I used to have a low tolerance for pain, but that's all changed now.
Kazu, out.
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Twenty-four hours.
That's how long a day lasts, but we spend a quarter of it sleeping. Have you ever wished you could do more things? That sleep was just a waste of time that kept you from achieving your goals. I used to think that way, when I felt like a day was never enough. But I soon realized that sleep was vital not only for physical health, but also for mental well-being.
But sleep? Come on, I don't need that anymore.
Feeling sleepy? Restart.
Getting tired? Restart.
Injured, big or small? Doesn't matter. Restart.
Hungry? Restart.
I'm used to killing myself now. There's a spot below the middle of the rib cage; push it upward. You'll be dead in a matter of seconds. It can take long, which is why I didn't forget to twist the blade after the push. Heck, it's painful.
I attempted stabbing my skull around the temple. Not a good idea; perhaps a long and thin object, such as an ice pick, would do the trick. I assumed I would die quickly if stabbed in the brain; perhaps I lack impact. But when I inserted it in my temple while instantly removed it, I died within a second.
It has the same effect on the heart, more or less. This makes me wonder if life takes place in the brain, not the heart. Yes, I've heard of people surviving even with severe brain damage, even if a significant portion of grey matter is lost. That's why, when the heart is severely damaged, a transplant is always the best option.
Wait, no one ever transplants a brain because it cannot be replaced. I'm totally confused now, well, it doesn't really matter. As long as I die, it's fine.
Tsk, the irony of life, being immortal is not for the faint-hearted.
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The night is too dark for me to venture out. I hate being caught off guard in any way. I also refuse to let something attack me without giving me a fair chance to fight back.
I look for a large open spot with enough distance between me and the trees, where I can sit in the center. That way, my movement won't be hindered.
I sit calmly in a world without a moon, where only the stars light up the sky. The wind is chilly, and I occasionally hear howls in the distance. Around the corner, there is even a pair of bright red eyes.
I sit and wait, patiently. After all, the principle of survival of the fittest is at work in this strange world. There's no way these monsters will give me a break tonight.
I try to sense my surroundings, because my eyes won't be much help in surviving the night.
I've tried to make fire before, but it was more difficult than I expected. Maybe I should have watched more YouTube Shorts on how to make fire, or maybe not. It doesn't matter now. It can't be helped; with more experience, I'll eventually make one. I curse this moonless world.
I check my crafted weapons; five knives. They are sharp and sturdy, ready for action. I grin widely, feeling a surge of adrenaline. This is it. Let the games begin.
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Something's coming. I can hear it in the distance, a low rumble that grows louder and louder.
I clench my fists around the two knives I'm carrying. I turn to the left, raising my right hand.
Tsssk! I stab a monster under the chin. Then I quickly kick it away. It falls to the ground with a thud.
I quickly stand up and throw a knife in front of me, hoping to hit the monster that was sprinting toward me. I hear a loud thud as something stumbles, but I don't have time to check it out. I pull another knife from my waist and take a half-crouching stance, ready to defend myself. I raise both hands on either side, holding the knives firmly.
Tssskkkk!
Heavy.
The one on the right slumps lifelessly into me. The left one, on the other hand, does not die. It bites me in the neck, just between the collarbone and the shoulder. I feel a sharp pain and a warm sensation. I… I need to restart.
The monster won't let go. I try to pry it off, but it's too strong. I use my right hand to push it away, but this one is too heavy. Damn! What did you eat? To be that heavy.
Fumfum!
The ground is trembling, what is it now?
Something emerges from the ground.
Huge.
I can only vaguely see it in the distance, but I know there's no way I can fight that thing.
Before I know it, with so many teeth, its mouth is already in front of me, seconds away from swallowing everything in its path.
The only thing I can do is yell. "I will kill you!!!"
◇
I had restarted, and I was most likely inside the huge monster's belly.
Soft.
It feels like piercing a bubble gum. The knife cannot make it bleed. Shit, that's the only knife I have left. I can't pull the knife out at all. Tsk, it gradually sinks into the monster's flesh.
There's a rumbling sound everywhere. It seems to be moving. Damn it. It's getting tight in here.
The walls of flesh are beginning to release moisture. Ah! That stings! Acid? I try to wipe it off but I suddenly think of something.
I press my entire left arm on the wall, and as expected, it starts melting rapidly. Phew~ that's a different kind of pain. My left hand is now just bones, with very little tissue and muscle left. I don't bleed at all; does it have an anti-inflammatory effect?
I grab my now-bone-only left hand and snap it off my shoulder. Ugh! "This will do," I say as I dismantle my bones.
Among my dismantled bones, I choose a sharp one.
I align my shoulder with the one without a hand on the walls of flesh and visualize spreading my hand. I insert the sharp bone into my chest and pierce my heart without even taking a deep breath.
Restarted. Did it work?
'Warggghhrg!!!', 'Warrrrrghhh!!!' It moves and snarls, making the insides tremble. It eventually comes to a halt.
Of course, it didn't die with that; it may have felt stung.
"Yeah, you should chew your food!" I yell, trying to mock it, but of course it doesn't hear me.
This monster has no organs, and it is long or simply huge. The only thing I can do is continue to sting it; because some areas are too tight for me to fit into.
Now I'm trying to infiltrate the gap left by a restart and stick my head into it, hoping to suffocate and cause a restart. And slowly but steadily, I make my way through the gap until I reach the outside.
It was effective. I gradually dug my way out. However, this monster has a thick skin. It took me until the morning just to crawl out.
I can now see its massive body thanks to the sunlight. I look like a needle in comparison to its size. How is it possible that such a thing exists?
It didn't notice me and it gradually moved away, sometimes digging and emerging from the ground. It was performing some sort of swimming maneuver.
What a huge earthworm…
Sigh, could there ever be a day when I can beat something like that? It is doable with my phone; but I don't want to rely on it too much. I won't use it unless it is completely hopeless.