My heart hammered against my ribcage, a relentless drumbeat syncing with the chaos engulfing me. The air was thick with snarls, roars, and the violent clash of steel. Surrounded by enemies, my sword became a blur, moving instinctively to block and strike, each motion a desperate fight for survival.

Nemo fell with a final, resounding thud, and I stood amidst the carnage, my breaths ragged and shallow. I could feel the subtle hum of Mana Manipulation working in the background, steadying my depleted energy just enough to keep me standing. The filter was not enough to keep up with my consumption. The ground beneath me was slick with blood, both mine and the Wendigos, making each step treacherous.

[ Mana: 15 / 130 ]

Barely anything left. The ambient mana that had once been my steady lifeline now felt like a distant memory. Each movement was a struggle, like dragging lead weights. My chest ached with each ragged breath, a sharp reminder of the broken ribs beneath the surface.

My mana reserves were critically low, a haunting reminder of the constant fight. My vision swam with exhaustion, and the edges of my consciousness threatened to fade.

Mana Manipulation Lvl 8 -> 9

Nemo II lunged at me, gnarled claws slashing from the side. I barely managed to block the attack, the impact jolting my arm with a force that nearly made me drop my weapon. My muscles screamed in protest as I staggered backward, struggling to maintain my balance. Half my body was slick with blood, my left arm nearly useless.

The stench of iron and sweat clung to my skin, my head throbbed with the effort to stay alert, and I could feel the cold fingers of panic wrapping around my mind.

I needed to escape. With my mana reserves critically low, every step felt like a fight against my own failing body. My focus narrowed to a single, desperate goal: running.

The battlefield blurred into a haze of movement and noise, sword flashing as I conserved what little was left for a final dash.

A fleeting moment of clarity revealed a gap in the encirclement. Seizing the opportunity, I slashed at the nearest Sevvy XIII—or maybe it was XIV— sending the creature reeling back. Another thrust and the monster downed, and I darted through the opening.

Of course, the Wendigos won't let their prey go, Octo VI claws whipped from the sides, the joints moving in a haphazard way, but my spatial perception had leveled up quite a lot and helped easily to parry the attack. After the experience of constant fighting, I was not foolish enough to entangle with the monster.

My feet pounded the ground, each step a lifeline pulling me further from the chaos. My left hand limped at my side, but the surging adrenaline made me feel almost invincible, and for a heartbeat, I allowed myself an exhilarating sense of triumph as I broke free. The cool air rushed past me, filling my lungs with a sharp, revitalizing chill.

I did it, I thought, as I cleared the encirclement and picked a random direction. For a brief moment, I felt freedom from the cursed quest. But the victory was short-lived. The exhilaration quickly faded, replaced by a gnawing dread as my spa—.

Suddenly, the wind whipped around me, a chilling contrast to the searing pain that suddenly spread across my chest. I stumbled, warm liquid trickling down my torso. My knees buckled, and I struggled to stay upright.

What’s happening? Panic surged as I looked down, seeing dark red blood soaking through my clothes, looking almost black in the dim blue mushroom light. The pain was intense, like fiery daggers tearing through my neck and chest. My vision blurred, strength waning. Each heartbeat sent a fresh wave of agony through my body, and I felt the darkness closing in.

I scanned my surroundings wildly, searching for the source of the attack. My mind, though clouded with agony, fought to focus. As I staggered, I caught sight of the creature that had struck me—a hulking, monstrous figure with icy eyes and a menacing grin.

[ Wendigo Lvl. 15 ]

The information was a brief flash, barely registering before the world around me turned dark. My body hit the ground, and the last thing I saw was the Wendigo's malevolent gaze.

❖ ❖ ❖

The sun's rays pierced my eyelids, waking me from a restless sleep. With a start, I jolted upright, heart racing as I tried to make sense of my surroundings. Instead of the rotten stench and sticky ground of battle, I saw the endless blue sky above. The chirping of birds replaced the clash of steel, and the gentle rustling of leaves soothed my frayed nerves.

"Is this heaven?" I muttered, rubbing my eyes. The last attack flashed in my memory, and I bolted upright, frantically searching for my sword. My eyes darted around, panic bubbling up as I feared the worst.

My eyes darted around until I spotted the steel sword lying a few feet away on the grass. Thank the gods, it's still here.

Relief washed over me as my hand gripped the familiar leather handle, the weight of the weapon grounding me. I sighed, a heavy breath releasing tension I didn't know I was holding.

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I checked my surroundings, noticing the dark forest loomed in the distance, its shadows deep and foreboding. Closer, the plains stretched out, dotted with wildflowers and occasional rock formations. The scene was eerily reminiscent of my recent experiences, almost as if I had dreamed it all. This place feels familiar...

"Was that all a dream?" A sense of déjà vu enveloped me, blurring the line between reality and memory. The sun's rays filtered through the open sky, casting a warm glow on my face. Get a grip, Nova. Focus. It must be the stress, I thought, opening my interface.

Name: Nova

Titles: Traveler, Heroic

Class: —

Level: 0

Status:

Stamina: 75 / 80

Health: 97 / 100

Mana: 128 / 130

Note: 100 is the usual standard for level 0.

Stats:

Strength: 6

Vitality: 5

Dexterity: 9

Constitution: 6

Spirit: 7

Mind: 5

General Skills:

Myriad Languages of the World ( Legendary ) Lvl 2

Identify ( Unique ) Lvl 6

Mana Manipulation Lvl 9

Spatial Perception ( Rare ) Lvl 10

Sword Mastery ( Uncommon ) Lvl 7

I nearly vomited blood as soon as I saw the results. That was fucking real? The memory that I had instinctively placed in a dark corner of my mind as a terrible dream sprang up. The nightmare experiences rushed back, real and horrifying.

My hand instinctively touched my neck, and I sighed with relief at the intact flesh. Taking stock of my body, I noticed that the blood and scars had left barely perceptible marks, fading fast. The aches and pains that had plagued me were gone, replaced by a surreal sense of normalcy. I curled the fingers of my left hand and found them working perfectly. How is this possible?

Still, the memory of that last slash lingered. It had been so fast. Who could fight a Lvl 15 monster as a Lvl 0? That dungeon professor is insane. I shivered, the realization sinking in— I had died.

The stranger’s words echoed in my mind— death is not permanent in the dungeon. Fuck this shit. This place is madness. It felt pretty permanent to me. It's almost trauma.

The weight of the realization pressed down on me, a reminder of the horrifying ordeal.

I need to find a way out of here.

Desperation clawed at me as I searched through my pants, my fingers fumbling against the fabric. My heart raced, pounding in my ears as I felt for the small, familiar shape.

When my fingers finally curled around the round coin, relief mixed with anxiety surged through me.

I drew it out, holding it up to the light. The green coin, almost camouflaged against the grassy ground below, glinted subtly, a promise of escape.

For a moment, I almost gave in to the urge to use it. The temptation was overwhelming; a simple twist and the coin would shatter, whisking me out of this death trap. My thumb brushed over its surface, feeling the cool metal against my skin.

The urge to escape tugged at me, but then a memory flashed through my mind— the street fight, my first experience in this world. Blood, sweat, and the sharp tang of fear. There were already people out there ready to kill me. They were a reminder of the consequences, the reality of this world.

My grip tightened around the coin, the metal pressing into my palm as I fought the urge. I traced the carvings with my eyes, letting their intricacy ground me. This coin was a lifeline, a final resort. It was an escape, but the world out there was also not safe.

Taking a deep breath, I let the memory of the street fight anchor me. I had survived then by relying on my wits, resilience, and a healthy dose of luck. I don't think it would help me survive a second time. And even if it did, I don't think I would be able to sleep at night.

Slowly, I lowered the coin, tucking it back into my pocket. Not yet. I have to be smart about this.

But I couldn't shake the memory of that fight, the desperation and determination it had instilled in me. I needed to focus, to plan. I opened the Quest screen, the familiar interface blinking to life before my eyes.

2nd Quest — The Trial of Skills

Survive, Thrive, Kill.

At least one kill is required to move to the third day. The Quest will update with a suitable monster for you to improve your skills.

Ends in 07:45:12 Minutes.

Tokens Secured: 1

Kills: 25

The first thing I noticed was the missing token, and it didn’t take long to guess why. Must’ve been because I died.

Looking at the kill count, I felt a vindictive sense of exhilaration well up inside me. Twenty-five kills. I clenched my fists, a grin spreading across my face. Damn those monsters.

But then I paused, the grin fading. That rush of excitement felt out of place. Every kill was a battle won, sure, but what was the real cost? I stared at my hands, imagining the invisible stains of each fight, the experience of combat. Was I losing a part of myself every time I took down a monster?

Was this the personal crisis I'd read about in so many stories? The thought of descending a dark path wasn’t so amusing now, a bitter laugh escaping my lips.

While killing monsters is good, I don't plan to let it define my feelings.

For a whole minute, I was deep in thought, but even after thinking about it, its not like my feeling changed. The more I thought about it, the more my head spun. The unease just wouldn’t go away. Finally, I let out a sigh and shook my head, a wry smile tugging at my lips. Ten days in this new world and I need a vacation.

Instead of having an existential crisis, I decided to screw it all and take a nap. I’d done enough to earn that skill book and the gold coins. And if it wasn’t enough? Well, the Vice Chancellor could keep them for all I cared.