36: Attack on the Skeleton Veterans 1

【Plot Introduction for This World Mission】:

This is a Western fantasy world, and the Original Owner, Big Bone, is a skeleton veteran loyal to the Demon Race.

It fought bravely, was unwavering in its loyalty to the Demon Race, and was willing to sacrifice everything for its kin.

However, the Devil King Dark Lis (the female supporting character of this world), whom it followed, had fallen into an obsessive love with the human hero, the Holy Brilliance Knight Karl (the male protagonist of this world).

To be with her beloved, Dark Lis decided to betray the entire Demon Race and secretly joined forces with the humans.

On the human side, the Kingdom of Glorious Light was led by the eldest princess, Philys (the female protagonist of this world). As a top-tier light-element mage, Philys appeared holy and noble on the surface, but was deep and ruthless at heart.

She used Dark Lis's feelings for Karl to trick Dark Lis into betraying all her fellow kin of the Demon Race, while setting a trap for the Demon Race to walk into. In the end, Philys activated the "Holy Brilliance Annihilation Grand Array" and annihilated the entire defenseless Demon Race, and Big Bone also died in battle among them.

After the Demon Race was wiped out, only Dark Lis remained alive.

She came before Karl with full expectations, unaware that he knew nothing about the inside story of the conflict between humans and the Demon Race.

Holding the belief of "fighting for the Human Race," Karl showed no mercy when facing the suddenly appearing leader of the Demon Race and slew her with a single blade.

Afterward, Karl and Philys returned to the human kingdom together, ushering in superficial peace and happiness.

However, this so-called Kingdom of Glorious Light was actually filled with shadows; the king's rule was dark and brutal, and the people had gradually become twisted and depraved under long-term oppression.

Throughout the entire society, except for Karl who was always kept in the dark, there was almost no one purely kind left.

...

【Plot Introduction Concluded】

【Original Owner Big Bone's Wishes】:

1. 【Slay the Demon Race traitor Dark Lis】

2. 【Slay the eldest princess of the Kingdom of Glorious Light】

3. 【Lead the Demon Race to conquer the entire world】

"Oh, this is a bit interesting."

Qin Jiuge said with interest:

"I won't make an appearance this time."

Qin Jiuge directly flicked a wisp of his own Devil King Origin power, shooting it towards the world where Big Bone was located.

...

Subsequently, the timeline of this world began to rewind, but the skeleton veteran Big Bone retained its memories.

...

The scent of decay rushed into its non-existent nasal cavity, and Big Bone's consciousness suddenly awakened from eternal darkness.

Within its eye sockets, a ghostly blue Soul fire ignited with a "poof," illuminating the crypt piled with Shattered Bones.

"Am I... still alive?"

Big Bone raised its palm, which was nothing but white bone, and looked at it in disbelief.

Memories rushed in like a tide:

the burning of the Holy Brilliance Annihilation Grand Array,

the wails of its comrades before their deaths,

the sycophantic smile on Dark Lis's face after her betrayal,

and the holy sword Karl wielded to strike it down...

Hatred coiled around its Soul like a viper.

But immediately after, an unprecedented power awakened within its body.

It was not the undead power a skeleton should possess, but a higher-order, purer, and terrifying energy that was almost about to burst its skeletal frame apart.

"I have left a wisp of power inside you; go and do what you wish to do!"

The voice seemed to come from the depths of the Universe, carrying unquestionable majesty, yet it vanished without a trace in an instant.

Big Bone tried to clench its fist, and with a "crack," the rock walls of the crypt inexplicably split with several fissures.

Merely an unconscious movement had the power of its full-force strike in its previous life.

This was not a dream.

It had experienced Rebirth, carrying the power bestowed by the Devil King, and had returned to the point in time before the Demon Race was annihilated.

"Dark Lis... Philys... Karl..."

The Soul fire of Big Bone jumped violently,

"This time, I will make you pay the price."

It stood up, its bones emitting crisp sounds.

Looking around, this should be an abandoned outpost on the border of the Demon Race, and there was probably about three months left until Dark Lis's first contact with the humans.

"Time is enough."

Big Bone grinned; although it had no flesh, the arc formed by its two rows of teeth revealed a chilling coldness.

It walked out of the crypt; outside was the purple-red sky unique to the Demon Race territory.

On the barren land, several teams of skeleton soldiers were patrolling, and in the distance, the silhouette of the Shadow Castle was faintly visible; that was Dark Lis's residence.

In its previous life, Big Bone was once one of the most loyal generals under Dark Lis, charging into battle for her countless times, and even foolishly covering for her when she met with humans in secret.

Foolish.

Too foolish.

"General? Why are you here?"

A patrol team of skeleton soldiers noticed Big Bone, and the leading squad leader asked in surprise.

Big Bone recognized it as its old subordinate—Shattered Bone.

In the previous life, to cover Dark Lis's retreat, Shattered Bone was burned to ashes by human mages.

"Shattered Bone."

Big Bone's voice was hoarse and low,

"Gather all the soldiers who can still fight; I have an important matter to announce."

Shattered Bone was stunned for a moment, but immediately executed the order.

Before long, over three hundred skeleton warriors, dozens of Shadow Assassins, and over a dozen low-tier demons gathered on the open ground in front of the outpost.

"General, has something happened?"

A Twin Horn demon asked.

Big Bone scanned these familiar faces, these kin who had almost all died in battle in the previous life.

"Within the Demon Race, a traitor has appeared."

It spoke slowly.

The demons were in an uproar.

"Who? Is it a spy sent by the humans?"

"No."

The Soul fire in Big Bone's eyes burned fiercely,

"It is Lady Dark Lis."

A deathly silence.

After a moment, Shattered Bone stammered:

"Gen, General, you can't say such things recklessly... Lady Dark Lis is the old Devil King's daughter, how could she..."

"She has fallen in love with a human."

Big Bone interrupted it,

"A Holy Knight named Karl."

"For this, she is prepared to betray the entire Demon Race,"

"in exchange for the qualification to be with that human."

"That's impossible!"

The Twin Horn demon roared,

"Lady Dark Lis would never..."

"I have already obtained evidence."

Big Bone said calmly,

"Three months from now, she will secretly meet with the eldest princess of the Kingdom of Glorious Light, Philys, to negotiate the specific details of selling us out."

In reality, Big Bone had no evidence,

but it knew that the facts were exactly so.

In its previous life, it had seen with its own eyes Dark Lis and Philys exchanging tokens, and had foolishly thought it was "peace negotiations."

The demons looked at each other, evidently finding it difficult to accept this fact.

"I know this is hard to believe."

Big Bone continued:

"But if what I say is true,"

"then all of us, including every subject of the Demon Race,"

"will soon be slaughtered by the humans."

It raised its bony hand, and a terrifying pressure instantly enveloped the entire scene.

That was a wisp of Origin power that the Devil King Qin Jiuge had left within its body;

although it was an insignificant wisp,

to these low-tier demons, it was like facing a deity.

"Th, this, what is this power..."

Shattered Bone knelt on the ground, trembling.

The other demons also knelt one after another; the instinctive awe made them unable to stand.

"The Devil King has bestowed power upon me to save the Demon Race."

Big Bone's voice echoed with the support of the power,

"Those who are willing to believe in me, stay."

"Those who do not, you may leave now,"

"I will not stop you."

Not a single person left.

It was not that they fully believed Big Bone's words,

but that the power was too terrifying,

making them unable to muster even a shred of desire to resist.

"Very well."

Big Bone withdrew the pressure,

"From today on, we are no longer Dark Lis's subordinates, but the true guardians of the Demon Race."

"The first goal: intercept all correspondence before Dark Lis makes contact with the humans."

...

Over the next two weeks, Big Bone used its memories from its previous life to accurately intercept three messenger bats sent by Dark Lis to the human territory.

When the fourth bat was captured, Dark Lis finally sensed something was wrong.

"General Big Bone, I need an explanation."

Dark Lis's voice came through the communication crystal, carrying obvious displeasure.

This Demon Race princess possessed bewitching beauty, purple-black long hair, scarlet eyes, skin so pale it was almost transparent, and a pair of small bat wings folded behind her back.

In its previous life, Big Bone once felt she was the most noble existence of the Demon Race.

Now, it only felt disgusted.

"Explain what, Your Highness?"

Big Bone pretended not to know.

"The messengers I sent to the human territory have disappeared one after another,"

"and you happen to be active in those areas."

Dark Lis's tone became dangerous,

"You had better not tell me that this has anything to do with you."

"What if I said it does?"

Big Bone countered.

The other end of the communication crystal went silent.

After a long time, Dark Lis said coldly:

"Come to the Shadow Castle to see me, now."

The communication was cut off.

Shattered Bone said worriedly:

"General, this might be a trap."

"Lady Dark Lis... if she really is a traitor, she definitely won't let you off."

"I know."

Big Bone calmly adjusted its bone armor,

"That is why I don't intend to go alone."

It looked at the Demon Race warriors gathered around:

"Shattered Bone, you take a team to ambush around the perimeter of the castle."

"Twin Horn, you take the demon squad to blockade the aerial route."

"Everyone else, after I give the signal, attack the castle directly."

"General, are you going to stage a coup?"

The Twin Horn demon asked in shock.

"I am just cleaning up the house."

The blue fire in Big Bone's eyes flickered,

"If Dark Lis is willing to surrender, I will give her a fair trial."

"If she resists... kill without mercy."

The demons gasped.

After all, Dark Lis was the old Devil King's daughter; even if she really was suspected of treason, she was not someone they could deal with casually.

But the power radiating from Big Bone gave them an inexplicable confidence.

"Understood!"

The demons replied in unison.

The Shadow Castle was situated on the summit of a dead volcano, its pitch-black spires piercing the purple-red sky.

Big Bone walked up the winding mountain road alone, every step taken firmly and powerfully.

The castle gates slowly opened,

Dark Lis stood in the center of the hall,

with her personal guard, twelve high-tier Shadow Assassins, standing on both sides.

"Big Bone, I have treated you well."

Dark Lis spoke straight to the point,

"Why do you betray me?"

"Betray?"

Big Bone laughed, its bones rubbing together to produce a strange sound,

"That is a question I should be asking you, Your Highness."

"Or should I call you... a human's mistress?"

Dark Lis's expression changed abruptly:

"What nonsense are you spouting!"

"Do you need me to read the letters you wrote to Karl?"

Big Bone pulled a roll of parchment from within its bone armor:

"'Dear Karl, I dreamed of your golden hair again last night."

"I truly hope that one day, I can stand by your side openly and honestly,"

"instead of in this damned Demon Race identity...'"