Chapter Two: Winning and Losing
The door creaked open as Dusken staggered into the room. A man sitting on a chair while engrossed in operating a magical screen glanced up at the yawning boy.
"Dusk, what are you doing here?" the man asked, tilting his head. "It seems you've just finished your training. Have you taken a bath?"
Dusken massaged his temples, exhaustion weighing heavily on him as he leaned against the wall.
"Dad, I'm tired. I'm just eight years old. Is this training really necessary?" he asked, yawning again. "Everyone says we have to start training at eight, but honestly, I don't care. I just want to rest and go to the game park."
The man paused his work, letting out a heavy sigh.
"Dusk, who doesn't want rest and enjoyment in this world? But those who fail to train to survive will perish. The Calamity Codex is cruel, but you must be crueller to live. Strength is survival."
Dusken shook his head, his young face twisted in frustration.
"I'm not just tired of training, Dad." He took an unsteady step forward. "This life, everything in it - training, survival, combat, the Codex, the ethereal land - and all don't you find it all so... pointless?"
He walked closer to the table, picking up a glass of water as he stared at his father's expressionless face with a profound look in his eyes.
"That's why I pursue excitement, Dad. Everything else is just too boring."
***
The oppressive sun blazed as Dusken stood with a straight back, sweat rolling down his forehead.
His father's words echoed in his mind, intertwined with the memories of his perilous training.
A level one creature was a dreadful enemy for a level zero. However, he didn't wish to run. If he did, then what was all his training for? He sought excitement and here it was, waving at him. Why would he ignore it?
His stare locked on the creature ahead, which was a harrowing sight.
Its five stumpy legs carried a robust exoskeleton that offered strong, formidable protection. Long, sinuous antennae - two of them - swayed menacingly in the air.
Two multi-jointed pincers, each ending with a set of horrifying sharp claws, tapped in anticipation.
Its large, bulbous white eyes stared at the two with condescending indifference, and beneath them, a terrifying open maw occupied with razor-sharp teeth constantly dripped vicious saliva onto the golden sand.
For any ten-year-old, this sight alone would be traumatising.
Kyle visibly trembled as he spoke:
"D-Dusk… maybe we should run. We…we can't defeat that thing."
Dusken's grin only widened, knowing that running would ultimately lead to his death; the only way to survive was to fight and kill the beast.
"Run?" He asked, his voice tinged with amusement. He reached down to pick up a jagged bone lying on the ground; its curved edge glinted under the sun. "Where's the fun in that?"
Kyle stared at him, dumbfounded.
"Are you insane? That thing will kill us!"
"Maybe," Dusken replied, tightening his grip on the bone weapon. "But where's the thrill if there's no risk? What's life without excitement?"
Kyle's eyes widened as he shouted: "You're insane! You're gonna kill us both!"
As if feeling the audacity of this lowly human, the creature stirred, its cold, murderous eyes locking onto Dusken as an ominous feeling crept up his heart.
The beast lunged toward him, its charge faster than any speed he could muster.
"Stay back, Kyle," Dusken ordered, not bothering to glance at the red-haired boy. "I've got this."
"But we should—" Kyle began, his voice trembling.
Dusken didn't let him finish as he dashed toward the incoming creature, a feral grin on his face.
The beast stopped, its claws slicing through the air with deadly precision. Dusken ducked under its swing, his heart throbbing with exhilaration. He could feel the ripple in the air as he slashed his bone weapon at the creature, he could see the dust that rose in his wake as the creature stayed still.
His weapon hit, barely scratching the tough skin of the monstrosity, but he still attacked with unrelenting efforts. However, his overconfidence soon cost him. The creature threw a deadly kick at his chest, its stumpy leg pushing through the air with great speed.
'Crap!'
Dusken couldn't react in time and a muffled sound resounded as he was sent flying, blood spurting out of his mouth.
"Dusk!' Kyle screamed, frozen in terror.
A resounding screech shook the surroundings as the creature charged once more. Stretching his limits, Dusken pulled himself back up and lunged to the side.
The ground scraped his skin as the creature's pincer stabbed his previous spot. Sand erupted around him as the beast let out a screech of frustration.
Dusken felt a bitter taste rising in his mouth as blood flowed down his lips.
'Great speed but slows down to attack,' he thought, picking another bone from the ground.
The creature moved forward as the battle resumed once more. Dust billowed from the ground and the air trembled with every clash.
Sounds of battle shook the area as wounds after wounds accumulated on Dusken's body but a dark thrill kept him going. Despite identifying the creature's weakness, he struggled to exploit it.
Although his body was filled with wounds, his enemy fared worse as its body had shattered bones etched into it.
Dusken sidestepped, avoiding the beast's pincer while stabbing forward with his bone weapon. Just like every other one, it broke when it came in contact with the creature's strong body.
However, its purpose was achieved as its tip broke apart inside the flesh of the creature, causing it terrible pain.
"Sreeeeeeeech!"
Dusken felt his eardrums shaking wildly as dizziness overwhelmed his senses. Before he could snap out of his momentary haze, a sharp sting of pain ran through his senses, and a moment later, a force sent him flying through the air.
Dusken coughed out more blood as he found himself on the ground. He raised his head, wanting to see the sky. However, what he saw wasn't the blue sky, but two white, murderous eyes.
The terrified gasp of Kyle sounded in the area as he cried out:
"I warned you, damn it! Now we're gonna die."
He clenched his fists in struggle as he let out a long sigh and raised his hands. Dusken, who lay on the ground, felt it; The temperature had increased sharply.
The advancing creature came to a halt as smoke began exuding from its figure.
Dusken quickly stood up, taking another bone from the ground once more as he prepared.
'Kyle. So his side ability seems to be heat manipulation?' Dusken marvelled inwardly; it was a great side ability unlike his unknown one.
"Go!" Kyle's pained shout jolted Dusken back to his senses.
The beast screeched, its speed dragged by the wounds littering its body, but the heat played a significant role as its movements were slowed down drastically.
Still, Dusken forced himself to remain standing even when blood trickled down his side. His lips parted, revealing bloodstained teeth.
'It's the head,' he thought with confidence.
Excitement coursed through him as he was pulled once more into a series of exchanges with the creature. His speed had dropped due to the weight of his wounds but his opponent wasn't any better.
The creature's movement had also slowed, the heat taking its toll. Somehow, Dusken didn't feel the effects of Kyle's heat for he expertly made it torment only the beast.
Dusken distanced himself from it, catching his breath. Although he didn't feel the heat, the scorching ground still left its marks.
The beast walked slowly, its steps wavering and unstable.
It lunged forward once more, this time with much less speed and precision. Dusken sidestepped once again, slamming his bone weapon on the creature's exposed head.
The bone splintered as the creature screeched, reeling back in agony. The temperature swelled once more as it tormented the beast even more. Steam rose from its exoskeleton as it was momentarily disoriented.
Not missing this opportunity, Dusken dashed forward, with another bone weapon in hand. He leapt onto the creature's back as its antennas swayed wildly, trying to get him off, but he clung tightly.
The winds howled as his bone weapon stabbed downwards with fierce momentum.
The satisfying sound of his weapon piercing through flesh was heard while Dusken held still as the creature shook frantically while stabbing even deeper.
"Screech!" the creature let out a deafening screech as blood spurted out of its wounds, splashing on both Dusken and the surrounding area.
Sometime later, the beast's corpse slowly grew still under the multiple stabs made by Dusken.
He rolled off its back, landing heavily on the ground. Every part of him ached as he struggled to maintain his smile.
Kyle stumbled toward him, his legs trembling.
"You… you actually did it," he said, awe and disbelief in his eyes.
Dusken coughed, blood staining his lips as he pushed himself up.
"Of course I did," he said, his tone light despite the pain. "What's the point of living if you're not the winner in the end?"
Kyle laughed weakly, resting on a nearby boulder.
"You're crazy, Dusk. Absolutely insane."
"Maybe," Dusken replied, staring at the beast's lifeless body.
"But isn't life just a series of wins and losses? Today, we won, so we'll live. Tomorrow if we fail… well, we can only remain pitiful in death."
As Dusken calmed down, the voice of the calamity codex stirred from within his soul.
[You have slain a Level One Awakened creature.]
A chill ran down Dusken's spine as the voice continued.
[You have received a scroll.]
********
A/N: Vote with Power stones and Golden tickets so it reaches a wider audience