A familiar heat awoke Arn as he once again stumbled off of his cot and onto his feet. I’m back? Did I respawn? Then, weakness took him as his knees gave out and he began to sob. What the hell do I do? That thing killed Anna, and I’m not strong enough to take it on. Hold on, if I respawned, then there’s a chance Anna also respawned. Where is she?
Arn ran at a full sprint towards the door as he frantically searched for any clue of his wife in the adjoining hall. Going from one side of the long hall to the next he found no signs. A chill ran through his spine, pausing over his heart. He felt panic set in and began running through as many possibilities as his brain could handle.
What if she didn’t respawn? What if she can’t come back? Maybe she has a respawn in another cave. If so, then she’d just stay there right? Oh god, what if her spawn is fucked up and she spawns in the cave with the lava lizard? A fresh set of tears ran down Arn’s face as he tried to get his breathing under control. He didn’t believe his wife could be dead, she was here still, she had to be. I have to get to her. There’s only one plan of action anyways. If Arn was to reach his wife, he’d need to get through the lizard. If she spawned in the room with it, he didn’t have the luxury of sitting around to come up with a plan. It’s simple, I’m bigger, and I don’t give a shit how strong the lizard is, he’s gotta be beatable. Arn ran back through the hall and grabbed a spear whose size looked just at the limit of what he could carry, then, he grabbed a wooden shield off of the opposing wall and hauled ass through the warm door.
Remembering the direction that he had first found Anna, Arn ran towards it. He saw the lizard first this time, its back turned towards him.
Fury overtook him as he remembered the feeling of its teeth gouging out chunks of his flesh. Revenge time you gecko looking fuck. As Arn ran forward, planning to impale the beast, he saw it reach back and forth several times, a soft squelch sounding out with each motion. From that angle it looked like a small child, idly waving a stick around out of boredom. Anna laid on the other side of the lizard. He was stabbing her mutilated body with a sword.
"Arn," he heard her wheeze out as she noticed him approaching. The lizard, realizing that Anna was looking somewhere, turned around just in time for the force of the spear to run it through and pin it to the floor. Arn glanced in Anna's direction, victory in his eyes, only to see her eyes go lifeless at the same moment.
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Arn turned back towards the lizard. A fresh wave of guilt rocking him and righteous anger swirling in his chest. He came up with every insult he could hurl at it, "Fuck you! You fucking fuck!"
"Aww, poor thing," it hissed, "Was she your mate? Was that the best you could think to say in her honor?" Replied the lizard as it laughed deep within its throat.
Too stunned to speak, Arn attempted to stab at the lizard again, but couldn't remove the spear from its body. It grabbed tightly to the spear and a gurgling noise came out of its insanely wide mouth. Arn, realizing that smoke and fire was escaping from the creature's mouth, moved his shield in front of his body. Fire engulfed Arn’s shield and began heating up his left arm. Wood burns dumbass! He failed to shake the shield off of his arm as the heat had fused them together.
Falling backwards towards Anna’s corpse, the fire continued to engulf more and more of his body. As the heat boiled his insides, and crisped his skin, he tried to reach for Anna’s hand. The stench of his burning flesh would have made him cry if the heat hadn't already evaporated his tears. Before the flame reached his head and melted his eyes out of his skull, the strangest thought ran through his head, Why isn't Anna bleeding?
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Another sharp pain woke up Arn. Screw you, I'm not moving. The heat gradually increased until it was almost as hot as Arn's face felt a few moments before his death. Arn was ready to give in but then it suddenly stopped.
System Alert:
Endure the light of resurrection.
Dharma fulfilled, Karma increased by 5.
Dharma? Karma? Oh shit, was my mom right this whole time? I should have paid more attention during prayer. I guess it makes sense if I resurrect.
Arn remained laying on the mat for quite some time, reflecting on his last two deaths while trying and failing to open up some sort of system menu or stat screen. Being burned to death or being eaten alive, I have no clue which one was worse. There was one thing Arn was certain of however, that was not his wife.
System Alert:
Be able to recognize your spouse!
Dharma fulfilled, Karma increased by 1.
I'm being rewarded for that? What am I even supposed to do with Karma, is someone going to explain this shit at some point? And where the fuck is my wife?
Quest Updated:
Death’s new recruit:
Die until you win.
Reward: Unknown
Are you kidding? Does that mean you'll only give me answers if I kill that fucking lizard? And you won't even tell me exactly what the reward is? This shit is rigged. The system is horseshit.