[Translator – Aine ]
[Proofreader – Ash ]
Chapter 74
“Leo! What’s happening?”
Lunia and Eiran hurried to Leo’s side.
“The Skeleton King.”
The words sent shivers down their spines.
The Skeleton King.
One of the strongest undead a necromancer could handle.
“Sh-should we run?”
Leo shook his head at Eiran’s suggestion.
“No. That wouldn’t be wise.”
“But shouldn’t we retreat? It’s not safe!” Eiran insisted.
Facing the Skeleton King was beyond their capabilities as first-years.
Lunia and Eiran’s concerns were valid.
“Fleeing hastily might be even more dangerous.”
Leo glanced at Cargore and Lauta.
“They won’t let us leave without a fight.”
Lunia clenched her fists, and Eiran trembled in fear.
Running away with the Skeleton King looming behind them was risky.
“What’s our plan, then?”
“What can we even do?”
Leo stepped forward with determination.
“I’ll take it down.”
Lunia’s eyes widened, astonished by Leo’s resolve.
“That’s impossible!”
“Under normal circumstances, perhaps.”
Leo smirked, eyeing the Skeleton King.
“But this isn’t a normal summoning.”
“What do you mean?”
“Lauta tapped into Hell Kaiser’s power through the contract signed with his own death. It seems that he is combining that new power with the power of the Curse of the Dead to summon the Skeleton King.”
Leo grasped his sword.
“I just met the conditions that allowed for its summoning. But the Skeleton King can’t be summoned for too long.”
The fundamental requirement for summoning.
The ability to maintain control over the summoned entity.
With necromancy, losing control meant losing the summon.
“So, we wait until he runs out of mana to sustain the Skeleton King!”
“But what about Lauta and the Death Knight? Can they hold out?”
“I’ll manage. Lunia, handle Lauta. Eiran, take on the Death Knight.”
“What about you?”
“You want to face the Skeleton King head-on?”
Leo nodded in response to the two astonished girls.
“Yes, that’s my plan.”
Lunia was taken aback by Leo’s casual tone.
“That’s too reckless!”
“But it’s our best shot for now, even if it’s reckless. Trust me. That Skeleton King is the toughest undead out there.”
Leo produced something from his arms.
Cheep cheep?
“But I’ve got the strongest summons.”
Lunia clenched her teeth at his words.
‘Well, it seems like our only option for now…’
Taking a deep breath, Lunia steeled herself.
“And I won’t forgive you if you die.”
Pfft
“Why are you laughing?”
“I’ve heard those words before.”
Leo tousled Lunia’s hair with a grin.
“Don’t worry, I won’t let some skeleton take me down.”
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Reaper Scans
[Translator – Aine]
[Proofreader – Ash]
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“Hahahaha! I can feel the power! I’m bursting with energy!” Lauta yelled, unable to contain his excitement.
“Skeleton King! Crush everything in front of you!”
Whoooooooom
At Lauta’s command, the Skeleton King slammed its massive hand onto the ground.
Ruuummmblleeeeeee
A gigantic, weathered sword materialized, emanating a gray light.
Grooooooooan
With a motion, the Skeleton King raised a sword wreathed in a sinister, black aura.
Whoooooooooosh
That motion alone produced a powerful gust of wind, displacing the surrounding snow.
“This is awesome!”
Lauta’s eyes gleamed as he spotted Leo.
“You’ll regret killing me!”
With a gleam in his eye, Lauta began chanting a spell.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Black flames arced toward Leo like arrows.
Whoosh! Thunk-Thunk-Thunk!
But a barrier of crimson flames materialized, halting the assault.
Lauta’s expression twisted in frustration.
“You’re my opponent.”
Lunia stood firm before Lauta.
“How dare you! You dare to oppose me, a senior?”
“A senior? Spare me. You’re just a disgrace to Seiren’s name!”
Lauta’s face darkened as he regarded Lunia with disdain.
“I might teach you a lesson in respect.”
Lauta summoned his staff and struck the ground.
Crash! Rumble—!
Magical circles materialized on the floor, summoning undead creatures.
Lunia scoffed at the sight, feeling the power shift.
Flutter—whoosh!
Flames erupted from her and her summons.
The Summoner vs. Necromancer showdown had begun.
“Haha- It’s easier dealing with them when they’re scared.”
Cargore, wielding his sword, emitted an eerie chuckle.
Eiran, witnessing Cargore’s unsettling demeanor, instinctively stepped back.
“Ugh.”
In the forest, Eiran had felt courage with Leo and Lunia by her side.
Now, facing the Death Knight alone, doubt gnawed at her.
‘Can I do this?’
Eiran’s hand trembled.
Eiran, who hated fighting, contemplated fleeing.
But then, she glanced back at Leo and Lunia.
‘If I fail, they’ll be in danger.’
Eiran’s anxious eyes steadied, determination replacing fear.
Observing Leo confront the Skeleton King, Eiran couldn’t help but liken him to a hero from a tale.
And Lunia, fighting parallel to Leo, looked even brighter than ever.
‘I never aspired to be a hero, but… but…’
Entering Seiren with hopes of just watching heroes from the sidelines, she now felt a different calling.
‘At the very least, I can’t hold them back!’
Rumble rumble!
Speculation flickered in Cargore’s eyes.
‘This kid… did her atmosphere shift?’
Cargore’s expression hardened as he noticed Eiran’s newfound resolve.
Charging at the Skeleton King, Leo chuckled.
‘Dreaming alone doesn’t make you a hero.’
Leo’s Aura flames enveloped him.
‘Sometimes, small dreams unite to create greatness. In that sense, Eiran, you resemble Velkia more than anyone.’
Recalling Velkia, Leo clenched his fist, reminiscing about the young elf girl longing to follow in the steps of himself and his comrades.
“Fiora!”
Fiora’s body ignited with powerful Aura flames.
Fwoosh!
Groooooooan!
The Skeleton King let out a roaring groan, its sound reverberating.
Leo’s body pulsed with dark energy at the sound.
“The Wail of the Dead.”
A curse used by the undead.
It weakened the living’s defenses while bolstering the dead’s attacks.
A worst case situation for them.
But Leo grinned.
“Fiora, roar!”
Cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep!
Fiora’s resonant cry echoed, infusing Leo, Lunia, and Eiran with a vibrant red energy.
The Phoenix’s power countered the undead’s curse—a blessing from an eternal flame.
It had the exact opposite effect of the Wail of the Dead.
“Why the long face?”
Leo laughed, charging at the Skeleton King’s sword.
Fwooooosh!
Fiora transformed into a majestic Phoenix, perching on Leo’s sword.
‘Incarnation.’
Flutter-fwooooosh!
Fiora turned into flames, coalescing on Leo’s blade.
It was a skill that drew on the power of the summons to embed itself within the body or weapon of the summoner.
Fwooooosh!
At the tip of Leo’s blade sprouted flaming wings.
The fierce flame grew in size until it was matching the size of the Skeleton King’s sword.
All watched Leo in awe as his eyes blazed red, striking the Skeleton King’s sword.
Whooooooooom!
Crash!
The Skeleton King’s arms flew into the sky.
But Leo’s strike sent shockwaves, toppling the colossal figure.
Crash! Crash! Crash! Crash! Crash! Crash!
Trees fell as the Skeleton King tumbled into the earth.
Leo propelled himself into the air with his mana.
Whoosh!
Fiora, extracting herself from his sword, gracefully landed on Leo’s head.
[Wow! Leo! You can use incarnation?]
Kiran marveled at the sight.
Even skilled summoners rarely mastered the technique.
[You’re quite something for a youngster.]
Fiora proudly responded with a cheep to Kiran’s praise.
[That’s all I needed to see. I’ll consider you my favorite summoner… Hey! Beak off! I’m not food!]
Kiran struggled as Fiora playfully nipped at him.
“Cut it out.”
With that, Fiora spat out Kiran.
Rumble—–!
The Skeleton King rose, relatively unfazed by Leo’s blow.
Crash! Crash!
Its gaze fixed on Leo as it lifted itself.
Whoom! Whoom!
Its sword swung with alarming speed.
Whoo–thwack!
The spot where Leo had been was obliterated in an instant.
The Skeleton King’s eyes locked onto the tip of its sword.
Leo, meeting the Skeleton King’s dark red gaze, gestured towards it.
“Kiran.”
[Huh? Oh?]
Whoooosh
A subtle silver glow emanated from Kiran.
“Help me out.”
[Got it!]
The power of Leo’s rune surged through Kiran.
It was none other than fairy magic.
“Lumience Ray!”
Flash!
From Leo’s fingertips, a burst of intense starlight shot forth.
Crassssh!
Grooooooan!
Directly hitting the Skeleton King’s right eye, it bellowed in pain.
Whoosh!
As the Skeleton King thrashed about with its sword, Leo swiftly retreated.
‘We’re both burning through a lot of mana.’
Leo sighed.
Moments ago, using magic was out of Leo’s reach.
But with Kiran’s assistance, he could now employ it.
He tapped into Kiran’s latent potential, enabling him to cast powerful spells.
After all, he was a fairy—a powerful sorcerer.
‘If Kiran’s powers had been intact, we could’ve pulled that off pretty easily.’
But it had taken a toll.
Leo’s own reserves were also stretched thin.
Thump.
Leo touched down from his aerial maneuver.
Groooooooooan!
The once battered Skeleton King now gleamed anew.
‘I’m really punching above my weight class here.’
Leo wiped the sweat from his brow.
Leo faced two formidable attacks, stretching his limits for the day.
‘But I just need to hold out.’
His sole aim: thwart the Skeleton King.
With a lowered stance, Leo readied himself for the next strike.
Schwing!
The Skeleton King brandished its sword anew.
‘No matter its might, an undead lacks full power without a skilled necromancer.’
Like Fiora’s potential under Leo’s control, the Skeleton King’s strength under
Lauta’s summons was restrained.
‘If I can prolong this—’
Groaaaaan
The Skeleton King’s sword gleamed dark red momentarily.
Leo sensed something and instinctively swung his blade to the side.
Whoooooom—thunk!
“…!”
A force pressed against Leo’s flank.
In a blur, the Skeleton King’s sword was upon him.
Reacting instinctively, Leo blocked the blow, teeth clenched.
Crash!
Leo was sent reeling from the impact.
