[Through your plotting and swindling with the help of your troops and comrades, you have achieved the feat of annihilating an undead army. Of the surviving heroes, you have achieved the greatest feat. You have acquired the title, 'Shadow Hero'. All stats have increased by 15. You can now more skillfully hide whatever you wish.]

[Thorn Shadow is now Lv2. Strength, Agility, and Magic have increased by 5.]

[High Rank Command is now Lv7. All stats have increased by 5.]

"Retadane!"

"Keuk!?"

Once he'd confirmed that all the twelve generals' troops were annihilated, Lee Shin-Woo stopped Retadane from attacking Paul Zero Corps. He had stayed near her because he knew she'd act this way.

"Please get out of my way."

"You can't fight anymore. You're exhausted."

"They're our enemies."

"If we don't attack them first, there's a chance that they won't become our enemies! At the very least, you agreed that we wouldn't fight them today."

"I changed my mind. I can't let them go. The undead are...our enemies...!"

Even while she gasped for breath, Retadane's red eyes shone sharply, and Lee Shin-Woo could clearly feel the swelling killing intent within her gaze. It felt like she would attack Lee Shin-Woo as well if he tried to stop her. Lee Shin-Woo was sure that she wasn't in her right mind right now.

"Please...get out of my way...!"

She had appeared quite calm and collected during their conversation, but when undead were within her sight, she lost herself and became unruly. There was no difference between her and a brainless undead right now.

"Lee Shin-Woo, get out of my way!"

"Please calm down!"

Her flail came flying at him, but Lee Shin-Woo blocked it with a shield he'd summoned beforehand. Although it looked unassuming, the now level 7 Titan's Fortress was a reinforced form of the Titan’s Pride. While it wasn’t lacking in defense, though, Lee Shin-Woo couldn’t match up to the power Retadane had put into her flail.

I ordered them to retreat already, so I only have to keep her busy until they've all left. Anyway... this woman's really strong.

Retadane was level 8, so his Rebellion was in effect. Despite the skill buffing his stats, however, it was difficult for him to block her attacks.

He was being pushed back despite being reinforced by both Rebellion and Rule of Bone, which must mean that Retadane had a special ability that buffed her physically in addition to her higher stats effectiveness as a level 8. If not for the other undead, this woman would've been able to defeat both of the generals by herself.

"How!? You've only just hit level 7...!"

However, Retadane was even more shocked than Lee Shin-Woo. A level 7 who wasn’t part of the twelve generals was blocking her strike head on; she didn't think that was possible. Moreover, she was using a skill that increased the force of her blows, so she was even more surprised.

"Have you calmed down?"

"...Keuk."

Retadane's blind hatred and rage subsided slightly, perhaps partly due to Lee Shin-Woo's shocking strength. She realized that she would die for sure if she were to go after the Heaven Defying General.

"Thank you for stopping me... Lee Shin-Woo."

[Seira.]

Once Seira withdrew her flail and stepped back, one of the undead among the Heaven Defying General's retreating corps stepped forward, cladded in jet-black armor. Because he had taken off his helmet, Retadane could recognize him.

"...Shino Rendu."

[It's been a long time, Seira. I really missed you.]

"To think you'd fall so far and follow the orders of an undead. You're a disgrace."

[...]

Amongst the countless undead, Shino Rendu was a high rank one who almost completely retained his appearance while he was alive. Because of that, his grimace stood out even more. The commotion Retadane caused drew the other heroes’ attention, and they saw Shino Rendu as well.

[I still have my own free will. I still hate the Emperor and want to annihilate the twelve generals. The one I follow wants that as well… Can we really not fight on the same side?]

"We cannot. The goddess demands but one thing from us: exterminating the undead. You're no exception."

[Seira...]

"My name is Retadane."

[...Retadane. Why can't we understand each other when we both want to save the Empire? Don't be blinded by your biases. Look me in the eye.]

"You're starting from the wrong assumption."

Although Shino Rendu clearly relayed his feelings to her, Retadane's voice remained frigid. No, it actually seemed colder than before.

"I don't want to save the Empire. I'm the only one who can understand myself. You assuming that you know what I want makes me sick."

[...]

"You're my enemy the next time we meet."

Retadane declared coldly and turned around, for no other reason but the fact that she wouldn't be able to restrain her hatred for the undead if she looked at him any longer. Shino Rendu recognized this fact, and retreated with a dejected smile.

"Shino!"

But before he left, Lloyd called out to him. Shino Rendu stopped. Lloyd hesitated for a while before speaking up.

"Thanks...for helping us today."

[Lloyd. I'm glad you're safe.]

"...I’m lost. Everything that happened today... It's too difficult for me to make a decision on my own, but I'm glad I was able to meet you again… I'm being honest."

[...Me too.]

"...Ah."

Shino Rendu smiled sadly before disappearing into the Paul Zero Corps. Prince belatedly opened her mouth, but it was already too late. He was gone.

Retadane looked at the two of them and said coldly, "It'll only hurt more."

"You're probably right, Retadane… Even so, I couldn't just sit by and do nothing."

"...I pity you."

Even Lee Shin-Woo, who was good at reading people, couldn’t understand why Retadane had said that. Of course, unlike Shino Rendu, Lee Shin-Woo had no plans on overstepping and going through her emotional walls.

It didn't matter what feelings they had for one another so long as they worked together, which would be possible if he could control her.

"Looking at it now, his army's tremendous... It's incomparable to the Beast General's or the Vulture General's armies. His subordinates alone are incredibly strong, so how strong must the Heaven Defying General be? He must be at least level 8."

"His army’s not uniform at all. It's like he's gathered them from all over the place. Each and every one of them possesses considerable strength."

The heroes watched in shock and awe as the undead collected the loot and quickly retreated. Lee Shin-Woo kept an eye on Retadane in case she went crazy again to make sure his army would get out safely. Fortunately, nothing went wrong.

[Master, I'm finished scouting. There were a few watching us, but they won't come and attack you.]

That's a relief. I have to remain inconspicuous no matter what and hide...

By the time his troops were almost out of eyeshot, Rem reported to him while looking down from the sky.

Lee Shin-Woo had caused mayhem. It wouldn’t be a problem even if someone were to see him. According to Rem, there were three individuals currently watching this place in addition to the heroes and the Heaven Defying General. Lee Shin-Woo could tell where they came from.

The Empire, Steelworker, and...Anti-Skull.

This battle was a sort of 'trigger'. All of these factions felt a sense of foreboding, yet they hesitated to initiate the conflict. However, this was the signal for that battle to begin. All factions knew about each other by now, and they couldn't remain hidden any longer.

Lee Shin-Woo felt the current that he and the other heroes were riding. If he wanted to survive this irresistible wave...

"I think we should stay out of the limelight for now. We’re too noticeable."

"I agree. There are too many enemies." Retadane sounded a little calmer now.

"Before that...let's divvy up the loot."

The scale of the battle was great, so the resulting loot was also considerable. Everyone was given loot based on their karma, while the twelve generals left behind the best ones!

Lee Shin-Woo didn't get much from the Vulture General aside from some Perium, but Kratia had taken his bone.

"Shin-Woo, I got a present for you."

"I love you."

"I know."

Kratia discreetly gave him the bone, and Lee Shin-Woo gave her an appropriate amount of Perium in return. Then he executed Bone Reinforcement without drawing attention to himself.

[Consuming the Lv7 Vulture General, Bureuche Von Golden Eagle's parietal bone to reinforce your parietal bone! Agility has increased by 20, Endurance by 30, and Magic by 10. Intermediate Assimilation has become Lv10 and evolved into a high rank skill. Agility and Magic have increased by 20.]

[With this...everyone has become bald. Ah, Your Majesty... - Bureuche Von Golden Eagle]

Lee Shin-Woo ignored the Vulture General's cynical memories while checking the increase in his stats and skill proficiency.

[Lee Shin-Woo]

[Breathing Bone Joker]

[Shadow Hero; 14 others]

[Lv - 7 (Stats effectiveness 250%)]

[Strength - 2,149 Agility 2,091 Endurance - 2,222 Magic - 4,408]

[Passive skills - Acting Lv19, Invisible Heart Lv4/Lv159, Rebellion Lv4, Mana Acceleration Lv4, Thorn Shadow Lv2, High Rank Bursting Thunder Lv5, High Rank Mana Bone Lv4, High Rank Command Lv7, High Rank Assimilation Lv1, High Rank Combat Sense Lv4, Lucky Strike Lv2]

[Active skills - Disguise Lv7, Instigate Lv8, Bone Reinforcement Lv12, Rule of Bone Lv11, Bone Armory Lv10, High Rank Regeneration Lv3, Sacrifice Lv1, Emergency Evasion Lv6, High Rank Lightning Sprint Lv4, Lightning Shadow Lv4]

[Elements - High Rank Fire Lv3, Intermediate Ice Lv8, High Rank Wind Lv1, High Rank Acid Lv2, High Rank Lightning Lv4, High Rank Darkness Lv4, Absorption Lv8]

[Resistances - Holy: MAX, Darkness: MAX, Light: MAX, High Rank Wind Lv1, High Rank Acid Lv2, Intermediate Ice Lv7, High Rank Fire Lv2, High Rank Lightning Lv2]

Now his total stats were 10,870. Not only had he been rewarded for killing two of the twelve generals, but he'd also absorbed several powerful individuals' bones. And in the process, his skills had leveled up as well, causing his stats to jump significantly.

The other heroes would feel weak if they knew his stats, but Lee Shin-Woo knew he wasn't there yet. There were so many powerful individuals in the Empire; he needed to get to level 8 as soon as possible.

I need 1,930 more stat points to reach level 8... The bones my boys have collected should help me bridge the gap, but for the time being, I need to move as discreetly as possible. It won’t be easy to take down another one of the twelve generals, and it would take some time for me to level up. Hmph.

This was why he had been reluctant to make any big moves until he was ready, but Ethan Cruz threw a wrench to his plan. Still, he'd gotten everything he could from Ethan Cruz, so he supposed he should consider himself fortunate.

"...Shin-Woo. Lee Shin-Woo?"

"...Ah, yes?"

He was so focused that he responded to Retadane after a delay, sounding a little absentminded. Retadane looked a bit sheepish; it seemed she was aware how much trouble she'd caused him.

"We should talk about what happened here... Would you like to have tea with us?"