[Water Spirit Skeleton]: Highly specialized in the water element, possessing noble immunity to same-tier water magic and extreme adaptability to high-tier water magic.
Water magic casting mana cost reduced, water magic affinity greatly increased, water magic...
However, it was far too specialized, and he had a feeling this evolution path was related to the water spirit's blessing.
Therefore, he passed on it.
Next was the Death path.
Skeleton General (Lv. 40)—he eliminated this one first, as the level cap was too low.
If he didn't max out his three primary stats before reaching max level, he would be permanently locked at Lv. 40.
[Undead Skeleton]: Affinity for Necromancy. Allows the user to cast a special undead summoning spell. After killing a monster, he could form a contract with its undead form and summon it.
The summoned undead would not count toward the reanimation limit.
This was very enticing to Li Xiuman.
[Death White Shadow]: A shadow of death radiating death aura, where all attacks carry the power of decay and death.
This was also good, but it was too heavily countered by Holy Light.
“Which one should I choose? This is so tough.”
Li Xiuman bit his non-existent teeth, utterly torn.
[Elemental Skeleton] or [Undead Skeleton].
The former could greatly enhance his elemental capabilities, making his Fusion Magic even more seamless and vastly raising his elemental magic cap in one fell swoop.
The latter allowed him to squeeze out every last bit of value from monsters.
After they died, their corpses would work for him, and their souls would work for him too.
He would become a walking legion—as long as a battle started, he could summon an undead army in an instant.
Both were roughly equal in terms of potential and direct boosts to combat power.
In the end, perhaps due to a skeleton's instinctual affinity for death, Li Xiuman couldn't help but lean toward [Undead Skeleton].
Forming soul contracts to summon undead was simply too good to pass up.
Sorry, elemental magic. Don't call me anymore. I'm afraid Necromancy might misunderstand.
“Evolve. Undead Skeleton.”
[Commencing evolution...]
Blue soul fire gushed forth from his ribcage once again, continuously forging the pure white skeletal frame.
Under the heat of the flames, the skeleton flowed like liquid.
His body continuously stretched taller, stopping only after reaching over two meters in height. A pair of sinister Demon King horns, symbolic of a dungeon lord, sprouted from his head.
His spine lengthened bit by bit, and a tail composed of bone segments slowly swayed.
The tips of his finger bones lengthened into sharp, gleaming points.
His waist bent slightly as new ribs grew out to protect his vital spots. His lower legs lengthened, and claws dug firmly into the floorboards.
The bone wings on his back expanded one by one, piercing through the ceiling.
At this moment, Li Xiuman had almost entirely abandoned his human form, looking more like an upright, terrifying monster born purely for slaughter.
A thick skeletal frame, menacing bone structures, and deep blue flames burning in his chest.
“Did my appearance really change this much?”
“And this monster aura is a bit too overwhelming...”
Li Xiuman muttered as he felt his new body.
Although his previous body also carried a monster aura, once suppressed, it would merely give others the sense that he was a dangerous figure who had slain countess monsters.
Now, this terrifying monster aura was potent enough to make monsters turn and flee at the mere sight of him.
Furthermore, his new appearance wasn't something that could be hidden by simply throwing on a cloak.
[Evolution Completed]
[Strength +3, Constitution +5, Spirit +10]
[Name] Xiuman Pound Li
[Race] Undead Skeleton
[Level] Lv. 32/Lv. 50 (Undead Skeleton level cap is Lv. 50)
[Class] Elementalist (Tier 3)
[Subclass] Necromancer (Tier 3)
[Strength] 57/80
[Constitution] 65/100
[Spirit] 82/100
[Free Stat Points] 6
[Evolution Requirements] Race evolution available upon maxing Strength, Constitution, and Spirit stats.
[Skills] Bone Manipulation Lv. 4, Demon King Lv. 4, Appraisal Lv. 4, Elemental Magic Lv. 4, Elemental Resistance Lv. 4, Necromancy Lv. 4, Storage Lv. 4, Great Strength Lv. 3, Bone Wings Lv. 3, Magic Analysis Lv. 3, Hard Bone Lv. 3, Golem Lv. 3, Resilience Lv. 3, Self-Healing Lv. 2, Swordsmanship Lv. 2, Swiftness Lv. 2, Quiet Steps Lv. 2, Bone Hyperplasia Lv. 2, Close Combat Lv. 2, Kin Lv. 2, Dragonification Lv. 2, Ultra Regeneration Lv. 2, Flame Devour Lv. 1, Water Spirit's Wisdom Lv. 1, Vampirism Lv. 1, Undead Contract Lv. 4 [NEW!], Undead Summoning Lv. 4 [NEW!], Undead Storage Lv. 4 [NEW!]
[Status] Bone Decay
[EXP] 0/200,000
[Description] A dangerous, cunning, and evil skeleton possessing a vast array of techniques and racial abilities. Skilled in disguise, melee combat, deception, and stealth. Proficient in elemental magic, necromancy, and various other forms of magic, with exceptional combat capabilities and adaptability underwater, on land, and in the air. Classholders of the same tier are strongly advised to evacuate immediately upon encounter! Do not engage! Do not engage! Under the skeleton-specific Bone Decay status, it is estimated to collapse and disintegrate in 50 years.
Picking up his wand with a hand tipped with terrifying claws, he expanded a magic circle.
“Tier 1 Magic, Water Mirror.”
A stream of water flowed and formed a floating mirror in the air.
“What a drastic change.”
“Aside from not looking human at all, it's actually quite domineering.”
Moving around in this form would get him hunted down within minutes.
“Bone Manipulation!”
The bones across his body compressed and wriggled like liquid.
Compressing, compressing, until he soon returned to his pre-evolution appearance.
Next, he cast his previously used sealing magic on himself to conceal that terrifying aura.
“Flawless, except for my aura being slightly fiercer than before.”
“Though if I go all out in combat, there's a chance I might revert to my true form.”
Early the next morning.
Putting on his clothes and equipment, he draped his cloak around himself.
Li Xiuman left the inn.
Light snow was still falling outside, crunching beneath his feet with every step.
His exhaled white breath condensed into... well, fine, he was a skeleton and couldn't exhale white breath.
Dammit, if others have it, I want it too!
Watch my magic.
Combining Water Magic and Fire Magic.
“Tier 2 Magic, Skeleton Steam!”
A small magic circle opened at his throat bone.
Then, Li Xiuman opened his mouth and spewed out a massive plume of white steam like a locomotive!
“Whoa, amazing!”
Passersby exhaling faint puffs of white mist paused one after another, casting admiring glances.
Useless Magic +1.
Then, Li Xiuman strode toward the Landmark Tower while spewing white steam dozens of times denser than anyone else's.
A hundred percent turn rate.
For the first time, he introduced the concept of performance art to White Crystal City.
“This time, let's see how deep we can conquer!”
“And contract a few useful undead along the way.”
After checking and adjusting his gear, Li Xiuman slipped into the Landmark Tower.
This trip lasted for over a month.
By the time he emerged, it was already late January.
The weather was freezing cold, with heavy snow falling like goose feathers.
And there was no sign of it letting up.
White Crystal City and many surrounding cities were suffering from snow disasters; even after clearing the snow with magic, it was quickly buried under fresh layers.
Iron River City seized the opportunity, producing massive quantities of magic items designed for snow clearing and heating.
Every merchant recognized this as a colossal business opportunity.
However, in such freezing weather, ordinary merchant associations lacked the capacity to temporarily open up new trade routes.
Only those merchant associations that had already established and operated trade routes in advance stood a chance.
It was then that merchants noticed a certain merchant association.
They had crazily expended massive amounts of capital beforehand to establish trade routes and branch offices connecting multiple cities.
How did they dare? How did this White Feather Merchant Association dare to make such a move?
With such a massive investment, weren't they afraid of going bankrupt?
Yet facts proved that the White Feather Merchant Association didn't just make a fortune this time.
Selling magic items from Iron River City to four other cities, along with massive amounts of lumber from Old Mountain City—
With profit margins like these, a single winter was likely enough to recoup all investment costs for the trade routes and branch offices.
On top of that, they gained fame, a stellar reputation, numerous long-term contracts, and a broad network of connections.
In White Bear City, at the headquarters of the White Feather Merchant Association.
In front of a floor-to-ceiling window, Jetis gently swirled the red wine in her goblet, looking at the heavy snow outside.
“Master, was all of this within your calculations as well?”
“Even showing a mere fraction of your wisdom is enough to make one tremble in awe.”
“To be able to follow someone like you is truly the highest blessing I could ever receive.”
“...”
“That said, it's been almost three months... When is Master coming back to White Bear City...?”
Rate on N.U.
