"Am sorry...Dave..."
I faintly heard Vicki's words before she jumped into the mist, going off the cliff.
It's okay...
I wanted to say, but held back my tongue. I was too deep in pain and too entangled with the beast atop me to focus on anything else.
"EEE!!! EEE!!!"
The tree gremlin screamed in fury as it bared down its jagged fangs on me, my right hand being the only thing that stopped it from tearing off my face.
"ARRGH! GET OFF ME, YOU BASTARD!", I screamed as used all the strength I could muster to throw the tree beast back.
It flew back and tumbled on the ground, but quickly scrambled to its feet.
It didn't stand for long though because I swiftly covered the distance between us and threw a violent overhead punch to its face.
CRACK!
A small crack grew from the point of impact as my hand recoiled from the force and the troll keeled into the soil.
Ow...
I grimaced and looked at my right knuckle, it was bruised and oozing with fresh blood. I tried to get my head off the pain while being careful not to jolt my left arm.
The pain I was feeling now was already unbearable, I didn't need another one in the mix.
I looked at the Tree Troll which was struggling to get up, and gritted my teeth.
Am going to kill you!
My face turned cold and hard as I immediately rushed to pick up the Troll's club.
It was a meter long, had a rough texture and was weighty but I was able to lift it, albeit with much effort.
I turned over to the dazed Troll and then ran, I raised the club over my shoulder and screamed,
"DIE!"
My eyes flashed as I brought down the heavy bludgeon, aiming to shatter its head with one blow but the beast was sharp or rather...I was indiscreet.
It quickly dodged the incoming attack and got back to its feet, before staring at me with murderous eyes.
[Bloodlust detected.]
[Level 3. Tree Troll.]
I felt my skin crawl and my spine tingle when I heard the bland voice speak.
The troll didn't waste anytime and dashed towards me.
Ah!
Triggered, I threw the club at it in a flustered motion.
The Troll simply caught it midair and brought it down with terrifying ease.
"W-wha-?!"
I panicked and carelessly threw my hands at it, an action that caused my greatly.
The Troll's black eyes flashed with a malicious light. Twisting it's arm, it swung sideways, ruthlessly striking my left arm.
[You have been wounded.]
"AAARRGGHH!", I let out a shrill cry, spitting up saliva in process before getting brutally sucker-punched in the gut.
[You have been wounded.]
"ACK!", I coughed up blood as my body was thrown onto the ground, my left arm bobbed again bringing me terrible pain.
I convulsed terribly on the ground and turned to look at the evil creature with a hateful gaze.
"You...monster...", I coughed again as I spoke.
The odious monster raised its club and brought it down, aiming for my head.
Woah!
I quickly raised my right leg and slammed it against its arm, stopping the attack halfway before following up with a second kick using my other leg to knock back the Troll.
"NRGH!", I grunted as I pushed the monster back.
Without wasting any time, I shot up to my feet and delivered a brutal side kick to the monster before spinning around to deliver another side kick.
PA..
The Troll tanked my attacks without effort, before bashing my side with its club.
"ACK!"
Harrowing pain shot from the point of impact like an electric wave, forcing me to drop to my knees. I spat out blood and keeled over. My right hand gripped my side as I coughed up a mouthful of blood.
I...I think my ribs are broken...
My eyes widened in disbelief before my body collapsed to the ground.
Tears of agony threatened to spill from my eyes as the pain I was under grew more unbearable.
"F-fuck!", I bellowed in anguish.
Am I not Level 2...? So why am I not strong...? Why is the gap between Level 2 and 3 so wide? Shit...it hurts...
I thought as my body reeled in the throes of pain.
Blood dyed my right hand in a scarlet hue as well as my side. My absence of proper clothes only further added to my distress.
My right hand balled into a fist and pounded hard against the soil, as if such an action would alleviate my pain.
I bit my lower lip as a deep hatred rose within my soul.
A hatred towards the cause of my pain, the Tree Trolls.
I raised my head to curse the Tree Troll who had put me in this pitiful state but instead found myself surrounded by a crowd of them.
"EEE..."
"EEE..."
"EEE..."
The horde had finally caught up.
They surrounded me in a wide circle and watched me with their eerie dark eyes, unmoving.
H-huh?
I looked around and saw the hundreds of Trolls, all staring at me with a frozen posture.
G-God...
The sheer creepiness of the whole scene made my blood run cold, and my skin crawl. My hair stood on end and I held my breath.
An indescribable sense of horror gripped my heart and I fell on my hind.
"EEE..."
"EEE..."
"EEE..."
Their low voices only seemed to heighten my tension as cold sweat gathered on my face.
Silence swallowed the night, leaving only the low murmuring of the distant white fog.
WHOO...
I stared at them for several minutes before dropping my head.
"Am going to die...", I muttered subconsciously.
My eyes were hollow and downcast, the light of hope was diminishing slowly.
I remained silent for several more seconds and then whispered, "Well...at least Vicki should be safe by now...Kansola and my classmates...should...the water should...", I went silent.
PLIP! PLIP!
Suddenly, beads of tears began to fall out of my eyes as cold hard reality came crashing into me.
I called this game amazing...? I said this game was incredible...? Am such a fool...
This game is hell!
"THIS IS BULLSHIT! BULLSHIT!", I yelled at the top of my lungs as indescribable rage filled my body.
I dug my right hand into the ground and forced myself to get up.
My body trembled terribly with anger, the same anger I had felt when I confronted the illusion of Kansola.
[Skill: Blood Factor is active.]
I heard the game speak as my expression contorted into one of rage.
I slowly raised up my supposedly broken left hand and balled it into a fist as well as my right hand.
"COME ON! YOU BASTARDS!"
I roared, causing the eerie horde to break into a mad frenzy.