In high spirits, Lynch ordered the militia to untie a few of the Naga, then let them eat on their own while surrounded by a horde of Skeletons.
Watching the Naga wolf down their food, and Sea Song who, despite being famished, maintained a dignified and graceful composure as she ate, a smile touched Lynch’s lips.
’There’s no such thing as a free al here.’
’Next, when we attack the Bloodfang Tribe, you lovely serpent ladies will have your uses.’
While the serpent ladies were eating, Lynch made his way to a more open clearing on the other side of the camp.
After advancing to Tier One, he had an extra Contract Slot for a Netherworld Skeleton Soldier, and he certainly wasn’t going to let it go to waste.
He planned to use this new slot to summon a new Netherworld Skeleton, one that would replace that punk, Bone Valor · Witch Demon King, as the new king of cannon fodder.
After all, Bone Valor had been with him for quite so ti. It had worked so hard for so long; it was about ti it got to enjoy the feeling of being empowered.
Haaaah...
Lynch took a deep breath, raised the skull-topped Magic Staff in his hand, and began to chant an ancient, obscure incantation filled with the cadence of death.
A rough translation would be sothing along the lines of, "In the na of death, O servant of the Netherworld, answer the call of the contract and descend upon this place."
Soon, a spatial vortex appeared on the open ground.
Lynch uttered the final line of the incantation and pointed his Magic Staff at the center of the vortex!
VMMMMMM—
The vortex vibrated slightly. A white, bony hand erged from its center, grabbed the edge of the vortex, and pulled itself out.
It was a Skeleton Soldier, grayish-white in color with a faint, jade-like luster, and noticeably stockier than a normal Skeleton.
It quickly steadied its stance. Two balls of eerie green Soul Fire flickered in its eye sockets as it looked around at the strange new world, appearing eager and ready for battle at a mont’s notice.
Lynch froze, stunned.
"Uh..."
’This Skeleton Soldier, the one I’d already designated as the next generation of cannon fodder... seems... a bit unusual, doesn’t it?’
Its height was about the sa as a normal Skeleton Soldier, but its bones were significantly thicker, especially its arm and leg bones, giving it a powerful appearance.
The most crucial thing was the weapon it held in its hands.
Its right hand gripped a short, thick bone spear about 1.5 ters long. It was clearly polished, with one end sharpened to a fine point.
The shaft had a slight natural curve, as if it were made from the leg bone of so large creature, and it looked quite heavy.
And strapped to its left arm was a Skeleton Shield.
Although the Skeleton Shield looked sowhat crude, as if it had been pieced together from random, irregular bone plates, it was still a shield.
’This is... a Gun and Shield Skeleton Soldier?!’
Lynch blinked, a little dumbfounded.
He knew, of course, that as a Necromancer’s mastery of the "Summon Skeleton" magic grew, and as the quality and quantity of their Spiritual Power improved, the probability of attracting special variants of Skeletons from the Netherworld during a contract summon would also increase.
For example, Gun and Shield Skeleton Soldiers, Skeleton Archers, Skeleton Mages, and the like.
But...
He had only just advanced to Tier One, and his Summon Skeleton magic was still only Tier One. Theoretically, the probability of summoning a special unit should be extrely low, to say nothing of a Gun and Shield Skeleton Soldier, which was clearly a unit geared toward an "infantry phalanx" style of combat.
’Is my luck... a little too good?’
’Did my luck just spike the mont I broke through?’
Of course, Lynch knew that in terms of individual combat strength, this Gun and Shield Skeleton Soldier wasn’t necessarily that much stronger than an ordinary Netherworld Skeleton Soldier like Bone Valor. Its value lay in being "special."
Whether serving as the core front line of a small formation or coordinating with other troops to create a balanced offensive and defensive line, the role a Gun and Shield Skeleton Soldier could play far surpassed that of a common, run-of-the-mill Netherworld Skeleton Soldier like Bone Valor.
If he had it lead a group of Bear Goblin Skeletons and Fish Giant Skeletons as his core Personal Guard, sending it and its squad to the front lines at a critical mont in battle, they would be an impenetrable wall.
"This truly is... a pleasant surprise," Lynch murmured, rubbing his chin. After such a massive stroke of luck in contracting a Gun and Shield Skeleton Soldier, he couldn’t possibly just cast it aside.
He glanced toward the center of the camp, where Bone Valor · Witch Demon King was loyally leading a group of cannon fodder Skeletons to stand guard while the Naga ate.
He sighed inwardly, a little resigned.
’Oh, Bone Valor, Bone Valor, it’s not that Master doesn’t feel for you.’
’It’s just that plans can never keep up with reality.’
’Look, this new fellow has a spear and a shield~ His specialization is a much better fit for the roles of "Frontline Commander" and "Captain of the Guard."’
’You’ve worked so hard for so long and contributed so much, and Master has taken note of it all. However, for the greater good of the Undead Legion, I’m just going to have to ask you to endure a little longer, Bone Valor.’
’Your path to becoming the "Witch Demon King" will have to be postponed just a little longer.’
’Don’t worry, I’ll make it up to you later.’
After ntally making a grand, empty promise to Bone Valor, Lynch quickly adjusted his mood. A gentle smile appeared on his face as he walked toward the Gun and Shield Skeleton Soldier, which was still standing in place, looking sowhat bewildered.
He gave its thick, sturdy shoulder blade a friendly pat.
"Not bad, not bad at all! Marvelous bones, an imposing bearing—you’re clearly a pri specin from the Netherworld!"
"Congratulations, my lucky friend. You have successfully ford a contract with a Necromancer who is destined for greatness. Stick with and do well, and I guarantee you’ll live the good life. Your future is bright."
The Gun and Shield Skeleton Soldier seed to understand so of it, yet not completely. But it could clearly feel the approval, expectation, and friendliness transmitted through its master’s Spiritual Power.
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