Five days later, the desolate wasteland was swallowed by darkness and shrouded in thick fog. From afar, the sounds of a fierce battle echoed through the mist. Subedei and Zev were fighting against five skeletons.
They continued moving forward without knowing whether they were heading in the right direction or not. The further they went, the more skeletons they encountered. After several days passed, Subedei's injuries eased enough for him to move more freely.
Finally, after a few more days, Subedei barely managed to level up.
[You have leveled up]
[Strength +1, Agility +1, Spirit +1, Perception +1. You have gained 5 unassigned stat points.]
Subedei quickly distributed the five stat points +2 to Strength, +1 to Agility, +1 to Spirit, and +1 to Perception.
[Status]
Name: Subedei
Class: ??? King
Level: 5
Mana: 216
Strength: 30 (+6)
Agility: 20 (+4)
Spirit: 20 (+4)
Perception: 22 (+4.4)
Status Points: 0
Power surged through his body. His veins bulged, and his body felt lighter than before.
After killing several skeletons, the group split into two directions, moving ahead and behind. Zev and Subedei stayed together with the remaining three, but even among them, the group divided subtly.
The three occasionally spoke with Zev, yet they never said a single word to Subedei, keeping their distance as they walked. Subedei didn't care. He only wanted to survive and make it out of this place alive.
As they continued forward, they encountered even more skeletons. Then, suddenly, the surroundings fell eerily silent. The air grew colder, sending chills down their spines. Despite continuing onward, they no longer encountered any skeletons.
They instinctively moved closer together, advancing cautiously with puzzled expressions. The fog thickened with every step, so dense that when they stretched out their hands, their silhouettes seemed to dissolve into the mist.
Without realizing it, the separation between them disappeared. They walked shoulder to shoulder, carefully scanning their surroundings. As Subedei moved forward attentively, someone suddenly stepped on his boot.
Startled, he quickly turned around and saw a burly man wearing a bitter smile, extending his hand toward him. Subedei instinctively reached out and shook it, then immediately turned forward again and continued walking.
A few minutes later, a massive shadow appeared ahead of them within the fog. At first, it looked like a giant rock, but as they drew closer, its shape gradually became clear.
It was a skeleton twice the size of the others wearing battered metal armor and holding a sword and shield. Within the fog, its skeletal body loomed like an enormous shadow. The most striking feature was its eyes, burning like blue flames.
Those glowing eyes made the skeleton appear even more terrifying within the mist. It stood there as if it had been waiting for them all along.
Subedei did not feel fear. "The boss of the fourth floor," he thought, gripping his weapon tightly as he prepared for battle.
Zev, staring at the giant skeleton ahead, spoke quickly.
"Everyone, be careful."
"This looks like the Fourth Floor boss."
Subedei and Zev remained calm, but the other three men panicked, raising their weapons and staring at the massive skeleton without daring to look away.
Subedei quickly activated two of his skills.
[Your body is enveloped in mana. Strength +20%]
[Mana-based skill efficiency +10%]
Blue mana began to wrap around his spear.
At the same time, the giant skeleton moved. It raised its enormous sword and swung it toward them with terrifying speed and power. The attack was barely visible through the thick fog.
The sword cut through the air with a shrill sound, aiming straight for a thin young man. Terrified, the young man collapsed to the ground.
But suddenly, someone stepped in front of him and blocked the blow. Seeing this, the thin young man hurriedly stood up and retreated from the battlefield.
It was Zev. He had protected him, blocking the giant skeleton's attack. Sparks flew as the two swords collided, metal clashing against metal with a deafening sound.
Watching this, Subedei thought, "Maybe this giant skeleton isn't that strong."
But Zev was forced back several steps by the impact, while the skeleton didn't move an inch, standing firm like a mountain.
Subedei was shocked and rushed forward to help, but Zev's eyes sharpened like blades. Blue mana wrapped around his sword, flowing like water along its edge.
The skeleton raised its sword again and swung fiercely at Zev. Zev easily blocked the attack and countered, but the giant skeleton swiftly raised its shield and stopped the strike.
Seeing this, the other three, though panicked, surrounded the skeleton from multiple directions. Taking advantage of Zev engaging it, they launched several attacks.
However, none of their strikes even left a scratch.
Subedei remained still, observing. At the moment the skeleton attacked Zev again, Subedei suddenly moved, gripping his spear tightly and slashing toward the skeleton's neck.
The attack landed, but only left a small mark on the white bone.
Seeing this, everyone quickly retreated and regrouped. The skeleton, enraged, charged at them even more ferociously.
Subedei hurried to Zev's side and spoke quickly.
"I'll draw its attention to me."
"Use that opening and attack it."
"You're the strongest among us."
"Only you can kill it."
Zev responded immediately, recalling the skeleton's attacks.
"No, you can't block its strikes."
"It's too powerful."
"My arms shake every time I block its attacks."
As they spoke, the giant skeleton roared like a mad beast.
"AAAHHHHH!"
The scream pierced their ears, causing unbearable pain. Everyone covered their ears and stared at the skeleton cautiously.
When the skeleton stopped roaring, they lowered their hands. Seizing the opportunity, Zev activated his skill and launched a powerful attack.
The mana around his sword shone brighter, forming a blade of pure mana that shot toward the skeleton. The attack sliced through the thick fog, making the giant skeleton clearly visible.
The strike hit its body, carving a deep wound from its shoulder down to its abdomen.
Yet the skeleton seemed unfazed. As it swung its sword toward Zev again, Subedei stepped in front of him to block the attack.
When he stopped the blow, his entire body trembled, nausea rising from within. As the skeleton pushed harder, Subedei was violently thrown backward.
Still, he ignored the pain, gripping his spear tightly and staring at the giant skeleton, teeth clenched as he endured.
After that, Subedei and Zev alternated between blocking and attacking the giant skeleton. Just as hope began to rise that they might win, everything suddenly changed.
From within the fog, skeletons began appearing from all directions. Unlike before, when they merely wandered, these skeletons charged toward them like madmen.
In mere moments, dozens of skeletons had already surrounded the giant one.