I bashed in his skull till the vibrations of the crunch echoed through my wrists, only then did I put down the rock and place my hand on his carcas. The needle painlessly extended out of my wrist and stuck into his lifeless body.

+0.1 Strength

A miniscule reward to mock and sneer at the desperation of the jester.

[5 hours ago was when it started]

Hero Of Light the game was called. Cheesy name, however, the marketing was anything but. The pictures trailers and demo for the game was pretty much everywhere. During the Superbowl, Fifa World cup, Cricket World Cup, any major E-sport tournament. Streamers, Youtubers would showcase the demo. It was all over buildings. The gave spread everywhere like the plague, Hell, You could lose everything you own at the casino check your pocket and still have a poster of the game left. In all honest the game itself, even the demo was incredibly well made. That being said, I never got the Demo I wanted to wait for the actual game release. In hindsight that was probably a mistake. If you didnt deep dive into the game, the concept at a glace was simple. You are a hero chosen by the shepard of light. Shepards being the entities that goverened the natural law of Anarcatia, the world of 'Hero Of Light'. You go on this large perilous adventure to eventually kill Esuriens the Wolf of Coda.

Exactly at 12 tonight was when the game was meant to release. I remember the time slowly ticking before the seconds hand finally landed on 12. Almost immediately the game was available for download and just as immediately the site crashed. Too many people had tried signing in at once. I wasnt in a desperate rush to buy the game I just wanted to play the game as soon as possible so I refreshed more times than I have the dignity to admit. Finally loading up the page. Before my cursor could even hover over the buy button..

White

For a split second my vision was fully engulfed in white. I was now stood up and outside.

I found myself wearing different clothes, a brown tunic? A small dagger at my waist and a gold pouch. Confused, panicked the whole package. I turnt to surveil my surroundings before the last thing I saw was brown club.

This time my vision was a nice shade of black.

That was it. My introduction to the world. No Tutorial, No Huge fairy or entity giving me greetings.

"Quick move his body over there"

I slowly regained consciousness but thinking it best, I continued to feign being knocked out as my back scraped against the dirt floor whilst being dragged.

"Why don't we just consume him now"

"We wouldnt get much he is a new summon"

"A new summon? I wonder how many other people were summoned to Anarcatia"

"Everyone that saw anything to do with the game will be summoned, I wouldnt be surprised if all 8 billion of us are here on this damned planet"

"How about we just kill him now and let Croc just absorb him when he gets back?"

"Use your head dumbass, do you think his harvest will stay long enough to absorb if we kill him now? what if Croc takes hours to get back besides hes tied up and we have alread hit 10 in some stats unless youre telling me youre scared of a new summon?"

"Yea yea I understand relax, I'm just glad we got the pre-order early release"

"If youre that grateful help me skin and bleed the deer"

"It doesnt get any less disgusting" the man groaned before following the other man somewhere.

Hearing the footsteps get further away I opened my eyes. I was taken and put in a cave my body thrown without much care and tied up next to a corner of the cave.

I was bound well,  thrashing my body seemed fruitless.

there was nothing of use in the cave I was thrown in, they had taken my dagger along with my pouch. I looked around for anything I could use then I saw it, my saving grace. A bit of rock, slightly bigger than a pebble. I crawled as desperately as I could, rolling on to my back to grabbing the pebble with my hands. I started to cut as aggressively and desperately as I could. i ignored the feeling of the rock digging into my palms as well as the rope.

"Well Well Well, They told me I'd find my gift in here, I didnt exepct it to be awake as well. This day just keeps getting better HA"

"UGH"

He kicked me away, waiting for me to stop skidding before he sat on my stomach.

"Well I dont swing that way but well why limit myself to normal standars ey?" He took out a dagger

"Wait- Wait WAIT" I'm not naive I knew my protests would fall on deaf ears as the man prepared to assault me in an irreedemable way.

"Shall we get started eh? what do you say? Go on thrash around a bit more, make the wait more exciting"

The man said as he let his eyes wander my chest

*Snap* 

The rope broke at the perfect time, any more uncomfortable statements I may have thrown up.

I Thrust The Sharp Rock

He pulled back albeit a moment too late, I missed his neck but the stone found itself in his cheek, startled he randomly flailed around his dagger, I pulled the stone out and stabbed at him again, hitting the side of his body, I couldnt pull out the rock, it was stuck in his side. He rolled off of me dropping his dagger. The adrenaline kept my mind is focus as I desperately flung myself to it, picking it up and turning around just in time to see him dash out of the entrance.

NO! DAMN DAMN DAMN

I knew what was coming, he would get his friends and my fate would end here. The adrenaline started to wear off as my hands violently shook. I could still feel the feeling of ripping into flesh. It didnt bother me mentally but I couldn't stop my hands from shaking. I clutched the dagger and ran out the entrance. Quickly looking around I saw a trail of blood droplets. The sun started to set as well. I quickly set off in the opposite direction to the blood. The cave was surrounded by what seemed like endless lengths of trees but I couldnt let that stop me. I ran and ran and when I felt like I couldnt run anymore I ran once again. Until my legs gave in to exhaustion. Falling rolling tumbling, my body racked up many minor scratches, the shoes this place had given me werent comfortable to sprint in for lengths of time and my feet were sore and bruised. It felt like even the smallest of sounds sent shivers down my spine. Anything felt like them coming around the corner.

I couldnt run anymore, I knew if I did I would face the worst outcome and pass out maybe to awake not in a cave but the afterlife this time. I looked around with what little light the moon offered I picked up a few sticks and stuck my dagger in the dirt. I needed to make camp for the night.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

AWOOOOOOOOOO

A wolf howl, great, I had nothing to hope for except that I wasnt being chased and the sounds of wild beasts would keep wilder beasts from coming after me.

I had my back to a tree desperately clutching my dagger with maybe a slight second to breathe I collected my thoughts. The Main Topics occupying my mind are parts of the conversation I heard. Anarcathia and Summoned. I dont have the luxury to think deeply at the moment. I know of the transported to game-world trope but actually being in it felt surreal. Thinking about what couldve also happened to me if I didnt get out when I did, didnt help the shivers that made its way down my spine. Another point...what did they mean  "absorb?" were they going to eat me? No that couldn't be it, they mentioned stats...maybe it was part of the game? Exp?

Right it's a game world.

[Inventory]

I thought in my mind, hoping to open my inventory or something...nothing

[Status]

[Profile]

[Stats]

I tried everything...nothing...until

[Attributes]

Strength 3 Agility 3.1 Constitution 4 Willpower 3

I needed to learn more about this game and I hate the fact I didnt actively look for spoilers or game guides. I looked down my attributes with nothing to compare them to apart from remembering the people mentioning having stats of 10. 3 times stronger tha-

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

A fist appeared through the middle of the status box as I just barely managed to tilt my head to the right straining my neck as I did it. The fist struck  the tree behind me sending bits of tree shrapnel into many different directions. I quickly unathletically rolled to the right trying to gain distance. The Attribute window disappeared as I thought about it and I could see him.

"A slipperly little prick" The man about 6ft 2 inches tall spoke. It was too dark to make out his features so his height reigning taller than me was all i could make out and well...that inhumane look where his face shouldve been.

We looked at eachother, he revelled in the fact he found me and I, in complete alert as to his next move. He looked at me, looked up into the sky and "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" Yelled.

I immediately knew what was going to happen...he was calling the others here.

*crunch*

A twig broke beneath my feet as I took a step back, he immediately refocused his gaze on me. Smiled and dashed. Fast! That was all i could think as I tumbled to the right again. As I stumbled to my feet I saw him charge at me again, I jumped and tumbled again. Turning to face him but with much less luck this time he struck so hard I could feel the the breath escape my lungs. Desperately struggling to force the air back into my body I saw him stomp down with the corner of my eye, I rolled to the side barely dodging a flurry of stomps.I kept rolling and kept stomping finding great joy in this sport.

"OHO! Careful now boy, You dont want your skill to flatten right??? ROLL QUICKER!" The man sadistically yelled.

I stopped rolling, I saw his leg get closer and closer before I did one last desperate roll to the side. Expecting to proceed to another stomp quickly the man quickly was overcome with surprise as his foot sunk further into the ground than before seemingly with less resistance and thats when it happened.

"AHHHHH GOD DAMN IT YOU SON OF A -"  His foot landed in the hole I had made earlier. Potruding from his feet were thick sharpened sticks. I quickly stood to my feet and swung the dagger with all my might. In a panic he dodged backwards causing me to miss. His foot still caught in the hole caused him to fall backwards. I fell on top of him, not allowing him a second longer as I stabbed deep into his chest. He grabbed my hands but I didnt give him the chance to retaliate as I stabbed once more to hide the fear the paranoia. I couldnt let him haunt me and if he had formed a ghost I had to stab through that as well I kept stabbing so that I couldnt have him threaten me ever again. He had long stopped moving and I had caused the knife to dull. I pressed my right hand agaisnt him to support myself up but before I could retract my hand a needle? shot out my hand and stuck into his body.

+1.5 Constitution

I could physically feel parts of my body squirm and move around as I become slightly less tired and in pain. The left side of my face suddenly became incredibly hot. Before flesh and blood fell in front of me.

"You disgusting low leveled scum" The pain soon followed, grabbing the dagger I floured away. Two men stood there, one of them held a sword whilst the other was slightly hunched over tightly clutching his stomach. The man with the sword that severed flesh from my cheek readied his balde again and swung it at me.

I quickly held the dagger above my head as his swords broke through it. The dagger did enough for me as because of it the cut that developed down my torso was shallow. I kicked up loose dirt with my feet as I turned and ran behind one of the trees. The man clearly alot angrier cleared his eyes whilst excessively cursing then proceeded to follow me around the tree. As he came around the tree I used the wooden spear I had made earlier and left here and thrusted at him with all the strength I could muster. It struck his shoulder and broke off as he twisted away. Yelling in pain he slashed at me, he was too far away and only cut through air. I kicked dirt at him again but this he was prepared as he immediately closed his eyes, punching forward. I haphazardly blocked with my right arm but his cold metal gauntlet dug into me. Shooting me across from him into another tree. Breath left me for the second time today as I was on the floor supported by only my arms gasping for air. The man had also seemingly regained his stance as the stick spear remnant still stuck in him. He walked towards me as I used a tree to get myself back up to my feet. He slashed his sword again much, MUCH slower this time but I could only dodge just as slowly as it left a deep cut down my arm. Not deep enough to be fatal but deep enough to hurt like hell. I once again readied to kick dirt as he immediately closed his eyes and punched out. This time however I didnt kick any dirt and instead  focused slowly on dodging his punch. His eyes were still closed as he punched easily missing as I grabbed the stick still embedded in his shoulder and pulled. Blood sprayed out as he yelled in pain. I stabbed into his leg with the stick causing him to kick out randomly. Once again I managed to dodge as he was now even slower. with only one leg for support against the ground I tackled him with all my might hoping for physics to come to my aid. As it did, he fell to the ground and fell hard. ripping the stick head out his leg I immediately thrusted it down aiming for his eye. I failed to do so as a club struck my forehead, immediately breaking on impact but also nearing causing me to faint as it felt as if my brain rattled cowardly in its cage. The man from earlier. I had completely ruled him out. I fell backwards and crawled away as far as I could turning back to see him check on his friend whilst helping him up. My body started to scream at me in agony as I scoured the jungle floor for anything I could use before my finger came to feel a cold and sharp object. I couldnt see well enough in the dark to find the handle as I gripped the cold blade, bloodying my hand. I miserably felt along the blade till I could find the handle not wasting a second, charging at the men. the one I had taken down had now gotten up albeit on one leg and leaning agaisnt  the other. I swung my sword, One dodged causing the man I stabbed in the leg to fall helplessly to the ground again. I slashed wildly again,  I felt the distinct feeling of cut flesh as I tried to lift my sword again. It was stuck. The sword I slashed cut into the neck of the one who fell but also cut into the ground. I didnt have the strength to pull it out anymore. This caused me to lose balanace as I crashed into the other man. Gripping his shirt and pulling him down to the ground with me. He thrashed around striking me with his fist. I didnt lose consciousness. Not this time, as I elbowed where I had injured him with a sharp rock earlier today. I recognised who it was when I saw him clutching his side.

"AHHHHHHH STOP UGH PLEASE WAIT WAI-" I felt around the ground with my right whilst pinning him down and strinking his wound with my left. I found a rock, big enough with my right. I brought it down on his face. His voice started to clog and drown in the sound of his blood.

"WYAT I CAN TSHEASH YOU ABUT THE TYUTORIYAL"

I brough the rock down again. He mightve given me good information but I couldnt let my logic guide me. I didnt have the level of sanity left for logical thought. I wasnt allowed it. If I was no longer in my detached delusion. I would simply. Perish.

"PLEASHE I NOW ABUT BETHER QUESHTS"

I brought down the rock again.

"I CYAN LEAD YU TEW ISHYANTI"

I brought the rock down again.

"PLEA-"

I brought the rock down again

"Ple-"

I brought the rock down again

I brought the rock down again

I brought the rock down again

I brought the rock down again

I brought the rock down again

I brought the rock down again

I brought the rock down again