Cheapter 1{Edit}

Deep within an ancient cave, the space has been adorned with stalactites for thousands of years, their size making them resemble ancient Roman columns. The pervasive smell of stale air fills the space, and the conditions here can be described as toxic to health.

However, despite these harsh conditions, signs of life can be observed on this strange plane, though not in the literal sense of "life." Most of the creatures found here are products of the eruption of mana veins from the long-dead emperor of the human empire, known as the "Banner Lords."

These peculiar conditions preserve the dead bodies of adventurers who ventured into these inhospitable regions in search of wealth and fortune, as well as stray animals that wandered into the caves. They never left, trapped by the eruption of the mana veins and the dark nature of the environment. As a result, the fallen bodies are reanimated, forming hordes of undead creatures ranging from common zombies and skeletons to corpse collectors, liches, howlers, and many more.

Amidst this gloomy scenery, in an isolated section of the cave network, a peculiar flash of light appeared, revealing a black and blue portal that summoned a skeleton within a few seconds before disappearing.

The skeleton was a simple human skeleton, with grey-white bones—nothing special about it. No cracks or damage were visible; its only distinguishing feature was two small red lights in the eye sockets.

After emerging from the portal, the skeleton lay flat on the ground. After a moment, the undead creature began to move, albeit very slowly, as if in slow motion. The sheer weight of its bones seemed to cause the skeleton to struggle with each movement. When it attempted to stand, it ended up assuming a bridge-like position, resting its bony hands on the floor and kneeling with its legs.

However, despite being a skeleton, it seemed to panic, its hands and body shaking—quite strange given its nature.

Nero thought, "Where am I? ... Why? ... What? ... My... ALL... What happened to me?"

The skeleton involuntarily grabbed its skull and shook it for a moment. Then it began examining itself, particularly its hands and chest, which caused further reactions. It settled onto a bone known as the "pelvis" and leaned against the cave wall while sitting.

(Nero) - "I... I... what? ... I don't have a penis? ... W-Wait... I don't have a penis? ... My friend... I only got to use you once... DAMN IT!"

The skeleton's body stops shaking, and Nero remains motionless against the wall for a moment. Slowly, his bony hands clench into fists, resting on his knees.

(Nero) - "I just made it... I wanted to go on a second date... no, no... Forget it. She seemed dissatisfied anyway. Damn it. But if I'm going to transmigrate or reincarnate... at least I'd rather end up in a goblin's body... Damn... Then I could kidnap peasants from the village. But no, instead I'm stuck in this skeleton, a body that feels like a full-body suit weighing several dozen kilos... Damn it!"

As Nero continues to swear and vent his aggressive emotions, he begins to calm down. The skeleton's body stops trembling, and Nero slowly stands up. He turns toward the cave wall and, in a rather slow and comical fashion, punches it with his bony fist. Despite the weak attack, a small mark is left on the wall, surprising him. It's actually impressive, considering that skeletons typically possess enough strength to wield weapons and attack living creatures.

(Nero) - "Damn it!! ... Why the hell... Damn it... now... I used to dream about coming to another world... Damn it... I begged God for it so many times... But not when, after 23 years of being alone, I finally managed to get a date... Damn it... I need to get this out of my mind... Damn it..."

Crack!!! Crack!!! - Nero hits the wall of the cave again.

(Nero) - "And now... Damn it... at 23, I don't even know how long I'll have to wait to have a body with a penis again... Damn it... Not to mention whether I'll even survive long enough to see that day. This is bullshit."

Frustrated and still in shock, Nero continues to rant about his situation, venting his negative emotions to regain some control over himself. Despite his anger, deep down, he always dreamed of transmigration or reincarnation. The timing, however, couldn't have been worse for him. At 23, Nero had spent most of his life alone. He was a loner in school, immersing himself in novels, anime, and other escapist hobbies. It wasn't until after graduating and starting work that he met Rey, a colleague. He liked her, and she didn't reject him because of his appearance.

Nero wasn't particularly handsome, but he wasn't unattractive either—just borderline neutral. He had the look of a minor noble character in an RPG, minus the mustache, or perhaps an NPC whose presence goes unnoticed unless you deliberately interact with him.

In terms of personality, Nero was an introvert with a taste for violent games and movies. He enjoyed the intensity of those experiences, which sometimes influenced him to act harshly and brutally. During fights, especially those provoked by others, Nero often lost control and would strike with full force, frequently causing serious injuries and fractures to his opponents.

Despite his hidden dark side, Nero managed to start dating a girl named Rey, who worked at the desk next to his. They enjoyed talking during breaks, and after a few months of getting to know each other, Nero asked her out on a date, and she agreed.

As things progressed, an unexpected night of fun and a bit too much alcohol led to Nero and Rey spending the night together, sharing an intimate and close moment in her room.

The night before their second date, Nero felt as though his life was finally taking a turn for the better. He fell asleep with a smile on his face, but when he awoke, he no longer saw his room—instead, he found himself in a dark, unfamiliar cave.

Given the circumstances, it's no wonder Nero wasn't exactly thrilled with his current situation.

Overwhelmed with anger and frustration, he decided to take out his emotions in a single powerful blow.

Crack!!!!

He struck the wall with all his might, but the force of the blow caused his right forearm bone to snap, and the lower half of his arm fell off.

(Nero) - "Jesus! ...DAMN IT... I don't feel pain, but I really overdid it."

Apparently, hitting the wall so hard and damaging his new body was enough to jolt Nero into controlling his emotions. After a brief moment of calm, his emotions began to swell again—this time, with excitement—when he heard a mechanical voice, the source of which he couldn't locate.

[System] - [Host has received severe damage. Please cease self-destructive activities.]

(Nero) - "Heh... What? ... Damn... Do I have... a System?"

The skeleton's jaw dropped comically, though in the eerie setting, the effect was less amusing.

[System] - [Confirm.]

(Nero) - "Then why the hell are you only speaking up now?!"

[System] - [Host's agitated emotions caused notifications about falling HP levels and the tutorial start to be ignored. The System decided to wait for the Host to calm down before initiating contact.]

(Nero) - "Actually, you're right—I did go overboard."

(Nero) - "System, can I restore my right arm to its original state?"

[System] - [Host's right arm is completely destroyed. The suggested course of action is to destroy a nearby skeleton and attach that entity's arm to the Host's body.]

(Nero) - "I see. I'll probably find one... but first... do you have any functions other than being an assistant?"

[System] - [List of Features: (Status) (Inventory) ]

(Nero) - "No shop?"

[System] - [No. The system is based on classes and missions. The Host gains skills through missions or selected professions or classes. However, skills cannot be purchased. Skills can only be acquired through effort.]

(Nero) - "Alright, let's start with the basics. Show status."

[System]-[Open Status]

[================================]

Nero

Level – 1

Class – None

Race – Skeleton(01/100)

HP – (45.3/60) [0.1 per minute]

MP – (10/10) [0.01 per minute]

STR – 13

END – 6

DEX – 3

INT –18

WIS – 10

CHA – 1

LCK – 10

[Statistic Points](SP)-0

[10-30-Common man]

Resistance:[Cut weapon resistance (-75% received Dmg) [Race Skill Resistance]

Skill:

[=============================]

(Nero) - "I get it. MP and HP regeneration... sucks. Makes sense since I'm a skeleton."

(Nero) - "Skeletons aren't usually very strong, judging by the stats. My Intelligence is high, but that's probably due to transmigrating into this body... I guess? I don't remember dying, though."

(Nero) - "The best advantage is the resistance to bladed weapons. Bones are hard, after all. And considering these aren't just any bones, but skeleton bones, there's that racial ability making them immune to sharp objects. But blunt weapons... yeah, those will be a problem. Heh... Damn."

(Nero) - "Charisma is... 1. Not surprising, considering I'm just a skeleton that can't even talk. And skeletons aren't known for their intelligence, so there probably wasn't a 'best-looking skeleton' contest."

(Nero) - "Alright... System, how... can I evolve? Or do I have to do something specific to be able to?"

[System] - [Evolution Requirements: (lvl 100. Race) (Based on classes and skills, the Host will be given subsequent evolution choices.) (In exceptional cases, special materials are required to be in the inventory. However, a message about the required materials will appear after reaching level 100. The moment of evolution is chosen by the Host.)]

(Nero) - "I see... So, how can I get a class?"

[System] - [You can unlock a new class after reaching level 50/100 in the previous class or receive it as a quest reward. However, the first class can be unlocked for free. Does the Host wish to unlock the first class?]

(Nero) - "Hehe... Yes!!"

[System] - [Choose Class: (Mage) (Warrior) (Archer) (Cleric) (Rogue)]

(Nero) - "Archer and Cleric are out... Rogue... maybe another time. As much as I'd love to pick Mage, being a skeleton means I don't have much stamina. And considering that a single skeleton isn't hard to kill—it's a monster that's strong in a group, especially without a weapon—I'd rather increase my chances of surviving first, then go for Mage later. And even though I have a lot of INT, it's better to boost stamina. I choose Warrior."

[System] - [Choice of Available Subclasses for Warrior: (Berserker) (Knight) (Paladin) (Barbarian) (Martial Artist)]

(Nero) - "Hmmm... Berserker... No. Knight... Maybe... Okay, as far as I know, I won't need all but Barbarian and Knight, at least for now. Tough choice based on the games I've played. Barbarians typically fight with axes, and their armor ranges from light leather to light metal. In short, they combine attack speed with high damage. On the other hand, Knights have more variety, focusing on heavy defense and offense. But with my low dexterity and stamina... Barbarian it is."

[System] - [Class (Barbarian) selected. Barbarians are characterized by high durability and high attack speed. The Host receives a stat bonus from the class and gains two class skills.]

As soon as Nero chose his class, he felt something strange—not pain, but a vibration. It was as though the structure of his bones was changing. However, due to the lack of a nervous system, he felt no pain. His bones became thicker, and his height increased by a few centimeters, now standing around 180 cm tall. It wasn't a dramatic change, but the added height and sturdiness made a noticeable difference, giving him a more imposing presence.

[System]-[Opening Status]

[================================]

Nero

Level – 1

Class – Barbarian(01/100)

Race – Skeleton(01/100)

HP – (86/86) [0.1 per minute]

MP – (10/10) [0.01 per minute]

STR – 16(+3)

END – 10(+4)

DEX – 8(+5)

INT –15

WIS – 15(+5)

CHA – 1.1

LCK – 10

[10-50-Common man]

(SP)-0

Resistance:[Sharp weapon resistance (-75% received Dmg) [Race Skill Resistance]

Skill: (Fast cut)(Battle cry)

[=============================]

(Nero) - "Heh... Well, I'm still just at level one. But this feels better. I don't think I'll die from the first hit... unless I run into a really strong motherfucker."

(Nero) - "A quick cut makes sense, but (Battle Cry)? I don't even have a mouth or organs, so how does that work?"

[System] - [When (Battle Cry) is used, a high-pitched moan emits from the Host's mouth, comparable to a Banshee's wail or very hoarse breathing.]

[System] - [(Battle Cry) - When used, Host gains a 20% increase in all stats for 3 minutes. Additionally, it inflicts the (Fear) effect on weaker opponents.]

(Nero) - "That'll do... for now. I need to kill a skeleton and get myself a new right arm. I wonder if the new hand will match the rest. The bones are a lot bigger now."

Nero then headed toward the exit of the cave's dead-end tunnel, looking around for a makeshift weapon. Unfortunately, he found nothing of use. He attempted to break off a stalactite, but with his bare skeletal hands, it was practically impossible. Maybe if he had maxed out his Barbarian class, but at level one, it was just a dream.

Nero continued through the tunnel for a good 15 minutes without finding anything useful. Eventually, he stumbled upon a pile of broken human bones in the corner of another dead-end tunnel. Amid the shattered and gnawed parts, he managed to find an intact femur, which he decided would serve as a makeshift mace.

(Nero) - "This'll do for now... Until I find something better. And... either this belonged to someone really tall, or it's not a human bone."

Nero examined his new "weapon," and after a moment, a small blue rectangle appeared, hovering above the bone mace.

[(Orc Femur) (Rank F) (+2 STRENGTH) (+10% chance to Stun enemy)]

(Nero) - "Well, that's... interesting. But now I just need to find another skeleton. I'm definitely right-handed, and fighting with just my left is going to be a pain."

With his new weapon in hand, Nero felt a bit more confident as he prepared to continue his search, eager to test out his new strength and restore his missing limb.