[Treasure Eater uses Flames of Resentment! Scorching flames are spreading through the entire area!]

[Critical Hit!]

Lv2 Treasure Eaters don’t have this skill! Still, Lee Shin-Woo wasn’t in any place to complain. After all, he should’ve suspected that the lv3 Treasure Eater would have an ability the lower level ones didn’t have. Lee Shin-Woo had let his guard down and acted recklessly since victory was right within his reach; he had made a mistake.

Another lesson learned. So long as I get out of this alive, I’ll consider it a good bargain.

Lee Shin-Woo didn't hold back. With all the strength he could muster, he pulled whatever tricks he had up his sleeves to get out of the scarlet flames spreading through the chaotic battlefield. His death wouldn’t be his end, but he couldn’t always rely on Invisible Heart! It was clever of him to open his inventory and retrieve his bone arrows instinctively. The strength contained in them might pale in comparison to the bones monsters dropped after death, but they would suffice for first aid.

Bone Reinforcement, Bone Reinforcement! Use them all for Bone Reinforcement!

The bone arrows were all used up, and his body, which had been entirely burnt in the huge explosion, was instantaneously healed. Since they were just regular bone arrows, they didn't grant him any experiences, memories, or skills, and his stats didn't increase, either, but he was content to have avoided instant death. Of course, he wasn't out of the woods just yet.

Bones... I need more bones!

Fortunately, the battlefield was filled with the bones of the skeletons that had died prior. However, the bones themselves were burning within the malevolent flames, so he would have to hurry up if he wanted to use them for Bone Reinforcement. It was a good thing that he had made the judgment quickly and acted accordingly. Soon, he had collected several dozen bones.

Bone Reinforcement! Bone Reinforcement!

[Your arm bone has been reinforced.]

[Your leg bone has been reinforced.]

[Your shoulder bone has been reinforced.]

[Your arm bone has been reinforced.]

Bones of regular Skeleton Soldiers no longer granted him anything, but they could still be used to heal him through Bone Reinforcement. Gradually, his reddish bones returned to their natural color. However, an even stronger wave of flames soon swept over him, and he once again found himself in a dangerous situation. It was at that moment that he realized what a calamity fire was. Even more so since they were magical flames!

Steve, you asshole...! Bone Reinforcement, Bone Reinforcement!

[Your arm bone has been reinforced.]

[Your palm bone has been reinforced. Strength has increased by 1. Absorbing a portion of the Skeleton Warrior's memories and experiences.] 

[You have to slash even harder. We're the Empire’s swords! - Nameless soldier.]

Finally, he got to the Skeleton Warriors’ bones, and their healing power was even more potent! Eyes gleaming, Lee Shin-Woo picked up his speed. He needed to collect even more of these precious bones before they burned up!

[Your arm bone has been reinforced.]

[Your palm bone has been reinforced. Absorbing a portion of the Skeleton Warrior's memories and experiences.]

[It's pointless for you to swing your sword a thousand times if you don’t hit your enemy even once. Our goal is to precisely kill an opponent with only one swing. - Nameless soldier]

[Your palm bone has been reinforced. Strength has increased by 1. Absorbing a portion of the Skeleton Warrior's memories and experiences.]

[The imperial army is strong. We have to show that to anyone who looks our way. - Nameless soldier]

It felt like a test for his reaction speed and endurance. He could keep reinforcing his bones until he was breathless, but he didn’t know if the Treasure Eater’s flame would ever subside. Even if it would, it didn’t make sense for him to just sit around and do nothing. That would surely lead to a quick death.

He had considered dying and resurrecting once to get out of this conundrum, but the more he thought about it, the more Lee Shin-Woo was determined to persevere.

He had already died twice, which meant if he hadn't come to the empire with extra lives, he would already be dead. He couldn't accept becoming dependent on the skill.

I can't die easily... Bone Reinforcement!

[Your palm bone has been reinforced. Absorbing a portion of the Skeleton Warrior's memories and experiences.]

[I did it! There was magic in my sword just now! - Nameless soldier]

He quickly sprinted through the raging flames and collected whatever bones he could find. Once he had run out of bones, he tried to escape the raging flames, only to find the flames doggedly sticking to him. It was almost as if the Treasure Eater's resentment had lingered within the flames, declaring its determination to kill him. In fact, that wouldn’t be far from the truth. The flames were tightening around his neck.

Then...

Instinctually, he realized that the flames wouldn’t dissipate until he killed the Treasure Eater. The moment the thought cemented in his mind, Lee Shin-Woo found the Treasure Eater and turned to face it. He was surrounded by flames, which obscured his vision, but the mana within the flames left him a breadcrumb trail to the Treasure Eater. Strange. He shouldn’t be able to feel the mana through the pain of being burned.

This way.

That’s how it goes, isn’t it? If you want revenge on someone, you'd have to dig two graves. That was an apt description of Flames of Resentment, which burned the opponent by using one’s own blood and mana as fuel. Both were closely connected to the Treasure Eater’s lifeforce and magic. Right now, Lee Shin-Woo could feel that connection. The imminent danger had pushed his ability to grow at an exponential rate.

[Beginner Magic Affinity skill is now Lv4.] 

[Beginner Magic Affinity skill is now Lv5.]

Damn it!

The fact that his Magic Affinity skill had leveled up was definitely something to be happy about, but it was becoming harder and harder to push through the flames and run. He didn't have any more bones to reinforce himself with, his skeletal body was burning, and he could feel his control over his skill slipping.

[Beginner Magic Affinity is now Lv6.] 

[Beginner Sprint is now Lv8.]

Sprint... Sprint!

In a difficult battle like this, he couldn’t help but grow increasingly resentful and regretful of the kind of person he was, a man clinging to his past.

Damn it...!

His health was dropping. He could feel it. Gritting his teeth, he prepared for his eventual death, but then the mass of mana residing within him started to spread to all parts of his body and turn things around.

[You have learned the active skill, Beginner Regeneration Lv5]

His bones had been close to crumbling, but then his magic restored it fully in an instant. Lee Shin-Woo could ascertain its effect better than anyone else. The skill was rather simple: it restored his body by consuming mana, similar to how he could heal by absorbing bones! Lee Shin-Woo was curious as to how he had learned this skill, but he didn't have the time to think about it right now. When he regained his energy, he used Sprint and leaped into the air!

There you are!

After briefly escaping the sea of flames, Lee Shin-Woo had caught sight of the wriggling and moving Treasure Eater. It was dying, but...

[Kuhi... Kieeek...!]

It sat at the center of the flames with a widened stance that accentuated its maleficent presence. It then moved around like it was drawing a circle. Lee Shin-Woo had a feeling that the Treasure Eater was waiting for him to die so that it could collect his sword.

He was pissed enough as it was, but the fact that he couldn’t do anything to the Treasure Eater infuriated him further. He was too far from it! It was great that he had awakened the Regeneration skill at the right time, but it had the disadvantage of using up his mana, which would be depleted before he could take the Treasure Eater down.

Even so, it's not like I can shoot arrows from the sky...!

Unfortunately, his knowledge of archery was shoddy. Even if he had the skill, he had used all of his arrows earlier to heal himself! Gritting his teeth, Lee Shin-Woo found himself pulled to the flame scorched ground by gravity. Then suddenly, he raised his left hand during the fall instinctively.

[The passive skill, Beginner Archery Lv2 has been expunged.]

[You have learned the active skill, Beginner Catapult Lv5.]

That feeling he had experienced just a moment ago dominated his body. It was the feeling of awakening a skill! Following Beginner Regeneration, he had awakened Beginner Catapult!

Urgh! 

A flash of powerful pain hit him as his left index finger pulled apart from his hand, and just like the name implied, the bone shot out like an arrow. Most of the mana he had remaining was pushed into the projectile. Its accuracy, as well as its speed, were in a different league than what was possible with Beginner Archery; it cut through the air, burrowed into the middle of the Treasure Eater's forehead, and in the end, penetrated through it. Everything had happened in the blink of an eye. Not even Lee Shin-Woo himself could follow its trajectory properly.

[Gguiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiik!]

However, the result spoke for itself. The moment Lee Shin-Woo dreadfully fell into the flames, the Treasure Eater let out a horrific dying rattle before collapsing with a heavy thud. Immediately after that, the flames sticking to his body and covering the area around him dissipated without a trace. He stood dumbfounded as messages popped up in quick succession.

[You have defeated a Lv3 Treasure Eater. You have achieved the feat of commanding your comrades and defeating an enemy that was at a higher level than you. All stats permanently increase by 2. You have acquired the passive skill, Command Lv1.]

[You have acquired the title 'Treasure Hunter'! Whenever you hunt monsters or explore a dungeon, it will become easier to acquire higher-ranked rewards. The title box is open.]

[As a reward for your feat, the proficiency of your combat related skills increases. Low Rank Bursting Thunder is now Lv2, Beginner Stealth Lv8, Beginner Shriek of the Dead Lv6, Beginner Catapult Lv6, and Beginner Command Lv3.]

It was extremely hectic. He was sure that the skill he had used at the final moment was the skill he had gained from the Ratman, and he didn't expect it to be this powerful. He could feel the loss of his finger keenly, but he had gained Regeneration at the perfect time. He would be able to restore the bone whenever he recovered enough mana.

Wait a sec, did I perhaps get Regeneration from the Queen?

Lee Shin-Woo thought about the Rat Queen, who had given birth to many elites, and he nodded in realization. No matter how much mana it had, the number of births she had given was staggering. It wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility, though, if the Rat Queen had a healing ability. That was why it could produce that many offspring in such a short time.

Catapult, which uses a finger like a bullet, and Regeneration, which restores my bones... Who would have thought I would acquire such a perfect pair of skills in the same dungeon?

In any case, he had survived because of those two skills. It would've been better had they awakened a bit earlier, but... he couldn't be too greedy. He had grown as the results of him being pushed to the limit.

"Hoo... Wow, it's a proper annihilation."

After making sure he wasn't at risk of dying anymore, Lee Shin-Woocarefully stood up and surveyed his surroundings. Well, there was nothing to survey. Everything had turned to ashes. He couldn't find any Skeleton Soldiers' or Skeleton Warriors' bones. He did see some of the greatswords that the Skeleton Warrior's had used, but there weren't any spears. It dawned on him that the Skeleton Warriors were better with swords than spears.

"I'll pick you guys up later. More importantly..."

All the other dead Treasure Eaters had disappeared without leaving anything behind; Lee Shin-Woo would cry for the loss if he were capable of producing tears. Although there was no way for him to restore the bodies… He was still left with the biggest reward from the battle—The corpse of the Lv3 Treasure Eater.