Chapter 35 Part7 (1/2)
<chapter 35.=”” the=”” call=”” of=”” death=”” -=”” 7=””>
Lee s.h.i.+n Woo obviously noticed the Beast General's skill activation before Retadane. Since he possessed the Rule of Bone skill and was a Breathing Bone Joker, he was more sensitive to anything regarding bones and could react more quickly than anyone else.
'But this is...'
However, that wasn't all. The moment he'd created the Garden of Thorns, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo felt a new possibility. The giant bone thorns had certainly originated from the Beast General, yet he felt like he could control them himself.
Rule of Bone was originally a skill that allowed him to control his own bones and reinforce them. It made him even stronger than before and allowed him to freely use the equipment summoned through the Bone Armory skill.
'There are exactly 17 thorns coming for me. Their sizes vary, but they're at least 5 meters. They're connected through darkness magic and they simultaneously bind their target and inflict persistent damage. It's a malicious, but also effective attack. I can see it all. I can see it as if it's only natural...'
But it was different now. He instinctively knew how these bones, which were created by the Beast General, looked, their structure, and even how they would move. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo knew now how he was so easily able to avoid the Beast General's attacks earlier. It was obvious, wasn't it? He could understand the Beast General's bones as well as his own!
Since that was possible, then it should be possible for him to steal control over them. A hunch and being deluded were two different things. But he was sure.
[The Rule of Bone skill has become Lv11. All stats have increased by 15. You have become able to interfere with another's control over their bones. The effectiveness of all bone related abilities has increased.]
It was only natural that his skill would level up here. Through it, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo gained a deeper understanding of bone (the material) and gained the ability to steal control over another's bones and use them as his own.
For now, he would need to split the bones from his main body, like the Beast General's Garden of Thorns, limit the number of connections, and use his darkness magic as the foundation to control it all, thus requiring a magic technique that was way too complicated. However, if he practiced and further refined this technique, he was sure that he would reach an even higher level. Since most living organisms possessed bones.
'It sounds almighty...'
'So if your skill didn't level up, wouldn't we have just died without being able to do anything?'
'You might've died.'
'Yeah, yeah.'
Lee s.h.i.+n Woo had used his Rule of Bone to get out of the Garden of Thorns and decided to temporarily lay low underground with Jin. It was only possible because the Garden of Thorns had significantly softened the ground.
”d.a.m.n. It would've been nice if the Beast General was level 8.”
”You with your big head as soon as you stand.”
”Even if we wait, he's not going to become level 8 any time soon... Tch, I guess we should end it.”
Although he had stolen control over the Beast General's bones, it wasn't like he could take him down easily. It was only possible because Retadane was unleas.h.i.+ng her light magic to its fullest and blocking the Beast General head on!
”You look tired, Jilun Pelta.”
[You do too... You were only able to hit me with that crude iron mace because of that man. You didn't know? What do you plan on doing now that that man has run away?]
”Hoo. ...I'll show you.”
”Yeah, that's the way, old lady!”
”You keep going and I'll hit you.”
”Now!”
Retadane had done her job well. Once the Beast General focused all of his attention on Retadane, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo stole control over all his thorns and used them against him. And then exploded them! He had even exploded the Beast General's magic within the thorns, so the damage inflicted was unimaginable.
[You have hunted a member of the 12 generals, the Lv7 Beast General, Jilun Pelta! All contributing heroes acquire 30,000,000 Perium, and all stats are increased by 100. You have acquired 10 permits to G.o.d's secret shop. Proficiency in all combat related skills has increased dramatically!]
[Lucky Strike has activated! The Lucky Strike skill has become Lv2.]
[The Mana Acceleration skill has become Lv3. Magic has increased by 10.]
[You have received G.o.d's grace. The Invisible Heart skill's max level has increased by 10.]
He did it. With this, he had killed three of the 12 generals by himself! Lee s.h.i.+n Woo had also succeeded in turning the situation on its head and made it progress in a direction that Ethan Cruz couldn't have expected. However, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo knew that Retadane would be suspicious of him if he appeared before her right now, so he and Jin hid amongst the group of undead. If he used the vibrations, the smoke, and the light from the explosion, then it would be easy to hide.
”What about the bone then? Are you giving it up?”
”Give up the bone of one of the 12 generals? Are you insane?”
Lee s.h.i.+n Woo said, and something flew towards him from the center of the explosion. It was the bone that Jilun Belta had left behind. He s.n.a.t.c.hed it and grinned at Jin.
”This much is no problem for me with Rule of Bone.”
”s.h.i.+n Woo. Looks like something came along with it.”
[You have acquired the Bayran inner map.]
”This again? ...Though it does look a bit different from the last one.”
According to the other 12 generals' memories, Bayran was a huge city, directly connected to the capital. They would have to reach it before moving on to the capital.
I felt natural to gain the Bayran inner map from defeating the 12 generals, but it was also suspicious as well. He couldn't shake off the feeling that someone was leading him there on purpose.
'Moreover, the maps all differ in crucial points. They're all slightly different in terms of the traps and the monster habitats. Even so, they don't seem to be fakes... I'll need some more of them before I make a decision.'
Lee s.h.i.+n Woo was sure that he'd be able to make a proper map with just two more of them. The 12 generals probably don't think that one person could hold five pieces of the map. He needed to work hard, if for no other reason than to screw them over.
”Let's a.s.sume we'll go to Bayran later and put it aside for now... What are you going to do now, s.h.i.+n Woo?”
”All the heroes should know that one of the 12 generals has been killed. If Ethan Cruz has something up his sleeve, then he'll put it out right now. Moreover, there's a chance that his plan will speed up now. ...So, we'll keep up with him and prepare as well.”
Fortunately, they were in the heart of enemy territory. The huge beasts were easily hiding them. It was all too easy for them to hide a single hero. ...And if the 13th general were to suddenly appear from within, then no one would know the reason.
”But I think I should absorb this bone right away. Keep an eye out for me while I'm absorbing it.”
”You got it.”
He hadn't had any expectations before they'd met, but he was sure that he would be highly compatible with the bone, as Jilun Pelta had been able to freely control his bones. So sure that he was willing to execute Bone Reinforcement in the middle of the battlefield!
Lee s.h.i.+n Woo left everything to Jin, grabbed the bone, discarded any lingering doubts, and executed Bone Reinforcement.