Chapter 47: Chapter 47

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Chapter 47: The One Who Opens the Path (2)

Ssssssssss!

The ocean in the sky began to ripple.

A black sea stretched out like a tongue and—

Gulp!

It spat something out.

BOOM!

"A mountain...?"

"No, that's..."

It was a rock.

A rock so massive it could easily be mistaken for a small mountain.

[Time remaining: 10 minutes.]

[Defeat the 'Stone Golem' and survive!]

In the middle of the Samgak Intersection,

a boulder with arms, legs, and even a head came crashing down.

Beneath its weight, cars, utility poles, and signposts were all buried without a trace.

Crash!

The asphalt, now hosting an enormous boulder, began spewing dust everywhere.

Clang! Crack! Creak!

Amid the choking smoke, countless fragments flew through the air.

Large and small shards scraped against exposed bones, but it wasn’t worth worrying about.

Because—

"Stone Golem?!"

"What the heck? You expect us to take that down? Now?"

Everyone's attention was wholly consumed by the appearance of this new enemy—

living or dead, it didn’t matter.

"Damn! That thing's ridiculously huge!"

The swear-laden exclamation said it all.

It was big.

Ridiculously big.

So massive, in fact, that it could easily engulf an office building in its shadow.

The enormous figure loomed so close that the skeletal soldiers forming a perimeter could almost touch it.

‘This... isn’t going to be easy.’

"Arrgh... Attack...!"

The skeletons closest to the golem launched their assault.

But—

Clang!

Their swords bounced off like toothpicks.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

Dozens, hundreds of steel toothpicks were sent flying in all directions.

The disparity in power was overwhelming.

Annoyed, the golem began to stomp its feet.

BOOM!

With its left foot down—

"!!"

The ground quaked.

Cars were flattened like chewing gum, and power lines toppled over.

BOOM!

Then came the right foot.

"Ughhhhh!"

Nearby skeleton soldiers were flung into the air.

They crashed back to the ground with their bones dislocated and piled together.

It was hopeless.

Even if thousands, tens of thousands of skeletal soldiers swarmed, victory seemed unattainable.

This wasn’t an enemy that could be defeated through sheer numbers.

So I yelled desperately.

"Stop! Fall back!"

And to buy them time to retreat—

"Blade Storm!"

I shouted and swung my sword.

The air I cut through rushed forward faster than anyone else.

Whoosh!

The sound of air splitting pierced my ears.

A crescent-shaped slash tore through the space ahead, its momentum strong enough to awaken dulled senses.

But to the golem—

Screech!

It was nothing.

A scratch.

A mark.

Not even enough to itch.

If it were a car, no repairs would be needed—just a fresh coat of paint.

It was that insignificant.

‘My attacks... don’t work?’

"Arrgh!"

"Y-yes, Commander!"

─ Creak!

The golem advanced.

Judging by its mountain-like appearance and the way it deflected my attack, its defense was extraordinary.

Perhaps stronger than any enemy we’d faced so far.

Now it was its turn.

The creature raised its fist like it was about to deal the final blow.

It grew dark.

The sun above was blocked in an instant, leaving a chilling shade.

Whoosh!

A colossal stone fist came crashing down like a meteor.

"!!"

BOOM!

The road shattered beneath the blow.

The asphalt crumbled like tofu, scattering black debris everywhere.

"Commander!"

"Sir! It’s dangerous here!"

The sheer weight behind its punches was overwhelming.

This was nothing like the bone-bomb explosions I had deflected with my Pathfinder title.

A direct hit from that fist would turn my white skull, from crown to toe, into a single, shattered fragment.

The only silver lining was—

‘This thing’s only coming after me.’

Whoosh!

"Over here! Over here!"

Jieun waved a piece of leather—or was it cloth?—in the air, trying to catch the golem's attention.

"Sir! Watch your head!"

Jaehyuk hurled a mace at the golem like he was in a hammer-throw competition, then called out again and hurled another.

Whoosh! Crash!

Even though parts of its leg crumbled away like shedding skin under their attacks,

the golem ignored them completely, fixated only on me.

"This way, you dumb lump of rock!!"

Whatever was in that rocky brain of its, I seemed to be the sole target.

I wasn’t sure why,

but—

‘That works for me.’

At least I didn’t have to worry about the others’ safety.

And then—

[The effect of the 'Pathfinder' title has been activated!]

A cheerful announcement echoed through the air.

Fwoosh!

In an instant, a cool breeze swept over, embracing the bare bones of my legs.

The blue wind climbed, wrapping every joint and crevice of my skeletal frame with precision.

[Followers: 1,497]

[Movement speed increased by 150%.]

[Defense increased by 150.]

My body felt both light and sturdy.

This should be enough to evade attacks without much trouble.

Even if I got grazed, I wouldn’t die instantly.

BOOM!

While the speed gifted me precious time, I thought.

What the enemy possesses.

What the enemy lacks.

And what I have.

There’s an answer.

A slow reaction time, resulting from immense weight.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

My mace’s attacks—subtle, but effective.

The monster, ignoring the scattered party, coming only for me.

And finally, the lingering effect of a title I still held.

The best option in this situation is...

Whistle!

This time, I whistled.

I moved my legs in a frantic, fleeing motion, heading somewhere.

“Eunho! Where are you going?!”

“Hyung-nim! It’s dangerous to go alone! Besides, you're still in your skeleton form...!”

“Stay there!”

Ignoring the worried cries of Jieun and Jaehyuk, I ran.

“First squad! Go left! Second squad, circle around to the right and follow me!”

“Yes, sir!”

“Be careful not to get trampled!”

[The skeleton soldier horde follows the commander’s orders!]

It wasn’t that our attacks didn’t work.

We just didn’t have the firepower to pierce through that high defense in one go.

If we couldn’t do it ourselves, we just needed something else to attack in our stead.

Just a little further…

Thud! Boom! Boom-boom!

The golem was following as planned.

Dodging its punches must’ve irritated it, as it now began slamming its palms down randomly.

Its handprints were left stamped all over the road.

Tack-tack!

After running and running, I arrived at my destination.

Here!

I came to a halt, waiting for the enraged blockhead.

Boom! Left foot.

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Boom! Right foot.

BOOM!

The golem was now right in front of me.

It stared at me standing still and raised its fist without hesitation.

The sky darkened, a shadow loomed overhead.

If I got hit head-on, I’d surely die.

But still, I waited.

Whiiiiish!

Until the meteor-like punch descended toward my crown.

“Accelerate!”

I leapt aside just in time.

CRAAAASH!

My nonexistent heart and lungs felt like they were about to burst.

Right foot, left foot, right foot, left foot...

Creak!

My shinbone and calf bone scraped together with an audible creak.

Grind!

My thigh bone and kneecap rubbed against each other desperately.

Then, just moments later...

Click!

Time resumed, excluding me.

BOOOOOM!

The golem’s fist slammed into the building behind me.

Right into the middle of a 34-story mixed-use complex.

“Eunho!!!”

“Hyuuuuung!!!”

The reason I had sprinted the farthest distance possible within my 20 seconds of enhanced speed,

The reason I had run with all my might—

It was so I wouldn’t get crushed beneath the collapsing forest of buildings.

RUMBLE!

One tower gave in, bearing the full brunt of the golem’s punch.

The stupid golem leaned forward, having swung its fist and lowered its torso to target me.

CRASH! BOOM! SHHHHH!

And with that, the adjacent buildings followed, tumbling down.

Soon, the rubble became indistinguishable from the golem’s form, a chaotic pile of debris.

Even so, as the creature stirred amidst the ruins, refusing to concede,

“Commander... You’re safe...”

The skeleton soldiers who had successfully followed me gathered tightly around.

Thank goodness.

I had worried the golem might attack them while pursuing me.

But it seemed so focused on me that it ignored the “bugs” at its back.

Should I be grateful?

Because...

“All units! Prepare the ribs!”

“Yes, sir!”

It had unwittingly helped further our plan.

[The skeleton soldier horde awaits the commander’s orders!]

“Throw them!”

Whoosh, whoosh, whooosh!

Fifteen hundred ribs soared into the sky.

Or rather, erupted might be the better word.

White bones surged upward like a geyser, shooting into the air.

And finally—

Upon the immobilized golem, pinned beneath the rubble—

Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud!

A rain of bones poured down.

“Detonate!”

“Yes, sir!”

[The skeleton soldier horde activates the skill 'Bone Bomb (Lv.1)']

With Skeleton Soldier #1’s diligent reply,

BOOM!

A red dot burst.

A crimson, yellow, and white roar of fire.

As the first explosion went off like a signal flare, 1,500 bombs swelled up as if on cue.

[The power increases with a chain reaction!]

[Brace yourself for impact!]

The red dots gathered into a long line.

Then, finally, they became a plane.

KABOOOOOM—!

I went deaf.

Even the nonexistent ears were deafened.

Bzzzzzz—!

The thunderous roar that shook my skull startled even me.

[Your systematic command of multiple soldiers has greatly improved your Leadership Skill proficiency!]

[Leadership (Lv.1) skill level has increased.]

[Leadership (Lv.1) → Leadership (Lv.2)]

As my skill level rose,

[Congratulations!]

The announcement signaling the end played.

['Stone Golem' has been defeated.]

[You have earned 1,000 Welfare Points!]

“It, it’s over!”

“Hyung-nim! You’ve done it!!”

It was over.

Relief and cheers filled everyone’s faces.

“Commander…!”

“Thanks to you…”

Even the expressionless faces of the skeletal soldiers seemed at ease.

[Under the influence of the Leadership Skill, your soldiers feel a sense of stability.]

[The skeletal soldiers, resonating with the commander’s emotions, feel a sense of relief.]

…Ah, so it was because of the Leadership Skill.

But the soldiers even share emotions?

I thought it was just a skill that made them follow orders better, but it turns out to be unexpectedly versatile.

‘Not that I’ll ever have another chance to command soldiers like this again, probably.’

Anyway.

“It’s all thanks to your help.”

“Commander…!”

As I patted the backs of the approaching party and skeletal soldiers…

“Wait.”

My eyes caught the remaining time in the corner of my vision.

To be precise…

「%~$*&」

The numbers had transformed into incomprehensible symbols.

「00:&%」

They briefly returned to their original form before changing again.

「#^!%_$~!*&」

Turning into an even more complex mess… Huh?

“Why does the remaining time look like that?”

“Huh?”

“Don’t tell me…!”

No way.

Surely, it’s not over yet…!

Suddenly, a dreadful premonition struck me, and I raised my head sharply.

What filled my vision was a single flashing word in crimson.

「ERROR!」

“Error…?”

BEEEEEEP!

“Ugh!”

“Kyaah! My head!”

A piercing warning sound.

1,500 skeletons flinched in fright.

The living, overwhelmed by the noise, cried out one after another.

After a moment, I managed to open my ears again.

[Settings have been modified under temporary administrator privileges!]

['Stone Golem' has undergone an update patch!]

A horrifying announcement rang out.

I heard it clearly but wished it wasn’t true.

“U-up… update…?”

“What did it just say…?”

Everyone, be they human or skeleton, paled and shook their heads in disbelief.

[Patch complete!]

Beep-beep—!

Along with an ominous mechanical sound,

RUMBLE—!

Something began to rise from the rubble.

And that something…

“!!”

The shattered, broken parts of its body replaced with metal instead of stone.

CLANK—!

Its body now encased in cold weapons, cannon-like structures surrounding it.

“Patch…”

[Defeat the 'Iron Golem'!]

…Yeah, right.

You’ve got to be kidding me!

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