Day and night couldn't engulf the place. Rightfully, it was rather dim.
Not long after, what was supposed to be a radio, and rusty, struggled to grab any sort of connection with the antenna on top.
Bzz, bzzz. Swaaa…
—[R-reporting today on "T-today's News". Experts predicted the weather seems c-clear, no signs of any rain by all means, and the city seems to be at peace o-once more as it has woken up to clear skies.]
Twitch.
In the faint back of an old and abandoned tall apartment building, seemingly where the garbage dumpster is located, lay Alan on the ground. The man who faked death.
–[While the city's superheroes and law enforcement agencies have reported a significant decline in villain activity, it has led to another usually peaceful day.]
Twitch, twitch.
Struggling just to move a single muscle, Alan desperately tried grabbing on to something for his support.
"Uuhhh…."
To his avail, he only resume in stress. His arm dropped to the ground.
Thud.
Couple minutes went by and Alan stayed still laying on the cold, rough concrete floor.
Suddenly, in an aggressive attempt, he reaches out his arm once again, grabbing a-hold on the sides of a commercial dumpster. All thanks to his perception.
Alan then forcefully pulls his body upwards, in a worn-out state, standing on his two feet.
He breathed heavily while making drunken movements.
"Haah….haaah"
–Step.
He takes a step ahead. The muscles and nerves in his body twitch uncontrollably.
Step.
Another step he takes. It hurts.
Step. step.
Soon after, he slowly took multiple steps little by little. The battle was ferocious.
—[Around a couple weeks prior, past midnight, there has been reported about an incident around Hallow Street. I-it's stated that a mutilated creature was suddenly summoned out of nowhere, causing a massacre through the street. The special agency and heroes are in progress investigating the incident at the m-moment.]
While the radio carried on, Alan hobbled his way out, as it was presumably only around the corner. He sees a faint radiance ahead.
Exiting the isolated place, the brightness of the outside world washed over him. However, instead of showing gratitude within him, he refused to acknowledge the beautiful sight and only walked towards his way home.
Step. step. Step.
His presence was now exposed in public, eventually, the people around him started to notice the state he was in. Stains of blood were all around his body while his clothes were torn apart, as if he were homeless. His hair was disheveled and his eyes were empty.
As Alan held his shoulder where he lost his arm, he frankly ignored the stares that were given to him. An irritated and annoyed expression was drawn on his face.
The people quickly avoided contact towards him while some peaked through. If Alan were ignoring the different reactions they manifested, then it was true. He didn't have a single care about their feelings or reactions.
Making his way through the streets of the city, stopping as a crosswalk sign turned into a red hand, Alan simply walked by and passed it. Out of nowhere, a vehicle drove by that was heading towards Alan. The civilians immediately tried grabbing a hold on him.
"H-hey watch out!"
"Child, watch where you're going!!"
"Kyaaaaaa!!"
But Alan plainly dodged their persistence and pursued towards his way. Only by a scratch, the vehicle drove off. For Alan, once again, he continued walking towards his destination.
The others were baffled by the sight. One tried going after the mobile as another hurried towards Alan, seeing if he needed to be for his comfort.
But to his dismay, he was already far up ahead. The only thing that was left was his loosen figure swinging right to left. Soon, Alan's body disappeared from their sight.
For around 10 to 15 minutes have gone by since an 'incident' occurred.
For the time being, Alan hasn't gotten into any sort of trouble that involves him. The only time he's been involved towards an issue, was quite childish, which was irritating.
One example was when walking towards the street, just further away where he exited the abandoned apartment building, a mother and child walked by Alan. Like any child would do, the kid looked at Alan with a bizarre expression and pointed his finger at him. With the mother quickly noticing as well at Alan's appearance, she slaps her child's hand and disciplines him, immediately apologizing to Alan.
However, Alan didn't show a trace of thankfulness. Instead he shows a killing intent of bloodthirst towards the mother and the children. He was pissed. Only two words in his mind at the moment. Home and Rest. If he can't receive them, then he'll kill anyone that tries to bring nuisance or annoyance towards him.
The woman grasps in horror and right away leaves with her child.
Seeing both of them leave, thanks to his perception, Alan sensed both the mother and the kid's emotions. Both fear and shock were shown.
A chilling and wicked grin appeared across Alan's face, reaching both his ears. It seems after seeing that b*stard's smile multiple times from the dungeon, has given him the ability to mimic its impressions. An inhuman impression.
In Alan's perspective, he doesn't seem to notice his actions nor doesn't know what he was doing. What only seemed to be in his mind only, was to get home. That's all he was wanting for. Home.
***
Creeaaak…
The cold breeze of home hits.
Tab, step.
With dull eyes and a body in bad shape, Alan gently steps into his apartment.
Creeeaaak....
Thud, thud.
His steps were heavy.
Thud.
The smooth wood was yet old but not too old, thus so far Alan's steps sounded way too heavy, seemingly if his whole body weight was placed under his feet.
"Haaa…."
Stepping fully inside his apartment, Alan let out a sign of depletion. In a steady manner, he touches gently at what he could get a hold on before sensing a close-by furniture. Even if his eyes aren't damaged from the outside. The decrease of blood in his eyes resulted in a reduction of oxygen and nutrients.
This caused complications namely blurriness, dryness, and sensitivity to light. However, in some cases, the blood loss may lead to retinal damage or even optic nerve dysfunction, resulting in visual impairment. Regardless of these symptoms, for Alan at least, he had no objective in getting better soon.
Alan then fully drops himself on the sofa which he'd sensed. Eat or doing anything else wasn't the right time at the moment, he just needs to rest once more.
'Please, let this be a dream…..'
Alan at the moment he heavily shuts his eyelids, the burning pain was still there but he ignored it. Anew, he rests himself in a tender way.
Tik, tok, Tik, tok.
The clock on the wall tickled away with every passing second.
Tik, tok, Tik tok.
Its hand moved at a certain pace with deliberate time. Intuitively.
"Ugh….."
A groan was let out. With his entire back drenched in sweat, he writhed in a frail way. The soreness in his body continued despite resting twice. The battle really was excruciating.
"Eugh…"
He tightens his teeth, trying to grab the edges of the sofa. Pulling himself upward, gently, he moves his body to an upright position.
"Ah….shoot…."
Alan cursed under his mouth lightly. He feels around his body. His body felt…off. Alan kept feeling his body. Either pinching or scratching, it just felt so weird, as if his body took in the injection of anesthesia.
"I….my flesh and bones. They're repaired. How? Wait, what time is it?"
He couldn't believe it. A few hours ago, he'd been stabbed, beaten, and tortured around. How could all those sustainable injuries have been healed?
"All of my injuries aren't healed completely. There's still some deep wounds but the blood isn't gushing out again. Otherwise I'll be dead. Thi—no…this must be a skill. Yes, I heard the system's notification."
Alan quickly opened his status window. Right there and then, he saw what he couldn't believe his eyes.
Name: Alan Walker
Level: 21
Class: None
Title: None [0/100%]
HP:227
MP: 23
Fatigue: 61
[Stat]
Strength: 56
Stamina: 31
Agility: 31
Intelligence: 21
Endurance: 22
Perception: 34
(Available attribute points: 3)
[Skills]
Passive Skills:
– (Unknown) Lv. Max
– Overcome Lv. 2
– Corrupted Tenacity Lv. 1
Active Skills:
– Dash Lv. 1
A new skill. Sadly it wasn't an active skill rather a passive skill.
"I wish it were at least an active skill…"
He sighed in dejection. He put aside the matter and took a look at his status. Yikes, just observing his stats gave him the chills. A drop of sweat dripped down his face.
At the corner of his eye, he sees the icon of the opened mailbox. He goes to it and a message arrives.
'This was left a few hours ago. I wonder what it could be.'
He opens the message.
[The system's power is to make the player's growth.]
The message started off with the obvious. Alan continued reading.
[In order for the player's growth to become unmatched. Powerful and fierce. It has come to the attention for the player to receive punishment.]
[Without the system's assistance to help support the player. It is inevitable to continue growing.]
Alan raised one eyebrow in confusion. He read the next line.
[Because your percentage has reached zero. Punishment will be carried on the player without vow.]
Taken aback, Alan gets up from the sofa baffled.
"W-wait, reached zero percentage? What's this thing referring to!? System!"
[Discipline is needed. Defiance of the player is not allowed to show or be merciless. And for that, your disobedience is now going to commence.]
Suddenly another alert popped in front of Alan's eyes. His heart sank into his throat, almost choking him.
[Survive the encounters of the methods of torture. You are not allowed to leave until the timer has run out.]
The message window that has turned red after it was called out, began to glitch intensely. The ground started to shake with intense force.
RUMBLE, RUMBLE!
Alan whispered in a frightened tone.
"Hah, ah…..not again. Please….."
Instantaneously, he disappeared out of sight. He just couldn't catch a break.
***
….
There was silence. All was tranquil that was wrapped in an undisturbed quietude. A very quiet silence. No sound or voice was heard that disturbed the surroundings.
….
A notification broke the silence. It was eccentric.
Tti-ring.
[All stats have been reduced to 90%. You are no longer able to fully use your strength to be durable.]
Tti-ring.
[Penalty Quest: Tormentation]
Objective: Undergo the stages of persecution until the end of the time limit.
Time Remain: 2 hours 0 minutes 0 seconds
As soon as the remaining time changed to 1 hour, 59 minutes, and 59 seconds. The clear sight of where the penalty "would" take place revealed before Alan's eyes.
The sight felt familiar, but it wasn't like the last time. There was nothing except himself and the timer of the penalty quest. The surroundings were nothing but white blank.
"H-huh? This place…?"
Alans hurriedly inspects around. Supposedly he'd be in a naked space atmosphere or be somewhere inhabited with monsters or nature. However this was different.
His arms, his feet, his body, they felt weak. Everything within was incredibly fatigued.
Sweat started to form on Alan's forehead.
"I could've sworn I wasn't this tired… I feel incredibly weak. This reminds me of the old days. No wonder my stats have been reduced."
Lifting his head up, he could then view what was above him. Without alert, something struck Alan painfully into his chest.
"Gasp….Gaaack!"
Alan tipped to the side, stumbling. He falls on the ground with gripping to an extreme degree.
"Cough–aahhh!!!"
It hurts. This is bad. The pain Alan was experiencing was completely on par with his earlier encounter. It could even be far greater.
Alan attempted to hold on to something for his support, however there wasn't anything to give him. There is nothing at all.
He grasped heavily as he fell to the ground with a heavy thud, but the pain pursued in its course of action. In his mind, he only felt like dying already. It was unbearable.
[Phase 1 will now begin]
"Cough, you're telling me this pain isn't part of phase 1?!? Blu-ack!!"
Blood spouted out of his mouth. The ground shook with harsh force.
RUMBLE, RUMBLE, RUMBLE!!
Alan couldn't keep his balance with the pain bestowed upon him. That didn't mean the pain would decrease. No, it grew more intensity by each second he endured.
"The t-timer….! How m-much t-time has gone b-by!?!?"
Time Remain: 1 hour 55 minutes 9 seconds.
"O-only 4 minutes have g-gone by!?!? Ah….."
Alan's eyes rolled back into its socket but his senses still remained. He gagged with his own blood, coughing along with choking. He clawed on the white blank surface ground, but it was fertile.
His nails were torn apart in an attempt to gripped onto something. His back twisted maniacally and started to make animal noises, likely if he were possessed.
Crunch, Krrrsh, Crruu!!
Sounds of bones breaking with organs popping like fragile balloons resonated in Alan's ears. He cried while weeping in torment.
'I'm sick…'
Those words were repeatedly on his mind. For each pain struck within him, like a loud bell, those two words ranged in his mind. What's worse is that he was aware of everything that happened. He couldn't see because of the amount of pain he's tanked, he could feel every muscle, every nerve and cell being crushed to death but were instantly healed.
It went on like this for a while before a message popped up.
[Phase 2 will now begin]
For the time being, the torment ceased for a moment before resuming.
Pop.
"K–Kyaaaaaaaaa!!"
Alan screeched loudly. So loud that he must've shaken the insides of the empty space.
"Haah!! Haahh?!?! My–my knee, m-my knee!!"
One might've not noticed it immediately, but the patella, also known as the kneecaps, that helps support the legs for bending and straightening the leg, has been torn apart. Not dislocated but broken.
Alan's hands tried putting his patella in place, however with what's going on within his body, he wasn't able to keep his legs intact.
'What did I do to deserve this….god please stop this.'
Ba-dump.