The Skeletal War Spear · The Legion of Skeletal Knights

After training on Skull Island for so long, I had yet to venture deeply into the island's core, merely skirting its edges. However, the memory of the pale man, referred to as Crow by Horus, with horns upon his head and the four pairs of claws of the Celestial Dog, did little to inspire my adventurous spirit. 

The skeletal warriors I encountered, along with the higher-ranking skeletal knights, possessed formidable martial skills and an abundance of combat experience. They had been dead for countless years, engaging in ceaseless battles upon this island. Even those who were once timid had been forged into something formidable. Yet, compared to the erudite and profoundly wise Horus, they resembled a troupe of clumsy jesters, flaunting their flaws. 

In just over ten days, while I had not yet mastered the steps of Master Horus, I had nonetheless brushed the threshold of martial essence, or perhaps the edge of combat wisdom, far surpassing that of ordinary skeletal warriors and knights. Yet among them, there occasionally emerged exceptionally powerful individuals; their seemingly simple techniques had been honed to instinct through relentless practice. 

They too would reveal vulnerabilities, but when I aimed to exploit these weaknesses, these fearsome beings could retaliate with instinctive precision. Such counterattacks, under the premise that they could not rectify their own flaws, often resulted in mutual destruction. The leader of the skeletal knights was precisely such a formidable adversary; he paid no heed to my flying kick, instead thrusting his obsidian war spear, akin to a venomous dragon, straight toward my abdomen. 

If neither of us held back, I could indeed fulfill my desire to sever his head, but I would inevitably be left with a gaping wound in my own body. In comparison, he had already perished; at worst, he would transform from a skeletal knight into a headless knight, enhancing his dramatic appearance, while I would transition from a living being to a corpse—a most unprofitable exchange. Unwilling to engage in such a losing proposition, I pressed down with both hands, seizing the skeletal knight leader's spear, and with a fierce twist of my body, I slid down its shaft. This clever maneuver was a transformation of the Flying Flower and Sweeping Leaf technique, a ruthless strategy born from seeking victory in defeat. 

The skeletal knight leader, seasoned in combat, recognized the futility of his situation and decisively relinquished his spear, raising his arms to contest my leg technique head-on. However, he merely lifted his arms, while my leg technique was multifaceted; a flurry of kicks sent the upper half of the skeletal knight leader soaring through the air. 

On the surface, it appeared I had achieved a resounding victory, yet I found myself facing the gravest peril since arriving on Skull Island. Suspended in mid-air, I was poised above a surging legion of skeletal knights below; should I descend, I would be trampled into a pulp, avenging their leader. 

With such a brief reaction time, I had no chance to unfurl my magical wings. Under Master Horus's guidance, I had transcended the limitations of mere mortals; this moment of crisis revealed the fruits of my arduous training over the past ten days. With a sudden flip, I thrust the spear I had seized beneath me, using it as a pole vault to suspend myself in the air. 

The skeletal knight legion showed no signs of slowing, galloping past beneath my feet, vanishing in an instant beyond the horizon. As I gracefully descended, I noticed a faint grayish-white glow flickering upon the skeletal knight leader's body, which took me by surprise. 

With a flick of my spear, I intended to catch something, but instead, a stream of grayish-white light flowed upward from the weapon left behind by the skeletal knight leader, startling me into dropping my grasp on it. 

"What is this?" 

The once pitch-black spear transformed after absorbing that grayish-white light, its shaft now adorned with a layer of grayish-white patterns, resembling small skull designs embedded within the weapon. Horus, silently appearing beside me, shook his head with a sigh, saying, "I never anticipated that Barphilius would perish at your hands. Take up this spear; it is a treasure left for you by Barphilius and rightfully belongs to you." 

With such words from Horus, I readily grasped the skeletal war spear. Once I placed it within the Book of Demons, all its attributes revealed themselves before me. 

The Skeletal War Spear, in its Legion of Skeletal Knights form, is a three-meter-long spear of grade six, embellished with black and white decorations. It allows a grade five legion holder to freely traverse the realm of the deceased, converting slain enemies into skeletal warriors. The Legion Command Tower/Barracks can summon fifty skeletal knights to serve you. 

Currently, the legion comprises zero out of fifty members, with one out of seventy skeletal steeds. It is indeed a dual-attribute treasure of remarkable worth, bringing me immense joy. However, recalling Horus's prohibition against slaying the warriors of Skull Island, I felt a strange unease. Was this old man a miser guarding his treasures? 

If killing the skeletal warriors of Skull Island could yield rewards akin to those from the monsters of Demon Island, then Horus had thwarted my path to wealth by at least ten billion over these days. Yet, I did not perceive that wealth as particularly useful; it merely deprived me of numerous opportunities to collect treasures, which was somewhat regrettable. 

Regardless, provoking this ancient creature would undoubtedly bode ill. Until I discerned his reasons for forbidding me from slaying the skeletal warriors, it seemed wise to remain obedient. 

If I were to kill, it could not be before his eyes. Defying a powerful figure requires courage, and if that courage stems from greed, it would be rather foolish. 

During that day's training, I diligently adhered to Horus's wishes, striving to improve myself without indulging in excessive slaying. Horus, in his diminutive form, showed no signs of change, silently trailing behind me while continually offering guidance on combat. 

In the evening, he proactively suggested that I take a day of rest. 

Since arriving on Skull Island, I had not returned home, and I felt certain that Pan Li'er must be quite anxious, having been left alone by the seaside for so long. A sudden wave of guilt washed over me. 

When I once again activated the Tunguska Magic Transmission Array, the first image that greeted me was of someone I had nearly forgotten—Horus's disciple, the boy with whom I had once engaged in fierce struggle. The efficacy of the Demon Dog Badge lasted only a few hours, but I was certain it had been a rather unpleasant experience, as his eyes reflected the look of a student who had been punished for copying words a thousand times by a cruel and vindictive teacher. 

"I demand a duel with you; Master, please step aside and do not obstruct me."