Chapter 35_ Special Skeletons (3)

Satisfy has many classes to choose from.

To elaborate, players of the same class could form highly individualized characters based on their skill and stat distributions. Even so, there were popular classes and unpopular classes. This was a common phenomenon in RPGs.

In the current timeline of Satisfy, the Necromancer class was an unpopular class. The first way to change into the Necromancer class from a Black Magician at level 200 or higher. In order to do so, one must either meet the requirements to become a Necromancer or rely on a Necromancer's legacy. This made it a rare class advancement.

The class itself wasn't bad. They could cast curses, summon undead monsters and golems, and use attack spells like other magicians. They could even modify their own bodies and increase their combat strength. In a way, it was the ultimate all-around class.

The problem was that it was nearly impossible to simultaneously acquire high-ranking skills in all of these areas. To obtain a high-ranking skill, one needed a high-ranking skill book and its corresponding low-ranking skill to attain a certain rank. There were numerous ways to increase a skill's rank, but the most common method involved using it repeatedly.

Of course, to acquire skills of various types, one must use lower-ranking skills of various types. If a player takes their time doing so as a hobby, it won't be impossible.

But because players needed to show results faster than their competitors, most opted for efficiency over enjoyment. As such, it made sense that the necromancer class would be unpopular. It was also the reason why starters didn't give much thought to necromancy. If they became necromancers, they could enjoy the game, but they wouldn't be able to surpass their competitors.

In addition, necromancers weren't all that useful in the public's viewpoint. Standard magicians and black magicians could cover most of what necromancers could do. They had stronger attack spells than necromancers. Curses are a type of debuff magic, but they aren't the only form of debuff magic.

Moreover, necromancers could only use a single attribute magic. This penalty was huge for rankers who had to kill higher-level monsters. Players could deal more than twice the damage, depending on the attribute compatibility, but necromancers didn't have such advantage.

Another problem was that summons were unappealing. Moving skeletons gave off a completely different feel in the virtual world than on PC screens. If the summons were ghouls or zombies… it was simply too disgusting. A very small minority might enjoy something like it, but even they wouldn't admit that it's a normal hobby.

"Summon Skeletons!"

After his overwhelming victory against a vampire viscount, Lexus decided to test out the Can you Become the King of the Dead? skill.

Clack clack clack clack!

The moment the summoning skill was used, two skeletons emerged from beside Lexus, shaking from side to side. Their bones clashed together, and the sound grew steadily louder as they moved. They were truly disheveled. The color of their bones was a sickly yellow, and their skulls were partially cracked, indicating that the bones lacked any real strength.

[Name: ???

Level: 1

Health: 45/45 Mana: 3/3

Strength: 3

Stamina: 3

Agility: 3

Intelligence: 1

Remaining Stat Points: 0

Items Worn: None

Skills Possessed: None.]

The necromancer's basic skills included 'Summon Skeleton' and 'Skeleton Enhancement,' and their unique stat was 'Domination.' The higher the level of the skills and this stat, the stronger the skeletons that the necromancer summoned. It meant that necromancers didn't need to raise skeletons directly from level 1.

The name indicated that the skeletons could grow. They were likely to develop into very high level skeletons. But they were still skeletons. Slow, dull, and weak. The default stats were very trash compared to a level 1 player.

The skeletons gained five stat points every time they leveled up. Unlike ordinary undead, they could grow, wear equipment items, and had high learning abilities. However, they had the limitations of a skeleton. The skeletons were so fragile that they would blow away with the wind or can be smashed without resistance with just a twig.

However for Lexus, it wasn't much of a problem as long as their evasion rate was high. Would they be destroyed if no attack hit them?

'What's important is this guys' Combat AI.'

According to the information he gathered from the books that he had bought from the players, the Combat AI of player-summoned monsters wasn't all that good. Instead, the monsters have the ability to learn. They can improve through numerous battles, developing their own Combat AI. It made sense. If a skeleton a level 1 player summoned had the same battle sense as a level 300 ranker, everyone would be playing necromancer.

'Well it doesn't really matter. I'll cover the rest.'

[You are favored by darkness and death. Raising the stats of undead familiars will be enhanced by 20%.]

Seeing the sudden system message, Lexus was very thankful that he can accelerate the growth and strengthen the skeletons.

"Mumud."

Wanting to test out the skeleton's default abilities, Lexus requested Mumud who immediately materialized from the black chains in his wrist to catch a monster nearby and restrain it to the point that the skeleton could fight it.

Following Lexus' request to him, Mumud handled it with swiftness. The monster he caught was a wolf. Its golden pupil and black body could be seen under the torchlights.

"Well Mumud, you don't have to do anything from here on out. Skeleton one, I choose you."

Lexus pointed out a skeleton. Handing it a cheap beginner sword as it currently couldn't equip weapons of a higher caliber. "Kill it."

Following Lexus' command, the skeleton immediately began to run towards the wolf holding a sword above its head like a club.

Growl!

The wolf showed no intention of dodging the Skeleton charging towards it. With a rough growl, the wolf began to run with its four legs. The rattling of the skeleton and the pattering of the wolf formed a harmony in the air, and with this sound, the distance between them shortened.

Watching this scene, Lexus' face became stiff.

'Don't tell me it's just going to run into him like that. No matter how bad it's intelligence is, it can't be that…'

Before he could even finish his thought,

Crash!

A dull sound rang out.

The wolf and the skeleton crashed into each other. Although the skeleton swung the beginner sword at the wolf before they crashed, the wolf managed to slam the skeletal body before the sword even reached its fur. After being slammed by the wolf, the skeleton's body bent like a bow and got catapulted into the air. After a short flight, it rolled on the ground seemingly out of strength, making it look pitiful and was immediately destroyed.

The spectating Lexus had an even more pitiful face.

'It's this bad? I already expected this but I really want it to fight pretty....cleverly?'

Lexus didn't expect the skeleton to fight well from the beginning. He felt he could always utilize its learning ability. But he still had certain expectations.

At that moment, Lexus took out a pebble from the ground and lightly threw the small stone to his left hand. As soon as his left hand grabbed the stone, the wolf leaped at him from a distance of about 5 meters.

Its mouth was wide open, showing its sharp fangs, as it planned to bite down on the human's neck. Most people would shudder at the sight and become unable to move.

But who was Lexus?

He was a legend and had reached the apex in terms of battle sense and battle ability as the Sword Saint who keeps overwhelming opponents that is several times more stronger than him. Lexus didn't even move his feet. He only slightly turned his upper body, so that the wolf would just barely fly by its left side and as the wolf was flying past Lexus' left side as he had planned.

Puuk!

Lexus flicked the peeble with his finger in his left hand into the wolf's left eye.

[Your have dealt 800 damage to the target.]

Wimper!

The wolf rolled on the ground without landing properly. The ability to move as little as possible to dodge an attack and using the opponent's power to deal a deep wound. It would cause average players to yell in amazement and skill, and veterans to feel chills down their backs.

'Hmph.'

Of course, to Lexus, it was an effortless work. To him, such a thing was neither a battle nor a hunt. Who would call crushing an ant with his finger a hunt or a battle?

At that moment, Lexus resummoned the destroyed skeleton and managed to pick itself up from the ground began charging towards the wolf.

"Eh?"

Lexus was slightly taken aback, but the skeleton paid no heed to its master's reaction and continued running towards the wolf. The wolf grabbed a hold of its body and threw itself towards the Skeleton with the a stone still stuck in its left eye.

Crash!

They crashed once again.

As expected, the Skeleton was once again sent flying. Watching this happen, Lexus knit his brows again. The wolf then stared at Lexus, but instead of charging towards him, it began to circle around him with caution. It was the result of the learning ability. It had learned not to mindlessly charge at Lexus after witnessing a very small portion of his battle prowess.

Lexus ignored the wolf. Even his super sensitivity was not sensing any danger at all. There was just a big difference between the wolf and Lexus. Instead, he yelled at the Skeleton who was resummoned and just stood up.

"If you get hit, don't just stand there! Move! Be wary and continue dodging!"

The Skeleton gave no reply; instead, it just stared blankly at him. Lexus didn't really mind. All he wanted was for it to dodge the wolf's attacks. Defend first, attack second will not work. The skeleton is so fragile that the wolf didn't have to try hard in destroying it.

Then?

'Dodge first, attack second is the answer.'

The best way was to evade the first attack. Dodge instead of being hit. Dodging was also a way of defense, but it was totally different from blocking.

The wolf swung its sharp claws at the Skeleton that had stood back up after it was summoned again. It was the same attack route as the previous time, and but this time, the skeleton dodged the wolf by tilting its head to the side. The wolf then followed up by swinging its tail. The skeleton bent down, increasing its evasion radius and successfully avoiding the wolf's attack.

Whish!

The wolf immediately swiped its fangs at its ankle, but the skeleton barely avoided it by lifting its foot. However, as soon as the's legs came back around, it immediately pounced towards the skeleton in a huge motion.

Whish!

The skeleton bent its body back, avoiding the wolf's desperate attack.

Then.

Thud!

It fell to the ground. Because it bent back too far, it had lost its balance. Watching this, Lexus' let out a slight smile.

'Not bad.'

It was absorbing everything. The skeleton had a surprising advantage as well. Because it was only bones, its joints had much better maneuverability. Even if its joints got dislocated, it could easily restore itself.

It had all the right conditions for evading well. It just had to use its head and utilize its advantages.

「 Interesting. This kid has a very good strength to agility ratio. Therefore, his movements are agile and his attacks are sharp, but his intelligence is too low. He doesn't know how to correctly take advantage of his physical ability. 」

Madra's voice entered in his mind. He praised the skeleton despite the shabby and lacking performance.

「The only thing that is concerning is he's just like a child. He doesn't know how to fight at all.」

Madra commented but his tone doesn't have any disappointment in it. It was a problem that could be fixed easily. The growth, adaptability and learning abilities of the skeleton is way more higher than normal undead summons.

Looking at the skeleton number one that Madra was referring, Lexus swiftly beheaded the wolf with his sword then approached the skeleton and gently patted the skull as he spoke.

"Since you're going to take the path of a swordsman and a knight, I'll call you Igris."

[Will you set the name as 'Igris'?]