As I fell, my body smashed into the rough wall of the pit. Pain shot through my side as I desperately tried to find a hold, my fingers scraping against the unforgiving stone. The pit was slanted, which slowed my descent somewhat due to the friction against the walls, but I still felt the constant threat of the jagged spikes waiting below.

My heart pounded as I took out the medallion from my pocket, cursing Professor Alaric for this twisted quest. Why had I joined this madness at all? Just as I was about to snap the medallion and escape, something tightened around my waist.

I looked down to see black ropes coiling around me, halting my momentum. The ropes were coarse and sturdy, biting into my skin but offering a lifeline I desperately needed.

Twenty feet below me, the sharp points of the jagged spikes loomed ominously. I stared down at them, cursing the bastard who had devised this torturous test for students. Crazy professor. How could anyone be so twisted?

I looked up and saw it was the stranger from earlier, with one end of the rope digging into his arms as he kept it taut. His brow was furrowed in concentration, and his muscles strained visibly under his shirt as he worked to hoist me up.

Our eyes met briefly, his breezy blue eyes now steely with focus. "If you don't want to get hurt, hurry up and pull yourself up!" the stranger snapped, sounding impatient.

Scrambling, I tried to anchor myself on the rocky cliff. My scraped fingers throbbed from the earlier fall, each movement sending jolts of pain through my hands. Clenching my teeth, I fought to gain traction. My leg trembled as I managed to find a small outcropping to support myself, stabilizing just as the stranger began to slowly pull me up.

With his help, I managed to hoist myself up, every muscle in my body protesting from the strain. Once on solid ground, I collapsed, gasping for breath, my heart still racing from the close call. The adrenaline coursed through my veins, leaving me shaky and disoriented.

The ropes uncoiled from my waist, the tension easing as I took a deep breath. I watched in fascination as they slithered like a snake, coiling back around the stranger before disappearing with a puff, leaving no trace of their existence. Spatial storage, but I was too winded to dwell on it.

As I lay there, trying to collect myself, I glanced up at the stranger. His expression was unreadable, a mix of irritation and something else I couldn't quite place. "Thank you," I managed to say, my voice still shaky.

He scoffed, a hint of disdain in his voice. "If you're so unprepared, just crack the medallion and leave the competition. Don't sell yourself short."

The words stung, but there was a harsh truth to them. I was out of my depth, and it showed. I wondered why he had helped me if he had such derision for me. Wouldn't it have been better to just let me get skewered? Though I didn't say it aloud, the question lingered in my mind.

The stranger flexed his fingers, shaking off the strain from holding my weight. His shirt sleeves were crumpled from the exertion, and he adjusted them with a precise tug, brushing off some dust that had settled during the struggle. He gave me a derisive look, then straightened his posture and turned to leave.

"Wait! Why did you help me?" The words escaped me while I was trying to understand the reason for the help.

The stranger paused mid-step, looking back at me with annoyance. "What an idiot. It has nothing to do with you."

For a moment, my mind stopped, and I realized that I was too focused on myself. Yeah, saving doesn't have anything to do with me. Even I would help someone if I could, but I didn't think it was the main reason.

He could have let me get skewered lightly enough to make me use the green medallion. After all, this is a competition, and the fewer competitors there are, the more it would benefit the remaining ones.

So I asked again, "But why?"

His gaze met mine for a brief moment. "I just didn't want to see you get skewered if I could help with that. Simple as that." Then he turned back.

I decided not to push further. I didn't know the stranger's motive, but for some reason, his tone was different when he mentioned the trap. It was low and somber, hiding some hint of regret.

I stayed there, trying to catch my breath. My mind raced, replaying the past few minutes.

I thought about the sapphire engraved golden token. I reached into my pocket, feeling the cool metal of the token and medallion against my fingertips. With a deep breath, I pulled them out. After a moment's consideration, I stowed the medallion back in my pocket and, with a flick of my wrist, tossed the token towards him.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

The token hit his back with a soft thud. He spun around instantly, his fists clenched, muscles tensing as if ready for a fight. "Hey, what the—" he started to shout, but his voice trailed off abruptly when his eyes landed on the golden token lying on the ground between us. I watched as they widened in surprise.

He bent down and picked it up, turning it over in his hand as he examined the token. "Is this... a token?" His tone was incredulous as his fingers tightened around it.

"That's repayment for saving me," I said, standing up straighter and brushing the dirt off my chest, getting my breathing under control. "Thank you."

The stranger's brow furrowed as he looked at the token, then back at me. "Who gives away a token just like that? It's not like you would have died from the fall."

What the hell is he talking about? I peered over the edge at the dizzying drop below, my heart skipping a beat at the sheer height. "How the hell wouldn't I die from falling?" I asked, incredulous.

The stranger squinted at me, his gaze piercing and slightly annoyed. "The hell you are talking about? You don't even know the basic rules?"

When did that crazy professor explain any rules? I shook my head quickly, denying it. "No one told me any rules."

He looked more intently at me, his blue eyes narrowing as he took in the details of my appearance. His eyes settled on the place where my black obsidian armband was hidden beneath my shirt sleeve. Then, realization dawned on his face, and he clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Tsk. You're Obsidian."

It was not a surprise that he guessed my identity, but there was no other way to get some answers. "Yeah," I admitted while rubbing my neck. Answers were worth the risk, even if it meant exposing myself.

"I see. No matter. These wild f—" The stranger muttered something that I wasn't able to hear clearly but finally said after a moment of contemplation. "Dying in the Academy's Dungeon isn't permanent. Unless a professor says otherwise."

"What! How is that possible?" I exclaimed, shocked. What? WHAT! The hell!! Dying is not permanent? The concept was mind-boggling. My mind raced, reeling from the revelation. The fear of death had been so real, so visceral. Now it seemed almost laughable in its misplaced intensity. Was this why everyone seemed so fearless?

My mind churned with thoughts. The strength of Sapphire Academy was more than I thought. A training dungeon with unlimited spawns. The skills involved in controlling that must be on another stage. I controlled my racing mind as I thought about the implications.

"Why would I know the specifics? It's advanced magic. Beyond the hundred-level mark." He looked down at the token for a moment. "Here, take this…" He tossed the token back to me with a casual flick, and I caught it, the weight of it similar in my palm.

"I don't need charity from you. I'll find my own soon enough. Besides, you don't look like you could find another one after this," he said, turning on his heel and striding away.

I sighed as I watched him go, feeling the cool breeze against my skin, the taste of earth and sweat still fresh in my mouth. The reason for the rescue was a mystery, but I still owed him. That was my chance to repay the favor, but it looked like I had to carry it forward.

❖ ❖ ❖

Hours passed, and I still hadn't found a single golden token. I studied the quest details again while munching on a crusty bread roll, but the quest offered no hints. After finishing my meal, I stood up from the boulder and decided to keep moving. The hill occasionally came into view, but it still seemed far away.

There was nothing else to do, and thankfully, I hadn't encountered anyone. But my mind raced with new plans. If dying wasn't permanent, what did that mean for my strategy, my caution? Was I overthinking everything? But then again, what about the pain, the trauma?

Not wanting to take any chances, I smoothly drew my steel blade, the handle vibrating subtly as the blade scraped against its sheath. I felt quite proud to have drawn it so smoothly. A week ago, I would have damaged the edge, but the training with the glass sword had really paid off.

With a cautious glance around, I stepped forward, each movement careful, my boots crunching softly on the forest floor.

The air smelled of damp earth and wood, mingled with the faint scent of decaying leaves. My grip tightened on the hilt of my sword, the leather-bound handle slick with sweat. I was deep in the forest, towering trees surrounding me, their canopies forming a dense, shadowy roof.

Hunting for tokens, I wasn't sure where to look until I came upon a small spring of water with a huge pig rolling around its muddy banks.

A chill ran down my spine as I approached stealthily. Each step felt like a thunderclap in the silence, and I winced at every sound I made as I crept closer. The pig's massive body, covered in coarse, bristling hair, looked more monstrous up close. Especially the seven-inch tusks it was sporting.

It was too far away for me to see clearly, but given how humans could level in this crazy world, I didn't expect the wildlife to be any different.

For a moment, I debated whether to go through with this or not. Just as I was about to retreat, something shiny caught my eye on the pig's body. I squinted, trying to make it out, and realized it was the same golden token I was hunting for. Damn it, of course, it had to be on a monster like this.

[ Hell Pig Lvl. 5 ]

My heart sank. This beast was five levels above me. Should I face it or run?

But there was no time left. The search for these tokens was already far more challenging than I'd anticipated. The subsequent quests wouldn't get any easier, so facing a single enemy now was good practice. I had to do this.

The hell pig perked up, having finally noticed my presence, and I quickly raised my sword to chest level.

The beast lifted its massive head, tusks glistening ominously in the faint light. Then, it heaved its shoulders, muscles rippling under its coarse skin as it struggled to its feet. Finally, its sturdy legs emerged from the mire, hooves sinking briefly into the soft ground before finding purchase.

I watched as the hell pig almost reached chest-high. The sight of its bulk and the sharpness of its tusks made my mouth go dry as I gulped. Maybe I had chewed more than I could handle.