I was walking towards the blacksmith and noticed how god damn big the place was up close. The place was around 9 stories tall and was as big as a baseball field at the least. I stopped walking towards it when I saw some skeletons outside the blacksmith's shop. They looked very different compared to your average skeletons, other than the fact that they were undead. They were wearing iron armour, although it looked rather old and was worn out with some spots having gaping holes showing the bones underneath. They were carrying rusted iron swords with a dagger sheathed on their hips. They looked rather menacing to be honest. "What the hell are those skeletons and where can I get myself one? They look scary and deadly."

I muttered to myself as I thought of a way to get around them. Obviously I wasn't going to bum rush them without any weapons or this shitty armour. That would get me killed....again. "I still don't know how this whole soul core stuff works to be honest but all I need to know is even with them I still die with a simple stab in the head. Charging them is a real bad idea then." I reconfirmed my own thoughts outloud, solidifying the plan to NOT include rushing the skeletons. I would need some weapon at least if I would want to stand a chance.

I was looting a house and looking for weapons or something when I saw a wooden window frame hanging loosely. The wood was rotting and looked rather bad but I got an idea. I walked over and tore the long stick of wood out of the frame and held it. I then started to sharpen the top as much as I could into a sharp tip. After several minutes of hard work I held up my masterpiece. It was a rotting pole of wood with a sharp point. "Damn this thing looks like shit. It might not even withstand 5 attacks." I was startled when I got a notification confirming my suspicions.

Appraisal learned! Used appraisal on "Rotting wooden spear" This 'spear' was made by Dane Carter and was made with an amateur level of knowledge. The spear is made of rotting wood that may fall apart at any moment and splinter into useless firewood. The spear has no value.

I read the notification and felt like someone just insulted me as weird as that sounded. "I felt like I did a real good job to be honest. Screw you system, or whatever it is you are."

Delusional Lvl 1 Acquired!

"Listen here you blue screen of death! I ain't delutional! This is some quality work ya hear?!"

Delutional increased to Lvl 2!

I was rather angry at the system now and wanted to punch it in its nonexistent face. I was about to argue some more when I heard something clunking. I turned to see one of the skeletons at the smithy had walked over to inspect the building. I was probably making a crap ton of noise now that I think about it. I stopped arguing with the system and pulled my rotting wooden spear in front of me. I aimed it at the skeleton that was approaching, but it seemed like it didn't notice me yet, just heard the noise. "How does a skeleton hear stuff anyways? Like it has no ears to hear with..." I silenced my own thoughts and waited for the skeleton to get close. It had gotten within arms reach when I decided to strike.

I struck my spear towards its skull, the point flying towards the revealed skull of the skeleton. I was expecting the skull to crack or something but what happened shouldn't have surprised me to be honest. The spear exploded into wooden splinters, sending pieces of wood flying. The skull was totally unharmed besides a small scratch on the white surface. "Ah, well....shit this aint good." I said as the skeleton turned to stare at me while raising its sword. I backed up and looked around for anything to use as a weapon. I didn't see anything and decided to make a break for it out of the window. I turned and ran, hearing the clunking following close behind. When I got close to the window I saw a sword pop out from the other side, going straight for my neck. I stumbled and fell on the ground face first, barely dodging the strike at my neck.

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The bastard skeleton lured me over to the window trying to get me decapitated by its friendo on the other side. "I gotta give you guys credit, you're smarter than you look for brainless skeletons." The skeleton didn't reply and simply kept walking towards me while brandishing its weapon. The other skeleton had appeared behind the window and was now climbing through. I got back up and scrambled away from the 2 killers approaching me. I saw another rotting piece of wood and picked it up. I swung it like a club at the first skeleton and it predictably exploded into splinters of wood. "Oh come on! That one looked solid." I kept looking around frantically and then noticed something out of the corner of my eye. It was the appraisal skill, appraising something. I seemed to have used it without knowing. It was appraising a jagged rock on the ground.

Dagger shaped rock: This rock is in the shape of a rock and will function as a dagger, although it's cutting power is not as strong as most daggers, It will get the job done.

I didn't know how to feel when I read that. Some random rock was a better weapon than my wooden spear. I didn't think too much about it though as the skeleton was fast approaching. I swiped it off of the ground and held my new weapon firmly. I stabbed at the skeletons face with my dagger but the skeleton used its arm to block, sending my dagger skidding off of the armour. I scrambledd backwards to get out of the way of the sword that was sent swinging at me. I could feel the wind whooshing past me from the sword. I started to back up as I looked for an exit. Clearly I was unprepared for this fight and I didn't want to test my luck. I may have those soul core things but dying hurt and not to mention was scary as hell.

I ran towards the skeletons and when I was nearby I veered off to the side, making them miss me with their swings. I swung my stone dagger at the nearest skeletons face, but missed. The dagger got lodged into an armour joint and I lost my grip on it. I stumbled forward and kept running past them as I made a break for it to the door. I felt something pierce my back, straight through my armour. It felt like a sharp burning pain. I didn't stop and kept running forwards out of the door and into an alleyway nearby. I kept sprinting for a minute or so before I stopped to look behind me. I didn't see the skeletons chasing me so I sat down to rest. I then remembered the thing that stabbed my back and the pain struck me once more. I stretched my arm and felt my back until I found the thing lodged into my back. It was the dagger of one of the skeletons. It was also made of iron. "Hell yeah, free weapon!" I then winced in pain as my back felt like it was on fire. "Ok maybe not necesarily 'free' but still it's a weapon. Thats all I care about. I'm not unarmed anymore atleast." I spent the next few minutes sitting there in pain trying to bandage my back up. By the time I finished bandaging it up the wound had all but closed and I felt annoyed. "Why couldn't you heal before I finished bandaging you up?!"

Feeling like I was insane for yelling at a hole in my back, I pulled out an apple and munched on it as I tried to de-stress. The whole situation I was in had me on edge the entire time and I felt like I was a bow taught, ready to fire an arrow at any moment. I needed to unwind somehow and eating apples was apparently the only way I had at the moment. I got up and looked at where I was and noticed an inn nearby. It wasn't in the best of condition but It looked usuable. I got an idea at that moment. "I wonder if they have any beds that arn't demolished? I could really use a nap. I trekked over and peeked inside, seeing there was no skeletons inside. I cautiously crept througout the building checking doors, seeing that they were all locked, I looked for a key and found on at the receptionist desk. It was for a room on the third floor. I walked over and checked the room, seeing that it was clear I walked in and locked the door. I saw 2 beds. One was collapsed and completely useless while the other had several tears in it and was leaking whatever the stuffing was out. It looked usable though.

I spent some time fixing the place up and when it was good enough I got in bed and pulled the covers up, with my dagger on the bedside table right next to me. I then turned onto my side and promptly fell asleep in this hell hole.