I open my eyes to find myself surrounded by sand for miles, an endless expanse of golden dunes stretching into the horizon. The air is dry, the heat oppressive, and the world around me eerily silent except for the faint whisper of the wind moving the grains of sand, A glowing text hovers before my eyes:
"Mission: Kill all monsters. 0/100"
The words are cold and emotionless, yet they carry an immense weight, I frown and try to call out for the system cat-the guide that was supposed assist me in these missions-but I'm met with an unsettling silence. The familiar interface that once provided me with information, tools, and support is gone. Panic bubbles inside me as I realize I no longer have access to the system.
Before I can process this loss, the sand in front of me shifts. A subtle ripple, like a predator stirring beneath the surface, catches my eye. My instincts scream at me to move, but I'm too slow. A monstrous creature erupts from the ground, its body blending seamlessly with the desert sand. It has razor-sharp teeth, each one gleaming like shards of obsidian, and its eyes glint with a predatory hunger. I barely manage to dodge as it lunges at me, its jaws snapping shut inches from my arm. My heart pounds as I scramble backward, fumbling for the weapons I would normally summon from my Dimensional Storage. But there's nothing-no swords, no shields, no tools. I'm utterly defenseless.
Before I can react further, the creature surges forward again, sinking its teeth deep into my arm. Pain explodes through me, white-hot and searing. I scream, trying desperately to pry its jaws open, but the monster is relentless. The commotion draws the attention of others, The sand shifts in every direction as more of the creatures emerge, their forms lithe and deadly. One clamps its teeth around my neck, and darkness consumes me.
I wake up gasping for air. The pain is gone, but the memory of it lingers, vivid and horrifying. The dunes stretch out around me once more, identical to before. My heart sinks as I see the glowing text reappear:
"Mission: Kill all monsters, 0/100"
The realization hits me like a punch to the gut: I'm trapped in a loop. Just like those cruel games where failure forces you to restart, I'm destined to repeat this nightmare until I succeed.
This time, I don't wait for the monsters to come to me. I turn and run, my bare feet sinking into the scorching sand. The heat burns my soles, but I push through the pain.
Yet, no matter how fast I run, the creatures are faster. They hunt in packs, coordinating their movements with unnerving precision. I'm overrun, torn apart again and again. Death after death, I restart. Each time I wake up, the desert is the same -unforgiving, unchanging. By my 30th attempt, I've started to memorize the monsters' patterns. I know where they hide, how they attack, and how to dodge their initial strikes.
In one attempt, I manage to kill one of the creatures. The effort costs me dearly-a gaping wound in my side from its razor teeth-but I discover something valuable: its body can be used as a weapon. I wield its sharp limbs against the others, taking down two more before succumbing to my injuries.
Death reveals another cruel lesson, The monsters' saliva is laced with poison. My first few deaths to the venom are excruciating, but with each revival, my body adapts. The poison becomes less lethal, and I gain a slight resistance.
Still, the odds remain stacked against me. My six-year-old body isn't built for this. The mission demands endurance I simply don't have. Days stretch into nights-except there is no night here. The sun never sets, baking the sand and my skin in its relentless glare.
On one of my longer attempts, I survive for three days. Hunger gnaws at me, and the lack of water leaves my throat raw. Blisters cover my feet from walking endlessly across the burning dunes. My body grows weaker, but my mind suffers more. The constant cycle death and revival is breaking me.
On my 40th attempt, I reach a point of desperation. My hunger has become unbearable, a primal force that overrides my fear. I crest a dune and see a group of monsters feasting on a smaller one of their kind. The sight is both horrifying and strangely tempting.
My stomach clenches, and an idea takes root in my mind-a dangerous, desperate idea. Before I can overthink it, I act. I charge down the dune toward the group. The monsters notice me, their heads snapping up in unison, but I'm faster. I grab one of them by its neck and sink my teeth into its flesh.
The taste is shocking-metallic, salty, but not entirely unpleasant. Warm blood fills my mouth, quenching a thirst I hadn't realized was consuming me. The monster thrashes, but I hold on, driven by an instinct I didn't know I had.
The other creatures retreat, watching me with what I can only describe as confusion. It's as if they don't understand what I am anymore.
I tear off a piece of the monster's flesh and chew. The texture is tough, the flavor strange, but I don't care. For the first time since arriving in this hellish desert, I feel satiated.
When I finally stop, the realization hits me: I've changed.
This is no longer about survival. Something darker, more primal, has awakened within me. The sweet smell of blood lingers in my nostrils, and I crave more. My humanity feels distant, overshadowed by a new, predatory instinct.
I look at the remaining monsters, their bodies tense and ready to flee. A sinister smile spreads across my face.
For the first time, I don't feel fear. I feel hunger.
And this time, I'm not the prey,