"Haaah, I guess it's about time to move on." I sighed.

After resting for half an hour I finally got up. The small toilet I was in was totally dark. Examining around with my hands, I limped around the room. Soon I found something resembling a handle and started fiddling with it. It was different from the ones in reality. I had to turn it anti-clockwise and then push it against the door.

*click*

I carefully opened the door, just enough to see my surroundings from the small crack. Unsurprising, I found myself in a house. It seemed to be made from stone and was missing the roof. I held my ears close to the crack and listened for a while, trying to pick up any noise.

"Ruins of a sort? Time to excavate! I hope I can find small critters to heal from." I thought, recent events already becoming distant past. If not for the pain in my leg, I would be pretty hyped up.

I opened the door wide and saw that I was indeed inside ruins. Inside the house were the remains of the collapsed roof. If the house had two or more floors, the rubble would had blocked the door. Behind the remnants of the roof I could see that the roof of the cave was at least twenty-thirty meters high. I exited the toilet while crouching, and while evading the rubble, silently made my way towards the closest  window.

I peeked out and alike view was seen. More or less destroyed stone buildings, devoid of any signs of life. Again I listened to my surroundings, but couldn't pick up anything. Feeling more secure, I stood up and exited the building. The pain in my leg was still there, but it no more forced me to limp badly. At least when I walked slowly.

The ambiance outside was eerie. As the town was underground, there was no wind. Only small clouds of dust raised from my steps, muffling the sound. The cave was humongous compared to the earlier ones. Also unlike the tunnels I came from, the walls, roof and groud was grey coloured stone. Colored streaks were limited to white ones in the roof, and those were wider.  I stopped and raised my hand to my chin.

"I should find a vantage point to have a better view of my surroundings. In most games and movies, ruins are usually nestled with monsters, so i have to be vigilant. Especially as I can't exactly top my records at the moment. This place is definitely interesting."

Nodding to my thoughts, I looked around. The floor of the cave was flat, but I could see a worn out three storey building short distance away. Although it seemed it could topple down in any given moment, I would need to take my chances.

Surrounded by silence, I started feeling solemn. It's not often when you can find places and moments like this. A dead town void of any disturbances. Signs of civilization without any presence of the people who built it. And no sounds of nature, nor culture. I closed my eyes now and then to enjoy the soundless song of history.

After walking for few hundred meters I arrived to the building. As I thought, it was in a bad shape. Not as so as I initially thought, but still it might not stand much longer. Since it was my only option, I had to make do.

There was stone-made spiral staircase leading all the way to the roof. Also, there was some intact stone-made furniture close to the stairwell. Roof and the floors were supported by ornate pillars around the staircase, but about 80% of the building was rubble on the ground. Safe to say, I should be able to reach rooftop without much problem.

While climbing up I still had few mishaps. Some of the steps were cracked or missing, and couple times a step crumbled under my feet. Quick reflexes kept me from falling, but I was concerned about the noise as the stones hit the floor.

"I Have to get out fast, just in case there's someone around."

Frankly I was as worried about meeting people as meeting monsters. I've seen enough apocalyptic content to know how people turn into total fucktards when presented into hopeless, demanding situations. Even if this was a game, I already knew myself how easy it is to forget that fact. More so with the realistic pain, although I think it has been tuned down. Essentially there's nothing to differ the game and reality, besides the mana. But if I hadn't discovered that? I bet my next guess would be that I had been spirited away, or abducted.

Arriving to the rooftop, I was panting a little from the exertion. It was becoming more and more difficult to move around with my leg. I would need to find a way to fix it as soon as possible.

In the rooftop the walls continued about one metre upwards, forming a protective wall around it. I crouched and made my way to  the only side I could reach and examined my surroundings carefully.

The cave was round, about four kilometers in total diameter, and I was half-way away from the center. The town was divided in four quarters, and in between those quarters were partly crumbled walls. On the left side buildings were smaller than in the quarter I was in, and the one right to me had majority of taller ones. On the opposite quarter the ruins had buildings of both sizes. Style was like the cubic white cement houses on the sides of mountains in Latin America.

In the said center, there was a clearance from buildings, possibly a marketplace or a town square. I saw few more intact buildings, and I tried to look for landmarks to go around the area. I would have to look into those for any kind of useable material.

"Like they say in the site, you can't make miracles if all you got are your fists and cock." I smiled. Miracles indeed. Being sent here, with almost nothing, to help out or even save the village. What a joke. Many of the players had already probably died, some might even be on their second round around.

I once more glanced towards the city, and gasped. There was small trail of smoke coming from the quarter opposite of me.

"Players? Or more probably monsters? I wonder what they are burning." I mused while feeling tense. I decided to explore the two other quarters before investigating the source of smoke. If there's monsters in the other quarters, they're at least separated. And while exploring I would have a chance to acquire a weapon or something else useful.

Taking few more looks into the left quarter, I started descending. I would first explore left quarter and then return here. After inspecting the right quarter and the trail, if everything still seemed safe, I'd proceed there. After arriving, I would find another vantage point and examine the last quarter.

Making my way outside, I set out towards the left quarter. There were still few intact buildings which I planned exploring. Going along the road, I arrived to the broken walls, but the gates were still standing. I looked for a way over, and luckily there was a breach just a few dozen metres away. Going over to the left side, everything looked pretty much the same.

Not wasting any time, I searched through the few buildings, but couldn't find anything besides rubble and some stone furniture. Sighing out of disappointment and shaking my head, I exited the house to return to the three-story building.

*Grumblegubmel meogrr*

I dashed back inside the building. Outside, about hundred metres away, there were a pair of green, short humanoids. Fortunate for me, they were inspecting something in a dark alley, instead of looking towards the main road where I stood. I sneaked to the window and took a peek on the creatures.

About 1.40 metres tall, wearing only a dirty loin cloth. They had couple thin ropes tightened over their chests, from shoulder to waist. Also they were wielding crude stone made daggers and had pouches knit on their loin cloths.

"I wonder if they're intelligent. At least they could make some simple items and clothing. I should observe them for awhile to see if they're hostile." I mused curiously.

My thoughts were answered soon enough as they turned around. Both of them had a human skull made into a heavy amulet. I was disgusted and frowned, but decided to see if I could manage to surprise them.

Whatever was in the alley didn't seem to interest them anymore, and they turned away from the alley. They were still about hundred meters away along the main road and started walking towards me. I hid from the window and dashed inside to see if I could make my plan work.

Inside there were just a table, two chairs and a bed, all made from the same grey stone. The roof had half collapsed, and next to the wall was simple stairs to the roof.

I wasn't feeling certain about this, and worriedly shrugged my shoulders.

"This should work, I guess I have to take a risk to prevail!"

_______________________________________________

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Having made my preparations, I laid down to the roof and crawled to the edge to take a look. The goblins, as I named them, were now about ten metres away from my building. I checked my "trap" and readied myself.

After 30 seconds, I threw three small rocks into the rubble inside the house, making some noise. The goblins grumbled outside in surprise. I couldn't hear any steps due the dust, so I just crouched on the inner edge of the roof.

Five seconds, ten passed. I kept counting to not become overwhelmed. At twenty nine I saw first goblin to come into view from the roof. I let it pass, and waited for the second. First one was scanning the house with his eyes, trying to identify what made the sudden noise. Right after the second came into my sight, I dropped a heavy rock on it. Even before the first rock had landed, I picked up a second, lighter one, and threw it towards the first one.

The first, bigger rock landed straight on the second goblins head, popping it downwards. Then it smashed the whole body on the ground, crushing the neck and shoulders of the creature. The second rock didn't hit as precisely, but still crushed the right leg of the first goblin. It barely had time to assess what was going on before toppling over its broken leg. As it opened its mouth to scream, it saw one more rock flying towards him, this time towards head. It was already too close to dodge and with the voice stuck into its throat, it died.

Gasping a little for the effort, I was boiling with joy, relieved smile creeping to my face. The risk was worth it and I finally could have some equipment. I quickly climbed down the stairs to reap the rewards of my work.

I picked up the dagger of the goblin number one and slit its throat for a good measure. Zombie horrors teach you to treat everything and anything as alive until personally made sure otherwise. I used the dagger to cut the purse from the loin cloth, and I removed the small ropes it had around it.

Turning towards the second goblin, I gave it the same treatment, only that its dagger had shattered. Apparently it tried to brace the impact with its hands with little luck, leaving the dagger under both its small body and the rock.

"Too bad I didn't risk keeping them alive. I'm getting really tired of this pain." I thought regretting a little.

I tied all but one of the ropes together into a longer one, and tightened it around my body like the goblins had. I tied last of the ropes onto my waist and my pouches into the rope. I kept the dagger in my hand, but I could put it on my waist rope if the need arises. After looting the goblins, I made sure to drain the mana from them. Serves well to reinforce my mana, and to hide any evidence from other scouting parties. I finished dug the skulls into the rubble pile.

Making sure everything is secured well in their places, I set out to continue my exploring. Only this time I more often used smaller alleyways and rooftops to move around when possible. Stopping to look around here and there, I safely made my way through back to the big building.

"Whew. Have to pick up the pace now.. If the skulls really were from the players, there's a possibility that there's still some alive."

After climbing to the stony eagles nest, I surveyed the right quarter for awhile. But since I couldn't see over the taller buildings, I decided to just go and try to avoid trouble. Moving down the staircase to outside, I started walking towards the right quarter.

Ten minutes of walking and I reached the gate to the right quarter. Half of the gate had broken down, so I could easily enter. Slipping in to the nearest alley I began navigating towards the biggest building on the quarter. It was also fairly intact, so I would have no problems, if just the staircase is intact too.

While on the way, I encountered two patrols of two goblins, but I wanted to have a look around the area before doing anything drastic. On the left side I could see most what was going from the first quarter, but here buildings were taller, thus they blocked my vision to many areas.

Arriving in front of the building I quickly slipped in and crouched to the darkest corner. Listening to my surroundings for awhile I was safe to proceed. I made haste all the way to the rooftop and started surveying.

The area was similar to the first quarter. Straight roads besides the circular main street, which circled through around the city. Even though I couldn't see everywhere around the right quarter, I had clear view over to the origin of the smoke.

As I expected, it was a goblin camp. The green humanoids had occupied few smaller stone huts and had a campfire in the middle. Last quarter was more open and randomly built than other three, that had pretty systematic architecture.

I couldn't see anything clearly besides small humanoid creatures walking around. The green colour helped me distinguish what they were.

"There's no better vantage point, but I need better view to the camp." I thought, scratching my head.

"Wait, I used mana to strengthen my body, can I use it for senses too?" I hit my palm with my fist. I sat down to the ground and focused.

At first the mana didn't obey my will, trying to scatter back to the stream from my eyes. After few moments of frustration, I tried hooking up some thinner strands into them, one by one adding more. After I had 10 strands connected, the mana started flowing into my eyes naturally. It didn't take long until the stream stopped, but the mana still was contained in my eyes.

I opened my eyes and looked around. My vision didn't change so much to make me amazed, it was more like a small correction which I didn't know was there. Even so, I got up and once again surveyed the surroundings.

Still, It was impossible for me to see much more of the camp, but something else caught my attention. Coming from the center, just one block away, I saw five goblins escorting two humans in a leash, other man and other woman. Both of them had only the starting clothes on, which were dirtied with blood and dust, but other than that they didn't look too bad.

"There's definitely more players in the camp, but I don't see any way to save them." I sighed and shook my head. I took one more glance and gasped in surprise.

"Oh hell, that's the old guy from the store!" He was easy to distinguish from the scar on his face. My brows were lifted up to my hair now, I never imagined that he really plays a games like this. I would had rather bet for him to use other, more sensual programs that the receiver offered.

"On the other hand, this could be a nice opportunity to pay back. I'd rather do it on my own terms than wait him to come up to me later on in the game. Who knows what he would want." I mused. Definitely, aiding a little in early on was a lot more convenient for me than give out high level item's, or do a favor that I don't know the price of.

"Alright, the goblins aren't too hard to take on, even if they're numerous. I already have some equipment to make some tricks. I won't be making any miracles, but I do stand a chance." I felt a lot more confident after looting a weapon and the rope.

"Only problem is how to create a proper distraction. Should I topple down a building, or just get some goblins and hand them screaming to the walls? There's also the scout parties I have to avoid, and I have no idea where we could escape to." My confidence started crumbling the more I thought about it.

"Well, for now I think ill try to sneak into the camp and see what I can find up. Also I should start disposing of the scouts. Actually, If I keep killing the small parties, they might make bigger parties Or better yet, stay in the camp. That would leave me a lot more breathing room while making my final moves."

Finally coming to conclusion of sorts, I was again feeling the excitement risin. It's getting more and more impressive how immersed I am with this game. Until I heard something that made me instantly shiver.

*Squeak*

******************

Right on! Goblins and other players! Will he become a hero, an amulet or rat food! Let me get couple more beers and I will find out! ^^

Rate & review peeps, even if i use time to proofread myself, I know there's alot to improve.

Also let me know if you feel the jumping between saying and thinking is too confusing! I wanted to use it to portray the mc a little better.

Ever had a moment when you're thinking of something, and you say the conclusion out loud?...

Cheers! :)