Alpha_Ruby

After Earth collapses into dimensional entropy, billions of people are scattered across broken worlds and forced into a brutal survival game known only as the Shattered Trial. Each player gains a random class. Most wield magic, swords, or elemental power.

But Iden Virel, a former engineering student, is given something else.

A black ring. A broken interface. And the command:

[SUMMON: Skeleton – Worker Class]

With a system unlike any other, Iden can summon and assign skeletal minions to tasks—miners, scouts, warriors, mages, builders, and more. These skeletal followers don’t sleep, don’t eat, and never stop improving. The longer they work, the smarter they get.

Together with his sister Rael—a rare Sanctum Channeler who can empower and evolve allies—Iden must lead his growing skeletal force through monster-infested zones, hostile player factions, and ancient ruins... all while preparing for the apocalyptic battle known as the Final Judgment.

In this world, only one law remains:

Build. Adapt. Conquer. Or be erased.

Endless March: Skeleton King Ascends

The forge crackled with energy. Magic sparks danced across the surface of the reinforced steel table as Kael and Iden stood over the modified missile casing.

This one was different—thicker, with double insulation layers, and a core socket carved from crystalized dungeon essence.

"We're calling this one 'Titan's Fang,'" Iden said, holding up the darkened mana core, pulsing with unstable energy."And if it works, it'll make the first missile look like a firecracker."

"I'll stabilize the rune matrix with bone-dampeners," he said. "But this much compression... if it misfires, it could take you with it."

"Then I won't be nearby when it flies."

They inserted the core. The missile gave off a low thrum, like a heartbeat—ominous, heavy.

[Mana-Missile (Large Variant) – Prototype Created]→ Compression Core Installed→ Range: 2.5 km→ Blast Radius: 3x Standard→ Ammo: Highly unstable – Handle with extreme caution

Skill Upgrade: [Targeted Devastation II] – Now allows Lock-On Mechanism via Arcane Markers

Meanwhile, builder skeletons worked on fabricating five more standard missiles, while Kael assigned two high-efficiency mages to the Rune Fuel Refinery, ensuring ammunition resupply stayed consistent. One missile took 18 hours to build. They would have three smalls and one large by dawn tomorrow.

"Enough to make an opening. Or end one," Iden said.

The first breakthrough came before sunset.

Nyra's elite scouts returned, some bloodied but triumphant.

"We found it," she said, unrolling the hide-map. "About 40 km southwest—ridge-covered valley. Multiple perimeter shifts, archer nests. Beast tamers. Summoned infantry."

"Hard to say. Definitely more than a hundred troops. Maybe more in reserve. And three… Four elite units."

Iden gave a slight nod of approval.

"Mark their command tents. Supply cores. Gate paths."

Over the next twelve hours, Iden personally oversaw the embedding of three layered trap zones across the forest routes leading into Sanctum:

Rune-Trigger Pits: Mana-fed pits laced with bone spears and sigil triggers.

Delayed Blast Channels: Timed mana charges hidden within logs or stones.

Snare Wards: Binding glyphs buried near scout routes, disrupting movement.

Rael blessed each trap with a minor sanctum aura, making them invisible to hostile mana scans.

They chose a hill 3 km from the enemy camp. One of Nyra's scouts had marked an abandoned beast den there—no civilians, isolated, and deep enough to test Titan's Fang.

Kael finished calibration, while Iden aimed through the adjusted viewing rune.

The missile shuddered as it launched.

It screamed like a banshee. The air cracked open. It disappeared into the sky.

A white-blue detonation mushroomed over the den. Trees were vaporized in a 50-meter radius. A shockwave hit the ridge and made the trees across Sanctum bend.

[High-Yield Detonation Successful – Titan's Fang Confirmed Operational]

Damage Radius: 120 Meters | Penetration Grade: A | Core Depletion: 87%

"Mark their command tent for the real test."

"We strike first. When they least expect it."

Chapter 53 — Strike Before the Storm