How to Raise Your Skeletons

Chapter 85: Sun vs. Moon (2)

“So this is what a duel between top-tier fighters looks like?” Kim Jinah was about to mutter, “I can’t even see what’s happening!”

But then…

—Whoosh!

An arrow shot out like lightning from the bushes, aimed directly at Sunny’s forehead. The speed was enough to throw off anyone’s focus for a moment. But…

“Fighting dirty, aren’t you?”

—Ting!

Sunny easily deflected it. “Go ahead, try a thousand times if you must. Let’s see if your ambush can even leave a scratch on me.”

It wasn’t mere bravado. Their tone was calm and composed—the tone of someone who truly believed what they said.

“Do you know why?”

—Whoosh!

Sunny’s spear spun gracefully in the air before settling in their left hand, pointing downward.

“Every moment of my life has been an assassination attempt.”

They were a creature who once stood against all humanity.

“I couldn’t even see, yet I fought off countless traps, ambushes, and conspiracies from every direction…”

“…”

“For me, dodging attacks like these is nothing but the daily routine.” With a powerful kick, Sunny launched themself toward the bushes.

“Hmm.” Eldrin nodded slowly, watching them approach. “Indeed, I suppose that could be true.” Then she gently shifted her aim to Sunny, now charging toward her. “As turbulent as the lives of the Forest Tribe have been… it must’ve been the same for you, Sun Spear. So let’s see who has endured more, who has put in more effort.”

“Gladly. I won’t hold back.”

—Whoosh! Thwack! Thud!

Green arrows shot out in all directions as Eldrin loosed her bowstring.

“These arrows are infused with poison from my Ritual Spellcasting.”

Pssshh…

The arrows released poison resembling the gas from a tear gas grenade from their tips as they embedded themselves into various trees.

I was worried about environmental contamination for a moment, but then I raised an eyebrow.

Wait, the trees are fine?

Ahh. Perhaps her ritual magic made it so the poison only worked on Sunny.

Impressive, Eldrin.

I didn’t have to tell her what to do as she handled everything the right way.

“Well then, Sun Spear. Come closer if you dare. Let’s see if you can reach me without a single scratch…”

“Cute. If I were weak enough to be affected by mere poison, I wouldn’t have even challenged you.” Standing just beyond the bushes, Sunny swung their spear and cast Raging Desert (Lv.6).

—Fwoooosh!

A sandstorm started swirling around and swept the poison away from the bushes.

“Is that precisely why you just made an opening?”

—Whoosh!

An arrow flew right through the gap under Sunny’s armpit as they swung their spear. It would’ve been a vital point for a living creature.

“Huh?”

Sunny twisted their body to dodge the arrow, their previous calmness giving way to a slight urgency.

—Boom!

The arrow landed on the ground behind them, releasing an explosive sound.

“Impressive. That ambush was worth acknowledging,” Sunny muttered.

Though their expression was hidden, I could tell that they were enjoying this.

“Interesting, very interesting. Seems like I can’t reach you without a scratch. Well, that’s even better!”

Sunny had never known an equal rival in the Ancient Desert. Although, they might’ve had worthy foes in the past, and even those who were stronger than them at one point. But ultimately, they ruled the Desert Empire. They crushed the hearts of all who stood against them or blocked their path. And once those enemies disappeared, a sense of emptiness followed.

Perhaps… As a warrior by nature, the Sun Spear instinctively sought stronger opponents.

Sunny proceeded to use Soulflare (Lv.6) to amplify their physical abilities.

—Whooom!

Sunny’s soul ignited with energy. For a brief moment, this skill boosted their physical capabilities several-fold.

“…”

I couldn’t help but gulp at its grandeur. Even Kim Jinah, who’d been munching on popcorn, stopped chewing.

“Search.”

—Swoosh.

Sunny’s gaze landed exactly on Eldrin’s position.

“Approach.”

With that, they launched themself into the air.

“And thrust.”

—Whoosh!

They thrust their spear forward, throwing themself with it. The sequence of movements was seamless as if they were all one fluid action. In a brief instant, their amplified physical power allowed them to move at blinding speed with immense destructive force.

“Mmph?” A hint of surprise crossed Eldrin’s face.

Finally, the tip of Sunny’s spear touched her shoulder and cracked her bone slightly.

—Crunch!

“…!”

Watching from afar, I clenched my fists. Eldrin managed to escape with just a crack, but if it were me in her place, my heart might not have withstood the attack.

“Even with my Hundred-Mile Eyes predicting your path…! That was close,” Eldrin muttered as she leaped to a nearby branch.

—Thud!

“How long do you plan on running? Are you going to keep our lord waiting all day?”

“Hardly. Just look up and say that again if you can.”

“What?” Sunny lifted their face toward the sky.

And up above, arrows infused with moonlight rained down like a carpet bombing. It was Eldrin’s ultimate skill, Moonlight Descent (Lv.6).

No way!

I was stunned. When did she even fire those? Did she anticipate Sunny’s attack and shoot into the sky beforehand?

“Well, that’s more like it! This is what I wanted!”

Sunny didn’t dodge. Instead, they raised their spear, ready to counter.

“Let me teach you something.”

“What is it?”

“The moon’s light can never be brighter than the sun’s. Eldrin, unfortunately, you lose by nature alone.”

—Whoosh!

A blinding light erupted from Sunny’s spear—the relentless chained attack, so fast it was blinding. It was Sunny’s ultimate skill, Solar Strike (Lv.6).

—Blam! Blam! Blam!

Sunny’s spear moved like a series of camera flashes, deflecting and striking down every arrow and ultimately reaching Eldrin.

“Well. You never know until we clash against each other!”

Eldrin didn’t remain still. Moving through the air, she swiftly released more arrows, infusing each one with her ki.

—Crash!

Trees shattered, and rocks crumbled. The ground ripped apart, and a thick cloud of dust rose. It looked like the entire mountain was being torn asunder in their intense battle.

“…”

In the midst of their clash, I saw them—their living bodies superimposed over their skeleton forms. Sun Spear and Eldrin were in their original forms. They had muscles, veins, and lungs.

“Huff, huff.”

They were clearly gasping for air. It was a moment after an intense battle, a time for catching their breath.

“…This is insane.” Kim Jinah’s jaw dropped in astonishment.

Yeah, I agree.

It felt like watching an action movie. This could probably win the Cannes Film Festival without any editing. That was how real and magnificent the battle was.

The fight…

As the referee, I silently calculated.

It seems to be leaning in Sunny’s favor.

Honestly, it was expected. Eldrin’s strength lay more in ranged support and utility through Ritual Spellcasting. On the other hand, Sunny was all about combat as a warrior who had fought their entire life.

Moreover…

Eldrin’s shoulder was injured. For an archer, the shoulder was critical. It was clear the advantage had tilted toward Sunny.

Sunny knew it, and so did Eldrin. But…

“…”

Sunny calmly lowered their spear.

“…”

Eldrin, too, resolutely nocked an arrow.

The condition I set was to fight until one was destroyed. And from observing the path I walked, they knew it wouldn’t be over until it was truly finished.

“Here I come, Eldrin.” Sunny charged.

“Anytime.” Eldrin retreated, drawing her bow.

Round two had begun.

That same weekend, two men were walking along a mountain trail. They were journalists dressed in neat hiking gear.

“Hey, Han. I told you I wanted to hike Bukhansan today, so why’d you pick this random neighborhood‘s mountain?”

“Hey, Kim. Don’t underestimate local mountains.”

“Underestimate? Come on… You’re just taking the easy trail ’cause it’s a lazy day, no? Or did your wife give you a hard time last night? Hehe.”

“Ha, Kim… I think you’re seriously mistaken.” The journalist with the surname Han glanced at the other journalist with the surname Kim. “A mountain doesn’t have to be high to be challenging.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Bukhansan has well-marked trails. But here, there’s no designated path. It’s one of the few places in Korea where you get to be in untouched nature! We may not be going on some grand expedition like Christopher Columbus, but it’s good to feel like we’re blazing a trail, don’t you think?”

“…But it’s still low altitude.”

“Hey, c’mon!” Han glared. “Don’t you have any journalistic spirit?”

“Huh? What does journalistic spirit have to do with this?” Kim replied, exasperated. “Most incidents happen in shady, secluded places like this.”

“…”

He had a point, though. But it was supposed to be their day off. Surely they should rest, even if getting exclusive news was hard these days.

“How’d you even find this place…?” Kim muttered as he advanced, clearing branches with a portable machete.

On untrodden paths like this, you had to cut through the branches to avoid getting scratched by thorns or accidentally brushing against poison ivy.

“Come on, Kim. Let’s just enjoy the fresh air. Stop complaining.”

Humming a tune, they climbed up the mountain, when suddenly…

—Rumble!

“Wh-What was that?”

The ground shook.

“An earthquake?”

They knelt, gripping the ground to maintain their balance.

At that moment, Han’s eyes gleamed. “It’s not an earthquake!”

“Then what is it?”

“It’s a scoop! Don’t you smell it? The scent of a juicy exclusive?”

“Scent?”

What scent? The shaking ground made his stomach churn.

“Hold on a second!”

—Click! Click!

Han pulled something out of his bag and assembled a high-powered portable camera.

“…?”

Kim’s jaw dropped. “You brought that on a hike?”

“A journalist should always be prepared.”

“That’s… impressive. But.” Kim looked off in the distance toward the source of the disturbance.

—Flash! Boom!

Something was still getting lit up over there.

“You’re actually going over there? Shouldn’t we report this first…?”

“Report? No!” Han shouted. “Do you want to lose the scoop?”

“…You’re insane.”

“Follow me if you want, or run if you’re scared. But I have to find out what’s going on and capture it.”

“…”

If there were ever a true journalist in this era, it would be Han.

“Hey, wait! Let’s go together!”

In the end, Kim followed him. They’d already ventured deep into the forest, and he figured it was better to go together than to face the unknown alone.