Innate Evil Undead Mage

Its body was a full circle larger than before. The originally red scales had now turned grayish-white, as if its entire body was clad in heavy bone plate armor.

And between the gaps of the bone armor, crimson corruption flowed in intricate patterns.

Most striking was its head. The originally somewhat lizard-like head was now completely encased in exoskeleton, forming a ferocious dragon shape.

And deep within its eye sockets, two balls of ghostly blue soul fire burned!

This appearance had shades of the Rotten Dragon from Elden Ring and the feel of an undead bone dragon.

[Mount: Revered Rotten Earth Dragon · Tina Sanks]

[Level: Lv20]

[Note: A stage evolution can be performed every 10 levels.]

[Stats: Strength 120, Constitution 150, Agility 70]

[Skills: Nether Breath, Corruption Domain, Brutal Charge, Steel Scales, Death Roll.]

"Holy crap..." Su Li couldn't help but curse as he looked at the magnificent panel.

"These stats are like a heifer on a power pole—damn impressive!"

Su Li circled Tina Sanks several times, liking it more and more.

The contrasting design of pale bone armor and crimson corruption perfectly hit his aesthetic.

"Right, let's try the recall function." Su Li's mind moved.

With a "buzz," Pipi Dragon instantly transformed into a red light and burrowed into the back of Su Li's hand.

"Come out again!"

"Roar!" The giant beast materialized instantly, shaking the ground.

Su Li could no longer contain his excitement and scrambled onto Tina Sanks's spine with his hands and feet.

Although the bone scales were hard, sitting on them was surprisingly stable.

"Pipi Dragon! Let's go! Let this mountain range see what speed and passion are all about!"

"Roar--!!!" Pipi Dragon let out a roar and then charged out of the cave like a freight train.

"Woohoo!!!"

Riding on the dragon's back, Su Li felt like his soul fire was about to be blown backward.

This feeling of lightning speed was simply addictive!

He galloped around the wilderness twice, scaring the surrounding low-level monsters into scattering. Only then did he reluctantly return to the cave entrance.

At this moment, Pipi Axe and Pipi Finger, who had been guarding the cave entrance, came over.

Looking at these two veteran subordinates, Su Li's originally excited mood cooled down a bit.

"Sigh..." Su Li sighed.

As his level increased, the enemies he faced became stronger, and Pipi Axe and Pipi Finger's combat power clearly couldn't keep up anymore.

"If I can't find a way to make you stronger in the future, you might have to go back home to retire, or..."

"Don't even mention you guys, even I don't know what to do next..."

Just then, the system seemed to hear his thoughts.

[Quest Triggered: Find Equipment]

[Description: As the saying goes, clothes make the man and the saddle makes the horse. As a distinguished Dragon Knight, how can you not have a set of fitting armor? Running around with just bones is cool, but it's easy to break them.]

[Option One: Explore deeper into the Undead Mountain Range, Difficulty: S]

[Reward: Strength +10, Constitution +10, Agility +5, Experience +1500, Unknown High-Tier Equipment.]

[Option Two: Explore deeper underground in the Corrupted Cave, Difficulty: A]

[Reward: Strength +7, Constitution +7, Agility +7, Experience +1000, Crimson Corruption related equipment.]

[Option Three: Stay put and dig a hole to bury yourself, Difficulty: None]

[Reward: None, and may be urinated on by passing wild dogs.]

Su Li looked at the three options, his finger bones rubbing his chin.

"Option Three is a direct pass. As for Option One..."

Su Li glanced at the gloomy depths of the Undead Mountain Range.

Every time a mission involved the depths of the Undead Mountain Range, the difficulty started at S-rank.

There was a high probability that the main BOSS of this area was located there.

"Although fortune favors the bold, I'm a steady player, not a suicidal one. So only Option Two is left."

The Corrupted Cave was where he made his fortune. Moreover, he was the Revered Corrupted Knight, so going there was practically a home-field advantage.

"Little ones! Follow me! I'll take you to raid their homes!"

He waved his hand, and Pipi Axe and Pipi Finger immediately trotted behind Tina Sanks's large rear. The group then set off in a mighty procession towards the Corrupted Cave.

Meanwhile, at the Wild Wolf Squad's base.

The werewolf Mara was smiling as she looked at her two distinguished guests.

"Heh heh, Lady Seraphina," Mara licked her lips with her tongue.

"As I said, that skeleton is very special. Not only does it wield the power of Crimson Corruption, but I even detected a trace of draconic aura."

Sitting opposite her was a young girl in a pure white priest's robe.

She had brilliant golden hair and a face as exquisite as a sculpture in a temple, radiating a holy aura.

She was Seraphina, one of the Holy Church of Light's prospective Saintesses.

Upon hearing the words "draconic aura," a flicker of surprise flashed in Seraphina's sapphire-blue eyes.

"An undead with a draconic aura is indeed rare," her voice was soft and pleasant.

"In that case, I'll trouble Captain Mara. As long as it can be found, whether it's alive or dead, the Papal Court will pay you a satisfactory reward."

"Of course, I trust the Saintess's word."

Mara stood up and extended her calloused, scarred hand.

The female guard behind Seraphina frowned instantly, her eyes filled with disdain, as if she didn't want her holy Saintess to touch this dirty half-beast.

But Seraphina, as if completely ignoring Vivian's gaze, naturally extended her gloved hand and gently shook Mara's.

"Then, I wish us a pleasant cooperation."

A smile curved Mara's lips. "Saintess, please rest well today. We'll depart first thing tomorrow morning."

After seeing Mara off, Vivian immediately couldn't help herself. "Fina! Why did you shake hands with someone like that?"

Vivian took out a handkerchief and somewhat forcefully wiped Seraphina's glove, her tone full of complaint.

"Why come to such a remote place to find a dirty undead creature? And cooperate with a greedy half-beast? This will soil your holy hands!"

"Vivian, you're too sensitive."

Seraphina let Vivian wipe her hand, her face still wearing that gentle smile, though her eyes held a hint of helplessness.

"We came out this time precisely to investigate the nature of undead existence. Why did the God of Light banish undead beings back then? Are undead creatures truly all evil? These are questions that can only be answered by seeing with my own eyes."

She walked to the window and looked at the gloomy Undead Mountain Range in the distance. "Moreover, the Holy Favor of the God of Light should be bestowed equally upon all beings. Humans, half-beasts, perhaps there isn't such a big difference in God's eyes. You shouldn't discriminate against them."

"You..." Vivian was instantly choked with anger.

"It's precisely because you always have this attitude that the Pope's beard bristles with anger! Do you know what they call you in the Papal Court? Heretic Sympathizer!"

"Alright, alright, Vivian, please forgive me, okay?"

Seraphina suddenly turned to Vivian, blinked, and then clasped her hands together, her tone taking on a hint of a spoiled child.

"I knew Vivian was the best, you definitely won't be angry with me, right?"

Seeing her Saintess's roguish yet adorable demeanor, Vivian's anger instantly dissipated.

She sighed helplessly. "...One last time."

"Hooray!" Seraphina cheered and threw herself into Vivian's arms. "I knew Vivian loved me the most!"

Vivian's body stiffened for a moment, then she gently patted Seraphina's back, her eyes still warily fixed on the window.

"I hope nothing goes wrong this time."

At the same time, in a dilapidated attic in Twilight Town.

The atmosphere was not as harmonious.

Rosalia stood nervously before a table piled high with various alchemical materials.

And opposite her, an old woman with a face full of wrinkles and hair like a bird's nest was scrutinizing her like she was inspecting goods.

This was the town's only reclusive mage, the eccentric Karonna.

"Little girl, you mean to say..."

Karonna picked up the magic book Rosalia had cherished earlier and shook it. "You relied on this fake book, which you could buy for two copper coins at a street stall, to successfully summon a skeleton?"

Rosalia swallowed nervously. "Y-yes, Grandma Karonna. I also signed an equal contract with it."

"Equal contract?"

Karonna acted as if she had heard the biggest joke, slamming the table. "Are you kidding me?! Huh?!"

"This is just a bunch of gibberish used by market vendors to trick children! The incantations are all wrong! The logic is nonsensical! And you're telling me you practiced according to this and succeeded?!"

The old woman pointed at the door, spittle flying. "Get out, get out! I hate lying brats the most! Take your damn book and get lost!"

"But... but I really succeeded!" Rosalia's eyes welled up with tears in her urgency.

But she didn't back down; instead, she took a step forward. "I really summoned it!"

"Still making excuses!" Karonna sneered.

"Unless you're a born undead mage, it's impossible to succeed by reciting such chaotic incantations! Even a genius would have their magic backfired and be sucked dry by doing this!"

"I... I can prove it!"

Rosalia bit her lip hard, her eyes filled with stubbornness. "Grandma Karonna, please give me a chance. I can prove it to you!"

Karonna looked at the girl's determined eyes and was slightly taken aback.

She was silent for a moment, then laughed in anger. "Fine, very fine."

She casually grabbed a handful of bone powder and a few low-grade magic stones from the side and threw them on the table.

"Then prove it to me! Use the spells from that tattered book of yours!"

Karonna narrowed her eyes, her tone chilling. "If you can really summon an undead creature again, I'll teach you everything I've learned in my life!"

"Really? Grandma Karonna?" Rosalia's eyes lit up instantly.

"Don't call me Grandma! I'm only a hundred and eighty years old! In the prime of my life!"