Newbie Slicer (2)
The quiet Starting Village was, as always, bustling with fresh visitors today.
"So, with just this sword, I can clear the dungeon no problem, right?"
A thrilled newbie Wanderer who'd just bought his first weapon, beaming with excitement.
"Of course! Especially check out these runes engraved on the blade. Feel that special energy?"
And the merchant rolling his tongue hard to fleece the poor newbie.
Scamming naive beginner Wanderers was just everyday life around here.
"Ooh...! Yeah, I totally feel something!"
Gale, a total rookie stepping into the Starting Village for the first time. The moment he gripped the sword, his face lit up like he'd sensed some profound power. He swung it around wildly, grinning like an idiot.
The merchant watching him thought to himself, 'Idiot. Feel what?'
A cynical sneer hid behind his friendly smile. Mask the truth, wrap it in bullshit—that's basic merchant etiquette.
Everyone setting out on their first adventure had the same vibe. All hyped up, screws loose in their heads, flushed faces as they strutted down the streets with weird gaits.
Most newbies, like they'd been brainwashed somewhere, skipped the proper shops and poked around shady street stalls instead.
Dim, dingy alleys. That's where the "mysterious" vendors hawked bizarre weapons you wouldn't find in legit stores. Of course, they were mostly flashy replicas with no real juice.
The sword Gale was eyeing? Same deal. Plain blade etched with meaningless gibberish and a bit of gold paint. Barely any work, looked fancy enough. No magic whatsoever.
He'd hyped it up as "runes," but the translation? Something lame like "I gotta pee."
"So, how much for this?"
"You're my first customer today, so special price: 1 gold."
The merchant named a fat price like he was doing the guy a favor.
1 gold? Any seasoned Wanderer would've drawn steel on the spot. That could buy two weeks of cozy beds at the inn.
"Sold!"
But Gale, eyes glazed with greed, whipped out a shiny gold coin without a second thought.
A sword with rare runes for just 1 gold? What a steal! Is this guy a moron? He's actually buying it. Whatever, works for me!
Crossing thoughts, different angles, but both faces lit with satisfaction. Of course, by the time the newbie figured out the truth and came storming back, the merchant would be long gone.
"Hey, where's the best spot to get info?"
"For that, head to the Sun Inn."
"Sun Inn? Famous place?"
Gale tilted his head at the unfamiliar name.
"Duh. Never heard 'When you're lost, follow the sun'?"
Nope. An old Wanderer saying passed down through the ages, but total gibberish to a total noob like Gale.
Still, for the price of 1 gold, he'd scored some pricey intel. He beelined straight for the Sun Inn.
The door swung open, and the first thing Gale saw was...
"I was a fool."
A geared-up veteran Wanderer on his knees before some old man, groveling.
What the hell is this?
"Um..."
"Shh. Quiet."
Gale, flustered by the heavy atmosphere, tried to ask for info but got shut down quick. He clamped his mouth shut and watched.
"Please, help me."
"Weren't you all high and mighty yesterday? Now you're crawling like a whipped dog—what gives?"
The innkeeper, Perion, his voice thick with age, prodded.
Ethan, who'd marched to the plains to hunt skeletons himself after hearing the rumors. But waiting there was a bonehead draped in a sackcloth, clutching more bones.
"It wasn't a rumor. There really is a monster out there."
He'd let his guard down at first—looked so pathetic. But after tasting those attacks firsthand, Ethan knew: monster. Didn't belong here.
So he'd bolted to the temple, respawned, and rushed here for backup.
"What do you want?"
The reason he'd swallowed his pride and knelt.
"I need everyone's help. We have to band together now, take it down ASAP."
"You wanna raid it?"
"...Yes."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd at Perion's words.
Raid. The term for when a threat too big for small parties pops up.
"That bad...?"
"Overkill much?"
Skeptical voices rose. But Ethan's gaze was rock-solid.
Perion stared him down long and hard, then his wrinkled lips boomed.
"Quiet, all of you!"
"......"
The thunderous roar—impossible from an old man's mouth—silenced the room.
"You take responsibility for that claim?"
"Yes. I'll own it all."
Not a flicker of doubt. No liar's eyes.
"Gear up, everyone! Time to get some fresh air—been too long!"
With that, Wanderers grabbed their weapons. A raid after 10 long years was on.
And lurking in the shadows, eavesdropping on it all: a tiny figure.
Emilia, the little witch who'd guided a vet party not long ago. Seeing the Wanderers gear up for a massive skeleton hunt, she slipped out in a hurry.
'Gotta tell Skull-senpai quick...!'
She always repaid her debts. Multiplied many times over. A witch's instinct, honed over ages.
The price of her life saved. And that one apple he'd fed her when she was starving.
Time to pay up, she thought.
For a set duration, the wearer's strength surges dramatically.
(Duration: 10 min)
(Cooldown: 30 min)
The new ring's effect was pretty damn useful. More restrictions than my other skills, but the payoff was solid.
Slipped it on, triggered the skill—power flooded my body like crazy.
Hell yeah, strength boiling over!
Slammed a bone down at a target—ground cratered with a boom.
Boom!
'Whoa!'
"Clack clack!"
Satisfying as hell. So this is what more power feels like!
Attacks hit different now—more impact than even Slash. Real hand feedback.
Rustle.
"......!"
Noise from the bushes. Prey?
Turned, bone raised—then spotted the face and deflated.
"......"
Tiny girl in a black hood. Emilia, panting, hand on her chest.
"...!!"
She spotted me too, lit up, and rushed over. Started gesturing wildly, trying to say something.
What? Gotta speak up to know.
Her weird repeated motions baffled me. Oh, right—she's mute.
Remembered that, leaned in to decipher.
Someone walking? Nod nod.
Horns on their head? No, mad? Shake shake.
Not that either?
What the hell...?
"Clack clack...?"
Sudden quiz time. Racked my skull forever—no answer.
"......!"
Then Emilia pointed behind me, eyes wide in shock.
Followed her gaze—down the hill.
Dozens of armed folks marching our way. Not one looked pushover.
Finally got it. She'd been warning me of the threat.
Damn, big crowd. Guess I stirred the pot too much.
Obvious they were here for me. But weird— all this for little old me?
...Why? Weak get eaten—that's basic. Law of the jungle.
Applies to you too. Lie, exploit, even butcher your own kind without mercy.
For thrills. For greed.
So why the special treatment for me?
Craving
Humans slaughter each other fine.
Why can't I kill humans? I was human once.
Why this treatment now?
'...Because I'm a skeleton?'
Undead. Cursed thing that won't die.
So I'm not alive? Bullshit.
This wasn't what I wanted. Eat when hungry, sleep when tired. Dream impossible dreams, cling to vain hopes.
But I can't. Pathetic skull life. No eating, no sleeping.
Basic life stuff—distant fantasy for me.
Truth is, I wanna live normal. Enjoy it all.
Not this useless sack of bones!
Intense desire surges, Craving level rises.
Craving now Level 2.
If it levels more, maybe things change. Evolve, inherit—back to human body?
And right now, buffet of prey in sight.
Craving triggers hunger.
Suddenly... starving.