Blood splattered from Max's body as he crashed into one of the giant rocks that had been blown away by the effect of the under-dog's power. His limbs were broken and his left leg was dislocated.
"Arrgh!" He groaned in pain. Obviously, his regeneration ability did not stop him from feeling pain.
[ Regeneration in progress ]
In a matter of seconds, his broken bones had returned to normal as if he had never gotten hurt.
[ Regeneration complete ]
He got up from the pile of rocks when he saw the under-dog flying towards him.
"You survived! I guess you're not so bad after all," The under-dog said as he landed on the ground, feeling the least surprised for some reason.
This was the best time to give his firepower a shot, Max thought before he unequipped the Lunar blades. He slammed his palms against each other and closed his eyes, just like he had seen fire ability users in other games do.
"Fire Aura!" His voice thundered.
Flames burst from underneath his feet before travelling throughout his body without burning him or his clothes. His eyes flew open and in place of purple were scorching flames. His hair had been replaced by flames which took on its shape but in spikes.
"This power," The under-dog sounded alarmed. "He took down Apollyon!"
Balls of lava began to form above Max and as soon as he separated his palms, the ball swiftly moved across the air as they made their way towards the under-dog.
"Pfft," The under-dog scoffed. Sparks of electricity coated the huge hammer in his hand which he held towards the ball of lava flying in the same direction.
A blast of electricity struck the balls and they immediately turned blue with electricity moving through them. As if under control, the balls started moving back to where they had come from at an even monstrous speed.
A loud bang was heard and as a result, large dust particles hovered in the air. Soon, the dust dispersed bringing a tall wall of fire into the under-dog's view.
"How did this child even defeat Apollyon?" He asked himself.
The wall of fire immediately shrunk till there was nothing left of it, leaving behind a space. Max wasn't behind the wall.
"Such lame tricks."
The under-dog was quick to catch the fist behind him before it could land a blow on him. Still holding onto the fist, he flung the person over his shoulder and onto the ground. The sound of bones cracking was loud enough for him to hear.
Max screamed in pain as his flame ability deactivated.
"I guess we have come far. You have skills for a human new to this world," The under-dog remarked.
"The name's Annas."
He grabbed the boy by the shirt before diving into the air."
*. *. *.
"Let me go bitch!" Hillary screamed as she struggled to set herself free but to no avail. Spikes had pinned her clothes to a tree preventing her from moving.
The female under-dog moved close to the girl and placed her long nail on her throat.
"You know, I have a hobby for shutting people like you up."
"Do your worst, Naked bitch!" Hillary spat.
It was true the under-dog's had their human parts exposed. The only thing that covered the female's chest was her waist-length hair.
"Lord Annas wouldn't mind if I kill this one," The female under-dog turned to the other under-dogs who shrugged in response.
A devilish smile etched on her lips as she returned her gaze to the sarcastic girl. Her long nails wrapped themselves around the girl's neck and slowly yet painfully dug into her skin causing blood to trickle.
"Let go!" Hillary screamed in pain.
"Pearl! Let the kid go," A commanding masculine voice was heard.
Pearl quickly loosened her grip from the girl's throat. The spikes pinning her against the tree fell to the ground, and so did the girl.
"My Lord," Pearl bowed her head. "The girl was being a nuisance."
"Let us return," Annas said as he dropped Max who had now healed on the ground.
Pearl nodded. She and the others flew to meet him in the air.
"Goodbye, little one till we meet again. When you're stronger and worthy enough," Annas smiled before flying away with his crew.
"What the hell were those things?" Hillary blurted out still rubbing her hurting neck.
"I don't know," Max said as he moved to help her up.
"But they seemed to know you," Hillary replied.
"More reason I am confused," Max said. "Let's get you somewhere you can rest."
Just then, he received a notification.
[ You have reached power worth having stats ]
[ All stats have been increased ]
[ Strength 10 ]
[ Speed 10 ]
[ Intelligence 14 ]
[ Agility 9 ]
[ Stamina 8 ]
[ Endurance 6 ]
[ Mana 10 ]
[ HP 10/10 ]
[ XP 20/100 ]
[ Stat points are based on player's performance, abilities, and capabilities ]
Max agreed with the points, especially his endurance. He could barely endure anything and now he was in a world where he had gotten his bones broken several times in a day.
His maximum HP made him realize just how weak he was. He could understand Apollyon's words now. How weak and pathetic he was!
Carrying Hillary in his arms, they had reached a two-story building with a big signboard beside it on which was boldly written, ' CITY LOUNGE '.
The receptionist was a nice and cheerful lady who had welcomed them warmly.
"Welcome to the city lounge. How may I help you?" She asked with a fixed smile on her face.
"We would like to book a room," Max said.
"Book a room?!" Hillary wanted to say but it would only worsen the pain she felt in her neck.
"Don't worry Sir. We have the finest rooms here that would be to the comfort of love birds like yourselves," The receptionist said with her ever-constant smile.
"Uh... she's my sister," Max replied, making it sound more like a question than a statement.
"Oh forgive my manners," The receptionist quickly said. It was as if her smile had brightened even more based on an apology. "Well, a room for regulars would cost you 50 gems."
'50 gems!' Max thought. He barely had enough gems that would probably not be enough to purchase a weapon. On the contrary, they needed a place to rest before the next game would begin but on the bright side, he now possessed the abilities of the flame demon which would be of great help to him so purchasing a weapon could happen later on.
[ Do you wish to spend 50 gems? ]
' Yes '.
The device on the receptionist's wrist beeped and she immediately handed him a key.
"That's the key to your room."
"Thank you," Max replied before leaving in search of his room whose location happened to be printed on the key.
"4th floor, room 203," He said before placing the key into the lock of the door before him while supporting Hillary with his other hand, with her arms wrapped around his neck.
The door soon opened and he moved to place the girl in his arms on the only bed in the room before returning to close the door.
Luckily, everything they would need was available in the room except food which they would have to call and place an order for. Hillary was in obvious pain as she groaned on the bed. Max quickly retrieved the first aid box on the table at the center of the room. He opened it only to find hundreds of green pills stored in it.
' Green pills?' He raised an eyebrow in confusion.
[ Restoration pills :
Energy-fused pills that stimulate instant healing in an injured person. It causes one to fall into a deep sleep for full recovery ].
[ Required dosage: 1 pill ]
Taking out a pill, he put it into Hillary's mouth accompanied by water he had poured into a glass from a jug. Hillary who wanted to be relieved from the pain she felt, didn't even have a second thought before swallowing the pill. Her sight slowly turned blurry and her eyelids fell. A green light enveloped her body for a few seconds before disappearing causing the wound on her neck to heal.
' What's the green light for?'
[ The green glow shows the effect of the pill in its host ].
Max sighed as he moved to sit in a corner. For the first time since he entered the room, he took note of its appearance. There was nothing much to write home about. It was a simple room with a medium-sized bed, a wooden table, and a medium-sized shelf in the corner. The room was at least conducive for rest.
He then decided to open his system's weaponry. The first and cheapest weapon he came across was a sword with the name, Beast Slayer, for 200 gems. Sadly, he had 140 gems left and would likely have to wait for another quest from the system before he would be able to earn more gems. He looked through other weapons as their price changed in an increasing order. Soon, he closed his eyes and dozed off on the bare floor.
*. *. *.
Somewhere, far away from the world of humans, stood a huge cave deep in the snowy mountains. Ice structures made a pathway that led to the entrance of the cave. Torches of fire were hung from every corner of the cave. Its walls and floors were engraved with crystals that emitted a bright blue glow that never ceased.
All these ancient but alluring ornaments led to a throne built with crystals like the ones engraved on the walls and floors. With a very powerful and intimidating aura, on the throne sat a creature with the features of a pig but with the great build of a muscular man. Dressed in warrior clothes made from fur that resembled that of a wolf, the pig had his legs crossed while his hands took on the shape of a human with claws yet the skin of a pig did the job of shoving chunks of meat into his mouth from the bowl beside him. And on his lap rested a mighty staff made from the bones of an unrecognizable animal.
Before he stood an army of pigs with similar features as him but smaller in size compared to him, all dressed in heavy silver armour, with their heads bowed.
"Your Majesty, he has arrived. The one we have waited for has come," The commander pig in front of the others said.
"Hmm... Is that so?" The king pig asked as he licked his fingers one by one before getting up from his throne with his bony staff held in his left hand.
"Yes, Your Majesty," The commander replied as he and the others made a path through which the king walked before coming to a halt.
"It is time then," The king smiled and pointed his staff forward. A blast of black energy shot out from the staff and immediately created a black portal before him.
He spread out his arms and turned to face the army of pigs.
"It is time to seek his worth!"
With that, he took a step backwards and was immediately swallowed by the black hole behind him.
The other warrior pigs chanted in a strange language before entering into the portal after their king. Hundreds of them marched into the portal till none was left behind before the portal closed up.