How to Raise Your Skeletons

Because I’m still weak.

This was the principle of the strong ruling over the weak, a reality where those with power wielded absolute authority over the powerless. Some might call it unjust. They might cry out, asking how a sapling can grow if trampled on by those who had become strong first.

However…

The world has always been this way. Whether in primitive nature, socialism, or capitalism, the law of the jungle—survival of the fittest—has always reigned supreme.

That was why I’d never felt I was treated unfairly. Even when I got Demir’s Workshop on the map or told Gi Soyul I would stand on my own, I always kept this moment in mind.

“Alright, come at me.”

I’d fight. No matter what trials they’d endured as a ranker, I, too, had overcome many hardships as a hunter. Even if my legs were trembling and my body was drenched in cold sweat, I wouldn’t just sit there and take it.

“Sunny! Spray Solar Strike everywhere!”

“As you command!”

—Tap!

Sunny launched themself into the air, thrusting their spear in all directions.

—Flash! Flash!

The light from their spear illuminated everything in a flash, cutting off the shadows that Shadow Walker relied on.

“Using cheap tricks, I see.”

Shadow Walker moved, his speed so fast that my eyes couldn’t follow.

So I closed them. I realized that relying on sight was pointless. It would be better to sense the flow of ki.

“Just because I can’t use shadows doesn’t mean I can’t eliminate you.”

—Whoosh!

A sudden surge of energy charged at me, and I instinctively twisted my body.

—Slash!

Blood sprayed from my arm, a sharp sting following. There was red blood and a deep gash.

Shadow Walker’s blade had barely grazed me.

My heart pounded in my chest.

If I had reacted even a little slower…

And even more concerning—wasn’t I supposed to have my Air Shield up?

Rankers were terrifying. He sliced through my Maxed-out shield like tofu.

[‘Bonehead 5’ used the skill ‘Air Shield’ (Lv. Max).]

Boney 5 quickly replenished my shield while Boney 4 positioned itself to shield me further with its body.

[‘Bonehead 4’ used the skill ‘Intermediate Taunt’ (Lv.6).]

“A taunt skill? How childish.” Shadow Walker’s voice echoed from all directions, which meant he was moving around me at incredible speed. “A taunt is only effective if the tank can survive the hits.”

—Crash!

Boney 4’s shield absorbed a heavy blow.

“You’re too weak, far too weak.”

“Boney 5!”

[‘Bonehead 5’ used the skill ‘Fireball’ (Lv. Max).]

[‘Bonehead 5’ used the skill ‘Fire Field’ (Lv. 4).]

Boney 5 cast a wave of fire to prevent Shadow Walker from getting close.

—Whoosh! Whoosh!

Eldrin also carefully fired arrows to hinder his movements.

“…”

I didn’t retreat. I controlled every movement of my skeletons with precision, feeling each of their actions as if they were extensions of myself. Even if I died today, I wanted to fight without regrets.

“So you dare resist, even though you’re not a ranker?”

—Sssst!

Shadow Walker’s figure split into two. One was the actual body and the other a decoy—but both were equally dangerous.

“Man, you sure talk a lot for a ranker,” I muttered.

Honestly, he felt underwhelming. I wasn’t disrespecting rankers, but having recently encountered people far beyond rankers, like absolute beings, listening to Shadow Walker’s arrogance just felt uncomfortable. Something in my gut just couldn’t accept it.

“What did you say?”

“If you’re a ranker, act like one. You’re here to kill me, and now you’re lecturing me about resisting? It’s like listening to someone with a massive inferiority complex.”

[‘Bonehead 5’ used the skill ‘Haste’ (Lv. 4).]

—Vwoom!

Boney 5’s skill boosted both me and my skeletons’ speed.

[‘Eldrin’ used the skill ‘Venomous Arrow’ (Lv. 4).]

—Twang! Twang!

Eldrin fired her poison arrows.

“Someone like you wouldn’t even be an extra in Sunny or Eldrin’s world. So stop blabbing and just fight.”

I wasn’t going to go down easily.

“Phew.”

—Step, step.

“All done.”

On the streets of Apgujeong under the full moon, Gi Soyul sighed softly.

Having cleared the A-rank dungeon Palace of the Minotaurs, she returned to Seoul and immediately announced her S-rank dagger to the media—the pitch-black Dagger for an Assassin (S-rank). Naturally, the guildmaster of Parang, Giparang, was furious.

“Soyul? My dear sister? I’m very worried about what is going through your mind recently. You revealed your weapon info, info that you didn’t even tell me! What’s going on with you?”

From scolding her about divulging information to…

“And what? You’re quitting Parang? Have you been doing some sort of drugs lately?”

When she submitted her resignation from Parang, he was even more baffled.

“Wow, my sister’s lost it. You’re totally bewitched. Is it that guy, Joo Donghoon? Do I need to go over there and deal with him myself?”

Giparang had shaken his head in disbelief.

Gi Soyul said he shouldn’t have put a side job prohibition clause in then.

It had taken about two weeks of negotiating. Giparang’s resistance was fierce, but Gi Soyul’s stubbornness was just as strong. Or rather, it turned out that her stubbornness proved to be stronger.

But I must do what needs to be done.

She couldn’t afford to let herself do more damage to either the guild or that person. Joining Joo Donghoon as his bodyguard would mean she couldn’t keep up with her guild duties.

“Look at him. He can make an S-rank weapon of this performance just like that. And remember, in a month, he’ll be going to Dungeon Maker with our recommendation. If he returns alive, he’ll become a ranker too.

“If I join him and grow, it’ll also benefit Parang because you’ll have a solid alliance. I’m just saying, let’s think about the future.”

These were the things Gi Soyul had said to convince her brother. And now that she had gained his permission, she walked confidently toward Demir’s Workshop.

But what should I say?

She sighed again, mumbling to herself.

Will you let me be your bodyguard again…?

Ugh. She shook her head violently, her body shivering at the thought. Asking him that felt utterly ridiculous.

“Haah…”

Without a doubt, this moment felt more challenging than any dungeon she’d ever faced. How could she, of her own accord, go back and offer to protect him? She didn’t want to seem desperate or clingy.

Am I just overthinking things?

He himself had said that he wanted to stand alone.

Yes, that was why she was hesitating. What if he wasn’t even happy to see her when she showed up?

“…”

Wait.

Suddenly, she sensed a familiar energy in the air. A peculiar yet similar signature—like her own unique ability.

“Shadow Walker?”

Gi Soyul’s mind raced. Since Shadow Walker was associated with the Ohsung Group, his appearance in Apgujeong could only mean one thing.

“…”

In that instant, Gi Soyul’s eyes grew as sharp and cold as ice.

—Whoosh!

Her figure vanished into thin air, moving faster than the blink of an eye.

* * *

“…”

Shadow Walker frowned.

“What the hell is this…?”

These skeletons felt off. No matter how many times he destroyed them, they returned to life, especially the one with the shield. That one kept using its taunt skill, forcing him to focus on it, only for it to keep reviving. It was irritating.

On top of that…

They were multiplying. Every time he killed one, it summoned reinforcements. Sure, they were weak, but they just kept coming, which was starting to get on his nerves.

If only I had my shadows.

His alias was Shadow Walker—the one who walks through shadows. But thanks to that damned skeleton with the spear and the one with the bow, there were no shadows for him to use. He had to rely solely on physical force.

Ha.

Of course, there was no real danger for him, just the annoyance at having his time wasted.

“No matter how much light you produce, there will always be shadows. You can’t fill the entire world with light.”

Shadow Walker moved aggressively, exploiting gaps and striking down the skeletons. It was as if the light itself was leaking away.

—Whoosh!

Within the blinding light, the darkness began to creep in like a solar eclipse.

“Shadow Field. It’s a skill that creates shadows artificially,” he muttered.

Indeed, this was what made rankers rankers. There was no way a hunter with an apparent weakness could become a ranker.

“This is where I stop holding back, workshop owner. Whew, that was an impressive trick.”

Bit by bit, the shadows devoured Sunny’s light.

“But isn’t saying you’re ‘holding back’ a bit dramatic? You haven’t been holding back from the start.”

“Shut up! You talk big for your skill level!”

—Whoosh!

Shadow Walker vanished into the shadows.

“…”

Alright. If running my mouth made him lose even a fraction of his focus, then I’d keep talking. I needed to do whatever it took to win.

“I find you disgusting, Shadow Walker.”

[‘Bonehead 4’ used the skill ‘Intermediate Taunt’ (Lv.6).]

—Crack!

Boney 4 was destroyed once again. Shadow Walker had struck from the shadows.

“Rankers like you, who act all high and mighty while doing dirty work for money.”

[Using skill ‘Summon Great Skeleton’ (B-rank).]

[Consuming 10 energy.]

[Summoning ‘Bonehead 4′]

—Rattle!

But Boney 4 was summoned again as long as I had energy left.

“You call yourselves prestigious rankers, but you’re nothing more than hired killers. Scum of the earth.”

[Hunter: Joo Donghoon]

[Alias: Skeleton Lord]

[Energy: 50/220]

I had 50 energy left.

—Thud!

Boney 4 planted its shield on the ground again, determined to protect its master no matter how many times it fell.

“To me, you’re not a ranker, you’re not even human. You’re just a beast driven by greed. Trash.”

“Shut your mouth!”

At that moment, two Shadow Walkers appeared, one in front of Boney 4 and another behind me. They leapt into the air, aiming their blades at my neck.

This…

I was startled because I could see his strategy—a clever ploy to divide his attacks between Boney 4 and me with a slight delay. It was a smart move.

“My lord!”

“Duck, Master!”

Eldrin, Sunny, Boney 1, and Boney 5 all reacted quickly, but it wasn’t enough.

“…”

I gritted my teeth. My instincts told me there was no way I could block this ranker’s attack.

Not yet, at least.

I was frustrated. If only I had more time. If I had reached A-rank or gotten closer to mastering the All Techniques, the outcome might have been different.

—Grit!

But I didn’t give up.

Just as I was glaring at him with all the defiance I had…

—Boom!

A tremendous noise rocked the building. Something like a flash of lightning shot up from below, knocking both of Shadow Walker’s forms away at blinding speed.

“Guh… Ugh!”

He slammed into the wall, writhing on the ground like an insect, unable to move.

And behind me…

“Donghoon.”

A familiar scent of peony flowers and a soft breath.

“I’m sorry I’m late.”

Ah.

There was only one person I knew who could kick a ranker in the 720s like that—someone who called me by my name. There was only one.

The Dark Empress, Gi Soyul. One of Korea’s 37 rankers. Ranked 379th in the world.

She had arrived.