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Animated Assets
Originally written on April 10, 2024 to April 27, 2024
A highly detailed, panoramic 16:9 digital painting capturing an atmospheric early morning scene in a fantasy world. Focus on a small, rustic, slightly isolated village nestled organically beside a moderately wide, slow-winding river with slightly muddy banks dotted with reeds. The village consists of a cluster of simple, sturdy dwellings constructed primarily from rough-hewn timber with thatched roofs, perhaps a few walls showing wattle-and-daub construction; buildings are arranged somewhat haphazardly along uneven, well-trodden dirt paths. Wisps of pale smoke curl lazily from two or three primitive stone chimneys, indicating recent hearth activity, but the entire scene is completely devoid of any people, figures, or creatures. A simple but functional wooden footbridge crosses the river near the village edge, connecting to a path leading away.
Immediately bordering the village, encroaching slightly on the cleared space, is the edge of a vast, dense, and vibrant tropical rainforest. This forest is characterized by lush, deep green foliage, including large ferns with intricate fronds, broad-leafed plants catching the early light, visible hanging vines, and tall, ancient-looking trees forming a thick canopy overhead. The forest edge should feel slightly untamed and wild, contrasting with the modest human settlement.
Gentle morning mist hangs low over the river's surface and weaves through the lower parts of the nearby forest floor, partially obscuring the ground in places and adding to the atmosphere. Far in the distance, beyond the river and forest, a range of imposing, jagged mountains rises, their peaks softened by atmospheric haze and kissed by the first golden-pink light of the nascent sunrise against a soft, pale blue sky.
The overall lighting is soft, diffused, characteristic of dawn, casting long, gentle shadows. The mood should be quiet, serene, peaceful, yet hinting at the vast wilderness just beyond the village confines – a starting point on the edge of the unknown. Employ a painterly style reminiscent of high-fantasy concept art, focusing on realistic textures (wood grain, thatch texture, diverse foliage, water surface reflections, distant rock faces) and strong atmospheric perspective to create a sense of depth and scale. The composition should feel cinematic and inviting.
Crucially, the scene must be entirely unpopulated: absolutely no humans, skeletons, animals, monsters, or any sentient figures visible anywhere.
Synopsis:
Santo was just your average office worker, drowning in spreadsheets and yearning for a life less ordinary. Then, a fateful accident grants his wish, but with a skeletal twist! Reborn as a lowly skeleton in a fantastical world, Santo despairs until he discovers a peculiar skill – the ability to animate objects with a touch of necromantic energy.
Armed with this unusual skill, Santo embarks on a journey as a wandering merchant, crafting quirky companions and enchanted tools to sell across the land. Along the way, he encounters curious creatures, unravels the mysteries of his skeletal existence, and learns that even a bag of bones can build a thriving business… and maybe even find friendship in this strange new world.
Chapter 1 - Skeletons and Surprises
Santo woke up in the morning, resting against his neat pillow, trying to stretch himself up out of bed. His sleep was mysteriously glorious, so he got this weird surreality after a good night's sleep like he was lost and didn't belong here. His dreams had been long and vivid, and now he was here sitting up on his bed.
He went to take a shower, never underestimating the power of a good cold bath. It had been years since he got a good cold bath after a good cold sleep.
Waking up with that extra coldness made it difficult to take a good cold bath, but it was extra good.
Everything was going to be great—the better word after good.
He went to work in his living room, waking up his gaming computer and just typing immediately since he left it on the source-code editor application he used last night.
Relaxed, he tried resting his eyes after he tried pushing for a new personal project that really challenged his thinking. But he couldn't do it while sitting on a chair in front of a screen.
He drank some good water and fell asleep.
When he woke up, he found himself inside a room with soft walls similar to those in a large church. It was air-conditioned too. It looked like a fancier place to have a conference.
He noticed the only door in the room opening, making him jolt back.
The figure he came looked at him, staring for a while before tilting his head at the people behind him. It was a man wearing a brown jacket and red trousers. He said: "Hey guys, he's awake. How do you guys even get people like these?"
Santo then fell unconscious, and then he found himself on the grass.
"Where am I?" he said, noticing the tropical rainforest all around him. "This isn't..." His face accidentally brushed against vegetation, getting tickled and surprised.
He felt slightly nauseous, but it quickly faded, as if someone magically healed him.
He looked around and kept walking, finding himself at a river. "This isn't... Where is it?" He was looking for a road.
He found a road. "There. That's it."
It wasn't actually a road. It just looked like it. "Dang..."
He rubbed his mouth, as a wandering adventurer party emerged, sighting him.
"Hello?" he mouthed and then repeated it in a loud voice.
The party noticed and asked why.
Santo felt he didn't know how to speak due to shock, but he tried anyway: "Where am I right now?"
The party glanced at each other and approached him. "We're at Masu," one of them said.
"Masu? I don't know... what's Masu."
"Masu is here. You're at Masu!"
"Masu... I don't know, sorry. I suddenly appeared here."
"Suddenly? Did you go here through a portal?"
"Yes? I think so. Maybe."
"Then, you must be from the farther regions. The portals don't reach this far anymore usually, because there's really nothing around here for them. You're at the beginning towns. There's a journey you're supposed to follow, so why are you here? Don't you live there, and if not, haven't you already gone past this point? You're regressing?"
Santo shook his head. "No. I don't... know what you mean... I'm sorry."
"Don't be. Be better."
Santo nodded pregnantly.
"You can follow us. Come, come."
The party led the way and showed him to the nearby village.
Santo noticed something shocking. His fingers were slowly dripping away, the tips of which showed bones. What did this mean?
His body suddenly turned to a skeleton, and he teleported away to an underground dungeon.
[You have successfully evolved into a lowly skeleton! You were moved to the dungeon! Check your stats!]
[Evolution has made you weak! You get Evolution weakness, reducing your Max Health by 50!]
"Interesting," he said. "But why am I here?"
No answer.
He scratched his head.
He tried moving his arms and found it horrid. The experience of moving bones replacing his functional human limbs could be likened to living inside of a painting or dream for extended periods of time. And some of those dreams were scary.
He began walking.
Inside the cave, he had little to do with anything. It was empty and dark, and he could barely see. He didn't even know how to navigate it, because it was so complex. Real dungeons were very wide, high, and cavernous that any loud movement would echo throughout. This was why he heard so many monsters right now.
He sighed and distracted himself by tapping his bones together. "What to do..." he muttered.
He picked up a rock and threw it.
[You have killed a goblin! +10 XP!]
[Level 0 -> Level 1!]
[Level 1: 0/15]
"Huh?"
"What does this mean?" He tried to do what he was told earlier, checking his stats.
Name: Spirit Santo
Species: Lowly Skeleton (Grade ZZZ)
Age: 20
Mindset: Weak and frail like a sociopathic bird
Level: 1 (0/15 XP)
Skills: None
Spells: None
Titles: None
Profession: None
Health: 450/450 (-50)
Mana: 0/0
Armor: 30
Magic Resistance: 24
Attack Damage: 0 - 1
Strength: 5
Dexterity: 5
Constitution: 5
Intelligence: 5
Wisdom: 5
Charisma: 5
Stat points: 5
Progress bars:
Buffs: None
Debuffs:
Evolution weakness (-50 Max Health for 4:58:25)
He added his stat points to [Strength], not knowing what else to do with it.
[As a result of your newfound Strength, your Attack Damage has increased: 0.5 - 1.5!]
[Your sudden spike in Strength has made you weakened. You have been affected by Strength Excess, which reduces your Attack Damage by 50% for 5 minutes!]
[As a result of Strength Excess, your Attack Damage has decreased: 0 - 1!]
He began noticing a holographic health bar every time he struck a rock, noticing the rock breaking faster every time he hit it.
[Rock: HP - 24.5/25]
[Rock: HP - 24/25]
[Rock: HP - 23.5/25]
The rock cracked slightly, but it kept its hard shell, only making a sound internally.
[Rock: HP - 22.5/25]
[Rock: HP - 22.5/25]
[Rock: HP - 22.5/25]
[Rock: HP - 22.5/25]
This time, the rock was much more affected with open cracks along its middle.
[Rock: HP - 22/25]
[Rock: HP - 21/25]
[Rock: HP - 20/25]
He pulled open the crack, breaking it apart.
[Rock has become vulnerable, increasing all damage dealt to it by 500%]
[Your Attack Damage to Rock has been increased: 0 - 5!]
[Rock: HP - 17/25]
[Rock: HP - 17/25]
[Rock: HP - 14/25]
[Rock: HP - 12/25]
[Rock: HP - 7/25]
[Rock: HP - 3/25]
[Rock: HP - 2/25]
[Rock: HP - 1/25]
The rock exploded, leaving behind a scree of gravel.
[You have gained a new progress bar! Miner]
Santo smiled.
He tried smashing another rock.
And he did it again and again until he had enough to carry in one palm. It wasn't much really, but for now, it was good enough.
He brought them with him and walked away, passing by a group of skeletons who all looked a little confused at what this newbie was doing.
One of the skeletons said: "Hey, brother man, might we ask what you're doing? Are you going to work as the hermit moles who take care of the food because the stones are used as fuel. Don't do that. Follow us."
Santo nodded politely and dropped the rocks safely next to the cave wall.
The skeletons led him to a chamber where hundreds of monsters hanged out.
Santo widened his eyes before he relaxed.
Not a single goblin.
If one of the goblins was here, then him having killed the goblin would be disastrous.
He joined the skeletons in chuckling about something.
He had no idea what they were laughing about, but he was nervous.
He took his time for now.
The skeletons led him to a table where they sat down, as one of the skeletons went to the counter.
This skeleton got plates and put food on them one by one for the rest of the group.
After he returned, Santo was starving somehow.
They began eating.
It was delicious food made from boring cows, but the dish was well-prepared.
It had cut onions, scallions, jalapeño, and beef all cooked separately and then added together in the final result.
The smell made him wrinkle his nose several times in desperation.
When he ate it, his stomach noticed a change.
[You have eaten your first dish of the day! +10 Health]
[You have eaten with friends! +1 XP! You have gained Friendly Dining, a buff that adds +1 to all attributes for 8 hours.]
[You have gained a new progress bar! Food Enthusiast]
[Food Enthusiast (1.25/100 XP)]
[You have gained a new progress bar! Acquaintance-maker]
[Acquaintance-maker (0.75/100 XP)]
Name: Spirit Santo
Species: Lowly Skeleton (Grade ZZZ)
Age: 20
Mindset: Stronger, getting stronger, let's go boy
Level: 1 (1/15 XP)
Skills: None
Spells: None
Titles: None
Profession: None
Health: 450/450 (-50)
Mana: 0/0
Armor: 30
Magic Resistance: 24
Attack Damage: 0 - 1 (-50%)
Strength: 11 (+1)
Dexterity: 6 (+1)
Constitution: 6 (+1)
Intelligence: 6 (+1)
Wisdom: 6 (+1)
Charisma: 6 (+1)
Stat points: 0
Progress bars:
Food Enthusiast (1.25/100 XP)
Acquaintance-maker (0.75/100 XP)
Miner (0.25/100 XP)
Buffs:
Friendly Dining (+1 to all attributes for 7:59:59)
Debuffs:
Evolution weakness (-50 Max Health for 4:54:37)
Strength Excess (-50% Attack Damage for 0:1:12)
He didn't notice it earlier, but he got a Miner progress bar.
While the skeletons left, he was left to explore on his own.
He explored finding three different chambers.
He entered them one by one.
One was a big library with cobwebs.
Second was a tall underground tower.
Third was a large waterfall that led to large tunnels.
After checking them all, he returned to the library, grabbing one of the books.
[This book contains the skill Animate Object. Take it?]
[Yes.]
[The skill will now be entering your list of skills.]
[Since this is your first skill, do you want a tutorial?]
[Yes.]
[First, meditate. Second, release with a deep exhale. Third, raise your hand and aim it at your target.]
Santo tried it, raising his hand first and then meditating and releasing with a deep exhale.
[Animate Object has been cast!]
[Animate Object hits Book!]
The book he hit got up on its own and looked at Santo.
Santo glanced around. "What do you do?" he said.
The book shook his head and began opening its pages, showing him information about being a wandering merchant.
Santo read it and got interested. "This is... How do I do this?"
The book shook as if shrugging.
Santo realized that it meant that he had to be the one to find out himself.
He left and went up a flight of stairs in the common floor.
[This staircase has been imbued with necromantic energy. It empowers you with Staircase's Knowledge, which gives you +1 Intelligence for 1 minute!]
He kept going, finding a large gate.
He opened up.
[Your level is too low to pass through here. Wait until you've leveled up.]
He went back down and looked for another way.
He found a tunnel that led to a small door.
The door opened by itself.
A group of skeletons were standing inside an underground dungeon kitchen, cooking.
Santo excused himself and left.
He went to another area and found only a group of goblins beating a skeleton.
He kept looking and looking.
But he couldn't find the exit.
He realized that it would take a while before he would get out of here, so he sat down.
[You are relaxed. Gained 1+ XP]
He realized that even idle actions gave me XP.
He wondered what else.
He tried doing jumping jacks, but nothing happened.
He tried running up and down the flight of steps again and again.
[This staircase is troubled. It weakens you with Troubled Steps, which takes away +1 Intelligence for 1 minute!]
He stopped, feeling exhausted.
[You are tired. Get some rest. You have 5 minutes until you are forcibly made to fall asleep.]
He lay down, passing out before the timer hit 4 minutes.
When he woke up, he felt relaxed.
But he didn't get the reward notification.
He kept looking around, seeing the shadows of a group of adventurers, including a wizard.
After the adventurers left, he went along the path whence they came, finally reaching the surface.
Before doing so, he cautiously went to the library and got the book before leaving; though, he quickly rummaged the library for more books.
[This book contains the skill Crafting. Take it?]
[Yes.]
[Your limit is one skill. Rejecting skill.]**
[Book wants to be your list of skills. Take the offer?]
[Yes]
[Book will contain the rest of your skills. It will now be your physical library of skills.]
[The skill Crafting will now be entering your list of skills.]
[This book contains the skill Necromantic Energy Manipulation. Take it?]
[Yes.]
[The skill will now be entering your list of skills.]
[This book contains the skill Business Management. Take it?]
[Yes.]
[The skill will now be entering your list of skills.]
[This book contains the skill Enchantment. Take it?]
[Yes.]
[The skill will now be entering your list of skills.]
[This book contains the skill Merchantry. Take it?]
[Yes.]
[The skill will now be entering your list of skills.]
[This book contains the skill Friendship Building. Take it?]
[Yes.]
[The skill will now be entering your list of skills.]
[This book contains the skill Exploration. Take it?]
[Yes.]
[The skill will now be entering your list of skills.]
Then, he left the dungeon, reaching the surface, sighting a town.
The book in his grasp looked onward excitedly.
Stats Spoiler:
Name: Spirit Santo
Species: Lowly Skeleton (Grade ZZZ)
Age: 20
Mindset: Souper hyped! Get it 'cause you ate soup a while ago? Actually you didn't, but whatever.
Level: 1 (2/15 XP)
Skills:
Crafting I (0/1000 XP)
Necromantic Energy Manipulation I (0/1000 XP)
Business Management I (0/1000 XP)
Enchantment I (0/1000 XP)
Merchantry I (0/1000 XP)
Friendship Building I (0/1000 XP)
Exploration I (0/1000 XP)
Spells: None
Titles: None
Profession: None
Health: 450/450 (-50)
Mana: 0/0
Armor: 30
Magic Resistance: 24
Attack Damage: 0.5 - 1.5
Strength: 11 (+1)
Dexterity: 6 (+1)
Constitution: 6 (+1)
Intelligence: 6 (+1)
Wisdom: 6 (+1)
Charisma: 6 (+1)
Stat points: 0
Progress bars:
Food Enthusiast (1.25/100 XP)
Acquaintance-maker (0.75/100 XP)
Miner (0.25/100 XP)
Buffs:
Friendly Dining (+1 to all attributes for 7:28:49)
Debuffs:
Evolution weakness (-50 Max Health for 4:23:27)
Chapter 2 - Merchant and Skill Exploring 1
When Santo reached the town, he wondered how he could blend in, looking at the nature around him.
The beautiful rippling grass flowed like gentle leaf-shaped magic particles upon a fairy's wings, their tips like golden hymns in their waving motion.
Meanwhile, the lone wizard from the adventurer party he saw earlier noticed him, casting: "[No Man Nor Beast Shall Ever Through These Lands Ever Again]!"
Santo was surprised, protecting his head, neck, and his face.
However, when the wizard's skill finally hit him, nothing happened. Santo wasn't a man or a beast like it said on the spell's name.
"Brown stuff!" the wizard cursed. "Wrong skill."
Before Santo could understand what was going on, the wizard cast another skill: "[Lightning strike!]"
[Lightning strike has dealt 0 damage due to the skeleton's 100% Lightning resistance]
"Blast it!" the wizard cursed again.
He looked for his items.
Since the wizard took his time, Santo didn't feel pressured at all. Though, since his life might be in future danger, he walked up and knocked him unconscious.
The wizard fell to the ground, his eyes spiraling with unconsciousness.
[The wizard will gain consciousness in 72 seconds.]
Well, since the wizard tried to kill him, Santo felt that it wouldn't be too troublesome for him to take his stuff. Keepers peace-keepers, or something like that. He was actually referring to finders keepers, but whatever.
[This book contains the skill Disguise. Take it?]
[Yes.]
[The skill will now be entering your list of skills.]
[This book contains the skill Lightning strike. Take it?]
[Yes.]
[The skill will now be entering your list of skills.]
[This ancient scroll contains the skill Herbalism. Study it?]
[Yes.]
[The skill will now be entering your list of skills.]
[This enchanted ring contains the skill Animal Communication. Wear it?]
[Yes.]
[The skill will now be entering your list of skills.]
[This mysterious potion contains the skill Night Vision. Drink it?]
[Yes.]
[The skill will now be entering your list of skills.]
[This old tome contains the skill Lockpicking. Read it?]
[Yes.]
[The skill will now be entering your list of skills.]
When the wizard awakened, Santo was long gone, having went into the heart of the town.
"Oh, my goodness!" the wizard swore, scratching his head, looking around in distress.
Where would he get his next spell now!
Meanwhile, Santo approached the town, using his two skills.
[Disguise activated]
[Night vision activated]
They didn't take that long to activate, and they cost no mana, being permanently active. It was very simple like turning on an air-fryer or making a function in code.
At the village, he found that the town was mostly empty and weary, with little to no stalls around.
He wondered what the best thing to do here was, and from his many ideas, he thought it would be a cool idea to be a stall seller.
The idea [Mysterious Wandering Merchant] sounded like a cool path he could take. He was sure that there were titles like these because the book said so. He read it inside the book. Like it had actual words and stuff. The spell was often not even related to what was actually written. So he actually read it. It was cool. But he didn't know the words.
Wait a minute. Imagine if it he could steal people's stuff while they weren't looking. Just kidding. He could be a mysterious thief. But he didn't like stealing.
Even though he was in his twenties, most of his life was easy and smooth, so he never really matured he felt. Everyone around him was so depressed and anxious, while he was just relaxing in his room coding silently like a good boy.
Meanwhile, a man walked up to him.
"What are you doing here?" he said. "Don't you have manners? Wear your sandals!" He pointed like an Asian parent, placing his fingers against him.
Santo was surprised to see someone noticing his bare feet. He realized that the disguise didn't include clothes when it made him look human. He was still the naked skeleton but with a human body in the eyes of the man. That was awkward.
The good thing was he wasn't actually naked, or human-naked. He was skeleton-naked! That was even better!
He told the man: "Where can I get these sandals?"
The man abruptly shifted from tension to friendliness, leading the way to a shop. "Here, Sir. This is free for you."
Santo was confused, but he followed him.
[Accept Poor Man's Sandals?]
[Yes.]
The man said with a smile: "Thank you for taking it. My daughter has been wanting to share her creation for a while now."
"..."
The man smiled.
"..."
The man smiled harder.
"..."
The man grinned almost maniacally.
"End conversation," Santo said, hurrying away.
He mentally asked the [System] if he could change his sandals' name.
[Change Poor Man's Sandals' name?]
[Yes.]
[Pick a new name!]
[Crazy Man's Sandals.]
[Success. Poor Man's Sandals has been renamed to Crazy Man's Sandals!]
As for where Santo had gone, he was sitting down in front of a large wagon at a small shelter from the rain.
[Ride wagon?]
He looked around and noticed no one was around.
[Yes.]
[You are not the owner. Are you sure?]
[Yes.]
He began riding it.
[Because you are not the owner, this wagon will expire in 5 minutes.]
[Since it's your first time riding, tutorial?]
[Yes.]
[To move forward, first kick the horses. To avoid obstacles, lean left and right, and the horses will automatically understand. Then, to stop, shout at the horses to stop. They will stop if you're loud enough.]
He obeyed the instructions and drove along.
[A man is in the way. Dodge immediately!]
Someone was in the way he realized.
[Strength Check Failed! Strength required: 30. Your Strength: 11.]
"Dang it, dang it!"
The man got hit.
Santo got down and asked the man if he was okay.
[Charisma Check Success! Charisma required: 6. Your Charisma: 6.]
The man was okay, so he said: "Where did you learn how to drive... Wait a minute! That's my wagon with that beautiful dent that I know so well! How dare you take it from me, you nut-brains rascal!"
He demanded Santo to compensate him by working under him.
Santo asked what he would do.
"You will help me sell!"
[Merchant Albatross is offering you the job Merchant's Apprentice! Take it?]
[Yes.]
"Come here, let's go!" said Merchant Albatross.
Santo followed, leaving behind the wagon.
Albatross glanced behind him before he was like: "Oh shoot, I forgot my wagon. I'll pretend I was going this way anyway and get it, and then I'll get mad at this new employee to deflect the blame to him. I'm so insecure, dang it!"
When they rode the wagon, Albatross led them to a small shack nearby, putting down his stuff and setting up his shop by pulling a large drop-leaf table out and showcasing all his goods there.
People immediately dropped by and bought items from him, showing their deep love for the goods the merchant showed.
In response, Albatross grinned with a laugh.
[Acquaintance-maker +0.5 XP!]
Santo didn't understand it, but he thought it was fun.
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 5.]
[The Customer smiled politely before leaving.]
He looked at Albatross, who crossed his arms in disappointment. "I'll let you try again, but no more after that!"
Santo nodded.
Later, another customer again.
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 14.]
[The Customer clapped, grabbing your goods and taking them all. Merchant Albatross is impressed!]
[Acquaintance-maker +0.5 XP!]
[You have gained a new progress bar! Merchant Seller]
Santo wanted to learn how to do it. He didn't like the rolling.
So he asked Albatross.
"So here's how you do it. You first have to rely on a systematic method that combined a variety of..." He kept talking and talking, but Santo couldn't follow.
Santo shrugged and told him he didn't understand. He decided to just roll.
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 15!]
[Merchant Seller +0.5 XP!]
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 3!]
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 7!]
[Merchant Seller +0.5 XP!]
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 1!]
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 15!]
[Merchant Seller +0.5 XP!]
In the end, he got 1.5 XP today for Merchant Seller. He fell asleep.
He woke up and went back to work.
He noticed that his status page looked more decorated like one of those nostalgic phone charms they put on flip phones or those old GIF-riddled personal websites back in the late 2000s.
Name: Spirit Santo
Species: Lowly Skeleton (Grade ZZZ)
Age: 20
Mindset: I luv fone chrms nd old wbsits, 1337!
Level: 1 (2/15 XP)
Skills:
Crafting I (0/1000 XP)
Necromantic Energy Manipulation I (0/1000 XP)
Business Management I (0/1000 XP)
Enchantment I (0/1000 XP)
Merchantry I (0/1000 XP)
Friendship Building I (0/1000 XP)
Exploration I (0/1000 XP)
Disguise I (0/1000 XP)
Lightning strike I (0/1000 XP)
Herbalism I (0/1000 XP)
Animal Communication I (0/1000 XP)
Night Vision I (0/1000 XP)
Lockpicking I (0/1000 XP)
Spells: None
Titles: None
Profession: None
Health: 500/500
Mana: 0/0
Armor: 30
Magic Resistance: 24
Attack Damage: 0.5 - 1.5
Strength: 10
Dexterity: 5
Constitution: 5
Intelligence: 5
Wisdom: 5
Charisma: 5
Stat points: 0
Progress bars:
Food Enthusiast (1.25/100 XP)
Acquaintance-maker (1.25/100 XP)
Miner (0.25/100 XP)
Merchant Seller (1.5/100 XP)
Buffs: None
Debuffs: None
He didn't really know what to do with the other skills.
He wasn't really planning on going outside and doing tricks.
But he was thinking of going the completionist route.
Maybe, the [System] will reward him.
He looked for a door to lock-pick, using his fingers for now.
It didn't work.
He tried it again with a small tiny stick.
It didn't work.
He asked Albatross for a lock pick.
Albatross said no. "Why would I give you a lock pick!" he added. "Are you planning to steal my stuff, huh!"
He went around and asked for something that was as small as a nail.
Someone gave him an actual nail.
He tried lock-picking a random door with a nail.
It didn't work either.
Stumped, he decided to go back rolling.
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 6!]
[Merchant Seller +0.5 XP!]
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 18!]
[Merchant Seller +0.5 XP!]
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 19!]
[Merchant Seller +0.5 XP!]
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 20!]
[Merchant Seller +0.5 XP!]
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 13!]
Merchant Seller (1.5/100 XP) -> Merchant Seller (3.5/100 XP)**
He wanted to fill up the bar quickly, but it would take a while.
15 days maybe.
He didn't know how to count.
He tried the other skills he had. He had Crafting I, Necromantic Energy Manipulation I, Business Management I, Enchantment I, Merchantry I, Friendship Building I, Exploration I, Disguise I, Lightning Strike I, Herbalism I, Animal Communication I, Night Vision I, and Lockpicking I.
He tried Crafting, grabbing sticks and putting them together.
Nothing happened.
He tried making a pickaxe by combining sticks and wood planks that he got by buying it from a lumber shop with money from Albatross.
[Gold gained +1 (Albatross' Apprentice)]
[Gold spent -1 (3 Wooden planks)]
[The pickaxe you made was created.]
[Miner +0.5 XP!]
Miner (0.25/100 XP) -> Miner (0.75/100 XP)**
He was surprised that it gave him XP there. So he tried to make more.
[The pickaxe you made was created.]
[Miner +0.5 XP!]
[The pickaxe you made was created.]
[Miner +0.5 XP!]
[The pickaxe you made was created.]
[Miner +0.5 XP!]
Miner (0.75/100 XP) -> Miner (2.25/100 XP)**
He found an XP farm. He had infinite stick from the nearby forest. But he had no more wooden planks.
He went back to work again, rolling.
He only did it once before he fell asleep.
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 2!]
Stats Spoiler:
Name: Spirit Santo
Species: Lowly Skeleton (Grade ZZZ)
Age: 20
Mindset: Sleeping.
Level: 1 (2/15 XP)
Skills:
Crafting I (0/1000 XP)
Necromantic Energy Manipulation I (0/1000 XP)
Business Management I (0/1000 XP)
Enchantment I (0/1000 XP)
Merchantry I (0/1000 XP)
Friendship Building I (0/1000 XP)
Exploration I (0/1000 XP)
Disguise I (0/1000 XP)
Lightning strike I (0/1000 XP)
Herbalism I (0/1000 XP)
Animal Communication I (0/1000 XP)
Night Vision I (0/1000 XP)
Lockpicking I (0/1000 XP)
Spells: None
Titles: None
Profession: None
Health: 500/500
Mana: 0/0
Armor: 30
Magic Resistance: 24
Attack Damage: 0.5 - 1.5
Strength: 10
Dexterity: 5
Constitution: 5
Intelligence: 5
Wisdom: 5
Charisma: 5
Stat points: 0
Progress bars:
Food Enthusiast (1.25/100 XP)
Acquaintance-maker (1.25/100 XP)
Miner (2.25/100 XP)
Merchant Seller (3.5/100 XP)
Buffs: None
Debuffs: None
Chapter 3 - Merchant and Skill Exploring 2
He woke up and immediately got to work. New people entered the range of the shop to buy.
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 12!]
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 16!].
[Merchant Seller +0.5 XP!]
It wasn't much, but it would do for now.
Merchant Seller (3.5/100 XP) -> Merchant Seller (4/100 XP)**
He was told by Albatross that the Customers were less today and that he would have to find something else to do in the meantime. However, he did say that he could do something new. He told him that if he went down the road, he would find a plant-master, she would teach him how to take care of plants.
Santo was disappointed, because he wanted to keep making pickaxes. For now, he was thinking of exploring new avenues.
He decided to take up Albatross' suggestion and head down the road to the plant-master.
When he was there, he didn't see static plants that barely moved. He saw a bunch of plants fighting each other on the floor.
The plant-master, who he expected to be either an older woman or man, was a woman as young as he was, and she was cheering for both sides of a plant fight.
"Hey!" Santo said. "What's happening here!"
The plant-master stopped him with a gesture and said: "Watch! Look!"
Santo looked at the plants. He saw that the plants were fighting and doing various different martial arts techniques. Their hands, arms, and legs, and body shape shifted around in rotation.
"What's this?" he said.
"Just two weeks, I was able to get them to do this. Cool right?"
"Cool? They suddenly became like this?"
"Oh, no. That has been the case since my great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandmother. But I've finally updated them so that they do this."
"The martial arts?"
"What's that?"
"The kicking and moving their arms and stuff."
"Oh, yeah, that's right. That's 'martial arts'?"
"Yeah..."
"Oh, cool. I'll call it that then. The 'Martial Arts Update'!"
"So what are their uses?"
"Well, nothing much yet, but we're a bunch of researchers first and foremost. And with the possibility of war, I feel that it is only right that we find new ways to make them stronger right?"
"Was that the case for a long time?" he said.
"What do you mean?"
"Was the worry of war that long ago?"
"Yeah!" she said.
Santo left, not wanting to get too deep into the politics.
The chance at getting to learn more about the plant-master and her plants was lost in the process however, but Santo saw it as a worthy sacrifice.
He returned to Merchant Albatross, who said, "Good thing you're here! I've been meaning to call you because we're having Customers again!"
Santo nodded, and they began their great work.
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 10!]
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 15!].
[Merchant Seller +0.5 XP!]
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 20!]
[Merchant Seller +0.5 XP!]
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 7!].
Santo rested, but he immediately saw Customers coming.
So he got back to work.
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 20!]
[Merchant Seller +0.5 XP!]
"Lucky," he muttered.
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 6!]
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 5!]
[Merchant Seller +0.5 XP!]
"Nice."
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 16!]
[Merchant Seller +0.5 XP!]
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 10!]
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 4!]
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 11!]
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 17!]
[Merchant Seller +0.5 XP!]
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 13!]
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 7!]
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 10!]
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 15!]
[Merchant Seller +0.5 XP!]
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 10!]
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 17!]
"What... That was such a low chance. Sad."
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 12!]
[Merchant Seller +0.5 XP!]
"We're back on track, alright!" he whispered.
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 19!]
[Merchant Seller +0.5 XP!]
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 3!]
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 14!]
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 8!]
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 10!]
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 5!]
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 11!]
[Merchant Seller +0.5 XP!]
"Dang, cold streak, but we're back now."
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 13!]
[Merchant Seller +0.5 XP!]
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 2!]
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 20!]
[Merchant Seller +0.5 XP!]
"Oh, that's enough, Santo," Merchant Albatross said. "Good work!"
Merchant Seller (4/100 XP) -> Merchant Seller (10/100 XP)**
"That was good progress," said Santo.
"Yeah, that was good. Okay! Goodbye now Albatross!" Albatross hurried him out.
Santo sat down at a public bench. "This feels nice. I can do this forever. Maybe, that's it."
Later, several tall men wearing purple-and-yellow clothes passed by.
Santo tried not to stare at them, but he couldn't help glancing at them through his peripheral view.
The tall men passed by, bringing the air of monsters higher than he could never reach with them.
Santo shrugged and stood up, stretching a bit.
A giant market stood in front of him in the form of a large public crowd. If he could set up a shop here, then maybe lots of people would buy. He wondered why no one set up shop here. Maybe the city were strict against street vendors here.
He returned home and slept at the time he wanted.
He woke up the next day and immediately arrived at the shop before Merchant Albatross.
Seeing that he was early, Albatross later said that he was proud of his hard worker.
Santo smiled, though he didn't take the compliment too hard.
He planned on working through today to buy some pickaxes later.
Merchant Seller (10/100 XP) -> Merchant Seller (18/100 XP)
[Acquaintance-maker +0.5 XP!]
[Acquaintance-maker +0.5 XP!]
[Acquaintance-maker +0.5 XP!]
[Acquaintance-maker +0.5 XP!]
[Acquaintance-maker +0.5 XP!]
[Acquaintance-maker +0.5 XP!]
[Acquaintance-maker +0.5 XP!]
Acquaintance-maker (1.25/100 XP) -> Acquaintance-maker (4.75/100 XP)
Albatross was slowly shifting the workload toward him, but for now, Santo only made up 20% of the work.
That means Santo could make more XP and gold coins.
[Gold gained +1 (Albatross' Apprentice)]
[Gold gained +1 (Albatross' Apprentice)]
[Gold gained +1 (Albatross' Apprentice)]
[Gold gained +1 (Albatross' Apprentice)]
[Gold spent -1 (3 Wooden planks)]
[Gold spent -1 (3 Wooden planks)]
[Gold spent -1 (3 Wooden planks)]
[Gold spent -1 (3 Wooden planks)]
[The pickaxe you made was created.]
[Miner +0.5 XP!]
[The pickaxe you made was created.]
[Miner +0.5 XP!]
[The pickaxe you made was created.]
[Miner +0.5 XP!]
[The pickaxe you made was created.]
[Miner +0.5 XP!]
[The pickaxe you made was created.]
[Miner +0.5 XP!]
[The pickaxe you made was created.]
[Miner +0.5 XP!]
[The pickaxe you made was created.]
[Miner +0.5 XP!]
[The pickaxe you made was created.]
[Miner +0.5 XP!]
[The pickaxe you made was created.]
[Miner +0.5 XP!]
[The pickaxe you made was created.]
[Miner +0.5 XP!]
[The pickaxe you made was created.]
[Miner +0.5 XP!]
[The pickaxe you made was created.]
[Miner +0.5 XP!]
[Wooden planks: 0]
[Wooden planks: 0]
[Wooden planks: 0]
[Wooden planks: 0]
(It kept giving him that notification because he kept trying to make more.)
Miner (2.25/100 XP) -> Miner (8.25/100 XP)**
He was slowly accruing more and more. He wondered when the Buff would come.
[Good Job! You have gained a new buff!]
[You have worked hard! +1 XP! You have gained Hard Worker, a buff that if claimed, gives 30 XP! You only have 2 hours left to do this! To claim it, go to the nearest Crafter's Guild and sign up!.]
Level: 1 (2/15 XP) -> Level: 1 (3/15 XP)
Santo raised his brows. "What's this?"
He wanted to ask Albatross about it, but he didn't know where Albatross lived.
So he asked around.
People told him that it was 2 hours away on foot at the inner portion of the city.
Santo began running.
Hard Worker (Claim 30 XP on sign up at Crafter's Guild; 1:59:43)
His feet began to ache. "I'm not a runner... I've always been a programmer."
He looked around and asked for a wagon, but no one helped him because he didn't have money.
He decided to keep running anyway.
The emotions that he had held inside burst in fervor.
"I will take this!" he muttered as he ran around a corner.
The guards began glancing at him. Bystanders and passersby's eyes detected him and moved out of the way.
He was catching attention, but he had to hurry.
Hard Worker (Claim 30 XP on sign up at Craftmen's Guild; 1:22:43)
He was already one-third of the way there.
He was this close.
He burst into another sprint, his lungs aching.
The city saw him., and he became an object of fascination.
A large crowd blocked his path, but he soldiered through, excusing himself in rapid fire.
Then, a line of wagons blocked his path.
He wanted to stop, so he did, resting his legs. "Dangit!"
Once the wagons had an opening, he went through and dashed forward.
The people stared at him.
His feet struck the earth; his hands reached forward.
He flew almost.
He was on cloud nine: the Craftmen's Guild was right in the distance.
He hurried his tiny steps before tripping.
He caught himself before getting up again.
He would not let this reward go to waste.
Level: 1 (3/15 XP)
When he finally reached the guild and signed up, his body was a wasteland of exhaustion.
Hard Worker (Claim 30 XP on sign up at Crafter's Guild; 0:39:43)
Level: 1 (3/15 XP) -> Level: 1 (15/15 XP) + 18 -> Level: 2: (0/93.75) + 18 -> Level: 2 (18/93.75 XP)
[You have leveled up! You get a common silver chest!]
[Since this is your first chest, tutorial?]
As tall armored men and women wearing green and red, purple and yellow, and black and white passed by him into the guild, he nodded.
[Yes.]
[Earn Chests for Gold, Gems, Cards, and Wild Cards.]
[Get chests by buying with Gems, winning Challenges, Clan War rewards, or battles.]
"Okay, got it." He looked crazy, but he was not really ashamed of having done this. The reward was worth it, even if he could feel the tense stares on his back and nearby and his sweaty body and his exhausted posture made him look weak.
[Unlock chests with a Key or wait. Use Gems or Keys to skip/wait, or speed up with boosters.]
"How do I open it?"
[Four chest slots per player. No new chests if slots are full.]
"Hmm..."
[Finish tutorial???]
[No.]
[Chests contain cards from earned or lower Arenas, with a chance of Legendary Cards.]
"Legendary? That's good, no?"
[Rare cards are less common in chests. Rarities: Common, Rare, Epic, Legendary, Champion.]
[Finish tutorial???]
[Yes.]
[You get one free chest key. Open common silver chest?]
[Yes.]
[Opening common silver chest`]
[Chest opened,]
[You get a golden handknife card! Consume to create a small boundary wherein all your items are safe from tampering. The ground and any material there is invincible as well! Only you can affect anything within the area! Consuming it is permanent! Be careful! The boundary size 1 square meter]
"Sounds pretty good."
Chapter 4 - Golden Opportunities and Stray Encounters
Author's Note:
This chapter will go against my earlier statements that hinted at a purely light-hearted story, but the goal is still to explore this story using the premise as gospel.
Santo returned to Merchant Albatross, who waved at him. "Come here, come here," Albatross said, showing him a bunch of crates. "These are special. Come on look!"
Santo saw a bunch of ducks inside. "What are they for?" he said.
"They're golden ducks! They give lots of gold!"
"No, I'm pretty sure they're supposed to be golden geese."
"No, look." Albatross showed him a golden hoe. "They pooped this out!"
"Ew. But how did they do it?"
"I don't know. But it's awesome."
"You're going to be selling this. So be careful. Some Customers will haggle for a better price for them. Don't let them. Ignore Customers who ask for too high a price! The price should only be 5 gold coins! Not a single coin more! Unless they're people with a good background!"
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a number either 5 or below! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 50.]
[Roll.]
[You get 13!]
[The Customer asks for 13 gold coins! Will you sell the golden hoe to them?]
[No.]
Sure, here's the repeated text with the dice roll and responses:
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a number either 5 or below! The number you get will the price that customer asks. For context, it's between numbers 1 to 50.]
[Roll.]
[You get 13!]
[The Customer asks for 13 gold coins! Will you sell the golden hoe to them?]
[No.]
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a number either 5 or below! The number you get will the price that customer asks. For context, it's between numbers 1 to 50.]
[Roll.]
[You get 26!]
[The Customer asks for 26 gold coins! Will you sell the golden hoe to them?]
[No.]
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a number either 5 or below! The number you get will the price that customer asks. For context, it's between numbers 1 to 50.]
[Roll.]
[You get 5!]
[The Customer asks for 5 gold coins! Will you sell the golden hoe to them?]
[Yes.]
[Merchant Seller +10 XP!]
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a number either 5 or below! The number you get will the price that customer asks. For context, it's between numbers 1 to 50.]
[Roll.]
[You get 32!]
[The Customer asks for 32 gold coins! Will you sell the golden hoe to them?]
[No.]
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a number either 5 or below! The number you get will the price that customer asks. For context, it's between numbers 1 to 50.]
[Roll.]
[You get 8!]
[The Customer asks for 8 gold coins! Will you sell the golden hoe to them?]
[No.]
He stopped for a while.
Merchant Seller (18/100 XP) -> Merchant Seller (28/100 XP)
Though he didn't want to get too involved with shifting responsibilities, Santo was slowly improving.
He noticed several dogs walking around, and none in the town looked with disapproval at them.
He was surprised. He had never seen stray dogs walking around where he lived back on Earth. They were always brought away immediately, so it was a rare once-a-year event when he was growing up.
He grew up in a gated community where many of the wealthy and famous lived, so he never knew the plights and friendships everyday people made with dogs.
But since he was here, why not?
He approached one of the dogs, but they bit him.
The dogs were rageful, and he could see that.
He felt empathy, because he knew that these dogs had suffered long and hard for them to be so aggressive, given that they were street dogs.
He told them that it was okay and left. He didn't need to win.
He only needed to prepare for what would come next, because underlying the joys of everyday life was the heavy hammer of fate.
Later, nearby, roars poured through the streets, as hundreds of soldiers began employing the houses and buildings to use as housing.
Even if they were the town's soldiers, they were heading to war.
Returning to Santo, he didn't really want to deal with that, so he hid inside the Albatross' shop and told Albatross what they could do.
Albatross said he wanted to go out and do something and that if Santo wanted to hide, he could do so at his "own risk."
Santo nodded.
After 10 hours passed, nothing happened, and Santo had gotten bored and fallen asleep.
When he woke up, his back ached. He had never slept that long, and it was probably because of how comfy Albatross' bed was.
He had been sleeping on the bed inside the shop.
"So what are we going to do next?" he wanted to ask Albatross.
But Albatross was not there. The soldiers were still outside in formation.
Santo shrugged. It was late afternoon already, but he was still up to sell.
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a number either 5 or below! The number you get will the price that customer asks. For context, it's between numbers 1 to 50.]
[Roll.]
[You get 9!]
[The Customer asks for 9 gold coins! Will you sell the golden hoe to them?]
[No.]
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a number either 5 or below! The number you get will the price that customer asks. For context, it's between numbers 1 to 50.]
[Roll.]
[You get 3!]
[The Customer asks for 3 gold coins! Will you sell the golden hoe to them?]
[Yes.]
[Merchant Seller +10 XP!]
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a number either 5 or below! The number you get will the price that customer asks. For context, it's between numbers 1 to 50.]
[Roll.]
[You get 15!]
[The Customer asks for 15 gold coins! Will you sell the golden hoe to them?]
[No.]
Merchant Seller (28/100 XP) -> Merchant Seller (38/100 XP)
"This is good enough," he said to the customers as he closed the shop, telling them that they would get an exclusive discount for waiting anyway.
He was actually going to get out of his own money this time. Why did he do this?
Well, he saw a mother and child, a youth that looked troubled and stressed, and a group of farmers that were talking to each other and waiting patiently only to get declined when the time came for them to buy.
He felt sorry for them, but this was also his way of bringing back some good to the community and cultivating loyalty. If the 14 customers who were declined bought twice more, then that could lead 100% increase in sales, considering that they got 100 customers everyday and the discount was 50%. Well, they didn't all buy the same items, and not all the items had the same price. Therefore, his calculation was likely off by a lot; however, it was a good way to see the sales trajectory for deceivingly simple actions.
He was a senior coder after all. It was his job to know suboptimal ways of getting the same result in order to teach juniors the optimal way. And what better way to start applying this concept by gauging a sales trajectory? His coding skills were not useless outside coding after all, he thought jokingly.
The next day, he saw Albatross at the shop again, but for some reason, the good dude looked distressed. "What's wrong?" Santo said.
"They took my wife and kids away," Albatross said with a grave voice.
"What?" Santo, who had been thinking about irrational coding and numbers earlier. "No way. That doesn't make sense."
"Well that's what they did okay!"
"Oh, okay then. I guess soldiers do that? What's the logic?"
"I don't know! I don't know! I'm thinking of doing it..."
"Doing... what?"
"'It'..."
"'It'?"
Santo continued, "I don't understand."
"I'm going to end it all—"
"Hey, hey, don't say that. Is it a normal thing? What's their basis? Is there some law or what? There must be a reason why they're doing this. I've never seen soldiers do bad things before. They've always been protecting me." He was referring to his life back on Earth.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Albatross was visibly enraged. "Stop saying this."
"No... you're not making sense. I thought you had it altogether. But you look lost."
"Of course I look lost! What are you? A noble?"
Santo felt offended. "No... not necessarily—"
"Well, shut up okay?"
Santo hated being looked down like this. Just because he had it easy didn't mean he had it easy. Things were difficult for him too, and Albatross was being unreasonable. Santo was calm because he knew how to be patient, but Albatross was being very unreasonable.
Santo decided to leave.
[Acquaintance-maker -60 XP!]
Acquaintance-maker (4.75/100 XP) -> Acquaintance-maker (-55.25/100 XP)
[You have lost Acquaintance-maker! You will not be able to gain it back in 55.25 days as a penalty!]
[Due to losing Acquaintance-maker, you will also get Callousness, reducing empathy by 60%!]
He made sure to bring nothing. He could have sold the pickaxes, but he didn't know how to. And he was too frustrated to try while Albatross was still there.
His pride was hurt, but he had a good reason okay?
He decided to travel. He didn't need entitled toxic people who thought they could get whatever they wanted. People needed to work hard for what they wanted, and Albatross was clearly one of those people who blamed others instead of owning up for what they did wrong—victim mentality. The soldiers would never hurt anyone unless it was for a reason. What was the logic in kidnapping a wife and a child? Albatross and his wife did something wrong.
Returning to the moment, though he was bothered, he still had his golden handknife to protect his items in case he needed to.
But it was one-time use, so he had to be careful.
He planned to keep working as a merchant, since it was clearly a good way to accrue XP in a safe way. He didn't want to get entangled with politics or unreasonable people.
Meanwhile, a familiar wizard encountered him, casting: "[No Man Nor Beast Shall Ever Through These Lands Ever Again]!"
"You haven't learned your lesson, have you?"
The spell hurt him this time, because he was using his human disguise.
He fell to the ground hard, his head dizzy and nauseous. "What... what was that?"
"Ha, you should have killed me when you had the choice."
"'Chance', you mean?"
"What?"
Santo was only pretending to be weak. He struck the wizard on the head and knocked him to the ground, controlling him with his boney body. He removed his disguise, revealing the skeleton underneath. "You and that other guy are the same kind!" he shouted, scaring the wizard due to the deep, monstrous voice.
The wizard was left alive, but he was too frozen to do anything, tears dripping down his face and repeating "I'm sorry," with closed eyes.
Santo was not any ordinary man.
He was... a skeleton.
He returned and asked the man how he could set up a stall for people to buy, still using his intimidating voice.
The man nodded and said, "There's a spot around here. It's called Don's Way, and if you stay there, many adventurers will come, I promise."
"'I promise'? That sounds not true."
"I promise, I promise—I'm being real, I'm being real!"
"Okay then. Where's the way? What direction?"
He pointed south. "...there..." His hand pointed toward a mountain range.
"How do I get there huh?"
"The ridges are Don's Way."
"Oh, so you want me to die, huh?"
"No! No! I'm just saying that I can lead you there."
"Me? There?"
"Yeah. I know the path, and since you're strong and pretty human too, I thought we can work together."
"Really?" He glared at the man in case he was lying.
Santo returned to normal: "Then, let's go. I want to set up a merchant stall now. What's a good meal to make?"
"Ah, bibingka. I heard people buy it. Cheese sticks as well."
"Mmh. Sounds pretty good." He couldn't make facial expressions, but if he could, he would be smiling until the corners of his lips reached his ears.
The wizard stood up with his staff and then fell, slamming his head against the dirt due to a tree root.
Santo furrowed his brow, frowning. As the wizard pretended to be unconscious, Santo's face slowed changed, a smile appearing, before he burst into gleeful laughter.
Maybe it was because of his responsibilities in this new world, but he couldn't just play around like a child anymore.
He was going to take this world on, and if he had to team up with old enemies, then so be it.
In the meantime, in Santo's hand, the book had been quiet for a while, but it was listening the whole time.
Something sparked in its heart. Unlike many pets, it longed to become more. Like the Fallen Angel, it envied God's power.
The book wanted to conquer Santo's position. Their friendship, albeit short, had been sweet, but it would come to an end and make the way for a new dynamic, one shared by two different points of view.
Santo stood; the book stayed tucked in his hand; and the wizard stood up, sauntering feebly behind Santo.
When they reached Don's Way, Santo waited for a while, and they didn't find anyone at first.
But with time, adventurers began coming. The wizard was right.
The book began walking around nearby, lying down next to a rock. Santo warned it about the elements as per usual. But the book didn't like anything that Santo said, only complying outwardly.
And that was when Santo began selling nothing.
"I have nothing to sell. I forgot my stuff."
"Oh, shoot, you went all the way here and forgot."
Instead of getting frustrated like Albatross, he laughed it off. "Well, I guess we're going back."
The wizard stood still, watching Santo walk back silently. A lot of emotions hid behind that contemplative and considerating look of his.
The book jumped in Santo's hand, and the three went on their way back home.
Later, they brought Santo's older pickaxes and prepared to sell them.
Stats Spoiler:
Name: Spirit Santo
Species: Lowly Skeleton (Grade ZZZ)
Age: 20
Mindset: I need to get stronger. No more of these losers. As long as I get what I want.
Level: 2 (18/93.75 XP)
Skills:
Crafting I (0/1000 XP)
Necromantic Energy Manipulation I (0/1000 XP)
Business Management I (0/1000 XP)
Enchantment I (0/1000 XP)
Merchantry I (0/1000 XP)
Friendship Building I (0/1000 XP)
Exploration I (0/1000 XP)
Disguise I (0/1000 XP)
Lightning strike I (0/1000 XP)
Herbalism I (0/1000 XP)
Animal Communication I (0/1000 XP)
Night Vision I (0/1000 XP)
Lockpicking I (0/1000 XP)
Spells: None
Titles: None
Profession: None
Health: 500/500
Mana: 0/0
Armor: 30
Magic Resistance: 24
Attack Damage: 0.5 - 1.5
Strength: 10
Dexterity: 5
Constitution: 5
Intelligence: 5
Wisdom: 5
Charisma: 5
Stat points: 5
Progress bars:
Food Enthusiast (1.25/100 XP)
Acquaintance-maker (55.24 days)
Miner (8.25/100 XP)
Merchant Seller (38/100 XP)
Buffs: None
Debuffs:
Callousness (60% reduced empathy)
Santo stared at the quiet. Even now, he didn't think about his situation much. But today, after noticing the depth in which his harsh thoughts went, he realized that he had to stop and think. He had been here in this world for only a short time, but his circumstances was already controlling his actions.
To counterbalance his callousness, he had to find a way to pick up a piece of beauty from this world—a leaf.
He grabbed it and didn't hand it over to anyone. Instead of sharing what he had, he focused on how he could understand this leaf. What did it mean? When that question was finally answered, then would sharing it make more sense, because he would be there to answer as needed.
So he attempted to answer it. Alongside his wandering body, his mind searched.
Time paused, when the entities around him made no more sense or visual congruity, becoming blurs in his peripheral view.
Then he realized that the weight of this leaf carried the world somehow. The weight of this leaf could conquer mountains, as long as he interpreted and found that kind of beauty and passion therein. If this leaf made him carry out great acts, wouldn't it be logical to say that this leaf was an agent of acts of greatness? But he was the one who decided that. He was a decider of this leaf the same way he was the decider of his life.
His breathing calmed, and his hands became more elegant in their posture.
Santo was no longer Santo the slave of Albatross or the slave of the whims of this whimsical world.
He was only now a slave to the spirit that made his body a vessel. He was now a great spirit.
He walked forward, making sure the wizard and the book followed him.
They were not his masters as he was not their masters.
But he would become the leaf.
He would spur great acts.
He walked forward and watched the adventurers at Don's way look over and stare at his older pickaxes. They didn't actually need them, so none of them bought. However, fortunately, miners passed by. Because they were kind-hearted and enjoyed helping small-time businesses, they decided to buy his very cheap pickaxes, saying they would use it.
Santo was glad and made it a point that his goal would be to refine these pickaxes more and more, but in order to do that, he would need to find a method of pickaxe refinement.
For now, however, he would have to rely on moving money around in a small way before that happened.
Maybe, he could buy good pickaxes straight from the rare actual sources (pickaxe-makers) and then sell them for a larger price, even if only slightly.
He used his Earthly knowledge as a developer to imagine the numerous combinations of functions and ideas and how they actually turned out in the final product.
He might have been dragged along for a while, but he was in no way a slave. He just enjoyed the feeling of being a part of something small and childish, even for a while.
But his angry thoughts were not his own. They were just reactive responses to the sudden realization of how vast this world was. Not everything obeyed his desires for a more easy simple life, and there would be forces outside of his control.
He did not think Albatross was nonsensical. He felt bad about that, and he regretted thinking so. Albatross was going through a hard time, and he was sorry that he didn't even say anything to comfort him.
He felt bad, and he wished to apologize.
So after selling the pickaxes, he returned to Albatross and bowed. "I'm sorry for what I said. I said that knowing it would your feelings. And I'm sorry for not realizing sooner. I realize now that I could have done better, and I did wrong by not recognizing that it was a hard time for you. So what happened?"
Albatross tried to stop him from talking more several times. He finally said: "It was my bad, really. I found a secret stash of golden ducks, and I dragged it home. Now, of course, the soldiers got it, using my wife and children as leverage against me. They got it not because it was against the rules, but they thought it only made sense that I share such good loot, especially since I found it on the surface rather than underground."
Santo nodded eagerly. "That makes more sense. Thank you for telling me."
Santo looked at the previous notifications.
[Miner has bought your barebones pickaxe!]
[Acquaintance-maker +1 XP!]
[Merchant Seller +1 XP!]
[Miner has bought your barebones pickaxe!]
[Acquaintance-maker +1 XP!]
[Merchant Seller +1 XP!]
[Miner has bought your barebones pickaxe!]
[Acquaintance-maker +1 XP!]
[Merchant Seller +1 XP!]
[Miner has bought your barebones pickaxe!]
[Acquaintance-maker +1 XP!]
[Merchant Seller +1 XP!]
[Gold +1!]
Merchant Seller (38/100 XP) -> Merchant Seller (42/100 XP)
He still had 12 more [barebones pickaxe].
This was good progress, he thought.
Now of course, because he was monopolizing the time he, the wizard, and the book had together, he decided to make up for it by giving them the time of day.
He asked the wizard an open-ended question. "Hey I was thinking that we should all work together."
The wizard looked at him, confused for a moment before understanding, saying, "Well, I was hoping that we could go to the small tournament I liked participating in. It's small, so don't think much of it and the prize money isn't that bigger either. 10 coins if you win without getting knocked out a single time. It's a double elimination match."
Santo compromised, "Sure, we can try it. I'm not a strong fighter though. So don't expect much."
Since they were in a private place, the wizard said,"You're a skeleton, man. You think people are going to expect a disguised skeleton in a competition. And you stole my stuff. So give them back!" He was half-joking.
The book looked at Santo.
Santo stared at him, giving the book pause. "So book, how about you? You're not doing anything right now. Want to join us? How can we have you participate as well?"
The book transformed into a 2-foot-tall hobbit, saying, "I can join up as well."
Santo stared at him in shock. "You can transform?"
The book-turned-hobbit said, "Sure I can."
"Sure you can? That's it? You never thought to tell me? This is too convenient."
"Well, it wasn't convenient before. Now it is..." He trailed off, leading to an awkward pause between the three.
In conclusion, Santo was starting to doubt the supposed newfound difficulty of this world. If things were going this smoothly, then maybe he could finish up and go back under Albatross without worrying about ranking up, getting stronger, or trying to be a violent person at all." Though he was indeed a skeleton, so maybe it was natural for him to succumb to adverse effects that put him down darker paths. Well, that was up to the world to decide.
He had no clue what was happening, so better take whatever he can get and move on!
He returned to Albatross and asked, "Hey is there anything you need? Cash, anything?"
"No, I think I'm going to need to find someone at the top who can get me answers. But I don't know anyone. I'm just a man with a small business, and it so happened to be the business that a large enough portion of the people around this small area likes."
Santo nodded. "I can find someone who has connections then."
"Oh, that's a good idea! But don't get too pressured. It's likely impossible to even get a chance at talking to someone like that, I believe."
Santo smiled. "Either way, if I do find someone, I'll tell you."
"Okay."
Albatross was reduced to background character 49.
Santo chuckled, laughing to himself, but he also didn't want to belittle Albatross' struggles. So he said in a low, solemn voice, "We'll do what we can, Albatross."
Albatross gave a thumbs-up, grimacing.
The wizard laughed at him when they finally left. "Seriously? You're pretty heroic when you can be, Skeleton."
Santo wasn't too offended. He hadn't fully gotten used to his skeleton identity yet to feel so. "Yeah, I guess I am."
The hobbit looked at the wizard. "You're ugly."
The wizard raised his hand as if to hit him, though in a joking manner. "Hey!"
The hobbit ran off, giggling, hiding behind Santo, who continued to look at him with amazement at how tiny he was.
Santo didn't expect hobbits to be dark-skinned as well, or maybe it was his specific race or ethnicity. Maybe there were light-skinned ones too.
He laughed at the thought that the world had diversity quotas to fill when it decided the races and colors.
When he entered the tournament, he wasn't expecting much; however, many men with brutal expressions looked at him immediately.
The team they were facing was not kidding around.
"Hey boy... why you got a hobbit lying around? Little sucklings who know nothing about conquest. I'll show you conquest." One of the men from the opposite team, Foulmouth, raised his hand, and a burst of fire emanated from him, showing his great poewr.
Foulmouth grinned, and he ran, using an unusual "cheese" strategy.
He grabbed Santo and pushed him down and then began dancing. "Look at this fool!"
He aroused the cheer of the audience.
Santo got up. What the hell was that?
Santo reached out, and the wizard cast [No Man Nor Beast Shall Ever Through These Lands Ever Again].
Foulmouth parried it by throwing a cheap magical potion that disabled the aerial mana used to create the skill.
Santo watched the other men run and begin pummelling the hobbit to the ground. "Oh... frick..."
Foulmouth began throwing the wizard around like a ragdoll.
Santo had forgotten that the tournament was not a turn-based fight.
He looked through his skills and cast [Lightning strike].
Foulmouth parried it by throwing the same potion.
Santo ran to the edges of the arena.
Foulmouth raised his hand and began slamming and kicking the wizard to the edges of the arena.
Santo saw the wizard get knocked unconscious in front of him. "What..."
Foulmouth stared down at him. "Good game. Well played."
Santo looked up at him and then to the side where the wizard lay. In the distance, he saw past Foulmouth the hobbit, who was lying down unconscious around the center of the arena.
They eventually left.
Santo slept.
He woke up, finding himself at Albatross' store again, selling.
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 8!]
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 9!]
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 2!]
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 13!]
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 3!]
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 16!]
[Merchant Seller +0.5 XP!]
[The Customer wants to buy from you. Roll a dice to get a chance at getting them to buy! For context, it's between numbers 1 to 20. The higher the number, the higher the chance!]
[Roll.]
[You get 9!]
Merchant Seller (42/100 XP) -> Merchant Seller (42.5/100 XP)
Albatross looked at him. "Are you going to go?" He was referring to finding someone with connections.
Santo stared at the ground. "I can't. Let me take a break for a few days."
After the end of the day, Santo decided to make pickaxes again.
Merchant Seller (42.5/100 XP) -> Merchant Seller (43/100 XP)
There wasn't that much customers today, and he wasn't very lucky with selling, probably because he was extra exhausted.
[Gold gained +1 (Albatross' Apprentice)]
[Gold gained +1 (Albatross' Apprentice)]
[Gold gained +1 (Albatross' Apprentice)]
[Gold gained +1 (Albatross' Apprentice)]
[Gold spent -1 (3 Wooden planks)]
[Gold spent -1 (3 Wooden planks)]
[Gold spent -1 (3 Wooden planks)]
[Gold spent -1 (3 Wooden planks)]
[Gold spent -1 (3 Wooden planks)]
He used up the 1 gold he got from selling to the miners.
[You have batch-created 15 pickaxes.]
[Miner +7.5 XP!]
Miner (8.25/100 XP) -> Miner (15.75/100 XP)**
He now had 27 [barebones pickaxe] in total.
He wanted to sell all the pickaxes, but he didn't know if he would be able to sell them all easily. They were very bad, but making them was useful in itself because of the XP to [Miner].
Stats Spoiler:
Name: Spirit Santo
Species: Lowly Skeleton (Grade ZZZ)
Age: 20
Mindset: I need to get stronger. No more of these losers. As long as I get what I want.
Level: 2 (18/93.75 XP)
Skills:
Crafting I (0/1000 XP)
Necromantic Energy Manipulation I (0/1000 XP)
Business Management I (0/1000 XP)
Enchantment I (0/1000 XP)
Merchantry I (0/1000 XP)
Friendship Building I (0/1000 XP)
Exploration I (0/1000 XP)
Disguise I (0/1000 XP)
Lightning strike I (0/1000 XP)
Herbalism I (0/1000 XP)
Animal Communication I (0/1000 XP)
Night Vision I (0/1000 XP)
Lockpicking I (0/1000 XP)
Spells: None
Titles: None
Profession: None
Health: 500/500
Mana: 0/0
Armor: 30
Magic Resistance: 24
Attack Damage: 0.5 - 1.5
Strength: 10
Dexterity: 5
Constitution: 5
Intelligence: 5
Wisdom: 5
Charisma: 5
Stat points: 5
Progress bars:
Food Enthusiast (1.25/100 XP)
Acquaintance-maker (53.12 days)
Miner (15.75/100 XP)
Merchant Seller (43/100 XP)
Buffs: None
Debuffs:
Callousness (60% reduced empathy)