Global Survival: I Have Endless Skeletons-Chapter 53: Reward.
Inside the first coffin, Thoren discovered a skill scroll, and he couldn’t suppress the surge of excitement that rose within him.
This was already the second skill scroll he had obtained since entering the Abyss.
His heartbeat quickened.
Skill scrolls were exceedingly rare, especially on the first floor. Many awakeners spent months without ever encountering one.
To obtain two within such a short span of time was nothing short of extraordinary.
Without hesitation, Thoren carefully stored the Skill Scroll inside his inventory before moving toward the second coffin.
As the lid slid open, his eyes narrowed.
At the base of the coffin lay a weapon.
It was a jet-black sword, its surface smooth and dark as if it had swallowed all surrounding light.
Faint crimson patterns pulsed along its blade, radiating a subtle, lingering heat.
[Black Ember Ironblade]
[Grade: Peak Iron Grade]
[Trait: Additional Damage +2%]
For several seconds, Thoren stood frozen.
His mouth parted slightly as he stared at the weapon’s description.
This... was unbelievable.
This was the first time he had seen such a powerful weapon with his own eyes.
Weapons were divided into grades, and each grade was further split into four tiers: Low, Middle, High, and Peak.
On the first floor of the Abyss, Low Iron Grade weapons were the most common. They could be found everywhere.
Middle Iron Grade weapons, however, were rare.
Only leaders of established guilds or exceptionally lucky individuals possessed such equipment.
As for High and Peak tiers?
Those had never appeared on the first floor.
Not once.
Yet here it was.
A Peak Iron Grade weapon, lying quietly inside a coffin.
And it was now his.
Thoren’s lips twitched.
’Hahaha... I’ve hit the jackpot,’ he laughed inwardly.
He reached out and grasped the Black Ember Ironblade.
The moment his fingers closed around the hilt, he felt it.
The sword was incredibly light, far lighter than it looked.
At the same time, a faint heat seeped into his palm, steady and unyielding, as if the blade contained an eternal ember that refused to be extinguished.
This was no ordinary weapon.
’This belongs to the strongest among my undead legion,’ Thoren mused as he stored the sword away.
He straightened his posture and moved toward the third coffin with long strides.
As the lid opened, his gaze fell upon a set of dark gray armor neatly arranged within.
Another interface appeared.
[Silenton Leather Armor]
[Grade: Peak Iron Grade]
[Trait: Damage Reduction +2%]
"This..."
Thoren’s breath caught slightly.
He could no longer hide the excitement flickering across his face.
As a Necromancer, defense was one of his greatest weaknesses.
That was common knowledge.
Necromancers relied heavily on their undead servants, making them vulnerable if enemies managed to bypass their summons.
Long-range assassinations and sneak attacks were particularly deadly to their profession.
But this armor...
With this, his survivability would increase significantly.
At the very least, he would no longer need to fear being instantly killed by a surprise attack from a distance.
Thoren carefully stored the Silenton Leather Armor and proceeded to the fourth coffin.
Inside rested a small crystal vial filled with swirling blue liquid.
[Stormtide Elixir]
[Rank: Peak Tier-1]
[Trait: Boosts physical endurance for one minute.]
Thoren examined it briefly.
He wasn’t overly excited by the elixir, but he still appreciated its value.
In a critical situation, even a single minute of enhanced endurance could mean the difference between life and death.
He stored it away without hesitation.
Finally, he approached the last coffin.
As the lid opened, a small metallic ring lay within.
[Wind Sign Ring]
[Grade: Peak Iron Grade]
[Trait: Reduces spell-casting time by two seconds.]
Thoren’s brows knit slightly.
Compared to the previous rewards, this one felt... underwhelming.
Still, he didn’t discard it.
Even if he didn’t need it, such an item would fetch an enormous price once he returned to the surface.
He placed the ring into his inventory and exhaled softly.
"With these... I should be able to clear my parents’ debt," he murmured.
The thought lingered.
He had never forgotten about them.
The crushing debt weighing on their shoulders. The anxiety that haunted their lives every single day.
Once he returned to the surface, he would settle everything.
He would change their status.
Their lives.
Taking a deep breath, Thoren pushed those thoughts aside.
Now was not the time.
He scanned the empty chamber one last time but found nothing else of interest.
As for the frightened awakeners scattered around the chamber...
He didn’t care.
Basil lay groaning weakly in a pool of his own blood, his body twisted unnaturally.
Idonea clutched her injury tightly, struggling to stop the bleeding.
The others were no better. Wincing in pain, barely standing, their eyes subconsciously flickering toward Thoren with fear.
Without sparing them another glance, Thoren turned his attention toward the newly revealed hidden entrance.
He withdrew nearly all of his undead legion back into the undead space, leaving only a handful of low-level undead behind as a deterrent.
With slow, confident steps, he headed toward the hidden passage.
Behind him, no one dared to speak.
They watched silently as his figure was swallowed by darkness, vanishing into the shadows.
Only when his presence completely faded did someone finally exhale.
"Hah..."
A young man released a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.
Thoren’s presence had been so oppressive that merely standing near him had felt suffocating.
"F-Finally... he’s gone," the young man muttered, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
"I’ve never been this scared of anyone in my life," another awakener whispered shakily.
For a brief moment, the survivors allowed themselves to relax.
It felt as though a massive stone had been lifted from their hearts.
"He’s just... damn terrifying," someone muttered. "How can a newbie be that frightening?"
Their gazes drifted toward Basil.
He was the perfect example of Thoren’s ruthlessness.
For a mere taunt, he had been rendered useless.
Even if he recovered...if recovery was possible, it would take months.
And the chances were slim.
Elixirs capable of repairing shattered bones were extremely rare on the first floor.
"What do you think about the Federation placing a bounty on his head?" someone asked hesitantly.
Idonea considered the question before responding.
"I can only pity them," she said slowly. "That boy is not someone who should ever be offended."
She paused.
"If we manage to leave this place alive, I’ll warn everyone I know about him."
The others nodded in agreement.
"What about him?" someone asked, pointing at Basil.
"What do you expect?" Idonea replied coldly. "Of course we carry him back. Or do you want that devil to come after you?"
The group shivered collectively.
They swallowed hard.
Unknowingly, Thoren had already become their nightmare.
Meanwhile, Thoren descended the stone stairs with heightened vigilance.
Each step echoed faintly in the darkness.
When he reached the bottom, an ominous presence washed over him.
It was unlike anything he had felt before.
Oppressive.
Otherworldly.
And above all.
Evil.
A deep, instinctive dread crept over his skin.
As he stepped into the chamber below, his heart skipped a beat at the sight before him.
