Chapter 18 · 11 min

Chapter 18

'Junk, junk, junk... junk. As expected of an ordinary Necromancer, most of it is trash.'

I rummaged through the wreckage, picking out anything useful one by one.

The bones of pathetic skeletons and goblins were far below my current level.

But there were a few gems mixed in among them. Feeling my dopamine surge, I began farming in earnest.

'This is... wow, holy shit! That's a drake rib!'

I found a rib cage far larger than my entire torso!

Mana patterns glowing like lava covered the dark-red scorched bone, and heat like a shimmering haze seemed to rise from its surface.

[Flame Drake Rib(Grade: Rare)]

[Expected increase in Defense and Fire Resistance upon transplantation]

A drake was a lesser species of dragon, but it was still a high-ranking magical beast with dragon blood running through its veins.

Excited, I hugged the house-sized bone and tried activating my skill.

[Warning: Grade requirement not met.]

[Bones of Rare Grade or higher require skill level 10 or above.]

[Warning: Transplantation is impossible because current structural compatibility does not match.]

'Aw.'

I felt like tears were welling up despite not even having tear glands.

Unable to hide my regret, I stroked the beautifully curved rib.

The texture of bone holding heat, the intricacy of the naturally occurring mana patterns engraved across its surface...

If I fitted this into my rib cage, I'd become a skeleton warrior that breathed fire from its chest.

'Right, I need to know my place. Let's find the most efficient setup I can use right now.'

No matter how powerful the bone of a top-class magical beast was, my current level and humanoid-based spine couldn't handle it. If I forced it in, I'd obviously end up rattling myself to death just like that Orc Skeleton earlier.

Holding back tears, I carefully stuffed the drake bone into the [Abyssal Mucus Sac]. The problem was that it was so huge that there was barely any space left.

'Let's see. Something that matches my level and that I need right now...'

The most urgent thing was still this frail basic skeleton torso, meaning my rib cage.

Embedded in the center of my chest now was the [Guardian Golem's Mana Core], my lifeline and power source.

The cracked ribs of a basic skeleton were nowhere near enough to protect this precious core.

'Found it.'

I discovered a set of bones radiating a heavy presence from within the pile.

[Gargoyle Rib Set(Grade: Advanced)]

[Expected major increase in Physical Defense upon transplantation.]

Gargoyle.

As a flying monster that disguised itself as a stone statue, its defense was outstanding.

I lifted the bones with satisfaction, then suddenly paused.

'No wing bones.'

Unfortunately, they seemed to have already been used. Well, I wasn't sure my current spine could handle wings anyway. Just imagining a flying skeleton was enough to make my dopamine explode.

'A gargoyle without wings. That's only half a set.'

Someday, I'll definitely attach wings. Pass for now.

I put the gargoyle bones back down and continued searching through the pile. A little farther in, I found something far more tempting.

[Armored Clam's Arched Ventral Rib(Grade: Advanced)]

[Expected increase in combined Physical/Magical Defense upon transplantation.]

Armored Clam.

A giant bivalve that lived in the waterways of the Demon Realm, an unusual species with a developed internal skeleton rather than a shell.

Its physical defense might be inferior to the gargoyle's, but it had a far more tempting characteristic.

[Unique Skill: Bone Replacement(Lv.6) activated!]

I ripped out my frail ribs all at once and forced the Armored Clam's ribs into their place.

SSSSSS-.

With a sizzling sound, the ribs attached firmly to my spine.

[Transplant successful!]

[Combined Physical/Magical Defense has increased.]

[Proficiency in Skill: 'Dome Defense(Lv.3)' has been inherited.]

Each rib formed an arch that interlocked with the others, allowing external impacts to be distributed across the structure like a dome. It was a very useful defensive part.

In a way, it was like a buttress arch.

Next, the legs.

The Black Hound legs weren't bad, but it was time to aim one step higher.

My fingertips found a dark-colored bone while searching through the pile.

[Shadow Jaguar Femur and Tibia Set(Grade: Advanced)]

[Expected major increase in Agility upon transplantation.]

They shared the same reverse-jointed structure of the beast family, but even the thickness and density of the bones looked completely different from something like a Black Hound.

It was also perfect that there were two sets.

Since I could only take one body part from a single individual, I needed parts from two creatures to fill both legs.

I pulled out the Black Hound leg bones and replaced them one after another with the Shadow Jaguar bones, left then right.

[Transplant successful!]

[Agility and Jumping Power have greatly increased.]

[Unique Skill: Bone Inheritance(Lv.1) activated!]

['Beast's Leap(Lv.3)' + 'Shadow Step(Lv.4)' → evolved into 'Shadow Leap(Lv.3)'!]

['Beast's Sprint(Lv.3)' + 'Silent Walk(Lv.3)' → evolved into 'Stealth Sprint(Lv.3)'!]

Oh, the skills evolved too?

'So this is what [Inheritance] does!'

It wasn't just a level increase. The skill names themselves had changed. It seemed to be the effect of replacing them with superior versions.

Tap.

I lightly jumped in place.

The distinctive rattling sound of a skeleton was gone. Even when I landed, it was as quiet as stepping on a cloud.

Then I heard a system notification.

Ding.

[You have been recognized as an unusual individual who voluntarily combines numerous bones from different species.]

[You have acquired a new title befitting your race: 'Heir of Multiple Bloodlines'.]

[Changing titles applies bonuses to certain traits.]

[Hybrid Skeleton Soldier(Lv.6)]

[Title: Heir of Multiple Bloodlines - Forms friendly relationships with cross-species composites(Chimeras).]

[Traits]

- Precise Observation(EX)

- Player's Soul

- Trace of an Ancient Species

[Unique Skills]

- Bone Replacement(Lv.6)

- Bone Inheritance(Lv.1)

[Skills]

- Ironclad Grip(Lv.5)

- Sneaky Pickpocket(Lv.2)

- Mana Sensitivity(Lv.3)

- Dome Defense(Lv.3)

- Shadow Leap(Lv.3)

- Stealth Sprint(Lv.3)

'A chimera, huh. That's a title that suits how I look perfectly.'

I had gained a new title, but it didn't seem immediately useful.

It's not like guys like me are common.

I rotated my arms around and tapped my chest once more.

Armored Clam ribs, a Lizardman's right arm and Goblin's left arm, and reverse-jointed Jaguar legs.

To anyone looking, I was a grotesque hybrid that seemed as though some insane Necromancer had gotten drunk and assembled me, but it was a satisfying upgrade.

Just as I securely locked the storeroom door and turned around.

The clanging of metal and the shouts of several people rose through the walls from the lower floors of the tower.

"Red Wolves! Charge!"

It was Rena's thunderous shout.

'Exactly thirty minutes.'

It was the appointed time.

I immediately ran to the window and looked down.

The tower's front gate had been shattered to pieces.

Mercenaries wearing pauldrons bearing the Red Wolves emblem were pouring in through the fragments of the iron gate, and at their head, the red-haired female warrior was sweeping away groups of skeletons with her enormous two-handed greatsword.

CRUNCH! BOOM!

Every time Rena swung her greatsword, three or four skeletons simultaneously turned to bone dust and scattered.

The mercenaries also maintained their formation in an organized manner, relying on Rena's breakthrough power as they pushed their way upward.

Hundreds of low-rank undead looked no different from firewood to them.

'They're doing well.'

I watched admiringly, then suddenly narrowed my eyes.

Because something I couldn't understand at all, knowing the Tower of White Bones's defense system as I did, entered my sight.

'Why are there only that many?'

Normally, when intruders appeared, the iron doors of the 'troop quarters' located on floors 1, 2, and 3 would all open at once, and literally endless waves of undead troops should pour out in a numbers-based assault.

But right now, only the weak mobs on the first floor were attacking sporadically.

The tightly shut iron doors of the troop quarters on floors 2 and 3 showed no sign of opening at all.

[Precise Observation(EX) activates.]

I expanded my field of vision and scanned the tower's mana.

Inside the iron doors, hundreds of elite undead stood packed tightly in formation.

They radiated killing intent as though ready to burst out at any moment, yet remained frozen in place as though bound by invisible chains.

And the ends of those chains led to the laboratory at the top of the tower.

'The mana control is fluctuating.'

Malach's dominating mana flowing down from the top flickered unsteadily, as though it might snap at any moment.

'Ah, so that's what it was.'

That old bastard really wasn't in any condition to handle large-scale necromancy.

Apparently, something was wrong with his mana, so he'd given up on controlling all his troops at once.

He had sent out only the minimum number of low-rank trash mobs he could still control to buy time, while forcibly locking the remaining forces inside the quarters to reduce mana consumption.

'Looks like his body can't handle it even if he wants to go all out.'

Our odds of winning became certain.

Without delay, I pulled out one of the Polymorph Reagents I'd made yesterday from my leather pouch and downed it in one gulp.

FWOOSH-.

Along with a pleasant warmth, muscles and skin covered my bones, transforming me back into the human 'Arcanus.' Fortunately, even though my skeleton had changed, my polymorphed human appearance remained the same.

I vaulted over several railings and headed straight for the first-floor lobby where the fierce battle was taking place.

I needed to tell Rena not to waste time on the trash mobs and to head straight for the boss room.

Rena's group was still fighting well, but they were gradually beginning to show signs of exhaustion from the numerical advantage of the endlessly advancing low-rank undead.

"Arcanus!"

Rena, who had been carving a path by smashing skeleton skulls, spotted me and brightened.

The mercenaries also cheered as though their morale had risen at my appearance.

"The upper floors are emptier than expected! Don't waste your strength fighting small fry. Head straight for the top!"

I shouted as I joined Rena's side.

"Kieeek!"

At that moment, a zombie that had rushed in from my blind spot brought its axe down toward my side.

"Watch out!"

Toby screamed.

But I didn't dodge. Instead, I extended my right hand, which contained the transplanted Lizardman bone.

[Skill: Ironclad Grip(Lv.5) activated!]

CRACK!

I grabbed the axe blade in my bare hand and snapped it in half. Before the crushing grip of a reptilian beast capable of biting through steel, the old weapon was no different from a piece of straw.

"H-Holy shit..."

Toby's jaw practically dropped to the floor. Even Rena looked momentarily stunned by my ridiculous barehanded strength.

"You... what the hell are you?"

Rena asked while catching her breath, staring at me as though I were a monster.

I casually shrugged and, instead of answering, pointed toward the spiral staircase leading upward.

"Does that matter? The Necromancer in this tower has internal injuries. Now is the time to push forward."

"Internal injuries? No wonder the defenses seemed sloppy."

Fighting spirit flared in Rena's eyes.

We reorganized the formation, beat back the approaching undead as necessary, and relentlessly pushed our way upward.

SLASH! CRUNCH!

At every floor we reached, portions of the troop quarters opened and forces poured out, but perhaps because Malach's control had weakened, the undead resistance was laughably poor.

We broke through each floor with ease and reached the spiral staircase leading to the laboratory on the top floor, the tenth floor, but.

'Isn't this way too easy, even considering everything?'

The progress had gone so smoothly that unease began creeping over me instead.

There was no way a sly old Necromancer would simply stand there helplessly while his own stronghold was being raided.

If he was conserving his troops, then he had to be preparing some decisive 'finishing move.'

That ominous premonition immediately became reality.

RUMBLEEEEE-!

The instant we stepped onto the stairs, the entire tower began shaking violently with an unpleasant vibration.

From Malach's laboratory at the top of the tower, sticky, overwhelming, dark-red blood-colored mana began pouring out like a waterfall.

"Urgh! What the hell is this ominous mana...?!"

Rena planted her greatsword into the floor and struggled to stay standing. Several mercenaries couldn't endure the crushing pressure of that overwhelming mana and dropped to their knees, retching.

I narrowed my eyes and stared toward the top floor. Perhaps because we were closer now, I could see the system window.

[Necromancer Malach(Lv.???)]

[Status Effect: Aftereffects of Mana Reversal]

- Severe damage has occurred to the mana circuits due to the side effects of excessive necromancy.

- There is a risk of self-destruction when using large-scale necromancy.

Aftereffects of mana reversal?

Huh.

'He left his qi deviation untreated.'

Qi is like flowing water. Once it loses its path, it will inevitably break down the dam.

Ah, Malach really was a foolish old bastard! The reason he hadn't been able to deploy proper elites all this time was because of the aftereffects of his mana damage.

Right, to the point where using more power could cause him to destroy himself...

[Warning! Large-Scale Fusion Necromancy has been cast.]

'You crazy old bastard! You actually hit the self-destruct switch!'

The soil and stones around the tower, along with the remains of the undead we had defeated moments earlier, became wrapped in dark-red mana and began merging together.

- You insolent insects...!

The Necromancer's madness-filled voice echoed sinisterly from the top floor, as though he were coughing up blood.

He intended to use the mana of every undead stored inside the tower, every fragment and material, even the remainder of his own lifespan as fuel to create a single enormous being.

If he succeeded, one gigantic Chimera Undead would be born using everything remaining in this tower as material.

Huh?

Chimera?

The Skeleton Soldier Is Good at Replacing Bones

Author:

Metdoyo

Publisher:

Jakga Dabang

Publishing Registration:

No. 2025-000022

Address:

3rd Floor, 50-9 Myeongmul-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Telephone:

02-313-7388

Email:

info@jakgadabang.com

ISBN/UCI:

G720:N+A475-20261015075

Publication Date:

October 23, 2026

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