Chapter 67

Chapter 67: Chapter 67 Still feeling down, Clayton carefully inspected the contents of the iron box. To his shock, something inside shimmered with a soft silver glow. "Damn... since when did my family own something this extravagant?" he muttered in disbelief. Resting in his hands was a crown—gleaming silver, adorned with dazzling gemstones that sparkled with an otherworldly brilliance. Clayton couldn’t believe something so magnificent had been hidden in his home all this time. For a brief moment, he even wondered if he was some long-lost prince, destined to rise and rule over millions—just like in the fairy tales. But the more he thought about it, the less likely it seemed. His father had never acted like nobility, and he’d never heard of his mother being a runaway princess who married a commoner. With no dramatic backstory to cling to, his thoughts drifted in a different direction. "Don’t tell me... my father or someone in the family once robbed an emperor’s vault?" he thought nervously. That idea actually felt more plausible. There was no way something this valuable just ended up here by chance. This wasn’t a coincidence—it was a legacy, or maybe a secret. Clayton continued to study the crown, unable to look away. It radiated a refined masculinity—its curves flowed like water, its edges cut like wind, and the serpentine dragon engravings gave it a fierce yet noble presence. Up close, the craftsmanship was even more astounding. Each detail stood out boldly, yet together they formed a perfectly balanced masterpiece. The longer he stared, the more enchanted he became. But that admiration shattered when he noticed a crack running along the crown’s edge. A heavy sadness settled over him. "Can this... even be repaired?" he whispered. He shook his head. Even if it could, he doubted it would ever be the same. Worse, any attempt might ruin the perfect harmony of the design. To him, the crown was still breathtaking—even broken. But had it been intact, it might have fetched a legendary price. Now, its value was anyone’s guess. A wave of regret swept through him. He cursed his own carelessness. If he could turn back time, he’d never have been so reckless with something so precious. After a while, he calmed himself and glanced around. That’s when he noticed his seven mini skeletons—standing completely still, staring intently at the crown. Then it hit him. They were the reason he’d found the box in the first place. That raised a new question: could there be a special connection between them and the crown? Their curious yet innocent stares were hard to ignore. Clayton raised the crown. "Is this what you’ve been looking for all this time?" The skeletons, who hadn’t taken their eyes off the crown, immediately tracked his hand as he moved it. They didn’t speak, but their gaze made the answer clear: yes. "Do you need this item?" he asked again. This time, the skeletons—usually slow and clumsy—nodded rapidly, almost eagerly. Clayton’s curiosity deepened. He wanted to give them the crown—but he hesitated. It would be a tragedy if something this precious were broken or lost again. He paused. But as he looked into their loyal, expressionless skulls, he made up his mind. "Alright... it’s yours." The skeletons erupted in visible excitement. Even without facial features, their joy was unmistakable. Clayton smiled. They had helped him so much—they deserved this. The moment the crown touched their hands, the seven skeletons formed a circle. Clayton watched closely, puzzled and intrigued. They raised their bony hands and laid them on the crown with reverent care. Just as Clayton assumed they were about to start playing around— A familiar, blinding light burst forth. It was the same silver light that had startled him earlier. The glow intensified. The crown began to crack... then shatter... and finally disintegrate into glittering ash. Clayton watched in silent horror—but it wasn’t over yet. The glowing particles rose gently, then swirled around the skeletons in a radiant cyclone. Each skeleton was engulfed in a cocoon of brilliant light, so intense that Clayton had to squint—his eyes burned just trying to look. Time seemed to stretch. Just when he thought the process would never end, the light slowly faded—revealing seven new silhouettes within. Clayton’s eyes widened in disbelief. Standing before him were humanoid figures clad in gleaming silver armor. "Wha... Where did my adorable little skeletons go?!" he cried, rubbing his eyes in shock. But the image didn’t disappear. It was real. He rushed over, utterly amazed. His seven mini skeletons had evolved—now appearing as fully armored medieval knights. Each one had a unique form and style. No two looked the same. Driven by curiosity, Clayton tapped one of the armored figures. Clang! Clang! The sharp metallic sound echoed through the room. Clayton grinned. "This armor is solid!" He examined each knight carefully. The more he looked, the more impressed he became. "That crown... was more than worth it," he said, firm with satisfaction. He tried communicating with them. Though they still didn’t speak, waves of telepathy flowed directly into his mind. The connection was clearer, smoother, more precise. Clayton finally understood—his skeletons had evolved. Even if their rank hadn’t skyrocketed, their new abilities were extraordinary. Their strength and durability now rivaled low-tier one-star monsters. No longer fragile—they were real warriors. Even more incredible: the evolution wasn’t uniform. Each had followed a unique path, as if they’d inherited distinct soul archetypes. ... The Seven Knights: Pride – Well-balanced, intelligent, and versatile. Sloth – Towering and slow-moving, but sturdy. Wrath – Sturdy, short-tempered, and fiercely strong. Envy – Sulky and irritating, but fast and nimble. Gluttony – Massive and solid, like a walking fortress. Greed – Short, nimble, and agile. Lust – Graceful and stunning, with almost regal elegance. Pride, Greed, Gluttony, and Wrath had masculine knightly appearances. Lust, Envy, and Sloth appeared as female knights. Each bore a distinct soul flame glowing in their eye sockets: Purple for Pride Green for Envy Red for Wrath Blue for Sloth Yellow for Greed Orange for Gluttony Pink for Lust Their traits reflected their inner talents and personalities. Clayton could hardly believe it—if not for the skeletal faces under their helmets, he’d have assumed they were human. Eagerly, he led them outside and had them cast a few random spells. Swoosh! Boom! Explosions and colorful lights filled the air. Clayton stood in awe. The spells they cast were far more powerful than those of most low-tier monsters. Honestly, they might have even surpassed his own abilities. He looked at them, his heart racing with excitement. But just as his elation peaked— Crack! BOOM! A sharp cracking noise echoed through the air. Clayton turned—and froze. His majestic, newly-evolved skeletons... were cracking, fragmenting—turning to ash. Clayton stood paralyzed, unable to comprehend what he was seeing. What... just happened?