<Chapter 24. Operation - Bro, why are you there? - 7>

[You have encountered a higher leveled foe. The Rebellion skill increases all skills by 14%! Half of the effects are shared with your subordinates!]

Lee Shin Woo hadn't really thought about it very much, but Bone Armory pretty much stored all of his equipment in his body. All the recorded equipment didn't disappear, but instead became one with Lee Shin Woo; the equipment was also maintained by his body, and what's worse, developed in his body.

He'd absorbed countless pieces of equipment and stored them in his body, and fused different attributes together in order to create even greater equipment. Thus, Lee Shin Woo's body was like a treasure house. The moment any Treasure Hunter sensed his presence, it was obvious that they'd turn their attention to him!

Plus, Kratia's rare, growing artifact was enough to draw the Treasure Eater's attention as well. It made sense that a Treasure Eater would appear when both of these 'treasures' were in the same place.

"But why did he have to come now?"

Lee Shin Woo was sure this issue came about due to his terrible operation name, and grit his teeth. But while he stared vacantly at the Treasure Eater, the Treasure Eater continue to advance, sending parts of the undead force flying; thus, he didn't have any more time to spare.

[What is that?]

[The lord... Protect the lord!]

[Kuahk, these monsters won't let us go!]

The undead realized that Lee Shin Woo was the Treasure Eater's target and even in their confusion, attempted to stop it from getting to him. But because they were definitely categorized as 'enemies' by the Chimeras, they continued to tactlessly attack the undead troops, ultimately resulting in further undead casualties.

[Kuaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!]

To make matters worse, Steve used the Treasure Eaters' patented technique, the Shriek of the Dead. Should he say 'as expected of a level 7'? Its shriek instantaneously affected the entire area.

[The enemy has used Shriek of the Dead! However, Invisible Heart has completely protected you against mental status ailments.]

Lee Shin Woo momentarily did a double take and turned around. He was worried that Jin wouldn't be able to endure it, especially because he wasn't currently linked with him. Fortunately, Kratia had used her magic to protect both her and Jin from the shriek. As expected of a high level magician.

[That monster's using black magic!]

[Don't be afraid! The lord's watching over us!]

[Let's stab its limbs with our spears!]

'The undead are also... Good, they're fine as well.'

He had roughly expected this outcome. Firstly, his troops were under the effects of his Command skill, which protected them from status ailments, and secondly, his Instigate skill had already taken affect; both the Shriek of the Dead and Instigate were the same type of skill, but Shriek of the Dead was definitely a lower ranked skill than Instigate. Therefore, Shriek of the Dead wasn't very effective.

[Ku-Kuhahk... Y-You bastards...!]

[The Emperor? The Emperor is... No, I won't participate in it!]

[Don't take me there. Not me...!]

However, the Chimeras, who weren't protected by either Kratia or Lee Shin Woo, were affected by the Shriek of the Dead. While the Chimeras were physically enhanced to the very limit, they were susceptible to mental ailments and were all affected by the Treasure Eater's Shriek of the Dead.

The deeper one's regret and resentment, the more effective Shriek of the Dead was. It was as though the Golem Chimeras were born to be affected by the Shriek of the Dead.

[No, no. Don't nod your head! Don't!]

[You can't. The Emperor lied to us!]

[Please don't!]

Were they remembering the time when they became sacrificial lambs for the experiments? The Chimeras cried tears of blood as they screamed and rolled onto the floor. Thousands of level 5 monsters had become unable to fight from just one skill!

Lee Shin Woo felt a bit sad when he saw them, but because of the Treasure Eater, the undead army could now breathe easy.

[It's time!]

[Gouge its bones! Charge!]

[Guoooooooooooh!]

The undead troops suddenly pushed past the Chimeras and charged at the Treasure Eater! Lee Shin Woo shouted quickly in an attempt to stop their indiscriminate attack, but because of the sudden turn of the events, the undead weren't capable of properly accessing the situation.

Ultimately, he couldn't stop half of them, and hundreds of undead rushed towards the Treasure Eater. Lee Shin Woo clicked his tongue and had no other choice but to watch the ensuing battle.

'Now that it's come to this, I suppose I have to sacrifice them to find out my opponent's abilities...'

He clearly remembered when he'd first fought against the Treasure Eater, his desperate battle against the level 3 Treasure Eater, and even when he'd fought against the level 5 Treasure Eater.

Lee Shin Woo would get screwed whenever he encountered a Treasure Eater as it would always possess a unique ability. Plus, this Treasure Eater was level 7, so he wouldn't be surprised if it could teleport and take a bite out of his 'heart'.

[Guoooouuuuh!]

And just as Lee Shin Woo expected, the Treasure Eater had a special ability. Fortunately, it wasn't teleportation, but when it screamed, hair fell off of its body; then, blue light seemed to spew from its body, which ended up being lightning!

[Kuaaaaaaahk!]

[M-My lord!]

The Treasure Eater twisted its body, discharging lightning everywhere. The undead that came into direct contact with the lightning screamed, but they were better off than the rest. The weaker level 4 and level 5 undead couldn't even scream before they vanished.

Lee Shin Woo gritted his teeth at the power that the level 7 elite displayed. He was frustrated at how it seemed no weaker despite using such an attack.

'I barely got control over this army, yet they become a barbecued bone platter in the blink of an eye...!'

It didn't matter whether it was against a level 1 skeleton or a level 5 skeleton; there wasn't much difference between how long it would take for it to grill them anyway. Therefore, it would be stupid to just stand still and do nothing. Lee Shin Woo, who'd inwardly made his decision, used his Instigate skill to its very limit and yelled.

[All troops, retreat! We'll fight him in the city!]

[B-But my lord...!]

[All forces! Protect Kadinan!]

[I... I understand!]

None could refute Lee Shin Woo's stern command, and all of the undead there turned around. Their movements were so organized and systematic that... Lee Shin Woo's movement, or lack thereof was quite noticeable.

[M-My lord!?]

"His target's me."

Lee Shin Woo said bravely.

"I'll keep him busy, so you return to the city and evacuate all of the civilians from the city. Once I'm sure that everyone has been evacuated, I'll bring him over."

[It's too dangerous, my lord!]

[I cannot allow it!]

"You dare doubt me!?"

Lee Shin Woo's booming voice even startled the most powerful undead in Kadinan, the Knight Leader, Selloin.

Of course, Lee Shin Woo was the lord he served and was a level 6 Undead Commander, but the Knight Leader had thought that his abilities surpassed the lord's. However, once the Knight Leader heard the strength in Lee Shin Woo's voice, he realized that that might not necessarily be the case.

"Go now. Even now, our precious soldiers are being sacrificed! You fool, I don't plan on dying in vain. Kadinan and I are one. I will not fall, so long as Kadinan stays standing!"

[M-My lord..!]

[Kuheuk, as expected of the lord we serve...!]

The Knight Leader, as well as the surrounding knights, were touched by Lee Shin Woo's brave declaration and were on the verge of tears. He'd managed to fool them completely. Though Lee Shin Woo was planning on destroying Kadinan in its entirety so that he could safely annihilate the Treasure Eater!

"Go. Go tell them. Arm yourselves and be ready to die for Kadinan!"

[All the citizens will follow your command!]

[My lord. At least let me stay by your side...]

"You fool. Only you can command in my absence! Don't say anything so foolish and go!"

[Keuk... I understand! I will carry out your command perfectly, I swear it!]

Even as he cursed at him, Lee Shin Woo reminded the Knight Leader that he was the next in command and that he had to be responsible for the troops in the lord's absence; his words spurred him to act, causing the Knight Leader's eyes to blaze with a bit of goblin fire and turn around.

Even the undead that had been indiscriminately attacking the Treasure Eater began to assemble to the best of their ability. At least 20% of the troops had been burnt to crisp already, but it was comforting that most of their casualties were level 4s.

[Guaaaaaaaaaah!]

Of course, from the very beginning, the Treasure Eater's target had been Lee Shin Woo and Lee Shin Woo alone. Therefore, when the obstructing skeletons got out of its way on their own accord, it seemed thankful and beelined towards Lee Shin Woo. Some of the knights couldn't help themselves and turned around, drawing their swords, but Lee Shin Woo restrained them once more.

"I won't say it again! Go!"

Lee Shin Woo said, and once he raised his sword in one hand, they resigned themselves and turned around. It seemed like it hadn't occurred to them that they had never seen that sword before.

"Now let's see how good a lightning element monster is...!"

Once he confirmed that the undead troops had fully retreated, Lee Shin Woo moved his body quickly and infused mana into the Lightning Tooth, as if to lure in the Treasure Eater.

Lee Shin Woo transformed all of his mana, which was at a frightening level, into pure lightning and infused it into the Lightning Tooth. The blade was covered in flickering blue sparks, and looked as though God had sent this lightning herself. Seeing that, the Treasure Eater snorted and opened its mouth.

[Guuuuuuoooooooooh!]

"Heup!"

A lightning sphere popped out of its mouth! But because Lee Shin Woo had already figured out that its mana was mainly concentrated in its throat, he had already expected what kind of attack was coming beforehand. Lee Shin Woo threw his body out of the way, dodging the sphere, and forcefully shot out with the Lightning Tooth in turn.

[Kihahk!]

With Rule of Bone, it seemed like the Lightning Tooth actually shot out at the speed of lightning, and burrowed into the Treasure Eater's throat before it could close its mouth.

Once it became level 7, it became like some sort of dragon, as it had attained thick and durable scales. Even so, its inner organs had to be much less durable than its scales! Lee Shin Woo immediately exploded the Lightning Tooth, and funnily enough, despite it being level 7, it writhed in pain and made one full rotation on the floor.

[Kihaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!]

"Keuk!?"

But that was all. Though it should be in a considerable amount of pain, as well as sustaining severe injuries from the lightning covered blade and the resulting explosion, the momentarily moaning Treasure Eater immediately regained its posture and charged straight at Lee Shin Woo!

"Come out, fortress!"

Lee Shin Woo, startled by the Treasure Eater's unexpected speed, summoned a giant shield from Bone Armory (the reason he'd shouted so loudly was because he wanted to), placed it in front of him, and retreated.

The giant shield, which was embedded into the ground and created by weaving giant bones together in strands, truly looked like a fortress.

[Bone Fortress]

[Lv5]

[Durability - 2,250/2,250]

[Defense - 1,200 - 1,400]

[Options - Effectiveness of defense +50%]

Whether one looked at the level, the ridiculous amount of defense, or its even more ridiculous option, there was no way this couldn't be considered a treasure! He'd gotten this shield from killing one of his undead seniors, but once it had been absorbed into his Bone Armory, it had been remodeled. Of course, it was an item that was bestowed upon a hero by God, but...

[Kuaaaaaaaaah!]

"Uuuuuuhk!"

The shield couldn't even withstand the Treasure Eater's charge for 1 second and broke apart! It had become weaker after smashing through the Bone Fortress, but its charge still retained an absurd amount of power; it got close and almost hit Lee Shin Woo. The resulting force flung him several meters, and left him with no other option but to endure the pain.

In pain, Lee Shin Woo diligently restored his body and thought.

'Damn, this is... 100%.'

He hadn't expected it to recover from the shock and charge so quickly. Now he was sure. The Treasure Eater possessed Lightning Resistance. It had the full package! He had a hunch when it had unleashed its lightning, but now that it'd come to this, he could say that he was sure now.

'It can't be helped. I have to take it down.'

He was thinking about how he could somehow lead it somewhere else whilst finishing up all his business here, but upon realizing that it had something he wanted, he knew he had to take it down.

"This probably won't be enough..."

Nothing good would come of him leading it to the city. Even if he did, the undead would just be sacrificed to reduce its mana. That's all.

But even taking that into consideration, it wasn't enough to take down a level 7 elite. Even if he added in the Chimeras, which were rolling around, as well as Kratia and Jin, who were behind him on standby, it wouldn't work.

"Then."

Lee Shin Woo evaded its next attack and hectically moved his body around; he steeled himself and took out a small marble-like object. This was the obvious course of action. Since there was an opponent he couldn't beat with his plan...

"The Lightning General, the great sword of the Empire. I, Nellopa, the Empire's loyal servant, have an urgent report for you."

Then he just needed to make a new plan!

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