I put on the knight commander's mithril armor. At my waist hung swords that practically screamed of their exceptional quality.
With every step, the scabbards clashed, creating a clear, resonant sound. These were the finest blades I had selected from the dozens of masterpieces scattered on the ground. It felt wrong to leave with only swords, and I also strapped a black spear with a masterfully crafted shaft and blade to my back. In both hands, I carried staffs that could double as blunt weapons if necessary.
The end of a staff struck the ground with a dull echo.
I didn't stop walking. All around me lay countless remains, a sea of shattered bones scattered among the freshly fallen corpses.
Which would she prefer? The long-dead remains or the fresh corpses?
There was no answer because Gith-Za-Rai had been torn in half. I absorbed her essence and left her corpse amidst the sea of corpses. The necromancer who spoke of binding and stripping the world down to bones had perished. Now, fragments of her were transplanted into my skull.
Each time I used the essence absorption ability, I would be reminded of the debt I owed her.
I continued climbing out of the pit. The slope was steep, but it wasn't challenging. My Agility and Strength had already surpassed sixty. At this point, even a steep incline barely registered as an obstacle.
The real question is, where should I go?
As I walked across the ground with my treasure-laden armor, I pondered.
Let's organize my thoughts.
I had accumulated many important items: the knight commander's sword and armor, the staffs of two high-ranking wizards, and most importantly, the emperor's imperial seal. Each of these items was invaluable. Yet, aside from the sword and armor, I couldn't make much practical use of them.
They won't be easy to sell, either.
A familiar face came to mind.
Should I give them to Rena?
I recalled leaving all the items we looted from adventurers slain in a dungeon to her care in the past.
I shook my head vigorously.
That was madness. Emotionally, I still relied far too much on Rena. Like a human addicted to opium, she was the first thing that came to mind whenever I hit a wall.
However, just as opium corroded the soul, I wore her down through my dependence. The emperor had been assassinated. I couldn't drag her into such a dangerous situation.
I had no intention of letting Rena die because of me—not for the third time. In this life, I was determined to keep my distance.
Rena's out. What next...
The second option was to cross the narrow Cabrolta Isthmus and head to the Free Confederation. I could report on what had happened—Gith-Za-Rai's death and the emperor's assassination. The blood sample and imperial seal would be sufficient evidence. As the Free Confederation was staunchly anti-empire, they might reward me generously for delivering such crucial news.
I dismissed the second option just as quickly. For one, the distance was too great.
How would I even cross the heavily guarded borders?
Even if I managed to cross and meet the individuals involved in this covert affair, problems would only begin from there.
I knew about the deal between Gith-Za-Rai and the Free Confederation Council. The council had sold her the burial grounds of two legendary heroes in exchange for commissioning the assassination.
They'll want to cover this up at all costs.
The council would likely bury anyone involved in the matter—including me. Even if I miraculously managed to deliver the truth, they would still discard me deep underground. Stripping me of my treasures would just be a bonus for them.
I briefly considered the third option of going to Embermere. Though, with Gith-Za-Rai gone, I had no reason to go there. Turning to T&T's inner circle through the slimes was also an option. If they saw my abilities, they might be inclined to nurture me. Of course, their warm welcome would probably involve branding me with Purson's mark first.
I have nowhere to go.
I was rootless in this world. The conclusion was simple: I wouldn't go anywhere if I had nowhere to go. I would hide, cut off from everything, and simply observe the world. I would become a recluse.
This became my short-term goal for this life: Find a place no one could discover and hide. There, I could stash my items, fully digest my absorbed skills, and research their uses. With time, the skills from Gith-Za-Rai would yield great results.
The epic-grade Essence Absorption was unparalleled. The unique-grade Lord of Bones was also the only one of its kind. When the time came—when war erupted—there would be no shortage of deaths to absorb essences. Simply carrying out this task diligently would ensure this life was not wasted.
With my decision made, I prepared to head to the Barren Underground Tomb as a hiding spot.
I passed through the waterfall, droplets splashing against my body.
I pushed open the iron doors and stepped into the cave.
It's empty, as expected.
The cave was silent, entirely transformed from the day before. What had once been a space overwhelmed by bones, emanating an oppressive atmosphere, was now an ordinary, unassuming E-rank dungeon.
I walked aimlessly across the tiled floor. There were no bones or traps. Even the iron bars had all been opened. It looked the same as my previous life when I visited with Rena.
I struck the chains hanging in the hallway with my sword, letting them rattle. I searched for any remnants of my belongings. However, the only sound was the echo of the chains. There was nothing else. None of the armor left behind by Rubia or the books from Kevin Ashton remained.
Maybe there's a hidden space?
Perhaps they had been stashed in a secret location, but I didn't have time to conduct a thorough search. This place would soon become a target for investigation. Lingering too long was dangerous.
I exited the cave, and passed by the waterfall. Reluctantly abandoning my search, I continued onward. I had a new destination in mind for my sanctuary.
The sound of water droplets falling from stalactites echoed throughout the cave. It was calming. I let myself sink into the darkness while listening to the sounds. Each drop of water seemed to amplify the silence rather than break it.
This place should be safe.
This was a cave I knew well. The entrance, barely a meter in diameter, was densely concealed by foliage. Yet, I could find it more easily than anyone else. I had lived here for three years. It was a cave near the graveyard where I first awoke.
This wasn't an ordinary cave. Finding an exit for the first time had taken me over a year. The subtle slope of the ceiling, the texture of the walls, and the shape of the stalactites were things only I could discern. It was the same path I had once walked with Rubia. She had marveled at how effortlessly I navigated the corridors. It was a maze of death that even bats wouldn't dare to enter, a place where anyone who entered would lose their way and die.
I trudged through the cave.
This was where Rubia had collapsed the first time I brought her here. I had supported her as her body tilted to one side, a small clearing deep within the cave. It was a two-hour journey from the entrance.
It felt like the heart of the cave, though technically it wasn't. For some reason, I felt her warmth here. I stopped walking.
I set my belongings down.
I removed the mithril armor piece by piece. I placed the staffs of the two wizards, the emperor's seal, and the vial of blood to one side. The swords and spear I carried were neatly arranged. I lay down on the cave floor, staring blankly at the stalactites dripping water.
I was tired. I had been on edge for so long. Watching the falling droplets, I tried to let my mind drift into the hazy recesses of thought. My thoughts wandered aimlessly. Questions surfaced endlessly.
Why... am I the only survivor?
The Ashen Knight had torn through the void sliced the Dullahans like wet paper. Even Gith-Za-Rai, who had slaughtered the emperor's procession, had been effortlessly torn apart.
All the other skeletons had already been crushed under his magical aura. Yet, I remained unscathed. It wasn't that he didn't attack me. He had swung his jet-black greatsword at me, but his blade had simply passed through me as if I weren't there.
I had no idea why. No matter where I sought answers, I doubted I would find them. With that unanswered question, another came.
I was curious about the knight's identity. I recalled his appearance vividly. His armor was extraordinary—crafted in a way I had never seen before. The dull gray hue was equally unfamiliar. Not even the empire's knights nor the demon nobles I had glimpsed from afar wore such armor. His dark gray armor glimmered with intricate circuits as if they were alive.
He appeared right after the emperor's death.
Was he connected to the emperor? What was his purpose? With such power, why didn't he stop the assassination outright?
There was nothing I could learn from my current position. The only thing I could do was grow stronger in order to explore more, uncover more, and to survive whatever I faced.
I had endless questions.
What is the nature of the void-like space that had hovered in the air? How could I control it? What was the emperor thinking when he shouted, "Long live the emperor!"in his final moments?Above all, why do I keep repeating this life?
Although that was the most pressing question, I set it aside for now. Gith-Za-Rai had defeated two of Azure's wizards, but also dismissed my claims of repeating time as the ramblings of a mad Skeleton.
No matter where I asked, I doubted anyone could answer. For now, I had to accept the loop as reality and plan accordingly.
I shoved the questions into the back of my mind and started organizing them. As my thoughts cleared, emotions surfaced. Perhaps because this place was tied to memories of Rubia, I felt a strange mix of warmth and melancholy.
I wonder when I'll see her again...
While I was lost in thought, system messages popped up.
[Throwing Spear Lv. 1 acquired.]
[Tracking Lv. 1 acquired.]
[Digestion of Spearmanship Lv. 1 complete.]
It was time. I had finally absorbed the abilities I had absorbed from the unfortunate search party.
I still had the black dagger in my hand. Its blade was black as coal. Runes and ominous symbols floated along the short blade.
Just a scratch could kill.
Whenever the blade nicked the skin, those symbols seeped into the wound, tore through veins, and turned blood white. The man I had slashed hadn't even managed to roll over twice before he died.
It's a terrifying weapon.
I suspected that the dagger was far more valuable than any of the legendary swords I had taken. I stared at it. One of the symbols was missing from the blade.
It doesn't regenerate?
I counted the remaining symbols. There were enough for five more uses. I decided this weapon would be reserved for only the most critical moments.
I gazed at the message floating in the air.
[Digestion of Spearmanship Lv.1 complete!]
The spear felt unfamiliar to me as it was a weapon designed to keep a distance from my opponent. It was a tool that extended death to the tip of its long shaft, granting the ability to strike before the enemy could approach.
Its essence was safety—to pierce without being pierced. However, skeletons didn't think that way. We were stripped of any fear or caution toward death. We were walking corpses, existing only to be trampled and broken.
Our weapons had always been simple: straight swords and axes. No one cared about our safety or spacing, not even ourselves.
I picked up a spear I had brought with me and thrust it into the air.
The sound of the spear cutting through the air echoed throughout the cave.
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