I'm not sure where I was, but all I could see was darkness. Then stars began to appear one after the other until I was floating in the universe's colorful kingdom of creation. I slowly opened my eyes, but where I was seeing from wasn't my body, but a third persons point of view. In fact, I could see my body sitting all alone.

Burning chains of black flames wrapped around my naked body, forever holding me stuck in one place. I blinked, and was now seeing from my bodies eyes. People than began to walk past me.

Some great, some small, and others I knew. Aremi, Heather, Darrell, Mare, all the party members, and then finally my greater self. I struggled to break free but it was no use. I tried to call out, but nothing came out.

Then he turned to me, and looked at me with his deep green eyes. "Come to me." He said, and I blinked again.

When I opened my eyes I was met with the ghoul emperor, his face as beautiful as ever. No, maybe even more so now. He stuck his hand in my chest and I screamed.

It was only a knee jerk reaction, because I felt nothing. He then began to twist and pull, and suddenly the chains broke and dissipated into nothingness.

"Gah!"

Fresh air filled my lungs as I deeply breathed in and opened my eyes. My entire body was in cold sweats as I struggled to coordinate where I was. The room was shabby, and there were strange rags on me, but importantly I was breathing.

'Why am I alive?'

I thought as I grasped my chest where I was impaled. 'But how, I'm certain that was a fatal wound...'

Ping Ping Ping..!

[Notification]

Secret requirements have been fulfilled. Seal of the unbound has been removed.

[Notification]

You have survived a near death experience against an enemy who's strength is at the pinnacle. This is a great achievement. You have earned 100 experience points, and the skill, Fortified mind. In the future you'll be more calm in desperate situations.

There were notifications everywhere in front of me, and I even leveled up and unlocked a skill for the first time in my life.

'I leveled up..? Seal of the unbound..? I don't get this..'

I thought before opening up my stat screen. If what these notifications say are true..

[Stat screen]

Name: Allan rose

Type: N/A

Level: 2/???

[Health] 100/100

[Stamina] 20/20

[Mana] 20/20

[Stat points]

Available points: 3

Vitality: 10 +

Strength: 10 +

Agility: 10 +

Intelligence: 10 +

Dexterity: 10 +

Faith: 10 +

Luck: 10 +

"Level 2..."

I looked closely for awhile, and even slapped my face to make sure I wasn't dreaming, but it was still there.

'It's true, I really did level up..! I even have the stat points I've always heard everyone talk about, should I place them now? No, I'll use them sparingly in case this was a fluke. If I can level up again then I'll know for certain.'

I thought as I scrolled through my stat screen with a huge smile on my face. At the moment, nothing else mattered and this was the peak of my life.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

'I should check that skilled I just learned. Hmm let's see fortified mind...'

Fortified Mind (lvl 1)

Description - User is slightly resistant against fear, panic, and irrationality.

Usage - Passive

"Interesting, I wonder to what extent it will actually keep me calm. Hm and it even has a level, does that mean it can also be upgraded? In any case this is pretty good considering I've never had a skill.'

As I was preoccupied by my newfound luck, the door to my room slowly creaked open. Adrenaline rushed through my body as I suddenly realized my current situation.

"Shit, am I really that stupid..? How could I be so careless of my surroundings after waking up in an unknown land."

In the next moment the door would be fully open, and whoever was on the other side would catch me. Last I remember these bastards made us kill each other. I couldn't be caught no matter what.

The door was finally opened and a grey woman with short white hair came inside. She was instantly panicked when she saw my empty bed and dropped the clean rags that were in her hands.

She yelled, and started to talk in an unknown language. I couldn't understand anything she was saying but I could tell she was clearly upset. An old grey man ran into the room after her, and they both began to look for me.

Looking closer, I recognized them. I saved them earlier when Mare's party was assaulting them.

'Did those two save me..?'

For a moment I felt bad, it was clear they took care of my wounds but that soon passed. For a split second I made eye contact with a young man who glared right at me. Me who was behind a huge mushroom tree outside their house.

He was the most recognizable one, I'd never forget that unique armor that those knights who made us play endure wore. Shiny and faded blue as if it were wet and alive.

'Shit, they must be looking for me to finish the job.'

I thought as I sprinted as fast as I could into the subterranean wilderness.

''No matter what I must make it home. Aremi, Heather, the kids. They have to know i'm still alive!'

Without a care for the unique nature around me I ran. I wasn't confident I would get away from the knight, but it didn't matter. The only thing on my mind was to get as far away from him as I possibly could.

Unfortunately this was my downfall. I was moving too quickly and accidentally jumped right into the middle of a group of creatures. Ones I'm far too familiar with. Ghouls.

'Fuck, you gotta be kidding me!'

Without hesitation I just kept running.

'They definitely saw me, I have to hurry and find a safe place. For now let's just keep running..!'

My heart was beating a million miles per hour as I sprinted through the underground woods. Branches sliced my face, but I didn't care. If I got caught I was done for, I'm simply not strong enough to fight those things alone. So why was there suddenly a hand reaching for my face?

'...huh.. a hand?'

I thought as I noticed it coming at me from within the shadows of the bushes. A slender grey hand with sharp claws. It yoked me from my sprint and pulled me into the bushes.

"Gah..!"

I yelled as I was thrown across the uneven rocky ground. Everything was happening so fast, I could only squint my eyes and curl up in a ball to protect myself.

"...huff.. huff.."

The shock of sprinting for too long finally hit me, and I struggled to breath. Before me was a single ghoul that must've been watching from afar. By his posture it was clear he was confident he could kill me.

'Damn you ugly bastard, couldn't just let me go huh? This is the worst, I don't have anything to defend myself.'

I thought before I suddenly felt my mind go at ease. My passive skill, Fortified mind activated and suddenly my situation didn't seem as bad. No that wasn't it, I was able to think clearly so my chances of survival increased.

"If I die now then my saved points will mean nothing, in that case I'll use them now. The only stat that would make a big enough difference has to be.."

+3 Agility

'Agility. With this even if I can't land a lethal blow I should be able to dodge better.'

"..Grrrr.. raah!"

The ghoul jumped at me, and to both of our surprise I dodged. Crouching down to avoid his claws. Not perfectly though, his claw slightly grazed my cheek.

'This is my chance..!'

I leapt up and smashed the top of my head into his jaw sending him flying back. It hurt like hell forcing my eyes to become watery but I didn't let up. While he was down I quickly got on top of him and began to smash his face in with a large rock.

He grabbed my neck and pushed me back as much as he could all the while clawing into me, but I didn't stop smashing. This was truly my only chance since he was caught off guard.

Slowly his grip became weaker, and eventually dropped. Bloody was an understatement. Skull and brain matter splattered all over me, but I just kept going even after he died.

[Notification]

You've leveled up! 3 stat points have been added to your level up screen.

"So it's true. I can actually level up now..."

I said as I looked to the caves crystal filled ceiling. Without a thought I placed my points into agility again.

The commotion must've given my location away because from the bushes more ghouls slowly began to appear. I didn't care though, I was on a high. My first solo kill ever was the most exhilarating thing I've ever experienced.

From on top the ghouls dead body I screamed, not in frustration or fear, but to express my excitement. This is the moment I'll be reborn.