Li Xiuman had not forgotten to eavesdrop on the lesser succubi's gossip during the day.Knowing what Lucia's next experiment involved was of utmost importance to him.It was because he had learned beforehand that the last experiment was related to fire—and prepared accordingly—that he had survived that demon's torment.
Through careful probing, he finally pieced together the information he needed.This time, it wasn't fire—but earth.His skills—[Tenacity], [Hard Bone], and [Regeneration]—would still prove useful, but what he needed now was [Earth Resistance].
At last, he found a promising candidate: a level 6 skeleton blessed with both [Earth Resistance] and [Mighty Strength]—a rare combination among the lesser undead.He decided not to rush. His [Silent Step] skill still needed a few more nights of use to gather enough experience for an upgrade.
Last time, he had survived only because of a timely attribute allocation.Now his Constitution had risen from 5 to 7—perhaps he could even save his free attribute point this time.Regardless, he had to be prepared for the unexpected, ready for any misfortune that might strike.
That night, moving with practiced stealth, he crept up to his chosen target.A flash of ghostly flame burst forth, engulfing the creature's eye sockets and chest cavity in blue fire.Ding—Low−tierSkeletonslain.Experience+60.Ding—Low-tier Skeleton slain. Experience +60.Ding—Low−tierSkeletonslain.Experience+60.
He disassembled the remains piece by piece, reducing every fragment to ash."—That bone dragon has been asleep for quite some time, my lady."
The sudden voice startled him. He scattered the final handful of ashes and feigned an aimless, vacant wander, slipping the last finger bone into the crack of his arm.
"Who's there!"A sharp, feminine voice echoed. He'd been discovered after all.
From around the corner stepped a succubus, and slithering beside her was a shadowy mass of living tar."Only a low-tier skeleton?" The succubus relaxed slightly upon seeing him.After all, who would fear being overheard by a mindless husk that knew only instinct?
Li Xiuman, however, realized he had stumbled upon something significant.
"Master, it grows late," the succubus murmured. "If there is any movement from Pond, I shall inform you. Otherwise, you will proceed with the assault one month from now, as planned."
She bowed deeply to the black slime at her feet, which quivered and melted back into the darkness without a word.Perhaps some restriction prevented it from replying—only allowing one-way communication.
Even after it vanished, the succubus remained bowed in reverence.
Li Xiuman turned casually, shambling away. When her gaze flickered his way, he even staged a dramatic stumble, clattering to the ground before rising again to continue his vacant drift—perfectly embodying the harmless idiocy of a lesser skeleton.
He had lived among them long enough to imitate every nuance.At this moment, he was one of them.
The succubus withdrew her attention. She had half a mind to destroy him—after all, Lucia would never notice one or two skeletons missing.But this one… this was the only skeleton to survive the first round of experiments.No one knew what impression he might have left on Lucia, so she hesitated and turned away.
Once he was sure she was gone, Li Xiuman burned the last fragment of bone dust to nothing and rested.Lucia was due back the day after tomorrow. Tomorrow night, he would strike again—kill the skeleton with [Earth Resistance] and raise his own level to 4.
The following night, he executed his plan with practiced ease.One skeleton fell and turned to ash, then another—his true target.Ding—Levelupto4.Ding—Level up to 4.Ding—Levelupto4.FreeAttributePoint+1.Free Attribute Point +1.FreeAttributePoint+1.
He felt his soul-flame flare brighter, the fatigue of his spirit easing slightly.Detaching his left leg, he replaced it with the other skeleton's limb—failure.He had absorbed [Mighty Strength] instead.
"Damn it," he thought bitterly, cursing those with multiple skills. He tore off the right leg and tried again.Ding—SkillAcquired:EarthResistanceLv1.Ding—Skill Acquired: Earth Resistance Lv1.Ding—SkillAcquired:EarthResistanceLv1.
But in doing so, he lost [Tenacity].
He had to act fast—find another skeleton that carried [Tenacity] and replace the missing limb before Lucia's return.He scoured the ranks, burning precious spiritual energy with each use of [Appraisal].
"Finally!" he croaked, a faint rattle of bone betraying his excitement when he found one.
He crept forward, pressed a hand to its skull."Burn."Ding—Low−tierSkeletonslain.Experience+50.Ding—Low-tier Skeleton slain. Experience +50.Ding—Low−tierSkeletonslain.Experience+50.
His mind felt as though it would collapse from exhaustion.He replaced his leg and left the corpse smoldering under a low flame, hoping it would pass as natural decay.Ding—Spirit+1.Ding—Spirit +1.Ding—Spirit+1.
He dragged himself to a dark corner and collapsed, the system's faint chime echoing through his fading consciousness.
When he awoke, the world was as it had been. The body he had left was gone—likely cleared away as a defective husk.Lucia had not yet returned. There was still time.
He checked his status panel: Spirit 9, Constitution 7.Skills: [Hard Bone], [Tenacity], [Regeneration], [Earth Resistance].One free attribute point remained.
Confidence surged through him. He almost wanted to shout—Who could possibly kill me now?
He even found himself anticipating Lucia's return.Let her come, let her try again. Once he learned Earth Magic, he would rise from this nightmare—and repay dear Lucia in kind.
By noon, sunlight pierced the canyon's depths.Lucia descended in a flutter of her elegant bat wings, her violet eyes scanning the line of skeletons.
Then, with a graceful wave, she gestured—two lovely succubi sisters seized a skeleton.Ah, that skeleton was me.
It seemed she still remembered him. The thought almost made him proud.
Looking into his empty sockets, Lucia thought she glimpsed something—expectation, perhaps? She shook her head, dismissing it as illusion.
"I hope you can endure this one as well," she murmured.Then she spoke the spell.
"Winds of Aeolus."
A roaring gale swallowed Li Xiuman whole, every bone in his body screaming as though carved by a thousand blades.
That damned demon witch! he cursed inwardly. Wind?! How could it be wind!
He could feel his very soul being torn from his skeleton—and in that instant, all his careful preparation for [Earth Resistance] became nothing but a cruel joke.