The Second Beast

Inside Gu Tian's laboratory, the sound of cracking bones and clashing skeletal remains echoed throughout the space. These sounds came from hundreds of skeletons locked in fierce combat, battling relentlessly to determine the strongest among them. The floor was littered with shattered remains of the defeated, while the intensity of the battle continued to escalate. Within the room, a swirling mass of dark energy churned, an ominous sign that something extraordinary was about to be born.

Gu Tian sat comfortably on a guestroom sofa, sipping hot cocoa without a trace of concern. He was engaged in a casual conversation with Lin Yun Tian, not particularly bothered by the ongoing battle. At the moment, he was preparing to create a spiritual domain for Lin Yun Tian—a crucial step in enhancing his overall strength.

However, Gu Tian had yet to bestow an SSS-rank talent upon Lin Yun Tian, as he was still conducting experiments with the FU solution in his attempt to synthesize an artificial Elixir of the Gods. He wasn't entirely sure how much of the substance he would need, so the process had to wait.

After some time, Gu Tian led Lin Yun Tian toward the chamber designated for creating spiritual domains. Meanwhile, behind them, the battle among the skeletons raged on a brutal contest of survival.

Ten minutes later, Lin Yun Tian's spiritual domain was complete. It was an SSS-rank domain named "Endless Ocean" a domain specifically designed to enhance water-element beasts. Its core abilities included accelerating their growth rate, boosting recovery speed, and maximizing their spirit energy capacity.

As Gu Tian opened the doors to his laboratory, the scene that greeted him made him smirk slightly.

Before him, a single skeleton was kneeling on the ground, as if pledging its loyalty. Behind it, piles of skeletal remains lay scattered across the floor, a clear sign that this was the last one standing.

A dark aura swirled around the skeleton, an indication that something within it was awakening.

"Hmm... Interesting," Gu Tian muttered under his breath, a smile forming on his lips.

Lin Yun Tian, who stood beside him, observed the skeleton with a look of intrigue. He, too, could sense that this skeleton was different.

"Young Master… it seems to have intelligence," Lin Yun Tian remarked.

Gu Tian nodded in agreement before activating the Eyes of Omniscience, allowing him to examine the skeleton's details. As soon as its information surfaced before his vision, his gaze sharpened.

[Name: Skeleton]

[Power Level: Black Iron - Mid]

[Race: Undead]

[Element: Darkness]

[Special Abilities: King of the Dead (S), Strike (F)]

[Potential: Black Iron - Mid]

[Evolution Paths: 9999+ Paths]

[Evolution Path 7299 (Potential: Emperor - Peak): Skeleton → Cursed Skeleton Knight → Arcane Skeleton King → Death Emperor → God of Death]

[First Evolution Stage (Potential: Emerald - Peak): Skeleton → Cursed Skeleton Knight]

[Required Evolution Materials: (1. Cursed Deathblade (S): 1 piece) (2. Black Iron Armor Shards of the Headless Knight (S): 5 pieces) (3. Skull of the Cursed King (S): 1 piece) (4. Undead King's Bone Fragments (S): 50 pieces) (5. Soulstone of Death (S): 3 pieces)]

[Evolution Requirements: (1. Must be Black Iron - Mid) (2. Must possess King of the Dead (S))]

"You must be the strongest one among them," Gu Tian said in an indifferent tone as he analyzed the data flashing through his Eyes of Omniscience.

The skeleton remained silent, continuing to kneel in place. However, the dark energy surrounding it churned violently, as if acknowledging Gu Tian's presence.

Without hesitation, Gu Tian stepped forward and initiated a contract ritual.

Dark spirit energy surged from his body, weaving into the skeleton before him. As the contract energy enveloped the creature, the dark aura raging around it trembled and began to subside—as if being overpowered by something far greater.

Despite the overwhelming power, the skeleton did not resist. Instead, it allowed the contract to take hold, submitting without struggle.

Its instincts warned it that the young man before it was the single greatest threat it had ever encountered.

Even though Lin Yun Tian, who stood behind Gu Tian, radiated greater power, the skeleton's instincts screamed that Gu Tian was the true harbinger of destruction.

Moments later, the contract was complete.The skeleton's entire frame trembled, then it slowly lifted its head to gaze at Gu Tian.From the hollow sockets of its skull, a deep crimson glow ignited, flickering like a flame of unwavering submission.

Gu Tian gave a slight nod before turning toward Lin Yun Tian. With just a glance, he conveyed a silent command. Lin Yun Tian immediately understood and reached into his spatial ring, retrieving the necessary materials for the evolution process one by one.

"Cursed Deathblade (S)... Black Iron Armor Shards of the Headless Knight (S)... Skull of the Cursed King (S)... Undead King's Bone Fragments (S)... and finally, three Eternal Soulstones (S)."

The materials floated mid-air, surrounded by a faint black aura. Gu Tian raised his hand, releasing dark spirit energy that gradually enveloped the materials. As the ritual began, a powerful wave of darkness surged throughout the room, causing an overwhelming pressure to spread.

The kneeling skeleton trembled violently. The scattered bone fragments around the room began to float and converge toward it, as if drawn by some unseen force. A steady stream of energy coursed through its body, while the Cursed Deathblade slowly disintegrated, its essence fusing into the skeleton itself.

"Begin evolution," Gu Tian muttered softly.

Boom!

A surge of dark energy erupted from the skeleton, sending shockwaves rippling across the laboratory. The sound of shattering bones echoed as the skeletal form underwent rapid transformation, shedding its previous form to become a Cursed Skeleton Knight. Its power surged exponentially, while fragments of armor that once lay scattered now merged into its body, reinforcing its skeletal frame and granting it a formidable appearance.

Lin Yun Tian, who had been watching the entire process unfold, swallowed nervously. The magnitude of this transformation unfolding before his eyes was nothing short of extraordinary.

Moments later, the storm of dark energy gradually subsided. Standing before Gu Tian was the Cursed Skeleton Knight. Even after its transformation, it remained kneeling, as though awaiting the first command from its new master. Gu Tian observed the result of the evolution and nodded in satisfaction.

[Name: Cursed Skeleton Knight]

[Power Level: Black Iron - Peak]

[Race: Undead, Cursed Warrior]

[Element: Darkness]

[Special Abilities: Death Emperor (SS), Unity (SS), Soulless Black Armor (S), Nightfall Curse Mist (A), Holy Light Resistance (A), Vengeful Aura of Death (A), Pain Resistance (A), Sword Mastery (A)]

[Potential: Platinum - Peak]

[Evolution Paths: 9999+ Paths]