Big Skeleton's condition had stabilized.
But as time passed, a new problem emerged.
"I'm worried about something else-these oral supplements for trace elements won't last very long," Shen Ye said, folding his arms.
"Then go buy more!" Big Skeleton said anxiously.
"I don't have enough money," Shen Ye said.
"What currency do you use now?" Big Skeleton asked.
"Digital currency. Paper money works too," Shen Ye said.
"What about gold?" Big Skeleton asked.
"You have some?" Shen Ye asked in return.
"I'll give you some gold. Go get more supplies, and whatever you do, don't let me die."
"You have gold? Then why are we still talking? Hand it over!"
They kept at it until four thirty in the morning.
Fortunately, the Human Martial Arts Group had a currency exchange system, with dedicated staff on duty even at night.
A big corporation really was different.
The attendant merely checked the purity of the gold, asked no other questions, and promptly completed the transaction.
Money made things easy. Even in the dead of night, Shen Ye managed to get supplies and spruce up the Fish Tank.
He not only planted aquatic plants but also stocked it with a school of fish.
"I remember that eating helps your body grow," Shen Ye said.
He was still sitting on the little folding stool outside the door, watching the fish wag their heads and tails in the Fish Tank.
"It can replenish some of my strength, but these fish-" Big Skeleton said.
"Don't be picky. It's the middle of the night, and getting these fish wasn't easy. Eat up," Shen Ye said.
Big Skeleton hesitated briefly, opened his mouth, and bit at a fish.
Crack.
His front tooth broke off.
Not only had his tooth broken, but a winding crack had also spread across his jawbone.
"Indigestion?" Shen Ye asked in surprise.
"My fucking tooth nearly shot up through the top of my skull! Which of your eyes saw me having indigestion?" Big Skeleton was both shocked and furious.
"How come you can't even bite through a fish now? What a waste of my good intentions," Shen Ye chided.
"The shell on this fish is too hard! Couldn't you have bought some fish without shells?" Big Skeleton complained.
"Like nourishes like-softshell turtles are incredibly nourishing," Shen Ye argued.
"However nourishing they are, I can't bite through them right now!" Big Skeleton was nearly losing his mind.
"Other fish wouldn't survive in Calcium Supplement Liquid," Shen Ye said helplessly, picking up a net and beginning to scoop out the turtles.
After all that fuss, it was already past five in the morning.
"Shen Ye," Big Skeleton suddenly said.
"What?" Shen Ye asked.
"You saved me this time. Once I've recovered, I promise I won't let you regret it," Big Skeleton said.
Shen Ye looked at him and saw resolute Soulfire shining in his eye sockets.
But he was missing a front tooth.
It had broken off when he tried to bite a turtle.
-which undermined the solemnity and seriousness he was trying so hard to convey.
"Empty words mean nothing. Recover first, then we'll talk," Shen Ye said.
A faint light of dawn had already appeared outside.
Oh no.
I'd gotten so caught up in playing around that I'd done nothing all night except fuss over the Fish Tank.
Incidentally-
This skeleton had incredible vitality. He was actually still alive.
Thud.
A resounding impact rang out.
Shen Ye abruptly looked up and saw the tightly shut door at the end of the corridor shudder, dust cascading down.
"What's going on?" Shen Ye immediately asked.
"Outside is Position No. 5 in the Shadowy Highlands. The Human Race and the elves are launching a fierce assault-"
In a flash, Big Skeleton spat out a Ring and said urgently:
"Quick! Put on the ring!"
"Why?" Shen Ye caught the Ring and couldn't help asking.
Big Skeleton said rapidly:
"This is actually a secret passage. The battlefield is outside, and the battle still isn't over."
"-And right now, I can't fight at all!"
Before he had finished speaking, he muttered something under his breath.
In an instant.
Big Skeleton and the entire Fish Tank were drawn into the Ring.
Thud!
The door at the end of the corridor shuddered violently again.
Shen Ye swallowed nervously.
What should I do?
Was I supposed to face the unknown enemies breaking in?
-This had nothing to do with me in the first place. Why should I have to face a situation like this?
Without hesitation, he shut the door and silently recited:
"Disperse."
The door vanished.
Shen Ye turned around, opened the refrigerator, took out some snacks and drinks, and began eating and drinking.
It was already past six in the morning.
Skipping breakfast was bad for his health.
By the time he had finished eating, brushed his teeth, washed his face, and done a set of eye exercises, the clock was nearly at seven.
Fortunately, he had been wearing Lanny's Nature's Blessing Bracelet all along, and his Mental Power had increased by another 0.1.
His total Mental Power had now reached 0.9.
Shen Ye cleared his throat and spoke to the Ring on his hand:
"Hey, how did you get inside the ring?"
"You kept me waiting all this time just to ask that?" Big Skeleton couldn't help shouting.
"I had some preparations to make. Answer my question," Shen Ye said.
"A Spatial Ring can't store living things, but I happen not to be alive. I'm undead-many people never think of that," Big Skeleton's voice rang out.
Shen Ye gave a snort and continued:
"You certainly know a lot. I've had some suspicions about your identity ever since the Elf Village."
"After all, who gets escorted by three of their own kind to assassinate the enemy leader?"
"But I don't like prying into other people's private affairs, much less telling you what to do. I only need you to know one thing-"
"You have to do everything you can to help me."
"Help you? What are you going to do?" Big Skeleton's voice sounded beside his ear.
-This seemed to be a form of telepathic communication.
"I need to visit your world today, and I'll need your help," Shen Ye said.
"Our world is engulfed in war. Tens of thousands of troops die on the battlefield every day. Are you going there to get yourself killed?"
"I have to go."
"...Fine. You aren't asking about my identity, so I won't ask why you insist on going to our world. But I've long since used up all my powerful treasures. The help I can offer is very limited," Big Skeleton said.
Shen Ye glanced at the Contract on the door.
Big Skeleton's contractual name was "Battlefield Quartermaster of the Fifth Combat Squad of the Skeleton Army under the Mother of the Shadowy Skeletons, King of the Ghouls, the defeated Underworld Lord Micteticashiva."
"What's a Battlefield Quartermaster?" Shen Ye asked.
"I'm responsible for collecting loot on the battlefield," Big Skeleton said.
He added, "Don't assume I can actually pick up anything good. The truly powerful treasures are seized by the enemy the moment their owners are defeated."
"All I get to pick up are damaged weapons and armor, along with soldiers' belongings."
Shen Ye considered this for a moment, then said:
"Do you have any Undead Soldier equipment? Preferably something that conceals my aura."
He had to enter the Nightmare World.
If the other side of the door was a secret passage, and outside that passage was an undead position-
Then he could disguise himself as an Undead Soldier, make a quick trip onto the battlefield, and immediately return to the real world.
Wouldn't that get him a trait?
"Conceal your aura? Let me look."
After a few moments, the Ring stirred, and a tattered set of leather armor appeared in the room, splitting into several pieces the moment it hit the floor.
"You can't just pick up every piece of junk you find," Shen Ye said irritably.
"Let me keep looking."
Another piece of Black Leather Armor, covered in scratches, appeared on the floor, along with a bow, an Empty Quiver, a pair of dust-covered riding boots, and a Horse Token.
A line of small text was written on the Horse Token:
"This token authorizes the requisition of one Skeleton Warhorse, exclusively for delivering messages."
Shen Ye put on the Black Leather Armor, slung on the bow, strapped the Empty Quiver to his back, put away the Horse Token, and pulled on the riding boots.
The equipment constantly exuded an aura of death, making him look like a walking Undead Soldier.
-But his face was still human.
"I once picked up a Centurion's Faceplate. You can use that," Big Skeleton said.
"Will that work? Won't someone see through it?" Shen Ye asked.
"The faceplate has a permanent Advanced Death Aura enchantment. Other undead won't see through it," Big Skeleton said.
Shen Ye put on the faceplate.
-Now no one could discern his true identity.
Everything was ready!
"Are there any flaws left?" Shen Ye asked.
"No. You look just like an Undead Warrior," Big Skeleton said.
"Then if I go over again-" Shen Ye said.
"At our position, the other undead won't kill you. If you handle things properly, you might even manage to get yourself a Skeleton Warhorse!" Big Skeleton said.
A look of longing appeared on Shen Ye's face.
Riding a Skeleton Warhorse, putting on an act at the undead position, then opening a door home the moment danger appeared-
Surely I could at least get a trait like "Ghost Knight"?
"All right, I'm going over!"
Shen Ye took a deep breath as he spoke.
"Whatever you do, don't die. If you die, the ring on your hand will be looted, and then I'm done for," Big Skeleton said.
"I'll try not to die," Shen Ye said.
He pressed his hand against the wall and silently recited, "Gate."
The door immediately appeared.
Looking through the windowpane, he saw that the eerie secret passage was empty.
There was a hole in the door at the far end of the passage.
Shrill howls, clashing weapons, shouts, and the roar of Spellcraft mingled together, sounding without pause.
Time to go!
Shen Ye took a deep breath, pushed open the door, stepped into the secret passage, and strode forward.
Shattered bone fragments were everywhere, covering even the floor.
He had only made it halfway when the many noises outside suddenly swelled into a torrent.
The fighting was fierce!
Shen Ye mustered his courage and kept moving.
Boom-
The door was blasted clean off and landed inside the secret passage.
Someone was coming!
Quite a few of them!
Shen Ye assumed the bearing of an Undead Soldier and shouted, "Don't attack! I'm one of you!"
Figures flashed into view all around him.
They weren't undead!
Densely packed human soldiers filled the entire secret passage, pointing their weapons at him and shouting in unison:
"Don't move!"