Chapter 45. Mock Battle (4)

Whoooosh—! Clatter!

The wind whipped through the air, cold enough to make Eun-Ho’s very bones ache a little.

[Several observers gasp at Subject Lee Eun-Ho’s transformation!]

[The Prince from the Bureau of Investigation asks what it feels like to be a Skeleton.]

What it feels like to be a Skeleton, huh?

Whoooosh!

Eun-Ho noted the difference. Rather than colliding and dispersing, the wind now passed straight through him.

I feel light.

Clack! Clatter! Clack!

With his flesh and blood now gone, he moved what was left of himself with effort.

Right foot. Left foot. Then right again,

Eun-Ho thought.

With each step, the bones of his toes, ankles, and knees clattered and jostled against one another. What he thought was deafening earlier had become quieter than he expected.

Crack.

His leg jerked as he stepped on a stone, the movement awkward and off-balance. Then, he heard something grind unpleasantly. His ankle bone had twisted out of alignment, perhaps due to the lack of muscles to hold it in place. However, after walking a little more, it seemed to settle on its own.

Was it because his senses had dulled? The world now felt quieter and less vivid, as if he were wading through a thin layer of water.

[Ferry Man from the Bureau of Management asks what on earth just happened.]

[Several observers wonder if you have been hiding this transformation ability.]

“It’s not like I was trying to hide it,” Eun-Ho said aloud.

He had just been saving it. After all, he only had one

seed

.

[The Prince from the Bureau of Investigation chuckles dryly and says he's never seen anyone use a Drosera Seed like that.]

Eun-Ho tried to remember the Drosera’s Seed’s description.

[Drosera’s Seed]

- It seems like it would sprout if planted in soil.

- It grows normally only in hot, humid places with very high oxygen levels, so handle it with care. The more it grows, the more it resembles the appearance of surrounding lifeforms.

- If boiled and consumed together with a part of a specific lifeform, you can transform into that lifeform. However, only the appearance can be replicated, and the effect lasts up to one hour.

He’d earned it during his first beginner swordsmanship class, after taking down a massive carnivorous plant called Drosera. The extraordinary seed had been a special reward.

Therefore, Eun-Ho boiled the Seed with bone dust from a shattered Black Skeleton.

[You have been transformed into a Skeleton Soldier(Lv. 1).]

[You have been imbued with the energy of White!]

[Time remaining: 50 minutes 27 seconds.]

Contrary to expectations, he turned into a white Skeleton instead, which threw him off at first. In the end, he lit a torch and blackened his bones with soot.

They’re really more gray than black. Lucky for me, these guys have terrible eyesight.

Either way, the trial was a success; he had reclaimed the flag. Besides, he’d taken down their leader, which meant no counterattack was coming. All that was left was to escape enemy territory in one piece.

But wouldn’t it be a waste to just leave? How many people get to become a Skeleton?

The most he’d ever dreamed of being was a full-time employee. However, now, he was something far stranger—not just a husband, not merely an old man, and certainly not just a worker. He was, quite literally, a Skeleton.

And I’ve got time.

He had a full fifty minutes to live as a Skeleton—long or short, depending on how he chose to spend them.

“Let’s have some fun then.”

He scanned the battlefield, where the remnants of the enemy still lingered. Some had lost limbs in the explosion, while others rummaged through bone piles, trying to find spare parts.

According to the system, Skeletons had a dulled sense of fear toward death. They still wanted to survive. Even now, they clung to life with even greater desperation, perhaps because they had died once.

Eun-Ho stepped forward, his bones rattling.

Clatter!

He stood tall before them, clutching the white flag wrapped around the stolen helmet against his chest.

“

Uuuaaaargh!

”

“Our leader is down!”

The jaw of a black Skeleton Soldier dropped in disbelief. He then screamed, “Traitor...? It’s a traitor!”

Of course, that was the most logical conclusion from their point of view. Soon, more Skeletons gathered, six of them armed with spears and swords. They approached cautiously, alert and tense.

Eun-Ho stood still, waiting. Eyeless as he was, he could feel their cold, piercing stares. Yet, he remained unflinching.

Clack! Clatter! Clack!

Their slow and deliberate footsteps drew closer. Before long, blades hovered just inches from his skeletal frame.

“D-did you kill our leader?!”

“How could you? You’re only a soldier!”

“How?!”

Eun-Ho met their gazes one by one as they stepped forward. The flag had shifted from white to black, and then back to white again.

Even though he’d consumed the bones of a black Skeleton, the transformation had bathed him in white energy.

“Summon,” Eun-Ho said calmly.

He had enough reason to justify treason.

“I...”

Hup.

He inhaled, or at least pretended to. Despite having no lungs, he still felt the echo of breath fill a chest that no longer existed.

Then, he firmly and resolutely shouted, “I refuse to follow a leader who carelessly sacrifices his own Soldiers!”

It was a rebel’s cry, right in the middle of enemy lines—one that could be seen as treasonous.

However, the black Skeleton Soldiers remained silent.

“Wait... Does that mean you really—”

[Empowered by the Beacon, your voice projects with unnatural clarity.]

The Soldiers had lost a leg, an arm, or had their ribs shattered under the leader’s orders. Even after claiming the Victory Flag, they appeared nothing more than defeated remnants. Bound by the “roles” set for them by their creator, all that they could do was obey.

Taking that into consideration, Eun-Ho concluded that what they needed wasn’t simply another order to follow. What they truly needed was justification.

[The Skeleton Soldiers are wondering about the traitor’s intentions.]

“That’s why I killed the leader with these hands!” Eun-Ho shouted.

The hollow eyes of the black Skeleton Soldiers flared, uncertain. Their fierce gazes trembled then dimmed again. Their teeth chattered and rattled nervously.

Clack—! Clack! Clack!

No way... That’s impossible...

the black Skeleton Soldiers thought.

Their reactions varied, but none could fully deny it.

[Due to your skill Leadership(Lv. 1), your acceptance rate among Skeleton Soldiers has increased.]

[The Skeleton Soldiers are listening to the traitor.]

They had no choice but to listen to Lee Eun-Ho. The very thing they had called a symbol of command earlier was now in his hand.

“This helmet is proof!”

From within the folds of the flag, Eun-Ho slowly pulled out the helmet—the one he’d been hiding since the beginning.

[Skeleton Knight’s Helmet]

- Forged by an unknown Skeleton Knight from the skull of a dead Wyvern.

- Imbued with the power of death. Grants absolute command over Skeleton Soldiers when worn.

- Usable by Skeletons only.

“T-that’s...!”

Eun-Ho placed it on his head.

Slick—

The helmet slid down, encasing his forehead and eye sockets.

[Subject Lee Eun-Ho has advanced from Skeleton Soldier to Skeleton Knight!]

A soft violet aura burst from the helmet. It coiled around his frame and then vanished.

[You have acquired authority over all Skeleton Soldiers!]

The Skeleton Soldiers, who had been pointing their weapons at him, flinched and hesitated. Then, they slowly lowered their blades.

“You’ve already died once. There’s no reason to throw your lives away again,” Eun-Ho said.

“But to win...” one started hesitantly.

“Anyone can win by throwing soldiers into the meat grinder. Even a child could do that. But a real commander wins with minimal loss.” For the final blow, he added, “I won’t waste my people.”

Clang!

Startled, several Skeletons dropped their weapons.

“Join me and I’ll show you what it means to live with dignity,” Eun-Ho said.

Thud!

As if struck by lightning, the Skeleton Soldiers dropped to their knees.

My strategy worked.

He just knew it would.

[Due to your skill Leadership(Lv. 1), your acceptance rate among Skeleton Soldiers has increased.]

[Your charisma has swayed the Skeleton Soldiers!]

Ding!

The next moment, a bright, cheerful chime rang straight in his mind.

[The Skeleton Soldiers wish to serve under you!]

[Do you accept?]

Finally hearing the confirmation message he’d been waiting for, he cheered internally.

Yes! It worked.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Feeling as though his nonexistent heart would punch through his ribcage, he calmed himself. Then, he nonchalantly replied, “I accept.”

[Congratulations!]

[You have recruited additional Skeleton Soldiers(Lv. 1)!]

[Remaining units: 106]

The Skeleton Soldier kneeling in front of him slowly closed its eyes. When it opened them again, something had changed.

From the very top of its dark skull, a droplet of white spread like a splash of paint dropped onto ink, akin to a single white petal blooming in a swamp of silence.

Fwoooosh—!

The pale hue spread across its skull, then down its neck, arms, ribs, and spine, until its entire skeletal form gleamed a pure, blinding white. One by one, the others followed suit, their eyes shut in silence.

When they finally opened their eyes, they were all gleaming white.

“We have a new leader!”

“We’ll follow you to the end!”

[The Prince from the Bureau of Investigation is freaking out, asking if you seriously just recruited the enemy!]

[Ferry Man from the Bureau of Management stumbles back in disbelief!]

[Your unexpected actions have stunned multiple observers!]

He wasn’t even anywhere near the end of his strategy yet.

“All units! Eyes forward!” Eun-Ho demanded, bellowing with enough force to crack his ribs.

He raised a torch high. Even the distant troops, murmuring far away, turned toward him. He could feel every gaze lock on him.

Hup—!

Inhaling deeply, he shouted, “A new era begins now!”

It was the kind of line he’d have cringed at in his past life, yet it felt natural in this form.

[Your charisma has swayed the Skeleton Soldiers!]

[You have recruited additional Skeleton Soldiers(Lv. 1)!]

[Remaining units: 125]

Fwoooosh—!

Dozens more white blooms burst across the battlefield.

“Follow me!”

“

Aaargh—!

”

“We will follow!”

[The Skeleton Soldiers have begun to follow you!]

[You have recruited additional Skeleton Soldiers(Lv. 1)!]

[Remaining units: 158]

Fwoooosh—!

Then, again, the battlefield bloomed white.

“All units! March forward!”

“Yes, Commander!”

“Yes, Commander!”

“Yes, Commander!”

Clack! Crackle! Snap! Grind!

The Skeletons heeded his command, their bones making every sound their kind could make. They had no skills beyond rattling bones, yanking out their own limbs, or using them as bombs. Nevertheless, whether they had once been black or white, they were now unified into one army, their roar one and the same.

[The Crow from the Bureau of Management cheers, exclaiming that you never disappoint!]

[A donation of 1,000 Welfare Points has been made!]

[Multiple observers are now fervently following your progress!]

These Skeletons are not so different from us. They’re also just puppets being pulled by the strings of the ones above.

Clack! Clack! Clack!

“Commander!”

“Commander!”

“Commander!”

Their cries rang out across the field. Their chorus of over a hundred voices, each one layering upon the next, grew louder with every step they took. The black and white tones swirled together, merging into a single, explosive shout.

“Survive!”

Claaaack—!

[Congratulations!]

[You have met a hidden condition. Your title Pathfinder has evolved into the Paver of Paths!]

[You have gained a special attribute through your followers.]

An attribute granted by the very Skeleton Soldiers who now follow me...?

Fwoooosh—!

The earth under him and his army began to stir. Dirt shifted, and a violet mist swelled, spreading outward. It curled like fog beneath their boots, creeping ever forward. Covering the ground ahead, it formed a long, luminous trail that stretched all the way to the horizon.

[You have opened the Path of the Dead!]

[Check effect details.]