Chapter 114 – Hansen Von Dorthe (9)

Aside from the seven that had died in battle, Lee Shin-Woo named the remaining thirty-one Chimeras Avengers Chi Paul to Chi Paul 31.

Because they were already elites, they didn't evolve again, but surprisingly, their stats increased slightly followed by a change in their status. Lee Shin-Woo was suddenly shocked at how much power a name held in this world.

Even so, he hadn't planned on putting much effort into their names. So long as he could tell them apart, any name was fine.

"Chi Paul 31, you're the last one."

[I see... Seven of us died.]

"It's more impressive that only seven of you died against that ridiculous guy."

He reinforced the weakest seven Chi Pauls with the bones of the fallen Chimeras and healed them with a portion of the bones he'd accumulated. Afterwards, the Chi Pauls looked at Lee Shin-Woo as if he were a mother bird, and that they had come to respect him.

[As expected, you are indeed qualified to declare your plan to kill the Emperor.]

[His power has changed since defeating the Lightning Shadow General. It's almost like he lives in a different world from us.]

One of the Chimeras pointed out sharply, but Lee Shin-Woo ignored them and returned to the task he'd put off in favor of taking care of the Chimeras. He was going to absorb the Lightning Shadow General's wrist bone!

"The Lightning Shadow General, a higher ranked bone than even the Treasure Eater’s..."

He'd absorbed a Giant's level 7 bone from the shop before, and while the giant was quite powerful, he was no match for either the Treasure Eater or the Lightning Shadow General. The reason his stats had increased so much from the Giant’s bone was because he had been that weak at the time.

While he'd gotten quite a lot stronger since then, the Lightning Shadow General's bone might just surprise him and increase his stats significantly...!

"Ah, there may be a bit of a backblast, so keep an eye on me," said Lee Shin-Woo.

"You can count on me," said Kratia.

"All I need to do is watch this woman so that she doesn't do anything strange to you, right?"

"Jin, you really are a rude gi...person."

Lee Shin-Woo remained quiet, feeling a little left out as he listened to the horse and woman bicker.

He didn’t think he would get a beautiful girl to like him since he was a skeleton, and pursuing a serious relationship was of course out of the question; there was no reason for him to do so anyway. Nevertheless, he hadn’t expected to be beaten by Jin, who was a skeleton horse!

"It seems like Shin-Woo's thinking about something strange again."

"...My condolences."

"Alright... Bone Reinforcement!"

[Executing Bone Reinforcement by consuming the Lv7 Lightning Shadow General, Hansen Von Dorthe's wrist bone.]

Lee Shin-Woo ignored their chit-chat and boldly executed Bone Reinforcement. The Lightning Shadow General's wrist bone in his hand began to spark and disassemble before getting absorbed into his body. At that moment, his mana momentarily transformed into pure lightning!

[Your interior energy has been activated to its very limit! Intermediate Lightning Element has reached Lv10 and evolved into a high rank skill! You can utilize lightning more naturally than before, and your resistance to it has been strengthened as well. Magic has increased by 30.]

His intermediate level 8 lightning element had leveled up twice in one go and evolved into a high rank skill!

Knowing how wide the gap between an intermediate skill and a high rank skill was, Lee Shin-Woo cheered at the rank-up. Surprisingly, though, it was merely a by-product. Bone Reinforcement's greatest value was finally coming into play!

[You have acquired a skill with great success, as your affinity with the target is incredibly high! Strength has increased by 30, and Magic by 45. Absorbing Hansen Von Dorthe's experiences and memories more deeply.]

The thought that he was going to experience Hansen’s memories barely surfaced in his mind before Lee Shin-Woo lost his consciousness then and there. When he opened his eyes, he was...to his surprise, in a world overflowing with life.

There were flowers and grass growing in the lawn with small bugs roaming about... Tables were set up in a disorderly manner with delicious-looking food and drinks. Lee Shin-Woo was familiar with this kind of thing. It was a party.

"Hansen, are you nodding off again?"

"Mm. No, I wasn't nodding off at all."

"What a smooth talker."

He heard the voice of a young Hansen, who he'd fought just a short while ago. The voice rebuking him sounded a little older.

Lee Shin-Woo's consciousness was inside him as Hansen looked up. A spirited middle-age man was there, and for some reason, he felt familiar to Lee Shin-Woo.

"I'm not lying, Sir Seagald. More importantly, what about the guard in the west?'

Seagald!?

Of course he would seem familiar! Lee Shin-Woo had heard so many stories about Seagald! However... There was something strange about the situation. Seagald was the head of Anti-Skull; it was a known fact that he was hostile towards the Emperor and his subordinates.

Yet Seagald was approaching Hansen, one of the twelve generals, with such comfort. This must have happened a long time ago

"It seems like Her Highness the Princess didn't like the party. She went back to the palace immediately. So, henceforth, I will be guarding His Highness the Prince instead."

"It'd be nice if I could just return to the palace as well..."

"Don't nod off until His Majesty orders your return."

"Yeah, yeah," Hansen replied flippantly and nodded. Then he looked up and asked, "Now that I think about it, the party isn't that big this time. Did the First Princess come to the party today?'

"Don't overstep."

"Yes, sir. But still, I think I'd be a suitable husband... Hui."

Hansen barely avoided the formless energy coming from Seagald. And like Lee Shin-Woo always did when he experienced someone's memories through Bone Reinforcement, he engraved their fight into his memory.

He thought they might be weaker since it was a distant memory, but observing their quarrel, he came to the conclusion that both Seagald and Hansen were in their prime.

"If I hadn't avoided this, my face would've been split apart. Seriously, why are you always doing this to me?"

"You've gotten stronger since you became a general, Hansen. Shall we spar once you're done with your escort duty?"

"That sounds good. This is my chance to see my future brother-in-law's skill... Uaah."

Seagald opted to attack with flames this time, which Lee Shin-Woo learned were no regular flames! Meanwhile, Hansen was moving desperately in order to dodge them. From within Hansen, Lee Shin-Woo felt his mana rotating quickly and instantaneously turning into lightning. He nodded in understanding.

As I thought... There was a reason I felt a bit of superfluousness in his movements.

The lightning was indeed powerful, but unlike Lee Shin-Woo, who transformed mana into lightning itself, Hansen would quickly circulate his mana through a special pattern before turning it into something that felt like lightning magic to use his skill.

Though it was powerful, it was inefficient... Bursting Thunder had started out similarly, and aside from Lee Shin-Woo, who could utilize the elements freely, this was probably how most people probably used the elements.

"She's a saint."

"Then the second princess?"

Even while Lee Shin-Woo was organizing his thoughts regarding the elements, Seagald and Hansen continued to talk. It seemed as though Seagald's younger sister, the Princess, was incredibly pretty, as Hansen held on persistently.

"She's still a priest."

"Our religious order doesn't forbid marriage!"

"Hoo..."

Seagald seemed to be wordlessly saying, 'Why wouldn’t he understand even after all this?' Then he sighed magnificently and took a look around. Hansen followed suit; they noticed people were gathering. In the center, there was a luxuriously dressed middle-aged man.

"Is this some kind of entertainment you've prepared for us?"

"No, Your Highness. We were just joking around..."

"I, the Crown Prince, will allow it. Show our guests how great the swords of the Empire are."

"Ehk..."

"I understand, Your Highness."

It was an order from the Crown Prince, the object of his protection; Hansen thus had to fight someone he couldn't beat in front of all these people. While he was still reeling from the shock, Seagald had already drawn his sword.

What was worse, Seagald's eyes were big and bright, which suggested that he was going to discipline him, a manner-less brat, for coveting his younger sisters.

"Come at me whenever, Hansen."

"Please stop glaring at me so strongly. This is a spar, a spar."

"I know. Though occasionally, sparring with real swords results in casualties."

"Are you trying to kill me?!"

Unfortunately, there was no way for Hansen to escape. Once the Crown Prince clapped, men wearing impressive uniforms came rushing out, clearing the area to make space for the match.

Hansen’s expression twisted into that of a condemned criminal ready for execution. Reluctantly, he drew his sword. It was the sword that had now become a part of Lee Shin-Woo, the Divine Lightning Sword.

To think I'd be able to experience a fight between generals. I've really hit the jackpot, haven't I!?

He'd acquired memories regarding a party that had nothing to do with the Empire's struggles, or even its secrets, and Lee Shin-Woo had been grumbling about being forced to watch men and women talking the entire time, but he had no idea it would end up like this!

"If you're not attacking, I will."

"Hoo..."

He did his very best to focus on the current situation. He'd already killed Hansen, and it felt like he would never have to fight Seagald in the future, but it was quite a big deal that he was able to experience the battle between two big shots so clearly!

"If you're letting me make the first move, I'll gladly take it!" Hansen said while turning his mana into lightning; He then charged at Seagald at a blinding speed. It was the same Lightning Shadow technique he'd used during their fight!

Ah, this should be easy to copy.

Lee Shin-Woo definitely had talent in the ways of manipulating mana, so the moment he experienced it firsthand, he figured out the core of the technique.

The goal of Lightning Shadow was to eliminate the boundary between the body and magic by rapidly circulating one's mana and extending it outside one's body. Right now, Hansen's body was akin to a thunderbolt! He was ridiculously strong and fast. To the point that he could face a level 8!

Of course, not only did it consume an overwhelming amount of mana, the technique was also physically harmful. However, it was an incredible technique that took its shortcomings into consideration, and would momentarily increase one's power exponentially.

You could probably use the skill the same way with another element, but... It seems like the lightning element is most effective. Next would probably be wind.

As expected, the lightning element was powerful. Lee Shin-Woo could understand how Hansen had become the Emperor's hitman despite being level 7 amongst the generals. At the same time, he realized something else...

If I become familiar with the technique, my Lightning Sprint might get stronger as well.

Lightning Sprint was a charge skill based on high-rank spirit arts. It would engulf the user’s body in lightning while granting the user overwhelming acceleration speed and destructive force. If Lightning Shadow could be likened to changing the inner gloves, then Lightning Sprint was like changing the outer gloves!

But at their core, the techniques were similar, so it didn't feel like it would be very difficult to learn both at the same time. And if Lee Shin-Woo were to succeed, he would be able to use two skills with ridiculous synergy. After creating the Shadow Horn, he had gotten a taste for fusing skills together; he wanted to study the skills immediately.

However…

"Hah!"

Using his skill, Hansen charged forward quickly, and Seagald gave as good as he got, blocking Hansen mid-way. He easily deflected Hansen's blade and simultaneously kicked him in the stomach.

Hansen spun around and tried to respond with a kick of his own, but by then, the back of Seagald's blade had already struck Hansen's head with great force. Dozens of moves had occurred within the blink of an eye, and ultimately, before the duration of Lightning Shadow ended... Hansen was on his knees.

"Kuheok. I lost."

"Mm."

Even though Lee Shin-Woo had been experiencing the battle in Hansen's body, he still had no idea what had happened and how he had lost so badly. He would need to think back to this battle several times in the future.

"That's the secret technique you invented, isn’t it? Mm, it's certainly powerful and quick. However, your mind couldn't keep up with your body. That's why you can't beat me."

"Kuheuk, you're right..."

The attendees to the party applauded. Of course, they didn't really know what had happened, but they at least knew that Seagald had won overwhelmingly. Plus, Hansen had gone all out from the very beginning, yet Seagald hadn't even drawn his fire sword!

As I thought, Seagald's a swordsman who specializes in fire.

While Lee Shin-Woo nodded at the flowing memories, Seagald laughed softly and extended his hand towards Hansen.

"I can't give you my little sister’s hand, but you’ve gotten stronger."

"I'm glad you're not my enemy, Sir Seagald... Hoo."

Hansen grabbed Seagald's hand and stood up. Thinking he was being dramatic, Seagald grinned and said, "So long as I serve His Imperial Majesty, that will never happen. I promise you in the name of the house Retadane."

"I'll be part of the family soon anyway... Uoooooooh!"

Seagald twisted Hansen's hand and flung him aside. At that moment, Lee Shin-Woo's consciousness became faint. The rich and fruitful experience was finally drawing to a close.

No, wait a sec.

But Lee Shin-Woo, who was returning to his body after acquiring combat experience and skill know-how, was shocked at something Seagald had said.

Retadane... Is that what he said?

His consciousness faded at that moment. What terrible timing.