Stop, Friendly Fire!
chapter-25-9

Aside from the seven Chimeras that had died in battle, Lee Shin Woo named the remaining thirty-one Chimeras Chi Paul to Chi Paul 31.

Because they were already elites, they didn't evolve again, but surprisingly, their stats increased slightly followed by a change in their information. Lee Shin Woo was suddenly shocked at how much power a name held in this world.

Even so, he hadn't planned on putting much effort into their names. So long as he could tell them apart, any name was fine.

"Chi Paul 31, you're the last one."

"It's more impressive that only seven of you died against that ridiculous guy."

He reinforced the weakest seven Chi Pauls with the bones of the fallen Chimeras, and used a portion of the bones he'd accumulated to heal their wounds. After healing them, the Chi Pauls looked at him as if he were a mother bird, and began to respect Lee Shin Woo.

[As expected, you are indeed qualified to say that you will kill the Emperor.]

[His power has changed since defeating the Lightning Shadow General. It's almost like he lives in a different world from us.]

One of the Chimeras pointed out sharply, but Lee Shin Woo ignored them. And he returned to the task he'd put off, as he had to take care of the Chimeras. Absorbing the Lightning Shadow General's wrist bone!

"The Lightning Shadow General, a higher ranked bone than even the Treasure Eater..."

Though he'd gotten quite a lot stronger since then, the Lightning Shadow General's bone may surprise him and increase his stats significantly...!

"Ah, there may be a bit of a backblast, so keep an eye on me."

"You can count on me."

"So all I need to do is watch this woman so that she doesn't do anything strange to you, right?"

"Jin, you really are a rude gi... person."

Lee Shin Woo remained quiet, and felt a bit left out as he watched a horse and a person converse.

As he was a skeleton, he wasn't thinking about getting a beautiful girl to like him, or to pursue a serious relationship, as there wasn't any reason to do so. But he didn't think he'd be beat out by Jin too, who was a skeleton horse!

"It seems like Shin Woo's thinking about something strange again."

"...My condolences."

"Alright... Bone Reinforcement!"

[Executing Bone Reinforcement by consuming the Lv7 Lightning Shadow General, Hansen Von Dorthe's wrist bone.]

He ignored their chat and boldly executed Bone Reinforcement. The Lightning Shadow General's wrist bone in his hand began to spark and disassemble, and was then absorbed into his body. At that moment, his mana momentarily transformed into pure lightning!

[Your interior energy has been activated to its very limit! The Intermediate Lightning Element has become Lv10, and has evolved into the high rank level! You can utilize lightning more naturally than before, and your resistance to it has been strengthened as well. Magic has increased by 30.]

His intermediate level 8 lightning element had leveled up twice in one go and had evolved into a high rank skill!

Lee Shin Woo knew how wide the gap between an intermediate level skill and a high rank skill was, and cheered at the improved quality of his lightning. But surprisingly, this was just a by-product. Now Bone Reinforcement's usefulness would really come to play!

[You have acquired a skill with great success, as your affinity with the target is incredibly high! Strength has increased by 30 and Magic by 45. Absorbing Hansen Von Dorthe's experiences and memories more deeply.]

Lee Shin Woo barely thought it might be him experiencing Hansen's memories, and then lost his consciousness then and there. When he opened his eyes, he was... surprisingly in a world overflowing with life.

There were flowers and grass growing in the lawn with flies flying in between... there were tables here and there, as well as delicious looking food and drinks. Lee Shin Woo was familiar with this kind of thing. This was a party.

"Hansen, are you nodding off again?"

"Mm. No, I wasn't nodding off at all."

"What a smooth talker."

He heard Hansen's young voice, who he'd fought just a short while ago, as well as a slightly older voice who was rebuking him.

Lee Shin Woo's consciousness was inside as... Hansen raised his head. A spirited middle age man was there, and for some reason, he felt close.

"I'm not lying, Sir Seagald. More importantly, what about the guard in the west?'

'You're Seagald!?'

Of course he felt close! He'd heard so many stories about Seagald! However... Lee Shin Woo felt somewhat strange. Seagald was the head of Anti-Skull, and was well aware that he was hostile towards the Emperor and his subordinates.

Yet, Seagald was approaching Hansen, one of the 12 generals, with such intimacy, so he realized that this must be a time far in the past.

"It seems like her majesty, the Princess, didn't like the party. She went back to the palace immediately. So, henceforth, I will be guarding his majesty, the Prince instead."

"It'd be nice if I could just return to the palace as well..."

"Don't nod off until his majesty orders your return."

"Yeah, yeah."

Hansen replied briefly by nodding his head, but then raised his head and asked.

"Now that I think about it, the party isn't that big this time. Did the 1st Princess come to the party today?'

"Don't overstep."

"Yes, sir. But still, I think I'd be a suitable husband... Hui."

Hansen barely avoided the formless energy that came from Seagald. And like Lee Shin Woo always did when he experienced someone's memories through Bone Reinforcement, he engraved their fight into his memory.

He thought they might be weaker, as this was so far in the past, but after watching their recent quarrel, it seemed like both Seagald and Hansen were in their prime.

"If I hadn't avoided this, my face would've been split apart. Seriously, why are you only like this to me?"

"You've become stronger since you became a general, Hansen. Once you're done with your escort duty, shall we spar?"

"That sounds good. This is my chance to see my future brother-in-law's skill... Uaah."

This time, flames shot up. Lee Shin Woo had learned that Seagald's flames were different from the norm! On the other hand, Hansen was moving desperately in order to dodge them. From within Hansen, after Lee Shin Woo had felt Hansen's mana rotating quickly and instantaneously turn into lightning, he nodded his head.

'As I thought... There was a reason I felt a bit of superfluousness in his movements.'

The lightning was indeed powerful, but contrary to Lee Shin Woo, who transformed mana into lightning itself, Hansen would quickly circulate his mana through a special pattern before he transformed it to something that felt like lightning magic, and then used his skill.

Though it was powerful, it was still inefficient... Originally, Bursting Thunder was a skill that had that same feel, and aside from Lee Shin Woo, who could utilize the elements freely, most people probably used the elements like this.

"She's a saint."

"Then at least the second princess."

Even while Lee Shin Woo was organizing his thoughts regarding the elements, Seagald and Hansen continued to talk. It seemed as though Seagald's younger sister, the Princess, was incredibly pretty, as Hansen held on persistently.

"She's still a priest."

"Our religious order doesn't forbid marriage!"

"Hoo..."

Seagald's tone seemed to say 'even after all this, he still doesn't understand', and he sighed magnificently. Then, he took a look around, and Hansen followed suit; they noticed people were gathering. In the center, there was a luxuriously dressed middle aged man.

"Is this some kind of entertainment you've prepared for us?"

"No, your majesty. It was just us joking around..."

"I, the Crown Prince, will allow it. Show our guests just how great the swords of the Empire are."

"Ehk..."

"I understand, your majesty."

It was an order from the Crown Prince (who he protected); he would have to fight against someone who he couldn't beat in front of all these people. Hansen was shocked, but on the other end, Seagald had already drawn his sword.

What's worse, Seagald's eyes were big and bright, meaning that he was going to discipline him, a manner-less brat, for coveting his younger sisters.

"Come at me whenever, Hansen."

"Please stop glaring at me so strongly. This is a spar, a spar."

"I know. Though occasionally, real sword spars result in casualties."

"Are you trying to kill me?!"

However, there was already no way for Hansen to escape. Once the Crown Prince clapped his hands, men wearing impressive uniforms came running out, clearing the area, and creating a space for the match.

Hansen sported a expression looking as though he was a condemned criminal in an execution ground, and was forced to draw his sword. It as the sword that had become a part of Lee Shin Woo, the Divine Lightning Sword.

'To think I'd be able to experience a fight between generals. I've really hit the jackpot, haven't I!?'

He'd acquired memories regarding a party that had nothing to do with the Empire's struggles, or even its secrets, so Lee Shin Woo had been grumbling that he would have to stay put and just watch men and women talking the entire time, but he had no idea it would end up like this!

"If you're not attacking, then I will."

"Hoo..."

He did his very best to focus on the current situation. He'd already killed Hansen, and it felt like he would never have to fight Seagald in the future, but it was quite a big deal that he was able to experience the battle between two big shots so clearly!

"If you're giving me the first move, then I'll gladly take it!"

Hansen said while turning his magic into lightning; He then charged at Seagald with a blinding speed. It was the same Lightning Shadow technique he'd used during their fight!

'Ah, this should be easy.'

Lee Shin Woo definitely had talent in the ways of manipulating mana, so the moment he experienced it firsthand, he figured out the core of the technique.

The goal of Lightning Shadow was to eliminate the boundary between the body and magic by rapidly circulating one's magic and expanding it through the interior of one's body. Right now, Hansen's body was akin to a thunderbolt! He was ridiculously strong and fast. To the point that he could face a level 8!

Of course, not only did it consume an overwhelming amount of magic, but just using the technique would damage one's body. However, it was an incredible technique that took that into consideration and would momentarily increase one's power exponentially.

'You could probably use the skill the same way with another element, but... it seems like the lightning element is most effective. Next would probably be wind.'

As expected, the lightning element was powerful. Lee Shin Woo could understand how Hansen had become the Emperor's hitman, despite being level 7 amongst the generals. And at the same time, there was something he realized...

'If I become familiar with it here, then my Lightning Sprint might get stronger as well.'

Lightning Sprint was a charge skill that was based on high rank spirit arts. One's body would be engulfed in lightning and the skill would give its user overwhelming acceleration and destructive force. If Lightning Shadow was like changing the inner gloves, then Lightning Sprint was like changing the outer gloves!

But at their core, the techniques were similar, so it didn't feel like it would be very difficult to learn both at the same time. And if he were to succeed as well, he would be able to use two skills with ridiculous synergy. After he'd created the Shadow Horn skill, he must've gotten a taste for fusing skills together, as Lee Shin Woo wanted to study the skills immediately.

However.

"Heup!"

Using his skill, Hansen charged forward quickly, and Seagald charged as well, blocking Hansen mid-way. He easily deflected Hansen's blade and simultaneously kicked his stomach.

Hansen spun his body and tried to respond with a kick of his own, but by then, the back of Seagald's blade forcefully struck Hansen's head. Dozens of moves had occurred within the blink of an eye, and ultimately, before the duration of Lightning Shadow ended... Hansen was on his knees.

"Kuheok. I lost."

"Mm."

Even though Lee Shin Woo had been experiencing the battle in Hansen's body, he still had no idea what had happened and how he had lost so badly. He would need to think back to this battle several times in the future.

"That's the secret technique you invented, right? Mm, it's certainly powerful and quick. However, your mind couldn't keep up with your body. That's why you can't beat me."

"Kuheuk, you're right..."

The party members applauded. Of course, the party members didn't really know what had happened, but they at least seemed to realize that Seagald had won overwhelmingly. Plus, Hansen had gone all out from the very beginning, yet Seagald hadn't even drawn his fire sword!

'As I thought, Seagald's a swordsman who specializes in fire.'

While Lee Shin Woo nodded at the flowing memories, Seagald slightly laughed and extended his hand towards Hansen.

"I can't give you my little sister, but you have gotten stronger."

"I'm glad you're not my enemy, Sir Seagald... Hoo."

Hansen grabbed Seagald's hand, stood up, and spoke. Seagald thought he was exaggerating and grinned.

"So long as I serve his Imperial Majesty, that will never happen. I promise you in the name of the house Retadane."

"I'll be part of the family soon anyway... Uoooooooh!"

Seagald twisted Hansen's hand and threw him aside. At that moment, Lee Shin Woo's consciousness became faint. The rich and plentiful experience was finally drawing to a close.

'No, wait a sec.'

But Lee Shin Woo, who was returning after acquiring combat experience and skill know-how, was shocked at something that Seagald had said.

'Retadane... is that what he said?'

At that moment, his consciousness faded. What terrible timing.