An oppressive darkness wrapped around me, cold and silent. I couldn't feel my body, yet I was conscious, aware in a way that felt both surreal and terrifying. Memories of my last moments as a human were hazy—a thunderstorm, the flash of lightning, and a loud crack that had drowned out my thoughts. Then, nothing.
When I opened my eyes—or at least I thought I did—I saw nothing but an infinite void. A faint blue glow appeared in front of me, drawing my attention.
SYSTEM INITIALIZED. Welcome to Arkanis, Chosen One. Your journey begins here.
The words floated in my vision, translucent and unnatural, like some kind of game UI. Chosen One? That sounded ridiculous. Was this a prank? A dream?
My thoughts were interrupted by another notification:
Evolution Path: Skeleton Minion Objective: Absorb souls to grow stronger. Current souls: 0.
"Skeleton Minion? Absorb souls?" I muttered aloud, or at least I tried to. The sound that came out wasn't a voice but a hollow, rattling noise. Panic surged through me. I looked down, only to find a pair of skeletal hands—bony, pale, and etched with faint, glowing runes.
I stumbled back, or tried to. My feet—bare bones like the rest of me—scraped against the stone floor. A dim light flickered, revealing more of my surroundings: a cavern of jagged black rocks, its walls glowing faintly with an eerie, pulsing light.
"No... this can't be real." I reached for my face, fingers brushing against a smooth, hollow surface. No skin, no muscle, just bone. My mind reeled. I wasn't human anymore.
Reminder: You are in a hostile environment. Survival is paramount.
The notification's timing couldn't have been worse. A low growl echoed through the cavern, sending chills—or at least the skeletal equivalent—down my nonexistent spine. I turned toward the sound, my glowing eye sockets locking onto a pair of crimson orbs in the darkness.
A creature emerged, its body resembling a warped, hairless wolf with scales covering parts of its flesh. Its fangs gleamed as it snarled, saliva dripping onto the ground. My instincts screamed at me to run, but my legs felt stiff and unresponsive.
Enemy Identified: Feral Shade Wolf Level: 3
Another notification appeared. Level 3? I had no idea what level I was, but I had a sinking feeling it wasn't enough.
The wolf lunged, its claws swiping toward my chest. I barely managed to dodge, my movements clunky and uncoordinated. The wolf's claws scraped against the stone, sparks flying. I staggered backward, tripping over my own feet and landing hard.
Pain shot through me. Wait—pain? I didn't have nerves. How could I feel anything? Before I could process the thought, the wolf pounced again. Desperation took over. I swung my arm, a bony fist colliding with its snout. The impact sent a shock through my arm, and the wolf yelped, stumbling back.
"That actually worked?" I muttered, scrambling to my feet. The wolf recovered quickly, snarling louder than before. This time, I didn't wait for it to attack. I lunged forward, more out of instinct than strategy, and brought both fists down on its head. The beast yelped again, but its retaliation was swift. Its claws raked across my ribcage, leaving deep scratches. No blood spilled, but the runes on my bones dimmed slightly.
Health: 70%
Another notification. Great. I had health points now? This really was like a game—one I was woefully unprepared for.
The wolf circled me, and I mirrored its movements, my skeletal feet scraping against the stone. My mind raced. I needed to end this quickly, but how? My strength was pitiful, my body fragile. Then I remembered the objective: absorb souls. Maybe defeating this thing would give me a boost.
Summoning every ounce of courage I had, I feigned a stumble, luring the wolf into attacking. It took the bait, lunging for my exposed side. At the last second, I twisted, grabbing its neck with both hands. My grip was weak, but I didn't let go. The wolf thrashed, its claws tearing into my arm, but I held on, tightening my bony fingers around its throat.
"Come on," I growled through clenched teeth. "Just... die!!"
With a sickening crunch, the wolf went limp. Its body collapsed to the ground, lifeless. A surge of energy coursed through me, warm and invigorating.
Enemy Defeated. Soul Absorbed. Current Souls: 1
The runes on my bones flared, glowing brighter. I felt... stronger, sturdier. The scratches on my ribcage began to fade, the damaged bone knitting itself back together.
Level Up: Skeleton Minion (Level 2)
A rush of information flooded my mind. New instincts, new knowledge. I clenched my fists, marveling at the slight increase in my strength. It wasn't much, but it was progress.
I looked down at the wolf's body. Its crimson eyes had dimmed, its form crumpled and lifeless. Guilt bubbled up for a moment, but I pushed it aside. It was either me or it.
"So, this is my life now?" I muttered, staring at my skeletal hands. "Killing monsters to survive?"
The cavern trembled slightly, a distant roar echoing through the tunnels. My newfound confidence wavered. Whatever made that noise was far more dangerous than the wolf.
Objective Updated: Explore the Cavern. Survive.
"Explore? Are you kidding me?" I groaned, but the system didn't respond. Of course it didn't. It wasn't like I had a choice. Staying here wasn't an option, not with whatever made that roar lurking nearby.
I looked around, spotting two paths leading deeper into the cavern. One was faintly lit by glowing crystals embedded in the walls, while the other disappeared into pitch-black darkness. Neither option looked appealing, but the crystals offered some visibility.
With a resigned sigh, I started down the illuminated path, my bony feet echoing against the stone. Every step felt surreal, a reminder of what I had become. A skeleton. A monster. Yet, deep down, I felt a spark of determination. If this world wanted to throw me into the abyss, I'd claw my way out, one soul at a time.
And maybe, just maybe, I'd find a way to become something more.