Chapter 22: Commander
While the skeleton horde equipped their gear, I turned my gaze to Cedric, who had grown alongside me this time.
[Cedric]
[Class: Dragon Knight]
[Level: 51]
[Held Skills: Spear Mastery (S), Dragon Strike (S)]
[Loyalty: 100]
[Note: Most skills and stats are sealed.]
[Strength: 84(+42)] [Agility: 82(+41)] [Vitality: 84(+42)] [Mana: 86(+43)]
A summon sharing levels with its master.
Cedric had also reached level 51, unlocking a new skill.
Dragon Strike.
From the description, it was a sure-kill technique that boosted single-hit damage by 700%.
‘This is it.’
Unlike crude skills like slashes or thrusts, this was on another level. SSS-grade summons were in a league of their own.
“Cedric.”
―You called, Master?
“Why doesn’t your appearance change like that golden skeleton back then? It’s not cool like this.”
Summons’ forms often evolved gradually with levels. But Cedric’s changes were minimal.
His bones weren’t glowing gold, nor had his frame ballooned in size.
The spear in his hand had just darkened a bit.
―…That body was crafted directly by the Death Lord. Even if my level rises, I can’t return to it. It vanished long ago.
“Crafted directly? With what?”
―The bones of the Gold Dragon Lord. That formed the skeleton.
“Whoa. You really were a gold-plated skeleton.”
Not just any dragon—a Dragon Lord. Must be a rare monster.
―To that, processed bloodline of the Abyss Lord was added, along with amethyst feathers…
“One word: they threw everything at you?”
―Yes. In contrast, I’m summoned now without any special medium. The difference in body is natural.
Got it.
“Can’t do much about it right now.”
―Understood. You lack undead crafting skills, Master. Even if you had them, hunting those monsters would be impossible.
“Alright for now. I’ll make you a proper body later. Trust me, bro?”
―…I do.
“Here, equip this.”
I tossed Cedric the ‘Barbarian Warrior’s Roar’ set.
A rare set like my Harvester of Ruin gear—perfectly useful up to level 101.
―…Yours looks cool, but why is mine such rags?
Cedric grumbled at the hole-riddled leather armor.
“It’s what savage barbarian warriors wore. Looks rough, but it’s top-shelf stuff. Put it on.”
―…
Cedric donned the leather Barbarian Warrior set.
His already hole-filled skeletal frame layered with more hole-filled leather…
‘Looks like a hobo.’
His appearance was downright shabby.
‘As long as the performance is good.’
It wasn’t for me anyway.
Looks didn’t matter.
“Let’s go.”
Deep in the forest clearing.
[The boss of Ulpaululu Forest, ‘Thunder Priest Ulparu,’ appears!]
―Woo woo!
A massive gorilla stared down the skeleton horde.
In its hand was a purple staff crackling with electricity.
Thunder Staff.
Dropped at an extremely low rate from Ulparu hunts.
It amplified lightning magic power.
Wooo woo!
Ulparu, hyped up, aimed the staff at the skeletons.
Zzzzap!
Lightning gathered atop the staff.
[Ulparu casts Thunder Strike (E)!]
A massive bolt soon engulfed the skeleton horde. The old skeletons would’ve been helplessly fried.
But not now.
[Skeleton Mage 1 activates Shield (F)!]
[Skeleton Mage 2 activates Shield (F)…]
[Skeleton Mage 150 activates Sh…]
A symphony of shields from 150 mages! Layers stacked until the blue glow was blinding, and Thunder Strike slammed into it.
Boom!
Sizzle.
Smoke rose.
Yet the shields held strong, only a third shattered. Mages were level 1, but their gear was premium—usable up to 40.
With magic power boosted too, blocking a boss attack was no big deal.
“Hunt time.”
[Skeleton Mage 151 uses Ice Bolt (F)!]
[Skeleton Mage 157 uses Small Poison Cloud (F)!]
The remaining 150 mages unleashed attacks.
Spells rained from all sides, pummeling Ulparu.
Cedric charged at the panicked gorilla.
―Thrust and slay!
[Cedric uses Dragon Strike (S)!]
The blackened spear smashed into Ulparu.
Kwang!
―Wooo woo!
The sheer impact shoved Ulparu back.
The gorilla howled in agony. Skeleton soldiers now surrounded it.
Clack clack!
Soldiers stabbed and slashed.
From range, hundreds of spells chipped away at its health. Boss or not, it wasn’t invincible.
Ulparu fell fast.
‘No need for me to join.’
Just an E-rank gate boss.
Cedric and the armed soldiers handled it fine.
Ulparu fought back with bolts, but couldn’t turn the tide.
[The gate boss Ulparu falls!]
[Skeleton Squad’s combat experience greatly increases! Level rises to 17…]
[Skeleton Mage Squad’s combat experience greatly…]
[Level up…]
From 51 straight to 55.
Skeleton Squad hit 17, mages jumped from 1 to 10.
“Cut.”
Boss cleared in 15 minutes.
Auto-battle success.
Then.
The staff gripped in Ulparu’s hand clattered limply to the ground.
‘Huh?’
Usually, it’d vanish in smoke.
‘The staff’s sticking around?’
The staff lay there, persisting.
“What’s with today? Lucky as hell.”
A 1% drop rate item just fell.
Jackpot.
I grabbed the Thunder Staff.
[Ulparu’s Thunder Staff]
[Grade: Rare]
[Class Restriction: Mage]
[Required Level: 10+]
[Effect 1: Lightning magic damage +20%.]
[Effect 2: Static Cloud (E) usable.]
[Effect 3: Mana +20, Vitality +10.]
This performance at such a low level req.
Of course.
Expensive items have reasons.
Premium even money couldn’t easily buy.
“Miley. Come here.”
Mage #1.
Codename Miley.
Skeleton Mage 1 scurried over.
“Use this from now on. It’s expensive—don’t lose it.”
Clack!
[Precious item bestowed!]
[Skeleton Mage 1 delights in master’s favor!]
[Can appoint as Skeleton Mage Squad Commander!]
[Assign ‘Miley’ as commander?]
“Huh?”
I’d handed out plenty of gear before.
First time for this message.
“Cedric. Got a commander appointment message for Miley. Know anything?”
―The Death Lord’s legions worked the same. Favored undead got positions.
“Does giving expensive stuff trigger it?”
―Normal necromancers? No. Skeletons lack learning or emotions.
“Why does this one get it? So expensive gear triggers it?”
―…Probably. But commander slots are limited—choose wisely.
Got the gist.
Mass gear for skeletons: all magic items.
This batch? Rare grade. Each worth 3 billion.
That must be the favor threshold.
“Fine. You’re commander.”
[‘Miley’ appointed commander!]
[Miley’s learning capacity greatly increases!]
Instantly.
Miley snapped a crisp salute.
‘Oh.’
Seemed a tad smarter?
“Works well.”
I rummaged my inventory.
Pulled a fitting rare item.
“Hail, you too.”
Called Skeleton Soldier 1.
Codename Hail.
Handed over the rare item.
“Good stuff for you.”
[Precious item bestowed!]
[Skeleton 1 delights in master’s favor!]
[Can appoint as Skeleton Squad Commander!]
[Assign ‘Hail’ as commander?]
“You’re commander too.”
[‘Hail’ appointed commander!]
[Hail’s learning capacity greatly increases!]
Clack!
Hail saluted sharply.
[Squad command structure complete!]
[Squad Level: Inept Skeleton Squad]
[Overall Commander: Cedric]
[Commanders: Hail, Miley]
[Squad movements become slightly more coordinated!]
Soon Hail and Miley rushed to Cedric and saluted.
―Good. You two are the new commanders. Looking forward to it.
Clack clack!
The two skeletons rubbed their palms at Cedric like bootlickers. I couldn’t help chuckling.
‘Smarter’s better anyway.’
Tried more skeletons with rares.
But no dice.
[Squad too small!]
[No more commanders appointable!]
Maxed out.
‘Gained two—that’s profit.’
Picked up Ulparu’s junk drops.
[Gate clear reward granted!]
[Special condition met!]
[Hold Worn Necklace!]
[Osiris’s Arrangement granted!]
A dragon-shaped gem appeared with the messages.
[Strange Gem]
[Grade:??]
[A gem that’d fit perfectly in some slot.]
[Effect 1: Slotting it somewhere might trigger something special.]
Acquired Strange Gem.
Slotted it into the necklace’s hole.
[Worn Necklace begins activating!]
[Mysterious Necklace]
[Grade:??]
[A necklace flowing with mysterious power.]
[Effect 1: Can open passage to special gate (D). Entering may allow fulfilling Osiris’s Arrangement.]
[Effect 2: Gate entry limit: 1 person.]
‘Hidden gate item, huh?’
Normal gates are public and open.
Enter with state permit.
Some gates stay deeply hidden.
No entry point? No access.
Called hidden gates.
“Nice.”
Hidden gate perks abound.
No entry logs first off. Perfect for secret grinding.
‘Rewards way better too.’
Not all upsides.
Normal gates persist through clears.
Hidden ones? Mostly one-shots.
Clear and gone.
Thus, harder than peers, more gimmicks.
Issue: unclear clears.
Monsters?
Map layout?
Gimmicks?
All unknown.
Blind rush? Hell awaits.
‘Need to regroup.’
Hidden gates usually exit via the medium used.
Open from home with necklace? Exit home.
Use here?
Clear dumps you in Ulpaululu Forest.
Problem: I iced Lee Seoyoon here.
Shadow side’ll learn of her death soon.
Then?
Hunt the killer.
Net tightens.
‘Can’t linger.’
Too early for Shadow tail.
Head back first.
Gate activation later.