Endless Evolution As A Skeleton In A Game-Like World

A few hours ago...

When Ark got up, his eyes immediately searched the area. Olivia was lying by the side, coughing profusely, her body covered with dirt.

It seemed even with his warning, she was not able to escape in time. But thankfully, although it looked like it would take some time for her to recover, she didn’t seem to have any fatal injuries.

As for Soo-jin and Isabella...

”Damn it!”

They had received the brunt of the attack. They were both in a terrible state, and worst of all, the worm was now hovering over them, seconds away from striking.

Ark ran in their direction, dismissing his dagger and holding his magic staff in his right hand.

Although the weapon was nonsensical when it came to doing what a magic staff was meant to do, it was sturdier than regular wood and had good magic resistance, that was all he needed.

’A move that can take it out in one strike...’

His fingers tightened around the staff as he took in a deep breath, more out of habit than necessity.

If he failed to bring the monster down, then Soo-jin would have to go all out, which would only worsen her injuries. In the worst case scenario, she would die.

Ark only had one chance, one strike.

There would be no do-over if he lost...

With these thoughts raging through his mind, he finally got close enough to the monster.

He drew his arm back, holding what was meant to be a magic staff like a javelin, the sharp tip pointing forward. Then he activated two skills.

The first was Serpent Spear Form. It was a spear fighting technique, and without giving it much thought, most people would think it was a foolish decision.

But like its name suggested, Serpent Spear Form was a spear technique, and spear techniques included throwing!

The second skill was considerably more difficult to apply. Normally, he would simply conjure [Destructive Flames] and launch it at the enemy.

But Ark had something else in mind. [Destructive Flames] were already pretty powerful, but they were dealing with a boss, so he had to be creative, he had to mould the spell, subject it to his will, transform it into something that transcended its nature...

There was only one problem, time. Ark had to do something that required intense concentration and focus in the space of a few seconds.

The world seemed to still as the chaotic fire burst around his palms and began to circle around the staff, licking the wood and crackling with intensity.

The fire threatened to spiral out of control, but Ark forced it to take shape, his fingers trembling as he manipulated the livid fire.

And then it took form.

Destructive Flames were normally in the same shape as a ball of fire, but now... Ark held what could only be described as a flaming spear in his hands.

Using the staff as a base, he had moulded Destructive Flames into a spear fashioned solely for utter carnage.

He let out a battle cry as he flung the weapon right at the monster, putting everything in him into the throw. He had used so much force that he even fell flat on his face.

But the spear could not be more beautiful. It soared like a missile, like a shooting star it brightened up the world, the flames billowing in the air, just before they met their target—

BANG!!!

[Broken Staff has been damaged beyond repair]

Chunks of charred flesh was flung into the air, and blood gushed upwards like a fountain, raining down on them

The Grave Keeper staggered and collapsed on impact, part of its head burning like a ball of fire.

It tussled and turned, rolling down the mountain, into the forest, and out of sight, screeching as it tried to put out the fire.

But the flames stuck to it like glue, burning fiercely. It would take a lot more than thrashing around to put it out.

The terrifying Grave Keeper, the second boss within the tutorial, had been reduced to a mere worm begging for death.

Ark did not bother chasing after it, he had used everything for that last attack, and even if the worm did not die immediately, it was only a matter of time.

He turned around to where the rest of his teammates were, only to see them staring at him in shock.

”Um, are you guys okay?”

”You... you altered that spell didn’t you?” Olivia sounded baffled.

”I didn’t believe it at first.” Isabella said in a cold tone, watching him with a reserved expression. ”But he really did it...”

Altering skills was something that only players in the level fifties were known to be capable of, and yet, Ark had not just pulled it off...

He had done it while under pressure, and with limited time on his hands.

Soo-jin smiled and shook her head in disbelief. ’Does he even know the gravity of what he did?’

”We are alright.” She said, answering his earlier question. ”Thanks to you, I got to enjoy what being a mage feels like. I have to say, it was a pretty nice experience.” She commented.

”Hey, don’t get too comfortable with my spot.” Ark joked, then he let out a sigh and resummoned his dagger.

”Alright, let’s go and finish off that boss.” Although his strike was more than enough to kill it, Ark was still a little wary of the monster.

The mountain suddenly began to rumble, causing all of them to freeze and stare around.

”What is happening?” Olivia asked.

Ark immediately ran towards the edge of the mountain and peered down, trying to locate the worm.

But the monster was gone.

All that was left was a pile of flattened teeth.

The light in his eyes glowed fiercely. ”Don’t tell me...”

And then it hit him.

”Under us, it is coming from beneath us!!” Soo-jin shouted. She and the others were already running towards him, but Ark raised a hand and screamed at them.

”Stay back!”

Immediately the words left his lips, the ground below him exploded, sending Ark flying into the air.

And then the Grace Keeper rose out of the rubble and into the air, its maw wide open to receive him.

Ark was out of mana, his staff was gone and there was no foot hold up in the sky. He was totally, and utterly fucked.

He had assumed that just like the corpse worms, it could not tunnel through the mountain. That had been his singular mistake...

”ARK!” Soo-jin screamed, her eyes wide open. She had disregarded her injuries and was running towards them on all fours.

Olivia was flying towards them as well, her eyes moist with tears as she tried her best to get there on time, to save the person that had saved them countless times.

But there was no way they would reach him in time.

Right before their eyes, the monster swallowed Ark whole and burrowed into the mountain, a place where no one could give chase...