As he searched for an exit, Cade accidentally kicked a rock, watching it disappear into the darkness. Without hearing any sound of impact, he cautiously moved closer, noticing how the darkness seemed to consume the feeble light within the cave. This collapse of darkness marked his way out.

While navigating through the dark tunnel, Cade couldn’t help but be filled with wonder. Being reborn into a new reality was a profound experience for him, as he hadn’t believed in anything beyond death, never seeing a need to do so. This newfound existence allowed him to live a life unlike any other, particularly as a skeleton. He relished the thrill of having fun and facing challenges, but this world gave him a whole new depth of meaning to those experiences. Cade eagerly anticipated the adventures and surprises that awaited him in this uncharted realm.

Lost in thought, Cade failed to notice that the tunnel was gradually narrowing until his skull scrapped against the ceiling, jolting his head forcefully upward. Shaking off the momentary distraction, he refocused his attention and noticed that the tunnel was becoming brighter as a faint light emerged. Upon reaching the source, Cade found himself on his knees, cautiously extending his hand to touch what he presumed was solid ground. To his surprise, his hand passed through nothing but empty air, finding no solid surface. As he continued to explore, his hand brushed against the tunnel’s edge, prompting him to attempt pulling himself out. Unfortunately, his grip faltered, causing him to lose his balance and tumble out of the tunnel, landing abruptly on the ground below. Cade shook his head and regained his footing, rising from the ground and waving his arms to disperse the cloud of dust kicked up by his fall.

As the dust settled, he looked around to survey his surroundings. He was in a stone room, the area dimply lit by two torches, one on each side of the walls. The flickering light cast moving shadows, creating an eerie atmosphere. At the far end of the room, there stood a single door. As he approached the door, he noticed some carvings etched into the dark wood. A piece of wood jutted out from the door, rough in shape, as if someone had stopped carving it halfway. He grabbed the unfinished doorknob and opened the door.

Entering the next room, he found himself in a vast chamber adorned with ornate tapestries and sculptures. The room was bathed in a soft, golden glow emanating from a large chandelier hanging from the ceiling, casting vibrant hues across the polished marble floor. In the center of the room, a grand pedestal showcased a gleaming artifact. Surrounding the pedestal, shelves lined the walls, displaying smaller artifacts and books.

As he approached the pedestal and looked about, he noticed another door on his left, identical to the first door. He made a mental note of the door and turned his attention back to the pedestal. He stopped when he was a few feet away and observed the artifact: a pair of floating boots, hovering just above the pedestal. The boots seemed to be made of high-quality leather, boasting a deep brown color. Their design featured slightly pointed toes and intricately stitched sides and edges, showcasing a sturdy yet stylish build.

Cade hesitated, tempted to seize the boots, but an inner voice cautioned him against it. The placement of the pedestal at the room’s center, illuminated by the light, indicated its significance. Such an important item surely had a guardian or protective measures. Cade took a step back, scanning the room for any signs of hidden beings or objects lurking in the corners. The absence of visible threats didn’t guarantee their absence altogether, especially considering that he was here because of that same mistake. Touching the boots might be a trigger, and he didn’t want to take the risk of finding out.

He felt a tinge of disappointment at the thought of not being able to use the boots, but he prioritized his survival in this unfamiliar world. With that in mind, he turned his attention to the bookshelves encircling the pedestal. four bookshelves in the room—one on the left and right, and two behind the pedestal from the direction he entered. As he trailed his fingers along the shelves, a thick layer of dust was dislodged, indicating this place had remained untouched for a long time. While making his way behind the pedestal, something caught his eye.

Although it didn’t shine as brightly as the showcased boots, it was one of the few objects that possessed its own glow. Cade came to a halt and removed the book from the shelf, marveling at its leather-bound cover adorned with a grant tree design, its branches intertwining around the spine. As soon as he held the book in his hands, several displays materialized.

[E Level Skill Book: Dash]

[You have met the requirements]

[Would you like to use the Skill Book? Yes/No]

‘I got a Skill Book? Does that mean I can acquire a new skill? I’m absolutely saying yes to that.’

As Cade agreed to accept the Skill Book, the glow surrounding the book dissipated into the air, and tendrils of golden light extended towards him, permeating his bones. He observed as the light dispersed and spread throughout his skeletal structure. Although he felt no immediate physical alterations, he was certain that automatic adjustments were taking place to accommodate the necessary changes. Once the light completely faded, several displays materialized before him.

[You have learned a new Skill]

[Dash (E)(0%): Your Agility will be doubled for as long as you desire, allowing for quick movements and swift attacks. However, each second the skill is activated will result in a fifteen-second addition to the cooldown period. As your skill proficiency improves, the cooldown penalty will become less severe.]

Although the display did not provide any clues or instructions on how to activate the skill, Cade wasn’t concerned about the fifteen-second penalty per second of use. He couldn’t imagine a situation where he would need utilize the skill for more than five or even ten seconds. However, since he hadn’t even tried the skill yet, he felt it would be premature to make assumptions. With that aside, Cade was ready to give the skill a try.

The first thought Cade had was related to the implied meaning of the skill’s name: Dash, a quick burst of energy to propel him from point A to point B. With that concept in mind, he assumed a sprinter’s stance, firmly planting his feet on the ground and positioning his hands in front of him. He flexed his skeletal arms and legs, ready to… well… dash. As he lunged himself forward, he experienced an accelerated movement, surpassing his normal running speed. After a few seconds, he came to a halt, disappointed to find no display or messages appearing. That approach wasn’t correct.

He immersed himself in deep thought, for it was the only idea that occupied his mind. How else could he activate this skill? The name itself suggested that he should initiate it from a running position and accelerate, but that approach failed. Did he need to vocalize the skill’s name somehow to lend it presence? However, shouting out the name of his attack or strategy would compromise its overall impact. Nevertheless, in the absence of alternatives, he concluded he should at least attempt it.

With a light bounce, Cade began to jog, circling the room. During his second lap, he mentally uttered the name of the skill, ‘Dash!’ Instantly, a display materialized on the side of his vision.

[Skill: Dash activated]

As soon as the skill activated, he felt himself being flung forward. Not having fully adjusted to his already increased speed, the double agility factor had caught him off guard. Losing control, he tripped over his own feet and crashed to a halt, colliding with one of the bookshelves.

[Skill: Dash deactivated]

[Skill Duration: 00:00:2]

[Skill Penalty: 00:00:30]

Cade lay there, disoriented, staring at the displays as they floated into his primary vision. He observed the penalty timer ticking down, preparing himself for another attempt. Having used the skill, albeit poorly, he understood that perfecting the skill would take time, as its usage came with conditions. However, since he was alone and shielded from the ridicule of others, he was prepared to take as much time as necessary to truly make the skill his own.

He pushed himself out of the pile of books and brushed himself off. As he waited for the timer to hit zero, he walked to the edge of the room, giving himself space and time to react in case he failed again.

[Skill Penalty Lifted]

‘Good, let’s try again.’ Cade commenced his jog and called out the skill on the second lap, just as he had done before. As the skill activated, he braced himself, preparing for the forward thrust. Instead of trying to control his limbs, he allowed his legs to lead the way, coordinating his arm movements. As he circled the room, he observed that with each passing lap, he found himself slightly drifting away from the bookshelves. On the fifth lap, he deactivated the skill, mentally uttering ‘Deactivate Dash’, and skidded to a halt.

[Skill Duration: 00:00:07]

[Skill Penalty: 00:01:45]

[Skill proficiency has increased by 1.2%]

[Durability has decreased to 99%]

Cade comprehended the first two displays, but the third one, which indicated a decrease in his Durability, left him puzzled. He examined himself and found no visible signs of damage. However, when he directed his gaze towards his feet, he noticed dark streaks on the ground. Following the streaks, he realized they were marks left by his recent sprint. As he lifted one foot out of curiosity, he discovered that approximately an inch of his bone had been removed, as if it had been filed away by a sharp knife. The filed away bone appeared black, matching the streaks on the ground. Examining the other foot showed identical signs.

Cade looked up in dismay, feeling upset that he hadn’t realized the creation of friction when a fast-moving object passes over a stationary one. Due to the lack of protection on his feet, the friction burn was intensified by his doubled Agility. Being nothing but a skeleton, he couldn’t perceive the grinding sensation as he wore away his own feet.

Not sure what to do, he sat down, his hips clacking on the stone surface. He held his ankles in his hands and stared at the blackened soles of his feet. As his gaze focused, he remembered one of the first messages he received: he had auto-reassembly. He nodded to himself and called out the function.

[Beginning Auto-Reassembly]

As he looked away from his feet, he noticed very miniscule white particles moving among the black streaks on the ground. He leaned in to take a closer look and saw that the particles had started to make their way towards his feet. He looked around him and moving white lines had appeared in the black ground. Those white particles that weren’t near his feet merged with any bone in their way. Although they weren’t near his feet, the black slowly began to vanish until he was staring at his feet, white and good as new.

[Durability has reached 100%]

Cade stared at his feet for a long time. He had expected the gaps to close on their own, but he didn’t anticipate the particles that had been filed off to return. However, upon further reflection, he realized that it was impossible to close a hole without the necessary materials. Therefore, it made perfect sense for the particles to be called back and fill their rightful place.

As he looked up, his gaze fell upon the pedestal with the boots. None of the other items on the bookshelves emitted a glow or were as significant. If he wanted to continue using Dash, he would need to protect his feet. And right in front of him was the perfect item, whether it was a trap or not.