In a flurry of motion, Murky was thrown forcefully, his body contorting as his bones cracked under the immense pressure— Crack!
The pain surged through him, coursing like a relentless wave, causing his back, his feet, and his shoulder to ache unbearably.
"Arrgghh!!"
Murky grumbled intensely.
Yet, despite the agony, he somehow managed to remain standing, summoning every ounce of strength within him.
With sheer determination, he elevated his towering figure and surveyed his surroundings, realizing that he was in close proximity to one of the shelters, known as Rogard.
As blood trickled from his lips, staining his teeth crimson, a twisted smirk formed on Murky's face.
"Hahahaha!" hl
He chuckled, the taste of blood lingering on his tongue. It wasn't just a mere trace; it was an abundance, a plentiful crimson elixir that seemed to invigorate him.
"Amazing," he muttered, reveling in the intensity of the moment.
A mixture of confusion and amusement danced in Murky's eyes as he spoke with a smile, looking back on recent events.
"What the hell is happening to me? I never expected Snow White herself to resolve the predicament with those raptors and expose my own problems," he remarked.
The sound of cracks echoed through the air as he attempted to alleviate the stiffness in his neck caused by the fall.
His mind raced, attempting to comprehend the series of events that had unfolded earlier.
"I never anticipated encountering dragon players who possessed the ability to transform into prehistoric creatures; they nearly had me," Murky mumbled, his smile persisting despite the danger he had faced.
"That was both thrilling and astonishing! I came perilously close to death, but damn, I enjoyed it. It's a hell of an experience, and I could feel my body, my sould and mind wanted more.
"Unfortunately, I lost consciousness for a significant portion of those moments. Otherwise, I would have savored every second, relishing in the fact that I didn't appear pathetic in front of them," Murky proudly declared, his mind drifting back to the encounter with the menacing raptors.
In the face of imminent threat, he had chosen not to succumb to fear, instead meeting their gaze head-on, his resolve unyielding.
It's like the promised to himself of not being pathetic had come true or was slowly coming true to his body and soul, and he was feeling so better because of it.
"Well, it doesn't matter. I expressed my desire for peace, but they attempted to attack me!
"But well, yeah, perhaps, deep down, I wanted them to attack me.
"It's like my body and soul craved the exhilaration, or maybe I'm just insane!"
Murky exclaimed, his eyes fixated on the vast expanse of the sky. He extended his arms wide and let out a boisterous laugh, the sound reverberating through the air.
"Hahahahahaha! I've slain those wretched creatures with mutated genes from the real world! Hahaha!"
Suddenly, a sobering realization dawned upon Murky.
"Shit!"
He exclaimed, pausing for a moment to gather his thoughts.
"Did I just kill a player from the real world?"
He pondered, his expression a mix of confusion and astonishment directed towards the heavens.
However, the images of the raptors, their mangled bodies, the shattered spines, the decimated heads, and the lifeless amalgamation of a creature they once were, flooded his mind.
Murky's face twisted into a grotesque grin, and a burst of laughter erupted from deep within him.
"Hahahahahah! Fawk yeah!
"I've just slain a human with mutated genes in the real world!
"I wonder what their families would look like!? Must be awesome to look at! Hahahhaha"
A peculiar sensation washed over Murky's battered body, transforming the pain he had endured into an inexplicable pleasure.
He couldn't fathom the reason behind it, but somehow, every torment he had suffered at the hands of the mutated individuals, every humiliation inflicted upon him by others, including the girl at school with her ulterior motives, his uncaring uncle and aunt who had become his guardians in his youth, his estranged family, his unfaithful fiancé, his treacherous brother, and above all, his forsaken mother—all of it seemed to merge into an amalgamation of euphoric release.
The feeling of killing a mutated human in the real world, even though Murky knew that have no personal connection to those who wronged him, still brought him immense satisfaction.
"Aaaaahhh! I should check my ranking now, or else I'll become obsessed with this thrilling sensation. It feels so good, so fresh, and I'm worried it might become addictive if I keep thinking about it," Murky said, expressing a mix of excitement and caution.
But just as he was about to check his ranking, a thought struck him.
"Wait a minute, didn't the last player raptor survive? Or did it?"
Murky wondered, recalling how the creature had attacked the bull horse with its sharp claws.
Uncertain of its fate, he assumed it might still be alive, considering Snow White's strange behavior. To confirm, he needed to investigate.
"Haha!"
Murky chuckled softly, gathering his strength as he limped towards Rogard.
Despite the pain in his body and the hazards on the ground, like acid and sharp bones, he disregarded them.
He even found himself desiring the pain, as if it would help him momentarily forget the exhilaration of killing a human in the real world.
However, he also feared becoming addicted to these intense emotions.
As he neared his destination, Murky sensed the watchful Draugr warrior guardians.
Despite their presence, he felt an unusual swiftness in his steps, still fueled by the satisfaction of taking a human life.
"More, more, more pain!"
Murky exclaimed, but then stopped himself from harming his own body.
"No! I have to stop thinking about this. It's just a normal reaction, and I won't let myself go crazy," he muttered, trying to reassure himself.
Murky clenched his fist tightly to release his tension.
After calming down, Murky focused on gathering information about the nightmare world.
"I still don't know much about the others, the dragon players, the rankings, and the missions. I'm completely clueless, and I ended up here by chance.
"Thankfully, my knowledge of the movie has helped me survive," he said, expressing frustration and relief.
Murky closed his eyes but left a gap between his fingers so that one eye remained visible.
It was as if he wanted the world to see the lingering smile of his beloved expression, a smile that represented his existence and celebrated his actions with pride.
Truth is, it looked like Murky's mouth twisted into a strange smile that showed many different emotions at once.
His lips seemed to say,
"You're a dragon?
"How lucky.
"But unfortunately, your luck has run out!
"Unlike all of you in this fantasy world with your mutated genes, I didn't have that advantage in this world at first and in the real world. And yet, here you both are, lifeless and without breath.
"Even if one of you manages to survive, I'll use my vast knowledge to control you completely, like puppets on a stage! Or I'll just each and kill that guy, hahaha!"
Just as Murky made this threatening statement, something changed in the air.
A huge and scary shadow appeared overhead, casting a dark feeling over the scene.
Murky's attention was suddenly drawn away as a deep voice broke the silence, sounding strong and concerned.
"Young man, are you okay?" the voice asked, interrupting Murky's trance.
Startled, Murky regained his composure, stood up, and looked towards the source of the commanding voice.
In front of him stood a massive Draugr warrior, whose body was intact unlike the others who had prosthetic limbs.
The warrior's size was impressive, radiating strength and authority.
"I'm fine, no harm done," Murky replied, his voice trembling slightly as he took his eyes off the towering warrior.
Despite feeling scared at first, he sensed a hint of vulnerability from the giant figure, suggesting that there might be some fragility beneath the tough exterior.
But the colossal warrior's voice spoke again, this time with a twisted sense of amusement.
"It's normal to lose companions, young man. But don't worry, after just a year of tough training, you'll be sent to conquer women from other tribes. I assure you, the thrill of victory will make you forget about those unfortunate comrades who died. Garahahaha!"
Confused, Murky could only scratch his head in bewilderment, his mind overwhelmed by the extreme brutality and cruelty that seemed to define these Draugr warriors.
Yet, in a disturbing realization, he also started to question his own nature, wondering if he, too, was being drawn into the darkness that surrounded him. Uncertain and resigned, he expressed his doubts with a tremor in his voice.
"Please, don't reveal the truth to me…"
Murky began, his voice filled with confusion and acceptance.
"As an accepted Draugr Warrior of this respected Draugrskins tribe, am I destined to embrace a path of violence, cruelty, and chaos like my fellow warriors?"
The air was silent, and Murky thought deeply about what his future might hold. But then, he had a realization that made those worries seem unimportant.
All he wanted was to become a powerful Draugr warrior.
The questions about his true nature in the real world were just passing thoughts.
After all, weren't the people who became superhumans once ordinary humans themselves?
If they could become more than mortal, couldn't Murky have that potential too?
"Alright, young man, go inside," the giant Draugr warrior commanded, his voice filled with pride.
"Choose the left side and rest. Tomorrow, our training will begin, and your journey will truly start."
Understanding the warrior's instructions, Murky nodded and felt a mix of excitement and fear.
He followed the warrior's guidance and entered the safety of the Rogar shelter.
Finally, he could find some peace and rest. But as Murky settled in and started to relax, a sharp and piercing sound suddenly interrupted his thoughts, jolting him from the tentative calmness that had begun to wash over him.
Ding!