1 1. The March Of The Undead
The sound of the skeletons marching through a wide tunnel, dug straight into the rough dark rock, wet from the moisture, which somehow made it inside, was loud enough to alarm everything in the vicinity. The occasional clang of their rusty weaponry, mainly swords, but also a few large axes, was making things even worse.
The lack of light inside didn't make any difference for them, as if they could see in the pitch darkness, or perhaps knew the way by heart, but as they all emerged from behind the corner, the flames of a nearby goblin camp provided it anyway. The creatures were already alarmed, all fifteen of them. They waited in silence, with the jagged daggers, the clubs, with rusty nails sticking out from the wood, and the broken swords in their hands, clearly ready to gang up on whatever was the source of the sound, which put them on a high alert.
The two groups didn't hesitate, they all immediately rushed at one another. Goblins with squeaky battle cries on their lips, and the undead in complete silence.
The first few skeletons swung their weapons, missing completely, as the agile, green creatures dodged with ease, utilizing the openings to attack themselves. They quickly learn that the blades were insufficient to cut through the bone, but the clubs, dragged with sufficient strength, broke a few legs making the undead fall to the ground.
For the two of the undead, orange, semitranslucent frames, with a little writing inside, were popping up.
[You received +2 soul fragments]
[You received +4 soul fragments]
[You received +1 soul fragment]
There were also different pop-ups.
[Almanac has been expanded. Monsteronomicon has been unlocked]
[Monsteronomicon has been updated]
[Almanac has been expanded. Flesh Ledger has been unlocked]
[Flesh Ledger has been updated]
[Your 'Knowledge' – 'Biology' has increased by 5%]
The next rows, though, didn't care. They fearlessly pushed forward, stepping over their fallen brethren, and quickly overwhelming the goblins, as the creatures easily gave in to the fear after witnessing their weapons fail to do any damage.
Some did escape, but the others died under the ruthless blades of the undead, who kept their march forward through the tunnel.
For them, the quick fight didn't really mean anything, even if a few got destroyed partially by those goblins who fought desperately till the end, but mainly by the rest, stepping on the ones laying on the ground, unable to move because of the broken limbs. The clang and clicking of the metal, and the bone, again filled the darkness, which was completely enveloping the further part of the underground complex, in their unstoppable march forward. Eventually, they emerged inside a small cave, with many fires burning around haphazard camps.
On both, the left and the right walls of this natural chamber, two separate constructions of wood, tied or nailed together, were built. Both were very wobbly, but somehow standing tall, with the small green creatures on top of them. Armed with bows and arrows, already aimed at the skeletons, which emerged from the shadows, completely covering the entrance to the tunnel.
Further, in the middle of the space, were a few rows of goblins prepared to fight to the death, with weaponry raised at the ready, waiting for a signal to charge.
The archers shot, mostly doing nothing, as the projectiles passed through the empty ribcages, smashing into the ground. A few of those arrows, though, crushed into the skulls, poking holes in them, which caused some damage. Not enough to bring the undead to rest.
Then, a screaming horde of green creatures rushed to attack, clashing with the silent undead. Screams filled the underground complex, mixing with the clang of metal and the click of bone. It was a meatgrinder, where the creatures of flesh had to crumble under the relentless skeletons, who didn't fear death.
Many of them got destroyed, but that didn't seem to influence the others at all.
An orange, semitranslucent window flashed before the faces of the two of them.
[Status - Master's puppet – has been removed]
- Holy cow, that was intense! - yelled one of the skeletons as the battle concluded.
- Yeah – the other one agreed.
In an awkward moment of silence, they both looked at each other. Clearly not expecting this situation. Their undead brethren, unmoved by their voices, continued their march.
- You can speak – the first one pointed out.
- Just like you can – the second one said.
- You are the one about whom the necromancer spoke, aren't you? A special one, like me – the first one pointed out.
The rest of the undead completely ignored the conversation, slowly going further and further inside the chamber, stepping over the dead bodies mixed with chopped-off body parts, spread across the floor painted with blood.
- Clearly – the second one agreed once again.
- What's your name? - the first one asked.
- Name? - the concept seemed to be familiar to the second one, and yet there was nothing in his mind that would answer this call.
He clearly had to have a name, but his skull was empty, which shouldn't happen when the term was brought up. The only thing he could think of was that damn white room.
- What's yours? The name I mean – the second one asked, as he couldn't give an answer to the question he just received.
- Mine? I'm… Akichi! Ha Akichi! - he said with a much louder voice, getting all excited.
- Ha Akichi? Come on, you've just made that up! - the second skeleton accused.
- So? I'm dead. My past life is gone. I can start a new one, with a new name. Ha ha! I've just got my own freaking isekai story! Everything is there. Track-kun, who hit me on the way from work, and then I'm waking up in that damn dark cave! Holly cow! I already love it! - he began a whole rant, heavily gesticulating with a sword still in his hand.
- Oh god no! - the second one yelled, cutting Akichi off. - You are a goddamn weeb!
- Yes. I'm a weeb, a proud weeb! You have a problem with that?
The second skeleton facepalmed, then slowly dragged his bony fingers off his skull, thinking more about why he had just said what he said.
„Weeb? What the heck is weeb?", he asked himself.
- No… I don't have a problem with that – he then mumbled out loud.
- Good. Now, what's your name? - Akichi asked.
- I don't know. I don't remember – the second skeleton shrugged his shoulders.
- Then make one up – Akichi insisted while shrugging his shoulders.
- We should first do something with them, and then get back to the necromancer. He promised some answers, didn't he? - the second skeleton pointed at the rest of the undead horde.
The reanimated already reached the entrance to a tunnel on the other side of the chamber and gave no sign of the will to stop anytime soon.
- Stop, you idiots! - Akichi yelled after turning around.
To his surprise, they followed the order.
- Holy cow! I can give them orders! - he freaked out again. - Come back here, all of you!
The skeletons immediately turned around and began approaching the two sentient ones, following the given instruction.
- We are special, maybe that is why we can order them? - the second one proposed. - Or maybe it's because we've awakened? What did the necromancer say about this, again?
- I don't remember – Akichi admitted. - I was screaming in my own head, because I felt like trapped in a cage, in this body, so I didn't really listen.
The second skeleton rolled his eyes, or at least he would if he had any.
- Let's go back, and squeeze some information from him – he then proposed.
- Just carefully, we need to figure out the situation, before we do anything rushed – Akichi pointed out.
- Yes, you are right… Even though I still want to beat his ass for the mess he pulled me into – the second skeleton said.
- You should look at the positives. You got a brand new chance in this clearly isekai-like world. I even had a system message flashing in front of my eyes. Something about status, and something about soul fragments… - Akichi said.
- The same here… Status Master's puppet has been removed. Whatever that means. Let's ask him about that one too – the second skeleton proposed.
- Yes, we definitely should. You should also think about a name for yourself, my man – Akichi added. - Come, my skeleton brothers, this way.
He swung his hand with the rusty sword in it, giving a clear sign to the rest, to follow him. They did, and the whole group soon entered the same dark tunnel which they came out from.
Despite the complete darkness, they could feel one another. Like blue shadows dancing on a black background. The life filling their bones was somehow visible to them.
„Name? What the heck should I name myself?", the second skeleton kept thinking...
