In the farthest, most forgotten corner of the Underworld, known as the Land of White Bones, there thrives one of the lowest undead species—the Skeletons!
Though this undead race is not lacking in fame and often appears in many knight novels, its notoriety in the Underworld is almost as infamous as its lowly position, known to everyone.
As a result, Zhao Lun felt incredibly melancholic, to the point that it could flood the entire river of his despair.
He never imagined that one day, when he awoke, he would find himself transformed into a skeleton, and not just any skeleton, but one so fragile that its bones were falling apart, constantly on the verge of disintegration.
The only silver lining in this situation was that, after absorbing and organizing the memories left behind by this skeleton, Zhao Lun discovered that he had transmigrated into the body of a Skeleton Mage. This revelation brought him a surge of joy, something that briefly lifted his spirits.
Since childhood, Zhao Lun had always been fascinated by magic, dreaming of becoming a wizard who could wield spells. Although he was now just a novice Skeleton Mage with only a level 0 spell, "Blind," which had no other power but to make someone temporarily lose their vision, it was still enough to make a magic enthusiast like him overjoyed.
Not long ago, Zhao Lun had been drowning in despair over the fact that he had lost his manhood and could no longer indulge in his favorite activities with women. But now, the excitement for magic had helped him forget about that minor detail.
Eager to try out his newfound powers, Zhao Lun grabbed the nearby staff—roughly 20 to 30 centimeters long, with the skull of some unknown small beast on its tip—and began to chant the incantation for his first spell, "Blind." He aimed it at a nearby stone.
"Blind" was a unique 0-level spell granted to all Skeleton Mages, so Zhao Lun was certain that it would succeed. However, he quickly realized that if the target had no eyes, using a blindness spell was pointless.
The incantation barely took two seconds to complete, and as Zhao Lun swung his staff, he felt a part of his mental energy drain away. His once-strong mental state became somewhat lethargic, and other than that, there was no notable effect.
"Ugh, damn it! I got so excited I forgot that 'Blind' is a curse-type spell! Wasted a quarter of my magic power for nothing, and the time's almost up. I have to get back, or I'll be in trouble!" Though becoming a Skeleton Mage excited Zhao Lun, the experience with magic had somewhat dampened his enthusiasm. At last, he remembered his circumstances.
As a 0-level Skeleton Mage, Zhao Lun was among the weakest beings in the entire Underworld, let alone in this Land of White Bones. He only knew the "Blind" spell, and his magic reserves were so low that even at full capacity, he could only cast "Blind" four times before running out of power. Even at full health, his strength was laughable. Surviving here in the Land of White Bones would be incredibly difficult.
Fortunately, the memories of the Skeleton Mage he had occupied provided a lifeline. There was a hidden refuge, a place that had protected the previous owner of this body, and Zhao Lun intended to head there, knowing it would offer some safety.
The memories showed that, although the Skeleton Mage was naturally cautious and timid, it had managed to find a safe hideout. And that was exactly where Zhao Lun was heading now.
As Zhao Lun prepared for the journey, he recalled how, in the human world, the Underworld was often depicted as the paradise for the undead. However, upon experiencing the memories of the Skeleton Mage, Zhao Lun realized that this was far from the truth.
While Zhao Lun didn't know what the rest of the Underworld was like, the Land of White Bones was a truly hellish place. It was a constant struggle for survival, both for humans and for the undead.
In the Land of White Bones, life was hard for Skeletons. Usually, of every thousand 0-level Skeletons, none would survive long enough to reach level 1. It could be said that every day was a battle against disaster. Though the term "disaster" might seem harsh, it was truly fitting.
Skeletons were a lowly form of undead, and until they reached level 5, they had no self-awareness. Killing and devouring were their only instincts. Thus, whenever two Skeletons met, a battle was inevitable, and it would be a bloody one. Only one would survive to become stronger, and this factor alone caused the deaths of most Skeletons. Occasionally, other undead would pass through the Land of White Bones, leading to yet another massacre. This could be described as the "disaster" of a Skeleton's life.
Compared to these unpredictable "disasters," the "natural disasters" seemed tame. They were a regular occurrence, every 48 hours, like a typhoon or earthquake. However, the frequency of these disasters in the Land of White Bones was far greater and much more terrifying.
According to the memories of the Skeleton Mage, there were three types of natural disasters. The first was a freezing rain, so cold that even small rocks would shatter. The second was a fiery rain, hot enough to melt stone. The third was a fierce wind. Although the Skeleton Mage had always followed its instincts and hidden in the cave that had protected it, Zhao Lun had once seen through the cave entrance a level 5 or higher Skeleton being sucked into the wind and torn apart in the air.
After absorbing the memories of the Skeleton Mage, Zhao Lun knew that he couldn't underestimate these "natural disasters." With heightened caution, he hurried down the path, his heart pounding as he sought shelter. After a few minutes, he finally reached the cave from the memories.
"Finally here... I can rest easy," Zhao Lun muttered, though he was still on edge. The natural disaster might strike at any moment, and who knew when it would come? He didn't want to risk it.
Looking up at the overcast sky, Zhao Lun saw no sign of the impending disaster. However, the memories of the Skeleton Mage were so vivid that he could hardly shake the feeling of unease. Without wasting another moment, he dashed into the cave.
Upon entering, Zhao Lun's eyes widened in surprise. The entrance was much narrower than he had anticipated. The tunnel, only about one meter high and less than thirty centimeters wide, was barely wide enough for him to squeeze through.
"Well, at least it's a good defensive position," Zhao Lun thought, trying to reassure himself. This narrow passage would be hard for enemies to penetrate, and if it was well guarded, it could make a perfect hiding place.
Just as Zhao Lun reached the end of the passage, his skeletal frame froze. In front of him stood another Skeleton, holding a massive axe and glaring at him with intense, violent eyes. The creature's hollow, white flames flickered with malice and hunger. Before Zhao Lun could react, the monster's jaws opened wide, and it swung the heavy axe down toward him…