Chương 22: New Profession Skill

Alex carefully examined the new skills available to him based on his profession. It became clear that both his Class and Race significantly influenced the skills he could learn. [Concoct Poison – Tier 1] Grants the ability to concoct all kinds of poisons, toxins, and deadly acidic substances through the combination of compatible materials. These can then be imbued into weapons and attacks. With enough practice, deadly toxins capable of melting metals can be created. There is nothing that can resist your poison.

[Toxicology – Tier 1] Grants complete knowledge of any toxic plant or material you encounter. It provides valuable information about each substance and allows you to absorb toxins into your body and synthesize them. Eventually, your body will become the deadliest poison. [Bone Synthesis – Tier 1] Grants the ability to freely synthesize and combine bones to create stronger bone constructs or other structures.

Other compatible materials, such as precious metals, ores, crystals, and more, can also be added to the synthesis. This evolves and strengthens your bones far beyond their original level. [Soul Cauldron – Tier 1] (New) As a Unique Undead Alchemist, your very soul has attained the Element of Alchemy and has begun mutating with tremendous power. It can now harness these abilities to synthesize and create items through Alchemy and related skills by using your soul itself as a cauldron.

With this skill, you will never need an external cauldron or additional accessories. Your soul will also grow continuously stronger and larger the more items you create through it. Aside from the three initial skills he had been considering, the brand-new Soul Cauldron skill stood out as truly remarkable. Alex thought about selecting it many times, feeling genuinely torn between the options. Boosting his soul's power held immense appeal, especially since a larger soul would allow him to control more golems.

Yet after careful consideration, he decided against it for now. He reasoned that Soul Cauldron might become available again later. In the end, he chose Bone Synthesis. What he wanted to strengthen most was his physical body, particularly his bones. Ever since he had begun his journey as a skeleton, one of his greatest desires had been to reinforce his bones and make them far tougher and more resilient than before.

"Soul Cauldron will be chosen if I get the chance later," he thought firmly.

"For now, I must prioritize Bone Synthesis." One of the main weaknesses of Bone Crafting was its limitation on fully combining bones with non-bone materials. Alex did not know whether that restriction would eventually be lifted, but for the present moment, this was simply how things worked. Although he liked to plan ahead, he was currently inside a dangerous tutorial filled with powerful monsters he actively sought out in order to grow stronger.

In such conditions, immediate growth took priority over future possibilities. Gryg watched Alex stand there in complete silence. The troll queen did not interrupt him. She simply observed as he thought through his choice with mechanical precision. Sometimes, even as a powerful Level 20+ Troll Queen, Gryg felt a slight chill at how strangely detached he could appear.

At the same time, he was capable of showing surprising warmth and emotion, though she could never be entirely sure how genuine those moments truly were.

"Hey, old skeleton. Are you okay? What's wrong? You're just staring into space," Gryg finally asked. She waited for a response, but none came at first. Just as she began to think he was ignoring her, a voice suddenly emerged from his skull.

"I am not old."

"...?!" Gryg made a shocked face and glared at him, wondering why that was the part he chose to focus on. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

"What?" she asked. Alex turned toward her, his plain voice echoing calmly.

"I am not old. I only died recently. My bones are still very young and healthy. You could even find bone marrow inside if you checked."

"Huh? O-Okay? So what's wrong then?"

"Nothing. I was simply thinking," Alex replied nonchalantly.

"I have come to a conclusion."

"Really?" she asked, curious.

"Yes. I am choosing Bone Synthesis." Alex confirmed his selection with a tap of his index finger. The power of the skill flowed swiftly into his soul. Ding! [You have learned the Bone Synthesis – Tier 1 Skill.] FLUOSH! In mere seconds, Alex felt a new and profound authority awaken within him. The bones that formed his body were no longer bound by previous restrictions. They had become truly free, ready to be experimented with in far more ways than simple merging.

[Bone Synthesis – Tier 1] Grants the ability to freely synthesize and combine bones to create stronger bone constructs or other infrastructures. Foreign materials can be seamlessly integrated at the structural, elemental, and even conceptual level if compatibility is achieved. Current compatible categories: Metals (conductivity & hardness/durability), Crystals (mana/spirit affinity), Biological Essences (regeneration & adaptability), Minerals (density & magical resonance).

Advanced applications unlocked with mastery: Self-repairing skeletal frameworks, modular bone weaponry, living bone golem cores, and hybrid exoskeletons. Warning: Over-synthesis may temporarily reduce flexibility or increase soul strain until adaptation occurs.

Alex read the updated description with great attention. It did not explain every detail he wished to know, but it provided a solid foundation for understanding the skill's potential. Metals would enhance conductivity as well as hardness and durability. Crystals, which he assumed referred to magic crystals, would likely improve his mana and spiritual energy affinity, along with better control over similar forces.

Biological essences, possibly from flesh, organs, other bones, claws, fangs, or similar materials, would boost regeneration and adaptability, potentially granting his bones natural healing and the ability to adapt to different environments and elements. Finally, minerals would increase bone density and magical resonance. He could only guess that magical resonance involved the smoother flow and control of mana through his skeletal structure.

"Well, let's try it right away," he said eagerly.

"What do I have available in the menu?" This was the first time he could truly "eat" and absorb materials directly into his bones. Alex felt a surprising surge of anticipation at the prospect. He wanted to experience exactly what it felt like for his bones to assimilate new substances.

"Gryg, can you help me gather different materials to test this out?" he asked.

"A-Are you seriously looking forward to this like it's some kind of menu?" Gryg asked, staring at his skull.

"Yeah." Gryg paused for a moment, then smiled lightly.

"... Okay then, sure. Haha." After roughly twenty minutes of searching, they had gathered the materials Alex wanted: pieces of the marble-like anti-magic stone from the golems, one golem core, a troll monster core, a mana crystal, a spirit crystal, wyvern scales, and some healing grass.

"Let's begin." Alex sat down cross-legged and picked up the first item, the smooth anti-magic stone that formed the dungeon's golems.

"Bone Synthesis." The moment he activated the skill; he immediately learned an important detail. He had to select which specific part of his skeletal structure to reinforce. A human skeleton contained over three hundred bones, but fortunately the skill divided his body into seven main areas: Skull, Left Arm, Right Arm, Left Leg, Right Leg, Thorax, and Spine. Additional parts like his wyvern wings did not appear to count toward these primary sections.

"So I can only reinforce my main skeletal frame for now? Add-ons like extra arms and wings don't count, but I can probably still reinforce them separately," he noted mentally. He decided to start with his left arm and chose to enhance it with the golem stone first. Slowly, the stone transformed into a sand-like substance and melded seamlessly into his bones. They grew noticeably heavier and developed a pristine, hardy exterior. Alex felt his bones changing in ways he had never imagined possible.

A progress bar appeared in his vision for that specific area, rising steadily from 0% to 13%. Ding! [Your left arm bones have been reinforced with Magic Repelling Golem Stone.] [Bone Density +7%] [Magical Resonance +6%] [Minor Elemental Magic Resistance gained.] [Left Arm Bone Synthesis Limit: 13/100]"Hm, I see." Alex now understood how the skill functioned. Each major section of his skeleton gained independent bonuses. At the moment, only his left arm possessed resistance to elemental magic.

When he checked the Bone Synthesis skill again, a new detailed list appeared, showing the growth status of every part of his skeletal frame.

"There seems to be a limit to how much each bone section can absorb," he observed.

"Going beyond that limit might strain my soul or make movement more difficult. I assume the limit increases as the skill ranks up." Alex nodded to himself, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction and excitement. The limitations meant he would need to think strategically about what materials to assign to each part of his body. Yet that very challenge only fueled his determination and eagerness to experiment further.