Chapter 122
Chapter 122
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 122
Chapter Title: Skeleton Janissaries
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[Assigning a Skeleton Soldier as a Janissary will consume 500 Soul Points.] ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Would you like to assign Skeleton Saber No. 1 as a Janissary? Yes? Or No?] Shin Yu-hyun stared quietly at the message floating before his eyes.
With his current Soul Points, he could raise his Chakra by 2. ⚔ STATUS ⚔ Congratulations. You have assigned a Skeleton Soldier as a Janissary for the first time. Skeleton Saber has class-changed to Skeleton Duelist. "What?"
Shin Yu-hyun looked at Saber No. 1 with wide eyes in surprise.
He hadn't expected that assigning it as a Janissary would trigger a class change.
Flash!
In that instant, a burst of white light erupted from Saber No. 1.
A moment later, Saber No. 1 emerged, now class-changed into a Duelist.
It appeared wearing sleek, refined jet-black armor instead of its crude gray plate. No longer Saber No. 1, but a Skeleton Duelist.
Even the bones peeking through the gaps in the black armor were pitch black.
The overall image was that of a nimble swordsman. ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [The Skeleton Duelist has acquired Intermediate Dual Wielding. Proficiency in Dual Wielding has increased.] [Duelist-exclusive combat skills have been generated.] 'Jackpot.'
Shin Yu-hyun broke into a satisfied smile.
He could feel the sharp aura emanating from the Duelist.
Its stats had risen dramatically as well.
Especially its Agility, which promised fast attack speed and mobility.
And upon class-changing into a Duelist, it had gained not only Intermediate Dual Wielding but also general skills useful in combat.
Above all, the fact that it had class-changed upon becoming a Janissary was astonishing.
And tailored to its weapon, no less.
This meant he could form an elite unit under the Immortal King, each with unique personalities and specialties based on various weapons.
'For the Night Raider, give it an assassination weapon.'
The Night Raider was a special forces type that guarded the Immortal King in the darkness and assassinated enemies.
If he gave a Skeleton at least a Rare-grade assassination weapon, it would class-change into an assassination specialist to match.
'I should stop by the armory soon. I can probably get a Rare-grade longsword.'
At his current level, Shin Yu-hyun could obtain a Rare-grade sword from Shin Ji-ah.
What if he gave Saber the Magic Sword Ignis that he used to wield?
A Saber wielding a magic sword instead of sword and shield would be born.
And assigning it as a Janissary would make it class-change into some new profession suited to that.
'It's a shame there's nothing but swords.'
However, the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan's armory was dominated by swords.
There were no high-grade weapons of other types.
Spears, bows, throwing weapons, and the like.
High-grade alternatives would have to be acquired separately.
'Come to think of it, I have a few Rare weapons.'
Shin Yu-hyun had recovered Rare weapons from the executives while raiding the Iron Forge Group.
Two of them had already been given to Skeletons.
The remaining ones were the Exceptional Rare Thunderclap Sword, Lightning Blade, and the Rare Charging Spear, Brave Heart.
There were also the Rare-grade halberd and gauntlets used by Madate Heitaro and Ishii Hideki.
But they only had good base performance, with no option abilities or skills attached.
In contrast, the Charging Spear Brave Heart of the same Rare grade came with a charge skill called Brave Overdrive.
'Shall we run a test?'
Shin Yu-hyun left the underground training hall and went to find Dia.
Weapons Rare-grade and above were stored by Dia in her sub-space.
Having received the Rare weapons from Dia, Shin Yu-hyun returned to the underground training hall.
"Ka-mang-i. Bring out the kids."
Upon arriving at the underground training hall, Shin Yu-hyun stroked the cute Ka-mang-i's head.
Kyuu!
Ka-mang-i let out a cute cry and began summoning the Skeletons.
A moment later, dozens of Sabers and Lancers emerged in orderly fashion from the shadows.
In front of them, Shin Yu-hyun laid out the Thunderclap Sword, Charging Spear, Halberd of Impact, and Strike Gauntlet.
"Pick what you like. First come, first served."
At Shin Yu-hyun's words, the Sabers and Lancers tilted their heads in unison with military precision as they eyed the Rare-grade and higher weapons before them.
Some stepped forward to inspect the weapons before returning to their spots.
'Do Skeletons have individual personalities?'
Shin Yu-hyun watched the scene with an intrigued expression.
Basically, the Skeletons were using weapons suited to their troop types.
Yet even among those, preferences seemed to vary.
After a short while, Skeletons began selecting weapons. ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Saber No. 7 has selected the Strike Gauntlet. Acquired Basic Close-Quarters Combat and special skill Explosion.] [Saber No. 23 has selected the Thunderclap Sword, Lightning Blade.] [Lancer No. 52 has selected the Charging Spear, Brave Heart.] [Lancer No. 16 has selected the Halberd of Impact.] [In the future, Saber No. 7, Saber No. 23, Lancer No. 16, and Lancer No. 52 can become even stronger by consuming Soul Points to assign them as Janissaries.] "As expected."
Shin Yu-hyun smiled faintly.
He had figured that even with preferences, they'd pick at least Rare-grade weapons.
And that wasn't all.
Saber No. 7's choice was unexpected.
Gauntlets were a different category from swords.
Saber No. 1 had picked dual swords, and Lancer No. 16 the halberd—both suited to their types.
But who would've thought a Skeleton would choose gauntlets?
'The skill's pretty good too.'
Saber No. 7, who had only used sword and shield until now, had acquired Basic Close-Quarters Combat upon gaining the ability to use gauntlets, along with the Explosion skill.
It seemed to be a bonus for selecting a weapon from a different category.
'I should get the Magic Sword Ignis or some assassination weapons soon.'
The more special Skeletons wielding diverse weapons, the stronger his forces would become.
'Next up...'
After returning the Skeletons to the shadow space, Shin Yu-hyun looked at the spoils from defeating the Xenomorph magic beasts. Psyker's Essence Type: Elixir Grade: Rare Description: Randomly increases mental power. However, the increase diminishes for users of higher grades. "It boosts mental power?"
The Psyker's Essence was an elixir type.
And it boosted mental power, no less. But being Rare-grade, the effect would be minimal for 4-star or 5-star Superhumans.
It was best for 4-star or lower Superhumans to consume.
'Not for me.'
Besides, Shin Yu-hyun's mental power was already at the human limit of 100.
Without breaking through the limit, the Psyker's Essence would have no effect. Xenomorph King's Essence Type: Elixir Grade: Exceptional Rare Description: Increases Strength, Agility, and Stamina. "Now this is good."
Shin Yu-hyun's eyes lit up.
The spoil from slaying the Xenomorph King.
It was Exceptional Rare-grade and an elixir that boosted his physical stats, which lagged behind his Chakra.
'I have to take this.'
Elixirs were usually consumed by chewing.
The problem was not knowing the taste.
But Shin Yu-hyun's palate was already tempered by mint chocolate.
He was confident he could handle any flavor.
Shin Yu-hyun placed the finger-sized Xenomorph King's Essence in his mouth.
'Gasp! Th-this taste...!'
The first sensation was salty, then sweet. Finally, a spicy kick hit.
As the fire-sauce-like spiciness spread, he quickly swallowed the essence.
"Kuh!"
At the same time, excruciating pain wracked his entire body.
It was like every muscle had been beaten raw.
The agony was so intense he could barely twitch a finger.
It felt like days of muscle pain compressed into minutes.
After huddling and groaning for a few minutes, the pain finally subsided. ⚔ STATUS ⚔ Congratulations! You have absorbed the Xenomorph King's Essence. Strength +10, Agility +7, Stamina +8 (random increase). "Huff... huff..."
As the pain eased, Shin Yu-hyun exhaled the breath he'd been holding.
His body was drenched in sweat.
'Is this what happens when stats rise sharply?'
Shin Yu-hyun checked the system message.
Elixirs that boosted stats were rare rewards.
But Xenomorphs were beings from another universe.
That allowed him to obtain such elixirs.
And his luck had played a part.
Perhaps related to his mental power at 100.
Shin Yu-hyun checked his stats. ⚔ STATUS ⚔ ⚡ Strength: 58 💨 Agility: 55 ✨ Magic Power: 100 💪 Stamina: 58 🍀 Luck: - 🛡️ Endurance: - Chakra 66 | Dominance 55
Soul Points: 398 "That's pretty good."
Shin Yu-hyun smiled in satisfaction.
The Xenomorph King's Essence was 5-star Exceptional Rare.
That's why his current 4-star stats had surged.
Strength and Agility had jumped from the 40s to the mid-to-late 50s, and Stamina from 50 to 58.
He'd endured the pain from the rapid increase, but it was worth it.
In fact, he could feel his body had improved.
His muscles were firmer, he brimmed with vitality, and his body felt lighter.
Next, Shin Yu-hyun checked the remaining spoils.
The Xenomorph King's stinger and Verka metal blade.
The stinger was the weapon at the tip of the Xenomorph King's tail.
Stabbing the tail blade into an enemy injected paralyzing and hemorrhagic poison from the stinger, making it extremely dangerous.
'If I can process this, I could make some solid throwing weapons.'
The stinger was Exceptional Rare-grade.
Dangerous, but processable into powerful projectiles.
'The Verka metal blade needs processing too.'
The next spoil, the Verka metal blade.
The sharp blade on the Xenomorph King's tail, made of Verka—an ultra-hard metal unknown on Earth.
Verka was tougher and more durable than titanium alloys, perfect for swords or impact weapons like gauntlets.
Or it could be mixed into protective armor used by some Superhuman Hunters.
However, as Exceptional Rare materials, processing the stinger or Verka required a skilled blacksmith.
Barrier coats and other defensive gear or dungeon-conquering tools were handled by artifact researchers like Nam Yeon-ah.
Weapons were typically crafted by blacksmiths.
Thus, artifact researchers and blacksmiths often collaborated.
And currently, there were only a handful of domestic blacksmiths capable of processing a Xenomorph King's stinger.
'I should visit the old man soon.'
Shin Yu-hyun smiled happily.
One of the last comrades he'd fought alongside in his previous life.
People called him this:
The Twilight Blacksmith, survivor to the very end.
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