Chapter 43: Commanding the Dead

Click! Click! Clatter!

After several rounds of instructions, ten Skeleton Soldiers stood in a straight line.

The last one, who had been clacking its teeth, creaked into its designated spot.

〔Skeleton Soldier (No. 1)〕

〔Skeleton Soldier (No. 2)〕

〔Skeleton Soldier (No. 3)〕

……

Their total stats barely added up to 15.

The only skills they possessed were Rattle and Dislocate.

And their so-called Bone Bomb skill only looked flashy—it was practically useless, no better than a trainee’s weak trick.

Frankly, they seemed so insignificant it was as if they were meant to be used as disposable bombs.

“You understand, right?”

“Yes… Captain……!”

For the best result, everyone had to play their part—myself included.

Hoping that they’d complete their mission safely, I patted the soldier on the shoulder.

Then, suddenly…….

[You appoint Skeleton Soldier (No. 1) as 'Platoon Leader Trainee'!]

‘?!’

The trainee had been promoted.

To ‘Platoon Leader’ trainee.

〔Skeleton Soldier (No. 1)〕

- Affiliation: Lee Eunho (Temporary) Guard 1st Platoon

- Rank: Platoon Leader Trainee

……

- Appointed as Platoon Leader by Commander 'Lee Eunho.' Seems proud.

Huh?

“Platoon Leader…… will do my best……!”

Click! Click! Click!

Skeleton Soldier No. 1 clacked his teeth vigorously.

The other nine, suddenly part of the 1st Platoon, bowed their heads.

Well….

Whether a trainee or a platoon leader, what needed to be done now didn’t change.

Step. Step. Step.

I led them a few meters forward.

To where the enemy’s camp began—right at the edge of the lawn.

【‘Administration Bureau Crow’ asks why you’re splitting your forces.】

【‘Investigation Bureau Prince’ suggests it would be better to just charge in all at once.】

The observers all started chipping in with their unsolicited advice.

It was understandable—anyone could see I was at a huge disadvantage.

【‘Administration Bureau Ferryman’ complains that the mission conditions are unfair from the start.】

【They ask how you’re supposed to get the flag when the enemy’s blocked off every approach.】

The enemy just had to defend the flag that had spawned right in the center of their camp.

My mission was to break through their solid defensive formation.

On top of that, this was an open field—no ranged weapons, which would have been essential in a siege or capture battle.

It was a barren wasteland in every sense.

A situation that seemed truly hopeless……

“Summon.”

A handicap was just a handicap.

No way was I going to lose to a bunch of brainless bones in terms of strategy.

[Would you like to activate the ‘Beacon of the Capital Signal Fire (京烽燧)’?]

[Choose between Beacon Fire (烽火) or Beacon Smoke (烽煙)!]

“Beacon Smoke (烽煙)!”

The two syllables that escaped my lips touched the beacon.

In response, the beacon’s angular body let out a low hum, and the head—woven like a net with straw—began to glow red.

Ssssssshhhk-!

Soon, thick, pungent smoke billowed forth.

One wisp, two, three.

Like cigarette smoke, slender tendrils twisted and mingled, gathering momentum.

【‘Administration Bureau Ferryman’ asks why you suddenly brought out a beacon.】

【‘Investigation Bureau Prince’ is curious about Lee Eunho’s intention in wielding a mere beacon in this situation.】

Even without fire, the beacon pumped out plenty of acrid smoke.

Unlike me, who was more than satisfied, the observers looked utterly unconvinced.

Fair enough.

“It’s not just any beacon. And that’s not ordinary smoke.”

Of course they didn’t know.

They weren’t of this world.

Whooooosh—!

“The wind’s blowing, isn’t it?”

Neither the direction nor the strength of the wind blowing toward the enemy, nor how each blade of grass rustled underfoot, could be felt by them.

Nothing here was real to them.

Ssssssssssh!

I could feel the wind blowing.

It wasn’t strong enough to push me, but plenty strong to spread smoke without fire.

Step. Step. Step.

After confirming the rustling grass with my fingertips, I pressed the beacon’s head to the ground.

Crackle! Crackle!

The grass glowed red as it crackled.

Using the green field as tinder, smoke rose without a single spark.

Whoooooooosh—!

The moment the beacon’s power manifested,

the pale smoke spread like wildfire.

“!!”

The smoke, spreading rapidly over the grass without flames, rose high into the sky—blinding everyone.

“F-fire?!”

“Where is it?!”

A Blackbone on guard at the front alerted the others. The enemy commander immediately shouted.

All they could do was frantically brandish their swords, looking around in confusion.

Break through the enemy’s weak points and collapse their formation.

A simple story.

- Sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch are all slightly dulled.

With their barely-functioning eyes, they couldn’t see a thing. They must be frustrated.

Even I, who had crept this close, could barely make out their movements.

【‘Investigation Bureau Prince’ is dumbfounded that you used the empty field as fuel.】

【‘Administration Bureau Crow’ smacks their forehead at Lee Eunho’s resourcefulness, creating something from nothing!】

【‘Administration Bureau Ferryman’ snorts that they’ll have to redefine what ‘disadvantage’ means for Lee Eunho.】

All this… was nothing.

“C-can’t… see anything…!”

“What do we do…?!”

“Don’t panic! Maintain formation!”

As the smoke spread, so did the enemy’s confusion.

At the same time, my own side’s excitement soared.

[The Skeleton Soldier squad burns with determination at the commander’s ingenious strategy!]

[Current Loyalty: 55%]

Crack! Rattle! Creak—!

The noise pollution created by hundreds, thousands of rattling bones.

I lifted the beacon, still emitting smoke, high above my head.

Facing the bone-white soldiers who watched the panicked enemy with pride.

And then.

Gasp!

As I inhaled deeply……

Wooooong—!

The soldiers’ noise faded.

As if an invisible curtain had fallen over everything.

And over it all—

“Attention, everyone!”

My voice rang out like a gunshot.

Flinch!

It pierced the ears of each and every one of the hundred Skeleton Soldiers.

[Transmission is enhanced under the influence of the Beacon (烽燧).]

“!!”

Silence.

A thin, brittle silence settled overhead.

They hadn’t actually stopped rattling.

My words, carried by the beacon, had simply pierced their bones.

[The Skeleton Soldier squad is ready to accept the commander’s orders!]

[Current Loyalty: 60%]

[Collecting data necessary to unlock skill.]

One hundred skeletons locked their empty gazes on me.

Jawbones clicking open and shut as they waited in silence.

If they’d had ears, I imagined they’d be standing straight up by now.

So I shouted,

“First Platoon will act as scouts! Follow me and break through the rear!”

Louder and firmer.

I strained my voice until veins bulged in my neck.

“The rest, hold your position! At my signal, charge straight ahead!”

Click! Click! Clatter—! Crack!

The soldiers responded with fierce teeth-clacking.

[Systematic command increases Skeleton Soldiers’ loyalty!]

[Current Loyalty: 65%]

One last thing before we begin.

[If you fail to capture the ‘flag’ by mission’s end, you will be deleted. Mission rewards are calculated by the number of surviving soldiers.]

“Remember this!”

They needed to know.

“Your lives take priority!”

I had to survive, but so did they.

Only then could I rake in the ‘rewards.’

“I don’t want any of you to sacrifice yourselves! Understand?!”

“Yes…! Uoooooooh—!”

“Urghghghk—!”

[The commander’s order resonates in the ribs of the Skeleton Soldier squad!]

[Current Loyalty: 70%]

[Collecting data necessary to unlock skill.]

“Charge!”

* * *

Crack!

Skeleton Soldier No. 1 yanked out a rib.

“I’ll pull out all my arms and legs for you…….”

“That’s enough.”

“But… Platoon Leader…….”

“I said that’s enough.”

Despite my refusal, he kept pushing.

Was it because he’d come back from the dead and was supposedly ‘desensitized to pain and fear of destruction’?

Maybe he just didn’t grasp the idea of sacrificing his own bones.

“If you insist… let’s just use your pinky finger.”

“Yes……!”

“Only one side.”

“Yes…….”

Thanks to this ever-giving skeleton, preparations were complete.

We’d reached the objective.

Now—

“We’re going in.”

Clatter—!

The tension in the bony fingers gripping their swords, the air leaking from their empty eye sockets.

When I raised my sword into the taut air,

“Ghk…!”

“I-I can’t see…!”

The enemy, blinded by smoke, creaked and fumbled about.

Leading the squad, I made my move for the rear.

[‘Pathfinder’ title effect activates!]

Finally, the buff I’d been waiting for.

[Followers: 100]

[Movement speed increases by 10%.]

[Defense increases by 10.]

A spring breeze for a hundred—wrapping my legs and sword arm, pushing me gently forward.

“T-the enemy…!”

“Where?!”

I stared at the foe in front of me.

Despite their confusion, the Blackbone soldiers maintained a tight formation.

Now was the time.

Before they sensed me, or even felt the aura of my blade pointed at them.

— Dash!

I kicked off the ground and charged the blinded enemy, aiming to carve a gap through their ranks.

The skeletal scouts following behind had already spread out.

I swung my sword unhesitatingly at the enemy’s neck.

Crunch!

The slender blade struck bone.

For a moment, I felt the hard surface.

But once the blade was in, everything happened in an instant—the cross-section of the neck bone sliced clean as a highway.

“Uwaaaaaah!”

Thud! Thud! Roll!

The black skull hit the ground.

It should have rolled further, but the severed neck bone was still half attached beneath it.

“My body! Where’s my body!!”

The head, stuck like a golf ball in the dirt, shrieked in terror.

“One blow isn’t enough, huh.”

Sorry, but let’s do it again.

I raised my sword.

No, aimed it at the neck—it was more accurate to say.

The already decapitated head was rolling by my feet, after all.

Anyway—

Thwack—!

I slashed downward, then across, splitting the heap of bones in two.

With a crash, the black pile of bones collapsed.

[You have defeated Skeleton Soldier (Lv.1)!]

[You receive 50 Welfare Points!]

“You filthy…!”

“You, a living being…!”

The head stuck in the ground fell silent.

But the nearby skeletons rushed at me, screaming.

“Where are you…?!”

“Where?!”

Skeleton soldiers windmilled their arms, trying to clear the smoke.

‘Admirable effort, but—’

Moving to the side, I saw their profiles.

They flailed their bare-boned arms, desperate to find me.

‘I can’t give up my hard-earned advantage just yet.’

Swish!

I gripped the lower part of my sword handle for the widest swing possible.

Then, in one motion, swung down.

Slash—! Thunk! Crack!

Their arms were cut off just below the shoulders.

Four arms buried in the dirt.

Twenty skeletal fingers still twitching on the ground.

“Aaaaaargh!”

And then the slaughter continued.

One kill became two, two became four charging me.

When that didn’t work, they abandoned formation and attacked from every direction.

[You have defeated Skeleton Soldier (Lv.1)!]

[You receive 50 Welfare Points!]

[You have defeated Skeleton Soldier (Lv.1)!]

[You receive 50 Welfare Points!]

……

Walking through the blinded enemy felt oddly familiar.

Maybe it was the movement buff—it was like fighting with a speed skill, as if time had slowed for me.

It almost felt like dancing.

Not that I’d ever danced before, but if I had, maybe it would feel like this.

“C-Captain! The enemy’s too strong…!”

“We can’t win…….”

Thunk—!

Like a dying message, a skeleton called out to their captain and shut their eyes.

Oh, wait—they never had eyes.

The dim glow where their eyes should have been faded.

‘They should be arriving any moment now.’

A 2-meter giant. Just looking at the thick bones, you could tell the Blackbone leader was in a different league.

He must have realized things were bad here.

I’d broken through the rear and reached the center—right where the flag was fluttering.

If that’s the case—

“No. 1! Signal them!”

I shouted to the nearby scout—now Platoon Leader Trainee, No. 1—who still clutched the pinky finger he’d torn off and had been waiting for my command.

“Yes…!”

Amidst the rattling noise, a faint reply reached me.

Then, moments later—

— Whistle!

A white bone fragment flew into the air.

Up, higher, breaking through the smoke.

I’d told him to throw it as high as possible—enough to almost dislocate his shoulder. And he did.

At the very apex of its arc—

“Now!”

[Skeleton Soldier (No. 1) uses ‘Bone Bomb (Lv.1)’ skill!]

With a system message confirming his perfect timing—

— Boom!

The bone burst in the sky, like a firework.

And finally—

Flash!

I lifted the summoned beacon high above my head and shouted,

“All troops! Charge!”

[Beacon (烽燧) effect increases transmission!]

[The Skeleton Soldier squad charges, their foot bones splintering!]

“Uwooooooooh!”

“Let’s go!!!”

— CLAAAAAAAATTER!

The distant roar resonated through my body.

As the smoke began to fade, ninety Skeleton Soldiers charged, kicking up clouds of dust—so strong it reached even here.

“Wh-what do we do…?!”

“Captain…!!!”

Now it was the Blackbones scratching their skulls.

A monstrous enemy swinging his sword in front, a horde of enemy troops charging from behind.

Even without a system message, I could tell their morale had plummeted.

Crack!

Taking advantage of the chaos, I quickly plunged into the center.

Toward the flag.

“Captain……!”

The white scouts arrived nearly at the same time as me.

Except for a few scratches, they were unharmed. They’d likely sprinted while avoiding battle as much as possible.

I’d drilled it into them so many times, it must’ve stuck.

Flutter—!

The flag, attached to a pole just thinner than a utility post, waved in the air.

As I approached, a helmeted giant appeared among the Blackbones.

‘That’s him.’

He abandoned the front line and ran.

“I-I’ll stop them…!”

“Aaaaagh!”

Thanks to that, I saw the Blackbones in disarray, their formation collapsing. But the leader didn’t care.

He only had eyes for the flag and me.

“Pull the flag! Retreat!”

“Uwooooh…!”

“You worms! Hurry up!”

The leader’s lash of a command was useless.

Because—

“W-what is this….”

“It’s too heavy….”

Skeleton Soldiers had zero strength.

For regular Skeleton Soldiers, there was no way to uproot a steel pole as tall as a building.

“You look like you’re struggling. Want some help?”

“Shut up! How dare you!”

Half joking, half serious, I asked. The leader exploded in fury, blue light flaring in his eyes.

“Filthy living thing…!”

“Why are you so angry?”

I muttered anything that came to mind, measuring the timing.

The moment to snatch the flag and use my speed skill to escape.

And then—

“How dare you… Guh!”

I dodged the giant’s lightning-fast charge.

The leader crashed into a Blackbone soldier behind me.

Crash!

The Blackbone couldn’t withstand the impact, crumbling and collapsing.

As the leader staggered—

“My turn, right?”

Crunch—!

I drove my blade into the back of his neck.

With a sound like breaking rock, the blade barely pierced through.

When the sword finally emerged from the other side—

“Aaaaagh!”

I twisted and withdrew the blade.

And just as I was about to stab again—

“You fools!! Set them off!!”

— Thunk!

A bone fragment the size of a forearm fell at my feet.

Jet black—it was definitely from the enemy.

— Wooooong—!

The Blackbone fragment on the dirt vibrated as if responding to something.

— Clack! Clack!

The black bone swelled, and light burst from its holes.

[Enemy Skeleton Soldier activates ‘Bone Bomb’ skill!]

It looked terrifying. Or, at least, it tried to.

— KABOOM!

“I already accounted for that.”

[High defense negates the impact!]

Currently, my ‘Pathfinder’ title gives me a 10-point defense buff.

Add the Shell Breastplate and Wooden Shield, and that’s a total of 30.

Blasting a rib or two wouldn’t even leave a scratch.

“More! Set off more!”

[Enemy Skeleton Soldier activates ‘Bone Bomb’ skill!]

“Told you, it doesn’t work.”

KABOOM—!

[High defense negates the impact!]

KABOOM—!

[High defense negates the impact!]

[‘Shell Breastplate’ absorbs part of the impact!]

[‘Wooden Shield’ blocks the shock!]

……

“You don’t believe me, huh.”

Slice—!

Even with a hole in his neck, the leader wouldn’t shut up—so I lopped his head off.

And then—

Swoooooosh—!

I sent a blade wind flying and cut down the flagpole—taking out the surrounding Skeleton Soldiers as well.

Right now, the flag was the only thing that mattered—not them.

“H-huh?!”

I grabbed the flagpole as it toppled.

The cold metal pressed into my palm.

[The flag is infused with the energy of White (白)!]

— Fwaash!

Light erupted where I touched, climbing up the long pole.

As it reached the fluttering flag above—

[You have obtained the ‘Flag of Victory’!]

The jet-black flag slowly changed.

To pure, snow-white.

“It’s done! Let’s get out of here!”