Chapter 10: Sacrifice

It was only after reaching S-grade potential that his summons manifested as Elite Soldiers.

The probability of obtaining Elite Soldiers through standard means was astronomically low, making Cassian extremely pleased with his acquisition.

​Standing behind the elites were two remaining soldiers that hadn’t been able to fuse, one possessing B-grade potential and the other A-grade potential.

Since they weren’t elite units, Cassian didn’t dwell on them for long, shifting his focus entirely to the four elites.

​Cassian’s gaze swept across the four elite undead standing before him. Even without checking their descriptions, it was obvious they were worlds apart from ordinary Skeleton Soldiers.

​The first thing that stood out was their physical presence. Each elite skeleton was noticeably larger than a normal soldier, their bones far denser and darker in color.

The pale blue soul fire burning within their eye sockets blazed with fierce intensity, giving them an eerie sense of consciousness despite their lack of flesh.

​The Elite Skeleton Knight stood proudly at the front. Its frame was broad and imposing, clad in weathered plate armor that appeared to have survived countless brutal battles.

Though patches of rust covered parts of the metal, the armor remained sturdy and functional. A tattered black cloak hung from its shoulders while a longsword rested firmly in its grip.

Unlike the mindless posture of ordinary skeletons, the Knight carried itself with the discipline of a veteran warrior, standing perfectly motionless beneath the twin moons.

​Standing beside it was the Elite Skeleton Archer. Its frame was noticeably slimmer and lighter than the Knight’s. A dark hood concealed much of its skull, while a quiver filled with black-feathered arrows rested across its back.

Long skeletal fingers gripped a curved bow crafted from dark bone. The soul fire within its eye sockets flickered sharply, as if constantly scanning for targets hidden beyond the horizon.

​The Elite Skeleton Tank was the largest among them. Towering over the others by nearly a head, its body resembled a moving fortress of bone and steel.

Thick plates of battered armor covered nearly every part of its frame, and a massive tower shield stood planted firmly beside it.

The bones making up its body were unnaturally thick, resembling polished ivory rather than brittle skeletal remains. Merely standing still, it radiated an aura of pure immovability.

​Finally, there was the Elite Skeleton Assassin. Unlike the others, its form was almost difficult to focus on.

Its frame was lean and unnaturally silent, wrapped in dark cloth that blended seamlessly into the surrounding shadows.

Twin bone daggers rested at its waist, while wisps of black mist occasionally drifted from its body before dissolving into the cold air.

The soul fire within its eye sockets burned faintly, making it look more like a living shadow than an undead creature.

​Looking at the four elites standing before him, Cassian couldn’t help but nod in deep satisfaction. They were currently only Tier I troops, but compared to standard cannon fodder, they already possessed the bearing of true legendary warriors.

​More importantly, each of them possessed S-Grade Potential.

​’Given enough time and enough Fusion... their future is limitless.’

....

Cassian opened his Vault and retrieved the Champion Card next. Unlike the Soldier Summoning Card, the Champion Summoning Card possessed no grade, it was one of the few special items within the Lord’s Domain that lacked an advanced form due to its unique function.

​[Champion Summoning Card]

Type: Consumable

Classification: Champion Summoning Card

​A special summoning card capable of calling forth a Champion from the Nether World.

​Unlike ordinary summoning cards, a Champion cannot be summoned through mana alone. A suitable vessel must first be offered to establish a connection between the Lord and the soul being summoned.

​Upon activation, one soldier under the Lord’s command is sacrificed. The soldier’s body, soul fire, and essence are used as the foundation upon which a Champion may descend.

​The sacrificed soldier is permanently lost.

​Effect:

​Sacrifices one soldier.

​Summons one Champion aligned with the Lord’s troop lineage.

​Champion quality is directly influenced by the sacrificed soldier’s quality and potential.

​Champions retain their individuality, intelligence, and capacity for independent growth.

​Undead Lord Effect:As an Undead Lord, the Champion summoned is drawn from the countless dead residing within the Nether World. The stronger the sacrifice, the greater the chance of attracting a powerful soul.

​Warning:Champions are unique existences. No two Champions are exactly alike. Their loyalty, talents, personalities, and abilities may differ greatly.

​"A soldier follows orders. A Champion shapes destiny."

​Cassian made his decision and activated the card. The moment it took effect, he was prompted to designate a soldier to serve as the sacrifice.

​His eyes drifted toward the four elite undead standing before him.

​An S-Grade Elite Skeleton Knight.

An S-Grade Elite Skeleton Archer.

An S-Grade Elite Skeleton Tank.

An S-Grade Elite Skeleton Assassin.

​Any one of them would serve as an exceptional sacrifice. The higher the quality of the offering, the greater the chance of attracting a truly formidable Champion from the Nether World.

​Logic dictated that sacrificing one of the elites would yield the absolute best return. Cassian considered it carefully.

A powerful Champion right now could potentially accelerate his development by months, perhaps even years.

​Yet, after a brief pause, he shook his head.

​It wasn’t worth it. Not yet.

​His territory had only just been established—and in a death zone, no less. He lacked resources, he lacked structural defenses, and above all, he lacked overall raw numbers.

The four elites represented the core fighting force under his command, and sacrificing one now would cripple his immediate combat stability.

​A stronger Champion would mean little if his domain lacked the defensive baseline needed to survive the lethal threats lurking beyond its borders.

​Patience was the smarter choice.

​His gaze shifted away from the elites toward another figure standing among his troops.

​A single A-Grade Skeleton Soldier.

​While not comparable to the S-Grade elites, it was still leagues above standard cannon fodder. More importantly, sacrificing it would not compromise his frontline strength.

​Cassian nodded to himself. This was the optimal path.

​The resulting Champion might not possess the highest theoretical starting potential, but it would be more than sufficient for his current needs. Besides, with the Fusion Blessing in his hands, obtaining higher-grade units in the future was merely a matter of time.

​There was no need to cannibalize his best assets so early.

​"You’ll do."

​The A-Grade Skeleton Soldier stood motionless as Cassian directed the sacrifice toward the Summoning Gate.