Chapter 7 : Evolution

Evolution

Although the skeleton held an advantage in both level and stats over the two mercenaries, its lack of intelligence left it blindly attacking; as a result, once one mercenary used his shield to block the skeleton, the skeleton warrior began to show a slight disadvantage.

Watching as the mercenaries gradually shifted from defense to offense, Serea prepared to go and assist, but at that moment things suddenly took an unexpected turn.

System: Evolution option detected. Would you like to evolve?

Suddenly, the skill Undead Revival shone with a golden light, leaving Serea utterly stunned.

Evolution option? What was that?

System: Potential elite undead units can evolve through combat. Currently detected elite unit—Skeleton Warrior can be evolved into either a Dread Warrior (Bronze Elite) or a Bone Warrior (Silver Elite).

"Hm?"

Glancing at her skeleton warrior entangled with the two mercenaries, Serea noticed that as the mercenaries regained their composure, their advantage in intelligence and teamwork gradually allowed them to suppress the skeleton warrior.

The shield-bearing mercenary drew the skeleton warrior's attention, while the swordsman continued to attack the skeleton warrior's side.

Seeing this, Serea inquired.

"Er... which evolution has greater intelligence?"

System: Bone Warrior.

"Which one is stronger?"

System: Bone Warrior.

"Well, you said it yourself, so why even ask me?"

System: Skeleton Warrior is now evolving into Bone Warrior.

While the battle raged, the swordsman, using his companion's shield as cover, successfully chopped off one of the skeleton's ribs.

"Hmph, a skeleton is just a skeleton. No intelligence at all."

"Enough talk, finish him off!"

"Don't rush, almost there!"

With that, the swordsman cast a glance at the skeleton warrior's spine. He had hacked it several times already — a few more strikes would do it!

But just then, a tremendous surge of power erupted from the skeleton warrior, so intense it turned into a tangible shockwave.

Boom!

The two mercenaries were forced to retreat, staring in shock at the skeleton warrior, whose body was now radiating a grey-black aura.

"What... what is this?"

"Evolution! Damn, run! It's evolving into a stronger monster!"

As he finished speaking, the skeleton warrior raised his head and let out a thunderous roar.

"For Queen Serea!"

Hearing the skeleton warrior utter a full sentence, Serea felt rather satisfied, and thus the evolution began.

A cloud of dark energy enveloped the skeleton warrior's body, while Serea's freshly converted dark power drained away at high speed.

System: Insufficient Death Energy.

"Convert materials."

System: Consumed 3 Fear Crystals and 2 Blood Crystals, gained 52 points of Dark Power.

But before Serea could even get used to that bit of Dark Power, it was all expended, leaving her only a single Blood Crystal.

A wave of weakness washed over her, and Serea leaned heavily against a tree trunk.

"Damn it, you never said the evolution would cost so much!"

System: This is common knowledge and needs no explanation.

"Sh*t!"

Although a bit distressed by the cost, the result was well worth it.

The dark energy spiraled around the skeleton warrior, whose frame rapidly expanded from 1.8 meters up to nearly 2.4 meters, followed by further physical transformation.

Under the remodeling power of death, all its bones turned pitch black, and from its arms grew arm blades a full meter long.

The front of the bone blades ended in spikes, while the ends flared outwards, forming broad shield-like structures.

With that, the Bone Warrior's evolution was complete, and its name now appeared in silver on the information panel.

Character: Bone Warrior (Undead, Silver Elite)

Level: 13

Status: Loyal

Spirit: D+

Strength: A+

Agility: B

Endurance: B

Constitution: C

Charisma: E

Luck: E

Skills: Blade Rend (Tier 1), Arm Blade Thrust (Tier 1), Block & Counter, Fear Roar (Tier 2).

Description: Evolved from a Skeleton Warrior, possessing even more terrifying destructive power.

Fear Roar: Unleashes a soul-shaking roar that causes enemies of weak mind to fall into fear, lowering their stats, while boosting the stats of all allied units within a 20-meter radius.

System: Gained a Silver Elite undead unit. A Death Crystal will be generated every 12 hours.

Before the two mercenaries could flee, the Bone Warrior finished evolving, its black skull housing two floating soul flames that locked onto them.

"Death!"

With a loud roar, the Bone Warrior threw aside its longsword and charged with both arm blades outstretched.

Arm Blade Thrust!

"Wh–"

Before the words left his lips, the Bone Warrior's arm blade pierced the wooden shield and embedded itself in the mercenary's chest.

Splurt!

Blood gushed out as the Bone Warrior activated Blade Rend.

Rip!

The sight quickly turned gruesome, the mercenary's chest being torn open to reveal his still-beating heart.

Faced with such horror, the other man was scared out of his wits, his whole body trembling in terror, unable to move.

After casually discarding the corpse, the Bone Warrior took two steps towards the other mercenary, towering over him with his 2.4-meter frame.

"ROAR!"

With Fear Roar activated, both the Bone Warrior and the onlooking skeleton warrior experienced a significant stat boost—an immediate, group-wide buff.

But the roar, when heard by the mercenary, sent him into such terror that he visibly quaked and even wet himself...

"N-no... please don't..."

Seeing the Bone Warrior raise its bone blade, the mercenary's voice trembled with pleading, yet he dared not resist in the slightest. At the same time, he provided Serea with yet another Fear Crystal.

"Death!"

With a single thrust, the arm blade pierced his chest, the Bone Warrior ending the man's life.

Staring at a scene that would normally require censorship, Serea—even as someone accustomed to such carnage—felt a bit uneasy. But it also clearly proved the unstoppable power of a Silver Elite unit like the Bone Warrior.

As Serea approached, the Bone Warrior dropped to one knee, bowing his head and speaking.

"Victory, blood, and glory—all given in tribute to the Queen!"

"Not bad,"

Serea nodded, "If you can say things like that, you definitely have intelligence. This was worth the cost."

Upon hearing her, the Bone Warrior replied immediately.

"Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty! I shall win even greater victories for you!"

Hearing this, Serea couldn't help but laugh. With such a loyal and powerful subordinate, she felt herself swelling with pride.

Yet just as Serea was basking in this feeling, the Bone Warrior's next words froze the smile on her face.

"This subordinate has completed the task you entrusted to me. I was not discovered, and all who recognized me were eliminated."

The Bone Warrior knelt in utter seriousness. Serea looked around—the scattered corpses of the three mercenaries were strewn about.

Well... truly, none were left to discover him. No problem there!

"My, you really are a genius, huh. None of them found you at all!"

Serea's mouth twitched, and she gave an awkward but polite smile.

"Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty!"

"Hehe, well, strength is enough. Just use your power to make up for any lack of intelligence."

With that, Serea turned and walked toward the three corpses.

(To be continued...)

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