Zion stepped into the ranks of the Sylase Knights, his eyes fixed on the approaching monsters. Seran and the knights were momentarily taken aback, but Enrite calmly stepped forward. He could sense the presence of Exceed Rain and knew that Zion had activated one of its abilities, full armor.
"Did you know about this?"
“We might not lose, but there could be injuries.”
Zion's voice emerged from the black helmet, and the knights finally realized who he was. Seran had already recognized him earlier, but the cold, malevolent aura emanating from him made them wary.
"We should deal with the silver skeletons first, shouldn't we?"
“Yes, those need to be destroyed first.”
The skeletons were made of bones, with no flesh, and might have once been living beings. A large number of skeletons were advancing towards the Dead Zone. Most of them were white, but there were others with different colors.
‘White ones are easy to destroy. The problem is the silver and black ones.’
White skeletons were commonly seen monsters and were relatively weak. They could be easily shattered by infusing weapons with magic or using spells. However, black skeletons had tougher bones and quicker movements, requiring cautious approaches.
‘They can dodge or withstand sword energy.’
The skeletons were scattered, so it wasn't practical to use sword energy indiscriminately. Moreover, skeletons had little magic to absorb, making it difficult to replenish magic through them. Zion couldn’t afford to go back to Hanette to recharge his magic, so he intended to hold his position for now.
‘I need to test it to know.’
If Zion's sword energy hit, it might cut through even the black skeletons. But he couldn’t be sure about the silver ones. Silver skeletons were stronger than black ones, with superior bone strength and speed.
‘If it’s a gold one… could I win?’
A gold skeleton was said to exist only one on the Caronbellaz continent, and it was the most formidable of all skeletons. According to lore, it possessed intelligence and avoided unnecessary fights. It was so powerful that even seasoned knights found it hard to handle.
‘But we’re not at a disadvantage.’
The Sylase Knights were gathered nearby. With the protagonist wielding the Magic Sword of Thunder and Enrite, a member of the Setinos Quasar, they would be a great help. Furthermore, Hanette, with her immense potential, was supporting from the rear.
‘I need to step in to prevent injuries.’
Objectively, the Sylase Knights alone could handle the skeletons. However, the silver skeletons would inevitably cause injuries, possibly even deaths. Even the White Apostle couldn’t resurrect the dead, so minimizing damage was crucial.
“I need you all to follow my commands for now. Can you do that?”
“…Yes, we will follow your orders.”
Seran activated his magic, releasing yellow currents along his grey blade. Standing beside Zion, he felt a surge of excitement, being on the same battlefield as the renowned genius swordsman from the capital. Perhaps one day, he could master sword energy as Zion did.
“If the commander agrees, we must follow.”
“Hmm…”
The knights assumed their positions, channeling their magic. Zion’s eerie and impure magic continued to emanate, but the commander had decided to follow him, and the deputy commander accepted the situation. Thus, they only needed to move forward.
“All units, form a defensive formation!”
At Seran's command, the knights moved swiftly to their positions. Seran stood at the front with Zion, flanked by two heavily armored knights. Enrite followed closely behind, with mages and archers grouped together. Knights with swords, shields, and spears took the flanks, completing the formation.
“The commander and I will handle the silver skeletons. The knights should focus on the black skeletons and annihilate the enemies.”
“Simple and clear!”
“Oh, one more thing. There will be magical support from the rear…”
Out of nowhere, a fiery fragment flew and attached itself to a skeleton. The knights, seemingly accustomed to it, showed no surprise. A few skeletons charged through the flames towards them.
Zion observed for a moment before swinging Exceed Rain.
“Cac!”
“Kikik…”
Purple energy cut through, instantly bisecting a white skeleton, while a black skeleton lost an arm and retreated. At that moment, a silver skeleton emerged and charged at Zion.
“A strong one… Krak…”
Ignoring the remark, Zion thrust Exceed Rain forward. The silver skeleton dodged the attack and closed in.
‘Fast.’
Zion quickly ducked and changed direction. The silver skeleton blocked Zion’s sword with its left arm and tried to push forward. However, Zion didn't budge, and dark energy from Exceed Rain began to penetrate the skeleton’s bones.
“Kigeak…”
The silver skeleton retreated hastily, trying to create distance. Zion didn't miss the opportunity and infused more energy.
“Kaak!”
Another silver skeleton descended from above. Zion prepared to counter, but a blue chill rose from behind him. The attacking skeleton twisted its body to narrowly avoid the frosty blast.
‘Ice magic.’
“Kiie!”
“Kyaa!”
Seran swung Nailring, and yellow lightning surged from the blade. The silver skeletons tried to evade but couldn’t outpace the lightning. Dozens of electric currents wrapped around them, pinning them down.
‘He wields the Magic Sword well. As expected of the protagonist.’
Zion gripped his sword with both hands and slashed upward. One skeleton’s spine split completely, and another retreated with several broken ribs. The knights, witnessing this, fought with renewed vigor, pushing back the skeletons.
‘An unusual one.’
Normally, skeletons died when their skulls were shattered or spines severed. Yet this silver skeleton crawled on the ground, even while dismembered.
‘Are all silver ones like this?’
Zion poured magic into Exceed Rain and sliced downward. A line appeared from the skeleton’s skull down to its spine, and it split apart completely.
“Kiik… Krk…”
The silver skeleton stopped moving, leaving only a final groan. Zion pointed his sword, his eyes glowing with purple light.
‘Hanette can’t handle this, can she?’
The situation and conditions differed from before. Zombies were weaker and slower, making them easier to deal with. But with black and silver skeletons mixed in this fierce battle, using magic was risky. If the Sylase Knights or Alain Kingdom’s soldiers got caught in the flames, it would cause even more damage.
‘Should I use sword energy?’
Using sword energy could sweep through the skeletons, boosting morale. But it would consume half of his magic, and it wasn’t guaranteed to annihilate all the skeletons. Considering the possibility of a prolonged battle, he needed to conserve his strength.
‘I need to take out the silver skeletons first.’
There were four silver skeletons, and he had just killed one. The remaining three moved quickly but didn’t approach him. Having witnessed the death of one of their own, they were wary of Zion.
‘I could move alone, but…’
Zion cut down a black skeleton and surveyed the battlefield. He considered charging in with his full armor. The armor would protect him from attacks for a while, and he could focus on eliminating the silver skeletons.
‘It’s quite reckless.’
Killing the silver skeletons and rejoining his allies would make dealing with the remaining ones easier. But if things didn’t go as planned, he’d be isolated, and his allies would still be in danger.
‘Dragging this out increases casualties…’
Suddenly, the scenery changed. Zion retracted Exceed Rain. Flames that had been scattered converged on the silver skeletons. They were engulfed in fire repeatedly but managed to extinguish it, shrieking in agony.
‘Now I need to sync up.’
Zion understood Hanette's intention and took a stance. The flames' power had diminished, but their speed had increased. This wasn’t an attack but a tactic to lure the silver skeletons to one spot.
‘Is this the experience gap of three years?’
Zion prepared his sword energy while cutting down approaching skeletons. The silver skeletons, unaware, drew closer to each other. The moment they converged, they would meet their end.
‘Now.’
A purple-black energy traced a diagonal line from Zion’s blade. The energy surged forth, splitting the skeletons. It hit the two closest silver skeletons first, shattering all their bones. The last one used the remains of its comrades as a shield, narrowly avoiding the attack.
Zion gritted his teeth and drew more magic into Exceed Rain.
‘I’m low on magic.’
He clenched his jaw and poured magic into Exceed Rain. He needed to kill the last one, even at great cost. Without the silver skeletons, the remaining ones could be dealt with easily.
‘…Do I not need to step in?’
The flames converged again, this time around the last silver skeleton. The flames rose, engulfing it completely.
“Krk! Krk…”
The silver bones turned black. The silver skeleton flailed, trying to extinguish the flames. But the more it struggled, the more the flames clung, merging and growing stronger.
“Krkak!”
The last silver skeleton screamed, slowly sinking to its knees. Its arms continued to move but eventually fell limp. The blackened bones crumbled, but the flames didn’t die out. They seemed determined to turn every bone to ashes.
‘Hanette might be stronger than me.’