42: Attack on the Skeleton Veterans 7

Big Bone walked alone on the road back to the city,

its Soul fire burning calmly.

Its second wish, to slay Philys, would soon be realized.

Its third wish, to lead the Demon Race to conquer the world, was also steadily progressing.

But it occasionally wondered, what comes after conquest?

Ruling a world required more than just power.

Fortunately, it had time to learn slowly.

With the power bestowed by the Devil King,

with the memories of its past life,

and with its gradually expanding influence... this time, it would not fail again.

Absolutely not... Three months later, the situation underwent a decisive change.

Karl's Light Reformation Army and Philys's Royal Army engaged in a final decisive battle outside the Royal Capital.

Both sides committed all their forces; the battle lasted three days and three nights, and blood flowed like a river.

Ultimately, Karl's idealism won the hearts of the people, and many Royal Army soldiers defected on the battlefield.

Philys was forced to retreat into the Royal Capital, relying on the last of the city's defenses to hold out.

And at that very moment, the Demon Race's grand army arrived at the city gates.

It was not thirty thousand, but a hundred thousand.

During this time, Big Bone had integrated all the Demon Race tribes,

and had also absorbed a large number of humans and other races who were dissatisfied with the Kingdom's rule.

“Philys, come out and meet your death!”

Big Bone's voice spread through the Royal Capital like thunder.

Atop the city walls, Philys's face was pale, but her eyes remained ruthless.

By her side remained only a few hundred fiercely loyal guards and some experts who had been bought for high prices.

“Skeleton, you've finally come.”

She said coldly:

“I've been waiting for you for a long time.”

“Waiting for me to send you to your death?”

Big Bone countered.

“Waiting for you to enter my trap.”

Philys suddenly laughed, a laugh that was crazed and twisted.

“Do you think I've lost?”

“No, everything is going according to plan!”

She raised her staff high, and countless magic runes suddenly lit up throughout the Royal Capital.

These runes connected to form a giant magic formation covering the entire city, emitting an ominous blood-red light.

“A Sacrificial Formation...”

Big Bone recognized this magic.

“You intend to sacrifice all the commoners in the city?”

“To be precise, I'm sacrificing every living thing.”

Philys laughed maniacally.

“With the power of a million Souls, I shall obtain true God-slaying Power!”

“When that time comes, you, Karl, and everyone who opposes me will die!”

“You're insane.”

Karl's voice came from the other side.

He had arrived with the Reformation Army as well.

Seeing the formation, Karl's expression changed drastically.

“This is a Forbidden Technique; the caster's own Soul will also suffer Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering!”

“And what of it?”

Philys's eyes were full of madness.

“What I cannot have, no one shall!”

“Everyone will be buried with me!”

The formation began to operate, and the commoners within the capital let out terrified screams.

Their life force was forcibly extracted, turning into blood-red energy that flowed toward Philys.

Her power soared rapidly, already breaking through the limits of a Mortal.

“Stop her!”

Karl was the first to charge toward the city wall.

But with a wave of Philys's hand, the blood-colored energy transformed into a giant palm, swatting Karl away.

“Now, it's your turn, Skeleton.”

Philys looked at Big Bone.

“Let's settle this once and for all!”

Big Bone looked at her calmly:

“This is your final trump card?”

“Sacrificing the innocent in exchange for power?”

“The weak are prey for the strong; this is the truth of the world.”

Blood-colored patterns began to appear on Philys's body—the backlash of over-absorbing energy.

“As long as I win, history will record me as the hero who saved the kingdom, and you as the demons who caused the disaster.”

“Regrettably, you won't win.”

Big Bone finally unleashed its full power.

That trace of Devil King Origin power from Qin Jiuge was completely released!

Darkness spread like a physical substance,

standing its ground against the blood-colored energy.

The two forces collided above the capital,

the sky was torn asunder, and the earth trembled.

“Karl.”

Big Bone suddenly spoke:

“Buy me three seconds.”

Karl was stunned for a moment but quickly understood:

“Everyone, attack Philys! Distract her!”

The Reformation Army and the Demon Race army attacked simultaneously, magic and arrows falling toward Philys like a rainstorm.

Philys was forced to divert her attention to defense, and for a split second, the blood-colored energy fluctuated.

Now!

Big Bone concentrated all its power into its spear,

turning into a bolt of black lightning that shot toward Philys.

This strike contained the Devil King's Origin, its own undead power, and all its resentment toward Philys.

Philys tried to block it, but before the Devil King's Origin, the blood-colored energy was pierced through like paper.

The spear pierced her chest.

“No... impossible...”

Philys looked down at the spear in her chest, feeling her life force rapidly draining away.

Memories flashed through her mind like a revolving lantern... in her childhood, her father's contempt, the ministers' disdain... why was I a girl and not a boy, that damned old man... dammit... At this moment, she was both crying and laughing, having completely descended into madness!

“Ahahaha, I... I am the future Queen... I...”

“You are nothing!”

Big Bone appeared before her and gripped the spear.

“You are just a pathetic lunatic consumed by ambition.”

It twisted the spear, and Philys let out a final scream as her body began to disintegrate.

But before she died completely, she used the last of her strength to activate the formation's self-destruct sequence.

“Haha... since I cannot live... then let us all die together!”

The formation reversed, and all the extracted life force began to run wild.

The capital was about to be destroyed by an energy explosion, with a million lives as burial sacrifices.

“This is bad!”

Karl's face changed drastically.

Big Bone looked at the rampaging energy and suddenly had an idea.

It flew to the center of the formation and fully expanded the Devil King's Origin power, not to oppose it, but to... absorb it.

“General, don't!”

Shattered Bone cried out in alarm.

Absorbing such a massive amount of chaotic energy—even the Devil King's Origin might not be able to withstand it.

But Big Bone did not stop.

It was like a bottomless abyss, madly devouring the energy within the formation.

Blood-colored energy poured into its body, clashing violently with its dark power, nearly tearing it apart.

But it endured.

Because this was not its battle alone.

This was the battle of all the spirits killed by Philys,

the battle for the entire Demon Race's revenge.

“Be... still!”

The Devil King's Origin power erupted completely, forcibly suppressing, refining, and absorbing the blood-colored energy.

When the last trace of energy was absorbed,

Big Bone hovered in mid-air, its entire skeleton emitting a dark gold light.

It had become even more powerful, but it also bore a massive burden.

The resentment of a million lives was not so easily digested.

But it had done it.

The Royal Capital was saved.

Big Bone slowly landed and looked at Karl:

“Second wish, complete.”

Karl looked at it with a complex expression:

“Big Bone, you saved everyone.”

“I only did what had to be done.”

Big Bone's voice was a bit weak.

“Now, it's time to resolve the issue between us.”

It looked at Karl and the human army,

then looked back at its own Demon Race grand army.

The battle for the Royal Capital was over,

but the fate of the world had yet to be decided.

On the plains outside the capital, the two armies faced off.

On one side was Karl's Light Reformation Army;

they had witnessed Philys's madness,

and also witnessed Big Bone's feat of saving the capital.

At this moment, their state of mind was complex.

On the other side was Big Bone's Demon Race allied army,

their morale high, waiting for the final command.

In the middle, Big Bone and Karl stood facing each other.

“Must we fight?”

Karl asked.

“Philys is dead; her tyranny has ended.”

We can establish a new nation,”

“a nation where all races coexist in peace.”

Big Bone nodded in agreement.

“In principle, I agree.”

“But who will lead this nation? You? Or me?”

Hearing this question, Karl fell silent.

Big Bone, however, looked relaxed:

“Why don't we have a match?”

Karl was silent for a long time before finally nodding: “Fine.”

This was the best solution.

Deciding the fate of the world with a duel would avoid a large-scale war and reduce casualties.

The two of them moved apart.

This time, there were no schemes, no calculations, only a pure confrontation of power.

Karl released the Holy Light with all his might, but this time, there was a trace of grayish-white within the Holy Light.

It was a change resulting from contact with Big Bone's power—more inclusive, more powerful.

The battle soon began.

The two of them struck at the same time.

The moment sword and spear collided, cracks appeared in space.

The shockwave ripped up all the turf on the plain,

and the armies in the distance were forced to raise protective barriers.

The battle was at a fever pitch from the very start.

Karl had learned from the battle against Philys and no longer stuck to traditional Holy Light swordsmanship,

instead merging various combat techniques and even borrowing some of the Demon Race's battle methods.

Big Bone, meanwhile, relied on absolute power and experience to suppress him, every strike containing devastating force.

They fought from the ground to the sky, and from the sky back to the ground. Wherever they passed, the ground cracked and mountain rocks crumbled.

On the battlefield, the heavens and earth shifted, light and shadow intertwining.

The two charged at each other once more.

This time, it was the final blow... soon, the battle was over.

The winner: Big Bone!

Karl gave a bitter smile; this was something he had long anticipated.

In the next moment, Karl did not hesitate and knelt directly before Big Bone, his expression solemn!

“Paladin Karl accepts your leadership!”

Seeing this scene, a commotion broke out among the human army, but no one resisted.

They had witnessed the duel with their own eyes and knew the outcome could not be changed.

Big Bone smiled: “Are you not afraid that in the world I rule, humans will be second to the Demon Race?”

Karl now looked calm and composed.

“I'm not afraid, Big Bone. I must say, you've changed me; in you, I see the light I yearn for.”

“Besides, your Demon Race includes Skeletons, Goblins, Pigmen, Blood Tribe, Succubi, Slimes...”

“Including the sub-human races you've absorbed: Elves, Dwarves... even the Dragon Clan will be included in the future...”

“In short, the races of this world are countless.”

“When it comes down to it, we humans are just one of them...”

“And if we really want to break it down, we humans are divided by skin color: white, yellow, black...”

“So, I've completely understood.”

“To be strong, one must unite all forces that can be united.”

Big Bone was surprised; it hadn't expected Karl to see things so clearly.

“Rest assured, the Demon Race will not be a dictatorship; the leader must change every 10 years.”

“In every election, every race can send 10 representatives to vote.”

Big Bone continued,

“In the new order hereafter, all races will be equal.”

“The law will protect the weak, contribution will determine status, and the strong have the responsibility to shelter the weak.”

It looked at Karl:

“Are you willing to help me establish this order?”

“As the human representative, to supervise my rule and ensure that human rights are protected.”

Karl was stunned: “You... trust me?”

“I trust your character.”

Big Bone said:

“Moreover, I need someone who can restrain me,”

“to prevent me from becoming a second Philys.”

It extended a bony hand: “What do you say? Are you willing to build a truly fair world with me?”

Karl looked at that hand, then at the human soldiers looking at him expectantly, and finally, he grasped it.

“For the sake of peace, I accept.”

Both armies erupted in cheers. The war was over; a new era had begun.

And Karl was also incredibly shocked at this moment.

The handshake just now had given him unimaginable power—the power Big Bone had shared with him!

Looking at Big Bone's back, Karl secretly vowed in his heart:

You, Big Bone, are a gentleman, and I, Karl, am no base person either!

...Big Bone stood at the edge of the deep pit, gazing at the rising sun in the distance.

Three wishes, basically all fulfilled.

Slay Dark Lis, complete.

Slay Philys, complete.

Lead the Demon Race to conquer the world... in progress.

And it knew that conquest was only the beginning; ruling was the true challenge.

But it had confidence.

Because it was not alone; it had the Devil King's blessing,

loyal subordinates,

Karl's supervision,

and the support of all races who hungered for peace.

“Shattered Bone, Twin Horn.”

“Present!”

“Send down the order: the coronation ceremony will be held in the Royal Capital in three days.”

“From today onward, for the next 10 years,”

“I am the ruler of this world—the Skeletal Emperor.”

“As you command, Your Majesty!”

Big Bone—no, it should be called the Skeletal Emperor now!

The Skeletal Emperor looked toward the sky, the Soul fire in its eyes burning calmly.

It would establish an unprecedentedly great Empire,

a world where all races could coexist in peace.

This was a promise, and also a responsibility.

And it would surely do it.

Because it was the Skeletal Emperor,

the executor of the Devil King Qin Jiuge's will,

and the creator of this new world.

A new era had begun.