How to Raise Your Skeletons

[This is the hidden condition for ‘Unique Authority: Cursed Necromancer’!]

[Condition: The Control 10,000 Rule!]

– Tremendous effort is required to raise the grade of your innate ability!

– Command a total of 10,000 skeletons, regardless of type!

The Control 10,000 Rule?

It sounded familiar.

The 10,000 Uses Rule, was it?

[Condition: The 10,000 Uses Rule!]

– To upgrade your unique authority, significant effort is required!

– Use skill ‘Summon Ordinary Skeleton’ (E-rank) 10,000 times!

Yes, that was right. Back when I was an E-rank Hunter, it was the condition that triggered my awakening when I encountered the orc.

I see now. It seems the system is fond of the number 10,000.

It’s clear that it values pretexts.

This confirmed that awakening didn’t rely on just one condition. If I were to only able to reach A-rank by following this ‘Control 10,000 Rule,’ it would be unfair. How would I even reach that point without a skill or method to control 10,000 skeletons?

It’s just something the unknown entity has authorized.

It was allowing me to ascend to A-rank now. It had deemed that I was worthy with the strength I had achieved. The system recognized that I deserved the higher rank.

Anyway.

The 1,000 skeletons I had previously commanded, now frozen by the blizzard, combined with the newly added 9,000 skeletons, seemed to fulfill the total of 10,000.

And I welcomed it.

[Congratulations!]

[Your rank has upgraded to A-rank!]

A bright and mystical aura enveloped my body. Finally, I achieved the A-rank!

[A reward for the rank change has arrived!]

Good. First and foremost, save my life.

[Your energy is refilled!]

[Energy: 220/220]

“Yes!” I shouted.

This was one of the best things about awakening during a battle. Not only did it refill your energy, but it also fully recovered any wounds or fatigue.

Of course, the benefits of awakening didn’t stop there.

“My Lord… I feel like I’ve taken a step closer to my true abilities.”

“With this… I might be able to take on a lich alone.”

—Clang! Swoosh!

Sunny’s thrust their spear, and Eldrin’s arrows exploded out. The liches began to retreat because of the entirely different momentum we now held.

—Boom!

—Swoosh! Slice!

—Fwoosh!

Boney 1, Boney 4, and Boney 5 also charged in with a more terrifying intensity in their eyes.

[Skill: ‘Summon Great Skeleton’ (D-rank) has been upgraded!]

[Skill: ‘Summon Skeleton Knight’ (A-rank) acquired!]

Skeleton knights! That was right. These were no longer just skeletons. They had now been granted the rank of knight. And additionally…

[A new primary weapon for the skeletons has been adjusted!]

[Assigned skeleton: ‘Bonehead 7’]

[This skeleton will now respond to your command!]

“Boney 7 too?”

Another seal had been released. Of course, to fully awaken it, I would need to complete another medium quest. However, the fact that my forces had expanded was worth celebrating.

I’ll examine Boney 7 later.

For now, it felt like I had been given too much control at once. Honestly, it was overwhelming. Not only my summons but I had 9,000 skeletons with blazing red eyes, charging at the liches.

—Rumble…

[Your presence empowers all skeletons.]

Every single one of them wasn’t an ordinary skeleton. Each of them was far stronger and more tenacious than they had been as soldiers. And it was entirely because of me—because of the aura emanating from my title.

“Kyieeee!”

The liches panicked, unleashing their magic, but there was something in the skeletons’ eyes.

Because of you.

Because of your Immortal Legion.

We died.

Now you will taste death.

We, too, are now immortal and will tear you apart for eternity.

Their bodies may have died, but their bones held an icy grudge—a hatred toward the liches. And I could also feel their gratitude to me for providing this opportunity.

The emotions they felt pricked at my heart. They fully resonated with me.

[A total of 10,000 skeletons sincerely serve you.]

—Creak! Crack!

Even as their bones melted under the liches’ dazzling spells, even as their skulls flew and joints broke, they kept charging, thrusting their weapons into the liches’ bodies.

[You are not only their lord but also receive their loyalty.]

[You are the ‘Skeleton King.’]

Skeleton King?

“…!”

Eyes wide, I hurriedly opened my status screen.

[Hunter: Joo Donghoon]

[Alias: Skeleton King]

[Energy: 220/220]

[Unique authority: Cursed Necromancer]

[Rank: A]

[Effect]

– You possess the profession of a necromancer, capable of handling dead souls. You can use fearsome spirits and toxic substances to subdue opponents. However, you are cursed.

– You can only summon skeletons.

[Skills]

– Summon Skeleton Knight (A-rank)

– Memory Recreation (S-rank)

– Teaching of All Techniques (S-rank)

– Pain Resistance (S-rank)

– Rend (B-rank)

– Pierce (B-rank)

– Shoot (B-rank)

– Defend (B-rank)

– Great Blue Heart Technique (S-rank)

– Resurrection of the Dead (A-rank)

– Roar of the Dead (A-rank)

My title had changed. I was no longer the ‘Skeleton Lord’ but had ascended one level to ‘Skeleton King.’

And on top of that…

I had gained two new skills: Resurrection of the Dead and Roar of the Dead.

[Skill: Resurrection of the Dead]

[Rank: A]

[Effect 1: Summons up to 10,000 skeletons. However, corpses of the deceased must be present in the area.]

[Effect 2: Consumes 50 energy.]

[Skill: Roar of the Dead]

[Rank: A]

[Effect 1: Doubles all stats of nearby skeletons.]

[Effect 2: Consumes 50 energy.]

“This is insane…!”

A shiver ran through my body.

A skill that summoned 10,000 skeletons? And with a wide area buff as well? Yes, now this was what a true necromancer should be! This should be the scale of someone who commanded the dead.

It was awe-inspiring, enough to bring tears to my eyes.

—Vwoom!

I raised my staff.

[Using skill ‘Resurrection of the Dead’ (A-rank).]

[Consuming 50 energy.]

Newly acquired skills had to be used immediately, right?

“Rise, skeletons!”

The field was rich with corpses. More than 30,000 dead soldiers lay scattered, but only 10,000 had been used so far.

—Clack! Clack!

The world turned white as skeletons rose in droves. As if an already daunting number wasn’t enough, double the current amount had just stood up.

“…So this is the Skeleton Lord’s potential?”

The scene was so spectacular that even Lee Sunah, a ranker, gaped with her mouth wide open beside me.

“Black Sword, it’s no longer ‘Lord’ but ‘King.’”

“King…”

Yes, I was a king. The king of white, the King of Bones!

—Rumble!

The ground trembled. Like thousands of ants devouring cicadas, the army of white soldiers covered the liches.

This is…

I marveled. Honestly, it was an unstoppable force, even for a ranker.

Didn’t that put me at a ranker level too?

Of course, there was still one more skill left.

[Using skill ‘Roar of the Dead’ (A-rank).]

[Consuming 50 energy.]

“Guoooh…!”

A roar, like that of a wailing spirit, burst from my body, radiating in waves like ripples spreading across water.

It was an incredible skill that raised all the stats and the speed of the skeletons by twofold and without any penalties.

“I underestimated you. Lord… no, Skeleton King.”

Lee Sunah also let her sword hang loosely as she joined the front lines. Thanks to the influx of skeletons, she could comfortably deal damage.

“Your potential… may even surpass the Cult Leader.”

“Cult Leader?”

“Yes, Ha Sera, the Heavenly Demon. She’s the one who passed down the Black Sword Flight Technique to me.”

“…?”

So was she at a level that could teach martial techniques to someone? Was that even possible?

Well.

It made sense, given that the Elder of All Techniques existed. My skills were full of unbelievable abilities, so it was unwise to judge the world by my standards. The world was vast and full of peculiar talents. Besides, Ha Sera was the 3rd-ranked Hunter in the world.

“In any case, you kept your promise.” Lee Sunah smiled slightly.

It was the first smile I’d seen since the dungeon had turned into this mess.

“You kept your promise to the Five Stars of Seoul.”

—Crash!

Her sword strikes rained down on the liches. Though her movements were slower than before, she was still a ranker. Her destructive force was undeniably powerful.

“You’ve also overcome the trials this dungeon threw at you, just as you said you would.”

—Boom!

Another wave of skeletons engulfed the lich to the point where its figure was barely visible amidst the white tide.

“To be honest, at first I only went along with it because I was friends with the Dark Empress and because it was her turn to make a recommendation.”

—Whoosh!

Once again, a snowstorm stirred. It seemed one of the liches had used all its remaining energy to create a blizzard.

“But this time, it’s different. I’ve seen it with my own eyes.”

But it was already too late. The liches were on the verge of being annihilated.

—Slice!

Once more, Lee Sunah’s sword pointed toward the sky.

Black Sword Flight Technique.

Area-Wide Technique.

Third Form: True Clap of Thunder.

—KABOOM!

The unleashed strikes turned into lightning, bombarding the liches mercilessly.

“…”

Using all her remaining energy, it was the last strike. Lee Sunah wiped the blood from her mouth and began to survey the situation.

“Kyieeee!”

“Kyaaah!”

The liches screamed, dissolving into black smoke one by one. When one fell, it became easier to defeat the next. And by killing the lich who had cast the blizzard, the snowstorm finally ceased.

Lee Sunah’s movements were swift yet precise.

“My Lord! I’ll use Solar Strike!”

My skeletons moved skillfully too.

“I’ll support with Moonlight Descent!” Eldrin’s arrows covered for Sunny.

As much as Lee Sunah swept through the battlefield, my skeletons also ran through, mocking the liches.

And eventually…

—Thud!

After finishing all the liches, she landed in front of me.

“You are… huff, huff…!” She panted heavily. “You are a hunter who stays calm in any crisis. A hunter with excellent judgment and decisiveness. So…” Lee Sunah looked at me.

“…” I looked directly into her eyes as well.

“I, the Black Sword, will sincerely recommend you to the Dungeon Maker and will continue to support you, just like the Dark Empress.” She smiled brightly.

At the same time…

[Congratulations!]

[You have cleared the stage: ‘Immortal Legion’!]

[Receiving clear rewards!]

A message of triumph appeared—a dramatic congratulations signaling a narrow escape from death.

Was every dungeon like this? Were they all this dramatic? Or was it just me?

But this time…

I led the way myself. I wasn’t far behind the rankers. I had awakened to A-rank, contributed significantly, and played a role in defeating the liches.

Of course…

If Lee Sunah hadn’t been here, I’d never have made it alone.

In any case, I advanced once again. I grew. From today onwards, I was the Skeleton King.