The world spun wildly around Scar. One moment he was plummeting through darkness, the next, a searing pain erupted in his head, blinding him. Consciousness returned in waves, each one bringing a fresh assault of agony. He groaned, trying to move, but his body screamed in protest. Broken bones sent spikes of pain shooting through him.
He cracked open his eyelids, vision blurry and tinged red. Sand, coarse and gritty, filled his mouth. He coughed, spitting out a mouthful of the crimson dust. Where was he? The once magnificent tower, a beacon in the desolate landscape, was nowhere to be seen. Only barren desert stretched endlessly before him, painted crimson by the setting sun.
A wave of nausea washed over him as he remembered the final battle with the hydra, Selena's betrayal, and the crushing collapse of the tower. He winced, his hand instinctively reaching for his inventory pouch. But his fingers brushed only against empty fabric. Panic clawed at his throat.
"Inventory?" he rasped, his voice dry and hoarse. A cold dread settled in his stomach as a message flickered in his mind, not in the familiar holographic display, but in a stark, digital font.
[Erorr404. Can't open inventory]
He tried again, desperation fueling his attempt. The same message reappeared, mocking him. His mind reeled. What was happening? Where were his potions, his weapons? All his preparations were gone, replaced by this chilling digital void.
[Erorr404. Distention not found]
[You have been Transported to Elishia, the world of the fallen.]
[You have Failed to finish the Tutorial ! You are the first one in history.]
[New title: First to Fail the tutorial.(Unique)]
[Error....]
[You need to reach level 10 to go to the Main tower.]
[Chose your name!]
Suddenly, a message appeared before Scar's eyes. He didn't think much about it and just typed his known name.
[Name chosen. Opening Status window...]
____________________________{Status window}_________________________________
[Name : Scar]
[Player's level: 1]
Title: First to Fail the tutorial.(Unique)]
[Age : 27 ]
World: ....Erorr404: Not found]
[Class : Warrior: Mainly depends on strength. Good with All weapons.(Normal)]
[Strength : 15]
[Vitality: 12]
[Magic: 1]
[Agility: 10]
[Defense: 13]
[Required Exp to level up: 0/-1]
[Remaining points : 0.]
[Note: Kill monsters to level up!]
__________________________________________________________________________________
Finally, a status window materialized, displaying his stats in harsh, digital lettering. "Name : Scar(Lv.1)" it read, followed by his age, a world designation of "Erorr404: Not found," his class – Warrior– and his base stats. A bitter laugh escaped his lips. "Level 1? Magic is even lower than the others, no wonder I always struggled with it back then."
Disbelief and confusion battled within him. This couldn't be real. Yet, the searing pain in his body was a harsh reminder of the harsh reality. A sudden guttural screech pierced the air, snapping him out of his daze. A small, red-skinned creature emerged from behind a nearby rock, its eyes glinting with malice. A goblin.
"Ugh!" Scar scrambled to dodge its attack, but he was too slow. The goblin's claws connected, sending him flying through the sand. Disbelief turned to fury. A goblin? This was supposed to be the weakest enemy!
"Okay," Scar spatted, wiping blood from his mouth. "Let's see what the strongest guy from Earth is capable of." Adrenaline surged through his veins, momentarily pushing the pain aside. He scrambled to his feet, a primal urge to fight for survival burning in his gut. The goblin lunged again, its claws extended. Scar dodged clumsily, the broken ribs screaming in protest. He needed a weapon, something, anything.
He spotted a sharp rock at his feet and lunged for it. The battle that followed was a desperate struggle. His body, battered and broken, betrayed him at every turn. Yet, fueled by a fierce will to live, he managed to land a critical blow, sending the goblin sprawling.But to his surprise, the Goblin wasn't weak, it actually managed to keep up with him. He needed to be smarter. Scar observed the goblin's attack patterns, its predictable lunges and swipes. With a well-timed maneuver, he tricked the creature, landing a decisive blow that ended the fight.
A soft chime resonated in the air, followed by a message only Scar could see.
[You have killed a red goblin! +15exp]
His heart sank. Experience points, a reward for killing. He didn't like the sound of that.Another message materialized.
[Condition met. Handing your weapon]
A long sword materialized beside the downed creature. Scar stared at it, a mix of confusion and unease swirling within him.
"Level up? Why didn't I level up?" Scar grumbled, opening the status window to check. It displayed his stats, the experience required for the next level stubbornly stuck at a seemingly impossible number."...15/-1." Scar muttered, the frustration bubbling over like a volcanic geyser. "This system is messed up! Negative experience to level up? How am I supposed to make any progress?" He kicked at a nearby rock, sending a shower of crimson dust flying.
Calming himself with a shaky breath, he surveyed his surroundings. A desolate landscape stretched before him, bathed in the dying embers of the sunset. He was alone, injured, and weaponless – well, almost. He eyed the gleaming sword materialized beside the goblin's corpse. It wasn't much, but it was a start.
"Well, at least i got a blade haha" With a giggle, he knelt beside the fallen creature. He cautiously reached out, his fingers brushing against the coarse red skin. The act felt strangely… weird. But hunger gnawed at his belly.
[A Red Goblin corpse. Its only good use is its meat. Red goblin's meat can be eaten if cooked. Has healing effects.]
"Maybe this isn't so bad of an idea," he muttered, his voice raw. He sliced off a small piece of the goblin's flesh, the metallic tang of blood filling his nostrils.
With a sigh, he turned away from the fallen creature and scanned the desolate landscape. Spotting a nearby cave, he decided to make it his temporary base.
Dragging the goblin's body inside, a morbid sense of practicality guiding his actions, he set about building a fire. Flint and dry tinder, scavenged from his pockets before the fall, became his tools for survival. As the flames flickered to life, casting dancing shadows on the cavern walls, he skewered the meat over the fire. The unfamiliar scent filled the air, a strange mix of apprehension and hope stirring within him.
As the meat roasted, another message confirmed his suspicions.
[Healing+]
Taking a bite of the cooked meat, the taste was so awful that scar nearly threw up. But he kept eating because he wanted to heal, no matter what.
Clutching the hilt of the newly acquired sword, a steely resolve hardened his gaze. He didn't know what this twisted game was, but he wouldn't give up. He would survive, he would level up, and he would find a way out of this bizarre prison. The desert wind howled outside the cave, a lonely song that mirrored the turmoil within him. But for the first time since waking up in this strange world, a flicker of defiance burned brightly in Scar's eyes.
Little did he know about what was waiting him.