Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Toward Level 100! (2)
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Hakinne's journal was essentially a treasure map that pinpointed coordinates. It was a guidebook that revealed the location of the Sealed Cave of Death and its history through vague hints that made perfect sense once you figured them out.
"Here it is."
To other users, it would serve to teach them the history of The Lord, but it held no meaning for Rokan. After all, he already knew not just the tales tied to the Sealed Cave of Death but also everything about the main scenario that would follow.
That's why, instead of following the various landmarks, he headed straight to the Sealed Cave of Death.
It was surprisingly ordinary—a shallow little cave that wasn't particularly deep and had no monsters lurking inside. The only unusual feature was at the dead end: a single skeleton leaning against the wall.
"Long time no see, skullhead."
It was Hakinne, the expedition member who had led Rokan here. It was odd that he had turned into a bare skeleton so soon after disappearing, but it made sense once you considered the power he had temporarily sealed.
The power of death.
The mere fact that he hadn't turned into an undead after exposure to it showed that Hakinne had been a formidable figure.
"I'll borrow this."
If you wanted to nitpick, the odd thing was the ring on the skeleton's finger.
That was the key to what came next.
Brushing away the rocks blocking the path revealed a small hole. Fitting the ring into it unsealed the entrance, allowing access to the Cave of Death.
Of course, if your level wasn't high enough, or you hadn't completed the journal, or you didn't have the related quest, you couldn't enter even if you knew about it. Trying to force your way in would summon Hakinne's skeletal soul to block you.
Since it wasn't a structure you could just brute-force by winning a fight, even Rokan had no intention of smashing through with raw power.
[The seal on the Cave of Death has been released.]
[Prevent the ancient death from spilling into the human world.]
"Shall we go, then?"
The names were grim—Cave of Death, ancient death—but Rokan stepped through the gate without a care.
* * *
[You have entered the Cave of Death.]
Beyond the dead-end cave lay another tunnel.
What greeted Rokan after passing through the gate was a gray landscape that blurred even existence itself. The cave floor was covered in ash-like dullness, devoid of any life.
It was truly a land of death.
Thanks to user convenience, visibility was secured despite the eerie dimness, but it was the kind of place where the faint of heart would hesitate to take a single step.
Step, step.
But Rokan advanced without hesitation. It was the leisure of someone who already knew what lay ahead and what would come.
"Let's wrap this up quick, babies."
Clatter, clatter.
As he ventured deeper, bone fragments stirred in response to the living footsteps. The gear piled atop them rose as well.
[Elite Skeleton Soldier][Lv 95]
The ones rising were familiar skeleton soldiers. The only difference was their specs, which were incomparable to those in the Moonlit Cemetery.
But Rokan had changed too. Even at level 95, these elite skeleton soldiers were about as tough as bandits or a bit trickier. No stiffness from injuries, but their levels and stats were similar.
"At this rate, I can pick up the pace."
Of course, their attacks were sharper, and their defenses sturdier. These elite skeleton soldiers originated from the soldiers of an ancient kingdom. It was only natural that trained soldiers outperformed mere bandits with high stats.
But against overwhelming strength, it was like comparing acorns.
Crack!
Each blow shattered joints, rendering everything else meaningless. Two, three—even doubling or tripling their numbers changed nothing. And with no archers or mages in sight, Rokan pushed forward faster than he had in the bandit den.
"Finally, the seal is broken!"
After another thirty minutes of progress, a voice laced with ghostly energy rang in his ears. The dungeon boss had appeared.
[Forgotten Skeleton General][Lv 100]
"Yeah, now it's your turn to break!"
Spotting it, Rokan unleashed a Leap Attack—not so much an attack as a way to close in.
"You bastard!"
The skeleton general roared, blocking Rokan's axe.
But even as his ambush was thwarted, Rokan cheered inwardly.
'Soldier summon blocked.'
By sticking close, he'd prevented the pattern where it summoned minions if you gave it distance. The Forgotten Skeleton General's true power emerged when commanding a horde.
Its death aura elevated elite skeleton soldiers to sub-boss bandit levels. Even without combo skills, that was dangerously potent.
"Quit posing, punk."
Once latched on, the skeleton general couldn't bring its full strength to bear. Unable to use its death aura was one issue, but its unique weapon was another.
The longsword, made by linking shattered bone fragments like a spine, could whip and snake around to harass foes. But Rokan had glued himself too close for it to function.
Deprived of its death aura and weapon advantages, it couldn't perform at full capacity.
Clang!
Still, it remained dangerous. Though deflected by Rokan's axe, the whip sword lashed like a tongue, probing for openings. Rokan danced to stay close, batting away the blade or pressuring it to prevent extension.
One more thing: prepare for its combo skill. It had one primed for close-range fights.
'Any second now...'
"Bite him!"
'Now!'
Finally, the first combo skill erupted. Ghostly mouths from its body lunged to chomp Rokan.
Panic-inducing mid-melee, but foreknowledge changed everything. Rokan swiftly chained Escape and Stealth. The mouths, losing their target, retreated without fully emerging.
Normally, he'd Shoulder Charge to smash them, but with a better option, why bother?
"Dash!"
The skeleton general, caught off-guard, couldn't summon soldiers or use its death aura despite the gap. Rokan closed in again before it had the chance.
"To impede a noble general of the empire—you dull-witted...!"
"Still yapping about your empire after all this time?"
If it hadn't fallen ages ago, Rokan wouldn't stand a chance. He smashed a heavy blow into the general's tale of smoking tiger cigars from the old days, then dropped into a low stance, shifting weight with quick steps.
"Shoulder Charge!"
Crack.
Ribs snapped amid a wail of anguish, and murderous light flared in its eyes. It sensed the crisis.
"No one can stop me!"
"Tch."
In that instant, the skeleton general's form blurred.
Spirit Form skill. As a second-class Necromancer, it activated momentary invincibility.
Rokan could only twiddle his thumbs. Following its path was an option, but he knew better than anyone it was futile.
"Come to me!"
It characteristically chained the skill with its remaining combo right after.
Answering the call was a Phantom Steed—a death horse of black spirit.
"Throwing!"
Rokan immediately backed off and hurled a hand axe. The general on the Phantom Steed wouldn't summon skeleton soldiers anymore.
Instead came terrifying charges leveraging the steed's mobility.
That's why Rokan flung hand axes with all his seasoned might—to force it to block and slow down.
"Hup!"
Boom!
The impact transmitted through the axe at collision was ferocious. Pure strength favored Rokan, but the mobility-boosted sword strike matched it.
"Tch."
The skeleton general wobbled on its mount but didn't fall. Instead, it retreated farther for a stronger charge.
'Use Berserk? Or trust crit chance and clash?'
Rokan's eyes grew conflicted watching it. Berserk was easiest—double power to yank it down and crush its skull.
But that would derail the plan. It'd avert the immediate crisis, but nothing more.
Snort, snort!
While he pondered, the Phantom Steed readied its charge.
The general trailed its whip sword long, poised to sever Rokan's head.
"Damn it, let's do this!"
Rokan couldn't just hesitate. He rooted his legs firmly and awaited the charge.
"Go!"
Neigh!
Rearing and slamming its forelegs signaled the Phantom Steed's horrifying charge. It closed a hundred or two hundred meters in a blink, flying toward him.
Then Rokan charged head-on. Slung with his battle magic-reinforced axe on his back, he lowered his stance and ran.
"Die!"
"Dash, Shoulder Charge!"
His eyes locked on the whip sword. The moment it whipped toward him, he timed a leap and rammed his iron shoulder into the Phantom Steed.
Thud!
Phantom Steeds were ghostly by nature—supposed to phase through. But with a rider, it solidified to maintain the mount.
That's what Rokan targeted. His shoulder crushed the steed's head on impact.
"Grk!"
It shaved off substantial HP, but it was more bearable than expected. A testament to Rokan's strength, stamina, and toughness.
"Kraa! No!"
The flung skeleton general fared no better. Its neck barely intact, it tumbled hard, and the Phantom Steed despawned.
"Gulp. Damn, won't die clean—making me work for it."
Rokan, meanwhile, popped an intermediate potion from his inventory and called it done. Users' edge over monsters? Potions.
"I'll kill you!"
The general rose roaring, but Rokan felt no fear. The pesky Phantom Steed was gone, and combo cooldowns were far off.
Now it was his time.
"Leap Attack!"
Same strategy as before. But the axe swings carried no restraint now.
Earlier, he'd held back against unknown combo timing. Now, full power with no worries.
[Critical!]
Three hits, one or two crits—the general's fine armor shredded, joints cracking.
"This can't be... the empire's revival...!"
[You have leveled up.]
Rokan pressed relentlessly, shattering key joints until the general crumbled.
[The Skeleton General is destroyed, revealing the Essence of Death.]
[Hurry! The Essence of Death holds the power to spawn death endlessly. Claim it quickly, or death will rise without end around you.]
From the wreckage rose a dark blue gem—the Essence of Death.
Claim it and return to complete the main scenario quest.
Delay, though, and elite skeleton soldiers began rising one by one. Weak compared to the general, but at 95-99, deadly after a tough boss fight.
"Perfect!"
To Rokan, they were prime prey. Undead dropped stingy items but generous EXP—a known fact. This infinite undead spawn was his ideal hunting ground.
No need to grab the Essence yet. He could anytime. Leaving it, he began his planned infinite farm.