Chapter 271: Chapter 271
Chapter 271: Dragon Tooth Soldier
―The method for changing jobs to Dragon Tooth Soldier is simple. Since we have all the materials, now we just have to combine the skeletons.
"Combine? What does that mean?"
―The skeletons' level is low. If summoned to the maximum, the number is close to ten thousand. It means you can't make all of them into Dragon Tooth Soldiers. So, we clump them into one point. The ratio is... roughly one per thousand.
Kim Minwoo tilted his head.
So right now, Cedric's words mean...
'Make ten Dragon Tooth Soldiers out of ten thousand skeletons?'
It seems to mean something like that.
Somehow, one skill came to mind.
Isn't this totally the logic of Compression?
―I know what you are thinking. But, it is a method with a completely different trajectory from Master's skill.
―The Outer God's knowledge only clumps endlessly. But Dragon Tooth Soldiers are different. Combination and separation will be free. It's a concept similar to... a transforming robot.
"Gather parts to combine, and separate later?"
―It is roughly like that. Honestly, thousands of skeletons are of no great use against strong enemies.
There were definitely times when pushing with numbers was useful, but there were also times when it wasn't. In the first place, if it's a guy with a gap so large that attacks don't even stick, no matter how many skeletons there are, they will all just be broken.
"Are Dragon Tooth Soldiers a bit different?"
―Very different. It is an existence one would feel sorry to classify as a skeleton. Even ordinary Dragon Tooth Soldiers require a lot of dragon bones, byproducts, and blood. What's more, Master's Dragon Tooth Soldiers are...
Cedric stared intently at the skeleton horde.
―It is a structure of transmuting one Dragon Tooth Soldier by combining one thousand skeletons capable of job change into one, along with the Essence of the Primordial Dragon and dragon byproducts, as if that wasn't enough. I also don't know what will pop out as the result. Since knowledge wasn't given up to that point.
"Really? Then I have to try."
If it was a structure where they combined and couldn't separate forever, he would have had to worry a bit, but he says it's not.
Combination and separation. If both are possible at any time, it would be foolish not to do it.
Cedric pierced the spear into the ground and dragged it.
Before long, a massive magic circle shaping a dragon was transmuted. After placing piles of dragon bones, teeth, and blood stored in the Blood Jade at each corner, he stepped into the middle of the magic circle.
The skeleton horde was the same.
The size of the magic circle was huge enough to accommodate all eight thousand skeletons, so they were already inside.
[You have entered the 'Dragon Tooth Soldier Transmutation Magic Circle'!]
[The Essence of the Primordial Dragon reacts!]
The essence resembling the Milky Way floated in the middle of the magic circle and began to emit light. The cluster of light was seen spreading in all directions riding the magic circle.
The vibration growing louder.
The dragon byproducts heating up bright red.
Even the skeletons starting to absorb the light clusters of the magic circle one by one.
[There are special materials!]
[You have achieved all Dragon Tooth Soldier job change conditions!]
[By consuming all materials, you can combine one thousand skeletons to convert them into one Dragon Tooth Soldier!]
[Converted Dragon Tooth Soldiers can be separated into individual entities at any time.]
[Would you like to job change ten entities of Dragon Tooth Soldiers?]
As soon as Kim Minwoo's permission fell, the magic circle spewed out light as if exploding.
[Skill, Dragon Tooth Soldier Transformation (SSS) is generated.]
It wasn't a simple flash.
A heavy pressure as if space itself was twisting. The thousand skeletons lined up inside the magic circle collapsed all at once. No, they didn't collapse; they disassembled themselves.
Crumbled bone fragments floated into the air, defying gravity. Drawn by the Milky Way-colored attraction emitted by the Essence of the Primordial Dragon, tens of thousands of bone joints began to dance, forming a massive vortex.
A grotesque yet marvelous sound struck the eardrums.
A thousand skulls fused into one to become a sturdy helm, and thousands of ribs stacked in layers to form a breastplate that would never break. Dragon teeth and claws were embedded on top, adding sharp killing intent.
[The Essence of the Primordial Dragon engraves the authority of ‘Defense’ onto the bones!]
[Resistance to all physical impacts exceeds the limit.]
[The Essence of the Primordial Dragon infuses Dragon Tongue mana into the bones!]
[Nullifies all lower-grade magic, and a Dragon Heart breathing mana on its own beats.]
[The Essence of the Primordial Dragon overlays Dragon Scales onto the bones!]
[All elemental resistances are maximized, and lower-grade status effects are nullified.]
[All Dragon Tooth Soldiers acquire the Unique Skill, ‘Dragon Fear’.]
[The stronger the enemy encountered, the more the Dragon Tooth Soldier's combat power grows.]
Dark blue flames spread like blood vessels between the bones. Soon the blinding light faded, and inside the thick smoke, ten massive shadows revealed their magnificent forms.
An exclamation burst out from Kim Minwoo's mouth automatically.
That was no longer something like a skeleton.
Overwhelming bulk reaching 3 meters in height.
The entire body was covered without gaps in white armor made of elaborately processed dragon bone, and a blue eye glint rippled fiercely through the gaps in the helm. Behind their backs, wings made of bone were folded like a cape, making them feel even dignified.
A presence where the surrounding air sank heavily just by standing there.
Even Cedric clacked his jaw as if satisfied.
―Is it because we used the Essence of the Primordial Dragon? It is a very different appearance from the Dragon Tooth Soldiers I remember. In a better way…….
“Even Lord wouldn't have been able to use materials , right?”
―At least he wouldn't have been able to combine a thousand job-changeable skeletons.
It was at that moment.
The group of Dragon Tooth Soldiers stood in a line and approached Kim Minwoo. The dark blue pupils blazed wildly for a moment.
―Haeil greets the Master!
―Haei greets the Master!
―Haesam greets the Master!
―Haesa greets the Master!
―I, Haesip, greet the Master!
The mouths of the Dragon Tooth Soldiers moved, and ten voices flowed out.
“Huh? You guys, don't tell me…….”
―That is correct. We are the existences Master knows.
From Haeil to Haesip.
The skeletons he had summoned first.
It seemed that these ten were transmuted into Dragon Tooth Soldiers with their minds as the main subjects.
‘The Essence of the Primordial Dragon disappeared.’
Since it is a material, it seems to have been a structure where it was consumed.
He examined the newly generated skill.
[Dragon Tooth Soldier Transformation (SSS)]
[Fuses one thousand job-changeable skeletons to craft 1 Special Dragon Tooth Soldier.]
[Effect 1. Combination and separation are free.]
[Effect 2. Sufficient dragon byproducts are needed to job change a new group.]
[Effect 3. Dragon Tooth Soldiers share existing jobs.]
[1. Dragon Tooth Soldier Advanced Warrior]
[A warrior who uses dragon combat knowledge very proficiently. Receives additional correction.]
[* Summoned possessing Dragon Swordsmanship (A).]
[2. Dragon Tooth Soldier Advanced Blacksmith]
[A blacksmith who has mastered handling dragon bones and byproducts. Receives additional correction.]
[* Summoned possessing Dragon Crafting Method (A).]
[3. Dragon Tooth Soldier Advanced Alchemist]
[An alchemist who has become proficient in handling dragon blood and essence. Receives additional correction.]
[* Summoned possessing Dragon Alchemy (A).]
[4. Dragon Tooth Soldier Advanced Rune Maker]
[Can shape the power of Dragon Tongue into runes. Receives additional correction.]
[* Summoned possessing Dragon Tongue Rune Crafting (A).]
[5. Dragon Tooth Soldier Advanced Tattooist]
[Can engrave dragon aura into tattoos. Receives additional correction.]
[* Summoned possessing Dragon Tattoo Art (A).]
[6. Dragon Tooth Soldier Advanced Architect]
[7. Dragon Tooth Soldier Advanced Archer]
[8. Dragon Tooth Soldier Advanced Assassin]
[9. Dragon Tooth Soldier Advanced Priest]
That was the judgment he made after reading the description.
Nine transformation jobs.
Previously, it was Skeleton Intermediate Summon.
‘Combining them changed them to Advanced.’
Accordingly, the grades of all possessed skills also rose.
It seemed like a benefit received from becoming a Dragon Tooth Soldier.
‘I'll test crafting later.’
Even as skeletons, they earned Witch Coins, but if they are Dragon Tooth Soldiers…….
‘Just looking at it, they'll obviously do fantastically well.’
The number decreased drastically to ten, but since the quality skyrocketed, they would be able to pump out expensive items wildly.
Kim Minwoo drew Hell Rhapsody.
“You ten, combine your attacks on me from now on. You can use any class. Try your best. Okay?”
[Haeo and Haeyuk attempt to transform into Assassins.]
[Haechil and Haepal attempt to transform into Archers.]
[Haegu and Haesip attempt to transform into Priests.]
Two assassins and two archers.
And even two priests guarding the rear.
Although the last spot for combat classes was still blank, a total of ten Dragon Tooth Soldiers formed a perfect formation and surrounded Kim Minwoo.
The atmosphere tore as if screaming.
The first strike belonged to the Dragon Tooth Soldiers.
The ones who charged out first were the four swordsmen.
From Haeil to Haesa, the massive figures wearing heavy armor slammed down their greatswords simultaneously.
It wasn't a simple combined strike.
It was perfect synchronization without even a time difference, as if sharing a single brain.
Kim Minwoo lifted Hell Rhapsody at an angle.
Instead of a metallic sound, a heavy rupture sound burst out.
The impact transmitted through the blade was unusual. Perhaps because their bodies were made of Primordial Dragon bones, the muscle strength itself was on a different dimension from existing skeletons.
But the real threat was what followed.
The fleeting gap when the swordsmen blocked his vision.
Haeo and Haeyuk popped up from the shadows. With the explosive mobility of Dragon Tooth Soldiers added to the unique stealth of assassins, it was a speed burdensome even to follow with eyes.
At the same time, from a distance, arrows fired by Haechil and Haepal dug into blind spots, curving their trajectories like snakes.
Up, down, left, right, and even long-range.
A perfectly coordinated siege of death.
If it were an ordinary Awakened, they would have been overwhelmed by this suffocating sequence and given up even defending.
The corners of Kim Minwoo's mouth twisted.
He wasn't pushover enough to be defeated by toys of this level.
Dark red mana exploded from Hell Rhapsody.
The raging dissonance bounced the assassins into the empty air and turned the flying arrows into powder.
Overwhelming martial power.
The armor of the swordsmen standing at the forefront was dented, and the bone joints of the bounced assassins twisted grotesquely from the shock.
It was at that moment.
Haegu and Haesip, waiting in the rear, raised their bone staffs high.
Then, a black fog-like light spewed out from their fingertips.
It was not the divine power of an ordinary priest.
Murky and sticky mana harboring the energy of death.
[‘Light of Madness’ covers the battlefield!]
[Forcibly fuses the damaged bodies of undead allies!]
[Stimulates the target's fighting spirit, increasing reaction speed!]
As soon as the black light touched, the swordsmen's crushed armor straightened out, and the assassins' broken arm bones clattered and reattached themselves of their own accord.
It wasn't a simple recovery.
Engulfed in madness, their eye glints blazed even more ferociously.
Kim Minwoo’s eyes shone.
That black light seeped into Kim Minwoo's body as well.
Far from being unpleasant, he felt vitality circulating through his whole body and his consumed mana replenishing.
‘So it’s not divine power, but this.’
A special healing applicable only to the undead and their master, the Necromancer.
To enemies, it would be no different from deadly poison, but to allies, it was the ultimate doping.
The Dragon Tooth Soldiers, having finished recovering, surged forward again like a herd of zombies.
Kim Minwoo kicked off the ground.
Sandbags that were practically perpetual motion machines.
There were no better conditions to test their limits.
The flat of Hell Rhapsody struck Haeil's helm.
The massive bulk flew like a cannonball and crashed. Soon after, he kicked the incoming Haeo in the side and swatted away the arrow shot by Haechil with his bare hand.
However, the process was by no means easy.
If broken, they recovered with the Light of Madness; if an arm was cut off, they attacked with their legs.
Backed by the Priests’ support, the eight Dragon Tooth Soldiers were literally an immortal army.
On top of that, there was even the Death Lord’s one-time resurrection right.
Eventually, only after beating them until their bones turned to powder for over ten minutes did the Priests, having run out of mana, fall first, followed by the rest of the Dragon Tooth Soldiers sprawling on the floor.
Kim Minwoo lightly caught his breath.
Not a single drop of sweat flowed, but his eyes glistened with satisfaction.
‘It’s beyond expectations.’
Even ordinary skeletons have learning abilities.
But their ceiling wasn't very high.
It meant that trying to teach them anything took time.
And even if taught, they couldn't fully utilize it.
‘But Dragon Tooth Soldiers are different.’
A battle of merely 10 minutes.
Within that battle, the Dragon Tooth Soldiers mimicked Kim Minwoo's movements instantly.
The Priests' healing timing and combo plays were at a level that would put most Awakened parties to shame.
To think it’s at this level with one empty job slot still remaining.
‘What if one more combat job is filled?’
Honestly, a Mage would be the standard choice, but since there’s a separate skill called Skeleton Mage…….
Kim Minwoo’s eyes shone.
‘I have Compression, don't I.’
Skills can also be compressed.
What if I combine the Skeleton and Mage skills?
‘Can't I use Mage Dragon Tooth Soldiers then?’
[Using Compression (EX)!]
[Target: Skeleton Intermediate Summon (D)+9, Skeleton Apprentice Mage Summon (E)+9]
[Grades of compression targets are similar!]
[Properties of compression targets are similar!]
[Consumed Mana: 10,000]
[Would you like to compress?]
If I combine Skeleton and Mage, well, the result will probably be similar to a skeleton anyway.......
“......I should try it, right?”
Kim Minwoo pressed the confirm button without hesitation.
Blinding light burst out from inside the system window.
[Compression successful!]
[It is a skill with a standard!]
[Lower skill is included in the upper skill!]
[Skill has been transformed!]
[There are entities possessing egos!]
[Target: Mail-i, Mai, ...... Maocheonibaek-i.......]
[Incorporated into existing members!]
[New branch ‘Mage’ is unlocked and added to the Dragon Tooth Soldier job slot!]
[Skeleton Intermediate Summon (D)+9]
[* ‘Mage’ list is added to job organization!]
[* You can now summon Skeleton Intermediate Mages!]
He examined the contents after being compressed.
Mage was added to the last blank job slot.
And, the best news was exactly.......
‘Crazy. Mage summoning became half price?’
The biggest weakness of Skeleton Mages.
That was the fact that it cost twice as much mana to summon as ordinary skeletons.
But, as this job called Mage was included in combat jobs, it seemed to be classified as ordinary skeletons, reducing mana consumption by half.
He summoned the Skeleton Mages immediately.
Is it because they grew from Apprentice Mages to Intermediate Mages in a single breath? A group of Mages with more sophisticated appearances than before looked at Kim Minwoo.
Mail-i waving his hand as if to say he is here.
The other Mages were the same.
With this, he was able to perfectly fill even the last empty spot of the Dragon Tooth Soldiers.
Thus, when the next battle continued, the Dragon Tooth Soldier Mage ‘Mail-i’ was added, showing even more sophisticated teamwork.
Cedric, who had approached before he knew it, muttered while stroking his jawbone. His gaze was fixed on the Dragon Tooth Soldiers recovering while squirming on the floor.
―Individual martial power is still insufficient to receive my spear. But that persistent combo and durability.......
Cedric paused for a moment, then looked at Kim Minwoo and added seriously.
―If all ten rush in, it seems it would take quite some time for me to handle them too. The potential is beyond imagination. Much more than the Dragon Tooth Soldiers I originally knew.......
“You are weaker than me though.”
―That is because I don't have Gleipnir.
“Anyway, at this level, they would be active on the battlefield too, right?"
―Of course. Summon them frequently from now on. Since it seems I also need to match teamwork with them.
Kim Minwoo was convinced.
That if it's these guys, they would sufficiently do their part even in the upcoming war against the Outer God.
“Now, everyone get up. It's still far from over.”
Kim Minwoo smiled broadly and readjusted his grip on Hell Rhapsody.
“Let's reset the jobs again. Change everyone to Assassin this time. Looking at it, the sense is still a bit lacking.”
In the eyes of the skeletons lying on the floor, despair-filled eye glints blinked.