant.

When the situation turned unfavorable, Rihman drew a dagger and attempted a decisive strike.

Just as I was about to take that laughable attack with my body―

―......!!

I suddenly felt an ominous sensation.

As though warm flames were crawling up my bones....

I quickly moved my feet and dodged, and I saw a white energy flickering at the tip of the dagger.

―Was that a dagger imbued with Divine Power...? Impressive!

“........”

―From the looks of it, that was your trump card! ...But what will you do now?

“Damn it....”

Rihman stared at me with hatred-filled eyes and spat blood-tinged saliva.

This was making me feel as though I were the villain!

However, I, too, had no choice but to watch him carefully with a changed gaze.

‘As expected, one cannot look down on those who have survived in real combat.’

No matter how much I had been strengthened by the [Chaos] skill and the Orb, it was difficult to make up for the gap created by years of accumulated levels and skill.

My opponent was a mercenary who had survived for decades in this harsh dark fantasy world, and he possessed enough ability to lead a bandit gang.

Perhaps because he lacked experience fighting Undead, we were having a fairly close fight, but *now that he had even drawn a Divine Power dagger, if I charged in recklessly, I might be the one who suffered great harm instead.

But I stood with the moon at my back, laughed as though it were nothing, and sheathed my sword.

―Is it already time...? What a pity.

“Time is up...? What on earth....”

―Kahahaha! You will spend the rest of your life regretting the fact that I did not kill you today!

“...What does that mean?”

―What else could it mean, you foolish mortal bastard? It means exactly what I said.

Because the most terrifying thing here was neither a clown Skeleton nor a Divine Power dagger.

The moment the mercenary captain furrowed his brow in confusion, a black shadow appeared behind him.

―Elven mortal! You are late! Now, quickly grant this man rest!

“........”

Freed from the Curse, Malton cut Rihman’s tendons with a slightly displeased expression.