[The Golden Shadow General⌠He has quite the troublesome ability.]
[But his bones will be buried in this city today.]
âI donât really like that expression⌠You gotta eat all the way down to the bone too.â
[âŚYou.]
The pressure exerted by Tarian Von Retadaneâs Anti-Skull force (there were three level 7 elites including him, fifteen level 6 elites, and 500 normal level 6s) and Arema Steelworkerâs Metal Army (which consisted of the Four Heavenly Commanders (level 7 elites) and 200 level 6 elite golems).
But Lee Shin 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?]
âTheyâre doing their own thing. Theyâre keeping the Golden Shadow General busy.â
[WhatâŚ!?]
Lee Shin 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 Shin Woo spoke so nonchalantly that both Anti-Skull and the Metal Army felt tense.
âWeâre all on the same side now, right? Donât be so tense. My boys wonât be able to stop the Golden Shadow General on their own⌠So, thatâs why Iâm asking for your help.â
[âŚThatâs 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 Shin Woo had forced Anti-Skull and the Metal Army into an uneasy alliance, so there was no way theyâd be pleased.
âSo long as I possess the golemsâ bodies, thereâs no way theyâll attack me first. But, Anti-Skull doesnât know that yetâŚâ
He didnât know why, but for some reason, Anti-Skull was hostile towards him, and he didnât want this situation to drag on forever. Tarian would probably try to consult with Arema when Lee Shin Woo wasnât looking, and if he fails (he would obviously fail), there was a chance that their alliance would break apart.
âIf thereâs no way of bringing Anti-Skull over to my side, then it wouldnât be such a bad idea to make them fight against the golems.â
Although he was working together with them, Lee Shin Wooâs brain was still busy. He also couldnât 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 themâŚ
âHow could I take care of them without them noticing?â, Lee Shin Woo wondered, and then asked Tarian Von Retadane, who hadnât been able to fully conceal his killing intent.
âThe Annihilation Flame Sword God isnât with you?â
[He didnât come. He had something more important to do.]
âThis is an important assignment.â
[As his representative, my abilities and position are sufficient.]
âSufficient abilities and position, huh.â
He probably wasnât wrong. Although Tarian Von Retadane couldnât match Arema Steelworker, he was definitely stronger than Aremaâs Four Heavenly Commanders.
But unlike Arema, who personally led his Metal Army, Anti-Skullâs leader hadnât come, which felt a bit off⌠Lee Shin Woo directed his questioning gaze at Guillotine, and Guillotine just shrugged his shoulders.
[Weâll ask them later. But the alliance isnât as solid as youâd think.]
âHmm.â
It seemed as though Anti-Skull wasnât the only one with trust issues. He wondered. It could be the truth, but⌠Perhaps the golems were dissatisfied with Lee Shin Woo, as he held the noose around their necks, and were just hiding their true feelings.
âI feel like itâll be fine, no matter how the situation turns, but⌠I suppose I should send Kratia a message first.â
Once heâd simply explained the situation to her, he looked over the Anti-Skull squad once more. Unlike the undead heâd awakened, the Anti-Skullâs undead emitted a familiar type of mana. Lee Shin Woo wondered what it was but soon found the answer.
âItâs light.â
Thatâs right. Although Anti-Skull had experimented with a variety of poisons, he sensed traces of the light element from their mana. Of course, they couldnât use the light element on their own, they just gave off the feeling that theyâd somehow copied the light element.
âIt 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 theyâre no longer ordinary undead due to the light elementâs severing effect.â
As always, it was just his delusions at work and he didnât 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 hell was Seagald Von Retadane, the one in charge of those tests?
âThere are plenty of clues.â
Seira Von Retadane, who could use the light element. The royal family, with power that matched Jissehanuâs 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 thatâs why Seagald was capable of executing such a grandiose plan.
âLike my affinity with the darkness elementâŚâ
He could easily understand why Seira Von Retadane became the first hero, and why Pleine was chosen as Godâs 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.
âHowever, thatâs 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.â
At some point, Lee Shin Woo discovered thin black threads secretly traveling across the ground and the nearby buildings. The mana threads were created from the buildingsâ and peoplesâ shadows.
He thought he had hidden himself, but it was a pitiful attempt to Lee Shin 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 Shin Woo�
[Stop!]
When Lee Shin Woo was about to secretly extend his sword and slice the shadow, Arema, who was standing at the forefront, discovered the traces and stiffly ordered his troops to stop. Unlike the others, Jin, who had been walking slowly to match their pace, stopped with ease.
[Heâs nearby. Golden Shadow! A tough battle awaits us. The nearby roads and buildings have been turned inside outâŚ!]
[Is it the Golden Shadow Generalâs barrier!?]
Right when the group flinched and stopped, Chi Paul reported through telepathy. The Golden Shadow had been caught in the traps, but ultimately, the Golden Shadow General joined the battle. Although three of the Chi Pauls, including one level 7 elite, had sustained critical injuries and were forced to retire, the rest of his forces were able to retreat safely.
He was a level 8 capable of controlling shadows and was also a part of the 12 Generals, yet none of them had died. As he thought, their anger towards Arema Steelworker was increasing their abilities by a âlevelâ or perhaps even more.
[Tell the injured to return. Pick out only those who can still fight and wait at the place I designate. If all goes well, you may be able to fight against Anti-Skull as well.]
[Understood!]
[Everyone, get ready for battle. Heâll likely ambush us. Focus!]
Lee Shin Woo saw the Metal Army and Anti-Skull prepare for battle and summoned his own weapons. It was the jet-black Giant Drake Horn Lance that heâd infused darkness mana into prior! Arema Steelworker and Tarian Von Retadane flinched at the sight of it.
[Where did you get�]
[âŚDarkness? It is darkness!]
Lee Shin Woo had fully charged his seventeen weapons with mana, but only nine of them had been floating in the air. The other eight had been hiding in the shadows, but heâd chosen to extract them. He wasnât really trying to show off, but it was kind of laughable that a level 8 golem was flinching.
âIs this the first time youâve seen a lance?â
[If you can wield darkness so easily, then even if you were to fight alone⌠Heâs coming!]
Suddenly, the shadow underneath them spread out and covered the entire area! It seemed as though it would dye the entire world black. Arema Steelworker gritted his teeth, gathered his own mana, and fought back against the darkness. However, he was only able to protect a portion of his golems. Most of them had been trapped within the darkness.
[Vellun Von DortheâŚ!]
[Arema Steelworker. You finally show your true colors. To think youâd so fearlessly step foot into one of His Majestyâs cities. Iâm happy that Iâll be able to bury you here.]
A gloomy manâs voice resounded throughout the darkness. Although they were both level 8s, it seemed as though the Golden Shadow Generalâs command over his element overpowered Aremaâs. Arema instantly gathered his mana and fired it within the darkness. However, the darkness merely dispersed for a short time and soon filled the air once more.
[You really think you can fill the entire world with darkness?]
[The Underground Empire is governed by darkness. Your metal element is merely unusual. Thatâs all!]
[Come on. Iâll show you the true strength of that unusual power of mineâŚ!]
It felt like theyâd come to blows at any time. But surprisingly, the Golden Shadow General didnât strike. Rather than challenging Arema Steelworkerâs golden mana, the Golden Shadow General safely hid within the darkness and then ambushed one of the Four Heavenly Commanders.
[Keoheok!]
[Stake!]
It was the right call. Since Stake hadnât been able to mount a proper defense and was completely destroyed. It made sense. After all, it was the surprise attack of a level 8 and one of the 12 Generals. Even Lee Shin Woo had briefly lost track of his movements.
âHis stats are geared towards Agility and Magic. Itâs a classic strategy. He relies on magic, rather than physical strength to hurt his enemies.â
Stake Steelworkerâs death signaled the start of the battle. The Golden Shadow Generalâs forces attacked all at once.
His forces hid within the darkness heâd created and continually appeared and disappeared in different areas. They then grouped up and attacked, looking like a wave of darkness.
âAs I thought, using shadows was a specialized form of darkness.
But Lee Shin Woo could see them clearly, as heâd reached peak darkness mastery. If he mixed his darkness within theirs, then he could quickly defeat their entire force, but because he knew that Anti-Skull was hiding something, Lee Shin Woo decided to not do more than what was necessary.
âThey act like theyâre so powerful, but the technique doesnât feel invincible⌠Heup!â
[Kuhaahk!?]
[Guaah!]
Lee Shin Woo swung his lance strangely. The approaching wave lost its cutting edge and collapsed instantaneously. The Golden Shadow, which had been pointing their weapons at Lee Shin Woo, were flung out. He squashed a portion of them with his lance and challenged the Golden Shadow General.
âYouâve just lost your subordinates. You just going to sit there?â
[Keuk. You rat. Letâs see how long you can avoid me!]
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Lee Shin Woo had just grinned at the face of Stake Steelworkerâs death and fought off the Golden Shadow with ease. Arema Steelworker was enraged at the sight, spread out his mana, and began to chase after the Golden Shadow General. Tarian Von Retadaneâs Anti-Skull force was likewise struggling against the Golden Shadow.
âLetâs see. I wonder what Anti-Skullâs hidden objective isâŚâ
If Rem was with him, then heâd be able to more easily observe their movements. Unfortunately, it wasnât with him right now. But now that itâd come to this, there was no helping it. He had no choice but to use his last resort: âasking the bones themselvesâ.
âAll of you, attack Tarian. Thatâs right. So that I can easily kill him unnoticed⌠Just a little more. You can do it, Golden Shadow!â
Lee Shin Woo licked his lips and his lance slowly melted into the darkness. The Golden Shadow General probably had no idea that the darkness heâd created was being used by someone else.