The scene before him wasn't especially breathtaking. It was just so familiar.
"Isn't this the last chamber in the Ancient Waterfall Tomb?!"
A broad underground cavern stretched out before him. Underground rivers flowed along both sides, and a huge stone sarcophagus sat atop a towering flight of stairs in the center.
Behind the sarcophagus stood a massive, semicircular stone wall, carved with glowing ancient letters.
"Damn, did the devs just steal assets straight from the Creation Club? They didn't even change the models?" Su Li couldn't help complaining.
But as he stepped inside, the overwhelming sense of age and oppression reminded him that this wasn't simply recycled scenery.
The stench of decay hung in the air. The stone beneath his feet—every last detail felt terrifyingly real.
"It's like I really traveled to that world..."
Su Li looked around, then fixed his gaze on the wall covered in runes.
The dim blue light flowing across it seemed to call to him with some kind of magic.
"Could there really be a Dragon Shout in here?" The Soul Fire within Su Li blazed fiercely.
"Pipi Axe, Pipi Finger, follow me! Don't touch anything in here, especially that sarcophagus!"
With his two underlings in tow, he approached the Dragon Language Wall like a pilgrim.
"Vmmm—" The air around them suddenly trembled.
One of the ancient runes on the wall blazed with dazzling light. A raging torrent of energy surged out and rushed straight into Su Li's body.
"Gah!!" Su Li felt as if his soul had been dragged into an ancient vision.
He seemed to see the energy of the entire world converging on a colossal dragon that blotted out the sky.
It was pure, domineering power. The dragon threw back its head and roared, as if it had gained some supreme authority.
But then the scene shifted. The dragon fell, leaving behind only a flame that would never go out.
And far away, a twisted shadow crept closer, as if coveting that power.
The vision vanished.
[Congratulations! Player has obtained Dragon Shout: Unwavering Force (First Stage)]
[Learned Power Language: Fus (Force)]
[Successfully acquired hidden class: Dragonborn]
[Triggered permanent Main Quest: Dragon Slayer]
[Description: Dovahkiin! You are a born Dragon Slayer. You can make the power of dragons your own. Seek out the Dragon Language Walls scattered across the world, or go hunt dragons!]
[Triggered side quest: The Complete Power Language]
[Description: It is said that the entire Undead Mountain Range was formed from the body of a dead ancient dragon. The ruins here conceal the complete power of a Dragon Shout.]
[Rewards: Strength +5, Experience +200, Spirit +5, Faith +5]
"Holy crap! What a huge score!" Su Li felt his whole skeleton growing warm.
"Who'd have thought I'd really be Zhua Genbao!" His thoughts soared into the heavens.
"Since I'm a Dragonborn, does that mean I can go around this world as a baron someday? Buy a house and land? Marry a beautiful rich girl?"
"Uh... wait." Su Li glanced down at his empty pelvis.
"I'm a skeleton now. Marrying a beautiful rich girl... that's pure fantasy."
"Does this game have adult content? If I can evolve into a more human-like form someday and grow that part back..."
Su Li silently planned out his future evolution path, his resolve growing ever stronger.
"For the sake of a man's dignity, I have to become human again! I don't want to end up like some lonely old skeleton, surrounded by a bunch of beautiful NPC girls but only able to dream about it!"
Once he'd reined in his wandering thoughts, Su Li focused on the skill he'd just obtained.
[Dragon Shout: Unwavering Force]
[Effect: Unleashes a powerful sonic shockwave that makes enemies in front of the user lose their balance or get knocked back.]
"Can a skeleton without vocal cords even use a skill like a Dragon Shout...?" Su Li glanced at the stone sarcophagus.
"If draugr like the Ghoul Tyrant in the game can use it, then why shouldn't a mighty Dragonborn like me be able to? This must be some kind of soul vibration!"
At that thought, Su Li could no longer hold back his urge to cause trouble.
"Since I got the skill, I should find a target and test it out." His gaze fell on the huge sarcophagus.
"Ghoul Tyrant in there, quit sleeping and get up! Let's party!"
Su Li ordered Pipi Axe and Pipi Finger to stand in front of him, then did something incredibly reckless: he strode over and kicked the sarcophagus lid open.
"Crash!" The lid tumbled to the ground.
A mummy in ancient heavy armor, gripping an Ebony Greatsword and sporting eyes ablaze with dim blue fire, suddenly sat up.
[BOSS: Ghoul Tyrant (Lv15)]
The thing clearly had a bad temper, and it didn't seem to follow any "undead don't fight undead" rule.
Seeing the three "intruders" before it, it didn't waste a word. It opened its shriveled mouth and roared at them:
"Lo—Da!!"
"BOOM!!" A terrifying shockwave erupted, visible to the naked eye.
"Holy crap!!"
Su Li barely had time to cry out before the blast flung him away. He tumbled down the stairs like a ball.
Pipi Finger fared even worse. The blast plastered him against the wall, and he couldn't get unstuck.
Only Pipi Axe managed to hold his ground, thanks to his heavy armor and Lv10 Constitution, though even he staggered back several steps.
"So strong?!" Su Li got up and shook his dizzy head.
"That was only a Second Stage Dragon Roar? Would a third stage blow me apart?"
"Pipi Axe! Get in there! Hold it off!"
"Pipi Finger! Get off the wall and grab its leg!"
At his command, the flames around Pipi Axe's neck roared to life. He charged in, swinging his Double-Edged Battle Axe, and clashed with the Ghoul Tyrant.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!" The two heavy weapons collided, showering sparks.
Although Pipi Axe was five levels lower, at least he had the Elite Monster template. He could just about hold his own.
Pipi Finger took the opportunity to sneak behind the tyrant and try his signature move: the "Leg Hug of Doom."
But the Ghoul Tyrant let out another low growl without even turning around. "Lo-Da!"
"Bam!" Pipi Finger went flying again.
"No good! This boss is too strong. Pipi Axe can't hold out much longer."
From the back, Su Li watched the stalemate and decided to jump in himself.
"Time to show you the power of a real Dragonborn!"
Su Li took a deep breath, aimed at the Ghoul Tyrant as it fought Pipi Axe, and opened his jawbone.
Then he felt his soul power slowly gather around his throat.
"Holy crap, this feeling of soul power gathering is incredible!"
"Fus—!!"
"BOOM!" A powerful sonic shockwave burst from Su Li's mouth. It wasn't as strong as the tyrant's, but it still packed a serious punch.
The blast swept through the chamber. The Ghoul Tyrant, in the middle of raising its sword to strike, jolted and staggered back a step.
But... Pipi Axe, who was tanking up front, wasn't spared either.
He'd been about to catch the next axe swing when the shockwave suddenly slammed into his lower back from behind.
"Thump!"
Pipi Axe lost his balance and bowed to the Ghoul Tyrant as if wishing it an early New Year.
Su Li: "..."
"Heh! Sorry! I forgot to turn off friendly fire!"
Before you continue