Su Lingxi opened her eyes and saw a beautiful midnight sky. "What's going on?" she murmured, disoriented and aching from her injuries. A huge system panel appeared in the sky, glowing with ominous clarity.
"This is the Punishment Ground for D1," the panel read. "The host must survive or the host will die. Completing the D1 Level Rewards are host revived and elemental mastery. The challenge is to survive the Undead horde for 7 hours."
Su Lingxi pushed herself to her feet, her mind racing. The landscape around her was desolate, with broken buildings and rubble scattered across the ground. The air was filled with an eerie silence, broken only by the distant moans of the undead. Her katana was nowhere to be found, leaving her unarmed.
"Seven hours," she thought, her heart pounding. "I have to survive for seven hours without my weapon."
Determined, she looked around for anything she could use as a makeshift weapon or a place to hide. Her mind raced through the skills and knowledge she had gained. "I can do this," she muttered to herself. "I have to."
Taking a deep breath, Su Lingxi steeled herself for the fight ahead. "I won't die here," she vowed. "I will survive and come back stronger."
Su Lingxi sprinted away from the approaching Undead horde, heading towards the dense forest. "The task is to survive, not to kill all of them," she reminded herself, her breath coming in quick, sharp bursts. After some time, she arrived at a small, seemingly abandoned village. She stopped running and climbed a tree to get a better view.
From her vantage point, Su Lingxi saw about twenty Undead aimlessly wandering around the village. Scanning the area, her eyes landed on a branch lying on the ground, roughly the same size as her katana. "This will do for now," she thought.
She quickly descended from the tree and dashed towards the branch, picking it up. The weight and length felt familiar in her hands, though it was no replacement for her katana. "Better than nothing," she murmured.
Wasting no time, Su Lingxi ran towards the village, keeping low and quiet to avoid drawing the Undeads' attention. She needed to find shelter and something more substantial for defense. As she approached the village, she noticed a small house with its door slightly ajar.
"This could work," she thought. She slipped inside, closing the door quietly behind her. Inside, the house was dusty and dark, but it seemed sturdy. Su Lingxi quickly barricaded the door with a heavy piece of furniture and began searching the house for supplies.
In a small cupboard, she found a few old, but still usable, kitchen knives. "Not perfect, but they'll do," she thought, pocketing them. She also found a half-empty water bottle and a few canned goods, which she stashed away for later.
Now somewhat better equipped, Su Lingxi took a moment to catch her breath. She could hear the moans of the Undead outside, growing louder. "Seven hours," she reminded herself. "I just need to survive for seven hours."
Determined, she prepared herself for the long night ahead.
Su Lingxi took a deep breath, steadying herself. "First, I need to clear this place," she muttered, formulating a plan. Without the system's usual assistance, she knew she had to rely on her instincts and training.
She glanced around the small house, taking stock of her makeshift weapons—the kitchen knives and the sturdy branch. The barricaded door wouldn't hold forever, and she needed to take out the undead one by one to avoid being overwhelmed.
Su Lingxi moved to a window, peering through a small crack. She could see a few undead wandering close by. "I need to be smart about this," she thought. "Lure them in, take them out quietly."
She positioned herself near the door, readying one of the kitchen knives. Using the branch, she knocked on the wall to create a sound that would draw the nearest undead's attention. It worked. She heard the shuffling footsteps approaching the door.
"First, I need to clear this place," Su Lingxi muttered, her mind racing to formulate a plan.
"System, can you give me a book that can help me?" she asked, hoping for some guidance. But her hope was dashed when a new System Panel popped up, stating, "The feature to help the host has been sacrificed to transport the host to the Punishment Area."
As Su Lingxi read the System's Notice, her heart sank. "I see the system did it to give me a chance," she realized bitterly. "Then I have no choice. I have to do it carefully," she resolved, steeling herself for the challenge ahead.
Su Lingxi cautiously peeked out of the window to assess the position of the undead. "I see. First, I need to kill an undead to know if there is a difference in the undead here," she murmured to herself, analyzing the situation.
With her plan forming, she readied herself to confront the undead lurking nearby. Gripping her makeshift weapon tightly, she prepared to strike. "Second, if there is no difference, then I must kill as many as I can," she resolved, understanding the gravity of her situation.
Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, Su Lingxi braced herself to execute her plan with precision and determination.
Su Lingxi cautiously removed the barrier she had placed on the door and stepped outside, her senses on high alert. As soon as she made it into the open, she wasted no time and sprinted towards the closest undead creature.
With swift and calculated movements, she closed the distance and used the knife she had found to stab the undead's head, incapacitating it. As she withdrew the blade, she took a moment to assess her surroundings and her own condition.
"Looks like there is no difference," she noted to herself, observing the fallen undead. Sensing a surge of strength coursing through her veins, she couldn't help but wonder, "And looks like I became stronger. Did I level up?"
The thought lingered in her mind as she braced herself for the challenges that lay ahead, ready to face whatever trials the Punishment Area had in store for her.
Su Lingxi's heart raced as she rested on the porch of a nearby house, her breathing ragged from the intense exertion of eliminating multiple undead. However, her brief respite was shattered by the sound of numerous footsteps echoing from behind the house.
Cautiously, Su Lingxi checked, her eyes widening in both excitement and fear at the sight that greeted her. A surge of adrenaline coursed through her veins as she beheld the overwhelming horde before her a sea of thousands, or perhaps even hundreds of thousands, of undead creatures.
"So, this is the System's punishment, huh?" Su Lingxi murmured, her voice tinged with worry as she realized the magnitude of the challenge ahead. Despite her fears, she knew she had to steel herself for what lay ahead, for there was no turning back now. With determination in her heart, she prepared to face the daunting task of overcoming the immense horde that stood between her and survival.
"Killing undead is easy. Their only advantage is their never-ending horde," Su Lingxi mused, observing the slow-moving mass of undead. "I've noticed that they're extremely slow, so a horde like this will take time to reach me. Running is an option, but if this world has an end, then I'll just corner myself."
With a determined glint in her eyes, Su Lingxi jumped down from the roof, landing gracefully. She dashed towards the approaching horde, her knife at the ready. "This can be a blessing in disguise," she thought, a smirk forming on her lips. "There's so much XP to gain."
She moved swiftly and efficiently, targeting the indeads' heads with precision strikes. Each successful kill fueled her confidence, and she felt herself growing stronger with every downed undead. Su Lingxi's determination to survive and grow in power drove her forward, even as the horde loomed ever closer.
I just need to take note of my position. It will be bad to get circled by these undead," Su Lingxi reminded herself. She moved with purpose, systematically eliminating multiple undead with swift, precise strikes.
After clearing a sizable number of undeads, Su Lingxi decided it was time to retreat and reassess the situation. She dashed back to a safer vantage point, climbing onto a nearby roof to get a better view of the horde's movements. From her elevated position, she could see the undead shuffling towards her previous location, their numbers still daunting.
Su Lingxi scanned the area, carefully watching to ensure she didn't get surrounded. She noted the gaps in the horde and the patterns of their movements, planning her next attack. Staying vigilant, she prepared herself for another round of combat, ready to exploit any weaknesses she could find.
"If there is no other option, maybe camping on a tall tree is enough to survive," Su Lingxi thought to herself. "But before that, I must level up first!"
With renewed determination, she jumped down in front of the horde, carefully planning her attacks. She focused on the undead at the front, ensuring she only engaged those within reach to avoid getting overwhelmed. Her movements were swift and precise, each strike aimed at maximizing her efficiency and safety.
Su Lingxi danced around the undeads, using her agility to stay just out of their grasp while delivering deadly blows. Her goal was clear: gain as much experience as possible while maintaining her advantage. The adrenaline and the drive to grow stronger kept her going as she cut down the undead one by one, all the while staying mindful of her surroundings to avoid being encircled.
While killing hundreds of undead, Su Lingxi noticed she had already backed up to the edge of the forest she came from. "This is getting more and more dangerous," she muttered to herself. "I must retreat and avoid getting cornered."
With that in mind, Su Lingxi quickly assessed her surroundings. The horde was pressing in, and staying any longer would trap her between the undeads and the forest. Without wasting another moment, she turned and sprinted towards the east side of the forest.
Her heart pounded in her chest as she navigated through the dense trees, the sounds of the horde growing fainter with each step. Su Lingxi knew she needed to find a safe spot to regroup and come up with a new plan. As she ran, she kept an eye out for a tall tree or any other defensible position where she could rest and survey the area.
Reaching a clearing, she spotted a particularly sturdy-looking tree with thick branches. Quickly, she climbed up, finding a secure perch high above the ground. From her vantage point, she could see the horde in the distance, slowly making its way through the forest. This temporary refuge would give her the time she needed to strategize her next move.
While resting on a tree branch, Su Lingxi examined her knife closely. "This knife has helped me a lot, but with this kind of damage, it will break soon," she said worriedly. "I only found two knives in that house. I got too greedy and forgot to search the other houses."
As she rested on the tree branch, her exhaustion caught up to her. "I'm tired. If I compare myself now to how I was before I entered that village, it would be like night and day," Su Lingxi sighed. She needed to know how much time she had left, so she asked the system, "How many hours left?"
A new system panel popped up, stating, "3 Hours Left."
Su Lingxi took a deep breath, trying to gather her thoughts. "Three hours. I need to make the most of this time," she murmured to herself. She had to find better weapons and secure a more defensible position. Determined to survive, she planned her next moves carefully. She would search nearby houses for additional supplies, all while keeping an eye on the horde's movements.
With a plan in mind, she prepared herself to climb down from the tree and continue her quest for survival. Every moment counted, and she was determined to use every remaining minute to her advantage.
But before she climbed down, Su Lingxi checked her surroundings for any other buildings. To her dismay, she saw only endless plains stretching out before her and another horde approaching from the other side. "There's another horde?" Su Lingxi said, shocked. "I must move."
Without hesitation, Su Lingxi climbed down from the tree and sprinted back towards the forest she had come from. Once within the cover of the trees, she began to run and jump from branch to branch with agility and speed. "I just need to kill those undead at the front to slow them down as much as possible," she thought, formulating a new strategy.
By her calculations, the horde approaching from the east would reach her previous position in about two hours. She needed to buy herself time and create distance between herself and both hordes. Using her elevated position in the trees, she planned to ambush the front lines of the undeads, picking them off to slow the advance.
As she moved through the forest, she kept a sharp eye out for any useful resources or advantageous spots where she could stage her attacks. Her mind raced with tactics and contingency plans, her determination driving her forward despite her exhaustion. She was prepared to use every skill and ounce of strength she had to survive the relentless onslaught.
After some time, Su Lingxi managed to spot the other horde. Before jumping down, she grabbed a large branch, using it as a makeshift spear. She hurled it towards the horde with all her strength. "Let's see if this can help," she muttered. But to her disappointment, her strength was still too low, and she only managed to kill the undead that the branch directly hit.
"I see," she thought aloud, "If I run towards the west, will I reach the end of the horde?" She pondered the idea briefly but quickly dismissed it. "But this kind of horde, it looks like it's endless because, after all, this is a punishment world."
Despite her uncertainty, Su Lingxi jumped down in front of the horde and started to kill the undead at the front lines once again. Each strike was deliberate and efficient, aimed at thinning the horde's advance and buying herself more time. She moved with a blend of caution and aggression, aware that any misstep could be her last.
As she fought, she remained vigilant, constantly scanning for any opportunity to exploit or any weakness in the horde's formation. Her goal was to slow their progress as much as possible, hoping to create a gap large enough to escape or find a safer position.
With every Undead she took down, she grew more determined. The relentless nature of the punishment world weighed heavily on her, but Su Lingxi refused to succumb to despair. She would keep fighting, keep surviving, and find a way to turn this dire situation to her advantage.
About an hour later, and with hundreds of undead killed, Su Lingxi found herself backed up to the edge of the forest again. "How did I do?" she wondered aloud, feeling the strain of the relentless combat. She quickly ran towards the tree she had climbed before and ascended to get a better view.
From her vantage point, she saw the other undead horde she had previously encountered, but her heart sank as she noticed two more hordes approaching from the south and west sides. "I'm right," Su Lingxi muttered to herself. "Since this world is a punishment world."
Despite the overwhelming odds, Su Lingxi took a moment to reflect on her progress. "But killing those undead is worth it," she said, determination hardening her resolve. "I will make it. I just need to clear more undead."
With renewed vigor, she prepared herself for the next wave of combat. She understood that every kill not only brought her closer to leveling up but also bought her precious time. Su Lingxi planned to use the trees to her advantage again, jumping down to engage the undeads in strategic bursts and then retreating to higher ground.
As she executed her plan, she kept a close watch on the movements of the hordes, adjusting her tactics to avoid getting cornered. Her agility and quick thinking were her greatest assets in this dire situation, and she intended to make the most of them. With each passing moment, Su Lingxi grew more confident in her ability to survive this punishment world and ultimately find a way to escape.
"But the system hasn't notified me of leveling up after killing those hundreds of undead. Is it disabled because I'm currently in a punishment world?" Su Lingxi wondered aloud as she assessed the situation and the positions of the undead hordes. After a moment of consideration, she jumped down again and started to walk towards the closest horde, which was on the north side.
"It's better to walk. I'm tired," she admitted to herself. "The horde on the north might not reach the center since I'm already boxed out and cornered. I should continue killing more because it will just waste more time if I fight the other horde."
With a determined stride, Su Lingxi made her way towards the advancing horde. She knew that every undead she eliminated brought her one step closer to leveling up and potentially gaining new abilities or strength. Despite the exhaustion weighing heavily on her, she steeled herself for the inevitable confrontation, ready to face the horde head-on and continue her fight for survival in the punishing world.
As time passed, Su Lingxi found herself retreating closer to the tree, relentlessly cutting down the undead as they closed in. From her vantage point, she could see the other three hordes approaching, steadily encroaching upon her position. Despite the impending threat, Su Lingxi remained focused on her mission to kill as many undead as possible.
The system had started the countdown to finish the seven-hour punishment, adding a sense of urgency to her actions. With each strike of her blade, she pushed herself to the limit, determined to make every moment count. The horde drew nearer with every passing second, but Su Lingxi refused to back down.
She fought with unwavering resolve, channeling her fear and exhaustion into raw determination. The sound of her blade slicing through undead flesh echoed through the forest as she continued her relentless assault. With each fallen undead, she felt a surge of satisfaction, knowing that she was making a difference, even in the face of overwhelming odds.
As the countdown clock ticked away, Su Lingxi pushed herself harder, her movements becoming more fluid and precise. She knew that time was running out, but she refused to give up. With every ounce of strength she had left, she fought on, determined to emerge victorious against the punishing horde.
As the system's countdown reached zero, the punishment small world suddenly disappeared along with the undead horde. "Finally! It's done! I managed to survive!" Su Lingxi exclaimed, laughing with relief and joy. After calming down, she looked around, expecting to see her surroundings change.
To her surprise, she found herself surrounded by endless space, filled with beautiful colors and shimmering stars. "Where am I?" Su Lingxi wondered aloud, taking in the breathtaking sight before her.
Just then, a new system panel popped up, stating, "The host managed to finish the punishment task. The functions of the system will be back, and the host is free to use it again."
Su Lingxi's eyes widened in realization. She had completed the task and emerged victorious from the punishing ordeal. With a sense of accomplishment and a newfound appreciation for her resilience, Su Lingxi knew that she was now free to explore the possibilities that awaited her with the restored functions of the system. With a smile on her face and determination in her heart, she looked forward to the next chapter of her journey.