Otherworldly Skeleton Evolution

“Uh…you want me to get on the horse?”

Seeing the crimson hand bones Jiang Cheng extended towards her, Zhang Mengmeng lowered her head.

She felt a bit shy, but also excited and full of anticipation.

“Riding the same horse as Skeleton Big Brother, doesn’t that mean I’ll have to hug…”

As Zhang Mengmeng entertained that thought, she became even more bashful, her face turning scarlet.

But she was afraid Jiang Cheng would think she was wasting time, so she suppressed her shyness and gently placed her hand in his.

A chilling, eerie sensation emanated from Jiang Cheng’s bony hand.

The next instant–

“Ah!”

Zhang Mengmeng let out a startled yelp as she felt a forceful tug. In a flash, she was pulled onto the horse.

The surrounding scenery rapidly retreated.

Her silky black hair whipped across her delicate face before being blown to the sides by the wind.

Sitting atop the warhorse, feeling the howling gale, Zhang Mengmeng hurriedly hugged Jiang Cheng in fright, leaning against his back, her heart pounding wildly.

And so, one skeleton, one girl, one horse, dashed through the Stone Forest.

Heading towards the starting point of their quest – the level 25 wild zone, Gloomy Marsh.

Along the way, they encountered players from Dominating the World Guild whose curiosity was piqued. Shocked exclamations rang out:

“Holy crap! Did I just see what I think I saw? I’m not seeing things, right? Why did I just see a skeleton riding a horse? With a girl behind him?”

The undead player rubbed his eyes in disbelief.

“That’s one badass skeleton horse. Someone already got their hands on a mount at this stage? I’m a knight and I can’t even get a donkey, but this guy has a ride like that?”

“Damn, a skeleton with a beautiful girl…that’s…way too hardcore. Am I really living a worse life than a skeleton?”

The players shot envious, jealous, hate-filled glares at Jiang Cheng’s receding figure atop the skeleton warhorse.

“Skeleton horse? Blood skeleton? Female undead player?” Du Ba Tianxia narrowed his eyes in contemplation.

“The top sage Fist Sage has personally made a move to protect that undead player who reached level one on the leaderboards?”

Shaking his head, Du Ba Tianxia dismissed that notion. “No, that’s unlikely. Anyone who can reach rank one definitely has the backing of a massive faction. No way it’s just some lone player.”

…

“Whoosh!”

A blood-red spear was braced by Jiang Cheng on the left side of the skeleton warhorse, charging through the fierce winds. Finally exiting Stone Forest, they arrived at Gloomy Marsh and encountered a mob of level 20 Marsh Undead.

The skeleton warhorse’s skill activated.

Leaping Stride!

“Swish…”

The regal steed reared back on its hind legs, scattering countless dead leaves. Under Jiang Cheng’s control, it leapt high into the air in an instant.

Reflected in the jet-black flaming eyes of the Marsh Undead, the blood-red spear braced on the skeleton warhorse plunged down at breakneck charging speed, piercing straight through their hearts.

150% charging speed bonus – 1.5x!

30% falling speed bonus – 1.8x!

Critical hit to vital organ (heart) – 3.8x!

Destruction property – 30% critical damage!

40% damage boost from fighting on horseback!

4.5x total damage multiplier!

“-2795!”

“-2178!”

“-1179!”

[Level 20 Marsh Undead slain. 150 Experience Points and Evolution Points gained. Bonus for killing higher level monster: 50 Experience Points and Evolution Points.]

[Level 20 Marsh Undead slain…]

[Level 20 Marsh Undead slain…]

In an instant, he skewered three 1000 HP Marsh Undead on his spear like a shish kebab. Jiang Cheng then grabbed the blood-red spear and spun it in his hands.

Stab, slash, parry!

“Boom! Boom! Boom!”

Without the charging speed bonus, the Marsh Undead’s defense was tougher. Damage numbers plummeted.

“-780.”

“-768.”

“-764.”

But even with reduced damage, Jiang Cheng wasn’t fazed in the slightest.

With the 40% mounted combat damage bonus, 1000 HP Marsh Undead were just two hits away from death.

【Marsh Undead】

Race: Undead

Level: 20

HP: 1000

Attack: 90-137

Defense: 40-50

Skills: Marsh Poison Mist, Water Striding

Talent: Venom Tempering

Overview: Humans who died in Gloomy Marsh. Reborn with intense resentment, they now hate humanity. Wandering the marsh outskirts, they attempt to slay adventurers.

“Mediocre skills and talent. This isn’t a great grinding spot.”

Sensing an opportunity, Jiang Cheng didn’t linger. After slaughtering this mob of Marsh Undeads for around 5,000 Evolution Points, he continued heading north.

“Skeleton Big Brother, you’re so awesome! Riding this horse is beyond thrilling!” Still hugging Jiang Cheng, Zhang Mengmeng sat on the skeleton horse, patting her chest, heart pounding like mad.

Leaning against Jiang Cheng’s blood-red cape, watching him mow down monsters left and right, an immense feeling of security welled up inside her.

She felt she must be heaven’s favored child. How else could she have summoned such a divine skeleton like Skeleton Big Brother?

Her only regret was that Skeleton Big Brother’s body was so hard. Bouncing around while riding at full gallop made her chest ache…

“Ugh…ouch…”

Lost in wild fantasies, Zhang Mengmeng was jolted back to reality when Jiang Cheng suddenly stopped at the edge of a marsh.

The surroundings reeked of pungent swamp gas. Though he lacked a nose, Jiang Cheng still possessed a keen sense of smell.

He furrowed his brow…bone.

Crimson flames flared in his eye sockets as he carefully surveyed the environment, growing slightly wary.

He had a feeling something was hidden in the shadows of the hazy marsh mist, secretly observing him.

“Look for the quest target location.” Jiang Cheng waved his hand, gesturing to Zhang Mengmeng.

Still immersed in her daydreams, Zhang Mengmeng didn’t realize at first that Jiang Cheng was addressing her.

Only when Jiang Cheng flicked his cape did she snap out of it. Recalling her silly fantasies just now, her face instantly flushed red as a ripe apple.

“Oh! Skeleton Big Brother, head that way. There’s an undead altar over there. That’s where the Necromancer Natalie is.”

This time, Zhang Mengmeng thankfully wasn’t muddleheaded. She finally synced up a bit with Jiang Cheng, understanding his intent.

However, Jiang Cheng didn’t immediately proceed. He stopped, preparing to level up his skills first.

Since the necromancer was a hidden class, its advancement quest was naturally far harder than common class quests.

After only half an hour sweeping through Marsh Undead, he already pocketed another 14,856 Evolution Points.

He currently had 400 Enhancement Points dropped by the Stone Troll. He could try breaking through with his skills, see what changes would occur. It’d add a bit more certainty and insurance for this quest.

Besides, he was quite curious about skill breakthroughs. What effects would emerge?

After all, in the games he played before, he’d never encountered anything like this.