CHAPTER 23: PRACTICING DAY AND NIGHT WITH MY BONE-HEADED TEACHER. 22

In the forest,

The skeleton walked silently into the jungle, a sword strapped to its waist. Nawfi followed close behind.

After some time...

"I’m tired..."

[Low Stamina]

"Ugh! Low stamina... again?"

He took out a stamina drink and chugged it.

"Where are we going?" he asked.

Hisssh!

The skeleton stopped and suddenly turned serious.

It motioned for Nawfi to stay quiet and hide behind the bushes.

He obeyed.

Ahead was a snake, sleeping on the ground, hissing with its tail.

Suddenly, it opened its eyes. Its split tongue flicked out.

Nawfi covered his mouth and nose, holding his breath.

The snake fell asleep again. He sighed in relief.

The skeleton moved away without a sound.

Nawfi followed.

After another walk,

"Haah... haah..." He drank another stamina potion.

The skeleton stopped and pointed ahead.

Nawfi’s face went pale.

"Slimes!"

[Slime Lv2 — Rank: Common — ATK: 2, HP: 2 — Skill: Slow Poison — Drop: Core]

[Slime Lv3 — Rank: Common — ATK: 3, HP: 4 — Skill: Slow Poison — Drop: Core]

[Gloomy Slime Lv7 — Rank: Rare — ATK: 11, HP: 15, Magic: 9 — Skills: Poison, Acid Bullet, Sting — Drop: Core, Rare Card, Slimy Liquid]

"Is the system mocking me?" he groaned at the slime’s name.

"It’s an elite monster... and it has so many skills."

[Slimy Liquid — Rare Alchemy Material]

"Alchemy? I can sell it later..." He remembered he had more than enough gold. "Well, maybe I’ll use it myself."

The skeleton pointed to the slimes and motioned for him to fight.

"No... no no!" he hissed—then quickly lowered his voice.

"I can’t fight them! They’ve killed me twice already! I’ll really die this time!"

The skeleton pointed at itself.

"You’ll protect me?"

It nodded.

Nawfi swallowed hard. Maybe... he could end his grudge with them today.

"Find a weaker one."

[Baby Slime Lv1 — Rank: Common — ATK: 1, HP: 1, SPD: 2 — Drop: Core]

In the corner—a single, small slime.

He checked its status.

"Speed 2... I can do it."

He took a breath.

"I can do this."

He moved closer. The slime noticed and bounced toward him.

"Ahhh—it’s coming!"

He dodged it thanks to his high speed.

"Now...!"

He raised his sword and swung.

Missed.

"No... again!"

He tried again.

The slime jumped behind him and slammed into his back.

"Yaa!" It felt like a bag of water hitting him full force.

[Auto Mode Activated — Stamina Low]

He drank another stamina potion.

"You won’t get away with this!"

This time, he swung harder.

The blade sliced through the slime—

But it reformed.

"What!? It didn’t die?"

The slime got angry.

"How do I kill it?"

He remembered.

"System!"

[Analyzing... Slime Monster... Weakness Confirmed: Core]

"The core... but it’s so small and keeps moving..."

"I’ll try anyway."

He focused. The slime attacked. He dodged.

After a while—

Panting and on his knees, drinking again.

The slime approached.

He readied his sword. Focused on the core.

CRACK! CRUSH!

"Haah... that was... tiring."

He collapsed onto his back, drinking more.

Mr. Skeleton looked proud.

[You have killed a slime]

Suddenly, more slimes noticed him. They rushed over.

[Analyzing... Lv2... Lv3... Lv5... Speed: Higher than host ]

"I’m doomed... I’m really gonna die again... I don’t want to die by slimes again..."

Mr. Skeleton stepped in front.

He gripped his sword with one hand. His posture changed.

The slimes charged.

A cold breath escaped between his teeth.

He moved.

In one flash—light arced through the air.

The slimes... sliced cleanly apart.

The skeleton sheathed his sword like a true swordmaster.

Nawfi fell back, stunned.

"That... that was amazing. Please, teach me that...!"

The skeleton looked around, then gave him a thumbs-up.

Training Time.

The skeleton motioned for him to swing his sword.

"Okay!"

He focused and struck.

Whoosh!

"How was that?"

A thumbs-up.

But the skeleton gestured for him to continue.

"Whoosh! Whoosh!! Whoosh!!"

All was going well.

Until dusk.

"Ah... I can’t anymore... My stamina’s gone..."

He laid flat on the ground. The sword rested beside him.

The skeleton walked over, holding something.

"Juice? Nice..."

He sat up and drank it.

"Ah... it’s so refreshing!"

[Stamina recovering... fully recovered]

"That fast

[System Notification]

[Juice of Nature]

Rank: Epic

Info: A rare liquid essence drawn from the heart of ancient forests. Drinking it instantly restores 75% of stamina, revitalizing the body and calming fatigue. Said to be favored by elves and druids, its natural energy flows through every vein of the user.

"It’s good."

"Thanks, Mr. Skeleton."

The skeleton seemed happy.

"Ha... hey, Mr. Skeleton. Were you lonely here?"

He asked gently.

The skeleton looked side to side, then began fiddling with its bony fingers—one by one.

It didn’t answer, but its silence spoke enough.

Nawfi understood.

He stood up.

"Hey, don’t worry. You won’t be lonely anymore."

He flashed an energetic smile.

"I’m here with you now. From today on, we’re together. How about it?"

The skeleton’s eye sockets lit up.

It seemed to blush with joy—if a skeleton could blush.

[Befriended with Skeleton: 40%]

"Ha! So that’s how it is?"

He grinned.

"Nice to have a friend."

"Let’s go home, Mr. Skeleton."

The skeleton nodded.

It looked truly happy.

And together, they went home.

A Morning in the Forest

"Shwh... showh..."

The sound of his blade slicing through the air echoed gently through the forest.

Nawfi was practicing sword swings.

Mr. Skeleton stood nearby, observing him carefully and occasionally offering instruction.

[Acquired 5% of Unknown Skill]

Due to his low stamina, Nawfi was constantly drinking stamina potions—and also the premium juice made by Mr. Skeleton himself.

[You drank High-Grade Stamina Juice]

[Your stamina increased by 30% for 15 minutes]

"Ahh... I’m full of energy again. Mr. Skeleton, your juice is seriously something else."

He grinned.

"You’re a lifesaver. I owe you one!"

Mr. Skeleton gave a joyful nod.

Nawfi tilted his head in thought.

"I should give you a name..."

He looked at the skeleton.

"What do you think?"

The skeleton tilted its skull slightly, confused.

It pointed at itself, seeking clarification.

"Yeah, you. I mean, it’s awkward calling you ’skeleton’ all the time."

It seemed delighted by the idea and gave a big thumbs-up.

"Let’s see..." Nawfi rubbed his chin, thinking aloud.

"Jolly? Nah... Clint? Hmm... but you’re a skeleton, so... Bone? Rib? No, getting weirder..."

He snapped his fingers.

"What about Skull? Not bad, right?"

He looked up at the skeleton.

It paused—then gave an enthusiastic thumbs-up. It seemed satisfied.

[Lonely Skeleton has accepted the name "Skull." Renaming complete.]

[Name changed.]

"It... accepted it!" Nawfi laughed in surprise.

Then, a screen appeared in his vision.

[Skeleton Status: Name – Skull]

[Master Swordsman Detected]

[Befriended: 50%]

"It jumped by 10% just from giving it a name?"

Nawfi clenched his fists, fired up.

"No time to waste! Let’s keep training!"

He resumed his sword practice, eyes burning with new resolve.

[Acquiring 48% of Unknown Skill...]

The forest echoed once more with the rhythmic swishes of his blade—

and somewhere nearby, a skeleton smiled quietly.

Next few days,

Sh Ooh... Sh...

He practiced swing sword day and night with the help of stamina drink and the juice made by Skull.

When the stamina drink ran out, he went to hunt his worst enemy Slimes. for getting stamina drink, core and some monster cards too.

[You have killed a elite Slime ]

[you got a elite slime monster card]

"huh.."

some times, Skeleton gave him some equipment. He dueled with Nawfi.

Skek sheek. BOOM....

the skull just standing and swing his sword like playing with a stick and Nawfi trying so hard to hit him.

"huh huh.." Nawfi was so tired.

[You drink Stamina drink...recovering 20% Stamina]

heh..thash... thub.. boom...

Skull started attack him aggressively. it continued for the day and nights.

Sometimes , some high level monsters were secretly watched him practice.

[System Alert]

⚠ High-Level Monsters Have Appeared! ⚠

[Great Kong] – A colossal ape with unmatched strength, known for crushing armies with a single strike.

[Howling Bird] – A sky predator whose shriek disorients enemies, tearing through defenses with razor winds.

He looked at them.

[Apep Slayer Title Skill has been used]

"Kong... bird! Huh."

They ran away.

"This title is a life saver."

Seeing high-level monsters running away made him feel relieved... and He was used to using this Skill.

In those days, all he did was practice—swinging his sword, again and again.

[Unknown Sword Skill learned – 65%]

Skull cooked food for him, wearing a bear-head band and a blue apron—doing it diligently, and happily.

Some evenings—

"Shank... Showh..."

He was practicing in the forest. Skull carried a basket of food, watching his hard work. Sometimes, he even helped.

[Unknown Sword Skill learned – 75%]

Even under the full moon, he practiced tirelessly.

"Showh... huh... huh..."

His breath, beneath the moonlight, spread out like cold fog—from a Shadow Warrior.

His effort made the entire forest watch him under the silver moon.

[You acquired a Sword Skill]

"Hah... Pew~ I got it at last."

"Let’s see its info."

He clicked the window.

[Heavenly Blade]

Rank: Epic

Info: Using Aura Strike, increase holy attribute attack by 25%.

"Ah... let’s use it."

[You can’t use this Skill]

[Skill modification detected... Skill is under modification...]

"Huh...?"

[Modification complete]

[You acquired a Skill – Epic Rank – Heavenly Defend Strike]

"Ah..."

[Heavenly Defend Strike]

Rank: Epic

Info: Using Aura Strike, increase defense with sword by 25%.

"What! Not this again... everything changed."

[Note: Defend any strike from an opponent]

"Huh..."

He lay down on the ground, staring at the sky, thinking about past . Slowly, he raised his hand, as if trying to grab the moon.