Puppet as Weapon

After tormenting and capturing Xuan, Finn immediately began investigating the cave. He attuned himself to the strange aura emanating from somewhere within and followed its trail. Once more, he conjured his blue-green alchemy flame, casting a steady glow over the surroundings.

Though everything still appeared deceptively ordinary, he knew better—this place was anything but simple.

Countless hidden traps lay in wait, and he advanced cautiously, scrutinizing every inch of the passage. Even if he didn't fear the formations left behind by the ancient formation master, he had no intention of wasting time dismantling traps if he could simply avoid them.

Thanks to the system and Kurt's memories, Finn also possessed the abilities of a Formation Master. His knowledge surpassed that of the one who had devised these traps. In truth, it was laughably easy for him to disable or destroy them; they were no more than basic mechanisms.

From this alone, Finn deduced that the person who set them had been little more than a novice.

Like Alchemists, Formation Masters needed innate talent to succeed in their craft. This was no simple profession—nobles and powerful clans held such individuals in high regard.

Until now, he hadn't truly tested the extent of his abilities as a Formation Master. He had lacked both the time and opportunity to train. As a result, all his rich knowledge had remained mostly unused.

As Finn continued deeper into the cavern, he could feel himself drawing closer to the source of the ominous energy. He was astonished—though whoever rested here had long perished, their presence lingered as a dreadful pressure that could make the air itself tremble.

From that alone, Finn became convinced that the one entombed was not some low-level Sky Rank.

Minutes later, he finally came to a halt before a strange door. A true doorway—one that sealed away the heart of the tomb.

He reached for the handle, only to stop abruptly when he noticed something. His gaze sharpened, studying the door in silence.

Moments later, a cold, derisive smile curved his lips.

"You really couldn't bear to let anyone inherit your treasures, could you?" Finn's voice dripped with scorn.

He could sense it: this doorway was laced with a lethal formation that would kill anyone but the original Sky Rank adventurer who built it. Or perhaps someone of equal power.

That only made Finn all the more determined to claim the corpse itself—he despised this sort of arrogant Adventurer. Even in death, they clung to their pride, denying future generations any benefit from their legacy.

He had no interest in the man's treasure. Let other Adventurers—those destined to find it—have their chance.

After a moment of contemplation, Finn moved decisively. He made a series of precise gestures with his right hand, forming a strange sigil that hung briefly in the air.

Then—

BANG!

A thunderous explosion rocked the chamber. The door shattered into countless fragments. Smoke billowed out in heavy clouds, and tongues of fire licked across the floor.

When the black haze finally cleared, Finn stepped forward unscathed, his alchemy flame still glowing calmly in his palm. His aura wrapped protectively around him, ready to repel any further danger.

Inside the hidden chamber, an imposing throne awaited him. At its foot lay heaps of treasure: Rare Armaments, piles of gold coins, and even an interspatial ring.

Seated upon the throne itself was a skeleton clad in regal finery. Its flesh long gone, only immaculate white bones remained, etched with strange symbols that gleamed faintly in the dark.

Despite the passage of years, the corpse still radiated that chilling aura. The empty sockets of the skull seemed to bore straight into Finn's eyes.

He remained calm, betraying no fear. His gaze swept over the remains of the Sky Rank Adventurer, taking in every detail.

Unlike the bones of ordinary Adventurers, this skeleton shone pure white, its surface smooth and impossibly sturdy.

Finn took a step forward—

But then, something stirred.

"Who dares intrude upon my tomb and covet my treasures?!"

A spirit erupted from behind the skeleton, its voice filled with contempt and ancient pride.

Finn's eyes flickered, observing the apparition with quiet curiosity. Even without a body, he could feel its remaining strength. It must have sacrificed its life essence to cling to a shred of awareness, prolonging its existence in this form.

Yet it was clear—sooner or later, this soul would dissipate completely.

The phantom studied Finn, its eyes narrowing. A flicker of disbelief crossed its translucent face.

"A mere youth—already in the 9th Level Profound Rank?!" the spirit roared. "Even in my era, I never saw such monstrous talent!"

But then, its voice hardened.

"Yet it matters not. You dared to step into my domain without permission. Even as a wandering soul, I shall crush you!"

It lunged forward, swift as lightning.

Finn simply smiled and lifted a hand.

Soul Chain Technique!

A massive chain materialized in the air, crackling with lightning. Before the spirit could evade, it coiled around it, pinning it to the ground with a deafening crash.

"You insolent whelp!" the phantom shrieked. "No one—NO ONE, not even the kings of my age—dared bind me! I am Lord Briceus, master of the Evil Chain Bandits! A Formation Master! A 6th Level Sky Rank! What gives a boy like you the right to shackle me? Release me at once, or I will—"

Finn raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite himself.

"6th Level Sky Rank?" he repeated, voice mild.

Briceus sneered. "What, are you afraid now? Hmph! If you free me, I promise you a swift death—one without pain."

Finn's expression twitched, as though he'd heard something pathetic. He lifted his gaze to meet the specter's and spoke softly:

"It's true—if you were alive, defeating you would be impossible for me."

He paused, then smiled faintly.

"But you've been dead for far too long. Now, you're just a weakened ghost. Ending you in this state…is hardly worth boasting about."

At those words, the chains began to shine blindingly bright.

"No—wait! I am Lord Briceus! You cannot—ahhhh!"

BANG!

The chain exploded in a blaze of white flame. Briceus's soul vanished without so much as a wisp of smoke left behind.

"You were far too noisy for a corpse," Finn muttered, frowning.

With that, he turned away. His gaze fell once more upon the throne—and the skeleton seated there.

For a moment, he was silent. Then a thrill of anticipation gleamed in his golden eyes.

"It was worth the trip," he murmured, lips curving into a satisfied smile.

--

High above a vast city, a black-cloaked figure sped across the sky. A golden mask concealed their face, but from their eyes gleamed undisguised excitement.

Winds tore apart the clouds in their wake.

At last, they halted over a lone mountain, peering down as if they could see through stone itself.

"Finn Silva… My senses were correct. You are alive," rasped the masked adventurer. "At last…I can rest easy."

--

Back inside the cave, Finn frowned. He had carefully lowered the skeleton from its throne and laid it upon the floor. Though he and the corpse were prepared, there was still one critical problem—

To employ the Ancient Soul Puppet Technique, he required an energy source capable of animating a Sky Rank puppet. That energy had to rival the very being it would inhabit.

This was the real reason he coveted Briceus's remains—not the wealth, but the chance to create a Soul Puppet.

If Briceus' soul had known, it would surely have flown into a furious rage. For one as proud as he, being turned into a puppet would be the ultimate disgrace.

Finn closed his eyes, contemplating.

"If only I had a Sixth Grade Magic Crystal from a Vicious Beast…"

Then an idea struck him. His eyes snapped open. He reached into his interspatial ring—and with a flash of light, a massive corpse materialized behind him.

The body of the Six-Armed Ape King.

This was the beast that had clashed with the Winged Golden Lion King in Sierra's Mystic Treasure Realm. Though the ape had fallen and its magic crystal had been claimed by the lion, Finn had retrieved the body.

He hadn't needed the crystal.

He needed its blood essence.

Finn exhaled slowly and lifted a hand. A sigil appeared above the beast's corpse, shimmering with power. A moment later, a sphere of pure, shining blood floated free.

His eyes lit up. He guided the blood to hover above Briceus's skeleton, then gestured again. Dark energy enveloped the bones, saturating them in oppressive cold.

Ancient Soul Puppet Technique!

The Blood Essence merged into the skeleton. Power flared, illuminating the cavern in a dazzling glow.

Sweat gathered on Finn's brow. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. But he steadied himself, refusing to falter.

He bit his fingertip, letting a droplet of his blood fall onto the bones.

The light intensified.

Minutes later, white crystal sprouted across the skeleton, encasing it. The empty sockets began to gleam with flickering crimson light.

Then—

BANG!

A muted explosion resounded as the transformation completed. Finn sagged onto the floor, panting. He wiped the blood from his lips and looked up.

A towering figure now stood before him, encased in white crystal. Its blazing red eyes met his steadily—

—before it slowly bent the knee.

PLOP!

Finn's lips curved into a tired, triumphant grin.

A Sky Rank Soul Puppet.

Though perhaps only 1st Level Sky Rank—its power diminished by time—this was still a force no ordinary Adventurer could match.

And best of all, it was his alone to command.

He rose, retrieved a recovery pill, and swallowed it in one motion. Then he stored both the Soul Puppet and the ape's corpse within his interspatial ring.

As he departed the cave, he shattered every last formation Briceus had left behind. He made no move to claim the treasures—he preferred to leave them for some future Adventurer, someone fated to discover them.

With a light step, he smiled faintly to himself.

"As I promised you, Little Poll… I'll return with good news."