"Lon...don Bridge...is falling down...falling down...falling down...London Bridge is falling down...my fair lady."
I exhaled before saying,
"Ah...I wonder what I should make of this...a dream come true or a living nightmare..."
3 days earlier.
I awoke from a two-day long slumber, opening my eyes to welcome the nascent rays of sunshine.
Ah...
But the moment I opened them I was greeted with utter darkness. It was like I hadn't opened my eyes at all.
Shit...am still here...
I tried to sit up but felt a terrible pang in my stomach.
Ouch...am still hungry...
I gave up and fell back to the ground, simply staring upwards for a few moments before uttering a command.
Stats...
[Name:] Alex
[Title:]???
[Level:] 3
[EXP:] 3/100
[Skills:] Oversaturation, Memory Palace, Echolocation, Art of Learning, Ambidexterity, Battle Arts, Anti-Lip Sync, Invisibility, Manipulation, Technical Knowledge (depreciated), Pickpocket, Panoramic Vision, Dexterity, Resistance, Fear Inducement, Thousand Tongues
[Aliases:] The Mastermind, The Fool, Skeleton Horror
[Debuffs:] Partial Hearing, Myopic Vision, Anti-Lip Sync, Rizzless
[HP:] 23/100
[Achievements:] Flash of Power, Combat Novice, Beat the Odds
I skimmed through the interface before my eyes rested on a certain part of it.
[HP:] 23/100
Well...I'll be damned...
I heaved a sigh as I dismissed the interface and rested my head on the rough stone below me.
What do I do now?
I thought with a perplexed expression on my face. I was at a complete loss at what to do, and I couldn't really be blamed.
I was battered, bruised, thirsty, hungry, tired and utterly blind, in fact, the mere fact of still being alive is baffling me. I thought I'd die the moment I hit the ground.
This resistance skill...
I thought as I opened its description.
[Skill:] Resistance: Born of harrowing trials, it is a silent force that doesn't merely defend but endures, standing firm long after others would fall. This skill strengthens all stats and all skills that have to do with defense.
If not for you, I would have died while I was still up there...
At that thought, I let out a low dry chuckle, regretting it afterwards though.
Hiss...how did I go from cursing couples to fighting undead skeletons to living in absolute darkness?
I suppressed the urge to shake my head.
Seriously, this takes the saying, 'Life is unpredictable'...too literally...
I know right.
At that response, my body rattled and shook.
You!
An ungodly amount of anger began to boil inside me.
Ok hol'up before you make any bold allegations...I wanna say something...
SHUT UP! YOU BASTARD! IF NOT FOR YO-
Have you thought about that monster?
Huh?
Almost immediately after my response, I heard a shuffle and then the system's monotonous voice.
[Bloodlust detected.]
[Level 9. Profane Cockatrix.]
Immediately I bolted out of my lying position, but I was a fraction too late.
CLOMP!
I felt a sharp needle like teeth snap down on my flesh, and tear it off.
"Argh!", I let out a pained cry as I raised my hand to the damaged spot; it was my left ear. The monster had taken a bite out of my left ear.
[You have been wounded.]
Damnit!
"Tss...", I let out a hiss as I clutched my hand over my ear to stem the bleeding.
What happened to Resistance...? Wasn't it active...?
It's Level 9...fool...
I wanted to retort but I knew now wasn't the time, after all the bastard was obviously using this time as an opportunity to jab at me.
SHIFF!
The sound of something slithering on the ground made me jolt in alarm. The inability to see made it way worse.
Damn...where is it...?
SHIFF!
My head snapped forward immediately, locking eyes with a pair of red eyes glowing in the dark.
There it is...!
I immediately wanted to bolt forward but then suddenly; I felt a shiver down my spine.
What the-?
Look awa-!
My inner voice's warning never reached me as the pair of scarlet orbs suddenly emitted a sharp glint. Almost immediately after that, my body began to grow still.
Tsk...what the hell...
I thought in confusion before suddenly remembering.
Ah shit...
With all of my vast knowledge...how could I forget...?
The harrowing power of a Cockatrice...
My muscles and bones were stiffening, unwilling to move.
"Death-darting eyes.", I muttered as my mouth slowly went still.
[You have been affected by Paralysis.]
The system uttered as the cockatrice stared at me with its glinting scarlet eyes, wide and open, refusing to look away. The profane power hidden behind them had been unleashed, turning me into a human statue.
Shit! Shit! Shit! This is bad! This bad!
I panicked as I felt my breathing slowly becoming hitched. I knew certainly that it won't be long before my heart and thoughts grow still as well, and I'd become a corpse.
I'd die.
Fuck!
I cursed as I stared at the monster with barely-hidden killing intent.
I'd been throwing around the word 'death' too frequently these days...whatever today was...
What do I do?! What do I-
I immediately stopped my train of thoughts. I knew certainly that panicking will get me nowhere.
I calmed my heart as I stared at the cockatrice, trying to figure out a way to get out of this mess.
Let's look at things from a logical standpoint...currently we are at a stalemate...
I came to a conclusion after thinking.
From what I remember...when I was falling...this monster was striking me midair, after all cockatrices can fly...but now it's simply just staring at me...trying to kill me with its eyes...which means that...
The cockatrice is heavily injured!
Indeed, my conclusion was correct.
The cockatrice which had been flying and pummeling me with vicious attacks at our first greeting was suddenly stuck to the floor and staring at me with its murderous eyes. It could only mean that it was wounded.
Was it from the fall...? Or was it...the book? Or both?
My eyes flashed when I remembered the cockatrice's violent reaction towards witnessing the cursed pages of that book. Surely, I didn't see it but I did hear its abominable cry; it was gut-wrenching.
And the thing is Level 9...
I thought.
If a monster at Level 9 reacted so terribly to the pages of the Quill-Book, then what would have happened to me if I had so much as glanced at them? Would my brain have exploded?
Suddenly, I was thankful for being able to control my curiosity but also felt a little scared.
I should be...many fools have died just for the sake of being inquisitive...
I took in that thought with a considerate expression but then realized something.
I've gone off-track!
Suddenly realizing that I had made no progress in saving myself, I had an urge to slap myself but I couldn't for obvious reasons.
Tsk...what do I do?
I pondered once again, slowly growing impatient when my inner voice spoke.
It seems you're on tilt today...huh, look up...
Huh...wait... you know I can't...
I thought with barely-concealed spite.
Just shut up and listen.
I swallowed a comeback and did as my inner voice told me.
WHOOSH!
I heard the sound of something falling through the air.
W-wha? What is that?! Please don't tell me it's another monster!
Of course it isn't you fool...
My fears were suddenly unfounded when I listened to the sound closely.
SWISH!!
It was the sound of wind cutting around something an object, offering no resistance to it whatsoever.
The object fell through the air, finally entering my peripheral vision.
That's...
SHEEN!
A foil of silvery metal glinted in the dark as it cut through the air.
Silver Lining...
I thought in relief as the blade fell down and pierced the profane cockatrice.
"CREEE!", the beast let out a shrill cry as it's gaze broke off mine; snapping me out of its hex instantly.
Finally!
I let out a sigh of relief as I stumbled.
Don't go down yet. It's not over.
I know, damnit!
Without wasting a single moment, I lunged forward, ignoring the numbing pain that shot through my body. I dismissing the blade as I closed the gap.
Store!
I summoned it once again when I closed the gap.
Inventory Open!
The blade materialized itself as I swung forward, the light from the millions of particles that formed it, briefly illuminated the silhouette of the beast.
"Uegh!", I let out a sound of disgust when I witnessed the beast; it was truly appalling.
Fundamentally, it looked like a hen but its form was all wrong. Its neck was overtly long and had several spikes protruding from it, its legs which had sharp claws at their ends were bent backwards and unsightly, its wings had claws at the ends of it but the fleshy part had holes in them, it had a long tail that was coated in sharp spikes as well and its head...
Its head was distorted and horrifying; a long serpentine tongue sticking out from it.
Thank God it's hurt...
Indeed, the cockatrice was gravely wounded, its neck was crushed, its wings damaged and its tail seemed lifeless.
That didn't diminish its grotesque appearance though.
I'd seen illustrations of cockatrices on the internet but none had ever been this unsightly. I suddenly found myself thankful for the darkness.
It'd probably kill me with its appearance without even needing its eyes...
I suddenly twisted my body, lunging forward with my fully formed uchigatana.
Speaking of eyes, those things need to go...
I slashed at the beast's eyes, aiming to destroy them but right before the blade struck, something unexpected happened...
The cockatrice suddenly raised its head and caught my blade with its teeth.
Huh?!
I stumbled momentarily, giving the cockatrice an opening to slam its tail into my abdomen.
BAM!
I coughed up blood as I was sent flying back with extreme force, colliding against an incongruous surface, but I didn't pay it any mind.
How?! I thought its neck and tail was damaged...
I thought in agony, as I clutched my abdomen in angst. The starvation I currently had wasn't helping my situation at all.
I gritted my teeth in pain, as I stared at the direction of the cockatrice who had Silver Lining in its jaws.
Isn't it obvious yet?
My inner voice spoke.
Yeah, of course...
I responded to its oblivious question.
I put my palm on the ground and forced myself to stand up, falling to my knee occasionally but not losing my bite. My hand was holding my stomach and my jaw was clenched tightly, several injuries on my body had reopened and my body was being reminded of its dire state.
Yet, I remained stalwart. The dark light that ignited in my eyes weren't gone yet, and they weren't vanishing anytime soon.
"You...", I addressed the cockatrice with cold eyes, "...are a tenacious bastard, aren't you?"
The cockatrice seemed to move, throwing the blade away with a clatter before snapping its deadly gaze towards me.
I dropped my head to the ground, avoiding its glare entirely.
Tenacious...just like me...
My gaze darkened.
And one thing I hate the most...
Are people that are just like me!
My head shot up, and I pierced the Profane Cockatrice with a murderous gaze.
At that moment, the system spoke.
[Skill: Fear Inducement has been activated.]