I woke up from my weird dream and I feel rejuvenated. I get off the rock and start to make my way to the jungle. "Uugh. It's going to be a long day. Or, dream." I say as I walk into the thick jungle. The trees were all warped and black. "W-What is this?" I say in terror as I see a long rock that says "read me" stuck in the exposed guts a dead deer. I take it out and it has a message on it...
"I hope you've had a good sleep, dear,
Though you're probably shaken with fear.
This is the first thing to fill you with tears,
But putting this together has taken me years."
"... What?" I said, trying to decipher it. Then I heard a big noise, like something getting crushed. Following that, I heard a blood-curdling scream. I stealthily hurried there, using trees and bushes as cover. I smelled blood before I got there. The smell was so thick that I had to halt my advance. I felt so nauseous. I continued after composing myself and finally got there. I was so grossed out at the sight before me that I had to use all my strength so I didn't throw-up. I can't even say what it was now because it's so bad. I had to distance myself so I could throw-up so I ran away from the gory scene and then threw-up as quietly as I could.
It must've been too loud because the monster that committed that... that atrocity heard me. It started to walk towards me. I was terrified because I did not want that thing to do the things he did to that poor Looker to me. I started to try and run, but I was trapped. There were really high walls made of rock that came out of nowhere. I knew that this was the Nightmare Man's doing. I turned back to the monster after running into the wall and it was way too excited. It started to walk faster and I darted away. The "Battle Arena" seems like it's a square that's probably 300 meters by 300 meters. I ran and ran but I eventually got tired. I stopped because I couldn't hear the loud thumps of its feet. "Hah, hah. Oh god, I'm gonna die." I whisper while trying to catch my breath.
I felt vibrations in the ground so I took cover in a bush. I saw it very clearly. I was a monster, but it resembled a Resident. I knew it wasn't, though, because it staggered and didn't seem to be thinking anything. It was covered in blood and now had a gigantic butcher knife. It was breathing heavily as it staggered past the bush I was in. When It disappeared into the trees, I started to climb out but a sharp twig cut me on the way. I remembered that there was a big sword in a tree stub at the gory scene I saw earlier, so I snuck back there. The Monster didn't see me, but I was still on edge. I ran out, grabbed the sword, and ran back to cover. I'm pretty sure it was a big knife to that guy, but for me, it's a sword. I heard footsteps so I headed in that direction, sword in hand, ready for battle.
I spotted him taking a break while leaning on a tree. I advanced and tried to hit him but he dodged. I caught myself from falling and turned toward the monster, who was smiling. It was weird because his eyes were... lifeless. I dismissed the thought and started stepping towards the monster, while the monster stepped towards me. I couldn't back out now, I was too deep in the fight. I sliced him in the chest and he punched me in the stomach, launching me into a tree. I couldn't even scream because it knocked the wind out of me. I kept at it, though. I ran at him and pierced his leg. He let out a scream and tried to swing at me but this time I dodged. I pulled the sword out of the monster and the monster collapsed onto his knees. I walked up to him, closed my eyes, and sliced his eyes. I just couldn't kill him.
I waited for the Nightmare Man's response to what just happened, and I heard a voice. It was The Nightmare Man.
"Wow, that was very brave of you, good job.
All the others thought this was a bit macabre.
Some fought, some hid, and some started to sob.
And the ones who did nothing inevitably were stopped.
Except you, Melody, so the next challenge is to talk.
Be assertive, or you might die, and for now, so long."
The nightmare man spoke, which is rare, so I was startled. He sounded like a classy guy. I started walking into the forest and found an opening, just like the one I slept in. I laid on the rock and drifted to sleep. I saw the nightmare man again and I wanted to see his whole face because his mask was on so I couldn't. I ran towards him and he dodged very swiftly like he expected me to try and grab him. I reached again, and he just bowed and stepped into the darkness. Then, I woke up.
This time, when I stepped out of the clearing, I heard music and talking further into the forest so I started walking towards it. I tripped on something, and it was a dress and a rock. The rock read,
"I'm giving you this so you don't stand out,
So wear it with pride, and please do not shout.
This challenge is long, and it has no time-outs,
And everything you do will shape how this plays out."