I swung my hammer against the heated iron as hard and as fast as I could.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Glistening sparks flew in every direction from the heavy anvil.

As some came in contact with my white bones, I felt a slight sting– but it was nothing compared to the flaming abyss down there, that place which I never wanted to go back to ever again– that place where everything had been a mirage– where everything I did turned into fleeting memories, swept away every night...

Done.

I stopped my hand and inspected the final result.

Damn.

With a sigh, I picked up the lump of iron and threw it back into the furnace. It was a failure.

I walked over to the bellows and started pumping, using additional surges of air to increase the heat and combustion rate.

As I thought back, it might have been a mistake to invest all stat points in wisdom. I became smarter but the hard work here was tough as fuck. I had to pummel metal twice or thrice as many times because of my insufficient strength.

About the treasure that I lost, the tree with hanging items... I know understood its totally insignificant value. And yet, I felt strangely– what to say– annoyed by the fact that it was taken from me. Well, I would just have to take it back some day.

The temperature in the forge was high and it smelled like burnt honey. Burnt honey? I sighed. These random words I can't understand kept coming to me amass no matter what I do. I decided to not bother anymore.

[You have successfully created an item. Blacksmithing has improved. 4 bp gained!]

Blacksmithing (Rank 1) | 98/100bp

I showed a smile fitting for a skeleton as I inspected the spear with the system.

Incomplete Iron spear

– An incomplete spear forged by a novice blacksmith with meagre skills using very crude methods.

Quality: Inferior

All commands for Eve went through my mind. I merely had to think for her to operate as I wish; within the boundaries of what she could tell me, of course. There have been requests which she has straightforwardly denied under the reasons that her master told her to keep the answers to them confidential.

The spear's surface was anything but smooth. More like a cactus. I did a couple of test swing. It felt good. The balance was alright and the spearhead was sharp enough to pierce through the surface layer of skin.

Josh!

It was time to wrap this up!

Having looked at the spear enough, I threw it in a pile of other spears that lay in the corner of the room.

Just one more. Then I would rank up.

I picked out two of the better-looking iron ores and begin the smelting process all over again...

[You have successfully created an item. Blacksmithing has improved. 4 bp gained!]

Blacksmithing (Rank 1) | 102/100bp

[Blacksmithing has levelled up from Rank 1 to Rank 2.]

[You have unlocked a new class by clearing a special condition!]

Blacksmith

Blacksmiths are people who handle metal and other similar materials in a high temperature by shaping them into different objects and items. Often known as makers armour and weapons.

Rarity: Common

Effects: 10% increased chance of forging items with better quality.

[ Passive Class Skill Selection. Please choose one... ]

– [ Cheapskate: You are a cheap bastard, and you don't deny it one bit. Enables for a five percent less material usage in blacksmithing. ]

– [ Scavenger: You will use what you find. Enables the use of your everyday discarded materials to substitute for missing materials. A certain matter of resemblance is required for success. ]

– [ Bonesmith: If no other things are available, you will even use your body. Enables the use of your bones in blacksmithing. Quality will depend on bone structure and hardness. ]

What was this?

“Eve, can you explain this for me?”

[Gladly, John. A class is a proof of ability. Think of it as a reward for improving. Since you have acquired one, you may now choose one of these three passive skills suitable for your specific class.]

After hearing the descriptions from Eve, I confirmed that every single one of the alternatives was good. If were solely looking for long term effect, the Cheapskate passive bested the other two passives by far. On the other hand, the two other options provided a bit of mobility, especielly the Scavenger option.

However, the bonesmith felt oddly attractive. I did have to agree that since my health pool's regen would regrow the bones I fracture and break in the future it could prove quite convenient. And also, It might be the option which held most potential, since the forged item's quality depended on my bones. Stronger bone... the better weapon and armour...

In the end, I chose the bonesmith. I figured that the rewards would outnumber the risks.

[ Active Class Skill Selection. Please choose one... ]

– [ Lucky Throw: Throw two of your own forged items into the furnace and hope for the best. Warning: may backfire. 48h cooldown ]

– [ Summon Anvil: Summons an anvil to a designated spot. Very useful for a blacksmith on constant foot. 24h cooldown ]

– [ Hard Hammer: Makes the next swing in your smithing result in extra durability to the items you craft. 30min cooldown ]

Another choice of three. Each of these three skills had a certain cooldown before I could use them again. Lucky throw had the most, summon anvil the second, and hard hammer the least. I'd do good to take the active skill which suits that passive best. Both Summon anvil and Lucky throw was good options for me while Hard hammer felt stupid. But since I need more than an anvil to forge, lucky throw seemed to come out on the top. And since I have changed quite a lot with the passive, I'd rather go all or nothing than very tiny or nothing!

[You have received an item.]

[You have received 10 stat points.]

I cowered back. A golden light dazzled me. As the light disappeared, an iron hammer fell to the floor with a bang. I shuttled forward and picked it up. It was an orderly hammer without any kinds of ornaments, the size of my forearm. But no matter what, it was a lot better than the one I used for the past week. At least from how it looked.

Yorgurim's hammer

– Yorgurim was once a novice dwarven blacksmith who worked at a not so famous forge in the capital of dwarves, Jörgdmund. During the early stages of the continent, thousands of years ago, the young dwarf was called out to fight, eventually killed by a young dragon hatchling. His hammer has been lost ever since.

Quality: Common

Effects: It's quite good for shaping heated metals.

As I rejoiced in getting a class, and all the benefits along with 10 stat points, someone entered the forge.

I didn't even have time to distribute my points.

The fire was instantly extinguished and I felt a chill in the air. I shuddered and looked toward the entrance.

A corpse-pale face, black coat, crimson cloak, black breeches and pointy shoes – it was a vampire.

I hurried to look down. I felt danger from this being. And I didn't want to die!

Elite NPC – Royal Vampire Ezra (126)

"Master Ferguson demands your presence, Skeleton." said the Vampire in a chilly tone. "follow me."

I nodded but kept my gaze down. Doing otherwise would be plain stupidity.

Ezra, the vampire, lifted his thin brows in surprise. His corpse-white face was identical to that of a young man if the young man had been dead for days. He had the eyes of a basilisk and two white teeth which protrude from his mouth like daggers. He licked his lips. "I see you can understand what I'm saying. Good, that makes this a lot easier...

I shuddered again. I knew what he meant.

"Come. Master has requested your presence. It's about those spears you've been crafting."

I nodded and asked. "E–Excuse me, may I wonder why our venerable master wishes for my presence?"

Ezra lifted his eyebrows again. I immediately regret asking.

"You'll see for yourself. Come, I won't repeat myself twice."

"I understand."

I followed the vampire out of the forge. We walked past many corridors and hallways on our way where the light of torches reflected onto the black stone walls, giving off a very creepy feeling. After a while, we arrived outside a path guarded by two black-clad skeleton knights. The Knights greeted the vampire with a salute. However, as they looked at me, I found only scorn in their eyes. They snorted and looked away as if I was beneath their very notice.

“Open up,” commanded Ezra.

“Yes, sir.” growled the two skeleton knights in grim voices.

The skeleton knights moved their halberds aside and slowly pushed the two massive doors open. Ezra walked through. I followed him. The two doors slammed shut as we entered.

Wow.

I found myself in a large hall. It looked like the throne room of an evil lord. White candles stretched like dead men's' fingers and burned with blue fire as they lined the black stone walls along with paintings of old. The windows were barred with iron frames and were covered with a thick haze which made the candles in the room the only source of light.

A crimson carpet was laid out from the entrance all the way across to the throne. To the sides of the hall, there were knights in black armour. They were death knights. I saw this from the black screens above their heads. Each and every one of them was over level hundred. They wore red capes and bowed on one knee, facing the throne in absolute silence.

I followed their gaze to the centre of the large hall. The throne was white and one could tell with one glance that it was made from bones. Within sat a black-clothed figure, who showed nothing but his face, overlooking everything in the hall with a cold gaze. A green miasma coiled around him like a snake and made hissing noises as if it was alive. He seemed to be in his prime, his face as pale as the vampire's, and his cheeks dotted with light brown freckles.

Ezra turned to me and gestured. I nodded and slowly walked toward the necromancer.

BOSS – Necromancer Ferguson (???)

I kneeled down on one knee and stared down without daring to look at Necromancer Ferguson.

"You are the one who created the spears I heard so much about? A skeleton from Master Ozeroth's legion?" he asked.His voice was as indifferent as the miasma coiling around his body, sending me shivers.

"Yes, Master," I said in a croaky voice.

"I’m glad. " chuckled Necromancer Ferguson. "They were of rather good quality, those spears, for a skeleton without knowledge of blacksmithing. I can see now that you have evolved into a skeleton blacksmith. Seems like you were a variant and only needed the required stimulation. You have pleased me greatly. What's your name, Skeleton?"

"I..." I said. "–I don't know. But.. John... feels familiar to me. That may have been my name before I died."

"So be it," said Necromancer Ferguson. "You shall from now on be addressed as Skeleton Blacksmith John and nothing else.”

[Necromancer Ferguson has rewarded you with a title after pleasing him.]

Skeleton Blacksmith

A title made up on the whim by an infamous necromancer called Ferguson Bane.

Effects: Noone, but it sounds better than nothing... right?

"Thank you, Master."

"Furthermore," continued Necromancer Ferguson. "A new post should be in order."

He glanced at Erza. "Ezra here will lead you to the nightfall camp. Once there, you shall take up the position of the previously deceased blacksmith and create new equipment as well as to repair that which is damaged. Is that clear?”

[A quest has been triggered!]

Nightfall Camp

– Travel with Vampire Ezra to the Nightfall Camp south of the Black Castle and take up the position of an official skeleton blacksmith. Once there you have been requested to create new armour from the ores delivered every month as well as to repair old armour that is damaged by the ongoing skirmishes with beastmen around the camp.

Time limit: ???

Reward: ???

*Failure will result in Necromancer Ferguson's wrath.

*Quest cannot be declined.

I gnashed my teeth. Another damn quest. I previously received a legendary tiered quest from Ozerath Kazaar, and the reward for that quest, which I have yet to complete obviously, was absolutely nothing. Nightfall camp... It seemed as if this quest’s reward was hidden from me. Neither can the quest be refused. Sweet!

Also, It was to no bother to try and not comply with the order. Incur the wrath of Necromancer Ferguson? Hah! I wouldn’t even be able to take on the anger of one of his death knight’s, much less the necromancer himself.

“Yes, master.”

“Very well, Ezra will come fetch you tomorrow before first daylight. Now, begone, I have important matters to deal with.”

After having met with Necromancer Ferguson, I was lead back to the forge by the vampire. Once alone, I decided to make myself some armour for tomorrow. Since it was in order to test out the new passive and active skills I received, that’s what I did.

“Eve, what bone in my body is best used to create a sword with?”

[That would be your thigh bone, John.]

“And how long will it for it to regenerate if I cut off my whole leg?"

[37 minutes. Due to your incredible health regeneration and easily constructed bone quality. ]

I nodded and then took a readying breath. With a thrust, I tried to rip off my thigh bone. It didn’t work out very well. I then searched the forge for a knife. There. It was dull but would hopefully work. However, I was once again met with disappointment. The knife didn’t work either as the bone was too hard to cut in. In a last attempt to succeed, I grabbed one of my spears and yanked it inside where my thigh bone was connected. I then pressed down as hard as I could.

With a snap, my whole leg spun in the air before landing on the floor. I myself was in no better condition. Without something to support me, I also fell. I pulled up my character menu and looked at my health. I had lost a seventh from ripping off my leg.

Since I couldn’t do much in my current condition, I simply had to wait. The incredible thing was that I could, however, see as my leg regenerated with my own eyes with a noticeable speed. It was a fascinating sight to behold. 37 minutes later, my leg was once again regenerated. I stood up and began to work with it. Information about how to do filled my mind as if I had done it for ages. I went over to the worktable and grabbed a whetstone. Bonesmithing was all about polishing, polishing and even more polishing.

After a while, I had gotten it to a quite okay shape. The sharpness was fine but I needed to have a go at it for a bit longer.

[You have successfully created an item. Blacksmithing has improved. 12 bp gained!]

Blacksmithing (Rank 2) | 14/1000bp

[You have gained a title!]

Bonesmith

A special title which is only given to those who dare to use their own bones as a material.

Effects: Noone

The bone sword was more of a bone knife. Or maybe a mix between a knife and a sword.

There were still a couple of hours before first daylight. I decided to craft a shield as well.

Yorgurim's hammer was a very fine hammer. As I swung it down onto the lump of iron, I felt as if a lot more power than I used to exhibit came into action. Sparks flew wildly and a grin began to curve from my mouth.

The process was much simpler than with the spear, and everything I had to was to smelt a huge iron lump and beat it into a round-shaped object along with a handle so that I could hold it.

[You have successfully created an item. Blacksmithing has improved. 9 bp gained!]

Blacksmithing (Rank 2) | 23/1000bp

[ Congratulations! Your skill in blacksmithing has reached a level where you can admit it's your craft without feeling embarrassed. ]

“What if we try the lucky throw?” I asked myself.

I didn’t have much time, but if it failed I would still be able to make another shield. So, after thinking for a while, I ripped off a bone from my ribcage and began to polish it. The ribcage bone turned out to become, for some weird reason, a stake. Or that was what the system regarded it as when I inspected at least.

“Eve, how do I use my active skills?”

[ Simple. Just think of the skill. ]

After talking with Eve, I rid myself of all nervosity and hesitation and threw in the shield and the bone. They landed in the furnace. I thought of the skill, said it within my mind, whereupon a faint golden light shimmered in the furnace.

[Lucky throw completed.]

I used a tong to take out the shield.

Bone-staked roundshield

– A shield made with the use of Lucky throw. Can be used as both a weapon and a shield as it has the unique addition of a stake.

Grade: Uncommon

Before I went to prepare a bag for the trip, I decided to add my 10 newly gained points and check my status. This time, I made sure to choose an even number to the stats which controlled my body. Strenght. Agility. Stamina. 3 to each. I saved the last point for the future. A reason was because I might put it into intellect if needed, a choice made by listening to Eve.

As I added three points to strength, I felt a surge of power rush through my body. It did, however, feel heavier. My guess, or answer to this, was the increase of density of my bones, making them heavier. Next up was the Agility. This time, I felt lighter instead. In the end, I was back to how I was before. Though I could feel I was stronger, I wasn't faster. This could only mean one thing. For me to increase my speed, it needs to be higher than my strength. And if I only increase y strength, I will have a tough time moving fast because of how much my bones weight. Thirdly, I added the stamina, and this is where I was truly shocked. My bones began to crackle as if I was excited, and then produce a grinding noise. I grew several centimetres taller and my bones became thicker than before as if my whole being had enlarged.

Beyond incredible! I couldn't wait to gain more points. It was almost like a drug!

John Jackson

Level: 1

Race: Skeleton

Class: Blacksmith

Titles: Skeleton Blacksmith, Bonesmith

Passive skills: Bonesmith (Rank 1)

Active skills: Lucky Throw (Rank 1)

Health: 100

Mana: 20

Strength: 9

Agility: 8

Stamina: 10

Intellect: 3

Wisdom: 23

Quests: [Conquer the World, Punish the Living!], [Nightfall Camp]