It had been a week since I became a skeleton.As a traitorous underling within the mighty Ponde Skeleton Legion, Li Xiuman had already shattered the skulls of ten of his bony comrades in secret.It sounded like a lot, but to the vast ranks of Ponde's legion, that number was barely worth mentioning.
Now, Li Xiuman's skeletal status panel read as follows:
[Name] Li Xiuman·Ponde[Race] Lesser Skeleton[Level] Lv.3 / Lv.10 (Maximum level for Lesser Skeletons: Lv.10)[Class] None[Strength] 5 / 10[Constitution] 5 / 10[Spirit] 8 / 10[Free Attribute Points] 1[Evolution Requirement] Max out Strength, Constitution, and Spirit to trigger racial evolution[Skills] Bone Morphing Lv.1, Appraisal Lv.1, Hardbone Lv.1, Strength Lv.1, Swiftness Lv.1, Stealth Step Lv.1[Status] Enslaved, Bone Degradation[Experience] 60 / 300[Description] A fragile yet versatile skeleton, enslaved by the wicked bone dragon Ponde—little more than expendable cannon fodder. Estimated remaining structural integrity: 1.5 years before collapse.
The skill [Stealth Step Lv.1] had been pried from the leg of a fellow Lv.3 skeleton.This ability greatly muffled his footsteps and movements—perfect for someone like Li Xiuman, whose "job" often required trailing others in silence.With [Stealth Step], combined with his [Swiftness] and [Strength], he no longer needed to wait for his targets to "sleep."He could simply sneak up, grab a stone block, and smash their skulls before they knew it.
But today, Li Xiuman was not stalking his usual prey.Because today, a group of guests had arrived at the Bone Dragon's lair.
They were not like the mindless skeletons—these newcomers had curling goat-like horns, long tails covered in fine scales, and a pair of dark, leathery wings upon their backs.If Li Xiuman guessed correctly, they were demons—succubi, to be precise.
Hovering in the air, the succubi's eyes swept over each skeleton like merchants assessing their wares.Li Xiuman knew that look well—he had used the very same gaze on other skeletons just three minutes earlier.
"Damn it," he muttered inwardly, shrinking his neck and hiding among the crowd, hoping not to stand out.But no matter where he was, his wretchedly unique charisma always seemed to betray him.His smooth, white bones gleamed faintly, as if each inch were screaming I am special.
That was, admittedly, the result of his obsessive hygiene habits.
And so, Li Xiuman was chosen—by one of the succubi.Before he could even escape Ponde's clutches, he had already fallen into another demon's grasp.
"Appraisal."
[Name] Lucia·Ponde[Race] Greater Demon[Class] Elemental Magus[Level] Lv.34 / Lv.40 (Tier 3 Magus; maximum level for Greater Demons: Lv.40)[Description] A high-ranking demon servant of the bone dragon Ponde—synonymous with destruction and malice. Expert in elemental magic, gifted with deep knowledge and an insatiable thirst for research.
"Excellent quality," Lucia said, tapping Li Xiuman's skull with a satisfied smile. "A perfect research specimen."
Li Xiuman could only feign mindless obedience.If they discovered he possessed intelligence, he would never escape Ponde's control for the rest of his afterlife.Still, being called a research specimen didn't exactly promise a bright future.
He was taken to a stone-walled square, where other skeletons wandered aimlessly in confined space.Having practiced his act for a week, Li Xiuman blended in naturally among the vacant stares and slow, clattering steps.Several succubi patrolled among them—each one above level 10, all intelligent.
Their surnames were all Lucia, and those of higher rank even bore the suffix ·Ponde.It seemed these were lesser or mid-tier succubi under Lucia's servitude.
"Watch these skeletons carefully," Lucia commanded before taking flight again. "They're valuable research materials."
Under constant surveillance, Li Xiuman lost any chance of leveling up through ambush.Instead, he drifted close to the succubi, pretending to be an idle husk while eavesdropping on their conversations.
After some careful listening, he pieced together Lucia's intent—She was researching the creation of a special skeleton variant: the Elemental Skeleton.Unlike ordinary undead, these rare skeletons could wield elemental magic.
The skeletons here, however, were mere expendable test subjects.According to Lucia's projections, none of them were expected to succeed—they existed only to provide data for her experiments.
Lucia had gone out to gather more materials, and the first experiment was scheduled for three days later.
Three days passed in a flash.Under the watchful eyes of the succubi, Li Xiuman couldn't ambush anyone, so neither his level nor stats changed.But that didn't mean he was idle.
While his "adorable" colleagues dozed, he quietly knocked them out and replaced their limbs with his own collection of better parts.The oblivious skeletons never noticed the difference.
Now, his four limbs bore the following defensive abilities: [Hardbone], [Regeneration], [Resilience], and [Fire Resistance]—all survival-oriented skills.
Through subtle eavesdropping, he had learned a crucial fact:the first experiment would involve fire.So he made sure to equip [Fire Resistance] just in case.
When the day came, Lucia returned to the square, her beauty as chilling as before.She wasted no time with words—two succubi seized a skeleton and dragged it before her.Lucia raised her hand, pressing it gently against the skeleton's skull.
"Flame Infusion."
Fire poured down like molten liquid, engulfing the hapless creature.It screamed soundlessly, bones creaking and cracking under the heat—until finally it collapsed, blackened and motionless.
Li Xiuman's nonexistent scalp prickled.He double-checked his skill bar, ensuring every precious defensive ability was still active, and exhaled silently in relief.
"Can't even withstand the initiation? Useless."Lucia's voice, though melodic, carried no warmth.
"Next."
Another skeleton was dragged forward, its hollow eyes flickering weakly.Lucia extended her hand once more—Fire rained down.
This one lasted even less time than the first.Its legs buckled, and it crumbled instantly to ash.
"…Next."