<strong><b>Chapter 32: Stronger Than the Boss, But You’re Undead</b></strong>


    “Human?”


    “No, just an undead creature that looks like a human.”


    Su Mu paused, momentarily stunned. Before him stood a figure cloaked in ck robes. Beneath the tattered fabric, patches of writhing, decayed flesh were visible. Skeletal remains, barely holding together, supported the body of this strange, ck-robed monster.


    Though it appeared fragile, he sensed a threat emanating from the creature far greater than that of the Scarlet Pig King.


    Most rmingly, the system ssified it not as a boss but as an elite monster. Yet this so-called elite monster was undeniably more formidable than the Scarlet Pig King.


    Curious, he checked its attributes.


    <strong><b>[Spirit Controller: ck de</b></strong><strong><b>].</b></strong>


    <strong><b>[Level: 15 Elite Monster</b></strong><strong><b>].</b></strong>


    <strong><b>[Traits: Sneak Attack de, Undead Resurrection, Self-Restoration, Crimson Suppression</b></strong><strong><b>].</b></strong>


    <strong><b>[Note: Sneak Attack de can strike any enemy within range—proceed with caution.</b></strong><strong><b>].</b></strong>


    <strong><b>[Undead Resurrection allows all undead within its casting range to resurrect once. Follow up with finishing attacks to ensure elimination.</b></strong><strong><b>].</b></strong>


    <strong><b>[Self-Restoration grants the creature an exceptionally thick health bar.</b></strong><strong><b>].</b></strong>


    <strong><b>[Crimson Suppression nullifies crimson-attributed equipment and skills.</b></strong><strong><b>].</b></strong>


    <strong><b>[Description: Once attempted to assassinate the Crimson but was severely injured. Now hides in a water cave, never daring to venture out.</b></strong><strong><b>].</b></strong>


    As Su Mu read through the list of traits, he took a deep breath.


    “You call this an elite monster?”


    By his estimation, this creature could take down three Scarlet Pig Kings simultaneously. The Scarlet Pig King now seemed less like a boss and more like a training dummy for experience points.


    Earlier that morning, he had “skipped ss” with the Scarlet Pig King. Now, he felt eager to make up for lost time by confronting this far more challenging adversary.


    The monster’s name and history intrigued him.


    <strong><b>[Soul Master: ck de</b></strong><strong><b>].</b></strong>@@novelbin@@


    <strong><b>[Once tried to assassinate the Crimson.</b></strong><strong><b>].</b></strong>


    “An undead creature with a story,” Su Mu mused. For now, he decided to refer to it simply as ck de. The Soul Master designation suggested an important monster ssification, with ck de as its elite representative.


    As he observed, ck de shifted beneath its robes, the movement stiff yet deliberate.


    “Human? Why?” the creature rasped, its voice chillingly human. “Why do humans still exist in this world? What happened outside?”


    The sound of ck de speaking startled him. It was the first time he had encountered a monster capable of speech.


    He recalled how this world seemed to automatically trantenguages, enabling seamlessmunication on the world channel. Yet hearing human words emerge from a monster’s mouth was unsettling.


    “Forget it—human or not,” ck de growled, its voice as eerie as the echoes of Yellow Springs Valley. “Whether the n fails or not, the duty must still be fulfilled!”


    With a slow, deliberate motion, ck de drew a long de from beneath its robes.


    “Perhaps you are strong—stronger than any boss I’ve faced. But you’re undead!” Su Mu dered, his voice steady.


    As an undead creature, it was vulnerable to the Anti-Evil Crossbow. Unlike the Scarlet Pig King, whose thick hide required multiple arrows, ck de’s nature made it susceptible to Su Mu’s weapon.


    Confident in his advantage, Su Mu fired an arrow. But before it could reach its target, ck de swung its de like a staff, summoning a skeletal dog from the ground to intercept the attack.


    The Anti-Evil Crossbow’s piercing effect allowed the arrow to prate the skeletal dog and strike ck de. Yet this didn’t seem to faze the creature. With another swing of its de, it summoned a big-headed skeleton fish to block the next attack.


    “So, the Soul Master profession relies on undead creatures as shields,” Su Mu muttered, unfazed by the tactic.


    He hadn’t expected to defeat ck de with a single arrow. A level 15 elite monster wouldn’t go down that easily.


    “Dangerous object!” it hissed, its voice rising in rm. “If the Scarlet King possessed such a weapon, the n would surely fail. It must be destroyed!”


    Recognizing the threat posed by the Anti-Evil Crossbow, ck de swung its weapon once more. Shattered skeletons reassembled, forming a skeletal lizard between them.


    Su Mu nced at its level—only six. Hardly worth worrying about.


    What intrigued him more was ck de’s apparent awareness. All it had taken was one attack from him, and the creature had spiraled into a state of agitation.


    “A drawback of intelligence,” Su Mu mused, a wry smile forming.


    The very trait that made ck de formidable also rendered it vulnerable. For him, this “troublesome” monster was quickly bing less of a challenge and more of an opportunity.