“Haah!“
I woke up in a start and looked around. The same forest, my body was normal.
A sigh left me as I pushed myself off the ground and looked at my Divine Window.
> {Stats::
> [Strength: 19 (Lowest-Low)]
> [Endurance: 24 (Lowest-Low)]
> [Mana: 33 (Intermediate-Low)]
> [Control: 20 (Lowest-Low)]
> [Intelligence: 22 (Lowest-Low)]}
Each of the stats had halved. The next Skelian would become the strongest I've ever had.
The idea of trying my hand against the bear entered my mind, but if I died multiple times then the gap would become even greater.
The first thing I did was snap my fingers and summon the orbs of water. Mana flowed out, noticing a larger dent in my reserves than before, as they circled my back.
The movements of the orbs were rather clumsy in the beginning and took more focus. Beads of sweat formed on my forehead.
But the results were just as good.
[Control: 23]
[Control: 25]
[Control: 27]
The one stat that practically translated to my skill level was rapidly increasing. Though not back to the old value, it was still a considerable jump. Unfortunately, I couldn’t say the same about the other stats.
Intelligence was a recovery rate for my mana and helped with the purity of the mana my core gathered, while the Mana stat reflected a raw value. While limited, the other stats were intuitive and did what they said on the cover.
In the end, I didn't think these 'stats' governed one's strength. They were a good way to improve from one's current state, but not a good display of one's current power at all.
“As long as it helps.“
For now, my goal was to increase the skill gap between myself and the skeleton that was to come next. I wanted to suppress it immediately.
I had already planned two skulls to learn.
[Earth Magic: Binds of Nature (Third Circle)]
[Fire Magic: Rapid Butterflies (Third Circle)]
Both of these were considerably difficult spells and were the type of magic spells that could make a difference against a strong opponent.
These would be enough to tame any Skelians for a while. Though I had no plans to die again anytime soon.
“Let's get to work.“
***
The spellbook slammed shut as I stretched my hands and feet and fell on my back. A yawn left me while I shook my legs, almost like a cat.
Sitting and studying was a hassle in the other world, but now it was fun. I could tell why so many scholars were interested in magic.
It felt as if my mind forced me to focus with all my strength, which made learning a bit easier as well.
Or perhaps it was the lack of mobile phones? I would have probably scrolled a marathon on Instaquack while reading two books.
“It should be enough… should I practice it again?“
The thought entered my mind as I looked around me. Dozens of trees were on the ground, charred black from the burns.
Maybe there was no need for practice. Not like skeletons needed to worry about death.
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“[Return To Hell]”
The Corvus constellation formed on my hand yet again as the spell took hold. All my mana had recovered, there was no better time to fight it than now.
One after another, the skeleton started to form. Some seeped out of the ground, others formed in mid-air, and some pulled themselves outside of the magic circle.
The oppressive scent of dark magic and the air of death filled the forest as the ones who should have long served their time returned to this hell.
My eyes narrowed. Finally, in front of me, the new strongest skeleton formed. Its bones were considerably thicker and stronger than all the others. The air of death around it was stronger than the rest.
It emanated power.
The skeletons all formed and lowered their heads. The newly strongest skeleton stepped ahead, it closed in on me.
Then, it's knee bent—
“[Binds of Nature]”
The spell activated without hesitation as branches and vines stretched out of the ground and wrapped themselves around the skeleton.
The new one, Skelian 13, I was planning to call it, looked around in surprise. It almost felt as if nervous sweat was dripping from its skull as it shook its head desperately.
Well, I believed in curbing violence from the core.
“[Fire Magic…]”
The skeleton shook its head faster.
“[Rapid butterflies (Third Circle)]”
Small balls of flames formed in the air. One, two, five, twelve, twenty…
They expanded in number until it became difficult to count them. The small balls of flames were as big as a bullet and distinctly resembled a butterfly in their shape.
The skeleton's eyes widened, and the attack launched outward. The butterflies struck the skeleton dead in the face multiple times. The sound of the small explosions each time they hit was like bullets shooting out of an assault rifle.
“Don’t even think of revolting ever again!”
The other skeletons observing us all lowered their heads further. Some even went as far as to kneel. Perhaps it was too awkward. I met my eyes with one of them, Skelian 9. It seemed that it had learned its lesson well both last time and this time, as it was trembling while it knelt.
Soon enough, the spell ended and the skeleton came out of the cloud of smoke the fire had made with its white bones charred black. The skeleton looked at me with betrayed and helpless eyes.
For some reason, I felt it was never planning to attack me.
***
Whether the skeleton would attack or not, the effect of the spells was undeniable. It was a useful addition and had tamed the rest of the skeleton army.
It felt odd that the newest Skelian was also the most cooperative and proactive. Before I died, I was actively thinking about how I could help myself the best, and it felt as if the skeleton was embodying that very thought. These skeletons might have carried the strongest emotion I felt at the time of death.
That also helped explain their seemingly bland but fairly discernable personalities.
With the addition of a new person learning third and fourth circle spells, it became easier for me to focus and train.
The days passed by just like that. At all moments, my mana was deeply strained to maintain the skeletons, which also helped me boost my recovery and control stats.
During the mornings, I spent my time reading the books.
“Fourth Circle spells are needlessly difficult. Hey, did you manage to use any?”
“…”
“I understand, don’t worry and work hard. Even the third circle spells take a lot of strength.”
.
.
.
Once just sitting around became troublesome, I decided to train to get my other stats back as well.
—Clap!
“Ninety-Seven…”
—Clap!
“Ninety-Eight…!”
—Clap!
“Ninety-Nine…..!”
With the help of the skeletons, I poured in extra effort into exercising. When I managed to make a lot of exercises easy, I added mana into my muscles—following the advice written in the martial arts books.
Augmenting one’s body with mana was supposed to be the fundamentals of melee fighting. It was also what Evans did the best, making him the strongest leader for us.
I followed that principle and used my mana in another way. Of course, it made simple exercises easier.
So the skeletons started climbing my back to add weight while I worked out.
.
.
.
Just magic and physical strength wasn’t enough. We had to keep ourselves trained in every aspect.
“Haah!”
The skeletons helped me use the weapons. The sword’s swings, the detailed twists of my body, the stances I had to use with different lengths of the blade, and the intentions in my swings. From swords to axes to daggers to bows, we trained in each of them every day.
While I trained, the skeletons did so too. It was not a person I was planning to develop, but everyone here—All the undead.
.
.
.
Every passing day, I could feel myself getting stronger. The me of today became indistinguishable from the me of yesterday.
It was not enough to solely train. Of course. My goal was far bigger.
“Come, all of you at once.”
I even fought the undead. All of them. To increase my strength, I was more than willing to take on an army.
Even if it injured me. Even if it hurt me.
The moments of lightness were mere distractions. The sooner I became used to keeping the undead summoned and controlled, the sooner I would start being overwhelmed by my mind again.
This distraction… was not going to become my goal. It wasn’t going to stop my vengeance but boost it.
So I fought. Every chance I got, I grew stronger. Just what I had planned.
And soon the day came.
“Today, I will hunt the bear and the being in the cave.”