"What the hell kind of magic was that? The Dullahan vanished after being hit by a dagger!"
Duke Roper stared at the castle gate where the Dullahan had melted away, his face stunned.
"That wasn't magic. There was no mana movement…"
"It wasn't holy power either. I have no idea what just happened."
The mages and priests assigned to us also stared blankly at the dagger spinning on my finger.
"Hmm."
I acted calm and composed, but I was shocked too—I had just used Evolved Hwagol Mountain for the first time.
As expected, it was so broken it could slap holy water across the face.
"Duke, the sun is rising. It's time to issue the attack order."
"Mm. Then I'll leave the east gate to you. Let's talk later."
"Understood."
Even as Duke Roper descended the wall, he kept glancing back at me. He seemed extremely curious about my ability.
Clang!
"Begin the attack!"
As the sun slowly peeked over the mountains, Duke Roper drew his sword and roared so loudly the mountains shook.
"Uwaaaaaah!"
"Uaaaaah!"
At the Duke's voice, knights and soldiers at every gate thrust their swords skyward and shouted.
"Start."
"Yes."
"Understood."
Uuuung—
At my command, the priest knelt and prayed. A sparkling net of holy light formed above the undead pounding the wall.
"Fire Explosion!"
The mage chanted beside the priest and hurled a blazing sun-like orb of flame at the holy net.
Kwaaaaaang!
Kukukukung!
The holy-power-coated flame ball instantly annihilated dozens of undead blocking the gate.
It was an effective tactic using the brief moment when magic and holy power merged.
"Open the gate!"
Kugugugung—
Stone dust fell as the east gate began to open. Looking around, other gates were opening too, with knights pouring out.
Before jumping down from the wall, I glanced at Duke Roper. He looked toward the north gate, met my eyes, and nodded.
It meant "I'm counting on you." I nodded back and leaped straight down below the gate.
"Charge!"
"Uwaaaaaah!"
"Uaaaaah!"
At my command, the waiting knights and soldiers roared and rushed forward.
"Uwaaaah!"
"Let's go!"
"Filthy undead bastards!"
Pusak!
Pasak!
Most undead in front of the gate were already dead, but many still clung to the walls. Since most were the weakest zombies, the soldiers handled them without difficulty.
"Kieeeek!"
But the ghoul in front of me was a completely different monster from zombies, aside from appearance.
[Creator's Eye has activated.]
[Ghoul]
An undead monster that looks similar to a zombie but is fundamentally different. It possesses attack and movement speed superior to regular soldiers. Its skin is as hard as tree bark. Its teeth and claws carry corpse poison containing the curse of the dead.
Skills: Skin Reinforcement (Support), Corpse Poison (Special)
"Kiaaak!"
The ghoul slashed its claws at my face. I lightly dodged, grabbed its arm, and used Poison Absorption.
[Poison Absorption has absorbed Corpse Poison from the target.]
[Poison Absorption assists the operation of Ten Thousand Poison Immunity Technique.]
[Proficiency of Poison Absorption has increased.]
[Achievement of Ten Thousand Poison Immunity Technique has increased.]
[Reverse Blood Cry has been unlocked.]
It was worth coming here.
Poison Absorption could even extract poison from a corpse-like ghoul. In an instant, the ghoul's corpse poison turned into my internal energy, and a new poison was unlocked.
"I came all this way, so I should profit a bit. But Reverse Blood Cry? The name already gives me chills."
"Kieeeek!"
Thud!
The ghoul, unaware of what had been taken, lunged at my neck with flesh-covered teeth. All I gave it was a dagger loaded with plenty of Evolved Hwagol Mountain.
"Kigi…"
"It can't even move."
The ghoul with the dagger embedded trembled violently, unable to move, then melted and vanished in seconds.
"So it causes paralysis."
Undead hit by a weapon coated with Evolved Hwagol Mountain couldn't move at all. Come to think of it, the Dullahan had also stopped moving after the dagger hit its head.
"Seriously, this is so broken I can't even speak."
"Uaaaaah!"
"Die!"
I left the zombies to the knights and soldiers and focused only on ghouls.
Removing dangerous ghouls for the soldiers while absorbing poison was killing two birds with one stone.
"Young master. We've cleared all undead in the area."
"Our side is finished too."
"Well done."
After killing the last ghoul and marveling at Evolved Hwagol Mountain's power, Knight Commander Kiron of Count Reben's forces and Karox approached.
"Any injured?"
"Some soldiers were hit by ghoul claws."
I had told the soldiers not to engage ghouls and leave them to knights, but they must have attacked thinking they were zombies.
"Where are the injured?"
"Over there."
I went to the soldiers hit by ghoul claws. Unlike zombie poison, ghoul poison could kill if left untreated, so it needed quick neutralization.
"Ugh!"
"Ughh!"
The wounds were quite deep; the soldiers' faces were gradually turning black.
Uuuung—
I used Poison Absorption to draw out all the poison tormenting them.
"W-what…"
"The pain disappeared instantly."
"Huk!"
The priest who had been kneeling nearby to use holy power gaped at me in shock.
"The poison is gone, but the wounds remain. Rest in the barracks."
"Thank you!"
"Thank you, young master!"
"Priest, let's go."
"Ah, yes…"
The priest followed me with a dazed face. After leaving the injured barracks, we returned to Kiron and Karox.
"The Duke asked us to cross the forest before noon. We should reorganize briefly then depart immediately."
"Understood. 10 minutes to reorganize!"
"10 minutes reorganization, then we move out!"
After 10 minutes, we entered the dark forest while maintaining vigilance.
"Kueeek!"
"Kieek!"
As soon as we entered, zombies scattered throughout the forest began swarming.
"Prepare for battle!"
"Yes!"
Zombies were opponents soldiers could handle, so I shifted my focus and expanded my senses wider. Something different from zombies was approaching.
"Ghouls on the left!"
"Damn! Fall back!"
"Uaaaak!"
While everyone's attention was on the zombies, five ghouls hiding behind a large tree on the left rear charged at the soldiers.
Shuuuk!
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
"Kigii…"
"Kiik!"
The five ghouls hit by daggers coated with Evolved Hwagol Mountain froze mid-charge, unable to use their sharp teeth and claws.
"I-it stopped."
"We're saved!"
"What the hell is happening?"
While the knights and soldiers panicked in shock, I used footwork to rush to the ghouls at high speed.
Clang!
"Ugh, what a waste."
Even with Evolved Hwagol Mountain's insane ability, there was a downside. It melted too fast—I only managed to absorb poison from 3 out of 5 ghouls.
"U-um, Sir Yuren."
"Yes?"
The mage who couldn't take his eyes off me spoke up.
"That's not holy power or magic, right?"
"Of course not."
"Then… that dagger…"
"It's a secret."
I smiled and walked past the mage, who was burning with intense curiosity. He couldn't tear his eyes from the daggers at my waist.
"Aaah…"
He probably wanted to study my power desperately. But with corpses vanishing, what could he do? The mage stared hollowly at where the ghouls had melted.
"S-shall we continue?"
"Yes."
Knight Commander Kiron glanced nervously at me and stepped forward.
"Kigigik!"
"Right side—skeleton soldiers!"
"Prepare for battle!"
The skeleton soldiers, filled with deep grudge against the living, charged at us.
"Skeletons, huh…"
All undead I had met so far had flesh. Wondering how to deal with bones, I threw a dagger intending to embed it in a skeleton soldier's rib.
Shuuuk!
Kagak!
The dagger's power was too strong—it pierced through the skeleton's ribs and flew away.
"Kigik…"
Yet even a glancing blow worked. The skeleton soldier's movement stopped, and soon its bones began melting.
"It works on them too…"
"Death even from a graze"—this was exactly when that phrase applied. Against undead, Evolved Hwagol Mountain had dragon breath-level power.
We broke through the forest while clearing minor undead. After about two hours, bright light appeared ahead—the forest was ending.
"The forest is over. Now… Huk!"
While thinking about what came next, a soldier groaned.
"Kihihihihi!"
"Kyahahyahya!"
"S-specters!"
The moment we exited the forest, over ten specters were flying in the sky.
"Of all things! Those bastards!"
"Huu, this won't be easy."
[Creator's Eye has activated.]
[Specter]
An undead monster that flies through the air and passes through walls. It usually ignores most physical attacks but is weak to aura and holy power, and has strong resistance to magic.
Skills: Magic Defense (Support), Mental Domination (Magic)
In other words, only aura and holy power could harm them now.
"Mage, Priest."
"Ugh, specters have strong magic resistance. I won't be of help."
"Then I'll cast blessings and bind them with holy pow—"
Shuaang!
While they were discussing, I infused a dagger with internal energy and poison and hurled it at a specter.
"Kiaaak!"
Internal energy worked on specters too. A hole appeared in its transparent body, and thanks to Evolved Hwagol Mountain, its movement stopped.
"Ki…"
After 4.5 seconds, the specter vanished into thin air like cigarette smoke.
"What the hell is that dagger…"
"Impossible…"
The priest and mage who saw the specter disappear looked utterly horrified.
"I'll handle these flies."
One dagger per specter—like a formula. With twelve daggers, I vaporized all twelve specters that had been mocking us.
Killing any monster in one hit felt like using a cheat in a game. There was zero tension.
"Undead Killer…"
Someone behind me muttered as if in a trance. I had a feeling a new title would stick to me after this battle.
"Well, anyway. We reached the First Defensive Wall first."
"Yes. The Duke said to wait, but…"
"Then we'll wait here."
We stood guard near the open gate of the First Defensive Wall.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud!
"W-what is that?"
Heavy footsteps vibrating the ground came from inside the wall.
"Kuaaaaaah!"
The creature was over 4 meters tall with green skin, holding a massive club that could smash a house in one swing.
"O-ogre!"
"It's an ogre!"
"No, that's…"
It was an ogre, but not normal. Its flesh was torn away, exposing white bones, and its eyes burned red.
"Krrrr!"
The most chilling part was the dark aura surrounding it.
"Dark Resurrection! As expected, the mastermind behind this was a warlock!"
The priest shouted to everyone upon seeing the undead ogre.
Dark Resurrection was black magic that revived the dead in their living form. The stronger the being was in life, the stronger it became after resurrection.
"Hah, foolish bastard. He poured power into Dark Resurrection."
I sighed at the culprit's stupidity.
As expected, the story had changed with time, but instead of becoming harder, it had become much easier to solve.
"Kuaaaaaah!"
"Uaaaak!"
"It's coming!"
The ogre spotted us and charged madly. Its speed looked twice as fast as a normal ogre's.
Shwoong!
I threw a dagger at the ogre. As if ordered, the ogre tried to block with its huge club—but that was within expectations.
Shuuk!
"Kurruk!"
Because I had thrown it in an arc, the dagger easily bypassed the club and embedded in the ogre's leg. The moment it hit, the ogre's movement stopped.
"Kuaak!"
"E-eh…"
"It's coming!"
"Dodge!"
The charging ogre tumbled forward from momentum and rolled right in front of us. It trembled violently, then melted away like spring snow, its massive body disappearing without a trace.
"My god…"
"Oh my…"
"The ogre vanished."
This stunned exclamation didn't come from the people around me.
I turned around. Duke Roper, Kyle, and knights from the other side stared at me with blank faces.
"You've all arrived. Let's head in."