Chapter 45 Part3 (1/2)

<chapter 45.=”” heaven=”” defying=”” general's=”” stage=”” -=”” 3=””>

[The Golden Shadow General... He has quite the troublesome ability.]

[But his bones will be buried in this city today.]

”I don't really like that expression... You gotta eat all the way down to the bone too.”

[...You.]

The pressure exerted by Tarian Von Retadane's Anti-Skull force (there were three level 7 elites including him, fifteen level 6 elites, and 500 normal level 6s) and Arema Steelworker's Metal Army (which consisted of the Four Heavenly Commanders (level 7 elites) and 200 level 6 elite golems).

But Lee s.h.i.+n Woo was all alone. He was, of course, with the level 8 Jin, but to everyone else, Jin just looked like a strong warhorse. Arema Steelworker then asked.

[What about your subordinates?]

”They're doing their own thing. They're keeping the Golden Shadow General busy.”

[What...!?]

Lee s.h.i.+n Woo had only brought along his Chi Paul squad, which only consisted of 31 Chi Pauls.

However, there were five level 7 elites among them, and the rest were level 6 elites at the cusp of level 7, so his force was no pushover. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo spoke so nonchalantly that both Anti-Skull and the Metal Army felt tense.

”We're all on the same side now, right? Don't be so tense. My boys won't be able to stop the Golden Shadow General on their own... So, that's why I'm asking for your help.”

[...That's true. As expected of the Heaven Defying General.]

Unlike his reply, his expression indicated no signs of understanding. In the midst of the heavy silence, the two forces exchanged glances. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo had forced Anti-Skull and the Metal Army into an uneasy alliance, so there was no way they'd be pleased.

'So long as I possess the golems' bodies, there's no way they'll attack me first. But, Anti-Skull doesn't know that yet...'

He didn't know why, but for some reason, Anti-Skull was hostile towards him, and he didn't want this situation to drag on forever. Tarian would probably try to consult with Arema when Lee s.h.i.+n Woo wasn't looking, and if he fails (he would obviously fail), there was a chance that their alliance would break apart.

'If there's no way of bringing Anti-Skull over to my side, then it wouldn't be such a bad idea to make them fight against the golems.'

Although he was working together with them, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo's brain was still busy. He also couldn't keep the golems on his side forever. Before they tried something in an attempt to regain their bodies from him, he would need to find the right time to kill them...

'How could I take care of them without them noticing?', Lee s.h.i.+n Woo wondered, and then asked Tarian Von Retadane, who hadn't been able to fully conceal his killing intent.

”The Annihilation Flame Sword G.o.d isn't with you?”

[He didn't come. He had something more important to do.]

”This is an important a.s.signment.”

[As his representative, my abilities and position are sufficient.]

”Sufficient abilities and position, huh.”

He probably wasn't wrong. Although Tarian Von Retadane couldn't match Arema Steelworker, he was definitely stronger than Arema's Four Heavenly Commanders.

But unlike Arema, who personally led his Metal Army, Anti-Skull's leader hadn't come, which felt a bit off... Lee s.h.i.+n Woo directed his questioning gaze at Guillotine, and Guillotine just shrugged his shoulders.

[We'll ask them later. But the alliance isn't as solid as you'd think.]

”Hmm.”

It seemed as though Anti-Skull wasn't the only one with trust issues. He wondered. It could be the truth, but... Perhaps the golems were dissatisfied with Lee s.h.i.+n Woo, as he held the noose around their necks, and were just hiding their true feelings.

'I feel like it'll be fine, no matter how the situation turns, but... I suppose I should send Kratia a message first.'

Once he'd simply explained the situation to her, he looked over the Anti-Skull squad once more. Unlike the undead he'd awakened, the Anti-Skull's undead emitted a familiar type of mana. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo wondered what it was but soon found the answer.

'It's light.'

That's right. Although Anti-Skull had experimented with a variety of poisons, he sensed traces of the light element from their mana. Of course, they couldn't use the light element on their own, they just gave off the feeling that they'd somehow copied the light element.

'It makes sense. After all, if you have the light element, the element that represents life, then you should be able to fight back against the undead curse. Perhaps these guys have retained their intellect, and they're no longer ordinary undead due to the light element's severing effect.'

As always, it was just his delusions at work and he didn't have any proof, but it made sense. However, he still had his doubts. If those countless tests to resist the undead curse were an attempt to obtain the light element, then who the h.e.l.l was Seagald Von Retadane, the one in charge of those tests?

'There are plenty of clues.'

Seira Von Retadane, who could use the light element. The royal family, with power that matched Jissehanu's at the time of their exile and was also the origin of the Retadane family. It was likely that the Retadane family studied the light element.

Seira Von Retadane and Seagald Von Retadane were likely born with the ability to wield light, and that's why Seagald was capable of executing such a grandiose plan.

'Like my affinity with the darkness element...'

He could easily understand why Seira Von Retadane became the first hero, and why Pleine was chosen as G.o.d's apostle. It was because their family was born with the light element!

Lineage was everything. After all, the Golden Shadow General was the firstborn of a family that could control shadows.

'However, that's where things differ... How you use what you have and how you develop it. And this guy... No matter how I think of it, he failed.'

At some point, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo discovered thin black threads secretly traveling across the ground and the nearby buildings. The mana threads were created from the buildings' and peoples' shadows.

He thought he had hidden himself, but it was a pitiful attempt to Lee s.h.i.+n Woo, who could use Dark Shadow. It might work if the Golden Shadow were fighting against those weaker than him, but how would his technique fare against Lee s.h.i.+n Woo...?