...
'Lynch was secretly pleased. As expected, for any profession, paying to win is the best way to speed up your training.'
And just like that, another night passed.
For the next two days, Lynch entered a frenzied training mode.
Dorm, cemetery, cafeteria—his life revolved around these three points.
He would chug an Awakening Potion whenever his Mana ran out and use a concentration potion during Meditation, squeezing every last drop out of his time and the potions' effects.
As his resources were steadily consumed, the experience bar for his Skeleton Resurrection Skill advanced at a surprisingly fast pace.
Finally, on the evening of the third day.
As he completed another casting, a pale white light flowed like mercury over the vast pile of bones. A rapid, intense series of CRACK! CRACK! sounds from colliding bones echoed out.
One, two, three... a full fifteen Skeleton Servants staggered to their feet from the pile of bones.
Their skeletons were relatively complete and their structures stable.
Although they still had the same dazed, foolish appearance, they exuded an aura that could not be underestimated when gathered together.
At the same time, the long-awaited, crisp notification sound rang in Lynch's mind.
"Ding!"
[Your skill, Skeleton Resurrection Skill, has been upgraded to Lv. 1 (3/3000).]
Looking at the fifteen "majestic" Skeleton Servants before him and feeling the spiritual connection with them in his mind grow clearer, Lynch couldn't help but feel a wave of emotion.
'Three days.'
'Such high-intensity training, plus an investment of dozens of Gold Coins worth of potions.'
'This damn skill has finally reached Tier One.'
Lynch let out a breath, his face filled with the satisfaction of a grinder who had just leveled up.
With a Lv. 1 Skeleton Resurrection Skill, combined with the command of his Bone Jade, his combat prowess would undoubtedly rise to a new level.
He felt a bit more confident about the upcoming academy assessment.
Unfortunately, this pile of bones was a public asset of the Undead Major, and he wasn't authorized to take them.
Fortunately, he had already made other arrangements. It would just cost a bit more money.
'I can't let up on making money or training.'
He casually dismissed the group of Skeleton Servants, watching them crumble back into dry bones.
Feeling his Spiritual Power was nearly depleted, he decided not to waste another Awakening Potion and left the cemetery.
Another night of deep Meditation passed.
When the morning sun once again shone through the window lattice and into his room,
Lynch awoke from his state of deep Meditation.
He sensed the improvement in his Spiritual Power and Mana and nodded with slight satisfaction.
'Training by paying to win is remarkably effective.'
Today, he did not return to the cemetery.
Instead, after breakfast, he went straight to the academy's mission posting area—the [Hall of Experience].
This was the place, officially run by the academy, where missions were issued to all apprentices.
Completing missions earned a certain amount of academic credit.
Academic credit was an extremely important resource at the academy. It could be used to exchange for Magic Models, training resources, and access to special training grounds. It even determined whether a student could graduate.
The hall was bustling with people, most of whom were apprentices from the Holy Light, Elemental, and Warrior majors. There were almost no students from the Undead System.
Lynch ignored the various stares, quickly browsed the mission descriptions, and finally accepted three that were conveniently located along the same route and wouldn't take too much time.
After completing the acceptance procedures, Lynch left the academy.
Because he hadn't made any effort to hide his movements, several apprentices from the Holy Light System had noticed him early on. They now gathered together, staring at his departing back with malicious intent.
"Did you see that? That guy finally left the campus. He even accepted some missions."
"Hmph, this is a good opportunity. With Leon away, that Lynch is the most arrogant one in the Undead Major. Last time Barry tried to teach him a lesson, he got tricked by that bastard's dirty move instead. We can't just let this go."
"Quick, go tell Barry."
The few of them conspired in hushed, ill-intentioned tones.
***
Meanwhile, Lynch acted as if he hadn't noticed a thing.
He rented an ordinary carriage from the post station at the academy's entrance and departed without a backward glance.
His destination was a small town northeast of Saint Roland City, near the edge of the Black Swamp.
The carriage bumped along for about two hours before arriving near the town.
After getting out of the carriage, Lynch followed a small path to a remote logging camp outside the town.
The logging camp seemed to have been abandoned for some time. Many of the wooden sheds had collapsed, and weeds grew around the scattered tools, giving it a desolate look.
Meanwhile, deep within the logging camp, eight corpses were lined up neatly in the corner of a wooden cabin, with a pile of shabby weapons tossed beside them.
The bodies were covered in various tattoos and old scars, looking like common street thugs. The fatal wounds were mostly caused by blades, so they had likely died in a gang fight.
Five adventurers in worn leather armor were pacing anxiously inside the cabin.
Every one of them was pale-faced, looking as if they'd just lost their parents.
Time ticked by.
The atmosphere grew ever more chilling.
One of the younger adventurers said in a tearful voice, "Boss, do... do we really have to wait for *him*? Why... why don't we just run?"
"Run? Where would we run!?" the scar-faced man called "Boss" roared, his voice also laced with fear. "Have you forgotten about the [Death Mark] planted inside our bodies?"
Another tall, thin adventurer added in despair, "Besides... *he* said that if he doesn't personally remove the mark within three days, the Power of Death will erupt and turn us all into Undead Monsters."
"Then... what if we go to the Holy Light Church for help?" the young adventurer asked, still clinging to a sliver of hope.
"No!" the tall, thin man immediately shook his head, his voice trembling. "That lord warned us! The moment the Death Mark comes into contact with Holy Light, it will be triggered instantly! We'll die even faster. Do you want to turn into a Skeleton right now?!"
"Fuck! Besides, those bastards from the Holy Light Church will devour you whole and not even spit out the bones. I'd rather trust a Necromancer than see their filthy, hypocritical faces," the scar-faced man spat viciously.
The room instantly fell silent, filled only with thick despair and a glimmer of wishful thinking.
Just then, CREAK~~ The wooden door was pushed open. Everyone looked over in unison to see a figure appear in the doorway, clad in a black robe and holding a sinister bone staff.
Trailing closely behind him was a grim and terrifying Skeleton Soldier.
In the next instant, everyone's faces grew even paler, and their bodies began to tremble involuntarily.
The black-robed figure first swept his gaze over the eight corpses in the corner. Then, a chilling smile touched the corner of his lips as he spoke in a hoarse, cold voice, "I told you to acquire fifteen fresh corpses, but there are only eight here..."
He paused.
As the adventurers stared in despair, his voice grew even colder. "The remaining seven... are you planning to count yourselves among them?"
...