(Imperial Cadogan, Eastern Plains, surroundings of the Thorndark Dungeon)
After six hours of raging storm, it finally came to an end. The black clouds dispersed, revealing the clear sky. Meanwhile, about fifteen meters from the entrance of the Thorndark Dungeon, the person responsible for the recent events regained consciousness.
Wow, that was the roughest landing ever. It felt like I was minced meat for hours, then someone tried to stuff me into a turkey from behind. And it happened countless times. If this is reincarnation, I'd rather pass.
Anyway, I'm alive, limbs intact... wait, what's this?!
There was a skeleton lying on the ground at the dungeon entrance, holding its hands in front of its face silently. After a few seconds, it suddenly jumped up, hopping from one foot to another, waving its arms, spinning around, and grabbing its head without uttering a word.
What the hell is this?! "Princesses"? "Feats"? "Adventures"? Yeah, K-Kate?! No matter how I look at it, it's freaking undead!!!
After ten minutes of silent applause and gesturing with both middle fingers towards the sky, the undead calmed down a bit. The skeleton started pacing back and forth, holding its waist with one hand and grabbing its chin with the other. After a minute of pacing, it finally sat down on a nearby stone boulder.
Alright, calm down, no need to panic. I am, unfortunately, a skeleton. A thinking pile of bones moving in strange ways. There's nothing I can do about it now. So, I should carefully consider the pros and cons.
Most likely, I don't need to eat or rest. I probably won't die from old age or diseases. That eliminates certain problems faced by ordinary humans. On the other hand, there's my appearance. I doubt anyone in this world would gladly shake my hand upon meeting me. Although, who knows? This is a "fantasy world." Maybe the undead have rights like other races? Maybe they even have their own union? Nah, that's probably nonsense.
Suddenly, his train of thought was interrupted by approaching footsteps from the cave behind him. As he hadn't figured out how to handle a first encounter, the newly born undead became slightly flustered.
Think! Think quickly! Meeting undead beings—shouting, pitchforks, bonfires, torch hunts, exorcisms... It won't end well! Wait. I'm just a skeleton, a completely decomposed corpse. That's it! I'm just an ordinary, harmless dead body!
In the next moment, the skeleton collapsed on the ground. Unable to come up with a better plan, it assumed the posture of a dead frog, stretching all its limbs out to the sides. It intended to hold its breath but couldn't find the breath to hold, so it simply froze.
From the cave emerged a massive figure, standing at two meters tall. The final guardian of the dungeon, freed after the core's demise, finally stepped out of its prison. He resembled a bipedal bull with massive horns, wearing leather armor with iron inserts in key areas. In his hands, he wielded a double-bladed steel two-handed battle axe. He took a few steps away from the cave entrance, paused, and gazed into the distance. Then he shifted his attention to the motionless corpse.
"I understand, of course. Freedom and all that. I would love to lie down next to you and stare at this enchanting sky. However, you shouldn't be lying here right at the entrance. You know those adventurers, they come here like flies to dung every single day, seeking death."
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
"..."
"Well, suit yourself. Personally, I'm getting out of here as far as possible. Goodbye, colleague."
A few minutes later, the minotaur disappeared from sight, blending into the dense vegetation to the east of the cave.
That was close. It seems like that bull-man was upset about something when he looked at me. I didn't understand a word of what he said, probably he was disturbed by the sight of a corpse near his home. I need to get moving and leave this place as quickly as possible before that giant returns!
+[Camouflage Level 1]
The skeleton stood up abruptly and hurriedly headed west, in the opposite direction from where the minotaur had gone before.
(Empire of Kadogan, Eastern Plains, 10km west of the Thorndark Dungeon)
The undead skeleton realized that fatigue had no effect on its existence. It could continue moving mindlessly forever, but it found such a purposeless endeavor pointless.
After retreating to a safe distance from where it first awakened, the skeleton halted. Behind it lay fields with dense yet short green vegetation, while ahead, a relatively small stream, around thirty meters wide, came into view. On the other side of the stream stood an enormous and impenetrable forest.
I've put enough distance between myself and that creature's lair. Now, let's focus on something important. What was that thought that came to mind before my strategic retreat? Ah, yes, camouflage.
[Camouflage Level 1]
[Hides you from prying eyes, allowing you to blend with the surroundings. This effect is mental and requires mana to activate.]
Interesting. Camouflage appeared in my consciousness. Well, after everything that has happened, who am I to judge what's normal? But what is this mana?
[Mana]
[One of the forms of life energy. It naturally replenishes and depletes when using active skills and spells. If all mana reserves are depleted, it leads to death.]
So, I need to be careful with mana. I don't want to accidentally exhaust it. Are there any other things I need to know?
//... ... ...//
Maybe it works differently. Do I need specific phrases? Reference book! Encyclopedia! Guide! Manual! Wikipedia?
By the stream, in a flowery meadow, a solitary skeleton stood like a pillar. It seemed to contemplate the essence of existence with its empty eye sockets. The rustling of swaying vegetation and the gentle flow of water disturbed the silence of the scene.
Instructions, descriptions, directions, rules, guide... none of them! To hell with it, maybe things will become clear as I go along. Fine. So, I'll put that aside for now. Now, I need to figure out what to do next. I desperately need information. Those with information have a better chance at survival. I need to find a way to obtain it... Huh?
//PSHSHSH-SH-SH//
[Acid Spit Level 4]
A spotted monitor lizard, about one-and-a-half meters long, leaped out of the bushes and attacked the floating skeleton in the clouds. The agile reptile, weighing around seventy kilograms, swiftly circled the intruder. Hissing menacingly, it spat acid from all sides onto the undead.
//PSHSHSH-SH-SH//
[Acid Spit Level 4]
//PSHSHSH-SH-SH//
[Acid Spit Level 4]
This is bad! I don't feel pain, but I'm taking damage!
//PSHSHSH-SH-SH//
[Acid Spit Level 4]
//PSHSHSH-SH-SH//
[Acid Spit Level 4]
Damn it, back off, you crocodile! Why are you attacking me?!
The skeleton, momentarily stunned, futilely tried to protect its empty eye sockets from the relentless acid spitting by covering them with its hands. Taking advantage of the confusion, the large lizard swiftly lunged into close combat.
The monitor lizard positioned itself behind the motionless undead, aiming to sink its razor-sharp teeth into the vulnerable, unprotected thigh. It forcefully closed its jaws around the skeleton's leg, but the teeth met no resistance.
You filthy beast! Swamp mutt! I asked you to back off nicely?!
Ignoring the pain of losing teeth, the lizard clung tightly to the skeleton's thigh, attempting to disrupt its balance by swaying its body and tail from side to side, resembling a fish caught on a hook.
//BOOOOOM//
Within seconds, a powerful blow landed on the monster's head as the skeleton delivered a bony fist. The punch struck directly at the lizard's left temple, and the force behind it didn't waver. Like a hammer descending upon a crystal ball, the fist forcefully embedded the reptile's skull into the ground, ending its nuisance.
[Experience 20/100]
+ [Unarmed Combat Level 1]