"Start moving the armour!" The black knight that was overseeing the garrisons looting yelled out.
The captains began chattering their teeth and the minion skeletons began work.
The mountain of armour dwindled down to a few piles in two hours. Skeletons went back and forth from the carriages, brining sword and spear alike together. In one more hour the piles were but a thing of the past. Instead, ten large wagons towed by skeletal horses were filled to the brim with armour and gear.
The upside to having a workforce of undead is the lack of breaks needed. You can prioritize efficiency without needing your workers to break. What a human workforce could do in a week and undead workforce could do in a day. Back and forth without rest, clattering bones that never ceased.
Because of this, the piles stood no chance to the large number of skeletons.
Soon the skeletons lined up along the wagons and began walking with the horses.
"We're heading back to the dead lands." The Black Knight said a few words before turning to his mage aid.
The mage nodded and turned around. He stretched his hand out and a sickly green portal opened up. The duo walked into it and were gone. The captains gave their orders out and so the gruelling march began.
Or it would be gruelling for anyone alive.
Jyron was no different from the other skeletons. Marching to the land of the dead, no goal in sight. Mindless, and autonomous.
'How obnoxious. I hate labour too now.' The list of things Jyron hated was ever growing. First manipulation, and now labour.
'It matters not. When I grow in power I won't have to do any of that.' Jyron glanced at his captain.
'When he grows I won't have to do anything…'
Jyron walked for two more days with no news or change in scenery. That's when something thenomenal happened.
[Announcement: It has been approximately three days since the host was given the system. It is time for the host to pick a class based on his spells.]
Jyron froze. A skeleton bumped into him from behind. A skeletal captain turned around and looked at Jyron suspiciously. The skeleton soon averted its gaze as it didn't understand what could be wrong. It had a very basic mind after all.
Jyron soon began walking again like normal. Unlike normal, his thoughts were racing faster than ever before.
'The system remains? Does that mean Death is unaware of my freedom? Or does that mean he doesn't care? Am I that weak?' The announcement meant many things. The systems primary goal is either to make him as powerful as possible or keep him loyal. Perhaps it's both. Regardless, he's overcome the servitude forced upon him by the system.
'I can only hope Death doesn't know. Now, back to the announcement.' Jyron honed in on the announcement and a new screen appeared.
[Based on the hosts skills the following classes can be achieved: Death Mage, Shadow Assassin, Necromancer.]
'Shadow assassin certainly sounds interesting… but what does it entail?'
[Shadow Assassin: A class that utilizes fast movements, strength, and magic. Be ready for shadow magics and fast-paced melee combat.]
Immediately Shadow Assassin was ruled out.
'I have a passive called magic mastery. Only a fool would forsake that for a class that has a semi-reliance on melee combat. I'm going all in on magic.' Jyron quickly wrote the interesting but obsolete class off and moved on.
'Now it's between these two.'
[Death Mage: A class that utilizes magic and the ability to run. Death mages utilize offensive and defensive spells of the death category. Spells belonging to the domains of rot and bone are plenty.]
[Necromancer: A class that utilizes magic to fight. Commands hordes of undead to fight for him. Summoning, offensive, and defensive spells will be utilized. Spells only come in the death category as host is a skeleton.]
It didn't take much consideration to realize that being a necromancer is the best course of action. The pros heavily outweigh the cons. No need to be on the run from enemies. As a mage he could simply stay back and cast spells while his minions do the hard work for him.
'It's settled then, a Necromancer I shall be.' With that Jyron focused on the word "necromancer" and waited.
It didn't take long for black energy begin to float from the ground into Jyron's bones.
Soon, the benefits became clear.
[Class Evolving To Skeletal Necromancer.]
[Strength +10]
[Agility +10]
[Intelligence +45]
[Spells Obtained (2).]
[Loyal Undead (I): Using Death Mana, open a gateway to the land of the dead and bind a unique undead to yourself. This servant will always serve you diligently. Power of Loyal Undead varies with the user who uses it. Based off potential. Some entities are too powerful to bind at your current state.]
[Novice Necromancer Storage: Store ten undead in a "storage" to summon at any time. 0/10]
'A special undead huh… either way I'm getting a loyal summon. And the perfect way to hide it and keep it with me.' Jyron was decently pleased with his class. Perhaps he would summon a death knight or a wraith. The possibilities were endless, and all he knew was it was going to be good regardless.
'Only problem remaining is where do I do it. Those captains may have a small mind but I'm sure something as drastic as a summoning would alert them. Either wait or sneak away… I'll play the waiting game.'
Weeks passed with little change. The group went from barren dirt to trees, from trees to farmland, and from farmland to dark forests.
'Does this mean were almost there?' Excitement filled Jyron's mind at the revelation that the walking would end. His patience would be rewarded with being able to use his new spells.
'Just a few more days is all it should take.' And so the convoy continued moving.
Soon the trees broke apart and the path led to a large open dirt land, much like the battlefield.
'Yes! Finally!' There's only so long a man can think for. The unchanging scenery gave little stimulation to the now sentient skeletons mind. No comrades to speak to left much to be desired for the active mind of Jyron.
It didn't take long for large, sturdy, black walls to come into view. A headless knight in black armour was atop a pitch black horse. Red fires left it's nose with every breath. It sat at the gate watching the convoys arrive. Skeletal archers lined the walls and hundreds a of skeletons were in view of the front gate.
'Home sweet home…' with renewed vigour Jyron powered forward to test out his new spells.