Thoren and his skeletons had become a deadly grim reaper within the shadow cave.
With Ace Number 1 serving as the executor, every Shadow Cave Bear that crossed their path was slain with ease.
Thousands of meters below the surface, six skeletons pressed deeper into the wide, dark tunnel.
Fearless and relentless, behind them stood a young man with silver hair and deep blue eyes, serving as the commander.
"I should start seeing Level 6 and 7 beasts now," he muttered, his eyes flashing with anticipation.
He had long since lost count of how many Elite Level 5 beasts his skeletons had slain, along with numerous Level 4 beasts.
Now, among his undead army, Level 1 and Level 2 skeletons were becoming obsolete.
Only Level 3 and Level 4 skeletons could serve as infantry when he faced stronger enemies.
With many Level 4 skeletons and more than ten Level 5 cave bear skeletons, his confidence had shot through the roof.
Previously, his plan had been to become a Level 7 awakener before returning to town, but now he had changed his mind.
He was already Level 6 and halfway to Level 7. With the threat of the Slave Trade Guild hanging over his head, he dared relax yet.
With his current undead army, he knew he was still weak compared to his enemies. Thus, he could not afford complacency.
"Ahhh! Ahhhh!"
A soul-rending scream echoed from the distance, and he quickened his pace.
He barely walked a couple of feet when he heard hurried footsteps approaching.
"Huh! Huh!"
"What!" a voice shouted.
Two boys stopped a few feet from the skeletons; their faces etched with dread. Their heads were slick with perspiration, and they shuddered, panic gnawing at their flesh.
"We mean no harm… We're just trying to escape," one of them said in a trembling voice.
The skeletons moved to the side, and Thoren stepped forward. "What's going on?" he asked.
When the two boys saw him, their eyes widened in disbelief. They exchanged subtle glances and gripped their weapons tightly.
"There are many Level 6 beasts up ahead. We barely managed to escape with our lives," one of them replied.
"Oh, many Level 6 beasts," his eyes brightened as he began to walk toward the battle zone.
The sound of battle made his blood boil with excitement. To him, it was an experience that would make him stronger. How could he not love it?
Glancing back, the two boys stood frozen for a moment before one whispered, "He's the boy we discovered in the Scarlet Rock Canyon, right?"
"Yes. The useless prick who did not help us against the Rock-Tail Jackal."
"I never expected him to be a Necromancer… wait, how does he have so many skeletons?"
The duo was silent for a moment, unable to believe a person could command so many skeletons at once.
"That's none of our business. Let's go before it's too late."
With that, the two escaped with the greatest speed. They knew the horror of what lay ahead and did not want to encounter it again.
As for Thoren, he advanced confidently with his skeletons. Suddenly, he halted his track as he watched the deadly battle in the distance.
A girl was struggling helplessly against a massive beast. Compared to the beast, the girl looked like a toddler with a knife.
[Sandbone Scorpion]
[Level 6]
[Attributes: Strength 24, Constitution 15, Agility 12, Spirit 2]
[Trait: Bone Carapace – increases defense by 8%; Tail Strike causes Paralysis]
Thoren did not rush to help the girl. He watched the battle with a calm expression. He noticed a deep hole in her light leather armor with blood gushing out from it.
More importantly, her blood had turned bluish.
"She has been poisoned," he mused.
While Thoren was watching the girl, she had noticed him as well. She had already lost hope and prepared to die fighting the Sandbone Scorpion.
Even with Thoren's appearance, she did not believe he would come to her aid. Her heart filled with regret as she parried another deadly claw of the Sandbone Scorpion.
She stumbled backward, blood leaking from the corner of her lips. Her sword trembled as she found it difficult to hold.
"I know you…" Thoren muttered, a look of realization crossing his face.
She was the girl who had led her team against the Rock-Tail Jackals in the Scarlet Rock Canyon.
Her bravery and loyalty in helping her teammate during such an intense battle earned his respect.
But what he could not understand was why she was fighting alone. Where was her party member?
Although he did not like to meddle in other people's business, he did not want to see such a brave girl die so easily.
More importantly, he had already considered the Sandbone Scorpion as part of his undead army.
Without hesitation, he commanded his skeletons to attack. Ace Number 1 led the charge.
It activated its trait [Berserker Charge], increasing its strength.
Bang! Bang!
Fearlessly, Ace Number 1 struck the Sandbone Scorpion's massive leg while the other skeletons attacked its body.
The Sandbone Scorpion howled in pain and retreated, its glowing eyes fixed on Ace Number 1, and it struck with its powerful tail.
Bang!
Ace Number 1 was sent flying; several of its ribs shattered, only for it to rise fearlessly and charge back into the battle.
Seris stared, astonished, as she watched the six skeletons attack the Sandbone Scorpion. She turned her head and looked at the boy behind her in appreciation.
"You can rest. Leave the battle to me," Thoren declared confidently.
She opened her mouth to speak but froze. She saw him summoning three massive skeletons.
[Cave Bear Skeleton]
[Level 5]
The three cave bear skeletons rushed forward fearlessly and joined the battle.
Bang! Bang!
Stunned, the Sandbone Scorpion could not comprehend what was happening. In less than three seconds, its body was riddled with injuries.
It let out a soul-rending shriek and prepared to escape, but Thoren would not allow it to escape.
Ace Number 1 sprang to it solid carapace and plunged its sword into the Scorpion's eyes. It let out its last cry before it fell to the ground, dead.
Seris' jaw dropped. She was too stunned to speak.
"So many skeletons," she whispered.
With the battle over, Thoren was ready to turn the Sandbone Scorpion into an undead servant when he heard cries coming from ahead.
From the darkness, tens of Sandbone Scorpions appeared, crawling toward them with menace, their claws gleaming and their stings glinting in the dim light.
****
[AN: Please support this book with your power stones. It means a lot. Thanks.]