"Have you ever questioned the reason for your existence? I think the worst part is the dread that follows such a question. The feeling of uselessness of your actions, powerlessness of even trying to change, I hate it. Would it actually be better to say I despise it?"

'I believe I've asked the same questions over and over and over and over again to the man sitting in front of me. what has it been, one hundred and forty-two times? I guess this makes it the hundred and forty third... one hundred and forty-three days of this hell.'

'I haven't once heard his voice since the first day I got here. Well, enough thinking! It's time to start the day.'

Standing up, he put his hands together in a praying position.

"SHA!"

'I don't really know why I do this, I just started doing it after the thirty second day here. It just made sense? I don't really know why I do most things anyway, so why bother thinking about it now.'

"Hahahaha, ah, I crack myself up sometimes..."

The old man began glaring at him as if saying he was disturbing his peace.

"What old man! Can't you see I'm having a good time? Stop staring! A man can laugh at himself, can't he?"

'I'm so hungry, thirsty, and cold, fuck, I miss the hay I used to lay on as a kid. Well, they should be bringing in the water and 'food' soon.'

After thirty minutes had passed, the door at the dimly lit hall could be heard opening. The sound of three guards approaching his cell brought a smile to the man's face.

"Ahhh, how glad am I to see you! what's on today's breakfast menu today? Ouu, slime, slime, and would you believe that, more slime! Aw, you guys didn't have to, you're way too sweet."

"Shut up."

The guard said after sliding the plate under the door.

"Come on, old man, take a bite!"

He put a big scoop of the red slime into the old man's face.

"My name is Rozen. What's yours?"

After no response, Rozen began eating the food.

"Y'know old man, you never eat, nor drink, hell I've never even seen you sleep. Well, tomorrow is my birthday, I'll be turning 17!"

Rozen sitting at the other end of the cell. Looking down at his hands, he took a deep breath and looked up to the man across from him.

"Y'know old man, if I could do anything to get stronger, I would. I mean anything, anything, anything at all. Even if it meant going against all of humanity, the demons, or even the gods. If I could be just a little better, I-"

As Rozen stood up, he had a grin on his face.

"I guess there's no use dwelling on hope."

Rozen began by placing his hands onto the gravel like floor on which he slept, making sure his posture was perfect. One hundred and thirty two push-ups, next was seventy-two situps. grabbing the bars of the cell above him, he did eighty nine pull-ups. All of this he did without making a slight noise, he concentrated only on the next set, he pushed himself to exhaustion.

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leaning against the wall out of breath, Rozen let his body give out. sliding down the jagged wall, he made his way to the gravel beneath him where he slept.

...

"it's your big day, Rozen!"

Rozen jolted awake. This was the first time a guard had ever woken him up.

"What do you mean?"

Rozen said in a raspy voice.

"Follow me, and you'll see."

Placing the key into the door of the cell, Rozen's heart began to race. This was the first time in one hundred and forty-four days that it had been opened.

As the guard led Rozen down the hall, the light that seemed so far away had begun blinding him. Taking a step through the door, his feet, which were accustomed to the gravel, had felt a new sensation, sand. Laid in front of him was a man behind a desk, the two guards which brought him food guarding a large wooden door and another hallway to his right. On his left was a rack that had many different weapons, all of which seemed to have been used several of hundreds of times.

"Hm, take your shirt off 172."

The man grumbled behind his desk.

"What do you me-"

"Do I need to chop off your head after all the money we spent on you? Do as I said."

Taking his shirt off, the man began jotting things into the notebook in front of him. Then, looking up, he pointed at the weapon rack.

"Choose a weapon."

'What should I pick... let's think about this. Let's say I have to fight someone, I've never fought before, so a sword is a no-go, a dagger is too short, and I've never used a bow. I don't even know what this is, a knife connected to a metal chain? The only option I have left is a spear.'

"Head over there. They'll call you when you're ready."

Rozen made his way over to the large wooden door, taking a closer look he noticed the multitude of blood stains.

'Well I hope nothing bad happens haha, fuck, I swear the second I get a chance I'll get the hell out of this place. I mean, they leave me in a dark cage for over a hundred days, then expect me to fight out of nowhere. I mean, what the hell do they eve-'

"Head through the door now."

As the door opened, the place in front of him changed drastically, through the door he could see a large arena in which he had to walk out into, a wall almost eight meters high, was the difference between the arena and the stands that seated thousands of people cheering. Their roars could be seen shaking the blood-stained sand. Above all of them was a place where only a few people had sat. Their clothes were much more refined than the ragged clothing of the others.

"We now present 172! the new warrior!"

The sound echoed throughout the entire stadium. Causing the roars to become even louder.

"Go on."

The guard said as he pushed rozen out the door.

Gripping his spear, he walked into the center of the field, his arms and legs trembling, his eyes dashing between each and every person who were looking down upon him. Grabbing his chest with his left hand, he tried to catch his breath but to no avail. Before, he even had any time to think, the match started.

"Let the fight... BEGIN!"

At the other end of the arena, another large gate had opened, and coming out of it was a two foot tall green goblin.

'wh- what the hell! I've only ever heard stories of those things from my father!'

The goblin, which was over two hundred feet away from him, was now already right in front of him. Lunging his spear at the goblin, it cut the wooden spear in half. Jumping straight up into the air, Rozen tried blocking the attack with his now broken weapon, but by the time he even brought it above his chest, the goblin had struck his dagger into rozens shoulder.

Rozen grabbed the hand the goblin was using to hold the dagger and plunged it even further inside of him. At the same time, he slammed the goblin into the sand using his body weight. The goblin losing his grip sunk his teeth into rozens neck and at the same time let go of the dagger. Using this chance, rozen ripped out the dagger and stabbed it into the back of the goblins spine. As the goblin ripped the flesh of his neck open, Rozen pulled the knife from the lower spine of the creature all the way to its neck. The goblin now dead laid on top of rozens body, blood was pouring out of his neck and shoulder.

'Is this how I die? A pointless death? Did I at least win... I hope I won. I don't want to lose anymore. I can't open my eyes anymore, I think I'll close my eyes... just for a bit.'

*DING*

*You have unlocked the Kill Or Be Killed System, or better know as K.O.B.K.S!*

*Please check the tutorial as soon as possible!*