Otherworldly Skeleton Evolution

*Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!*

A hellstorm of magic missiles rained down, pummeling the black skeleton’s skull, shoulders, hands, ribs, and feet, erupting in a dazzling display of blood-red light.

The ground looked like it had been tilled by bombs, pockmarked with craters. Where the black skeleton stood, an enormous pit yawned open.

But what left every Blood Race member slack-jawed was the sight of a black mist enveloping the skeleton in the massive crater, exuding an aura that sent chills down their spines.

The relentless barrage of magic missiles from above kicked up a dust storm, obscuring their view.

Suddenly, the air around them felt… off. Dangerous. Their hearts started dancing to the beat of the black mist in the crater, pulsing in eerie unison.

*Thump… Thump… Thump-thump-thump…*

As their heartbeats quickened, their breathing grew ragged. The world around them seemed to recede.

With each accelerating beat, the Blood Race members’ breath caught in their throats as they reached a crescendo.

In the next instant, the black mist cloaking the skeleton, now charged to the brim, sank into the ground.

*Boom!*

Like a punctured rat’s nest, the black mist erupted from the crater’s center, billowing out in all directions.

Wherever it touched, flora withered instantly, trees shed their leaves in the blink of an eye!

In a heartbeat, a hundred-meter radius turned into a barren wasteland!

Two Blood Hell Blade Guards and one Blood Hell Frenzied Guard couldn’t dodge in time. The black mist tore through them, spawning twelve terrifying damage numbers above their heads.

“-355,668!”

“-355,547!”

“-355,557!”

…

The two Blade Guards and one Frenzied Guard dropped dead on the spot!

The three leaders and Mo You felt their blood run cold.

*Thud!*

A muffled footstep echoed in their minds, radiating a bone-chilling aura of terror.

As the footsteps drew nearer, a massive black monster emerged from the pit, materializing before their eyes.

The black skeleton in the crater? Gone.

In its place stood a black and gold Demon Lord, three meters tall, with four pitch-black wings sprouting from its back. Its entire body was encased in obsidian and gold bone, crowned by a pair of golden horns on its shoulders.

Wherever the Demon Lord stepped, it left deep black imprints that oozed dark smoke.

The smoke coiled up from its feet, swirling around its body, amplifying its terrifying presence.

Its soul fire had transformed into blood-red eyes, narrow and piercing.

As its gaze swept over them, the leaders bowed their heads, too cowed to meet its eyes.

As the Demon Lord lumbered towards them, Mo You and the three leaders instinctively backpedaled.

“What… what kind of monster is this? He’s… he’s completely unscathed?!”

Mo You’s eyes bulged, his feet carrying him backward, his earlier composure shattered.

His pride and joy, his ultimate technique, hadn’t even scratched this beast!

Even the Seventh Demon King had praised this spell as the most lethal he’d ever witnessed.

After creating Blood Star, not only did the Seventh Demon King overlook Mo You killing his Ninth Son, he even rewarded him with a staff!

But this spell, his masterpiece, had zero effect on this black skeleton?

And that black mist? It was the stuff of nightmares, a force that turned blood to ice and souls to jelly.

Two Blood Hell Blade Guards and a Frenzied Guard, wiped out in an instant without a chance to fight back.

The Blood Race’s greatest strength was their blood energy, their incredible vitality.

Though the two Blade Guards were low-ranking Blood Race members, their life force was still a hundred times stronger than a human’s!

“We’re outmatched!”

The thought hit Mo You like a ton of bricks.

As absurd as it seemed, he couldn’t shake the idea.

“You’re no match for him. Run! Get reinforcements from Blood Void City.”

Mo You’s face twisted, his tone dead serious.

“But Lord Mo You, what about you?” The leaders hesitated, concern etched on their faces.

“Lord Mo You, this monster’s power is… unsettling. We can’t abandon you to face it alone.”

Their heartfelt words didn’t move Mo You. Instead, they sparked his fury.

“You dare question my abilities? This monster might look scary, but he’s magically inept. With my skills, I can fight while retreating. I won’t be in any dan—”

*Boom!*

*Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!*

Before Mo You could finish, 32 black sword energies materialized within a three-meter radius around them. They crisscrossed, slashing back and forth through their bodies.

“-401,235!”

“-401,335!”

“-401,335!”

…

[You’ve been hit by the Frost Void effect. Your defense is reduced by 50 points.]

[You’ve been struck by the Hand of Polaris. Your defense is reduced by 50 points.]

[You’ve been hit by the Seven Slaughters effect. Your HP is reduced by 725 points.]

[You’ve been critically hit by Mixed Element Blood Slash. Stunned for 0.5 seconds, HP reduced by 3,200 points.]

[You’ve been hit by Darkness: Dawn. Dark effect triggered ten times, losing 300 meters of vision.]

[Lethal Opportunity triggered, HP reduced by 42,356 points.]

[You’ve been hit by the Frost Soul effect. Slow and Freeze effects triggered. Your attack and movement speed reduced by 30%. Frozen every 0.5 seconds for 3 seconds, lasting 3 seconds.]

[You’ve been hit by the Frost Disaster effect. HP reduced by 66,345 points!]

[You’ve been hit by the Crimson Sevenfold Slaughter effect. HP reduced by 4,000 points.]

*Whoosh!*

A sword hum suddenly rang out amidst the black sword energies. The stunned Mo You’s face changed in an instant.

“Scram! Every last one of you!”

Jiang Cheng’s powerful ranged attack had critically wounded him, shattering every ounce of his pride!

Mo You’s cool facade crumbled. His survival instinct kicked into overdrive, breaking free from the stun and fleeing for his life.

Truth be told, his life force had always been the weakest.

Only his exceptional magical talent had gotten him this far.

So when Jiang Cheng’s attack hit, even though he’d only taken part of it, it had nearly killed him on the spot. Another hit like that, and he’d be dead!

If he didn’t run now, he was a goner!

Of course, he wasn’t too worried about his safety.

Such a powerful ranged magic attack must have drained a ton of mental energy and mana. Its range couldn’t be that far.

He’d already put over 200 meters between them. This monster would have to watch helplessly as he escaped.

*Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang…*

A series of sword hums suddenly rang in his ears. 32 sword energies materialized around him out of nowhere.

The next instant, 32 blades of light crisscrossed, slicing through his body from every angle.

“-401,358!”

“-401,358!”

“-401,358!”

…

Mo You: “…”

As the sword hums echoed in his ears, as he watched his body being cut to ribbons, as he felt the pain coursing through him.

A flash of regret crossed Mo You’s eyes.

“I miscalculated.”