Chapter 23: The Servant’s New Skill

Luke dragged himself across the shallows, his body torn and battered.

Blood dripped from everywhere—his arm, his abdomen, his back. He couldn’t even tell what was bleeding anymore. All he knew was the burning in his wounds, and the water turning red around him.

He kept moving, desperate to get away from the lake.

What if another crocodile showed up?

Charlie grabbed him and pulled, struggling with only one arm.

“We have to climb…” Luke muttered.

They pushed themselves up, inch by inch, toward the tunnel. Once they reached it, Luke collapsed onto the stone floor. Water splashed across his face as he gasped for breath.

He extended his hand shakily and snatched the glowing crystal from the floor. Gritting his teeth, he forced his legs to straighten beneath him, dragging himself upright despite the screaming protest from his injuries.

His back flared in agony as it brushed the wall.

The skeleton hovered nearby, reaching instinctively toward him—searching for the source of the blood.

Luke straightened with a grunt.

He lifted his arm with effort, fingers trembling slightly as he called out to his kukris. From beneath the surface of the shallow water, the blades shot toward him, handles first, landing cleanly in his hands. He dismissed them back into his inventory.

“We need to move. I’m not staying here another minute…”

Part of him feared they’d be ambushed by a group of Drowned Walkers.

Together, they limped down the narrow stone corridor, each step uneven, their bodies straining just to stay upright as they dragged themselves away from the water’s edge.

Charlie carried the crystal in her remaining hand. The skeleton clattered behind them, its ribs fractured, several bones cracked. One of its legs was missing chunks, and the hand that rested on Charlie’s shoulder lacked a pinky finger.

Their bodies were wrecked—bloodied, cracked, and exhausted. Between them, they had just enough strength to remain upright, but not a drop more. Every step forward was earned with sheer will.

When Luke reached the resting chamber, he shut the door and collapsed onto the grassy floor. A storm of pain raged through his entire body—every muscle, every fiber, every nerve lit up in protest the moment he collapsed onto the floor.

Charlie set the crystal down and helped him sit upright.

“A torch. Please,” he said through gritted teeth.

The skeleton grabbed one from the wall.

Luke knew these torches were magical—he’d seen them burning even while submerged. They didn’t flicker, didn’t fade.

“Shit…” he whispered.

He looked down. A chunk of flesh was missing from his stomach. He couldn’t see his back, but it felt worse. His arm was shredded, torn and pierced. Sharp crystal shards were embedded in his skin—remnants from being scraped along the lakebed.

He pulled them out one by one, like glass splinters stuck deep in his flesh. Then, eyes locked on the gash in his abdomen, he clenched his jaw—and pressed the torch to the wound.

A scream tore from his throat, but he didn’t let go.

The skeleton rushed to him—then paused. It understood. He was cauterizing.

Luke burned every major wound the same way. Each time, his voice cracked in pain, but he endured it.
“We’re getting out of this cursed place.”

He staggered to the elevator, swaying, still soaked in blood. He didn’t want to rest here—not in a chamber already exposed.

The platform began to rise.

He opened his inventory, scanning for the item he’d earned after slaying the crocodile.

[Stalker Crocodile Chestplate (Uncommon)

Description: Crafted from the hardened hide of a Stalker Crocodile who fought fiercely against a demon. Though plainly made, it offers exceptional physical resistance. A durable chestplate suited for heavy melee confrontations.

Requirement: Level 8+ in any class or race]

Luke exhaled sharply.

“Of course. We can’t even use it…”

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Name: Princess Charlie
Level: 1
Rank: F
Class: [Warrior (Lvl 3)]
Race: Skeleton
Titles: [Servant of the Dark Lord]
Health Points (HP): 26/120
Mana Points (MP): 20/20
Stamina: 45/90

Stats:
Strength: 15
Agility: 8
Endurance: 9
Vitality: 12
Perception: 3
Intelligence: 2
Free Points: 1

Princess Charlie’s condition was just as bad—maybe worse—than Luke’s. Her health was dangerously low. He didn’t hesitate.

He placed her remaining stat point into Vitality.

Updated Stats

Vitality: 12 -> 13
Free Points: 1 -> 0
Health Points: 26/120 -> 36/130

Luke pulled his hand back from the crystal as the elevator began to slow.

“I’m going to sleep…”

He closed his eyes, finally surrendering to exhaustion. After the blood loss, the relentless fighting, and the endless tension, sleep hit him like a wave. He didn’t resist. At this point, he trusted Charlie with his life—and drifted off, wishing the pain would be gone when he woke.

***