Chen's eyes adjusted to the dimly lit room, and he beheld a woman unlike any he had ever seen. Her physique was imposing, honed from years of rigorous training. The curves of her body had given way to chiseled muscle, and her breasts had flattened into a masculine chest. A scar above her left eyebrow marred her otherwise angular features, lending an air of ruggedness to her appearance.
"Who are you?" Chen asked, his voice firm and commanding.
Painkiller's gaze narrowed, her eyes locking onto Chen's with an unnerving intensity. "Who are you?" she retorted, her voice low and husky.
The two engaged in a silent stare-down, each refusing to yield. Finally, Painkiller broke the silence, her movements economical as she sat down on the bed. "Close the door," she ordered.
Chen remained standing, his eyes never leaving Painkiller's face. "It's closer to you," he replied, his tone unwavering.
Painkiller's expression remained impassive, but a flicker of curiosity danced in her eyes. She rose from the bed, her movements fluid, and shut the door. Returning to the bed, she retrieved a Rubik's Cube from the corner and tossed it to Chen. "Solve it," she commanded.
Chen caught the cube, his fingers instinctively finding the familiar contours. "Why should I?" he asked, his gaze never leaving Painkiller's face.
[Name; Rubik'sCube]
[Type: Puzzle]
[Rarity: Common]
[Attack: None]
[Attributes: None]
[Effect: None]
[Able to bring outside of the dungeon: No]
[Remark: Don't feel stupid if you can't solve it, its meant for smart people]
The details of the cube appeared on Chen's vision when they touch his hand
A hint of a smile played on Painkiller's lips as she produced a knife from the same corner. "Excuse me," Chen said, his eyes locked onto the glinting blade. He turned and exited the room, the cube clutched in his hand.
As he walked down the corridor, a voice called out to him from the third room. "Yo, fish, wait up!" Chen ignored the summons, his pace unwavering.
Footsteps echoed down the corridor, and Chen turned to face the speaker. "What?" he asked, his tone curt.
The man, tall and lanky, held out a hand in a gesture of friendship. "Just wanted to give you a heads up, fish. Painkiller's not someone to mess with. Her last roommates... well, let's just say they didn't last the night."
Chen's expression remained skeptical, but he nodded curtly. "Preciate the offer," he said, turning to leave.
The man's voice followed him down the corridor. "If you manage to escape her claws, just knock on my door. You're welcome to crash with me anytime."
This is a thug city, the last thing you wanna do is owe anyone a thing, cause when they come collecting, you'll pay more. Chen knew this so he ignored the offer but the offer still stands in case the situation goes wild.
Chen returned to Painkiller's room, the solved Rubik's Cube clutched in his hand. "Here," he said, tossing the cube back to Painkiller.
Painkiller's eyes narrowed as she caught the cube. "What can be broken, but never held? What can be given, but never sold?" she asked, her voice low and husky.
"A promise," Chen replied, his answer immediate.
Painkiller's expression remained impassive, but a glimmer of curiosity appeared in her eyes. "What's always coming but never arrives? Has a head, but never weeps. Has a bed, but never sleeps?"
"River," Chen answered, his voice confident.
Painkiller's gaze lingered on Chen's face, her expression unreadable. Finally, she spoke, her voice measured. "I am a voice that is heard, yet I speak not. I am a word that is whispered, yet I am not spoken. I am a sound that is echoed, yet I am not heard. What am I?"
Chen's eyes never left Painkiller's face as he replied, "Echo."
A slow smile spread across Painkiller's face, her eyes glinting with amusement. "You're smart, fish. Interesting." She then laid on her bed and grabbed a book to read
[You successfully escaped Painkiller's Wrath]
[Three Inmates find you interesting, you gained Charm]
[Charm: Ability to impress others]
[Character Template]
[Strength: F]
[Agility: F]
[Constitution: F]
[Spirit: F+]
[Charm: F-]
The notification informed Chen about the danger he escaped, it also gave him some understanding of how the game works.
Whereas Printon is full of dangers, the system provides him with someone like Pope, no.matter what he did, he wouldn't have died like that. Painkiller situation is different tho, his survival was in his own hands. If he had failed the test, he might be dead by now.
"Now that I passed the test, what use is Painkiller to the system?" Chen puzzled himself then decided to try his luck
"Heard you eat your roommates" Chen questioned Painkiller, interrupting her reading
"Some weren't smart enough, some weren't strong enough" Painkiller replied.
"So what? You can'texpect much from war torn thugs"
"It's safer to live with smart men. Cause smart men knows that actions have consequences" Painkiller explained
Chen got thoughtful, Painkiller is the only woman he's seen since he got to Printon. "Being stuck in the same room with three other men, things they can do to her… But she overprotected herself by killing her roommates making other guys scared of her" Chen concluded. Chen drew a smirk at Painkiller's smartness.
"Looks like you figured it out" Painkiller acknowledged "You have five minutes" she said.
"For what?" Chen queried
"Thug hunting, we are going deep into Printin city"
Chen's eyes widened at Painkiller's words. Anyone with a mission "Survive seven days" will think hiding safely in their room iis the easiest way but the system will always put them on situations where they face danger. He either have to go thug hunting or face Painkiller's wrath.
Chen stood up and left the room, he went straight to the room of the guybthat contacted him earlier, the recognised him and speak to him from the window
"Hey man" the guy greeted "She giving you any trouble?" he asked concernly
"I need uh… I need something to protect myself" Chen said, adong the question
"Yiurebgonna confront her?" The guy had on a puzzled and sympathetic face but when he saw Chen's unwavering confidence he continued "Man, Pope only gave weapons during battles"
"So you can't help me" Chen said and motioned to keep moving
"Wait up fish" The guy called out. He then went under his bunk and brought out a screw.
"Here, hide it quickly"
Chen took the screw and put it in his pocket
"That just for basic protection, it can't do much but that's all I have" The guy explained
"I'll make sure to return it in good condition" Chen appreciated
"Just try and survive bro, I admire your confidence" The said, folded his palm and hit chest with it. Chen nodded and walk back to his room.
[Name: Screw]
[Type: Micellanous]
[Rarity: Damaged]
[Attack: Weak]
[Attribute: None]
[Effect: None]
[Remark: It was a common screw but has its mouth sharpened to pin. Could be a great companion at desperate times]
"Freeze" Just before he opened the door a voice called out.
Chen turned to look and it was the thug from before, who brought him to his room.
"Hands up " the thug ordered raising his gun at Chen. Chen sluggish raised up his hand
"Pockets out" the thug ordered again.
Chen dipped his hands in his pocket and draw them out, revealing the screw
The thug smirked "what are you doing with this… heavy artillery?" The thug drew out the metaphor
"Just trying to fly low under the radar, boss" Chen replied in his thug voice
"Not on my watch, give it" the thug ordered and took the screw from chen "Told you you ain't lucky"
"What's going on here?" The door suddenly opened and Painkiller's voice rang out
"Fish here tryna go all mighty on you, ma'am. Here's what I took from him" Yhe thug explained showing Painkiller the screw
"Give it back" Painkiller ordered.
"Bu…"
"Give it back" the guy to refute but Painkiller interrupted him with a harder voice "let him try" she said to the guard and went back in.
The guard locked eyes with Chen and sliced his neck With his hand threatening to kill Chen then walk away
"Thanks" Chen said dryly but before he could Continue, Painkiller interrupted
"It's time, follow me" Painkiller walked Chen down the floor to the ground floor. He took him to a storage where she brought out a bike "get in" she ordered.
Chen got on the bike and she zoomed off