"So, as you are a conjurer, can you see if you can raise that goblin you just killed?" my father asked, his curiosity piqued. I replied with confidence, "I can try," and approached the lifeless corpse, its eyes vacant and its body marred by deep sword gashes. As I placed my hand on top of it, a message suddenly popped up before me.
{Congratulations on gaining your first skill: Raise Skeleton. The strength of the skeleton depends on the density and strength of its bones. Currently, the skill is ranked as F, allowing you to raise F-rank monsters. To activate, simply command 'Raise Skeleton'.}
A smile crept across my face as I read the message aloud, "Raise Skeleton." The corpse began to convulse violently, and a gruesome spectacle unfolded before my eyes. Flesh tore apart, revealing stark white bones, and within a matter of minutes, the bony figure separated itself from its former fleshly prison. It was a sight that could have repulsed any grown man, perhaps even making him retch, but for me, it was a moment of sheer fascination and delight as I witnessed my first creation in this world. The skeletal hands of the corpse themselves tore through the remaining flesh, unveiling the raw bones beneath.
I wondered if the skeleton would follow my commands, so I tested its capabilities by instructing it to sprint for 50 meters. With surprising speed, the skeleton dashed forward, but when I commanded it to stop, it stumbled and fell flat on the ground, its feet bones wedged into the earth. Undeterred, I experimented with various commands to familiarize myself with the skeleton's abilities.
Impatiently, my father urged me to delve deeper into the dungeon. As we ventured forth, the sound of approaching footsteps filled the air. Two goblins came rushing toward us. Eager to test the combat prowess of my skeleton, I commanded it to engage the goblins, fully expecting it to be overwhelmed. However, once again, the skeleton proved me wrong.
With each step, its movements grew more elegant, mirroring my own fighting style. It swiftly approached the goblin on the left, deftly evading its sword strike, and swiftly delivered a powerful elbow to the neck, causing blood to gush from the injured goblin. The skeleton then sidestepped a slash from the other goblin, swiftly kicking it in the groin, eliciting a scream of pain. I couldn't help but smile at the skeleton's viciousness and cunning. Using open-hand strikes, it punctured the wounds of both goblins, causing them to succumb to their injuries and bleed out.
I noticed that the skeleton's arm and fingers were broken, unable to withstand the piercing attacks. Looking at its broken form, I sighed, realizing that we had a handicap within our team. However, I consoled myself, knowing that I could always enlist a replacement if needed. I turned my attention to the fallen goblin corpses and attempted to raise them, only to be met with a message stating:
[YOU HAVE REACHED YOUR CURRENT LIMIT AT F-. INCREASE YOUR RANK FOR MORE CAPACITY.]
So, it seemed I could only resurrect three corpses for now. Better than nothing, I supposed. As we continued our exploration, we encountered yet another foolish goblin who rashly attacked five of us. My skeleton gang swiftly subdued him, pinning him to the ground while the others stomped him to death like an angry mob. It became evident that I needed a replacement for the broken skeleton, so I ordered it to break itself fully until death. As the damage bar on top of the skeleton reached zero, it stopped, resembling neither a living nor an undead creature.
Throughout this whole ordeal, my father observed with a stoic expression, devoid of any emotions. It was as if he had seen it all before, unfazed by the grotesque scenes unfolding before him.
Deciding to temporarily name the skeletons G1, G2, and G3, I reminded myself not to dwell too much on these expendable pawns. There would be many more to come in the future.
With ease, we cleared the entire floor, honing our teamwork and combat skills. The skeletons grew increasingly adept at emulating my style, each one developing its own unique flair. Approaching the boss room, my father's face bore a mix of anticipation and caution. He emphasized the importance of following his instructions and retreating if the situation became dire. I assured him of my understanding, and the skeletons mirrored my commitment with a chest puff and a fist-on-heart salute.
With determination, I ordered G1 to open the gate, wary of any surprises. As the doors swung open, we were greeted by a vast, empty arena, and in its center stood a towering figure—a Goblin Champion. Clad in full plate armor and wielding a formidable battle axe, it exuded an aura of strength and danger. My father warned us of the Goblin Champion's F+ rank, urging caution and fearlessness. He vowed to come to our aid if needed.
Carefully, I directed my three skeleton soldiers to surround the warrior from all sides, advancing with measured steps. Confused by the four potential targets, the Goblin Champion chose the closest one, G2, and charged with relentless strength, aiming to crush him with its massive axe. However, G2 swiftly evaded the attack, causing the weapon to embed itself into the ground.
Seizing the opportunity, G1 and G3 launched their assault from the flanks. In a desperate maneuver, the Goblin Champion backhanded G1, sending him hurtling into a nearby wall until his health depleted entirely. At the same time, G3 managed to pierce the warrior's legs, causing a profusion of blood. Realizing the imminent danger to G1 and G2, I made a split-second decision.
"This cannot go on. G1 and G2 will perish. It's time for me to get my hands dirty," I resolved within myself. Evading an axe slash aimed at my head, I rushed toward the Goblin Champion, precisely piercing its other foot. Satisfied with my strategy, I watched as G1 and G2 continued their relentless assault, skillfully evading the warrior's counterattacks, now hindered by its injured knees.
The battle raged on for another grueling 10 minutes, turning the Goblin Champion into a pincushion. Finally, a final slash from G2 severed its leg, causing the warrior to collapse like a felled tree. A surge of excitement coursed through me as a notification appeared, congratulating me on my hard-earned victory.
[CONGRATULATIONS ON CLEARING THE FIRST FLOOR. YOU HAVE GAINED AN E-GRADE MANA CRYSTAL.]
However, my elation was short-lived as I realized that G1 and G2 had perished, crushed beneath the weight of the fallen Goblin Champion. "Well, that's certainly a foolish way to die. On a positive note, I can finally resurrect a boss monster," I remarked, raising the fallen Goblin Champion.