Undead Mage: I Have a Skeleton Clone-Chapter 222 - 211: Cannon Fodder’s Comeback, Racial Aura Skills
Otherwise, these hardworking animal companions might start to suspect their master was a fraud! At that moment, Fang Zhou, who had been silently observing from behind the skeletons, gave a slight nod.
The combat performance of this Giant Shield Skeleton was decent, just barely meeting his expectations. After all, the skeletons he summoned were Middle-rank Apprentices, a small realm higher than Gu Zhiqiu, who was a Lower-rank Apprentice.
Skeletons, as undead creatures of the Skeleton Series, inherently possessed a pathetic Combat Power Coefficient and unimpressive Four-dimensional Attributes. However, this one still benefited from the buff of Fang Zhou’s passive skill, [Domination Skeleton]. Furthermore, it now also possessed the skeletal armament manifested by the active skill [Skeleton Blade]. Considering it was a Giant Shield Skeleton—a type most adept at defense—casually blocking a few of Gu Zhiqiu’s skills was only to be expected.
Truthfully, the Defense Power exhibited by the Giant Shield Skeleton under the enhancement of [Skeleton Blade] didn’t exceed his expectations or offer him any real surprise. What truly satisfied him, making him feel that all his time spent accumulating Skill Materials hadn’t been wasted, was that empowering these two skeletons with [Skeleton Blade] had consumed almost no Spiritual Power. The entire casting process felt as natural as breathing—effortless and instinctual.
He had a feeling. Never mind just these two skeletons; he could probably enhance twenty, fifty, or even a hundred of them without feeling any mental strain. Given enough time, he might be able to refine the [Skeleton Blade] skill he had just begun to formulate tonight, developing it into a permanent passive ability or even one of the Aura Skills. This would allow all of his Undead Creatures to enjoy its immense benefits. This was the true payoff for all the Skill Materials he had so painstakingly accumulated.
Meanwhile, the Storm Mage Gu Zhiqiu, refusing to concede, unleashed several more volleys of Chain Wind Energy Missiles. But these furious projectiles vanished before the shield wall raised high by the Giant Shield Skeleton. All that remained on the giant shield were a dozen or so scratches of varying depths. The dissipating Storm Attribute elements stirred a faint breeze in the otherwise calm Concentration Meditation Room.
Gu Zhiqiu shook his head, panting. He sighed heavily and conceded, "Forget it, Fang Zhou. I give up. At this rate, I could probably destroy that skeleton’s Bone Shield if I exhaust most of my Spiritual Power, but what would be the point? If every Undead Mage could summon skeletons as durable as your Giant Shield Skeleton, there would be no reason for any other Profession to exist."
The other onlooking Seed Students fell silent, a wave of self-doubt washing over them. Before Fang Zhou could offer a few humble words, Meng Hongzhuang dutifully started clapping from within the crowd.
"Master Fang Zhou, limitless Mana! Undead Mage, invincible in the world!"
Fang Zhou fell silent for a moment, then shot an annoyed glare at his little assistant, Meng Hongzhuang, for starting the commotion. The look scared her so much that she shrank back like a startled quail.
Since Gu Zhiqiu, a Storm Mage renowned for his formidable Attack Power, had already conceded to the Giant Shield Skeleton, the other Seed Students certainly weren’t about to step up and humiliate themselves.
Having completed a preliminary test of the Giant Shield Skeleton’s Defense Power, Fang Zhou turned his gaze to the Long Spear Skeleton standing faithfully at his side. "Would any of you be willing to help me test the Attack Power of this Long Spear Skeleton?" he asked. "Don’t worry, the protective Array is active. You won’t get hurt."
Hearing this, the group of Seed Students exchanged glances before their eyes all landed on a female student whose Awakened Profession was [Rock Mage].
A [Rock Mage], as the name implied, was a Magic Professional who specialized in Earth Series Magic. Their signature defensive skill, [Rock Shield], was a rare Apprentice-level shield skill with immense potential, capable of being upgraded to the Legendary-level [Vajra Shield]. Part of the reason Fang Zhou’s own perfected [Skeleton Shield] was so powerful was that he had absorbed the essence of the [Rock Shield] during its development. Therefore, among all the first-year Magic Professional Seed Students present, she was unrivaled when it came to the raw defensive strength of a single skill.
The female student looked hesitantly at the sharp, bony long spear held by the Long Spear Skeleton in front of Fang Zhou, unsure if she should accept his challenge. Seeing how even the notoriously proud Gu Zhiqiu had failed to breach the Giant Shield Skeleton’s defense after giving it his all, she had come to understand the truly overpowered combat strength of Fang Zhou’s summons. For a moment, even with great confidence in the Defense Power of her [Rock Shield], she didn’t quite dare to face the Long Spear Skeleton head-on.
Just as she was hesitating, Meng Hongzhuang caught a look from Fang Zhou and decisively chimed in with her "support." "This is a rare chance to spar with Master Fang Zhou!" she shouted. "It would be an honor, even in defeat! We won’t laugh at you; honestly, we’re all just jealous you have this chance! What are you waiting for? If I had already summoned my turtle-type animal companion, the one best at defense, you wouldn’t even be getting this chance to be his sparring partner!"
The Rock Mage immediately fell for Meng Hongzhuang’s provocation. They were all military academy recruits who had only awakened less than three months ago; who among them wasn’t full of youthful passion?
Master Fang Zhou was the number one student, and of course he was formidable. In terms of individual strength, she was in a completely different league. But still... surely she could at least block a single basic attack from one of the skeletons he had so casually summoned, right?
With that thought, the female student gritted her teeth and stepped forward, volunteering to Fang Zhou. "Master Fang Zhou, my [Rock Shield] skill’s Defense Power is pretty decent. Let me give it a try." Before Fang Zhou could reply, she hastily added, "Master... tell your skeleton not to hit too hard, okay?"
Fang Zhou smiled, nodded, and gestured for her to begin.
The Rock Mage’s expression turned grim. She clenched her fists, and her Spiritual Power began to surge wildly. The ground beneath her feet seemed to answer her call, as a thick, heavy [Rock Shield] slowly materialized before her. This shield was famous among the first-year Seed Students for its excellent Defense Power, having withstood numerous powerful attacks during Cave Hunts and arena challenges.
Seeing that the Rock Mage was ready, Fang Zhou gave a wave of his hand. Receiving its master’s command, the Long Spear Skeleton at his side took a light step forward. The long spear in its grasp seemed to come alive, transforming into a silver bolt of lightning that streaked through the silent air, aimed squarely at the [Rock Shield].
As everyone watched with bated breath, the spear and shield collided. The outcome, however, was something no one had expected. The [Rock Shield] was pierced as easily as if it were made of paper. Cracks spread out from the point of impact in an instant, and the shield exploded with a loud CRACK. Stone fragments scattered in all directions, leaving only a clear, circular hole where the center of the shield had been, as dust hung thick in the air.
At that moment, the entire Concentration Meditation Room fell into a deathly silence. Every eye was fixed on the Giant Shield Skeleton and the Long Spear Skeleton, their minds reeling with uncontrollable shock.
The Rock Mage reached out a hand, trying to catch the floating stone dust, a bitter smile on her face. "Master Fang Zhou," she said, "my [Rock Shield] couldn’t even take a single casual strike from your Long Spear Skeleton. It looks like I’m not cut out to be your sparring partner."
