How to Raise Your Skeletons

Chapter 107: A New Weapon

“Whoa!”

“This… This is unbelievable!” The Arcane Swordsman, Lucas, exhaled sharply, staring at the reward results in utter disbelief. “Has anything like this ever happened before?”

“Never,” Delilah responded with a shake of her head.

This was unprecedented. Typically, the difference between first and second place was at most 10%. But this time, Joo Donghoon’s contribution was 99%. To be exact, it was 98.1315667%, though such details weren’t disclosed to the participants. The absurdly high number spoke volumes.

Well, it makes sense, she thought.

He didn’t just deal with the poison mist—he subdued it. No, “subdued” wasn’t even the right word. “Tamed” might have been more accurate.

“Haah… I didn’t expect this to actually become reality.”

“We might be witnessing the birth of a legendary hunter,” Lucas said, his voice still tinged with awe.

As they were reading the information on the hologram, an alarm suddenly sounded.

—Beep! Beep! Beep!

Golden text began to flash across the holoscreen.

“What’s this?”

“The rewards! They’re being distributed!”

“Rewards… That means…!”

It was Joo Donghoon’s reward. And not just any reward—he had purchased probability amplification from the VIP shop!

Both their gazes snapped toward the text, eager to learn what it said.

And there, the message read:

[Choosing reward.]

[Congratulations!]

[★☆Super Duper Mega Jackpot☆★]

[You have obtained the ‘???-Rank Gift Box.’]

For the first time since the dungeon’s inception, the Super Duper Mega Jackpot label had appeared. The sparkling, diamond-like letters shimmered brilliantly.

“Th-This is…”

“Unreal! What kind of rank is that?”

“You already know asking me won’t help.”

“Ah, right…”

“Yes, even I, who created this dungeon, have never seen such a rank before.”

“Haah… This is… beyond comprehension.”

Lucas’s mind raced. He knew SS-rank items existed; they were the weapons wielded by the top ten rankers.

But SSS-rank…?

Rumor had it some hunters had attempted to acquire them in this dungeon. The story of Jang Daewoong, the Berserker, was legendary. He’d discarded a guaranteed S-rank item from Theme 1 to gamble for an SSS-rank with a 1% chance.

“Gahaha! Life’s about taking risks!” he had famously declared.

Of course, the 1% odds didn’t favor him. He ended up with nothing, his chance squandered in vain.

“But this isn’t just SSS-rank—it’s an unknown rank. And to overcome the 1% chance with an item? Haah, this is… beyond absurd.”

Even the VIP shop had been a revelation to them, and it was their first time seeing someone collect that many trial points. A new star had shattered the existing framework.

For a moment, Delilah and Lucas could only sit in silence, grappling with the magnitude of what they were witnessing.

* * *

“So this is the Unknown-Rank Gift Box…?”

I slipped behind a boulder, seeking solitude. Its radiant, almost divine appearance was bound to draw attention, and I didn’t want any unnecessary drama.

It’s a shame I can’t share this moment with the old man.

Unfortunately, his cooldown period hadn’t yet ended. And I couldn’t wait for it since no one knew when Theme 2 would begin.

I’m sorry, Elder.

I mentally apologized before focusing on the item in my hands.

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[Item: ???-Rank Gift Box]

[Rank: ???]

[Type: Box]

[Description: Open it to receive the item you need most.]

[Effect 1: Grants a ???-rank item.]

It was a simple description. I still didn’t know what “???-rank” truly meant, but a thought crossed my mind.

How much would this sell for?

An unknown-rank item gift box, beyond S, SS, or even SSS-rank.

Pfft, who would believe me?

I’d be lucky not to be branded a scammer. Even an SS-rank item would shake the world, so no one would believe that something even greater existed. But if there was a market that acknowledged its value…

It’d be priceless.

This was a treasure no amount of wealth could buy, a relic beyond words. And I was about to open it. What would the system determine I needed most?

Heart pounding with anticipation, I flipped open the box.

[Opening the ‘???-Rank Gift Box.’]

—Rumble!

A radiant glow emanated from the box as it shook in my hands. Only I could see it—an intense, almost overwhelming energy that indicated the item was manifesting.

[The item selection process has begun!]

[The gift box has detected that you lack a dedicated weapon!]

My own dedicated weapon? To be fair, I’d never used one. As a necromancer, my summons did most of the fighting. An ordinary staff sufficed for me. Whenever I obtained powerful weapons, I handed them over to my undead.

A dedicated weapon doesn’t feel necessary… but I guess the system thinks otherwise.

After all, hunters generally prioritized dedicated weapons above all else. Still…

[The item will be a dedicated weapon!]

“Dammit.”

Why was my gut instinct never wrong?

Well, this isn’t the worst-case scenario.

If it was ???-rank, it had to be absurdly powerful. I could still hope for the best.

[Scanning for weapons you can use!]

[Matching the weapon to your abilities!]

—Beep! Beep! Beep!

[Detected: You can use far too many weapons!]

“Huh?” That was unexpected.

Oh, right—I was a disciple of All Techniques. Mastering all weapons was part of my destiny. Naturally, the system was overwhelmed by my potential versatility.

“…”

My palms grew damp with sweat.

Would continuing the legacy of All Techniques work to my advantage? Or would it backfire?

[Exploring possibilities across dimensions.]

[Searching for an appropriate item.]

The light from the box grew so intense that I had to shut my eyes. My hands began to sting from the heat radiating from the vibrating box.

—Rumble!

The vibrations turned violent, as though the box contained a sealed demon.

“…”

What on earth was it planning to give me that it took this long?

My heart raced as I waited.

—Ring!

[Item discovered!]

The shaking ceased, and the radiant light dimmed. And in my hands…

“What is this…?” I tilted my head in confusion.

Resting in my hands was not a weapon but a mass of light, glowing fiercely as if set aflame in a vivid crimson hue.

I immediately checked the item information. It read:

[Item: Sealed Spirit of the Seven Elements (1/7)]

[Rank: Godslayer]

[Type: Weapon]

[Description: A fragment of the Seven Elements feared by even the primordial gods. Unlock all elements to break its seal. Currently contains the Element of Fire.]

[Effect 1: Transforms into any desired form.]

[Effect 2: This item cannot be destroyed.]

[Effect 3: Grants the power of the collected element.]

[Effect 4: Increases energy by 1,000.]

“…?” I was speechless.

What kind of item was this? Godslayer-rank? Not just godlike—godslaying. It claimed to be a fragment feared by primordial gods.

Confusion clouded my mind. I barely understood the dungeon, and now this? Were gods even real?

In any case…

There was no denying its power. Not just because of its rank or the energy bonus but because of one specific effect: it could transform into any weapon I desired.

[The Element of Fire chuckles in confirmation.]

“Huh?”

What the—did my weapon just laugh?

The orb of light naturally shifted, morphing into a majestic spear before my eyes.

“…!”

[The Element of Fire encourages you to imagine another weapon.]

“Haha…” I couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.

This was an ego weapon like I’d only seen in fictional novels.

As the weapon suggested, I thought of Eldrin, and the spear transformed into an elegant bow. Then, picturing Boney 1, it became a sleek sword.

Befitting the ability of a godslaying weapon, it responded instantly to my thoughts, as if my subconscious was sending commands through nerves to the brain. Moreover, it transformed into a shape that fit my physical attributes perfectly, as though it knew my body better than anyone else, making it incredibly comfortable to grip. The weight was perfect—neither too heavy nor too light. This was a weapon for me alone.

“Not bad.” I smirked, already imagining the Elder’s envy when I showed him this.

[The Element of Fire chuckles softly, as if amused.]

“…”

That… was unsettling. Like a god observing a feeble mortal, indulgent but distant.

“Who are you, exactly?” I asked the weapon aloud, but it remained silent. “Hey, can you at least answer me…?”

I called out repeatedly. Even when I swung the weapon, it completely ignored me.

What was this thing? It seemed like it only responded when it felt like it. It looked like understanding the essence of its existence was going to take some time.

Still, there were no issues with the weapon’s performance. As soon as I envisioned a desired form, it transformed instantly. For now, that was good enough.

“Phew.”

As I temporarily set the weapon aside, a commotion arose again in the center.

“So who’s in first place?”

“What’s the reward for first place? With 99%, it must be something amazing, right?”

“Let’s see the face of the first-place guy!”

The curiosity they had temporarily set aside after receiving their rewards was flaring up again. They’d all figure out I was in first place once Theme 2 began, anyway.

For now.

I still had unfinished business to handle.

[Item: A-Rank Random Box]

[Rank: A]

[Type: Box]

[Description: A box containing a random A-rank item.]

[Effect 1: Produces a random A-rank item.]

[Item: S-Rank Random Box]

[Rank: S]

[Type: Box]

[Description: A box containing a random S-rank item.]

[Effect 1: Produces a random S-rank item.]

And that was opening these two.

Delaila, or whoever it was, seemed to have a fondness for random boxes.

Let’s start with this.

I decided to open the A-Rank Random Box first.

[Opening ‘A-Rank Random Box.’]

[‘Superior Potion’ (A-Rank) acquired.]

A Superior Potion, huh? Not bad. It wasn’t as high-priced as a weapon would be, but for a potion, it would fetch a decent price.

I tucked it into a corner of my bag. With Boney 7 around, I’d hardly need to use it myself.

Next.

I moved straight to the next box. Perhaps because I’d already opened and received a godslayer-rank item, the S-Rank didn’t excite me as much anymore.

Still.

An S-rank item still held potential.

Please, let it be something good.

As the glowing light settled, I checked the results.

[Opening ‘S-Rank Random Box.’]

[‘Behemoth’s Bone Shield’ (S-Rank) acquired.]

“Oh, a bone shield?”

An S-rank shield would be perfect for our Boney 4. And the name couldn’t fit any better—Bone Shield. It was a match made in heaven.

“Jackpot!”

Chuckling, I checked the item’s details.

[Item: Behemoth’s Bone Shield]

[Rank: S]

[Type: Shield]

[Description: A shield crafted from the bones of the ancient demon Behemoth, boasting exceptional performance.]

[Effect 1: Increases strength by 30.]

[Effect 2: 10% chance to nullify basic attacks completely. (This effect does not stack with other effects.)]

[Effect 3: Reduces damage by 50%. (This effect does not stack with other effects.)]

[Effect 4: Increases energy by 50.]

“Wow.”

The performance was outstanding, as expected from an S-rank item.

I summoned Boney 4 and handed the shield to him.

—Creak, creak!

It nodded appreciatively as if to say thanks.

“Thank me? I’m the one who should apologize for taking so long to get you geared up.”

Lately, I’d been spending more time with Sunny, Demir, and Eldrin. I hadn’t been paying enough attention to these guys.

Both Boney 1 and Boney 5 saved me from the orc on that day. Watching Boney 4 lift its new weapon with delight filled me with satisfaction.

[Reward assessment is complete.]

[Theme 2 will now begin.]

[The senior examiner will appear.]

A message signaling the official start of Theme 2 appeared.