'I'm dying'
I couldn't help but think that as I was once again waist-deep in disgusting murky water.
It had been one day since I started my trek through the swamp and I was near my boiling point.
This is unsanitary as hell.
It's like a freaking swamp, oh wait it is.
Fuck this shit.
No limits to my growth?
Extraordinary powers?
Who the heck needs that.
You know what I need?
A fucking bath.
'Goddamnit,' I thought once again as I tripped on a root underwater.
As I pulled my mud-covered face out of the scummy water, I once again took in the hell that was my surroundings.
Dripping trees with black trunks lined the view as far as the eye could see.
As I walked I nearly tripped over some rotting vegetation, sending several bugs scattering in fright.
As I passed by a murky pond filled with reeds, I swear I saw the surface of the water ripple.
A small shiver went down my spine as I turned away hoping that I truly hadn't seen anything.
It's just a trick of the eye.
Of course!
There was a low-hanging curling mist that stretched everywhere and seemingly pervaded every inch of the swamp.
It had caused me to trip many a time.
The sounds of dripping water echoed in my ears as my ever-lasting companion throughout this journey.
Every time I heard a splash I would nearly have a heart attack.
Aside from that the heavy silence beside the dripping was quite eerie.
As my hands accidentally brushed by some moss growing on a rotting tree, I shivered.
So far it had been smooth sailing if you could ignore the fact that I looked like a turd.
Heck, Jabba the Hutt probably looked better than me
-Rustle!
-Rustle!
Freezing in place, I halted my breathing as I tuned my ears.
So far after I had veered from the path in the direction of the Pool of Life I hadn't encountered any monsters which only made me further paranoid.
After all, that meant only a few things.
Someone strong had gone in the same direction as me and cleared everything.
I had accidentally entered the territory of a strong monster
I was heading in the right direction and was nearing the Pool of Life.
1 seemed unlikely so I was betting on it being somewhere between 2 and 3.
Of course, I hoped it wasn't 2 but wouldn't it just be my luck if I ended up in a strong monster's territory.
As I glanced around nervously, the bushes kept rustling.
Suddenly a shadow passed by my right side.
Flicking my gaze to where I saw the shadow I ducked as my instincts screamed at me.
If I hadn't ducked my head would have been torn off.
A large paw swiped right where my head was.
Falling back a bit, I scrambled to shore.
My legs seemingly moved as if they had a mind of their own as they attempted to run.
My eyes were frozen. Locked onto a beast that could only come straight out of a novel.
'Holy shit, what the fuck is that?' I screamed in my head as I began running for my life.
A large panther-like creature began running after me.
Its thick black fur looked impenetrable as it dirtied from the mud in the water.
It had a thin silver horn on its head that looked quite pointy.
Its black pupils followed me like a hunter chasing prey.
It had long bat-like ears and 6 legs.
However, the scariest thing about it was the 3 tails it had.
One tail looked normal however the other 2 had rows of sharp teeth as well as a gaping maw.
If I got my body stuck in those I would be shredded faster than corrupt politicians shred evidence.
As the alarm bells continued ringing in my head, I ran for my life.
My brain had entered DEFCON 1.
I contemplated my options as a million thoughts flew past my head.
It was very quickly catching up to me.
Realizing there was no way I could outrun it I desperately thought of a way to get away from it.
After all, fighting was out of the option as I had no weapon.
Using the emergency transmitter was also out of the question because then I would be taken back to the Mage's Association.
Climbing a tree was also bad as it could just chase me up the tree and corner me.
Looking around in a panic I tried to find any rocks or branches that would help however I found nothing.
That left me with only one option.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AHHHHHHH." I screamed as loud as I could.
Why would I scream?
In order to attract other monsters of course.
Since I can't beat it nor can I outrun it or hide from it, I might as well get someone else to deal with it for me.
Hopefully, there was a monster nearby or better yet a hunter that would hear me.
After all, if a monster came, who would it attack?
The bigger meal of course.
So if a monster had a choice between skinny old me or big juicy pink panther over there who would it pick?
Rule #17 of the Holy Scripture- if you're getting fucked by a big mother fucker get a bigger motherfucker to fuck them.
So screaming as loudly as I could, I ran for my life.
Because my life literally depended on how fast I could run.
Wow, maybe I should join a choir?
I'm pretty good at th–!
"AH!" I let out a pained scream as something tore into my back.
Falling over in the mud I turned around in fear as the monster approached me.
Breathing heavily I groaned slightly.
I attempted to scramble to my feet but I fell back into the mud unsuccessfully.
I could only stare terrified as the monster approached me.
The monster walked up slowly, its tails swishing back and forth.
"Heh, do you kiss your mother with that mouth?" I said with a small chuckle, closing my eyes prepared to die.
I had just started and I was already going to die.
I guess my novel really hated me.
Sighing, as the energy drained from my body. I squinted my eyes shut.
I could only hope death would be painless.
Fuck, I wish I could see my sister one more time before I died.
There was no way the guards would make it to me even if I pressed the emergency transmitter now.
Suddenly I felt very alone.
I had managed to make it through so far by sheer discipline and will.
After all, I had taped myself back together on my own before, however, I had never realized how lonely I was till this moment.
I was so cold.
So alone.
I just wish I had a bit more time.
Sighing lightly.
I waited for the attack.
However, it never came.
Opening my eyes slowly, my eyes narrowed.
The monster that had attacked me was slowly backing away, hissing.
Turning my head sideways, I noticed 3 pairs of glowing red eyes peeking out of the tree line.
AOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Suddenly a series of howls pierced the stale air.
Emerging from the tree line was a pack of weird-looking wolves.
They were half black and half white, it was like they were split down the middle.
They had wings attached to their back with a large spike on the end of them.
They growled loudly as they approached.
The panther monster hissed violently as its tails swished back and forth.
Suddenly the three wolves pounced.
The panther's tails rushed in and attacked the wolves as they entangled into a large mass.
Of course, I wasn't just laying around while this happened.
No.
I was running like a criminal who didn't want to be sentenced to life.
Slipping in the mud in my hurry, I quickly got back up and continued running.
The only sounds were that of my heavy breathing as I increased my pace, and the howls of the fighting monsters.
After tripping several times and continuing to run I made it to what I felt was a safe distance so I slowed down.
The sounds of the fight happening in the distance had been slowly getting quieter and quieter until I could no longer hear them.
After what felt like ages, the adrenaline began to wear off, and I put my hand on my back.
Hissing loudly, I retracted my hand which was covered in blood.
Shit, this needed to be treated badly.
Suddenly I saw a large tree.
I mean it wasn't just large it was massive.
It seemed entirely out of place as its pure spruce bark shined with a youthful luster.
It had an aura about it that shouted power.
Its gnarled roots stretched inside a small pond.
The pond was clear of all imperfections, its crystal-clear water was still without interruption.
The tree seemingly stretched up far above the tree line but it was invisible to anyone who didn't find it.
Its giant canopy of leaves seemingly blocked out the sunlight.
'The Pool of Life!'
Making my way over to the pool, I stripped myself bare.
Checking the time on my phone, I placed it with my stuff.
Entering the water, I knew this was where the real challenge began.
While the pool of life removed the impurities limiting a person's potential, it was a long and arduous process.
It was excruciatingly painful to remove the impurities in one's mana.
Therefore the longer someone stayed in the pool then the higher their potential would become, however, it would also get progressively more painful.
Even the main character only managed to stay in there for 5 hours.
Sitting down inside the pool, I closed my eyes as the pain started to engulf me.
At first, it was just a prickling sensation all over my body, however, it soon began to feel more painful.
After the first hour, it already felt like knives were stabbing me everywhere.
However, I had to keep going.
By the second hour, the pain was already overwhelming.
My whole face kept contorting as I sat there unmoving.
At one point I swear I started seeing things that weren't there.
It was like a long fever dream.
My brain had shut down and I had gone into lockdown mode.
I tried to maintain my sanity as best as I could.
I didn't know how long it had been, however, all I could do was hold on.
'HOLD!' I kept yelling in my head.
Eventually, I couldn't hold it anymore and with tears streaming down my face I climbed out of the pool.
Laying down and catching my breath, I had never been happier to be dirty.
I don't ever want to feel pain like that again.
I thought I was capable of handling pain but this was another level.
Looking at the sky I realized it was dark out.
Turning towards the pool that had caused me so much pain, I marveled at how once again it was still and unchanging.
It would probably still look the same long after I was gone.
Even as the sands of time continue to fall, it would remain here unchanging.
Waiting for the next brave soul to attempt to conquer its beautiful waters which held a painful secret.
Some dark emotions swirled in my eyes as I stared at the pool.
After a while, I broke off my stare and began changing.
Picking up my phone I checked the time, it was 10:43 PM.
I lasted 3 hours and 12 minutes.
I was quite proud of myself.
'There's no point in going back now, I might as well sleep here.'
Putting on my clothes, I pulled out the rope from my bag.
So for the second time, I climbed a tree and tied myself to it with the rope I had bought.
I fell asleep quickly as my body needed the rest from the pain.