Alpha_Ruby

After Earth collapses into dimensional entropy, billions of people are scattered across broken worlds and forced into a brutal survival game known only as the Shattered Trial. Each player gains a random class. Most wield magic, swords, or elemental power.

But Iden Virel, a former engineering student, is given something else.

A black ring. A broken interface. And the command:

[SUMMON: Skeleton – Worker Class]

With a system unlike any other, Iden can summon and assign skeletal minions to tasks—miners, scouts, warriors, mages, builders, and more. These skeletal followers don’t sleep, don’t eat, and never stop improving. The longer they work, the smarter they get.

Together with his sister Rael—a rare Sanctum Channeler who can empower and evolve allies—Iden must lead his growing skeletal force through monster-infested zones, hostile player factions, and ancient ruins... all while preparing for the apocalyptic battle known as the Final Judgment.

In this world, only one law remains:

Build. Adapt. Conquer. Or be erased.

Endless March: Skeleton King Ascends

Night had fallen by the time the shadows returned.

The wind rustled through the forest like breath held in anticipation—until it parted, and the first scout skeleton emerged, silent as death.

Then came Nyra, flanked by three more.

Iden stepped forward from the center of the newly-built war camp. He had been waiting all evening.

Nyra pulled back her hood, sweat streaking her temple, a torn sleeve wrapped around her left arm.

"It's bad," she said. "But manageable."

She laid out a rough but sharp map etched in charcoal on cloth.

"Their village—'Ironrest' they call it—is boxed in on all sides by sharpened log walls. South face is lightly guarded. Eastern edge has their forge, running constantly. I counted 46 active villagers—most unarmed. Twelve beasts in total, caged and armored. Three summoner Candidates, all posted in the central longhouse."

She jabbed her blade into the center.

"One runs warrior summons. One's got ranged beastmen. The third—mage-type, keeps their own people in fear. They don't expect an organized force. They think they've already won."

Iden's eyes narrowed. "Then they'll never see us coming."

Inside the main command tent, lit by pale soul-lamps, Iden convened the Council of Ash.

Nyra, Rael, Kael, Thorn, Liri, Milo—and two native elders from the recently liberated village—sat beside him. On a table made of bound Cryptwood, they reviewed the intelligence with precision.

"We'll hit them in two waves," Kael suggested. "Diversion at the forge—strike fast, collapse their supply line. Main force comes through the south wall once their guards are pulled."

Rael nodded. "I'll handle healing and morale—but I want to be on the front with the civilians. They need to see we fight with them, not just for them."

Milo pointed to the caged beasts. "We don't kill them if we don't have to. Disable and free. Could be valuable allies once they're no longer abused."

Iden looked to each of them. "We move in forty-eight hours."

As preparations swelled and teams began their final drills, a glow erupted near the eastern edge of camp.

From the training ring rose a surge of blue-white energy, swirling like wind and thunder.

Five of Iden's earliest summons—loyal since the first days—stood in a ring of evolving power.

• Boneblade, the first warrior• Ashmark, the tank who held the tower's gate• Veilshot, his first archer and scout• Hollowflare, his first mage• Pickstrike, the founding miner

Level 25 Reached. Class Tier Up: DSecondary Class Awakening Available

They shook—bones cracking and reforging—arms extending into new weapons, limbs laced with runes, armored plating fusing to their torsos. And then, like sparks catching fire, their new forms stabilized.

And with them—second classes emerged:

• Boneblade → Deathreaver (Warrior/Executioner)• Ashmark → Warden Sentinel (Tank/Protector)• Veilshot → Nightpiercer (Archer/Shadowstalker)• Hollowflare → Cryptweaver (Mage/Hexcaster)• Pickstrike → Runeborer (Miner/Siege Engineer)

Each radiated with intent and individuality. No longer simply summoned—they were commanders in their own right.

That night, as Iden walked alone between rows of training skeletons and civilians sparring under torchlight, his system flickered.

Raid Preparation: 45 Hours RemainingEnemy Candidates Detected: Preparing Counter-Offensive

The hunt had begun for both sides.

And the chains of Ironrest would soon shatter.

Chapter 40 — Whispers Before the Storm