*Click*
[ Too late! Jump to the side now! ]
Instinctively, I threw myself to the side without a second thought. It turned out to be the right decision.
A second later, the door was split apart down the middle by black, pulsating veins.
[ Don't move, host. ]
I froze, lying flat on the blood-soaked, sticky floor.
[ Be as quiet . ]
The voice was calm yet authoritative, urging me to comply. I clamped my hands tightly over my mouth, muffling my shaky breaths. The metallic tang of blood filled my nostrils as I fought the urge to gag.
Strangely, I trusted those words without hesitation. Perhaps desperation had clouded my judgment. After all, when you're drowning, you'll cling to even the weakest rope.
'Don't move.'
'Don't make a sound.'
'Don't…'
The dark crimson veins writhed like serpents, tapping the floor methodically, as if tasting the air for prey. Each motion made my heart pound louder in my chest, threatening to betray me.
With every passing moment, holding my breath became harder. My lungs burned, screaming for air.
Then, at last, the veins recoiled.
I gasped quietly, greedily sucking in air as my chest heaved. My relief was short-lived.
[ Host, run. To the left. ]
There was no time to question the command. I bolted to the left just as the black veins struck, drilling a hole in the floor where I'd been sitting moments before.
If I'd hesitated for even a second, I would've been skewered.
But now that I was moving, I realized something terrifying. It could sense me better when I wasn't still.
'What do I do?'
The veins contracted, then lunged again. I dodged, but not fast enough—one grazed my shoulder, leaving a shallow, burning cut.
I gasped, chest heaving as adrenaline coursed through me. My heart was pounding louder than ever. Fear and panic churned within me, but strangely, there was something else… excitement?
'I don't know who—or what—you are,' I thought to the voice, 'and I don't have time for introductions. The space I can move around in is shrinking, and I can't defeat whatever this thing is. I need an escape plan. Now.'
[ Acknowledged. ]
[ Analyzing surroundings… ]
[ Running simulations… ]
[ Optimal route found. ]
[ Initiating battle mode. ]
My vision blurred momentarily, then shifted, overlaid with glowing symbols, words, and diagrams. A translucent figure resembling a human appeared in the corner of my vision, displaying vital information.
[ Pick up the small, marble-sized gems scattered on the floor. ]
Circles highlighted the tiny mana crystals littered around me, making them easy to spot.
'Alright,' I thought. 'If this helps me get out of here, I'll do it.'
[ Collect at least four. ]
I weaved between attacks, narrowly dodging the crimson veins as they struck. At first, their movements seemed chaotic, but as I focused, I noticed a pattern. Their attacks weren't random—they were predictable, almost mechanical.
Taking advantage of this, I darted toward the glowing crystals. One cyan, one purple, one pale jade, and one crimson gem—all as smooth and vibrant as polished glass.
"Are these enough?" I asked aloud, my voice trembling. "Because I'm running out of space to dodge here!"
[ Conditions met. ]
[ Initiating sequence… ]
[ Emergency protocol activated. ]
[ Bypassing user privileges… ]
[ Engraving mana crystals… ]
[ Engraving spell: Drench… ]
[ Engraving spell: Frost… ]
[ Engraving spell: Electricule… ]
[ Engraving spell: Shatter… ]
[ Engraving complete! ]