“Ugh, unique class my ass. How am I supposed to conquer the world with this?!”

I’ve been running and cursing at Filya for quite some time already while trying to outrun the large black beetles who are about to make me their lunch.

While I wasn't too physically fit, my actual stamina wasn't too low that even a little bit of running would make me exhausted. However, the stress and pressure from threading across what seemed to be a metaphorical fall into a pit of carnivorous black beetles were taking a toll on me as well.

My legs were starting to ache. My breath was too raspy from having consumed too much energy from just running. If I don’t change something, I might die in this world.

What else can I do?

I suddenly remembered seeing a few “unallocated points” in the status menu earlier. I pull out my Status Plate from my pocket, revealing the menu interface, confirming that I did have 10 unallocated stat points to spend on.

Then comes another problem. How do I allocate my points?

At first, I tried pressing the holographic screen, but my finger only went through it. Then, does voicing it out work like the skills?

“I’m putting all my stat points to agility!” I shouted hoarsely, costing me a second of my breath as I’m running.

[ 0 AGI → 10 AGI ]

The ache in my legs disappeared and I could even feel like I was running faster than before, but my energy wasn’t restored and I still felt tired from running. If any, it only felt like I prolonged my endurance.

Slowly, the eerie clicks of the beetles and their thin stampeding legs disappeared into the forest. Even when it completely disappeared from my hearing and I could only hear my steps, my hurried, raspy gasps for air, and the windy ambiance of the forest, I still didn’t feel safe until I couldn’t hear them after some time has already passed.

—

Haahh... Haahh...

It felt like an hour has passed since I outran the beetles. I was still running even if my arms were nearly flailing and my legs succumbing to the numbness of exhaustion. I didn’t know what my limit was, but I fully intend on hitting it as I don’t feel safe in this world anymore.

Then the gods (or in my case, a goddess) must’ve taken mercy on me from the heavens and said, “Take a rest.” Because I tripped on a rock, landing face first on the dirt with the momentum causing me to slide even further.

[ - 12 LP ]

The first time I damaged myself in this world was because I tripped on a rock. How stylish of me, given that I’m supposed to conquer the world to save it from this apocalyptic being. Shouldn’t I get damaged by some powerful monster way above my skill level? To add, this class of mine can’t even be considered an actual powerup.

Ugh, I’m still salty about that.

I turned around facing the forest ceiling. The thick green foliage shielded me from the brightness of the sun, only showing itself on the tiniest gaps of the leaves. With my legs feeling like jelly and my breath still ragged from my marathon, it shouldn’t hurt if I took a small rest before figuring out what to do next.

I spread my arms and legs across the ground, indulging in the peaceful atmosphere of the forest. I thought that living a determined life on Earth was boring, but it didn't mean it didn’t sound enticing. And with this useless power of mine, I can’t possibly change the world by singlehandedly fighting the reincarnation of Typhon after using my only skill and rolling a one.

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Had I known I'd be put in a near-death situation when I reincarnated into this world, I probably would be happy as a baby right now, getting all the royal care and needs on Earth.

I also wasn't sure if the beetles were still chasing me. I ran for what felt like an hour earlier that my legs might fall off the next time I run. Not to mention I must’ve covered a whole lot of distance that they should've lost interest in me already, right?

Right?

My looming thought came to fruition when the sound of high-pitched clicking overwhelmed the noise of the breezing leaves.

“How persistent are these monsters?!” Cursing, I stood up abruptly before trying to run in the opposite direction the beetles were in—

Shit. Which way was I running before?

The densely packed trees made the noise of the beetles seem like they were coming from every side of the forest. Even if I waited for the beetles to come into sight, they might’ve brought their friends on the way to me.

I guess I have no choice.

I decided to take the gamble and run in the direction I’m facing. Surely enough, the beetles were chasing behind but there seemed to be more than before. The sea of black beetles swarmed toward me with my legs and body pushing me past the limit of my stamina.

I know I can’t keep running forever. It’s highly unlikely someone will come to save me in this forest without knowing how big it is. For all I know, I could be in the center of mountainous habitat devoid of any human inhabitants.

Taking the gamble.

What’s there left to lose? Putting all my trust, luck, and life into words, I exclaimed, “Dice Roll!”

With a swing of my arm, I grab the forming dice with my hand while running. The glimmering blue light as the die was forming seeped through the gaps of my clenched fist. In front of me was a large forest clearing, devoid of any trees, lakes, or grass unlike what I had seen earlier when I “spawned” in this world.

Just seeing that made me instantly wonder, “I feel like this is too coincidental. If that clearing happens to relate to my dice roll—”

Before I could pass that train of thought, the ground suddenly began to sink, causing my running to falter in sync with the trembling earth. And as if it couldn’t get any worse, my left foot hit a concealed tree trunk covered beneath the brittle dead leaves, sending me off balance near the center of the clearing,

[ - 34 LP ]

LP: 64/110

My heart pounded with a mix of adrenaline and anxiety as I frantically struggle to stand up and run. The moment I attempted to gain my balance, a sharp, searing pain burned in my left foot.

Uuughh, it fucking hurts! I bit my tongue to keep myself from feeling any more pain.

[ - 7 LP ]

LP: 57/110

The ground sunk even more with the center of the clearing as the epicenter, and the once-empty forest clearing is now breaking apart slowly by slowly. Strangely enough, the trees at the edge of the clearing aren’t sinking.

If I don’t escape on time, this whole clearing will be devoured along with my life in this world. And it was as if the very world around me was conspiring against my every move. Just that thought alone makes me regret not choosing the safe path.

But I can’t give up now. Even with my limping run, I pushed forward to the edge of the forest clearing, If I escape now, I would finally be safe from the beetles as they would most likely be caught up in the giant forest sinkhole.

Just a little more, a little more distance so I can grab a tree branch—

—but it wasn't nearly enough

The ground fully broke beneath me. My legs lost their traction on the ground, causing me to fall along with the beetles in the sinkhole. I was so close–just one step away from getting ahold of a tree and saving myself.

Ahhh, damn it. I guess this is it for me.

Time seems to slow down as my thoughts accelerate. Admittedly enough, there were so many things I wanted to do right after reincarnating in this world. People giving me praise for my “powerful skills,” overpowering the most powerful beings to protect others, and becoming a hero known by the world...

It felt cringe, but it was what I would have wanted to experience. It was not commonplace for a high-schooler to be accidentally killed by a goddess and reincarnate in a fantasy-like magic world.

I felt my die “nudge” on my palm as I’m falling down the abyss.

I already assumed that my result was a “one” after spraining my ankle and falling into a sinkhole the moment I cast my skill. If I cast Dice Roll again, what difference will it make? Will I roll a “six” and get to live?

I open my palm to see the previous result of my dice roll, and indeed, my previous assumption was wrong.

[ DICE ROLL: 3 ]

A girl’s voice echoed from what seemed to be below the sinkhole, “May the spirits of the ocean come upon me and serve under my command! Bubble Dome!”