"You—"
"There's no need to say more."
Lixuman halted Tedaila's attempt to defend him. At a moment like this, further argument would only fall neatly into their trap.
After all, truth—if such a thing ever mattered—had never held real weight in this world.The words of those in power were the truth.Your status determined whether your voice spoke truth or falsehood.Truth was not the reflection of reality, but a privilege granted by rank.
At such times, only two paths remained: to shatter the rules with one's own strength, or to let someone of higher standing use their truth to smother this one.
"Well then," the captain sneered self-righteously, "the evidence is clear. Will you not confess?"
Lixuman's gaze swept across the soldiers, quietly gauging their levels.He possessed no authority to twist the truth.Thus, the only option left was to carve a path out—with blood.
He had merely wanted to explore the White Bear City's dungeon step by step.Now, with the positions of the soldiers and the hidden elites located, and that smug noble pig watching from above with amusement—That contemptuous look, as if observing a bug caught in a web—
If he killed the noble, unfurled his bone wings, and escaped the city, success was certain.It had to be swift.
"You—will you not confes—"
The final syllable never left the captain's mouth. He felt only a sharp pain across his neck.
"I confess," Lixuman murmured.
[Ding! Killed Heavy Armored Soldier Lv.11, +80 EXP]
He drew his bone blade free, flicking the blood away."I confess, yes—but only to a crime of killing in defiance."
As he spoke, he swung his wand and shattered another soldier's neck.
[Killed Human Lv.7, +10 EXP]
Everyone froze in disbelief.How could he dare?
But what did "dare" mean to someone like him? The threat was already at his throat; rules no longer applied.Besides, he was no human bound by human law.
He had abided by their rules, hidden among them. Yet when humans themselves refused to honor those rules, why should a skeleton obey?
"Seize him! Stop him! Kill him!" roared the noble pig, trembling with rage and fear.
He had never encountered anyone like this before.No hesitation, no guilt, no fear. Is he even human?
Shock rippled through the crowd.Too fierce—too audacious—too terrifying.
Everyone could tell he had been framed.Yet instead of explaining, he accepted the false charge—and struck without warning.
What kind of monster was this?
Swords were drawn; soldiers charged.
"First-tier spell—Stone Shield."
A circle of earthen light flared around Lixuman's arm, forming a solid round shield. He deflected several strikes, then swung his wand, smashing a soldier's skull.
The wand struck the ground."Swamp!"
Mud surged outward, swallowing the soldiers' feet. They struggled desperately, but Lixuman gave them no chance to break free.
Raising his wand toward the densest cluster—A crimson magic circle ignited at its tip.
"Stop! You can't—"
"Tier-One Spell—Super Fireball!"
A blazing orb swelled and roared forth, rolling over the trapped soldiers.Their screams were drowned in the explosion; when the flames died, only charred husks remained.
Hidden elites surged forward, their killing intent unleashed.Lixuman met two swordsmen head-on, deflecting their blades, then kicked away a heavy knight trying to grapple him. His shield intercepted flying fire and stones.
"Earth Spikes!"
Jagged spires burst from the floor, intertwining into a cage that trapped the charging knights.
Two swordsmen lunged from both sides, their blades glowing with skill-light.
Lixuman raised his shield to meet one strike, and caught the other blade with his bare hand—unscathed. His right arm had once endured Illu's full-strength slash; what could these weaklings do to it?
He snapped the sword in half, stepped forward, and drove his knee into the swordsman's groin.A miserable shriek.
To spare him further suffering, Lixuman calmly thrust the broken blade into his throat.
[Ding! Killed Swordsman Lv.13, +160 EXP]
Consider it an act of mercy, he thought dryly.
Turning, he blocked another sneak attack with his wand, then drove his foot upward again.The soldier folded in agony; the wand shoved into his open mouth.
"Fireball."
A flash—then a red-and-white spray. Lixuman's new coat was stained scarlet.
"Earth Wall!"
A barrier of soil rose, blocking the distant mage's spells.He advanced on the heavy knight still trapped within spikes.
"Fortress Stance!" the knight shouted, his armor gleaming gold.
Lixuman didn't even flinch."Explosive Fireball!"
The blast struck; cracks spread across the armor. The glow dimmed, smoke rising.
"Super Fireball!"
The second explosion reduced him to cinders.
[Ding! Killed Heavy Armored Soldier Lv.14, +220 EXP]
The remaining guards staggered backward. None dared move.
Lixuman ignored the small fry. His gaze lifted—to the noble pig.
Under that gaze, the noble's arrogance shattered. His face twitched as he fought to appear calm.
Without hesitation, Lixuman sprinted toward him.
"Stop him! Stop that murderer!" the noble shrieked, voice breaking.
But the skeleton's speed only grew, a dark crimson afterimage trailing behind.Two elite knights stepped forth, their shields raised.
Lixuman gathered the elements—wind and earth entwined. A massive hammer of packed stone formed atop his wand, strength swelling within him.
[Mighty Force Lv.2 Activated – Strength +17]
"Fortress Stance!" the two knights roared together.
The hammer fell.
The ground split apart with a thunderous crack, wind howling as debris was hurled outward.Their shields shattered; the golden glow vanished. Blood sprayed from their mouths.
The noble pig, seeing this, turned pale as death. He stumbled backward, scrambling to flee.
Lixuman, unwilling to waste potential experience, finished the fallen knights swiftly.His progress bar neared full—how delightful.
"Don't run, my noble lord. You still haven't passed sentence on me."
He hurled his wand.It pierced the noble's back, nailing him to the floor.
"Aaaargh!" The squeal was more pig than human.
"How dare you! I am a noble!" he howled."You—how dare a commoner strike me! What do you take the laws of the Lantis Kingdom for?"
"I'm no commoner," Lixuman said coldly. "Just a skeleton."
He crushed the noble's skull underfoot.
The onlookers froze, horrified.No hesitation, no mercy—simply dead.
What kind of madman is this…?
Lixuman straightened, sweeping his gaze across the trembling crowd. Every one of them averted their eyes.
"The experience from a noble," he muttered, "isn't worth any more than a commoner's."