"Fuuu…I guess that's it for today's quest." I breathed heavily while I sat on a nearby bench at the park once again, catching my breath. While it has been a couple of weeks since I received two dungeon keys that I received as a reward from one of the dungeons and as a reward. But, why do I have a sense of feeling I'm not strong enough yet to use them.
'Unfortunately my strength isn't enough to conquer them yet.' I take out both of the keys from my inventory.
[Item: Unknown Key]
Rarity: Unknown
Type: Key
[Item: Key of the Apocalypse's Battleground]
Rarity: A+
Category: Key
"D*mn it…." No matter how many times I keep observing these damn keys, I sense that the current stats I possess at the moment aren't enough.
Name: Alan Walker
Level:21
Class: None
Title: None [0/100%]
HP:2442
MP:450
Fatigue: 6
[Stat]
Strength: 50
Stamina: 22
Agility: 22
Endurance: 22
Intelligence: 21
Perception: 22
(Available attribute points: 39)
.…I'm not going overboard if I'm saving my attribute points am I? I hope not.
I closed the status window with only the descriptions of the keys left behind floating. These contemplative thoughts are killing me. I took a deep breath and sighed weary. I eased my body while blankly relaxed in my thoughts, a nostalgic reminder of someone's regard occurred.
"I wonder how Ava's doing these past few weeks." Thinking back, the last time I saw her face in person was when she saved and healed me from those heroes. I bit my lower lips while I relaxed my head on my hand. "I should've at least sent my regards to her when she became an official healer."
I glanced up at the sky while I rested my head on the bench. The deep light bright blue fills with the horizon of the sun seasons the cool color of the breeze. A perfect fit for the autumn season. Man, I wonder when was the last time I ever felt this kind of feeling.
"Ah, the reminiscence is hitting again." I ignored those thoughts and got up from the bench and stretched my arms and legs. I've made a decision. I'm going to use one of the keys. If I were to back down, I won't be able to grow stronger. Power is my only option in order to survive.
I began jogging back on my way home. While at it, my brain was starting to be filled with thoughts again. Thoughts about the future. Thoughts about what will be awaiting me at the front.
As the minutes go by, shortly after, I remember something that's coming by shortly. "Now that I'm thinking about it, isn't school starting soon?" I increase the speed of my jogging. Even though I'm not in school anymore, I still want to progress as much as I can in the real world. Well, with the help of these dungeon keys, there's no need to worry.
'I wish I could see Ava soon.'
I continued to jog until I reached my apartment.
***
"I guess this is the destination I'm supposed to be. Doesn't seem to be something new."
It was late, already past noon and the people were still present around my surroundings walking by. Despite only wearing joggers and a hoodie, I'm starting to get quite chilly.
"I hate being broke." Putting that aside, I've got a dungeon to clear, and to my surprise, I can't believe I'm going with this choice.
[Item: Unknown Key]
Rarity: Unknown
Type: Key
[The whereabouts of this key are concealed. There is no further information about this key. Can now be used at any uninhabited vicinity.]
'What the? I could've sworn that last detail wasn't displayed on the key…' Could it have been my imagination? Or was it…?
Ah, whatever, right now my priority is to level up and improve my skills. I'll get answers soon. The purpose of this system. Why I'm chosen as a player. This power. And of whole Earth. I'll find them soon enough.
[Would you like to use this item?]
"Yes." Just like inserting a normal key. The item soon started to emerge with the air in the atmosphere, quickly revealing a small black hole. It was pitch black, and shady. Like a gate that is welcoming my existence. Forget my existence, this is making me nervous and I don't like it.
I scratched my head in frustration before sighing.
"....There's no turning back now. I don't wanna waste a key just because of my cowardness." I set my foot, stepping into the portal and through it and closing behind revealed…nothing? What the?
Step.
There was nothing. Not a single thing was present in this world. None. The ground was dry and there didn't seem to be any sun, disregarding the atmosphere being lit up with some sort of light.
Step.
Taking another step into this world, suddenly my peripheral vision immediately dropped. My eyes widened. Compared to playing horror games, I can now relate how terrifying it can be. I can only see what's in front. No further. It's as if someone has the power to determine the lighting of my vision.
Step. step.
It was dark. With the little light given in my eyes. It wasn't enough to look any further ahead.
While I continued taking a few steps with my guard up, I carefully glanced at my surroundings, despite not seeing anything, I could tell this was forest-like. The ground revealed grass the further away from the entrance. Trees soon revealed along with bushes and shortly started hearing a cricket's nocturnal activity. Owls soon decided to join.
F*ck, I wanna clear this soon and fast already. But I'm not seeing any monsters anywhere though…
I took a glimpse at the sky. It was a tragic dark that I quickly had to look away. My body was shaking. The hairs on my body began to tense up while my face soon began to sweat up a bit. Sh*t, and here I thought I already overcame fear itself.
Step. step. Step.
I stopped. I cautiously looked at my surroundings. Something's wrong with this place. The animals, the trees and the bushes. No matter how long I walked through the woods, I haven't seen a single owl nor any other animal. And their calls….they way too far away despite them being close. They sound like they're moving away each time I go deeper into the woods regardless of their calls being so close.
Fwoooo….
Step.
"….I'm leaving this place. I can't do this." The dark was already enough to scare me. I don't have the courage to continue any further than this. I clenched my fist. 'I guess this'll be my first dungeon I'll fail to clear.'
I opened my mouth to command my inventory. To my horror, a face emerged from the darkness and was close against mine. Its dark pitch black eyes seem endless while you look into them. It opened its mouth to reveal a large and wide smile. He didn't have any teeth. It cackled as it twitch it's head uncontrollably.
"–!" I instinctively swung my arm, aiming towards its face. But, to my despair, he was gone.
I gasped in fear. Right away, I called out to my status window and inserted 3 attribute points to perception. The situation felt like déjà vu. I already knew what was soon coming up.
I didn't care to see the changes, but my life was at stake for god's sakes!
– Step!
I wasn't sure if there were any changes but I still couldn't see them!
I turn towards any direction, afraid that it would pop out again. Right? Left? Behind me? Where is it!? Like a madman who's desperately trying to hide, I didn't stop even for a second to relax.
BadumpbadumpBadumpbadumpBadumpbadumpBadumpbadump….!
As if my heart were in my throat, I felt my heart racing but it wasn't the normal type of a heartbeat. I began sweating like crazy.
I was terrified. Terrified of the darkness. Terrified of death. This wasn't like back then at the first dungeon I've gone through, nor the time I was near death by the hands of the heroes. This was something else. I was feeling much worse. My insides tighten themselves. I felt nauseous.
Something was able to happen.
I clenched my chest tightly in pain. "...Curses, I thought this was supposed to be a dungeon filled with monsters!" I pulled out my newest weapon from the inventory. Before receiving this weapon on my dungeon clear, I noticed this weapon already contained magic bullets. I wonder if they came as one of my rewards.
[Magic Bullets]
[Ammunition that is filled with mana inside of them. With the mixture of flint and mana, together creates 10 times more the capacity of its effects. The more mana poured into the bullets, the more effective it will become. While the effects may be astonishing, 5-10 mana will be taken for each bullet. It is a perfect weapon for a sharp-shooter.]
[Magic Bullets: 6/400]
'Incredible. The more mana I pour for each round, it'll become much more powerful? Talk about overpowered. And the amount of ammunition…it's quite a lot.'
I wanted to admire its design and stats one more time however this wasn't the right time to do so. But what's going on with this dungeon?! I thought this was supposed to be a normal dungeon just like the last one!
I aimed for whatever I felt moved or felt like it was there. I was ever more paranoid by just this darkness I'm standing individually. I was alone. And afraid.
What seemed to be an eternity, I only knew it hadn't been long enough. However, only when I lowered my guard for just a second, I knew my life had ended already. Once again, 'it' appeared again, only to be above me. The sky, who was previously in its mersey dark black ambience, was replaced by the same horrifying face of a figure. However, I wish I had never looked at its face ever.
From its face being inhuman, it changed into a more disgusting and more dreadful form. As if were coming straight out of a horror film, with a mix of a looney tunes character, it extended its eyeballs towards me along with its skin, almost hitting against my face. It cackled once again.
What I could only prescribe would be 'Blood' spouted out of its eyes and mouth, at least what it looked like from my perspective.
Unlike the monsters I fought back then at the station, usually I'd see the creature's name in color above their heads, but this one didn't have one. No, it doesn't have one.
[????]
I gasped in horror. I didn't know if it was by instinct or not, but the only thing I remember doing at the moment was shooting its face without thinking once. What was that saying again? Reflecting on your actions before committing to them? F*ck that!
I began running. I didn't know whether it took damage but I didn't want to find out.
I glanced if it was chasing me and oh boy was I right. It cried out. He sounded like a ghoul whose lungs were lacking in oxygen. It still had that smile with its face covered in liquid form of black blood and continued cackling. I guess that figures out the question.
Hold up, is it just me, or is he getting bigger…? Wait, is it getting faster!?
Its nonhuman scream was so deep and horrific, it made me even more scared than ever before.
"Crazy son-of-a-b*tch!" I increased the speed of my legs. With a small glance, I shifted my head a bit. Is he still behind me?! I thought I closed the gap even if it was just a little! It's deep cackling, it's terrifying…
It pains me to do this but I have no choice but to use all of my attributes at this moment!
"3 stats to stamina, 3 stats to Agility, 3 stats to perception!!" It may not look much, but it'll surely make an upgrade! With this, I'll be able to save up my mana if I had no choice but to use my speed skill.
With many fears and thoughts running through my mind, I recollect the things they had previously happened.
Fuuuu…I can do this. I recall the events back at my first dungeon clear. The feeling of nervousness. The feeling of anxiety. The feeling of fear. The feeling of awareness. And the feeling of tension. The memories of these characteristics are bringing so many remembrances of them. Yes….I can do this.
I summoned my status window.
[Stat]
Strength: 50
Stamina: 25
Agility: 25
Intelligence: 21
Endurance: 22
Perception: 28
(Available attribute points: 27)
27 attributes points. I think that's enough for upgrading my stats a bit more. Even though I was planning to upgrade more on the stats, however, now's not the time to do so. I'll have to wait for a good opportunity even if things get dangerous.
I glanced back to see if it was still chasing me. The figure who was running like a madman disappeared from my sight.
I sighed in relief. "Thank goodness." For a time period, I've been running a while. I checked my fatigue.
[Fatigue: 8]
Even though my stamina has improved. If I were to run for a couple of minutes, I need to preserve as much energy as I possibly can for me to use all up in the end.
I halted my steps as I slowly came to a stop but kept my guard up. I don't hear the animals' nocturnal activity anymore.
"I'm assuming all the hooting and cricket noises were a bunch of auditory illusions…?" Annoyed, I clenched my gun. The darkness was still deep and cold. The breeze in the atmosphere decreased. I'm feeling cold.
"Fuuuu…" The coldress was making me weary. I need to get out of this place and fast. "It's a good thing I still have that stone don't I?"
I called out to my inventory and took out a stone. Luckily I received this from one of the daily quests. I smiled in relief.
[Runes of the Relinquish]
[Description: A stone that lets you leave the dungeon without disregard. However once used, you will not be able to enter the previous dungeon.]
[Would you like to use this item? Yes/No?]
Those two options. How fascinating. Yes or No. A decision that'll change one's life forever. Aside from the fact one would easily think it's an easy decision, that isn't the cast. Over the years, I have been asked the same thing. Back then, I couldn't determine how significantly wrong I was. Even if I was given a simple question, I'd need to know how the circumstances would lead me in the future.
While the response was quite natural to answer, the most one needed to carefully observe was the option. "Yes" or "No", one of the most powerfulest words in the English language. It allows us to know about our wants, wishes and many more. An infinite possibility in my opinion.
Surely if the question was as basic as a rock, of course one would answer without hesitation effortlessly.
But a question that determined my individuality? I'm sure I'll fail to answer without a doubt. People might say I'm an over-scrutinizer or over-thinker. In reality, I just want to fully thrive in my life.
I don't care about success, fame, beaty or anything else. It would be nice to have those things, but just at least let me get through the hardship so that in the end, all the work would finally pay off.
My eyes glanced deeply at the question.
[Would you like to use this item? Yes/No?]
Once again, I scratched my head in frustration. I sighed. "Sigh, why am I even arguing to answer. Earlier I was desperate to leave this place as possible, so why am I even having this discussion?"
My body and mind want to leave, but something inside tells me not to.
No, I've already made a decision earlier. I'm leaving this place. Besides I'm still left with one more key, otherwise, it'd be rather unfortunate to leave without any rewards.
"Y–"
Slash!
"...Huh?" My lift side. It felt lighter for some odd reason. My arm. Why can't I feel my arm?
I tilted my head. I was bewildered. My arm, where did it go? I couldn't sense the attack. 'Blood...why is there so much blood….?'
My whole body was rejecting the reality before me. Not my mind, but my body. I don't know how much, considering how ignorant I was, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I guess it finally hit when the excruciating pain rained through my arm, bringing me back to reality.
"Agaaaaaaaaahh!!!" I know for a fact my screams were loud. The surroundings where I stand echoed all around the environment of the forest. This pain. This excruciating pain. It hurts…! It hurts!!
Badump!
A notification was accompanied with my screams. My HP started to atrophy.
[HP: 824/2442]
Tti-ring!
[Warning Notice: You are in the state of the effects of 'Bleeding'. Your stats have been reduced by 40%.]
'D*mn it!'
Even with my health above two thousand, my health has nearly dropped almost fully!
I feel onto my knees before falling completely into the ground.
"Ack…!? Gaaaaaah! Aaaaaah!" My face, covered in tears and drool. I couldn't concentrate on the notification that was called. I instinctively tried grabbing on my missing arm. I couldn't bear it. My arm. My arm…
I cried before starting to sob while gasping in pain. Rolling on the ground, I glanced at the feet that appeared before me. Filled with agony and fury. I shot a cold glare at what was in front of me while I held my shoulder where my arm was missing. "F*cking, bastard…."
That smile…it still had that hideous smile. Its long and sharp claw was covered in blood, my blood. It cackled before laughing like a madman. I couldn't keep my eyes towards them. I closed my eyes, still in pain. I hate this. I hate it!
'It hurts It hurts It hurts It hurts It hurts It hurts It hurts It hurts It hurts It hurts It hurts It hurts It hurts It hurts It hurts It hurts It hurts!!!'
[HP:303/2442]
[Warning: Your HP has dropped by 200. If you don't receive treatment immediately. Your heart will stop. Stats have been reduced by 40%. You are no longer able to use skills.]
My hand clenched together with the earth. 'Why did things end up like this? Why am I suffering like this? I only needed to say one word, one word! And I end up like this!? Why, why?!'
[0.23]
[0.21]
I admit. I'm not strong and preserved like others. I'm not ruthless and cold-blooded like some. I'm not self-possession nor tranquility. I'm not one with the motivation to continue fighting. I'm not talented and gifted. I'm not one to fight for justice or freedom. I'm not one to rebel against others.
[0.21]
[0.17]
I gagged, filled with saliva with my nose covered in snot. Again, my mind was rejecting the reality before me. My thoughts. I didn't know what I was thinking as I've lost all sense of comprehending. I only knew that I started spouting assumptions into my head.
'This isn't a fantasy world where I'm the main protagonist who has an overpowered skill or has the courage to fight! I'm not a protagonist who's cold-blooded! I'm not a protagonist who's a skillful centenarian! I'm not a protagonist who's knowledgeable! I'm not any of those…!'
[0.17]
[0.14]
[0.9]
'Cough, ack…!' I'm– I'm just a regular human… I'm a human! Don't look at me… Please, I'm scared. I'm afraid. Is there anyone? Anyone? Please help me. I'm…cold.
I reached out my only arm struggling.
'…I'm… I'm–'
[0.9]
[0.4]
I gag in agony once more. With little strength I couldn't help but cry in vain.
"I'm just human!! I'm a weak human!!!"
[0.4]
[0]
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