Ouch! Shinbone Farming

Rattle. "Clack clack." Rattle. "Clack clack." Every step filled the darkness with a racket.

If I had to pick the biggest downside to becoming a skeleton, it'd probably be this. Unlike when I was human, every movement came with a hell of a noise. Nothing grated on me more than the sound from my jaw. It felt like it was echoing right in my brain. Not that I had one anymore.

Rattle.

The familiar dungeon layout unfolded before me. My eyes, shining sharply through the gloom, pierced everything in sight. So, where to next?

At the fork in the path, I paused to think. Finish sweeping floor 1? Or head deeper down? Each had clear pros.

Going lower meant higher odds of tougher foes, no doubt. Some would surely drop Soul Stones. It'd get me to my goal—getting stronger—faster.

But a thorough search of floor 1 might be slower, yet it raised chances of finding hidden goodies. That Fallen Knight skeleton had been tucked away in a spot no normal player would've reached, after all.

What to do?

After a moment's deliberation, I decided. Yeah, let's finish up floor 1! These things are all about savoring every nook and cranny—that's the golden rule. Plenty of time anyway.

I turned to the unsearched sections of floor 1. What treasures might be hiding? Light steps carried me inward, anticipation buzzing.

Deep in the pitch-black dungeon, I scanned carefully for traps and pressed on.

Soon, a familiar room appeared. The zombie-packed chamber where I'd stumbled into that first trap and gotten locked in by accident. Past the hidden passage inside lay the massive room guarded by the skeleton knight. Beyond that? A firmly shut door.

Suspicious as hell, that door. No method had budged it—it was rock-solid. In these cases, the key's usually stashed at the dungeon's deepest point. Whether the devs wanted players to savor their creation or just screw with us, who knows. Maybe both.

One thing was sure: I'd have to clear the whole dungeon to crack that mystery door.

"Clack clack."

No spit to swallow in regret, so my teeth clacked instead. Shaking it off, I moved on.

A long corridor lined with rooms. Most were empty, worthless husks. Was floor 1 just that first room? Should've gone straight down.

Even meticulous checks yielded zilch, leaving me disappointed—until.

Rattle. A familiar clatter echoed from the corridor's far end.

"Clack clack."

Skeletons. Easily dozens. But I wasn't fazed. Why would I be? Skeletons don't attack their own kind. Undead ignore anything without a pulse, kin or not.

Boldly, I strode right into the cluster. Predictably, zero reaction. Not a flicker of interest.

At this point, curiosity hit. Why do undead attack people anyway?

Beasts hunt to eat—survival instinct. But undead like me? No need ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to feed. What drives us?

Rattle thud! Watching skeletons trip over each other like idiots, I pondered. Dumb and slow as they seem, they swarm anything alive on sight. Undead instinct.

So what is instinct?

Conveniently, I had a skill to explain.

'Skills!'

I pulled up my skill window.

Life force. Instinctive urge. I zeroed in on "life force."

What was that? Just any living thing?

Vibes suggested as much. I had an instinct too. Probably manifested as this Craving skill for skeletons.

Got it. That's why my body moves on its own!

I'm a skeleton. Undead. Spot anything with life force, and my eyes glaze over. Reason: Craving.

Triggers in two ways. First: direct life force, like humans—hits me with jealousy-fueled hunger. Second: Soul Stone carriers. Greed overload, like with the skeleton knight.

Nodding, pieces clicked. Sudden Craving bursts? Body hijacks? All explained.

Understanding didn't change much, but fewer surprises ahead. No more panic. Good enough. At least no more annoyance!

...Or not? Still creepy when my body acts like it's possessed.

'But why're they all piled up like this?'

Staring at the mindless swarm, I wondered. This wide corridor, dead end—why here?

Hidden item maybe? Zombies guarded the knight's room like deliberate placement. Something here too?

Greed sparked. Arm out to push through.

'Argh! Move it!'

"Clack clack!"

Irritated shove, but the horde didn't budge. No breakthrough like this. Time for that.

Grabbed my trusty favorite bone, carried everywhere.

Crack!

Smashed the frontmost pest's skull without mercy. Plain swing, no ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠skill. Nameless skeleton crumpled pathetically.

Bones scattered. No guilt. Don't block the way, idiot. Clan loyalty? Tossed that ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ages ago.

Next target. Still swarming. Annoying—wipe 'em all?

Yeah, quick sweep. Big swing this time. Stepping back for stance, foot hit a fresh shinbone—

"...!!"

Sudden window jolted me. Wait, usable again?

Same as last time. Proceed?

I nodded.

***

***

Dodge gone, replaced by a newbie skill: Headbutt lv. 1.

I stared in disbelief.

...What kinda useless crap is this?

Swapped back to my original shinbone pronto. Dodge returned—phew.

So I could swap bones freely. New intel.

Skill leveled with use, right? And bones everywhere. EXP fodder to my eyes.

Ouch! So many shinbones?

Grinning invisibly, I eyed the horde. All prime shin targets. Farm time.

*

Thrilled, I set down my bone. Massacre site: bone piles. Repeated right shin swaps finally leveled it.

Many tries, no gems. Low-level bones, probably. Good bones, bad bones exist. Handled enough to feel it. Bone expert now.

Glanced around. Bone chaos. Farming left wrists one-by-one? Nah, pass. Stood up.

Not the goal anyway. Corridor end: small chest.

Dungeon bloom! Item box!

Kicked bones aside, dashed over.

Worn, rickety box. Eagerly creaked it open.

Screeech! Classic!

Even rusty hinges thrilled me. Inside: faded something.

Score! Useful passive—no cooldown like Power Ring.

What changes? Eager, dangled it by my ear-hole.

But smooth skull only. Realization dawned.

Wait... I got no ears...?

'Fuck...'

"Clack clack..."

Disappointed.