NOVEL NEXT Chapter 52: Level 12 Skeleton
Chapter 52: Level 12 Skeleton
Converting a corpse into a skeleton doesn’t require extremely high standards.
Even if the corpse is missing its internal organs, it doesn’t hinder the conversion process.
But the fact that this corpse had its organs removed after death made Wu Heng curious and surprised.
It meant that he wasn’t the only one eyeing this corpse; someone else had acted even earlier.
Why would someone steal the internal organs from a corpse?
Can organ transplants even be done in this world?
They killed the person right away, so it’s unlikely the organs could be used for transplantation.
Of course, discovering this doesn’t help him; he can’t exactly notify the guild without incriminating himself.
In any case, everyone is after what they need, and no one’s getting in each other’s way.
There’s no need to overthink it.
“Alright, stop removing the stitches,” Wu Heng said.
Barson stopped cutting the stitches and stood aside.
Wu Heng immediately cast 【Raise Skeleton】.
【Summoned creature exceeds summoner’s capacity; instability factor increased…】
The instability warning appeared again, and his mental energy started depleting rapidly.
The flesh on the corpse began to peel away, gradually revealing the skeleton beneath.
But the conversion process was slower than any he’d done before, and his mental energy was draining at an exponential rate.
Holding his staff, he continued the casting.
With his other hand, he quickly grabbed a mental energy potion from his backpack and downed it.
The potion replenished his dwindling mental energy.
As the process continued, the flesh completely fell away, and a tall, iron-gray skeleton stood up.
Ghostly blue flames flickered in its empty eye sockets.
The skeleton scanned the surroundings before giving Wu Heng a slight bow.
Wu Heng looked at it and nodded.
The skeleton before him was different from any he’d seen before. Its bones were thick and iron-gray instead of the usual white.
Even up close, it looked more like a metal framework.
“Alright, you’ll continue to be called ‘Bagdong.’ Stand by,” Wu Heng instructed the newly risen skeleton.
The skeleton obediently moved to the side, entering a standby mode.
The previously nervous Xiaoxiao quickly adapted, floating around and closely examining the new addition, Bagdong.
Meanwhile, Wu Heng opened Bagdong’s status panel to inspect its attributes.
【Skeleton Boxer】
【Level: 12 (0/72,000)】
【Attributes: Constitution 26, Strength 25, Agility 29, Intelligence 14, Perception 19, Charisma 5.】
【Traits: Hollow Frame, Intermediate Soul, Iron Bones, Qi.】
【Feats: Unarmored Defense, Unarmored Movement, Danger Sense.】
【Abilities: Shocking Fist, Featherweight Drop, Arrow Catching, Martial Prowess (Advanced).】
【Iron Bones】: Constitution +5.
【Qi】: Proficient in using Qi, allowing for continuous, relentless attacks.
【Unarmored Defense】: When not wearing any armor or shields, Agility +3, Perception +2.
【Unarmored Movement】: When not wearing any armor or shields, movement speed increases by 20%, enabling brief high-speed movement across vertical surfaces and water.
【Shocking Fist】: Strikes the target with a stunning effect.
【Featherweight Drop】: Minimizes damage from falling.
【Arrow Catching】: Deflects airborne projectiles and returns them to the sender.
Wow!
Wu Heng was astonished by these attributes.
He had to admit, the stats and abilities of this creature were quite impressive.
The main attributes were all over 25.
The feats and abilities were also outstanding.
And Bagdong doesn’t fight without armor because he’s an exhibitionist; it’s because his Unarmored Defense and Unarmored Movement significantly enhance his stats.
The synergy between his feats and abilities is much more cohesive and complete than the random assortment possessed by Barson, Sword One, and Sword Two. Bagdong’s abilities seem to be part of a well-planned and structured heritage.
It seems that the Divine Punishment Sect isn’t just some ordinary cult.
This makes Bagdong the strongest skeleton Wu Heng has ever had.
“Hey, where’s that skill related to the scales?” Wu Heng checked the attributes again and looked at the skeleton.
The skill involving scales seemed to be missing.
Was he remembering it wrong?
Or did the ability vanish after the corpse was converted into a skeleton?
After a while of pondering without finding any answers, Wu Heng decided to let the skeletons remain in the room while he returned to Blackstone Town to rest.
.........
Back in Blackstone Town, Wu Heng made himself a cup of instant noodles.
While waiting for the noodles to cook, he browsed through the swordsmanship manual he had obtained earlier.
Unlike the previous wizard skill books, this one mainly contained illustrations of techniques and brief descriptions.
He quickly skimmed through it, reaching the last page.
There was no notification of unlocking a skill.
This gave Wu Heng a bad feeling. Could it be that he actually needed to start learning and practicing this?
The noodles were ready, so he ate while continuing to flip through the book.
After finishing his meal,
He summoned Sword One to join him in studying the newly acquired sword techniques.
They worked on it late into the night before Wu Heng finally went to bed.
.........
The next day, in the zombie world.
The sound of roars echoed from outside, and the crunching of glass under the feet of countless zombies filled the air.
Another day had passed, and the zombies showed no sign of leaving.
Moreover, he couldn’t just wait here indefinitely.
If they never leave, he might never be able to get out.
Just as he was about to send Xiaoxiao to check if the giant mutated zombie was still around, he saw a massive figure appear in his field of view.
Standing over 3 meters tall, with dark red skin and muscles bulging like tumors.
Ugly and full of power.
The giant zombie was slowly making its way toward his location, its eyes scanning the upper floors like it was searching for prey.
“Damn, that monster,” Wu Heng cursed, then called out, “Bagdong, come here.”
The broad-shouldered skeleton, Bagdong, stepped forward, looking down through the window.
“When the time comes, I’ll need you to take it on. If it’s too tough, just hold it off as long as possible.”
Bagdong continued to observe the scene below, the ghostly blue flames in his eye sockets flickering.
.........
Noon, the sun was high in the sky.
Bang, bang, bang!!
Four stairwell doors burst open simultaneously, revealing an orderly formation of skeleton warriors wielding spears and cleavers.
The heavy sound of doors opening caused the wandering zombies to pause.
Then came the angry roars.
Whoosh~!
The zombie horde surged toward the stairwells like a tidal wave, pushing and shoving as they poured into the open stairwells.
However, the more they crowded, the harder it became to enter.
Meanwhile, the skeleton warriors stationed inside the stairwells began swinging their weapons, striking down the advancing zombies.
Wu Heng watched the incoming horde, a bead of sweat forming on his forehead.
The numbers were overwhelming.
As the undead clashed with the zombies,
Boom~!
A loud explosion erupted in the distance.
The giant mutated zombie burst out of a nearby building, its gaze locked onto the battlefield.
With a furious roar, it charged into the fray.
Like an out-of-control truck, the giant zombie barreled toward the fight, plowing through zombies in its path before crashing into the stairwell.
Wu Heng stood on the upper floor, watching as the mutated zombie entered the stairwell.
“Bagdong, it’s all yours.”
The iron-gray skeleton Bagdong moved down the stairs with his hands behind his back as the door to the stairwell opened.
