Once again, I found myself in the limbo, staring at the specter challenge prompt. The pain was gone, I was calm, and I had to start all over again.
I sat up cross-legged, making sense of my thoughts. In hindsight, investing more stats into Risk was the most idiotic thing to do, but I didn't want to waste those free points. The only way I'd ever be able to reap the Risk attribute was if I leveled up. Hell, just leveling up once would be enough to improve my stats.
An idea began to form in my head. It wasn't the most well-thought out plan, nor was it logical, but since I was seemingly trapped in this world, it was the only one that made sense.
First, considering the fact that I could die, but not in the permanent way, this gave me a little bit of space to test out anything I thought of. Second, since Risk was the only permanent stat, I decided to save investing my points unless I was on the verge of death, to which I'd put them towards that attribute. I figured it'd mitigate the pain sensitivity somewhat while also allowing me to shift strategies should I find the opportunity to level up. Finally, with these two in mind, I ended up throwing caution to the side, since the floors were unpredictable.
I knew the drawbacks to this strategy was that the pain I felt each death would grow more intense, but having come this far, I couldn't turn back even if I wanted to. Not to mention there wasn't a guaranteed chance of me being able to find myself in a situation that would help me reach level 2 without any trouble.
[Are you going to choose something?]
I blinked at the message screen. The specter challenge prompt was still hovering before me, accompanied by the new message. It seemed like the system was growing impatient.
"Why the rush?" I grumbled, hitting No on the challenge screen. Transported back to the corridor, I fought the urge to vomit, regaining my bearings.
With my new plan in mind, I turned to the three weapon orbs, lowering my expectations.
[Weapon Orb 1: Longsword]
[Weapon Orb 2: Dagger]
[Weapon Orb 3: Staff]
"Fuck it." I chose the Longsword, since a dagger was too pitiful and I had no magic for a staff to be useful.
[Longsword]
[Damage: 20]
[Traits: None]
[Description: A standard blade, longer than normal.]
I walked down the corridor, feeling much bolder than the previous runs. Even with the unnatural sounds all around me, I was determined to keep trying over and over again until I got the opportunity to level up. I just wasn't looking forward to dying all the time.
[Name: Skeletal Mage | Level 1]
[Health: 10 | Strength: 5]
[Speed: 1 | Magic: 20]
I swore loudly as I faced the rattling skeleton. Though it wasn't very durable, its Magic stat was nothing to scoff at. It dodged my first few swings, laughing maniacally as it did so. The sounds of its bones clashing together grated on my ears, making me want to claw them out.
Instead, it managed to shoot out beams of darkness that pierced my body, causing me to drop my weapon. Involuntarily screaming again, I added my stat points to Risk, bringing it up to a total of 20 before my vision went dark.
[You have added 5 points into Risk.]
[You have died.]
[You have added 5 points into Risk.]
[You have died.]
[You have added 5 points into Risk.]
[You have died.]
[...]
I began to lose track of how many times I died, the pain growing more intense with each death, but I refused to give up. Just before each time I died, I invested more points into Risk. The skeletons and the monsters seemed to laugh at my attempts, taunting me as they sent me back to the starting room, my body aching from the punishment it had endured. At one point, I no longer cared what weapon I chose, picking one at random and running full-speed down the corridors.
Monstrous creatures, poisonous traps, undead, and even a serpentine dragon at one point. The corridor seemed to laugh at my suffering as I continued to die, time after time. My body felt like it was on fire, my lungs burning from the effort of each breath. But I refused to give up. With every death, I became more determined to make it out alive.
[Are you crazy?]
A new system message popped up in front of me. I had lost count of how many runs I attempted, slowly becoming used to the pain.
"What are you talking about?" I scowled at the screen.
[Why are you committing suicide? Don't you want to get out of here?]
"If you're the system of this place, shouldn't you have seen what I've been going through? How's anyone supposed to get out of here?"
[If you had taken the tutorial, maybe it would have helped.]
I smiled dryly. "Would it tell me anything I didn't already know from 'Last Stand'?"
[...How do you know the name of this place?]
"Huh," I narrowed my eyes at the screen. "You telling me you also know what 'Last Stand' is? I thought it was just a game. Isn't this place it?"
The system seemed to pause for a moment before continuing.
[Last Stand is not a game, Player Luquier Vaunt. It is an environment to help foster the growth of Players such as yourself.]
"I have a lot of questions that I assume you can't answer, or can only do so after I get out of here or something?" I reached out, grabbing a random weapon from the choices before me. Sweet, it was another Beginner's Gun.
[That is correct, Player.]
"So, circling back," I cocked the gun and ran forward. "Does the tutorial tell me anything new besides what I know now?"
[...]
[It does not.]
"Does it give me any rewards for finishing the tutorial?" I leaped over the weighted tiles, having learned what they looked like.
[It... does not.]
"Then, I hope you're not offended, but that's why I didn't go through the tutorial. Why bother going through the same thing I did in my world?"
I turned a corner, and there it was. The exit. I could see it glowing faintly in the distance, promising freedom and escape. But I knew better than to rush in. I surveyed the area, taking a deep breath to steady my nerves.
[I thought... the tutorial would help you, Player. That is what the other Admins did for their towers.]
"Wait... Admins? Towers? I'm not the only one going through this shit?" I cautiously crept forward, taking care to step around the weighted tiles. "And why does it sound like you have your own personality? I'm just spit-balling here, but it definitely feels like you're a sentient being rather than an AI system."
[That... cannot be answered right now.]
"Figures."
The exit grew closer, beckoning me with its promise of freedom. I readied my gun, taking a deep breath before racing towards the exit. As I drew near, I noticed a strange symbol etched into the floor, glowing brightly beneath my feet.
"Motherfucker."
[You have added 5 points into Risk.]
The symbol exploded in a shower of green light, mercifully killing me in one go.
----------------------------------------
[Why is this the path you have chosen?]
I stared up at the message hovering alongside the specter challenge prompt. I sighed as I sat up, stretching my body.
"I've played countless rogue-like games, and the best strategy I've found was to embrace the mechanics of death. In those types of games, it's almost impossible for someone to beat it without dying once. It's a part of how it works."
This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.
[But if you were to approach things cautiously or invest your points into something substantial, you would be able to adopt a different path.]
"Yeah, but the only problem is, that only works in video games. On the chance that this is really happening to me and not a fucked-up dream, I'm limited by my human body. Those characters I play can do all sorts of superhuman stuff, while I'm just... pathetic. You throw in the fact that every run I do is completely random, and there's no sense in structuring a plan like that."
[Is it worth it to suffer the way you have?]
"No, not at all," I grimaced, standing up in the darkness. "But what else can I do? I just have to hope I get lucky in one of these runs."
I hit the No button, getting transported back to the corridor. The nausea barely registered in my mind as I glanced at the three weapons orbs, not really expecting anything.
"Why do you keep trying to talk me out of it, anyway?" I muttered to myself. "It's not like you're the one in this shitty situation."
[That... cannot be answered right now, either.]
"Whatever," I sighed, viewing what the orbs had to offer. To my surprise, they were now a brilliant shade of blue instead of the dull tone I was used to.
[Congratulations! You have earned the achievement: 'Even Death Can't Stop Me!']
"What the fuck?" I muttered as I stared at the message. I tapped it hesitantly, bringing up a description box.
[Achievement: Even Death Can't Stop Me!]
[Acquired by dying at least 300 times.]
[Description: Upon resurrection, gain something useful. Halves all pain sensitivity. Reduces mental shock from death by percentage in proportion to times died.]
[Number of Deaths: 300 | Reduction: 30%]
"Holy shit. I died 300 times?" I muttered, unable to believe it. A strange sense of accomplishment washed over me, followed by a twinge of unease. "Wait... halves all pain sensitivity? I could've used that in the beginning of all this. And what the hell does 'gain something useful' mean?"
I cleared the screens and glanced back at the three shining weapon orbs. My eyes widened at their names.
[Weapon Orb 1: The Black Rose]
[Weapon Orb 2: The Silver Serpent]
[Weapon Orb 3: The Bloodstone]
Okay... they sounded a little edgy, but strong. I raked my eyes over each weapon, surprised to find that I could now see a brief description for them.
[Weapon Orb 1: The Black Rose]
[The Black Rose is a twisted and corrupted weapon, its petals etched with dark runes. Despite its unsettling appearance, it is a fearsome close-quarters combat weapon, capable of dealing immense damage in a short amount of time.]
[Weapon Orb 2: The Silver Serpent]
[The Silver Serpent is a graceful and deadly curved blade, its surface shimmering with a cold radiance. It excels at swift, precise strikes, allowing its wielder to dance in and out of combat with ease.]
[Weapon Orb 3: The Bloodstone]
[The Bloodstone is a massive war hammer, its head etched with runes of dark power. It deals immense impact damage, shattering armor and bones alike, but can be unwieldy in tight spaces.]
There was no way I could even lift the Bloodstone, and I was getting tired of close-combat. That meant the Silver Serpent was the best choice. I hesitated for a moment, wondering if it was the right choice. But then again, it was the only one left. Taking a deep breath, I reached out and grasped the weapon's hilt, feeling its cool surface against my palm.
[Silver Serpent]
[Damage: 150]
[Traits: Venomous | Petrifying | Piercing]
[Description: A katana-like blade made from a Moonsnake's soul, this weapon is capable of slicing through nearly all objects, inflicting poisonous wounds and petrification with every successful strike.]
I stared at the silver sword in my hands. It seemed like dying so many times finally paid off with the achievement I gained that got me a damn good weapon this run. Before I knew it, a smile had bloomed across my face.
[Does this mean you will no longer be reckless?]
I snorted at the system message. "If anything, my new achievement encourages me to be more reckless. But... you have a point." I swung the Silver Serpent around, marveling at the weight and balance of it in my hands. "I'd hate to lose a weapon this nice."
I moved through the corridor, confident, but cautious. Despite the strength of my weapon, my stats were still the same, and I could die very easily if I wasn't careful.
It wasn't long before I encountered my first monster.
[Name: Zombie | Level 1]
[Health: 100 | Strength: 20]
[Speed: 1 | Magic: 0]
At this point, I no longer felt fear after dying countless times, quickly dashing forward and swinging my Silver Serpent. It connected with the Zombie's head, and the satisfying crunch of bone echoed through the corridor. I followed up with a quick thrust, feeling the blade slide effortlessly through the undead flesh. As the Zombie collapsed to the ground, its health depleted, I felt a surge of satisfaction course through my veins.
[You have gained 1 experience point.]
[Experience: 1%]
I swore under my breath. Of course, the moment things went smoothly for me that it wouldn't yield the results I wanted.
Up ahead, I heard more groans, seeing a crowd of Zombies staggering towards me. I gripped my Silver Serpent tighter, calmly preparing to cut them down. I wasn't going to dwell on it for too long, focusing on killing as many of them as possible so that I could level up.
[You have gained 1 experience point.]
[You have gained 1 experience point.]
[You have gained 1 experience point.]
[...]
As I cut the last of the Zombies down, I slumped against the corridor wall to catch my breath. The blade had cleaved them like they were butter, reducing the effort it took to kill them.
[Experience: 64%]
I took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. That wasn't too bad. Hopefully I'd be able to come across more Zombies to level up-
A familiar growl caused me to freeze in place. Slowly, I turned my head forward, catching sight of a hulking figure.
[Name: Rotting Cannibal | Level 1]
[Health: 500 | Strength: 50]
[Speed: 3 | Magic: 1]
The pale gray giant trudged towards me, dragging its wickedly huge butcher's blade. Fear rose within me, but I forced it down, shifting into a defensive stance. The Silver Serpent trembled in my hands.
"Hey, you ugly bastard," I managed to grin weakly. "I was hoping I'd never see you again."
The Rotting Cannibal let out a roar, charging forward at me. I barely had time to react, my body instinctively dodging out of the way as the butcher's blade sliced through the air where I had been standing. It was then that I realized just how much stronger the monster was compared to the Zombies I'd faced earlier. My heart raced as I struggled to keep my footing, the Silver Serpent dancing nimbly in my hands.
After dying countless times to various traps and monsters, my senses had been heightened, allowing me to react quicker to the Rotting Cannibal's attack. I managed to dodge another swing, but this time, I felt the wind of the blade as it whistled past my ear. I needed to find an opening, some weakness to exploit. As the monster charged at me again, I ducked down and rolled to the side, coming up behind it in a crouch.
I thrust the Silver Serpent forward, embedding the blade deep in the monster's back. With a roar of pain, the Rotting Cannibal stumbled forward, giving me just enough room to step away. I quickly pulled my weapon free and backed up a few steps, readying myself for another attack. The monster turned to face me, its pale gray skin twitching in anger. It raised its massive blade, preparing to strike.
[Name: Rotting Cannibal | Level 1]
[Health: 350 | Strength: 50]
[Speed: 3 | Magic: 1]
[Status: Poisoned | Petrification]
[Notice: This target will continuously lose 1 health point every second.]
The grin on my face grew more confident. Finally, some progress. The poison was taking effect, slowly whittling away at the Rotting Cannibal's health. I had to strike quickly while it was weakened, but I couldn't afford to make a mistake. One slip, one missed blow, and it would be the end of me.
The monster charged again, but this time, it was slower, less coordinated. I danced nimbly out of the way, avoiding its clumsy swings. My breath coming in ragged gasps, I circled around it, looking for an opening. The Silver Serpent sang through the air as I attacked, landing a series of blows on its flesh. The Rotting Cannibal stumbled back, its body beginning to appear covered in stone.
I pressed my advantage, striking again and again, my movements fluid and precise. The monster's skin grew more gray and petrified with each passing second, its movements more sluggish. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the last of its health was gone, and the Silver Serpent met its mark, cleaving the monster's head from its shoulders.
[You have gained 100 experience points.]
[Level up!]
[You obtained Rotting Cannibal's Decay skill.]
As the last of the Rotting Cannibal's head crumbled to dust, I let out a shaky breath, my body trembling with relief and adrenaline. The Silver Serpent seemed to glow brighter in my hands, a silent congratulation for my victory. I looked around, taking in my surroundings. The once-grim chamber was now a little less grim, the air a bit less oppressive.
"Holy... fuck!" I gasped, sitting on the ground. "I... I did it." The Silver Serpent, still glowing brightly, lay across my lap. I took a deep breath, feeling a mixture of elation and exhaustion wash over me. "I really did it."
I opened up my status window, nearly choking at what I saw.
[Name: Luquier Vaunt | Level: 2]
[Title: N/A]
[Health: 100 | Strength: 5]
[Speed: 5 | Magic: 0]
[Risk: 1500 | Stat Points: 1510]
[Experience: 36%]
[Skill List]
The payoff from investing in Risk was even better than I imagined. I gained 5 points from leveling up along with the 5 free points when I respawned. But the additional 1500 points from Risk was the icing on top.
Figuring that the Skill List tab was self-explanatory, I decided to distribute my stat points.
[Name: Luquier Vaunt | Level: 2]
[Title: N/A]
[Health: 700 | Strength: 305]
[Speed: 205 | Magic: 310]
[Risk: 1500 | Stat Points: 0]
[Experience: 36%]
Normally, I would have wanted to hold onto some extra points, but faced with the reality of my situation, they were useless if I ended up dying. I definitely didn't need any more points into Risk. Finally, while I only had one Skill that used Magic, I was more concerned with the percentage increase in experience points rather than the additional damage.
[You are... incredible, Player. You have shown a tenacity and fortitude unexpected of your caliber.]
"No, I'm just a masochist for punishment," I muttered back, tapping on the Skill List tab.
[Skills]
[Decay 2/2]
[Damage: 5 (+310 initial)/second | Slow: 10% | Duration: 205 seconds | Cooldown: 0 seconds]
[Description: Emits a corrosive aura around the user, damaging and slowing nearby enemies over time.]
"Jesus..." What would've been a useless starter skill was now an oppressive force to be reckoned with. With the increased strength from leveling, the damage output was now nothing to sneeze at. I could practically feel the power coursing through my veins, the anticipation of using it on some unlucky monster almost too much to bear. Too bad I could only use it twice before it disappeared, unless I leveled up again.
I stood up, feeling rejuvenated and stronger than before. My body was lighter, my mind sharper. With the Silver Serpent in hand, I felt invincible. I surveyed the chamber once more, taking in the damp air and the glimmer of decay. The Rotting Cannibal's remains lay scattered around, slowly dissolving into a blue mist.
"Okay... time to get out of this place."
****
[Name: Luquier Vaunt | Level: 2]
[Title: N/A]
[Health: 700 | Strength: 305]
[Speed: 205 | Magic: 310]
[Risk: 1500 | Stat Points: 0]
[Experience: 36%]
[Skills]
[Decay 2/2]
[Achievements]
[Even Death Can't Stop Me!]
[Items]
[Silver Serpent]