Moonlight filtered through the dense canopy, creating a play of shadows that seemed to dance with the eerie sounds of the night. The air hung heavy with tension as the clash continued under the moonlit canvas.
In the midst of the struggle, John's senses remained on high alert, his every instinct attuned to the primal rhythm of the battle. His body moved with a ferocity that defied his exhaustion, every tendon and muscle working in harmony, and his sword became an extension of his will.
The confrontation was brutal, a relentless onslaught of attacks and counterattacks. John parried a vicious strike, his sword clashing against the creature's claw with a metallic echo that resonated through the silent jungle.
He clumsily evaded a swift jab, thrusting his sword forward in a vain attempt to wound the monster, only to clash with its twisted limb in a fierce and powerful blow.
The Wild-Fury, relentless in its pursuit, showed no signs of slowing. The monster's claws slashed through the air, missing John by a hair's breadth. He stumbled back, narrowly avoiding certain death.
The creature's cold breath grazed his skin, and the stench of decay filled his nostrils. the creature attacked fiercely, moving with a savage will that chilled him to the bone. John found himself caught in the relentless assault of the rampaging Wild-Fury.
As the countdown clock reached its final minutes, the battle intensified. Each strike became a desperate bid for survival.
He knows that being paralyzed in this forest is as good as a death sentence. Should he curse his own cowardice for prolonging the inevitable? Perhaps—After all, it was this very nature that caused him to spend 7 years studying what he could have finished in 5 years… but that's a lesson for his future self to learn.
John's mind, once clouded by fear, now operated with a heightened clarity. Every move, every swing of the sword, was a calculated effort to overcome the monstrous adversary.
Dodging and parrying, John fought to survive the onslaught, every move a desperate bid to turn the tide in his favor. The tablet, forgotten in the chaos, still vibrated intermittently, a haunting reminder of the organization's unseen eyes monitoring the unfolding drama.
John, however, was consumed by the immediate threat. The fight had become a singular focus, a struggle to outwit not just the monster but the impending penalty lurking in the shadows.
Yet, in the heart of the chaos, a glimmer of zeal sparked within John. His exhaustion was a distant thought as adrenaline fueled his every movement.
His first fight, a clumsy dance of evasion, had kept him on the defensive. However, the chaos birthed an opening, propelling John into action. with a sudden burst, John advanced, his sword arcing in a deadly swing.
The creature, caught off guard, stumbled backward, its grotesque features twisted in surprise. Seizing the opportunity, John attacked, his sword slashing through the air in a ruthless barrage.
The creature roared, its gut-wrenching shriek echoing through the jungle, But John was relentless, his attacks growing fiercer with each passing second.
"DIE ALREADY, YOU UGLY THING" John shouted amidst his slashes. He could feel his resolve strengthening, a burning resilience to survive this life-or-death struggle.
The jungle became a battleground, where each clash of steel against decay added to the symphony of their struggle. The countdown clock, a relentless companion, added urgency to every swing of the sword.
In a moment of haste, John's foot caught on a gnarled root, sending him stumbling to the side. The creature seized the opportunity, lunging forward with an outstretched arm, aiming to rip him apart. Time seemed to slow as John, fueled by sheer instinct, executed a move he never knew he was capable of.
With a swift twist of his body, John evaded the Wild-Fury's grasp, his sword arcing in a deadly parry. The clash of steel against decay reached its zenith, and with a final, powerful swing, he struck the creature. His sword sliced through its decaying flesh, sending its head flying—a final, defiant note in the symphony of the night.
The countdown clock struck zero.
John, chest heaving, stood over the fallen creature. The battle, a vicious struggle against the unknown, had reached its conclusion.
A long-awaited yet short-lived silence was interrupted by the tablet vibrating with a new message.
(Mission Completed: Kill a level 1 monster
Time Limit: 4 hours.
Reward: 10 points)
John, still processing the surreal events, His heart raced with triumph, yet a knot of uncertainty and nausea twisted in his stomach. With trembling legs, He sat on the ground to catch his breath, feeling shocked.
At least he now knows that his talents are real. This is as real as it can get. He still needs time to get used to this game-like world. 'If another Wild-Fury comes while I'm asleep, I will die… Tiredness aside, the side effect of my talent is about to kick in' john thoughts as he resisted the fatigue.
Each small step felt like massive burden, as he moved to retrieve the tablet from the cold ground. He noticed several notifications, the last one signaling mission completion, accompanied by three others.
The first two notifications were repeated message:
(Detected that John talent Insanity Check have more applications than what was known, record the changes—)
(Detected that John talent Double Focus have more applications than what was known, record the changes—)
The last one was:
________________________________________
(Subject of study, code name: Ordinary-Sleuth.
Name: John Howard.
Age: 27.
Stats:
Strength: 9 (Normal Human Strength Ranges Between 7-10).
Agility: 6 (Normal Human Agility Ranges Between 6-9).
Flexibility: 5 (Normal Human Flexibility Ranges Between 4-9).
Vitality: 10 (Normal Human Vitality Ranges Between 5-9).
Intelligence: 9 (Normal Human Intelligence Ranges Between 5-10).
Subject Talents:
1- INSANITY CHECK
Triggered when the subject faces unfavorable circumstances.
Effect: Boost all attributes by 5 for 40 minutes.
Side effect: All stats drop by 3 for 60 minutes afterward. Extreme exhaustion.
2- Double Focus:
Effect: Allows the subject to concentrate on a single target, enhancing vision and hand-eye coordination.
UPDATING TALENTS INFORMATION—
John Talents:
1-INSANITY CHECK
Triggered when the subject faces unfavorable circumstance.
Effect 1: boosting chosen attribute to 5 points without any side effects. User can change which attribute to boost freely.
Effect 2: boost all attributes by 5 for 40 min. Upon expiry, all stats drop by 3 and extreme exhaustion for 60 min.
2- Double Focus:
Triggered By concentrating the user's attention and focus.
Effect 1:
Increase focus -- heightened senses – increase reaction Speed. Can be used anytime
Effect 2:
Heightens the user's senses significantly.
Allowing him to ignore his surroundings and focus solely on the object of interest.
Significantly increase eye-hand response speed. Significantly increase reaction Speed. Increase control over body muscles.
Note: "Effect 2" can only be used with insanity check fully activated.)
The cold damp ground was John's bed as he lay exhausted gazing at the sky. He saw the light of dawn soothing the world with warmth. The scene around him transformed into a hazy blur, reminiscent of memories long buried.
As a child, when the world became too loud and demanding, he found solace in the embrace of the sea. The ritual was simple – laying on his back, eyes closed, and allowing the water to cradle him.
John's love for the water wasn't just about the strokes and laps—it was a sanctuary, a refuge he discovered early on. With each immersive dip, the world outside ceased to exist. The water covered his ears, creating a cocoon of silence that drowned out the cacophony of life.
In those moments, irritation melted away, worries evaporated, and the echoes of bullying and parental nagging faded into the background. The water became a haven, and John reveled in the serenity it offered.
The gentle ebb and flow of the waves or the subtle ripple of the pool water lulled him into a state of tranquility. He felt weightless, suspended between the liquid realm below and the open sky above. The play of sunlight on the water's surface painted a mesmerizing canvas, and for those stolen moments, John found respite from the complexities of his reality.
His parents, initially puzzled by his affinity for water, eventually accepted it as a peculiar but harmless quirk. Little did they know that, for John, those moments of aquatic reprieve were essential for maintaining his mental balance.
As he grew older, the habit persisted—even during his mechatronics engineering studies the sea remained his retreat.
John felt a sudden jerk in his body, as if he had fallen from a great height.
"Damn, that was not a dream" John said as he opened his eyes and realized he was still in the jungle, the sun light filtering through the dense foliage. His mind was a tempest of emotions, battling the surreal memories of both the recent fight with the Wild-Fury and the echoes of his past.
A rustle in the underbrush snapped him back to the present. His senses, heightened by his skill (Double focus), detected movement nearby. With his sore body protesting every move, John stood up.
He carefully stowed the tablet in his backpack, hoisted it onto his back, and tightened the straps. The sword, now a trusted ally, found its place in his grip.
The approaching sound intensified. John's muscles aching from the relentless battle, moved away from the noise—stepped into the unknown—away from the fallen Wild-Fury.
Every step felt like a test of endurance. John could sense he couldn't afford another fight anytime soon, not until he had a chance to rest and replenish his strength. His stomach grumbled in protest, a stark reminder of the physical toll the battles had taken on him.
As he ventured deeper into the jungle, uncertainty loomed. The mysteries of the environment around him, coupled with the enigmatic organization monitoring his every move, fueled the lingering uncertainty.
John pondered the implications of the notifications he received, the newfound skills, and the points awarded for completing the mission. The jungle, with its twisted vines and hidden perils, seemed to mirror the complexity of John's situation.
The canopy above him shifted, revealing glimpses of the sky. The dense vegetation thinned, and John emerged into a small clearing bathed in dappled sunlight. It was a brief respite from the oppressive jungle, a moment to collect his thoughts.
With the backpack slung over one shoulder and the sword at his side, John decided to find a safe spot to rest and assess his situation.
As John moved through the clearing, the tablet vibrated. john retrieve it form his backpack a saw a new message in the display screen:
(Detected that john close to safe house.
Navigate the way—)
"Are you kidding me? Now a save point?! I need a place to rest, but this is getting ridiculous." John muttered, grappling with the bizarre events that started since his waking up in this abnormal place.
He moved to a rock that the tablet navigated toward, the tablet vibrated once again. (Place the tablet on the rock to open the safe house)
john did exactly that, and the rock moved revealing a stair leading underground. He hesitated for a moment but still went down the stairs. the rock went back to its place as it never moved and at the end of the stairs there was door.
The tablet come to life once more:
(opening the door) Beeb.
The door opened and what welcomed John is a small room. The small room that served as the safe house was minimalistic. Yet—within its simplicity—it offered a welcome refuge.
John cautiously stepped inside, his eyes scanning the surroundings, taking in the simplicity of the space – a bed, a basic bathroom, and an intriguing device that seemed to beckon exploration. A plain white walls filled his view—with no windows—and ceiling Light.
The door behind him closed with a soft thud, shutting out the sounds of the jungle. It was a strange sensation, going from the vibrant chaos of the wild to this controlled environment. John took a moment to let the contrast sink in, his breath steadying as a sense of security settled over him.
The tablet, still in his hand, vibrated once more, displaying a new message that hinted at a new layer of this mysterious game-like reality.
(You can now use your points to buy from the organization. Items will be delivered by the small portal device in the safe house.)
John's eyebrows furrowed as the surreal nature of his situation became increasingly apparent.
He decided to start by investigating the unusual device in the room. As he approached it, the tablet in his hand provided additional information:
(A small Portal Device)
(Use your points to purchase items from the organization's catalog. Items will be delivered to the safe house through the portal.)
As he pondered, the tablet buzzed again:
(You have 12 hours in the safe house.
If you don't exit within the time limit, the consequences will be dire.)
A shiver ran down John's spine. The safety offered by the room came with its own set of rules and dangers. He needed to make the most of his time wisely.