The fight with the queen dragged on longer than Bones anticipated, and he couldn't help but marvel at her resilience, which seemed to match the enormity of her body. After thirty grueling minutes of relentless attacks, she finally succumbed to her injuries. Bones swore he witnessed her final moments in slow motion, each movement etched into his memory.
Approaching her lifeless body to confirm the kill, Bones was greeted by a flurry of notifications. Among them, he first noticed the skill level-ups he had achieved prior to the battle with the queen.
Bone Lance had reached level three, while Bone Armor, bolstered by Bones' continuous channeling, had advanced to level four. Bone Manipulation, working in tandem with Mana Manipulation, had reached level eighteen, while Mana Blast had ascended to level seven. Additionally, his proficiency with basic weapon mastery had risen to level six, thanks to his adept use of the Bone Lance in melee combat.
His Meditation skill had also finally leveled up, although it remained a considerable distance from advancing to the next tier. Reflecting on his progress, Bones noted that his class had been level nineteen before the boss fight, and he hoped that the final battle and dungeon clear would propel him to level twenty. As Bones read through the notifications, a sudden wave of exhaustion washed over him.
"Hm? I must have overexerted my core," Bones mused to himself. "Nothing a bit of meditation won't fix, right?"
Realizing he had pushed himself too hard, he decided to meditate to replenish his energy. Settling into a meditation posture, he closed his eyes and drifted off into a deep slumber. When he eventually awoke, he was greeted by the glaring blue glow of the system screen. With a groan, he dismissed the screen and took stock of his surroundings.
"What happened? Did I really just doze off?" Bones questioned aloud, pinching the bridge of his nose out of habit. The memories of the town, the adventurers, and the dungeon boss flooded back to him in an instant. Realizing he was still beside the queen's lifeless body, he felt as though he had been through a grueling ordeal. His head throbbed with a dull ache, prompting him to focus on the flashing notification on the system screen.
Warning: Core overload!
Activating Eternal Rest state to reduce the core overload back to normal state.
Bones furrowed his brow as he focused on the warning message regarding "Eternal Rest." According to the description, it was a state he would enter when overloading his core, resulting in minimal efficiency until his core returned to normal. This development hadn't been mentioned in any of the books he'd studied. Could it be that this state was exclusive to the undead? It would explain why he hadn't come across any references to it before.
Nevertheless, Bones was grateful that this state hadn't occurred during the intense battle with the queen. With a sense of relief, he continued reading through the remaining notifications, including those received after the boss fight. His spirits lifted when he discovered that his class had leveled up—a minor milestone, but an important one. He would now be officially recognized as a bronze ranker. Along with this advancement came a valuable attribute point, which he contemplated investing further into wisdom. However, before making any decisions about his attribute points, Bones noted that he had learned a new skill. Excitement bubbled within him as he considered the possibilities this new skill could offer.
Skill: Bone Spikes - Summon bone spikes from the ground at target location, dealing physical damage in a radius with increased chance to bleed and cripple targets. Cost: 10 mp per spike
Max limit: 6 spikes (+1 spike per 5 levels) Radius: 2 meters (+1 meter per 5 levels)
Bones raised an eyebrow as he read the description of his new offensive skill. It seemed to be focused on targeting multiple adversaries—a useful addition to his arsenal. However, his expression darkened as he noted the mana cost. With a repertoire of skills already at his disposal, the additional mana expenditure gave him pause. It was too early to judge its efficacy without testing it on living targets.
Nevertheless, Bones decided to give the skill a trial run. With a flick of his wrist, he summoned six bone spikes from the ground, each around half a meter in length. Their formidable appearance elicited a grin from Bones.
"Oh? They look like they would hurt a lot!"
The initial demonstration of the skill seemed promising. Satisfied with his new acquisition, Bones moved on to the last of the notifications. One of them was an achievement called "Manaholic," and as he read the description, a mix of emotions washed over him. He exhaled deeply before absorbing the information about the negative effects of mana burn associated with overindulgence in mana potions. Despite the potential drawbacks, the accompanying perk seemed remarkably beneficial.
Perk: Manaholic
While others are wary of the negative effects of drinking one mana potion too many, you have taken it up a notch and indulge yourself in that burning sensation mana burn brings.
Increased mana regeneration under the effect of mana burn.
Bones took a moment to digest the perks and notifications he had received. While the Manaholic perk seemed to offer increased mana regeneration under the effect of mana burn, he couldn't shake off a sense of apprehension about indulging in such a risky behavior. However, the potential benefits did provide some reassurance.
Mana Core stored in inventory
Chitin Chest Armor - a light chest piece of armor known for its sturdiness and providing protection against physical damage and acid resistance.
With a self-deprecating groan, Bones lamented his oversight, feeling foolish for not checking the contents of his inventory sooner. It hadn't occurred to him that items would be stored automatically, leading him to manually store the silk and poison salve he had looted from the spiders outside. As he opened his inventory, he was greeted by a pleasant surprise—a dozen chitin carapaces, along with some acid salve and fourteen spears.
"Why would I need fourteen..." Bones began to wonder, before the memory of his previous intentions came flooding back. He had indeed planned to pick up a few spears to use in melee combat before he had upgraded his Bone Spear. As he scanned through his inventory, his attention was drawn to something nestled in the corner—a Mana Stone.
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With a sense of curiosity, Bones retrieved the Mana Stone and inspected it closely. The stone was a beautiful oval shape, adorned with intricate blue patterns that seemed to radiate raw mana. Such stones were highly prized for their purity of mana and were often utilized in various professions and cultivation practices. Grinning happily, Bones reached for a mana potion and took a swig, reveling in his hard-earned gains. The discovery of the Mana Stone added to his growing collection of valuable resources.
As Bones donned the new armor, he couldn't help but marvel at the sleek black matte color of the chitin. The armor was not only aesthetically pleasing but also imbued with minor self-repair and self-fit enchantments, courtesy of the system. This prompted him to ponder whether enchanters had learned to replicate enchantments by studying and researching the enchanted items dropped in dungeons. However, the thought quickly faded from his mind.
After experimenting with different combinations, Bones settled on wearing the armor beneath his enchanted shirt. With the bone armor active and the chitin armor underneath his shirt, he almost appeared normal—a rare occurrence for an undead like him. However, he couldn't shake the desire for a finishing touch—a cape, perhaps, and a new pair of boots. Mentally adding them to his shopping list.
Excitedly, Bones reached into his inventory and retrieved the final item he had acquired as a reward from defeating the queen—a rare Mana Core, roughly the size of his fist. Holding it in the palm of his hand, he marveled at its significance. He had read extensively about Mana Cores and knew their value well.
A Mana Core was a circular object containing immense quantities of raw mana, akin to a mana stone multiplied by a hundred. What set them apart was their remarkable ability to recharge over time, making them highly sought after and valuable commodities. In cities, they were often used to power machines and advanced technology, driving innovation and progress. Additionally, Mana Cores were prized ingredients in the creation of golems, offering unparalleled energy sources for these constructs. As Bones examined the Mana Core, his mind buzzed with possibilities. He couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement at the prospect of utilizing such a powerful resource. While he wasn't one to seek companionship in the traditional sense, he entertained the idea of creating minions to serve him, providing both protection and assistance in his endeavors. With the Mana Core in his possession, his aspirations for creating his own army of minions seemed closer to realization than ever before.
Bones had amassed a wealth of experience and skills in the past few days, emerging from the dungeon stronger and more skilled than ever before. As he stood before the fallen queen, he couldn't help but reflect on the journey that had led him to this point. It felt like an eternity had passed since he first entered the dungeon, but he estimated it had only been around three days.
With the defeat of the queen, a momentous event unfolded—the appearance of a portal behind her lifeless body. The portal shimmered with hues of blue, its colors shifting and swirling in an entrancing display of mana affinities. Bones couldn't ignore the palpable energy emanating from within, a familiar sensation that hinted at the portal's connection to space and time.
Could this be the way out? Bones wondered, his curiosity piqued. He approached the portal cautiously, his hand outstretched toward its shimmering surface. A prompt materialized before him, offering him a choice: to continue deeper into the dungeon or to exit and return to the outside world.
Though he longed to leave the confines of the dungeon behind, Bones hesitated. He recalled tales of adventurers being able to resume their exploration from the next stage after a cooldown period had passed. However, uncertainty gnawed at him. Ultimately, he made his decision, opting to leave the dungeon behind and face whatever awaited him on the other side.
Alone in the familiar confines of the cave, Bones took a moment to gather his thoughts. The silence enveloped him like a comforting blanket, but he couldn't shake the feeling of unease. Horus's absence hinted at some ulterior motive, and Bones couldn't afford to let his guard down.
With a cautious glance towards the entrance, he noted that daylight still bathed the cave-in, indicating that it was not yet time for his departure. Choosing to bide his time, Bones retreated to a darker corner of the cave and settled into a meditative stance. It was a waiting game now, and he intended to pass the hours in quiet contemplation until the cover of night provided him with the opportunity to slip away unnoticed.
As Bones waited in meditation, he contemplated his skill progression, focusing on the potential upgrades that awaited him. The prospect of unlocking Mana Perception through advancing his Mana Sense skill to level twenty piqued his interest, especially considering his reliance on mana detection. Additionally, the possibility of enhancing his Meditation skill to allow movement while meditating could significantly bolster his mana regeneration capabilities, albeit with a slight trade-off in effectiveness.
Regarding Bone Manipulation, Bones wondered if it could be combined with other skills to create new synergies. He pondered whether such combinations might lead to the loss of Bone Manipulation or if it could adapt and evolve alongside new abilities. Unfortunately, information on Bonemancer-specific skills seemed scarce, indicating the rarity of his chosen class among humans.
Bones spent approximately five hours in meditation, emerging from his reflective state as darkness enveloped the surroundings. Climbing the cavern walls to the entrance, he cautiously surveyed the area outside. Although he couldn't detect any immediate threats, he remained vigilant, opting to stay low and stealthily navigate toward the nearest forest entrance. However, his attempt at stealth was quickly thwarted when one of the scouts spotted his movements and alerted the others with subtle bird-like chirping sounds.
Acknowledging that his stealth was compromised, Bones discarded caution and bolted away. Four of the five figures immediately gave chase, while the fifth scout diverged in the opposite direction. As dawn broke, the scout reconvened with Horus to deliver the report on Bones' sightings.
“Boss! He appeared!” the scout announced, eliciting a smile from Horus. “Finally! Where is he now?”
“The others are chasing after him!”
“Good. His level?”
"He ran away too quickly, we didn't get a chance to identify him.”
“...as expected. Find the others and engage. Don't kill him!”
“Yes, boss!”
As the scout departed to carry out his orders, Horus was left to contemplate the situation with a heavy heart. "What a pain this turned out to be."
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"Persistent bunch," Bones mused as he darted through the dense forest. Despite their tenacity, only two scouts remained in pursuit, their efforts increasingly futile. They hurled obstacles in his path and launched attacks, but Bones deftly evaded or neutralized each threat. Though initially faster, the scouts fatigued over time, their resolve wavering. Seizing the opportunity, Bones dispatched two of his pursuers. Undeterred by the loss, the remaining two redoubled their efforts, their determination unwavering as they relentlessly pursued Bones.
Growing weary of the prolonged pursuit, Bones adjusted his pace to allow the scouts to close the distance. As they drew near, one of them loosed an arrow in his direction. Sensing the projectile hurtling towards him, Bones made a calculated decision and allowed it to strike him. The impact sent him stumbling forward, disrupting his balance momentarily.
"Finally got that fucker!" The scout's triumphant cry filled the air as his partner nodded in agreement. With a swift motion, the partner also readied an arrow and let it fly. Another hit to the shoulder sent Bones spinning, his vision blurring momentarily. Amidst the whirl of motion, he noticed two scouts approaching within range of his skill. Reacting quickly, Bones abruptly halted his spin, finding his footing and raising a hand, fingers poised in a commanding gesture. Caught off guard, both scouts recognized the ominous sign of impending spellcasting. One cursed aloud, but they were both too slow to evade Bones' next move.
Six bone spikes surged from the earth, ensnaring both scouts in their sharp embrace. The first scout's advance was abruptly halted as two spikes impaled his feet, while the others bore through his legs, effectively pinning him in place. Likewise, the second scout met a similar fate, though the force of his struggles caused the spikes to splinter, sending him skidding forward until he came to a stop in front of Bones. Anguished screams filled the air as both scouts writhed in pain, their movements restricted by the cruel grip of the bone spikes.
The pinned scout fumbled within his leather armor, retrieving a healing potion in a desperate attempt to alleviate his agony. Ignoring the futile gesture, Bones shifted his attention to the other scout, whose leg was impaled by a broken spike.
"So, want to tell me wh...hey! Hey!”
Bones' words fell on deaf ears as the man's pain rendered him unable to focus on anything else. With a swift motion, Bones silenced him with a lethal stroke of his lance, ending the scout's torment. Turning to the remaining scout, who had quieted down slightly, Bones addressed him with a mixture of curiosity and sarcasm.
“Didn't think this through huh?" He quipped, receiving only silence and averted eyes in response.
“Well, no need to be ashamed. No one would be able to think straight in your situation. Well, I would. I would definitely rid myself of spikes first, then drink the potion,” Bones added with a sardonic tone, eliciting a newfound vocabulary of profanities from the scout.
As the bone spikes dissipated, leaving the scout kneeling before him, a sense of dread consumed the man, prompting him to babble incoherently in a desperate bid for mercy. Bones' cold indifference remained unwavering as he silenced the pleading man with a stern command to cease. With a final admonition—"if you want forgiveness, join a religion"—Bones swiftly dispatched the scout, freeing him from his suffering.
Turning his gaze towards the town—or what he presumed to be its direction—Bones set off with determined strides, leaving behind the echoes of his encounter in the woods.