Mason didn't feel strange in his skeleton form.
In his past life, people often told him he wasn't human. His strength after his holy baptism, his rapid growth, and the primal instincts awakened in dangerous battles had put him at the top of hero society.
So now that he'd reincarnated as a dungeon monster and taken on new bones, Mason had only one thought: level up and evolve into a form he'd be most comfortable in. He had arms and legs that reminded him of a human, which was already a good start.
That blood array must have worked somehow. Anyway, I'm a monster now, and so be it. Nothing but darkness around me… probably the first floor of a low-ranked dungeon.
Only two paths stretched out to his left and right, each like a bottomless abyss.
He scanned the area and made a few deliberate, obvious moves, trying to draw out any threats. Nothing came, so he finally opened the dungeon system. Back when he'd been human, back when he'd been a hero, he'd had a system window like everyone else.
Monsters have it too, huh?
Humans could level up fast inside dungeons, but each dungeon reset them to the first floor. Every run started from scratch, and only a handful of skills, items, and titles could be taken back to the real world.
Monsters weren't supposed to have that limitation… but I'm not sure anymore.
It would be a massive advantage if he could carry everything from one dungeon to the next and stack it into an Overgeared Existence.
[Race: Common Skeleton: A common variant in the Undead Family Tree, formed from bones in the depths of a dungeon's first floors. Common Skeletons are bound to their birth floor and wander without purpose beyond killing the living. Their tireless stamina keeps them moving through sleepless nights.]
Either I evolve or I'm bound to this first floor. Fine.
Mason had seen countless evolutions within dungeon bounds, monsters forcing their way into higher floors to keep growing. He knew he could do it too.
Items, skills, battles. Anything could trigger evolution.
So far, the only thing that fit was the skill he'd gained upon reincarnation.
Dungeon Destroyer. It's like my oath to destroy all dungeons became a skill.
[Dungeon Destroyer (Mythic): Passive. You become an agent of chaos meant to shatter the world's established order. When you reach a floor's maximum level and defeat its boss, you can destroy that floor and erase it from existence. Each destroyed floor grants corresponding rewards.]
Mason clenched his bony fingers, the glow in his eye sockets burning brighter in the dark. He'd never imagined such a perfect skill could exist, let alone fall into his hands. Destroying floors for rewards was surely better than whatever the entire floor could offer.
But there was more to it than that. This would let him break society's hierarchy and the established order enforced by those behind the hero system: the Churches themselves.
I want to level up. Right now. Come at me. Anyone.
No one did.
"…"
◇◇◇
Mason chose a random direction and marched for about ten minutes before he spotted a stone sword lodged in the ground. He chuckled because he'd never forget the exact words he'd once said to Aeryth.
He gripped the stony handle and slowly pulled it free like Excalibur.
Feels better than her loose hole.
[You have obtained a Stone Sword (Common) (Lv. Requirement: 1~~5)]
[You have equipped the Stone Sword (Common)]
[+3 STR, +1 DEX]
He was about to test a few swings when he heard the clatter of bones. There was nowhere to hide for an ambush, so Mason stood still and waited. A moment later, the sound drew closer to his nonexistent ears.
"…I'm telling you, man. We need to band with other skeletons and form a gang. That's the only way to survive this dungeon! Best if we pick up a few chicks along the way so we have someone to fight for!" said one skeleton in a middle-aged man's voice, doing his best to sound convincing.
"You have no balls, but you're still gooning for girls?" another skeleton replied in a boorish, slow voice.
"That means I was clearly a human in my past life! Haha!"
"I just want to sleep, but I can't. Maybe I really should crack my skull open."
"Don't do it! Don't leave me alone… oh."
"Oh."
They both froze when they saw Mason standing there with a sword in his hand. His eyes shone like red bulbs, making him look bigger to them. His stance made it clear that anyone who wanted to get past him would have to kill him. It genuinely frightened the duo.
"He's mad. He must've died a virgin, and now he has no cock."
"…Maybe."
"But so did I! I can defeat this guy with my own skill! Tremble before my new might: Lightning Bolt!"
The older-sounding skeleton raised his index finger and shot a lightning bolt that snaked through the dark and streaked toward Mason.
The speed would have caught most people off guard, but not him.
Mason cut diagonally through it and dispersed it completely.
"Huh? Really now?" the older skeleton asked aloud.
Mason fixed his gaze on him. "You can cast magic."
"Uh, yes."
"I want you…"
"Sir, I am straight."
"…to teach me magic. If you refuse, I will level up on you."
"But aren't you obviously a swordsman?"