The sensation was like being dragged through an endless whirlpool. I tried to scream, but discovered that my new body had no voice. I fell — or at least felt like he was falling — for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, the fall ended, and woke up with an uncomfortable weight surrounding me.


    Trying to move, realized I was buried. In a shallow grave, judging by the smell of damp earth and the thin roots that touched his bones. After a clumsy effort, managed to emerge, standing up in what seemed like an ancient battlefield.


    The place was vast, a desolate prairie marked with rusted weapons, broken armor pieces, and what remained of human and non-human bodies. The clothes I was wearing were simple and made of leather, somewhat torn and stiffened by time and the elements. As I removed one of the leather gloves, I looked at my hand and saw the clean, white bones that made it up.


    — So... it was all real.


    My voice echoed across the prairie, hoarse and cold, as if rising from the depths of an empty well. I raised a hand to my face, and upon touching it, I realized there was no flesh—only the rigid contours of a skull. Something about my senses felt off. Though I could faintly perceive the touch, everything was numb, distant.


    For several minutes, I explored my new body, cautiously moving my hand, adjusting to the eerie reality of being a walking skeleton. There were no muscles to contract, no pain to feel—just joints that moved with surprising fluidity.


    With no clear direction, I began walking across the prairie. Each step sent the crunch of broken bones and the scrape of metal beneath my feet. I knew staying out in the open wasn’t a good idea, especially now that the sun was setting. The orange twilight cast long, unsettling shadows over the desolate landscape.


    After some time wandering, I came across what seemed to be a small cave. Cautiously, I checked inside before stepping in. Nothing but rocks. Relieved, I sat against the wall, finally able to collect myself.


    Beside me, a pool of clear water reflected the faint light from outside. Curious, I leaned in, gazing at my reflection for the first time. A hollow skull stared back at me, small orbs of bluish light flickering in its eye sockets.


    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    “…It’s going to take some time to get used to this.”


    And yet, something within me accepted the situation far more quickly than I expected. I felt nervous, worried, yes—but not panicked. My mind felt... clearer, less burdened by human emotions and anxieties. I wondered if this was an effect of being undead. In many games and stories I knew, undead creatures were resistant to mental attacks and didn’t experience emotions the same way humans did.


    — That would make sense... I’m accepting all of this way too easily for it to be normal.


    To test the "system" Donatello had mentioned, I spoke aloud:


    — Status.


    A translucent panel appeared before me, filled with glowing blue text:


    Status


    Race: Skeleton (Undead)


    Level: 1


    HP: 100/100


    Mana: 100/100


    Stamina: Infinite


    Immunities: Poison, Fatigue


    Resistances: Mental Attacks


    Abilities: Night Vision


    I examined the information with curiosity. Infinite stamina was a welcome surprise—I remembered that in many games, undead creatures didn’t need to rest or sleep. The immunities were useful, but what truly caught my attention was the Mana stat.


    — If I have mana... does that mean I can use magic?


    Excited to test it, I began chanting words I recalled from my favorite games and books, making dramatic gestures. Nothing happened. After several failed attempts, I sighed.


    — Of course, it wouldn’t be that easy.


    I decided to try a different approach. Sitting in a comfortable position, I crossed my legs and closed my eyes, as if meditating.


    I must have spent hours like that, focusing on what I believed to be my inner energy. At first, I felt nothing—just emptiness. But over time, something changed. A faint sensation began to stir, like a distant warmth within me.


    With effort, I concentrated on that warmth, realizing I could control it. It was like an invisible river flowing through my bones. When I finally opened my "eyes," a system notification appeared before me:


    New Skill Acquired: Meditation.


    Description: The skill [Meditation] allows the user to access higher states of consciousness and connect with their inner energy.


    I smiled, satisfied with my progress.


    — This is a good start.


    Looking out through the cave entrance, I watched the silver moonlight illuminate the desolate prairie.


    — This new life in this new world... might be better than I thought.