We proceeded to open the door, revealing a winding staircase that ascended to the second floor, where another staircase awaited. We forwent any exploration and continued up the second set of stairs to the third floor. We went down the hall a little bit, and unlike the first floor, the corridor did not look like it was a natural cave but carved stone. Reaching a door, we cracked it open slightly for a quick assessment. It was the passage we were looking for, a straight path upward without any bends.

  “There are two guarding the bell,” Jack whispered, shutting the door softly.

  This was the most critical part of the mission and also the trickiest.

  The bell atop the tower was magically linked to others scattered throughout the city. Ring one, and they all sounded simultaneously. At first, I found the arrangement puzzling, as it wouldn’t specify the location of the threat. When I voiced this to Jack, he clarified that the large bell triggered smaller ones, each corresponding to a different area. Atop the tower, there would likely be bells tied to various city districts. My second question to Jack was, what would happen if we rang a smaller bell? Would that alert everyone in the city to the wrong area? He said that it would not.

  The smaller bells, though lighter, couldn’t function independently. The main bell was enormous for a reason. It had to be heavy enough to trigger all the smaller ones, along with itself. They were magically linked, and attempting to move a small bell was like trying to force a car by turning one of its tires. You’d have better luck pushing the whole thing.

  Although my theory had turned out to be flawed, I had gained valuable insights. Jack had outlined these details during our boat journey because those monitoring the bells needed to be disabled. If they remained active and they caught sight of our actions, they could sound the alarm, drawing the city’s full force and navy down upon us. This at least gave us a chance to get away.

  Guarding those bells were two soldiers at the top of this keep, which meant we needed to kill both before they could ring the bell. It wasn’t an easy task. My plan was the same one that worked last time, with a few tweaks. Greed was going to work against us this time, so I needed a big show.

  I grabbed a coin with my hand, concentrated, and then teleported it to the other side of the door. You could hear how it hit the stone stairs and tumbled down. We caught some muffled voices in response. I repeated the trick, sending more coins down the stairs. This time, the heavy clank of armor followed as one of the soldiers began to descend. He hesitated briefly, then continued down the stairs.

  He got about halfway down when we could hear him yell. “It’s nothing!” Even through the muffled door, I could hear the smile on his face.

  I knew that was a lie. He most likely saw the gold and wanted it all to himself. For this to work, we needed both people over here, so I had to make it a real show. I grabbed a fistful of coins out of the bag and teleported those to the stairs, as well as behind where the guard was currently standing, so he couldn’t see that they appeared out of nowhere.

  The other guard started clomping over in his armor and yelled, “Nothing? What’s all this? You were trying to cheat me out of gold!”

  The first guard didn’t waste any time and immediately bent down to gather as much of the scattered gold as he could. As the coins cascaded down the steps, he was in prime position to pocket the majority. This windfall amounted to more than either of them could have earned in a year, and they were determined not to let it slip through their fingers. The second guard, finding himself at a disadvantage due to his position at the top of the stairs, opted to tackle the first guard instead, feeling cheated out of his share. Their scuffle resulted in them tumbling down the stairs in a tangled mess.

  Their tumble down the stairs took a surprising turn when they rolled straight through the entrance. As the door swung inward, the force of their fall pushed it open, catching Jack and me off guard and throwing us back. Fortunately, the guards were too embroiled in their brawl to notice our presence. Once we regained our footing, we moved around the door and swiftly eliminated both of them. They met their end before they could grasp the situation.

  After absorbing both souls, I stepped over the bodies, scooped up any easy-to-find gold, and ascended the stairs. Anyone tasked with cleaning this place after our departure would stumble upon a small fortune. I had scattered coins all over, and although I had been recovering most of them after each encounter, I wasn’t bothered about missing a few here and there.

  Perched atop the keep, near the ocean’s edge, the world seemed to unfurl beneath me. The night air, unobstructed by the walls below, was noticeably chillier, wrapping itself around me like a cold shroud.

  Looking out across the expansive view of the docks below, they appeared more orderly than when observed from the confines of the ground. A myriad of ships, large and small, were docked, their sails folded neatly against the quiet darkness of the night. Their sheer number was daunting, far surpassing my initial expectations, and I couldn’t help but acknowledge the impending challenge they presented. Each vessel was a titan in its own right, a potential obstacle we’d need to navigate.

  Shifting my gaze to the left, the city sprawled out in a vast expanse, alive with twinkling lights that mirrored the sky above. Each glimmering point felt like a silent testament to the life that thrived within its walls. Amidst this sea of lights, the city’s true size became painfully apparent, and with this realization, a heavy question bore into my heart. Behind those radiant points of light, how many lives, enslaved and confined, were we leaving behind tonight?

  It was a brutal reality to acknowledge, knowing we were not strong enough to save everyone. We were here for those we could reach, a mere fraction of the city’s countless souls, and the thought was like a bitter pill, hard but necessary to swallow. Our mission was a small step, a single act of defiance against a system much larger than us. Yet, I hoped that even our small actions could lead to more significant changes.

  My brooding was interrupted by Jack. He was standing at the edge of the building, holding a small instrument to his lips. With a practiced ease, he blew into it, producing a patterned sound that mimicked the call of a bird, a melodic “Ta-De, Ta-De.” The sound dissipated into the chilly night air, a clandestine message sent into the void.

  With the task completed, he returned to the heart of the roof, where the main attraction waited in the form of a massive bell fit for a chapel. In contrast, several smaller bells lay huddled in the background, their tiny forms dwarfed by the sheer magnitude of the central bell. Each small bell had some form of inscription underneath it, while the large bell towered over all.

  “It’s time to dismantle this one,” Jack announced, motioning toward the gigantic bell. We positioned ourselves beneath its imposing bulk, surveying the intricate details.

  The clapper was tethered with a thick rope, connected to a pivoting ring above it. Nestled at the center of the clapper was a glowing gem, emitting a soft light that highlighted the carvings on the bell’s inner walls. Upon closer inspection, these etchings appeared to be in an unfamiliar language.

  I traced my fingers over the strange script, trying to get a feel for each curve and line. This wasn’t for me but rather for Rabbit to observe and commit to memory. It was another puzzle for him to piece together, another mystery for him to decode.

  “What is that?” I asked, pointing at the glowing gem on the clapper.

  “For heaven’s sake!” Jack exclaimed, exasperated. “Do you want anything that could be of value here?”

  “No,” I replied hotly. “I genuinely think it’s important to know, just in case, moving this clapper moves the other bells.”

  “The gem is only there to give it the power to transfer the energy when it hits the sidewall. If we destroy the gem and the bell rings, it won’t ring in other places,” Jack explained, short with patience.

  “What if we undo the ring at the top and take the clapper? It won’t be able to work as well, correct?” I asked.

  “Yeah, but that’s a lot of work. Destroying the gem is much easier. Trust me, the gem isn’t worth much. You can probably grab a sword or two, and it would be worth more,” Jack said.

  “Sorry, Jack. But I have an idea, and I don't have time to explain it now. Let’s get the bell clapper off.”

  Jack refrained from further disagreements and instead lent a hand in disassembling the clapper. Our initial attempt involved employing a sword from the bottom floor armory as a makeshift lever. However, the tool proved ill-suited to the task. Its tip failed to fit snugly into the clapper’s holding ring, causing the blade to bend under pressure and ultimately snap when we applied force. This resulted in a loud, jarring impact against the bell, though thankfully, it wasn’t the clapper striking it. Jack was visibly frustrated by the failed attempt, ready to abandon the task.

  However, I wasn’t ready to throw in the towel. A quick rummage through the armory repair kit yielded a pair of pliers, proving to be the perfect tool for the job. With them, removing the clapper was almost trivially easy.

  After removing the clapper, I placed it in my bag. We got out from under the bell, and Jack started to tie a rope to the structure. I went over to the smaller bells and shoved all of them in my pack.

  “Looting until the very end, I see,” Jack remarked with a note of amusement. Having secured the rope, he began to walk backward, creating more distance between himself and the bell tower. Upon reaching the ledge, where a sharp 90-degree drop awaited, he didn’t hesitate. Gripping the rope tightly, Jack leaped into the void, bouncing off the stone walls as he skillfully descended to the ground.

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  With Jack safely on the ground, it was my turn to take the plunge. The height was just over three floors, and a bed of jagged rocks covered the ground below, making for a harsh landing if I fell. I inhaled deeply, gripped the rope, and hurled myself off the edge.

  In perfect unison, Rabbit and I both let out a joyous “Weee!” It was in moments like these that our similarities and differences amusingly intersected.

  Landing on the ground, I was flushed with exhilaration, a part of me wishing I could relive the thrill. Jack took one look at my wide, goofy grin and let out an incredulous “Really?”

  I just smiled back and said, “You still jealous of my looks?”

  “Maybe,” Jack said. “Jealous of how easily you’re gaining levels. Though that’s probably because enemies keep dropping dead the moment they see your ugly face.”

  “You're right. I am drop-dead gorgeous,” I replied, all confidence.

  “That’s not what I meant,” Jack muttered. But I was already walking off.

  As we neared the docks, Jack swiftly took the lead, his prowess in stealth far surpassing my own. We were heading for the area where the slaves working on the ships were kept. Just as we were closing in, silhouettes of people came into view, and Jack abruptly darted to the side. A sharp, searing pain followed his sudden movement as an arrow lodged itself in my abdomen.

  I immediately dropped into a roll, distancing myself from the line of fire. Glancing down, the sight of the arrow protruding from my side was a jarring confirmation of the pain I was feeling. Thankfully, my training with Carrick, the beatings I endured on the ship, and the unimaginable agony of Soul Absorbing the living prepared me to withstand the pain while keeping my wits intact.

  The silhouettes seemed ready for another attack, but Jack’s voice halted them. “It’s Jack and Alf.” Weapons remained raised, but the subsequent rain of arrows I had anticipated never came.

  “Step closer slowly,” a voice from the group commanded. Jack cautiously advanced, but I remained where I was, the arrow in my stomach serving as an agonizing reminder of the situation. The pain was intense, the burning desire to remove the arrow almost as strong. But I decided to bide my time, to wait for a safer moment to attempt extraction.

  Upon seeing Jack, one of the figures let out a sigh of relief. “Oh. Sorry. Well, at least the arrow missed.” They had misjudged the situation.

  “Missed? You have got to be joking,” I muttered as I stood up and walked over, the arrow still jutting from my side. The hunter, a tall and wispy figure, looked abashed. It was Kaji, Kaylie’s older brother, who hadn’t harmed anyone yet besides me.

  “Umm. Sorry,” Kaji said slowly.

  There was nothing I could do with it now, so I looked around to figure out what was next. In front of us were about four hunters.

  Beside them loomed an extensive, ominous collection of cages. When they had mentioned prisoners being kept here for work, my mind had imagined around 20 people crammed uncomfortably together. But the sight that met my eyes was far more severe. The massive network of cages could hold over a hundred individuals, each resigned to a life of discomfort and despair. It was a chilling sight, a grim testament to the scale of enslavement we were contending with. “Why do they have so many cages?” I asked while looking at the structures.

  “You don’t think the slaves only build and fix ships, do you? When the vessels are docked, they need to be scrubbed and washed. Barnacles need to be scraped off, and supplies need to be restocked. These cages probably accommodate around three to four hundred slaves. And mind you, not all of them are Dwya,” Jack educated.

  The thought of three to four hundred slaves crammed into these cages was mind-boggling. There wouldn’t be enough room for them even to breathe properly. They’d be huddled together, squashed against each other, and the conditions would be even worse if the slaves weren’t all Dwya. Given the presence of larger races, the living conditions were likely to be a nightmare. The idea of not being able to stretch their legs or move freely was disturbing to contemplate. The deplorable circumstances these slaves were subjected to seemed unimaginable. “So we got all of them out? Where are they now?” I asked the hunters.

  Kaji responded, “Once we heard your signal indicating that the bell was incapacitated, we, along with others, quickly rushed here. We dealt with the guards who were busy branding the slaves.” He indicated the lifeless bodies of the guards scattered across the ground. “About half of the slaves were already branded and caged, while the other half assisted us in overpowering the guards. After understanding the situation, they communicated it to their fellow prisoners, and we freed them all.”

  Another hunter continued, “The freed slaves mentioned that there were supplies worth retrieving before we make our exit. They also had some ideas about setting the docks ablaze. Currently, they are busy with various tasks. They are gathering the supplies, loading them for transportation, and meticulously sabotaging everything we plan to leave behind.”

  As they narrated their action plan, my eyes landed on the branding iron, still blazing in the fire. An idea struck me. I could use the heated iron to cauterize the wound once I pulled out the arrow. It would stop the blood loss and allow the wound to heal without further complications.

  “Jack, can you do me a favor and pull out the arrow from me?” I requested, and before I even finished talking, Jack grabbed the arrow and pulled it out as fast as he could. I wasn’t even prepared yet, so the pain was worse when I clenched up.

  I started moaning in pain, and Jack began to laugh. “That’s been the crowning achievement of my day. Did you want to keep it as loot?” Jack said, now laughing at his joke. “No. I think this one will be my piece of loot. I can hang it. That is unless you want me to put it back?” He was lost in his own world with a big grin on his face.

  At his quick reaction, I fell to the floor because I wasn’t braced for the pain. Gradually, I managed to raise myself onto my hands and knees before eventually standing up, clutching the branding iron that I had removed from the fire.

  I lifted my shirt as best I could, then I hit the floor again. There was no laughter, no warning. Just a hard crash and a growing sense of confusion as I tried to figure out what had happened. Then the pieces were clicking into place.

  “Did you hit me?” I asked Jack while I was lying down on the floor holding both my face and my bleeding side.

  “Yes. You okay?” Jack replied with a straight face, looking down at my body.

  “I wasn’t going to use the brand on you. I was going to use it on my wound. That was not called for! I should get a free shot back. Maybe two because you hit me with a bus,” I protested.

  “I don’t know what a bus is, but I knew you were going to use it on yourself. The brand is cursed. Your wound may have healed, but its mark would still be there. Such brands are used on slaves to ensure the marks they bear are everlasting.”

  That meant Jack just saved me from an odd burn on my stomach for the rest of my life. I thought it was a regular brand that would mark me, and then I could heal it away. “Wait,” I said and paused. “What about the Dwya? Half of them got the mark. We can’t heal that?”

  “No. I told you it was a serious thing. We can heal the damage, but the mark will always be there,” Jack said those words with sympathy in his voice.

  “Then why did they do it? They will be branded forever.” There was panic in my voice, still lying on the floor, looking up into Jack’s eyes.

  “Despite them not being warriors, they have honor. They are willing to sacrifice for the greater good. If my people ever catch them, they will be tortured to death for being a runaway slave.”

  I then remembered the planning and how insistent the Dwya had been on attacking, despite the risks. The other Humans had only agreed to the mission because they had nearly become slaves themselves, and the danger felt minimal compared to what they had already faced.

  I had seen the greatest risk falling on Jack and me. Once we walked into that fort, there would be no way out unless we killed our way through. To me, the chance to free slaves was worth the risk of death.

  But I had underestimated just how much the Dwya were risking. I had hoped that even if Jack and I were killed, someone else might come for them. I had not realized the marks were permanent or that they would be tortured and executed if ever found carrying them.

  They had been the ones who pushed the hardest for this plan. But now, I was not sure I could look any of them in the eye.

  Someone came running up and turned the corner, and when she came around it, I could see Kaylie’s hair trailing her. She looked down at me and frowned, “Why is Alf on the floor?”

  “You know…” Jack said with a wink.

  “Trying to attract a lover by putting his legs in the air?” Kaylie questioned with a straight face.

  “Ha ha. Very funny. I got shot by an arrow. It hurt. Why didn’t you shoot your sister?” I asked, wanting a little revenge.

  Kaji, who had shot me, was turning beet red at that moment and was looking everywhere but at our conversation, just as everyone else was.

  “Okay, princess.” Jack put out his hand. I ignored it and stood up on my own.

  “Everything is prepped. Are you ready to do this? Or are you still trying to win over Jack?” Kaylie said while checking on everyone.

  Ignoring the comments and hoping they would go away, I replied, “Let’s go. Jack, you get back to the boat so no one sees you.”

  “Before we do this, you should reactivate your spell Fast Time since your mana is full. I would have told you earlier, but you were moaning for Jack,” Rabbit interjected.

  “I was shot with an arrow. It hurt,” I reasoned with him.

  “Yeah, yeah, I know you were stuck pretty good. Cast your spell so we can move on,” Rabbit countered.

  “Fine.” I cast the spell Fast Time once again. This spell would speed up time for me by 1 percent at the cost of most of my mana regeneration. It wasn’t much, but it seemed like it made Rabbit happier.

  A few minutes later, I found myself in the first row of docks. One of my crew was ringing a smaller bell, not the large church bell on the towers. This smaller version signaled that it was time to come out to the top of the boats in the morning.

  At night, the guards didn’t want anyone wandering the docks, so they denied entrance and didn’t allow boarding the boats. This wasn’t to stop attacks like we had just done. This was to prevent theft of cargo. As there was a significant disparity between the rich and the poor of this country, theft was always a constant threat in large cities.

  While some robbery by the guards could be tolerated as a cost of doing business, the great houses didn’t want goods to flood the lower castes, as this would allow them to continue exploiting them. Goods like food and clothes were not costly to produce in a country teeming with slaves, yet prices were kept artificially inflated to maximize profits. This led to desperation among the impoverished, who risked death or enslavement for a chance at thievery. Consequently, the affluent houses closed off all avenues for the poor to pilfer from the upper echelons, essentially letting them resort to stealing and even killing among themselves.

  The greed and fears of the rich not only widened the gap between them and the poor but also created opportunities for us to succeed in our mission. With the lower caste guards so desperate for money, they could be easily bribed and deceived, allowing us to take over the docks despite having limited manpower.

  Looking around the docks, I remembered Jack telling me each ship was kept under watch by only a skeleton crew, usually two or three men. Their job was to guard the cargo and make sure no one escaped with the boat. Under normal conditions, it was the easiest job on the ship. It was often given to the least capable members of the crew, but the assignment itself was usually hated.

  Life on land offered something better to do. The rest of the sailors could explore new places, spend their pay, or gamble it away. Most of them worked so they could enjoy their time off. Those who remained on the ship were the unfortunate ones, perpetually tethered to their place of employment, even during their time off.

  Now, all that was left was getting the ship crews to cooperate. If they didn’t…well, things were about to get loud, fast, and a lot more people were going to die.

  "Game-over before the tutorial even starts?"

  Ethan was ready to quit his soul-crushing job when a meteor did it for him - and for the rest of civilization.

  Now the world is a real-life RPG, complete with monsters, skills, and brutal survival rules.

  Too bad Ethan died before he could even open his Starter Pack.

  But a glitch in the system had other plans, and now he's back. As a talking skeleton.

  He's alive again. Well… sort of. Undead counts, right?

  Armed with a skeletal frame and the power to raise the dead, Ethan has to survive, grind levels, and maybe figure out how to evolve into something more than just a walking corpse.

  You will enjoy this book if you love:

  Comedy LitRPG, System Apocalypse, Undead MC, Post-Apocalyptic Fantasy, Skeleton Protagonist, Smart MC, Game Elements, RPG Mechanics, Level Up Progression, Monster World