What does he have to do? If he didn't take the upgrade, then he would never make it past the creatures guarding the exit. And if he remained in the palace, it was only a question of time before the demon king discovered his plans.
"I need to know more," Alex said with caution. "What kind of memories would I have to give up?
[It's your call] it was saying.
[Which memories you sacrifice are yours to decide. The stronger the memory is to you, the more powerful this upgrade will make you.]
Alex swallowed hard. Was he really able to? Give up parts of himself for the sake of power?
"I don't know if I can." he said in a mumble, very unsure for the first time since awakening the system.
[If you want to survive, you need to be prepared to make impossible choices]the system said with cold blandness.
[This is one of them. The power I offer you is unparalleled to anything you have encountered. And it comes at a cost]
Alex clenched his fists. The system was right; he couldn't afford to be weak now, not now when his survival depended on it. He had fought too hard and endured too much to be held back by fear.
"All right," Alex said, his tone steady. "I'll do it. What am I supposed to do?
[Focus on a memory]the voice of the system said.
[A memory that means something to you. One that you are willing to give up. Once you have chosen, I will start the upgrade.]
He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and let his mind rummage through his memories in search of one worthy to give up. It couldn't be too irrelevant-the system had said that the more important the memory was, the stronger the upgrade would be. At the same time, however, it couldn't be too important either.
It was a long moment before Alex settled on one, a memory of his old life back before he had been dragged into this nightmare.
It was little more than the recollection of a walk through the park on a warm, sun-filled day. He had walked alone but took with him the peace and the warmth of that day. It wasn't his favorite, but it was one he could afford to lose, his past!
"I'm ready," Alex said.
[Very well,]the system replied.
[The upgrade will start.]
A stabbing pain abruptly shot through Alex's brain, forcing his head back in a gasp. His mind faltered, and that memory he had chosen began leaking away, like water through a gash in his hand.
He tried to grasp it, but to no avail. It faded, gone into the abyss, and left but a void behind.
Then, in the blink of an eye, just as it had come, the pain was gone. Alex opened his eyes, his body still shaking from the experience.
[The upgrade is complete,] the system said.
[You now have in your possession the power to face the creatures guarding the exit. Use it wisely.]
Alex let out a deep breath; the shock of losing the memory was still fresh in his mind, but as the words of the system started to sink in, a new sense of strength flowed within his veins. His muscles were stronger, his senses sharper; the power of the upgrade could be felt running inside him.
But at what cost? Something that was a part of him was gone now and had been lost forever.
Yet, it was the point of no return. He had chosen his path, and now it was time for him to live with the consequences.
Later that night, Alex again met Duran behind the shaded masonry walls of the palace. His ally's face was taut, tight with the unsettling feeling of unease at what they were about to commit.
"Are you ready for this?" Duran asked in a low tone.
Alex nodded. "Ready. Just lead the way.
It was as if he could feel the weight of his decision bearing down on him as they started down into the dark tunnels beneath the palace.
Everything in the creatures and the magic that faced them would be unlike anything he had ever fought.
But he wasn't that man anymore, either. He had sacrificed a part of himself for the power he now carried inside him, and he was ready to put that power to good use in trying to escape this nightmare once and for all.
_
The deeper into the tunnels they ventured, the more Alex couldn't help but consider the added cost of sacrifices he may have had to pay along the way.
The chill of the air and the darkness seemed to thicken into a frost as they approached the concealed exit. And with every step, the sense of danger grew larger.
This was it. The fight for his freedom was about to begin.