Chapter 103: The Peerless Skeleton Legion

After successfully destroying three skeleton knights in a row, the system finally announced success, and Li Ren's skill experience bar rose slightly.

Li Ren gazed at the oddly assembled figure before him. That pair of wings had completely shattered the original harmonious and imposing aura of the skeleton knight. Adding them now made the whole thing look even more bizarre, somehow hilariously off.

Li Ren studied the creature with growing embarrassment. He had ruined its elegant silhouette and instead produced a genuine monstrosity.

Lanthis regarded the newly altered skeleton knight with a mixture of fondness and anticipation. Though its appearance left much to be desired, she was thrilled by the bold addition of wings.

No matter the odds, attaching flight to the original ground knight was already an astonishing feat. Even if the success rate hovered perilously low, turning a ground force into an aerial one was worth the risk of ten Lanthis.

Under her command, the modified skeleton knight urged its newly winged warhorse into motion. The wings beat furiously, lifting the knight skyward in slow, graceful drifts. Guided by Lanthis, it executed a neat turn and circled the Dark Prayer Field once before descending.

Li Ren watched his creation with quiet satisfaction, already dreaming of legions of skeleton knights soaring overhead to crush enemy lines under their overwhelming presence.

The queen naturally possessed far greater tactical insight than he did.

Lanthis tilted her head. “Can we modify this skeleton knight again?”

Li Ren blinked, puzzled. “It already flies. What else could we do? Turn it into a fire-breathing dragon?”

“Anything below level 100 is possible,” he answered cautiously. “The success rate is… irresponsible, though.”

“As long as it can be modified, that’s all that matters,” Lanthis replied. She tapped her forehead, then added, “What if we detach the knights and mount mages on the skeleton horses instead?”

Li Ren rubbed his chin, seeing the logic instantly. “Just tell the knights to land and let the mages ride them up?”

Lanthis froze for half a second before recovering with her usual calm. Li Ren caught the flicker of amusement in his mind. Even the queen could be thrown off by something so straightforward.

Watching her summon fresh skeleton mages and settle them atop the flying horses, he imagined the delight of aerial bombardments raining down on fragile infantry in a grand battle.

Yet Lanthis would not let him linger idle.

True combat strength demanded coordinated group tactics, especially since no one knew whether the enemy possessed flying units. Players might lack them now, but Li Ren’s deeper aim stretched far beyond their ranks.

He had set his sights on Yuxiao City, the mighty neutral stronghold still standing untouched. The terrifying presence of its griffon knights lingered in memory. Without the aerial monsters he had deployed earlier to deter them, the tide of war might have shifted.

To forge such decisive group effects, he would have to labor here as master and builder.

At least he could push his apprentice’s level forward.

Though the rewards remained unknown, higher tiers would surely improve his success rate.

Lanthis adopted the same strategy.

According to current calculations, one hundred successful modifications would elevate him to the next grade. At his present thirty percent success rate, that meant roughly three hundred attempts. She summoned five hundred skeleton knights in one surge, arranging them in perfect rows before Li Ren.

Lanthis bowed gracefully. “Dear master, please work hard.”

Li Ren’s face tightened. He wanted to protest but found his voice strangely absent.

As lord of Luoyun City, he had grown far too idle. Shadow managed most affairs inside the walls, while the summoned Lanthis and Lanya each possessed independent minds. Though the system had granted them natural affection the moment they appeared, it was unreasonable to burden them with every duty.

Thus, as the two stunning military commanders recruited troops and directed forces, Li Ren tinkered with them himself—modifying here, refining there.

He toiled in concentration, unaware that Lanthis and Lanya watched in stunned silence.

Who had ever seen subordinates that could be altered at will, granted impossible abilities such as flight, with a thirty percent success rate?

At ten percent, Lanthis would have laughed outright.

Yet now this man, still frowning and muttering about the next attempt, drew her in with his focused intensity. Day after day beside him, she felt the warmth of genuine companionship. Though countless tasks weighed on her mind, savoring this moment was worth every distraction.

She noticed Shadow shared the same quiet contentment, and even Lanya softened unconsciously, enveloped by the atmosphere Li Ren created.

“He’s the sort of man who looks casual and unreliable, yet influences everyone around him without effort,” Lanthis thought, smiling faintly as she turned back to her duties.

Li Ren stared at the skeleton knight, murmuring softly. At last a brilliant flash of light erupted. He exhaled in relief. Another success.

Just as satisfaction bloomed, the system notification arrived.

Apprentice of Creation, level up. Current level: 2.