The blood-red sand shifted with every step Arin took, the blistering heat baking his skin. Around him, the guttural growls of mutant rats echoed, their serrated teeth bared in menacing grins.
-[Warning: Host is outnumbered. Tactical retreat is advised.]-
"Really? Retreat to where?" Arin hissed, dodging a rat that lunged at him. Its claws raked through the air, narrowly missing his shoulder.
The creatures burrowed and reappeared with unnerving speed, their crimson eyes gleaming with bloodlust. Arin's breaths came in sharp gasps as he sidestepped another attack, the rat's teeth snapping shut inches from his thigh.
"Damn it! What now?" Arin shouted, scanning his surroundings for anything that could help. His gaze fell on a jagged piece of bone half-buried in the sand. Without thinking, he dove for it, his fingers closing around the makeshift weapon.
-[Recommendation: Improvised weapon detected. Target vulnerable points—neck and skull.]-
"Improvised weapon? You mean this random piece of garbage?" Arin barked back, frustration clear in his tone.
-[Immediate compliance is required. Survival is non-negotiable.]-
Arin gritted his teeth. "Fine. Let's see if this piece of junk works."
As a rat leapt at him, Arin sidestepped, swinging the bone down with all his strength. The sharp edge sliced into the creature's skull with a sickening crunch. The rat let out a piercing screech before collapsing, its body twitching violently before going still.
Another rat lunged from behind, forcing Arin to roll forward to avoid its claws. He turned swiftly, driving the jagged bone into the creature's throat. The beast gurgled, its crimson eyes dimming as it fell lifeless to the ground.
-[Critical Hit. Host is advised to maintain momentum.]-
"Easier said than done!" Arin yelled, dodging two rats that lunged at him simultaneously.
One managed to swipe his arm, leaving a shallow gash. He winced, the pain sharp and searing.
-[Host's stamina is depleting. Combat efficiency is at 42%. Immediate action is required.]-
"Thanks for the pep talk!" Arin growled, gripping the bone tighter. His knuckles turned white as he steadied his breath.
The largest of the rats circled him, its crimson eyes calculating. It moved with a predatory grace, every step deliberate.
"What are you waiting for?" Arin muttered under his breath, his heart pounding.
Suddenly, the beast lunged with terrifying speed, its claws aiming for his chest. Arin barely managed to block with the jagged bone, but the force sent him sprawling into the sand.
"Damn it!" He scrambled to his feet, his body aching from the impact.
-[Host: Aim for the joints. Disabling movement increases survival probability by 67%.]-
Arin's gaze sharpened. "Fine. Let's do this."
As the beast charged again, Arin ducked low, swinging the bone at its hind legs. A sickening crack echoed as the rat collapsed, screeching in pain. Without hesitation, Arin drove the bone into its neck, twisting it for good measure.
The creature stilled, its crimson eyes dulling as life drained from its body. Arin stood there, panting, his makeshift weapon slick with blood.
"And this makes fifteen." Arin's voice was a mix of relief and exhaustion as he twisted the last carnivorous rat's neck with a sharp crack. The grotesque creature's body disintegrated into shimmering particles of light, scattering like fireflies into the blood-red sands.
-[Enemy defeated.]-
"That's it? No reward? No healing items?" Arin barked at the system. "I just killed a giant mutant rat, and I get nothing?"
-[Notice: Host must manage resources independently. System rewards are issued only under specific conditions.]-
Arin glared at the empty air as if the system could feel his frustration. "You're seriously the worst. I swear, if I survive this, I'm uninstalling you."
-[Host's sarcasm is noted. Immediate preparations for the next encounter are advised.]-
A faint hum echoed as a small, round object materialized in his hand—a pill that glowed faintly, its surface smooth and cold against his palm.
Arin's eyes lit up. "A pill?"
-[Acquired Tier 1 Low-Grade Pill.]-
-[Congratulations: Achievement Unlocked – First Pill Found.]-
-[Host has been awarded a System Gift Box.]-
The mechanical voice of the system rang out, each word clinical and devoid of emotion.
"A gift box?" Arin muttered, his voice laced with hope. His heart raced as he felt a glimmer of excitement amidst the relentless struggle.
-[Host: Would you like to open the gift box?]-
-[Yes/No]-
"Is that even a question? Of course, yes!" Arin exclaimed, a spark of life returning to his weary features.
No sooner had he spoken than a glowing orb of light appeared before him, pulsating with an otherworldly energy. He watched, entranced, as the light swirled and shimmered, promising something extraordinary.
"This is it… this is what I've been waiting for," he whispered, his voice trembling with anticipation.
The orb dimmed, and from its fading brilliance, an object dropped into his hands. His expression froze as he held it up.
"A stick?" Arin blinked, disbelief washing over him.
-[Item Status: Stick.]-
-[Name: Wisteria Branch.]-
-[Tier: 1.]-
-[Details: A branch broken from a 100-year-old wisteria tree. Durable and capable of inflicting twice the pain of ordinary sticks when used as a weapon.]-
Arin's lips twitched. "You can dress it up however you want, but it's still a stick!" His voice rose in frustration. "What am I supposed to do with a glorified twig? Build a sandcastle? Poke holes in the desert?"
-[Notice: Host must cease complaining and adapt to given circumstances. Survival is paramount.]-
"Oh, forgive me for being ungrateful!" Arin snapped sarcastically, throwing his hands up. "You drop me in a hellscape filled with mutant rats, make me fight for my life, and then reward me with a stick. What's next? A rock?"
-[Host's sarcasm is noted. Additional comments are unnecessary.]-
Before Arin could retort, the system's voice echoed again, sterner this time.
-[Notice: Twenty-four hours have elapsed. Returning Host to the origin point.]-
"Wait, origin point?" Arin began, his stomach sinking. "Can I at least—"
The sentence died in his throat as his body began to dissolve, just like the creatures he'd defeated. Tiny, glittering fragments peeled away from him, carried by the desert wind.
As his body fragmented, Arin felt a strange sense of calm. Despite the brutal fight, he had survived.
Though he didn't show it, he was excited because of the fact that he would finally get to leave this damned blood-red desert.