Novel Full Chapter 40: Fighting Undead Skeletons, Acquiring Materials
Chapter 40: Chapter 40: Fighting Undead Skeletons, Acquiring Materials
Slash!
The [Undead Skeletons] were indeed powerful, just as Leon expected from monsters inside a [Hard] difficulty dungeon.
Their movements were precise, their sword swings sharp, and their coordination far better than anything found in the wild.
But even so, they weren’t nearly strong enough to threaten him.
Leon stepped forward without hesitation, parrying the first skeleton’s sword with a clean motion.
The impact echoed through the stone hall, but Leon didn’t even flinch. Using the opening created by the parry, he twisted his wrist and slashed upward.
Crack!
The skeleton’s body was split apart in a single strike. Bones scattered across the floor before dissolving into gray mist.
Another skeleton rushed him from the side, its blade aimed for his ribs. Leon shifted his footing and intercepted it mid-swing, his enhanced strength overwhelming the undead creature instantly.
His sword tore straight through its torso.
At the same time—
Divine Beam!
A column of radiant light erupted from Emilia’s scepter, piercing straight through one of the skeletons.
Holy energy surged through its body, and the undead let out a silent scream before collapsing.
The beam didn’t stop there. It continued forward, burning into two more skeletons and leaving visible cracks along their frames.
Undead-type enemies were naturally weak to holy attacks, and Emilia’s spell exploited that weakness perfectly.
Still, even with their numbers, the skeletons couldn’t push Leon back.
He advanced steadily, blade flashing again and again. Every strike was decisive. Every movement efficient.
His increased strength made each swing lethal, and his experience ensured he never wasted motion.
Within seconds, the hall fell silent.
Ding!
[You have killed x7 “Undead Skeleton” and gained 7,000 experience points.]
[100% Drop Rate has triggered, items have been automatically placed in your storage space.]
The system’s message appeared calmly.
One of the more interesting aspects of [Eternal Ascension] was how parties worked. Unlike many games, experience wasn’t split between members.
As long as the system recognized that you contributed to the fight, you received the full experience for the kills you participated in.
Loot worked the same way, though drop rates still depended on individual talents.
That was why Leon received credit for seven kills instead of eight. Emilia’s [Divine Beam] had completely finished off one skeleton on its own.
However, for the others she damaged, she still received the same experience Leon did.
Leon opened his storage space without hesitation.
[Undead Core x7]
[Corrupted Bones x13]
[Undead Sword x6 (Uncommon): +750 Attack, +500 Strength. Requirement: Level 13.]
[Undead Skeleton Essence x5: Consuming will increase strength 8.]
“Nice,” Leon muttered, genuinely pleased.
The drops were far better than he expected for a single group of monsters. Especially the [Undead Swords]. Six of them meant he could immediately attempt equipment fusion.
Without wasting time, Leon initiated the process.
Ding!
[You have consumed two identical equipments… enhancement successful!]
Light flickered briefly around the weapon in his hands.
[Undead Sword +3 (Uncommon): +1,100 Attack, +700 Strength, +200 Agility. Requirement: Level 14.]
Leon’s eyes lit up.
The level requirement had increased, but the stats more than made up for it. If he didn’t find a better weapon before reaching level fourteen, this sword would easily carry him for a while.
And knowing this dungeon, better loot was very likely.
He then consumed all five [Undead Skeleton Essences] without hesitation. Power flowed into his body as his strength rose by forty points.
Only then did Leon notice two new panels hovering before him.
Ding!
[Congratulations, you have leveled up to Level 11!]
And immediately after—
[Due to “Heaven’s Blessing”, you have gained 100 points in all attributes, and 100 free points to distribute.]
“HAHA!” Leon laughed out loud.
’It worked!’
He had known it would activate. A passive tied to a celestial title wouldn’t be fake.
But actually seeing it trigger, actually receiving the rewards, made it feel overwhelmingly real.
Emilia blinked in confusion as she looked at Leon.
“I only got a few materials and one essence,” she said slowly. “My drop rate isn’t great, but… did you just level up?”
“Yeah,” Leon replied, still grinning. “I’m good for now. I got a lot stronger.”
He immediately allocated his free points, placing half into [Strength] and the other half into [Spirit].
The effect was instant.
His [Combat Power] jumped sharply, rising by nearly one thousand from a single level-up.
Being a [Celestial Being] truly was absurd.
Still, Leon kept himself grounded. There were others out there, other celestials.
And there was always the chance that they possessed the same passive.
“Wow…” Emilia stared at him, eyes wide. “You feel… way stronger.”
Rapid increases in power were impossible to hide. Even without seeing his panel, she could feel the pressure radiating off him.
Leon glanced at his updated combat power.
[Combat Power: 4,524 (+7,436)]
“Just over twelve thousand,” he said with satisfaction.
After Emilia absorbed the essence she had obtained, the two pressed deeper into the [Undead Temple].
They encountered several more groups of [Undead Skeletons] along the way. With their coordination improving and Emilia supporting him when needed, they cleared each group efficiently.
Before long, Emilia also reached level eleven.
[Level: 11 (4,700/12,000)]
From level ten onward, experience requirements increased steadily, an additional two thousand per level until level twenty-five. After that, leveling became far more difficult.
But for now, fighting monsters above their level inside a [Hard] dungeon gave them more than enough experience.
Eventually, they entered a large chamber. The ceiling stretched high above them, and at the far end stood a wide flight of stone stairs leading downward.
However, the path was blocked.
Two new types of undead stood between them and the stairs.
—
[Undead Zombie]
[Level: 15]
[Combat Power: 11,800]
[Exclusive Talent: Infection]
[Details: A zombie that can infect others into joining them, do not let it hit you too much.]
—
[Undead Ghoul]
[Level: 15]
[Talent: Agility Enhancement (E-Level)]
[Combat Power: 12,500]
[Details: Ghouls that live deep inside of the “Undead Temple”, protecting the way to the king’s tomb.]
—
Before Leon could speak—
Divine Beam!
Emilia struck first.
Her holy beam pierced straight through an [Undead Zombie] and continued into a nearby [Undead Ghoul], obliterating both in an instant.
“Haha!” she laughed, clearly encouraged.
Leon, however, didn’t rush forward. Instead, he raised his staff.
The [Infection] talent made the zombies extremely dangerous at close range.
Repeated hits could eventually turn a player into one of them. That mechanic existed only in the [Hard] difficulty.
Staying back was the correct choice.
Powerful Fireball! Lightning Strike!
A blazing sphere of fire exploded among the undead, followed by a crackling bolt of lightning.
Several monsters were scorched instantly, collapsing before they could even react.
The remaining undead let out distorted growls and charged forward at full speed.
Emilia stepped back instinctively, her skills still on cooldown.
Leon didn’t move.
Darkness Barrier:
A faint dark shield formed around him just as the zombies reached him. Their claws slammed into the barrier repeatedly.
Nothing happened. The barrier didn’t even tremble.
Leon smiled. “Guess I didn’t need to worry after all.”
He stepped forward and decapitated one of the zombies in a single swing.
Slash! Slash!
The others clawed at him desperately, but their attacks were useless. The barrier’s durability was massively boosted by Leon’s [Vessel of Darkness] sub-talent.
Within seconds, the zombies fell. Only the [Undead Ghouls] remained.
Their claws glinted as they circled cautiously.
Leon took a step forward—
BOOM!
The ground cracked violently beneath him.
Leon instantly leaped back as a massive clawed arm burst from the floor.
Stone shattered. Dust filled the air. Something climbed out.
—
[Undead Ghoul (Mutated)]
[Level: 15]
[Talent: Agility Enhancement (D-Level)]
[Combat Power: 13,700]
[Details: A ghoul that surpasses all the others, its claws are sharp, able to cut through any skin.]
—
“Damn,” Emilia said sharply, activating [Agility Enhancement]. “Be careful.”
“Yeah,” Leon replied, tightening his grip on his staff and sword.
He knew what lay beyond those stairs. The final chamber. And the [Undead King].