How to Raise Your Skeletons

Chapter 132: The Dragon Slayer (5)

“…”

A heavy silence filled the air. I shook my head, trying to grasp the situation.

Vladimir was in the position where I should have been. And I was standing where he had been? Because of that, Vladimir’s heart was pierced through instead of mine.

I snapped back to reality. “Damn it, what is this…?!” Perhaps thanks to Boney 7’s healing magic, which reached me just in time, my voice rasped out, hoarse but audible. “Ugh!”

The constricting energy that had bound me was gone, allowing me to move again.

“Team leader, are you alright?”

Myoi Hana rushed to my side, using an emergency bandage to staunch the blood flowing from my wound. Under normal circumstances, she would have used healing magic with her glowing hands, but not this time.

I frowned. “What happened just now…?” The pain in my body wasn’t what mattered now. “Why is Vladimir up there?”

“…”

The team’s mood grew solemn. Zhang Wei and Maximilian kept their mouths shut while Olena’s eyes were already red with tears.

“It was Myoi Hana. She used the S-rank Sacrifice skill on Vladimir.” Capu stepped forward to explain, “Sacrifice transfers all the debuffs affecting the target onto the caster. She took on the debuffs that the dragon had cast and removed Vladimir’s seal.” His bitter words hung in the air as he gazed upward. “The rest was Vladimir’s decision. He said there was no hope if we only saved ourselves, so the team leader had to be rescued. Since the range of his usual spatial magic wasn’t enough, he resorted to a secret technique. Without time to stop him, he switched places with you. Damn it all.”

“…”

Hearing Capu’s explanation, I forced myself to stand. Every inch of my body ached like I was being ripped apart, but it was still better than before.

No. That wasn’t the issue now.

—Thump!

My heart raced.

“…”

An indescribable emotion welled up inside me. What was this feeling?

Why? Why on earth did Vladimir have to suffer in my place?

I raised my face to the sky.

“Grahhh! Grahhhh!”

Aranballon screamed as the poison mist further invaded his brain.

Before his enraged gaze stood Vladimir, clutching his pierced heart, blood trickling from his lips.

“Olena,” I murmured softly.

Yes. This emotion was, to put it precisely, anger—not anger toward the dragon or the situation but directed at myself. I was angry at how weak I was and how I led my team into danger as their leader.

“Yes, Hoon.”

“Could you make the water step you made earlier? Send me up there.”

“Understood!”

—Swoosh!

Without a word, Olena created a platform.

—Step.

I stepped onto it, and my other teammates followed me. Even Boney 7, who had been healing me, joined us.

“…”

No one needed to say it; everyone knew the platform was heading for Vladimir.

—Vwoom!

Olena’s magic gently lifted us into the air, flying swiftly to him.

“…”

I looked at him—the man groaning in pain with blood dripping from his lips.

“Boney 7.”

[‘Bonehead 7’ used the skill ‘Intermediate Healing’ (Lv.2).]

—Vwoom!

A dark light emanating from Boney 7’s hands gently enveloped Vladimir’s heart.

“Ugh, Hoon. You’re here?” Vladimir smiled weakly, blood flowing from his lips. “Hahh, hehe… Damn it… This hurts like hell, doesn’t it?”

Anyone could see he wasn’t in good shape. His voice already carried a faint, whistling tone, with his chest soaked in crimson.

“Ugh… Normally, my heart should’ve already exploded, but I think the pressure from that damn magic circle is keeping me alive. That bastard of a dragon—it must want me to suffer before I die.”

“Stop, stop talking.”

I instructed Boney 7 to continue healing him. I wanted to use the Recovery skill, but I had already expended it fighting the poison mist.

“Just wait. I’ll save you no matter what.”

—Clink!

I retrieved an elixir from my storage.

[Item: Elixir]

[Rank: S]

[Description: A legendary potion.]

[Effect 1: Cures all illness.]

[Effect 2: Removes status ailment.]

[Effect 3: Highest-grade healing effect.]

[Effect 4: Cannot be used on the dead.]

These were the two elixirs I had saved after receiving them as a reward.

“It’s no use,” Vladimir said weakly.

No use? Why?

“Even if you heal me… as long as that magic circle is piercing my heart, it’ll just keep happening. Unless you remove that cursed thing, it’s impossible.”

He was right. It was the logical conclusion anyone would reach after some thought, but I’d been too frantic to see it.

“Damn it,” I said. “Why did you do it?”

Though I understood his reasoning, my heart couldn’t accept it.

“Why…? Why would you risk your life like this…?”

“Why else? Because it’s worth it. We haven’t known each other long, but you’re a good person, team leader.”

A good person, he said.

“Honestly, this whole trial dungeon has been obvious from the start. In the first round, it encouraged murder. In the second round, it pushed for betrayal. But in the end, look—those who killed or betrayed didn’t make it.”

The murderers were eliminated, and Aranballon tore apart the traitors.

“Hehe… We resisted that temptation. We endured and persevered to get here. Not just you but everyone here proved to be good people. You want to hear something interesting?” Vladimir’s gaze shifted to the man holding a spear—Zhang Wei, the Judgment Spear. He coughed, “Haha… Just the fact that that guy isn’t ranting about judgment proves everyone here can be trusted. I’ve always liked things like that. Loyalty that transcends life and death. Though, the harsh reality of the outside world never allowed me to have comrades like this.”

And not just that. All seven of us here, we didn’t flee the Dragon of Greed’s trial.

“Hah, still… I’m glad I achieved one wish before dying.”

We fought the dragons together, proving that we valued loyalty over our lives.

“No.” I clenched my fist and spoke firmly, “Believe in me and wait.”

“Believe… and wait, you say?”

“I told you, I’ll save you no matter what. So don’t give up on your life. Don’t die on me.”

I would save him somehow. These people were no longer just tools to reach a high rank. They were no longer fleeting companions; they were my true comrades.

“Myoi Hana.”

“Yes?”

“Take this.”

I handed her the two elixirs. Then I turned toward the screaming dragon.

“I’m taking it from here. I’ll kill that dragon, no matter what. Once it’s dead and the magic circle is gone…”

“Yes, I’ll do everything I can to save Vladimir.” Myoi Hana nodded with a determined expression.

That was enough.

There was a concern that even the elixirs might not work, but if that happened…

I’ll summon the SSS-rank Ancient Magic if I have to.

That entity was undoubtedly powerful.

—Whoosh!

I transformed my weapon into a spear again and let it hang loosely from my hand. Then I looked down at the battlefield below.

—Creak! Creak!

I saw below me 7,777 skeletons continuing their relentless battle. With the dragon bone strengthening them, they were unbreakable and ceaselessly charged forward. They drove their weapons into the dragon’s feet.

Yes.

Keep fighting for me—the Skeleton King.

[Using Skill ‘Roar of the Dead’ (A-rank).]

[Consuming 50 energy.]

“Screech!”

An eerie roar erupted from my body, spreading through the battlefield.

[Skill: Roar of the Dead]

[Rank: A]

[Effect 1: Doubles all stats of surrounding skeletons.]

[Effect 2: Consumes 50 energy.]

—Boom! Boom! Boom!

The skeletons’ speed increased dramatically. Like relentless zombies, they climbed the dragon’s body and stabbed their weapons into its flesh, tearing open wounds.

“Graaaargh! You pests!”

Regaining its composure, Aranballon began inscribing magic circles in the air again. But…

“How pitiful, dragon.”

—Whoosh!

By now, Sunny’s spear, glowing with light, had reached the top of the dragon’s head.

[‘Sun Spear’ used the skill ‘Soulflare’ (Lv.6).]

[‘Sun Spear’ used the skill ‘Solar Strike’ (Lv.6).]

—Whoosh, whoosh!

The burst of light struck the dragon’s yellow eyes in quick succession. Aranballon, startled, shook its head violently, but Eldrin leaped from behind Sunny, kicking off of the dragon’s hide.

[‘Eldrin’ used the skill ‘Moonlight Descent’ (Lv.6).]

Moonlight fell like rain. The luminous arrows of Moonlit Descent sunk into Aranballon’s wounds.

“Grahhh! Graaaargh!”

A high-pitched roar echoed across the sky. The inscribed magic circles quivered and began to shatter.

I swallowed hard.

Sunny and Eldrin are definitely strong.

They had already reclaimed 50% of their original power. And with Roar of the Dead (A-rank) added to the mix, it was no wonder they were this powerful.

Of course, Roar of the Dead didn’t make 50% of their strength equal to their original 100%. It simply boosted their stats, which was a slightly different concept.

Keep going.

Keep moving.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

The two absolute beings unleashed overwhelming killing intent. As if making up for everything they had held back until now, they ferociously attacked Aranballon.

—Boom!

Even while airborne, their movements alone created massive shockwaves.

“Grrr!”

The dragon hesitated briefly. And then…

“Graaaargh! I’ll tear you all apart!”

It began rampaging. The magic circles twisted and fired beams in all directions. Aranballon thrashed wildly, swinging its tail without restraint.

But…

“How pathetic.”

Sunny’s spear struck the dragon’s wounds. Eldrin’s arrows pierced its injuries.

—Boom!

A thunderous noise resounded as blood splattered. The attacks of the two warriors were both precise and relentless.

“What…!”

Aranballon’s face twisted in confusion.

“How… How could mere undead have this much power…?”

—Whoosh!

The dragon’s claws tore through the air, slicing sharply. Its target was Sunny.

“A blind attack. Even if I wanted to let it hit, it couldn’t.”

—Flash!

Sunny leaped through the air, radiating light once more. The dragon’s strike narrowly missed. And once again…

—Boom!

Sunny’s follow-up attack landed squarely on the dragon’s weak points.

Aranballon’s face contorted with rage. It wasn’t just the situation; Sunny’s taunts added fuel to the fire.

Perhaps realizing this, Sunny sneered, “Pathetic. That’s your limit and your end. Did you think you could stand before my lord in such a pitiful state?”

“SILENCE!”

Aranballon roared furiously. It shook its head violently.

“Fine. If it’s going to be like this… Even if I am destroyed, even if my body is torn apart…”

—Rumble!

Simultaneously, it gathered all the remaining energy from his heart core to its maw.

“I’ll make sure to take that human with me!”

[Aranballon is preparing a breath attack.]

—Rumble!

The ground trembled again. Though not as intense as before, the vibrations were still powerful. And its target, cunningly, was where Vladimir was bound.

“Damn it! That dragon is looking this way!”

“What should we do? Vladimir is here!”

My teammates turned to me for answers. But…

“…”

There was absolutely no way we could avoid this attack. Vladimir was already hanging on by a thread. If I didn’t block this attack, no one knew what would happen.

[Using skill ‘Summon Skeleton Lord’ (S-rank).]

[Consuming 10 energy.]

[Summoning ‘Bonehead 4.’]

I summoned Boney 4 onto Olena’s water platform and transformed my spear into a shield. I positioned myself in front of Vladimir.

“Everyone, move behind me.”

My teammates gasped in shock.

“Hoon…! Don’t tell me you’re…?!”

“My friend, are you planning to take that attack alone?”

“Yes,” I nodded firmly. “From now on, I’ll do whatever it takes to protect Vladimir. So…”

—Rumble!

An immense force swirled before me.

“I need your help.”

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