Ok, ok… just… breathe in deeeeeeeply… aaaand…. Ooouuutttttt…

Yep. Now, I am fine. After having a nice, 20 minute long panic attack, not even 3 steps out the door. I haven’t even seen the Abyssal Hell I know is coming. But, it’s all fine now. This is fine. In fact, out of all the choices I could have made, being able to see is probably the most important. No matter what kind of cheat or abuse I could have pulled off with a well-planned once-in-a-lifetime communication boon, or a 100 AP mega subclass right from the start, if I couldn’t see, I would definitely die before I can use any of it! SO I REALLY DID MAKE THE BEST CHOICE THERE WAS TO MAKE!

*deception check successful!*

I believe it too.

“So…. What do I do now?”

Even with a slight muttering, now that I have calmed down, I am able to notice that my voice definitely seems to carry down the tunnel and echoes.

Best I try and consciously hold back on that habit as much as I can, don’t want anything hearing me just yet…

Now, to take stock of my surroundings with my handy dandy new dark vision!

…

I already miss color TV. I could hardly stand watching the old Black and White TV flicks from the olden days, and now… here I am. Living them. Thankfully, people never had to suffer living their lives seeing everything only as a big wall of text! Now THAT would be pretty absurd!

…

Ok. Let’s go. Focus.

*concentration check successful!*

Amongst the various scattered remnants in this end of the tunnel, which is notably absent of any bones, I can spy several ancient shattered weapons and heavily damage pieces of armor. I even found a heavily torn backpack caught on a stalagmite… probably the only reason some of its contents are still intact.

Inside it were two ancient vials, with a rather questionable looking red and brown mixture inside them.

Upon closer inspection… I even manage to get a small blue window to pop-up!

*medicine check successful*

Ancient potion. It looks like it may have started to spoil with age, although it will probably still heal you. Probably. Would not recommend consuming it.

No shit Sherlock.

For something to damage this equipment that much and that extensively in its prime… even if I tried to fix it up somehow, I doubt it would be of any use to me. Actually, considering my health and level… it’s safe to assume EVERYTHING here can kill me without batting an eye. Just imagine you are a starting level 1 character in the final raid dungeons of World of Warriorcraft! How would you handle it?

*panic intensifies*

No, no… uhhh…. A level 1 fighting Archtempered Nergi-something-or-other in that one monster hunting game!

*PANIC FURTHER INTENSIFIES*

OBVIOUSLY WRONG, THIS HAS GOT TO BE A SOULS GAME! BROKEN SWORDS NEARBY TO USE… MAY AS WELL BE PRACTICALLY NAKED! THE AGILITY RUN CAN SURVIVE EVERYTHING! JUST BACKSTAB TO VICTORY!

I have never been agile or coordinated enough to pull off a naked agility run in a souls game. Those invaders are incomprehensible nightmares to me. There is a reason I only ever play casters in RPGs. At least half the time, in a 1v1, I could win a duel with extreme tactics!

Final decision: I will fight nothing and run away the moment I sense danger. While the sheer concept of an overpowered level 1 magically dominating everything through willpower and broken skills is a fun time-sink, reality would certainly not be anywhere NEAR that forgiving.

Now… since I don’t actually have enough information to make a coherent escape plan…

*concentration check failed!*

*willpower check failed!*

“Heh… heheehehe…… heheheehehehehee!”

I am definitely going to die.

*gaming check activated*

*unknown modifier impacting check*

*gaming check activated*

*unknown modifier impacting check*

*gaming check activated*

*results… uncertain*

Let the experimentation begin!!!

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

The first thing I tried, after my mind started to break while attempting to reason my way out of this place, was to take the hilt of one of the broken sword and attempt to use it to hew away at the wall!

I could be one of those madmen who only dig to victory! Why face the horrors of a dungeon when you can skip it?

DURABILITY CHECK FAILED. CLASS ‘S’ OR GREATER MINING EQUIPMENT WITH RANK ‘S’ STRENGTH REQUIRED TO EXCAVATE CLASS ‘S’ DUNGEON ROCK.

Of course.

NEXT TEST!

This one is simple. Let’s play with my skills and figure out what they actually mean!

First… I picked a stalagmite I *knew* I could jump over. Then, I jumped over it.

*Hup!*

*Jump check successful.*

Over it easy enough! Not a pretty jump… but hey! I’m no pro athlete, okay?!

Next, one I knew I couldn’t…

It took me a minute to find one, but eventually I did towards the end of the tunnel at a nice T intersection. Now at a crossroads, it is always a good idea to look both ways before crossing the street! The same rules should definitely apply to cross-tunnels in a dungeon!

*Wisdom check miraculously passed!*

The gods are in awe. You managed a good idea even through flawed logic!

…

*Jump check failed.*

*crunch!*

Now, a wiser man would have told you that trying to jump over stalagmites would be a bad idea, especially as a man. While the theory behind the test is sound… the difference between the idea and the wisdom of it is experience.

My face proceeded to contort into all kinds of unreasonable shapes, as I desperately tried to hold in a pathetic whimper.

*Willpower check successful*

Critical Hit! You have taken one point of damage. The Gods are beginning to wonder if you will kill yourself before the monsters get a chance to kill you.

*Willpower check failed*

“FUCK YOU! I DON’T EVEN KNOW THE EXTENT OF WHAT RULES AFFECT THIS PLACE OR HOW THEY WORK! WHAT ELSE DO YOU WANT FROM ME?!? AND WHATS WITH ALL THESE CHECKS?!? YOU THINK I NEED TO SEE THE OBVIOUS IN MY FACE ALL THE TIME?!”

Yup. I lost my temper. I mean… wouldn’t you?

…

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“GROOOOAR!”

A nice, horrible roar came down from the right hallway. Something unpleasant certainly heard me, and it was definitely coming my way.

…

…

The Gods regret sassing you. They are greatly saddened to lose their first challenger in over a millennium, not to mention not having anyone to talk to again. They would greatly appreciate it if you didn’t die.

“Fuck. You.”

I mean, you did this to yourself. You could have gone literally anywhere in the world, and you picked here. I even pitied you enough and gave you a way out. Do you have any idea how much 1 “C” is worth to a god? Not to mention the upfront cost of subsidizing your trip to Temeria. It is a rather pricey world to go to. I mean, I still have plenty left, so watching you throw it away so carelessly was quite hilarious. But I am not giving you more.

…

…

…

…

I don’t know if it was my twitching lips or my eyes beginning to roll back in to my head, but it seems I prompted another very important response.

You might want to run now.

“GROOOOAR!”

It was certainly much louder and getting closer much faster.

ABSOLUTELY RIGHT I DO.

I bolted down the left tunnel as fast as my legs could carry me.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

*pitter patter pitter patter*

*huff huff...* *hueck!*

*pitter patter pitter patter*

With the tunnel echoing, full of my groans and suffering, as well as the sounds of rapidly approaching paws… it was getting rather hard for me to tell how close whatever it was that was following me.

*AWOOOOOOO*

Ah… a chorus of howls straight ahead from me! And rather close too.

I knew it, I am dead. I am sooooo dead!

Yup. I definitely had nowhere to go. A horrible monster of some kind behind me. A pack of… dungeon… wolves? Ahead of me? At the end of the day… morning? Night? Something was going to eat me. Trapped. Huffing and puffing along caught between death and death. The sudden tunnel opening to my right would definitely do me no good.

Uhhhh… wait….

It takes my exhausted brain a moment to click.

Are the monsters friendly with each other?

Welp, if they were, I was dead anyways. If not… then maybe…

I would turn right a little too sharply.

*Endurance check failed!*

*swoosh*

*pitter patter*

With a swift and audible *THUD*, my legs gave way and I collapsed onto the cave floor. From my wonderful new viewing angle, I got to see a nice, fuzzy maw filled with razor sharp teeth fly through the air where my neck used to be! Actually, from my angle I could also see its cute, fuzzy paws, with razor sharp claws protruding from its adorable little foot pads.

In fact, if it wasn’t for the long, fuzzy streamers waving around off its head, I would almost think it was just a really, really big cat!

And, I am its dinner!

With absolute grace, it landed on the far side of me. Conveniently on the side where the howls came from.

At that moment, I could hear a rush of feet coming down the tunnel.

A wolf pack. Even if I run, I am done. There is no way a single cat will stop or satisfy them! Even if just one lone wolf breaks off… god! They are massive! I will be ripped to shreds!

Eh? Why isn’t it… running?

In a moment of despair, I couldn’t motivate myself to try and flee again. Instead, I had to opportunity to watch a scene straight out of a horror anime. In person. In the splash zone.

The fluffy tendrils waving around from the cats head reacted in a flurry to wolves’ presence!

With a flick, it shredded one wolf in half, blood splattering across the wall.

The next flick caught a wolf on its broadside, curved, then crushed it in to the ceiling, shattering a chunk of the ‘S’ Class rock with its force!

Slowly but surely, as the cat deftly dodged the wolves assault, it began to glow a brighter and brighter blue, illuminating the cavern and restoring color for my vision!

I couldn’t help but watch, mesmerized by this scene before me!

Fortunately, I was snapped back to reality with a wet *THUNK*. A nice, hefty chunk of a wolf leg flew fast and hard in to my face.

You have taken two points of damage and are now half dead. You might want to take a rest soon.

Yup. Nearly killed by being in the splash zone.

I am OUTTA HERE!

My automatic Koala response clung on to the chunk of wolf leg for dear life, while I scrambled to go down the tunnel to my right. Not a moment too soon, actually. Because a minute later, even as far as I could run down the new tunnel, it was brightly illuminated by a bright flash, swiftly followed by the familiar loud and deafening *CLAP* of lightning going off far too close to you.

Tears and snot were streaming off my face again.

FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCKKKKKKKK THISSSSSSSSSS!!!!!

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

I am not sure how far I ran, or even how large this place is… or even why I did not encounter any other creatures so far!

In fact, the sheer emptiness and silence made it even worse!

Sniveling, crying, trying to sneak and peek around every corner… imagined monsters and death everywhere!

If I had one thing, one heavenly thing to be thankful for… it is that I had the amazing and infinite good sense to use the restrooms back at the station! Why? Because, in my fright, I only barely piddled myself. Imagine if the tank was full?

Yes. I am thankful for the little things. My infinite genius knows no bounds!

You definitely did not predict this far ahead.

…

…

…

Don’t spoil my good time.

I told you not to die, and you didn’t. You should thank me for my advice.

…

…

…

So, I continued down the tunnel. Slowly but surely, it also started getting a bit more developed, with support struts and other signs of intelligent life. Or, I would say intelligent, if they WEREN’T CRISS CROSSING MY PATH AND MAKING ME CLAMBER AROUND THEM!

Maybe I should be on guard for traps?

*click*

Are you cursed? I am certain *I* didn’t curse you.

Wait… you didn’t mess with my luck stat?

It was like that already when you first sat down to play cards with me.

Right.

And now, I can hear the ominous sound of something huge… rolling… towards me. From the way I came.

I bet that it is one of those stereotypical giant rolling ball traps, isn’t it?

Yup.

By now, talking to the strange blue pop-up windows was feeling less and less weird.

So was the gradually worsening expressions of horror on my face. I wouldn’t be surprised if by the end of all this, my face wouldn’t be permanently affixed to look like a ridiculous Kabuki mask.

With my endurance being what it is, I would hardly even call what I was doing running anymore.

*click*

I just tripped another trap. Literally, and metaphorically. As my foot sunk in to the pressure plate, it caught on the edge, causing me to stumble quite inelegantly.

Ah… an arrow trap… classic…

Thankfully, it was very old, so most of the arrows in the now obvious arrow holes didn’t launch. Most of the ones that did… luckily… plunked straight in to the giant wolfs leg!

You have taken 1 point of scratching damage. You are nearly dead and need to rest.

You have run out of stamina and need to short rest.

Wait… if it isn’t damage or a check it doesn’t show up as a notification? HOW IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MAKE SENSE?!?

It was mainly supposed to be more of a reference anyways. People would be upset if I spammed them with too many notifications. So far you are the only one complaining about it.

…

…

…

*CRASH*

Yup. The boulder is definitely close now. It is starting to roll right through all those useless support beams.

…

Wait. Looking at the floor… I actually managed to spy a mouse scurrying in my direction.

But… why??? Can’t it tell the boulder is heading this way?

I am too exhausted to run any more. Maybe… this mouse knows something I don’t?

With a quick dart to the side, it disappears in to one of the walls.

…

…

Uhhh… what?!

I stumble my way as quickly as I can to the wall the mouse disappeared in to, the crashing of the boulder getting really painfully close. I have mere seconds. MERE SECONDS I TELL YOU!

To spy… a mouse hole in the wall.

*Willpower check failed*

“Heeeee….. ha…. Hahaha…. AHHAHAHAHAAH!”

I knew it. I am dead.

I lean fully against the wall, having completely given up once more…

For the wall to push inwards as I fell into a small room. The boulder itself, just barely missing me.

Right… if it was stone, how could there be a mouse hole?! This is ‘S’ Class rock! Only a monster could break that, not a mouse!

The room was rather small, and somewhat cozy. It had one small stone bench in the middle, with a stone basin atop a pedestal next to it. A slow drip of water from the ceiling kept the basin full, with a small trickle reaching the floor.

Actually, it’s probably what helped keep the mouse going in here.

As inviting as it is to just give up right now… I should probably close up that door again.

Slowly, painfully… I dragged myself back up and pushed the hidden door closed.

Something I am more than thankful to have done, especially in a dungeon hell! Why? That’s simple, because not too long after, I could hear the pitter patter of that cat monsters feet running down the freshly cleared hallway.

Damn persistent bastard… still… I can’t shake the feeling it looked familiar…

*ding*

You identified the monster as a “Couatl”, a terrifying cat-like monster with a strong affinity for lightning.

The little mouse I followed was quivering in the corner in fear. I stood motionless, listening to the sound approach, and then slowly fade away.

That was a close one. I stress-ate all my popcorn.

Since when did you get popcorn? I never saw you buy or do anything…

Funny enough, I already have a new challenger to my game after you left. An absolutely uninteresting, unskilled and uninspired fellow who just watched a movie about hidden karate masters. That is all he is talking to me about. But, he gave me his popcorn.

Don’t. Even. Think about sending him here.

… I wasn’t….

Unless….

Unless?!?

You are fine with me using him as bait? I mean, he wouldn’t serve any other better purpose.

You are right. I definitely shouldn’t send him there. Still… over a millennia of waiting… and suddenly I get two players so close together… such a shame!

…

No.

Damn.

I went ahead and sat on the bench. To top off being physically exhausted, near death, emotionally drained, and now mentally exhausted… my stomach began to groan.

You are now starving. You should eat to regain stamina.

*Squeak!*

I look to my side, and the mouse has decided to no longer cower near the corner of the room. Instead, he is eyeing my wolf leg quite enviously. Maybe even… a little aggressively…

Raw meat… it will probably be awful, but there is certainly enough to share... good thing I took that broken sword with me.

*ding*

Your level of trust with the “End” Mouse had increased. You can now see some of its stats.

…..

“WHAT. THE. FU--.”

Name: “End” Mouse

Level: 243

???

Health: 243/243

Mana: 0/0

Stamina: 243/243

Strength: S

Endurance: S

Willpower: S

Wisdom: S

Agility: S

Constitution: S

Luck: S

Intellect: S

The “End” Mouse. The weakest monster in the Dungeon of the End. A scavenger which cleans up the little remnants of blood and gore in the hard to reach places that are occasionally left over by the much stronger monsters. It doesn't know how you managed to get a full wolf leg, but it is excited to no longer be on the bottom of the food chain and looks forward to bullying you for more food.