Chapter 243

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

Although unsure of how these peculiar skeletons came about, it was evident that they were not allied with Solin’s faction.

As the saying goes, “The enemy of my enemy is my friend”.

Perhaps the key to breaking the stalemate lay within these peculiar skeletons.

Solin’s heart raced with astonishment as he witnessed the mutated skeletons approaching from a distance as if witnessing something unimaginable.

“How is this possible? These mutated skeletons have never ventured beyond the desert before. Why are they suddenly taking the initiative?

Could it be… that the disturbance happened at that very spot!? However, I’ve visited there previously, and everything appeared unchanged!”

As the mutated skeletons drew nearer, a sense of retreat crept into Solin’s mind. He realized he was in an unfavorable position, trapped within the skeleton camp and separated from both the humans and the mutated skeletons.

Turning his gaze, his eyes widened in disbelief.

The human actually gave him a farewell gesture and then fled with his army!?

Ji Chen gazed at the sea of mutated skeletons and then at Solin, his lips curling into a smile.

Truly, fortune favors me!

This wave of mutated skeleton forces numbered at least over a hundred thousand.

As the saying goes, “Let dogs bite dogs, let the wicked be punished by their own kind.”

Without further hesitation, he decisively commanded his army to move, leading them along the side and away from the bone bridge they had built.

Before departing, he ordered the Elemental Sea Pixies to demolish the walls on both sides of the breach, sealing it shut. After crossing the bone bridge, they further destroyed it, leaving it in a state of disarray, cutting off Solin’s escape route completely.

Seeing the skeleton camp suddenly erupt in chaos, Ji Chen nodded in satisfaction.

The next course of action was to keep a safe distance and watch from the other side of the river. Once the turmoil inside subsided, he would return to clean up the mess and eliminate Solin once and for all.

However, when he turned his gaze back to his own troops, his joy was short-lived as he let out a heavy sigh.

The army that had entered the mystic realm with over 4,300 units was now severely depleted.

After numerous battles, and especially after the desperate struggle against Solin, they were left with less than 800 soldiers, each bearing wounds.

Of the 400-plus Naga Berserkers, only slightly more than 100 remained.

Nearly 500 Dragon Blood Murlocs had dwindled to just over 100.

Only 150 Elemental Sea Pixies were left, and most of those who perished had been melted by the necrotic breath of the skeleton wyverns, leaving nothing but bone fragments behind.

The Murloc Rangers numbered less than fifty now, nearing the brink of extinction.

The Self-Detonating Water Spiders were completely wiped out.

And as for the Half-Orc Warriors, only three hundred remained. Since entering the mystic realm, over seven hundred of them had been lost in this unfamiliar land.

This time, one couldn’t help but describe it as an immense tragedy.

Of the original force of over four thousand troops, most had perished, and their combat effectiveness was now barely recognizable.

Ji Chen suddenly felt that the gains from this journey into the Skeleton Realm might not outweigh the losses.

Now’, all he could hope for was that the rewards he would gain after killing Solin would make such losses worthwhile.

The sound of bones grinding against bones, the clash of swords and knives, the galloping of skeleton knights, and the explosion of spells filled the skeleton camp.

It continued until the Blood Moon slowly disappeared into the horizon, hidden within the dark clouds. Afterward, as the encampment returned to tranquility.

By this point, the Crown of the Ocean’s army had rested and recharged for several hours. Under Ji Chen’s lead, they once again entered the skeleton encampment.

Before them lay a battlefield in unparalleled chaos and devastation.

As far as the eye could see, nothing but bones. The sheer quantity of bones submerged one’s lower legs, and in some places, bone piles even reached several meters high.

The skeletons still standing numbered merely two to three hundred, but even their damaged bodies indicated they had survived only by sheer luck.

A quick look from Ji Chen revealed Solin’s presence near a towering mound of bones, where he leaned against it, clutching a sword.

Solin’s condition wasn’t great either. His armor was sliced and battered, riddled with gashes and holes, exposing parts of his skeleton underneath. His crown was nowhere to be seen.

Most notably, the flickering golden soul fire in his eyes had diminished significantly, signifying his weakness.

As if sensing Ji Chen’s presence, Solin slowly lifted his head, his voice dripping with malevolence.

“Damnable human! 1 should have pursued and killed you personally from the start. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have ended up in this predicament.

If I were to recover, 1 would muster the entirety of my clan’s power to exterminate you, then invade the world and fulfill my grand ambitions.”

“But you have no chance anymore.”

Ji Chen coldly and dispassionately cut off his words, his right hand swiftly conjuring a staff into existence.

[Amplifying Staff]

[Tier]: 2-star Treasure

[Effect]: When held, increases the power of the next spell by 30% at the cost of a 30% increase in mana consumption, [10/10] per day.

Since acquiring this staff, it had remained unused.

Now, it was fitting to use the Skeleton King’s life force as the staff’s first activation.

Without giving Solin a chance to speak further, Ji Chen immediately tapped into the half-recovered mana and infused it into the Amplifying Staff.

A spear-like staff over ten meters long took shape slowly, then shot out with explosive force.

Solin raised his sword again, and the golden shield materialized once more.

However, this time, a single massive spear managed to crack the shield slightly.

The strength of the golden shield seemed to be related to the user’s condition.

Without hesitation, Ji Chen continued to condense the second massive spear and launched it.

More cracks appeared on the shield.

The third spear.

The fourth spear.

Until the seventh massive spear, the golden shield shattered with a tremendous explosion, sending Solin crashing into the bone hill, causing a flurry of bone fragments.

Ji Chen coldly chuckled, waving his hand and consuming the last three uses of the Amplifying Staff, forming the final three massive spears.

He aimed them at Solin within the bone hill.

“Ding- You have killed the Skeleton King: Solin (Red-Legacy Tier, Level 50).”

“Ding- You have completely eradicated the elite Skeleton Legion of the Skeleton King: Sohn.”

“Ding- Your level has increased (31—>35), current level: 35.”

Defeating a higher-level monster leader brought Ji Chen an experience boost that propelled him up four levels at once.

A surge of potent energy flowed into his body, revitalizing and healing every part of his being. Not only did his mana gradually replenish, but the intensity of his magic also increased slightly, and both internal and external injuries on his body began recovering rapidly.

After a few minutes, Ji Chen let out a contented sigh.

His entire body felt as comfortable as if he had undergone a massage, alleviating the exhaustion accumulated from days of battles and travel.

However, his left arm remained empty and hollow.

It seemed that a simple level increase wasn’t enough to restore a severed limb. He would have to wait until he left the realm and find items capable of healing such injuries.

Coming back to his senses, Ji Chen stepped on a ground littered with bones, approaching the battered remains of Solin’s body.

He crouched down and picked up the sword that had cost him his left arm.

This sword had an impeccable appearance. Even after enduring multiple attacks from Ji Chen, it remained utterly unscathed. Its clear blade reflected a chilly glimmer under the moonlight.

The blade bore intricate and mysterious patterns that stretched from the hilt’s golden gemstone to the tip.

The hilt was wrapped in a layer of exceptionally comfortable leather. Ji Chen casually swung it a few times and instantly fell in love with the sword.

Putting aside its power, the sword could fetch an exorbitant price at any auction for luxury weaponry.

Moreover, it was a high-tier treasure.

Ji Chen immediately examined it, absorbing the sword’s information.

[Sword of Warlords]

[Tier]: 7-star Treasure

[Effects]: ©Sword of Kings (Raises friendly morale by 35 when equipped, units never retreat)

©Wind of Kings (Your troops remain eternally loyal, significantly enhancing attraction when recruiting others)

©Self-Recovery (When equipped, accelerates the recovery of any injury, weakens negative effects)

[Skills]: ©Void Sever (Shoots out a crescent-shaped sword wave, highly lethal) ©Earthbound Shackles (Condenses a shield, resisting a considerable amount of damage and powerful attacks [based on the user’s strength and condition])

[A highly mysterious long sword, perhaps it can guide you to a certain place…]