The creepy Giant Leech was moving from surface to surface pulling it's bulk forward with a series of rhythm, it's mouth leading the way followed by it's tail. Chasing every fish it could get it's hands on.
But there doesn't seem to be any change after Alex's arrival. It was completely pitch dark and all of the sounds were overshadowed by the water stream. Completely unaware of Alex's existence, it continues doing it's work.
Alex left out a sighed. 'Phew'
But soon his face was disgusted. Small leeches were all over the place, particularly coming from the Giant Leech's body. Disgusted and scared, Alex runs towards the source of the water coming from.
The water was flowing right in the middle of the cave, on both of the sides were full of rocks. Beneath the rocks were rats with sharp teeth, and top of the cave were wolf spiders. And now on the water was fish that looks like piranha.
It was a horrifying place for Alex to be, but compared to the Dragon or the Snake it still looked safer in comparison.
Alex absolutely hated snakes.
Soon something jumps on Alex, it was so quick and unexpected that he could just notice only after it jumped on him. It was a frog, not so terrified he grabs it and throws it back to the water only to be consumed by the fish.
[You have been affected by Poison]
[All your stats will decrease by 0.5% for 15 minutes]
Although the debuff wasn't much, he could feel himself being slightly more slower.
_____________
[Player : Alex]
[Level : 1 (0/100)]
[Vitality : (341/520)]
[Stats : ]
[Strength : 14.6] (-0.5)
[Stamina : 10.9] (-0.5)
[Agility : 18.1] (-0.5)
[Skills : ]
[Sage Vision : Level 1]
_____________
[Vitality : 341/520]
[Vitality : 335/520]
[Vitality : 327/520]
[Due to being poisoned, you will lose your vitality over time]
[If your vitality drops to zero you will die]
'I see now...vitality was more or less about my state of being. But what if I die from a gun shot or something, would my vitality immediately drop to zero? There's so many things I'm not familiar with.'
Alex was now walking slowly noticing that his vitality drops everytime he runs. I should atleast maintain my vitality and not let it go less than 50% which is about 260 points.
[Vitality : 327/520]
The cave was way too deep and endless, the deeper he went the more denser the air gets.
'There is no way I'm going back, that leeches, I'm positive they were poisonous too.'
Alex was now walking for 30 minutes already but there was no sign of any change. Soon a red message appears.
[Vitality : 312/520]
[Warning!!! Due to extreme hunger, your immune system will decrease your vitality every 1 minute]
So I have like 300 minute to take action?
No considering any unexpected creatures charging at me, with the condensed air and me having to walk. It's safe to assume that I have less than 45 minutes. Also there is no guarantee if the moment it drops below 50 my health won't deteriorate.
Alex had now been more careful then ever. Could I eat the rat? I have no weapon nor am I confident that they won't attack as a group. The frog? It's poisonous. Leech? It's disgusting nature brings shiver down my spine, I would rather die than eat it. Spiders? creepy as hell and they are in group too. And lastly the Fish? Forget about it, the fish will literally eat me.
I see, so it's a do or die. Alex with a tired face looks at the roofs. "I never missed home more than ever."
'If I really had to bet, the frog is the safest option.'
"Alright let's do it" Alex shouts with determination.
There were two frogs near the water, and the fishes were hiding waiting for the right moment to attack it. Alex couldn't just let it happen, he takes a small rock and throws it to the river, the frog jumps away from the water immediately.
"Now is the time" He throws a rock towards the frog, the rock barely misses it. After three failure, he finally manages to hit it.
Crippled, Alex rushes to catch him. Now the impossible part was how will he eat it.
Raw? there was no way in hell he'd do it. With his spirit broken, he just leaves the frog back. I can't really eat it after all, it's gross, my immune system will start a world war.
The frog crippled, was slowly running away from Alex, until one of the fishes jumps at the frog, eats it and flapping it's body goes back to the water.
Alex smiles, this can work.
Using the same old method he catches one of the frogs, cripples it's movements and baits him out. The moment the fish jumps on the land, Alex carries a huge rock and throws at the fish, but he barely misses hitting him and the fish escapes.
Alex was determined, he was gonna have fish for dinner, next try again. This time however, it hits the fish. The injured fish was trying to run but Alex kicks it to the side of the walls.
This was a successful attempt.
Alex hits the fish with the stone, once the fish was dead, Alex hears a sound.
[You have slain a Black Piranha!]
[You have gained 5 exp!]
'So this is how it works, unless I kill them I won't get any exp. I thought it was a mission based'
Alex felt less morally disgusted as he tries to eat the fish raw. If I don't eat you you would have eaten me once I was defenseless. This is food chain, I'm sorry poor soul.
[You have consumed a poison]
"Wait what???"
Alex's eyes were getting blurry, it was starting to get dark again. his hands felt nimble and blood was leaking from all over his body, his mouth, his eyes and his ears.
The first thing Alex made sure was to get to the safest place in the vicinity. Slightly highers from the land and about two meters far from the water, Alex lies in the rigid rocks.
"Am I going to die?" Alex breathes slowly thinking about all the things he had spent doing. 'Well I was gonna die earlier anyway'
As he slowly looses his consciousness, Alex closes his eyes accepting his defeat. 'I should have done more in my life, I always hold back on my life, always hiding my talents from my peers and never actually work on honing them and be actively competitive, I just wanted to live a normal happy life. But now I'm regretting not going all out living to the fullest. I'm gonna die without living the actual life I truly wanted.
'This is it'
[Vitality : 108/520]
[Vitality : 77/520]
[Vitality : 37/520]
Alex dies*
Or so was what he thought.
[Your immune system has resisted the poison!]
[Congratulations! You have obtained a new skill!]
[Poison Resistance : Level 0]