A desolate darkness, terrifying in its solitude.

  "Am I dead?" Li Pound's hazy consciousness stubbornly lingered.

  On his very first day in this other world, he was killed by the breath of a bone dragon. He was probably the most tragic transmigrator ever.

  No, he didn't want this ending.

  He had transmigrated to a world of magic and fantasy; how could it end like this?

  [Ding, consciousness is beginning to awaken...] A faint light appeared in the darkness, forming a line of text.

  Then, as if triggering a chain reaction, more faintly glowing characters emerged from the darkness, like fireflies.

  [Ding, your race has been transformed into a low-level skeleton]

  [Name] Li Pound

  [Race] Low-level skeleton

  [Level] lv1/lv10 (Low-level skeletons have a level cap of lv10)

  [Class] None

  [Strength] 4/10

  [Constitution] 4/10

  [Spirit] 8/10

  [Evolution Requirements] Race evolution is possible after Strength, Constitution, and Spirit are maxed out.

  [Skills] Bone Transformation lv1, Appraisal lv1

  [Status] Enslaved (named and enslaved by the evil bone dragon Pound), Bone Deterioration (losing the nourishment of life and flesh, bones begin to deteriorate; as time goes by, Constitution and Strength decrease)

  [Experience Points] 0/100

  [Description] A weak, terrifying, and tattered skeleton, even its only redeeming quality—a handsome face—is gone. Enslaved by the evil bone dragon Pound, it's cannon fodder, probably only lasting another year before collapsing. The darkness was illuminated.

  An unfamiliar scene entered his eyes.

  In the dim canyon floor, amidst the rocky ground, grotesque and terrifying skeletons roamed, creating a scene reminiscent of hell.

  "I'm resurrected?" Li Pound raised his hand.

  But what he saw wasn't a body of flesh and blood, but a pair of withered, blackened bony arms.

  The bony arms were pitted and cracked in places, missing bone, as if they might shatter at any moment.

  "I've become a skeleton!" Li Pound swayed in shock, his mind reeling.

  After a long while, he calmed down, sat on the ground, looked at the skeletons around him, and began to ponder.

  Although he had become a skeleton, he had still retained his consciousness and intelligence.

  Compared to dying outright, this outcome didn't seem unacceptable.

  At least he was alive, and as long as he was alive, there was hope.

  Calming down, he began to assess his situation.

  He opened the panel, a panel that resembled a game interface, something he had had since he transmigrated to this world.

  It was also his greatest secret and reliance.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  Even after transforming into a skeleton, at least this panel had remained, giving him a chance to turn things around.

  He suspected that his ability to regain his memories and consciousness after becoming a skeleton was thanks to this panel.

  The name now includes the surname "Pound," which is likely a change that occurred during the transformation of the bone dragon Pound.

  Furthermore, the statuses [Enslaved] and [Bone Deterioration] have been added.

  Once Strength, Constitution, and Spirit all reach 10 points, the opportunity for evolution can be obtained.

  In short, the current goal is to level up, evolve, and increase strength.

  "To level up, do I first need to gain experience?"

  "That is, hunt other monsters or something?" Li Pound focused his gaze on the other skeleton monsters around him and tried to use the [Appraisal] skill in his skill bar on one of them.

  The void next to the skeleton flickered, and several rows of glowing characters appeared.

  [Name] Pound's Low-Rank Skeleton

  [Level] lv3

  [Skill] Hard Bone lv1

  [Status] Enslaved, Bone Deterioration

  [Description] A low-rank skeleton enslaved by the evil bone dragon Pound. Its bones are very hard; it can probably last for another 2 years before collapsing.

  Simply put, he can't beat it.

  But being unable to beat it doesn't mean he can't outsmart it. The skeletons here, except for him, have no intelligence.

  After all, they don't even have brains.

  He stealthily followed the skeleton.

  When the skeleton's status bar showed "[Tired]", it lay down on the ground.

  A short while later, the status bar showed "[Sleeping]".

  He glanced around, making sure no other skeleton colleagues were nearby.

  He stealthily picked up a large rock and brought it close to the low-level skeleton's head.

  After confirming the skeleton's condition again, he raised the rock high.

  Lacking strength, his bony arms began to tremble slightly.

  "Hah!" He swung the rock fiercely, smashing it down on the sleeping low-level skeleton's head.

  A loud crash.

  The sound, louder than expected, echoed in the empty cavern, causing the eerie blue flames in Li Xiu's eyes to flicker.

  Cracks appeared on the skeleton's head, and its state changed from sleep to unconsciousness.

  What's this called? This is called entering a deeper level of sleep.

  Without hesitation, he exerted force again, his arm bones creaking as he raised the rock once more.

  "Clang!"

  The second blow.

  This time, the skeleton's skull cracked and collapsed.

  [Ding, low-level skeleton killed]

  [Experience +30] Li Pound raised his head, warily looking around, especially in the direction of Pang De.

  He guessed that the skeleton's death wouldn't attract Pang De's attention.

  But guessing is just guessing.

  Time passed silently as he waited, but nothing happened, and Li Pound gradually calmed down.

  Looking at the motionless skeleton on the ground, it was clearly much better than his own miserable state.

  Li Pound crouched down and detached the right arm from the skeleton.

  After weighing it a couple of times, he detached his own tattered, withered, and blackened right arm.

  Because it was a skeleton, it lacked pain receptors, and he only felt a pulling sensation before his right arm was torn off.

  Then, he aligned the skeleton's right arm with his shoulder and activated [Bone Transformation].

  The two connected precisely.

  This arm was slightly smaller than his original arm, but for Li Pound, with [Bone Transformation], this was no problem.

  He controlled the bones of his right arm to adjust, and soon, its size and appearance became exactly the same as before.

  A tiny stream of energy emanated from the connection point of his right arm.

  [Ding, acquired skill, Hard Bone Lv1]

  [Constitution +1] A white light flashed across his entire body, the dark tinge faded slightly, and some small cracks healed.

  He actually acquired a skill!

  The flames in Li Pound's eyes suddenly flared, and a dangerous thought surged in his mind.

  To escape the evil bone dragon Pound, he needed to lie low, seize the opportunity, and most importantly, gain power.

  Pound had countless skeletons at his disposal, many of which possessed remarkable skills.

  This wasn't just a dragon's lair; it was a treasure trove of skills!

  Obtain enough skills, and then, at the right moment, break free from Pound's control.

  Then, he could be free as a fish in the sea, soaring as a bird in the mountains.

  Once he left this skeletal dragon's den, he could once again enjoy this magnificent journey through another world!

  Li Pound raised his head; in the pitch-black cave, the eerie blue flames in his eye sockets burned fiercely.