[Constellation, 'Light That Overcame Darkness,' gazes upon you.]
When I came to my senses and opened my eyes, I was alone.
The cold air grazed my skin, and the world around me was an endless void.
A wave of unease gripped my chest, suffocating me.
Then, a system window appeared before my eyes.
Objective: Kill the cat.
Difficulty: E
Time Limit: None
Reward: Unlock leveling system
Failure Penalty: Death
Note: The cat possesses the physical abilities of a tiger.
Before I could even grasp the meaning of these words, a cat appeared.
Bathed in radiant light, the cat approached me slowly, purring affectionately.
"Meow."
My heart melted.
Without thinking, I reached out and touched the cat.
The soft texture of its fur made me smile before I could even realize it.
I couldn't stop petting it.
'They want me to kill this?'
The cat rubbed its face against my hand, purring louder.
My chest tightened with discomfort.
How could I hurt such a small, innocent creature?
But then, the words from the system notification echoed in my head.
[Failure Penalty: Death]
Cold reality hit me, choking me.
If I didn't kill this cat, I would die.
With trembling hands, I opened the system inventory.
[Select your basic weapon:]
Dagger, longsword, shield, spear, bow…
I scrolled through the list, searching for something.
There were no firearms, but I could adjust the weapon settings.
I chose the dagger, customizing it to fit my hand.
It was my best option.
[Dagger selected.]
A sharp, lightweight dagger appeared in my hand.
The cold steel pressed against my palm as I let out a deep sigh and approached the cat.
"Hisssss!"
But sensing danger, the cat dashed away.
I bolted after it.
'It's fast…'
My lungs burned, and no matter how hard I pushed, the distance between us didn't close.
My legs grew heavy.
'How the hell am I supposed to catch that?'
Eventually, I stopped, gasping for breath.
At that moment, the cat changed direction, charging at me with its claws extended.
"Hissssss!"
"Ugh!"
[You have been scratched. Remaining health: 17/20.]
Blood oozed from a deep gash on my arm.
It hurt less than I expected, and for some reason, the fear that had suffocated me earlier began to fade.
Maybe… maybe I had a chance to win this.
I swung the dagger with all my strength.
"Haa!"
But the blade merely brushed against the cat's fur.
It twisted its body effortlessly and darted away.
Even though my lungs screamed for air, I kept running after it.
"Hey! Slow down!"
Eventually, my legs gave out, and I collapsed, completely out of breath.
The cat, seeing my exhaustion, turned back and lunged at me again.
This time, I was ready.
I raised the dagger, anticipating its movements.
"Hissssss!"
"Haa!"
But the cat's speed surpassed my expectations.
It knocked me to the ground before I could react.
"Shit…"
[You have broken a rib. Remaining health: 10/20.]
Pain exploded in my chest, every breath agony as my rib pierced my lungs.
But I refused to give up.
With a desperate swing, I managed to graze the cat's paw as it struck me again.
"Hissssss!"
The cat retreated for a moment, giving me time to pull myself up.
But blood filled my mouth, and my vision blurred as my strength began to fade.
'I can still do this... I'm not done yet…'
The cat approached slowly, its movements deliberate, calculating.
I knew I couldn't outrun it anymore.
If I was going to die, I would take it down with me.
Summoning every last bit of strength, I grabbed the cat's leg and thrust the dagger deep into its belly.
"Hissssss!"
But the counterattack came too fast.
Its claws slashed across my arm, tearing through muscle.
The pain was excruciating. My grip on the dagger faltered.
[Your arm has been slashed. Remaining health: 3/20.]
Blood poured from the wound, and my vision grew dim.
I couldn't stop the bleeding.
I couldn't even move.
'Not yet… I can't die yet…'
The cat crept closer.
I staggered backward, trying to buy time.
'I don't want to die… I can't die…'
Tears welled up in my eyes.
There was nowhere left to run.
The cat prepared to pounce.
I gripped the dagger tightly, ready for the end.
"Hissssss!"
"Arrrgh!"
The cat leapt at me, and I thrust the dagger toward it with everything I had left.
But it was too late.
THUD
[Your jaw has been shattered. Remaining health: 0/20.]
The cat's paw struck my face, and I collapsed to the ground.
Everything went black as my consciousness faded.
I felt… nothing.
[You have been granted a second chance.]
[You are being transported to Challenge # -1: The Loser's Redemption.]