Eternal Rest

As the party made camp and settled in for rest, an awkward atmosphere descended upon them. The rogue and the ranger sat by the fire, stealing occasional glances in Bones' direction. Vern, the defender, remained by himself, meticulously cleaning his shield, while Solin approached Bones, who sat a short distance away, maintaining a noticeable distance between them.

Despite the successful dungeon clearing, the mood had turned sour. With no casualties suffered and favorable loot drops, one would expect jubilation rather than tension. So, why the foul mood?

Bones glanced at Solin as he settled down beside him. “So, what do you think of the dungeon?”

"The dungeon was definitely unexpected," Bones replied. "Those giant flowers caught me off guard, that's for sure. It added a new layer of challenges to my usual encounters."

Solin nodded, considering Bones' words. "I appreciate the gesture, Solin, but no need to hold yourself back. Ask away," Bones added, sensing Solin's hesitation to ask what he really came to ask.

Solin looked away for a moment, then back at Bones. "That transparent, huh? I really wanted to ask what happened there at the end. Gareth healed you, then you unleashed a mana blast, and then... I felt something odd. Your posture, Bones, and the way you looked at him. I didn't see your expression, but I felt it..."

Bones nodded, pondering his response. "What do you want me to say? Heal doesn't work on the undead, you know that. At least, not the way it should. Anyway, I might have turned my aggression towards our fellow ranger."

Solin nodded, understanding that something like that had occurred. "Well, it's in the past now. Do tell, however, about the skill you used on Gareth... What was it?"

With a wide grin, Bones excused himself. "Sorry, it's just an undead thing! Do you think we might encounter any issues down the road because of me?"

Solin turned to look at the two by the fire, then confidently stated, "No, they're not like that. I wouldn't call them good guys, but they wouldn't backstab…" He paused mid-speech, considering his words, then concluded, "I'm sure we'll be fine!"

The party relaxed for a while before gathering together to share the loot they had acquired from the boss. Bones retrieved the staff he had obtained and inspected it closely. The shaft of the staff was crafted from sturdy wood, adorned with engraved lines that ran from the bottom to the top. At the apex of the staff, a large mana crystal was embedded into the tip of the shaft.

This mana crystal appeared larger and emitted a brighter glow compared to any crystal or mana stone Bones had encountered before. When he inquired about it, Solin explained that it was a mana crystal of medium quality. It was Bones' first encounter with a mana crystal of such size. Solin further elaborated that unlike mana stones, crystals had a lower output but lasted longer. This made them more suitable for crafting staffs or powering utilities. Once depleted, the crystal would break but could be easily replaced by a specialized crafter.

Among the loot dropped by the boss were items not usable by any members of the party, such as the Bloodthorn Whip. Adhering to their premeditated rules, any items deemed unusable by the party members would be sold, with the proceeds split evenly among the group. Within an hour, the party had completed their preparations and was ready to move on. Bones gazed at the now familiar portal that materialized after the boss's defeat, then followed the rest of the team through it one by one.

The third floor would mark the final stage of their dungeon run, as the monsters on the fourth floor were on average of silver rank, with the boss being in the 2nd tier—too formidable for the current strength of the team to handle. Solin briefed Bones on what to expect on the third floor, while Vern, assuming his role as the leader, repeated the process with the other members of the party.

Once again, the party found themselves in a small clearing surrounded by the forest. Unlike the previous floor, the third floor was populated by humanoid monsters such as kobolds, creatures Bones hadn't encountered since the beginning of his journey. Occasionally, they encountered elite trolls at level thirty-seven. Surprisingly, these monsters were easier to handle than the plants from the previous floor. While the plants relied mainly on poison with paralyzing and hallucinogenic effects, which required careful preparation to counter, the kobolds posed a more straightforward threat.

The kobolds were numerous and lived in tribes within the dungeon, if such a term could be applied to their existence. Despite being larger than the ones Bones had previously encountered, they retained their aggressive nature. They frequently attempted to ambush the team in groups of three to five, launching ferocious attacks with basic proficiency in their respective weapons. To Bones' surprise, his golem seemed to mimic some of the kobolds' moves with the spear.

Trolls, on the other hand, were fewer in number, and the team always encountered them individually. They proved to be durable adversaries, requiring time and teamwork to deplete their health to zero due to their high-speed health regeneration.

Bones made an observation, realizing the significant advantage he had as an undead over these creatures. Thus far, all the monsters they had encountered seemed adapted to oppose, kill, and counter the living with poisons, bleeding attacks, acid, mental assaults, and even soul-based attacks. While Bones was already aware of his inherent advantages, it was only now that he truly grasped the extent of the disparity between them. Despite the team's effective coordination and ability to handle monsters, including bosses, with relative ease, it was not without the necessary preparations and planning beforehand.

Bones also realized just how much he lacked skills that reinforced his body. While he did possess a single passive skill that boosted the sturdiness of his bones, it paled in comparison to the body reinforcement skills acquired by his comrades through years of training.

However, Bones reassured himself that this was acceptable. In due time, he planned to address this deficiency through engraving. For now, his golem would compensate for his weaknesses, and he had to admit, it performed admirably. While there were limits to what the golem could and couldn't do, it was his lack of proficiency in golem mastery that prevented it from reaching the same level as his party members.

Bones also observed that the ranger began progressively distancing himself over the course of clearing the third floor. Soon enough, he noticed others doing the same.

The other rogue and Gareth made it evident what they thought of Bones as he overheard them slandering him over what happened during the fight against the boss Bloodthorn. However, Bones didn't really care. Vern still acted as the leader, but he too, showed signs of unease being around him. It seemed like people couldn't be in close proximity around him for a long period of time without feeling it. That's Misanthrope for you!

Solin was the one most perplexed, as his teammates didn't know that Bones was undead, and he didn't plan to share that information with them. For some reason, Solin seemed unaffected by the skill.

The final boss was an ogre at level forty-four, presenting a formidable challenge. It proved to be a tough battle, as the ogre displayed resilience to physical attacks and unleashed powerful but slow strikes. The party's focus on damage output was precisely to penetrate the boss's defenses and swiftly bring it down.

Solin emerged as the primary damage dealer, leveraging his expertise with both poison and stacking bleed ailments. His proficiency greatly accelerated the overall progress on the floor. Solin had mastered the art of incorporating mana bursts into his piercing attacks, maximizing their effectiveness. Additionally, he utilized the twin bone daggers gifted to him by Bones to poison and debuff his targets, further enhancing his combat prowess.

Once the boss was defeated and the floor completed, the rest of the team wasted no time in leaving. They bid their farewells and departed without so much as a glance in Bones' direction. The defender, however, approached Bones and expressed gratitude for the successful run. He also apologized for the behavior of the others and advised Bones not to dwell on it.

In Bones' perspective, the dungeon run was a success, but it appeared that he wouldn't be able to enjoy future dungeon climbs with a party. Another noteworthy observation was the increased effectiveness of the Misanthrope skill, particularly when combined with Soul Gaze. Recognizing this synergy, Bones decided to hone his soul abilities further. After parting ways with Solin upon leaving the dungeon, Bones began searching for easy targets to continue practicing his soul abilities on. As he reflected on his experiences, he realized he had yet to experience a night out in the western district.

Bones strolled through the bustling streets of Nightingale Row, known as the shadiest part of the city where the worst of the worst congregated. He moved stealthily, navigating between brothels and bars, and weaving through the throngs of people without drawing attention to himself. Every opportunity was seized to employ his soul skills on unsuspecting victims.

The effects of his abilities were sometimes immediate, particularly when in close proximity to the target. On a few occasions, he even managed to provoke a target into attacking him. His choice of victims tended to be the riff-raff, individuals far below his level, who wouldn't be missed if they were to disappear. Furthermore, they were unlikely to garner much sympathy or prompt a search for the perpetrator.

Losing himself in madness, Bones enticed thugs by jingling a pouch of coins as he walked by, inviting them to attempt to rob him. Unfortunate victims fell prey to his Soul Gaze and Soul Link abilities, allowing Bones to peer into their very essence. Once sufficiently shaken up, more often than not, they would retaliate physically, only to be swiftly dispatched by the golem's precise spear.

That night, the streets ran with blood more than usual, and Bones found himself thoroughly enjoying the chaos. Before returning to the tavern at dawn, he made sure to change into a clean robe and indulged in a morning cup of coffee. The night proved to be bountiful as Bones gained four whole levels in the Soul Weaver class, unlocking a new skill at level ten.

The Soul Barrier skill Bones gained acted as a shield for the soul, a passive ability that didn't scale with anything but levels in the Soulweaver class and time. Bones couldn't fully explain it, but he felt the barrier around his core, akin to an eggshell encasing an egg. He hoped it wasn't as fragile as it seemed.

As he sipped his coffee, Solin joined him, ordering breakfast and offering apologies once again for the events of the previous day. Bones didn't mind; in fact, he found it insightful to observe how the misanthrope affected those around him. He was relieved, in a way, that the passive effect wasn't immediate on stronger individuals and took time to manifest. Solin, in particular, didn't seem to be affected. Even now, as they sat together at the table, there were no evident red flags. Bones pondered the reason behind this. Was it because they knew each other? Perhaps they shared a good relationship?

"You've made significant progress, Solin," Bones remarked, offering praise. "I was genuinely impressed by how you handled yourself in the dungeon yesterday. Your precise and timely attacks were crucial to our success."

Solin was momentarily stunned by the unexpected praise, responding with a smile rather than words. It was clear he wasn't accustomed to receiving compliments. After a brief moment of awkward silence, Solin looked up at Bones and expressed that he had gained valuable insights from fighting alongside him over the past few months.

Bones couldn't fully grasp the challenges Solin faced as an assassin trying to strike someone without any discernible vital points. Solin had to adapt his fighting patterns and incorporate imbued attacks into his combos. While imbued attacks were typically acquired at higher levels, Solin had modified his approach to imbuing them, reducing the strain of their usage. He had even developed a new skill to make executing them easier.

Once again, Solin emphasized the importance of self-learning skills and customizing them to one's needs, rather than merely accepting what the system provided. Bones smiled at Solin, a wave of nostalgia washing over him as he remembered the struggles of his past life. Yet, he respectfully disagreed with Solin's approach. For Bones, embracing the path guided by the system felt like a welcomed journey, and he had no intention of deviating from it.

Changing the topic, Bones inquired about Solin's girlfriend, Morem. Solin's demeanor instantly shifted, and he eagerly set his dish aside, ready to provide an update. "I completely forgot to fill you in! Everything's going really well! Following your advice, I've been keeping things simple with her and just being straightforward."

"Ah, that's fantastic news!" Bones responded genuinely, his sincerity evident. Despite the emotional turbulence he experienced, or perhaps because of it, Bones found himself more sincere with Solin than with anyone else... except perhaps the dwarves.

"Yeah, she was more understanding than I thought she would be when I said I needed more time to myself,” Solin explained.

“Hmm? Well, she sounds like quite a catch, Solin,” Bones commented, not eager to delve further into the affairs of the youth. The notion of her being understanding raised a slight red flag, but he trusted them to resolve any potential issues.

“-out you, Bones?” Solin repeated, trying to regain Bones' attention as he seemed lost in thought. “Sorry, what?”

“I asked if you had any family? I don’t mean to pry, you just never really talk about yourself. Do you remember if you have a family?” Solin inquired, attempting to draw Bones into a more personal conversation.

“I don’t mind the question,” Bones responded, considering how to answer. “I did have a family in the past. I had a wife, sons, and daughters once. If disease or plague didn’t take them, violence did.” His gaze drifted towards the window, memories of anguish flooding back. “It led me down a path of self-destruction, becoming a bitter old man.”

“I didn’t have children after my first wife, but I did marry again. She died of old age. She wasn’t like us, baptized by magic and able to live for over a century.” Bones turned to Solin, who looked somewhat guilty for bringing up the subject of family, and continued. “I thought I would join her soon…” He trailed off, reflecting on the passage of time. “Anyway, I no longer have an interest in starting a family, and I don’t really think that’s an option anymore, given what I am,” Bones finished, his tone somber.

Solin looked like someone had poured cold water over his head. “Man, you really know how to bring the mood down,” he remarked with a cheeky smile. “It’s only morning, but I got the blues for the whole day.”

Bones chuckled at Solin’s response. “You cheeky brat! Finish your breakfast and let’s go browse the shops if you don’t have anything better to do.”

“Sure, I have the time, though I should visit the adventurer guild and take on a quest to fulfill my quota.”

“What quota?” Bones asked, puzzled.

Solin raised an eyebrow. “Uh, Bones? When was the last time you completed a contract for the guild?”

“I’m not sure. It’s been around, two months, maybe?”

“Alright, you’re coming with me to the guild. Every adventurer is required to complete a single contract at minimum every three months, and it seems both of us are nearing that time.”