[Ding! Constitution +1][New Skill Acquired: Water Magic Lv.1][New Evolution Path Unlocked: Lesser Ocean Skeleton][Lesser Ocean Skeleton] — A skeleton born of the sea, capable of manipulating the flow of water.
It feels good to be alive.
Lucia's expression shifted from anticipation to disappointment as she watched Li Xiuman lie motionless on the ground.With a hint of irritation, she kicked him once and snapped, "Next!"
Li Xiuman slowly rose and began to wander aimlessly, though in truth, he was quietly gloating—watching the new batch of "colleagues" (and potential skill libraries) perish in ever more creative ways.He had to admit, observing the demise of others from a safe distance was… oddly entertaining.
Damn, I've really turned into a pervert, he thought.
Not long ago, he'd been a newly-turned skeleton, terrified to even step outside the bone den.Now, look at him—smirking as others met their end.Is this what they call corruption?
When yet another batch of comrades fell, even the succubi began to look at him strangely.Soon, he no longer had to sneak up to them—they came to him.
They crowded around, touching his bones for luck, murmuring prayers:"Bless me, Lucky Skeleton, so I may ascend to a High Succubus.""Bless me, Lucky Skeleton, that I may charm a cute boy next time.""Bless me, Lucky Skeleton, ten pulls, double gold!"
Well… that last one, he actually agreed with.
Damn superstition, he sighed inwardly.
Their constant pestering slowed his grinding progress; it wasn't until Lucia returned that he barely managed to reach Level 6, earning a precious free attribute point.His Constitution had climbed to 11, enough for evolution—but his Strength remained at 5, a glaring imbalance.
This round was clearly the Earth attribute experiment.His preparations were complete: [Earth Resistance], [Toughness], [Hard Bone], and [Regeneration].
Once again, Lucia singled him out from the pile of skeletons.She raised her hand and uttered a single word—"Degrade."
This was the bane of all skeletons—a spell that corroded bone into dust.For a species that naturally carried the [Bone Degradation] debuff, it was a fatal weakness.
But with 11 points in Constitution and [Earth Resistance], Li Xiuman endured it calmly.
Then came the earth crystal—pigeon-egg sized.In an instant, ochre flames engulfed him, layers of bone crumbling away into soil.He felt as though he had returned to the earth—one with the land, a corpse sinking into eternal rest.
His body decayed.His consciousness began to blur.
How dangerous, he thought quietly.Had this happened earlier, before his growth, he would have been finished.But now, such crystals could no longer harm him.He didn't even need to invest more points into Constitution—his defenses were overwhelming.
He was no longer a fragile skeleton.He was a tank.
[Ding! Constitution +1][New Skill Acquired: Earth Magic Lv.1][New Evolution Path Unlocked: Lesser Earth Skeleton][Lesser Earth Skeleton] — Born of the soil, possessing bones as hard as rock and mastery over stone and earth. Level cap: 25.
Brushing off the dirt, Li Xiuman ignored Lucia's disappointed stare and drifted away.What a generous demon, he mused—handing him an entire set of elemental spells.Truly, his angel investor on the road to freedom.
He would be sure to let her die painlessly one day.
Though the results favored him, there was no doubt—she had been trying to kill him from the start.
One by one, the fourth batch of skeletons perished, until only Li Xiuman remained—the lone survivor of all four experiments.At last, Lucia released him.
To his own surprise, he felt a twinge of reluctance.After all, he had yet to obtain Wind Magic—the one element missing from his collection.
Before he left, the succubi plucked several of his finger bones as keepsakes.Each took one, claiming "Lucky Skeleton Bones" would bring fortune.
Under the supervision of Headmistress Lucia Pond, Li Xiuman, the graduate of the Succubus Academy, stepped out with newfound confidence.Now, he was certain he could crush his mindless kin with ease.
He equipped himself meticulously:[Swiftness Lv.1] on his right leg, [Stealth Step Lv.1] on his left, [Swordsmanship Lv.1] on his right arm, [Might Lv.1] on his left.
Especially that right arm—bearing the rare [Swordsmanship] skill.Among all of Pond's lesser skeletons, he had only ever seen one with it.
Upon gaining it, a new evolution path appeared:
[Lesser Skeleton Swordsman] — A skeleton that wields the blade and masters sword techniques. A dangerous foe among the undead. Level cap: 20.[Swordsman] — A warrior class capable of learning powerful sword arts.
Now, among low-tier skeletons, he could walk sideways—untouchable.
Patience. Power. Timing.He never forgot these three tenets.
The right moment was drawing near.In less than twenty days, a crusading force would come for Pond.Within that time, Li Xiuman would lie low, grow stronger, and seize his chance.
A week of quiet hunting raised him to Level 7.Since this was Pond's territory, and now patrolled by sentient succubi, he dared not overhunt—two or three skeletons a night, no more.
Tonight's target: a Level 10 skeleton, the pinnacle of the low-tier.Beyond that lay the middle ranks.
He had slain many at this level.His method was art itself: bone claws around the neck, earth magic to weaken the spine, then snap—Water magic to flood the skull and snuff the soul flame.Fire magic to scatter the ashes.
A flawless, fluid performance.If there were judges, they would raise a perfect scorecard without hesitation.
[Ding! Low-tier Skeleton defeated. +100 EXP]He was one step closer to Level 8.
Activating [Stealth Step], Li Xiuman began searching for his next prey.Fortune smiled upon him; it didn't take long to find another lone skeleton.Perhaps tonight he'd set a new record.
Carefully, he crept through the sparsely populated area.Another solitary skeleton appeared—lucky indeed.
He moved in silently.No need to wait for the target to rest—he could kill cleanly now, without a sound.
He advanced under [Stealth Step], the bones at his fingertips elongating into razor-sharp claws.With a burst of [Might], he struck the back of the skull.
The soul flame in the creature's eyes flickered violently—its status showed Stunned.
Before it could fall, Li Xiuman lunged, burying his claws into its eye sockets.
"Burn."
Ghostly blue fire erupted, consuming the skull from within, devouring its soul flame.
[Ding! Low-tier Skeleton defeated. +90 EXP]
The kill was nearly silent.He lowered the body gently, preparing to use Earth Magic to sink it into the ground—
—but at that moment, a small figure descended from the sky.
Black bat wings.Goat-like horns.A slender tail covered in fine, glimmering scales.
A succubus.
[Name]: Triss Lucia Pond Hute[Race]: Lesser Demon[Level]: 14/20[Class]: Shadow Mage[Description]: An assassin-mage of the night, wielder of darkness and shadow. You do not want her attention—once she marks you, no night will ever be safe again.
"It's you," the succubus hissed.
Li Xiuman didn't hesitate.He charged forward, one of his ribs twisting and reshaping into a blade.Gripping it tightly, he tore it free and struck at her.
"You… you have intelligence!" Triss gasped, horror flashing in her eyes.
She recognized him—the same skeleton who had witnessed her communicating with her master that night.
He was intelligent!