Chapter 52: Skeleton Golem

Blue Bone blocked the zombie samurai’s attack.

The team members, including Cha Jihye, widened their eyes at the sight.

But they weren’t relieved or anything.

While it was true that Blue Bone was strong, the zombie samurai had shown a strength on another level.

Whoosh!

The zombie samurai drew its sword back and swung again.

An incredibly fast and fierce sword strike.

Before Cha Jihye could even swallow dryly, the samurai’s odachi reached Blue Bone.

Clang!

But this time, Blue Bone blocked it so effortlessly.

It even went on the counterattack.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

The zombie samurai and Blue Bone clashed swords without rest.

Sword energy scattered under the gloomy sky.

And the surprising thing was.

It’s pushing it back!

As Cha Jihye saw, Blue Bone was pushing the zombie samurai back.

In fact, Cha Jihye boasted considerable swordsmanship.

Even if not in attack power, in terms of speed, she could be considered the strongest in the silver attack squads.

Yet even Cha Jihye couldn’t push back the zombie samurai.

But one Blue Bone was pushing the zombie samurai back.

And overwhelming it with the sword, no less.

It was a huge shock to Cha Jihye.

Screech!

A loud metallic sound rang out.

Soon, Cha Jihye and the team members could see.

The odachi the zombie samurai was holding was spinning through the air.

Blue Bone won…….

Yes.

Blue Bone had won the swordsmanship duel.

Clatter!

The odachi the zombie samurai held flew far away and lay there.

The sword was too far to pick up without getting its back slashed.

The fight was already over.

It was then.

Swish.

The zombie samurai in red armor spread its arms wide.

Seeing that, Cha Jihye and the team members were shocked.

They immediately understood what spreading both arms left and right meant.

No way, is it saying to cut it……?

Though it was a monster and communication didn’t work, they could tell right away.

It meant to cut it.

Since it lost the swordsmanship duel, just cut it.

Did monsters ever do this?

Even if it was a monster, because it was a samurai, was it acknowledging defeat?

It was just surprising to Cha Jihye and the team members.

At that moment.

Slash!

Blue Bone swung its bone sword diagonally.

An incredibly clean sword strike.

At the same time, blood sprayed diagonally from the zombie samurai’s body.

Thud.

The zombie samurai fell forward and never rose again.

Fine rain falling over the completely dead samurai.

Seeing that, Cha Jihye and the team members couldn’t say anything for a while.

“Is everyone okay?”

And the one who broke that silence was none other than Seo Juwon.

The necromancer and owner of Blue Bone, Seo Juwon.

“Ah, Hunter Seo Juwon. Thank you. We survived thanks to you…”

“Ha, Juwon-ah. We survived again thanks to you.”

“To defeat that monstrous zombie samurai. Oppa Juwon’s skeleton is really amazing.”

“Wow, is this what they call a ‘duel’? No, since no horses, not a mounted duel? Anyway, thanks, Seo Juwon. I thought I’d die because of the samurai, but survived thanks to you.”

“What the heck do your Blue Bones eat to be that strong?”

The team members exclaimed in admiration while looking at Seo Juwon and Blue Bone.

Of course, amidst that, some were tending to the fallen male team member.

“Thank you, seniors. But it seems too early to relax.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“Look ahead.”

At Seo Juwon’s words, Cha Jihye and all the team members turned their heads to look forward.

And they realized right away.

Dozens of zombie samurais were shambling toward them.

“W-what the heck. How many are there?”

“Crazy. Over 30? How do we handle all that?”

“One was already this hard, and over 30. Team Leader, what do we do?”

“The injured! Take care of the injured first!”

“Everyone, get it together! If we panic, we’ll be wiped out!”

The team members paled and spouted various words, and Cha Jihye tried to calm them down.

But no matter how much Cha Jihye shouted, the team members showed no sign of calming.

It was impossible to stay calm with over 30 terrifying zombie samurais approaching all at once.

It was then.

Whoosh!

Small somethings were scattered from behind the team members.

They were small bones, and the bones began changing form even before hitting the ground.

Clatter! Clatter!

The bones quickly grew into Blue Bones.

Over 100 Blue Bones, at that.

“Seniors, step back. I’ll handle those guys.”

Seo Juwon stepped forward and said.

Like a noble from Japan’s feudal era leading a massive army, Seo Juwon.

He wasn’t afraid of the zombie samurais at all.

Japanese-style gate.

There, zombie samurais kept popping out.

From alleys, from Japanese-style houses.

Even the lying corpses slowly rose and charged.

The initial 30 or so zombie samurais were laughably many.

Even so, I wasn’t afraid.

Because the blue skeleton army defeated the zombie samurais.

It wasn’t an exaggeration.

The skeleton soldiers really swung their bone swords and subdued the zombie samurais.

The skeleton mages also fired four-element magic, blowing away the zombie samurais before they could approach.

Of course, the few surviving zombie samurais approached and swung their swords, but Charged Bolt activated and electrocuted them.

Thus, the army of death I led advanced relentlessly like an invincible fleet.

“Huh? There’s something over there?”

“What is it? Is that the boss monster?”

“Black armor! What’s that on its face? Like an oni or something?”

“Everyone, be careful! You never know what might fly at us!”

At the team members’ words, everyone stopped.

I also stopped the skeleton army.

[Captain Samurai].

A samurai in black armor.

Above its head was written ‘Captain Samurai.’

It looks scary.

The Captain Samurai’s appearance was extraordinary.

Unlike the skinny zombie samurais, the Captain Samurai had a massive build.

Truly fitting for a captain.

What’s with that oni-like mask?

As the team members said, the Captain Samurai was wearing an oni-like mask.

Black armor, ornate helmet, and an oni-like mask.

It was truly a terrifying appearance.

Exuding immense intimidation just by existing.

It was then.

Shing!

The Captain Samurai slowly drew its sword.

Unlike the ordinary zombie samurais, a sword faintly imbued with blue sword energy.

That sword was pointed at us.

Step.

Looking at that sword, I naturally stepped forward.

Moreover, no team member, including Cha Jihye, stopped me.

Just clearing the way as if it were a general’s duel.

Go, skeletons. Cut off the enemy general’s head and bring it back.

On a day when the rain poured even harder.

I gave the order to the skeleton army.

Thud thud thud thud thud!

The blue-tinted army of death charged madly toward the Captain Samurai.

***  

To say the conclusion first, my skeleton army won.

But the battle was by no means easy.

The Captain Samurai.

Because it was incredibly strong.

The Captain Samurai was like in a musou game.

It fought really well against over 100 skeletons.

Deflecting, dodging countless bone swords, and toppling Blue Bones, it fought well.

The skeleton soldiers struggled with movements that made one wonder if it was really captain-level.

The skeleton mages fired four-element magic at it, but the Captain Samurai dodged them all with agile movements.

It even swung its odachi to unleash sword beams, counterattacking the distant skeleton mages.

Even so, the skeleton army like a blue wave continued the attack undeterred.

Thus, with bone swords and magic, Charged Bolt, stacked damage from Blood Demon’s Blade, and even Bone Explosion cast.

The Captain Samurai staggered and then thudded down.

Finally, the skeleton army’s combined attack had defeated the Captain Samurai.

Was it because we vanquished evil?

As soon as we defeated the Captain Samurai, the dark clouds slowly cleared, and warm sunlight shone down.

And as if celebrating the victory, the team members ran to me.

“Hunter Seo Juwon! Good work!”

“Juwon-ah! Good work! Ha, that was an amazing battle!”

“Thanks, Juwon-ah. As a senior, I should set an example, but I always owe you.”

“Juwon oppa is the best! Sucked honey again thanks to oppa! Thanks, oppa!”

“Juwon, you’re really amazing. I’m surprised every time, but this time even more.”

“Hahaha, Seo Juwon! You’re the best! Let’s go for the win in this Myth Festival!”

Team members including Cha Jihye surrounded me and praised me highly.

But my mind was a bit serious.

Swish.

I looked at the battlefield beyond the team members.

The Captain Samurai was down.

But so were many skeletons.

Blue bones scattered here and there around the Captain Samurai’s corpse.

Seeing the piled-up remains of the skeletons, I felt sorrow.

At this level, winning the Myth Festival will be hard.

Of course, it was true the Captain Samurai was strong.

But if it was this tough to win, I couldn’t guarantee victory in the Myth Festival.

Because the Myth Festival would have participants who could easily defeat something like the Captain Samurai.

While feeling seriousness about the uncertain victory.

[You have reached a certain level and acquired a new skill.]

[The name of the new skill is…….]

At the bottom of the system messages filling my view, there was a message about acquiring a new skill.

So many level-up messages popped up, and with team members crowding, I hadn’t noticed it.

Due to the experience.

As expected…….

With a pounding heart, I scrolled down the system messages.

What could it be.

What skill came out.

It had to be a skill strong enough to win the Myth Festival.

With such anxious anticipation, the moment I checked the new skill’s name.

“Huh?”

I was startled.

The reason I was so surprised was simple.

The name of the newly acquired skill.

[‘Skeleton Golem.’]

Was none other than ‘Skeleton Golem.’

Wait a minute.

Skeleton Golem?

Does that mean a golem made of bones?

I was shocked at the skill name I’d never heard before.

With this..

Why.

Looking at the skill name, I felt an inexplicable hope.

With this.

The thought that using the Skeleton Golem skill might yield good results in the Myth Festival. 

Yeah, let’s give it a try.

Was it because I acquired the Skeleton Golem skill.

I gained an inexplicable courage.

The Skeleton Golem skill with the EX grade tag again.

With this, I could definitely make a go in the Myth Festival.