A solemn atmosphere surround the whole class, with their escape plan fail miserably the cause and effect of their action was sadly turning to the bad part. With three of their classmate were able to escape, although relief some bit of envy were in their heart. But he thought of someone losing their life was a bit more painful to accept. Everyone of them would have really want Ah Mi to survive but the chances of it was far too believe with a flock of monster chasing from behind.
Even Han was silent to the current situation. He cant help but feeling responsible as he was the one who agree of doing this plan. But the most grief person in the classroom was the one who nearly die, Lina. For the exchange of another life, she was able to live.
The reality of their new life hit them straight to their heart. The now know to escape from this university was a harder task than they expected. While the other classroom was also in solemn atmosphere as even them realized the current world situation right now. To expect a rescue from the police or even the military are hardly believable right now with their sort of predicament right now.
They could only wait and wait…
With the hope of someone or somewhat will rescue their life…
---
In the men’s bathroom;
Raine was still staring at the test tube, trying to read the letter of the reflection. Raine’s body start to heal gradual after ingesting the red liquid. Within his mind he knows what that red liquid was but it was still tough to believe. With his energy getting a hold of his body, he gain movement within his limbs while the injury on his left forearm and left leg has lessen to a degree that it was less painful. looking at the wound, it was more or less heal already. Raine was amaze by the efficacy of the liquid.
‘didn’t know it would be this good’ said Raine non-chalantly.
The already heal wound on his leg left a big scar on it but he didn’t mind. the fracture on his left forearm was getting heal but a bit fragile. Standing up on his own two feet, he struggles a bit before he could stand tall. With all the filth and grim on his body, he walk to the sink intending to wash it all off. turning the faucet, clear water gush out.
Collecting a handful of water, he washes his face off. He glances to the mirror and his eye turns wide.
Raine’s POV
‘it’s a window, it’s a game window’
My hand reaches out to the mirror seeing a perfect blue rectangle within the reflection of the mirror. it was just like in a game, the resemblances with the game are remarkable and in that blue rectangle a perfect one liner was spell out.
‘Level up…’
Am I in game or was this a dream where I slept off with my body full of injury? Or am I dead?
My mind was all over the place, thinking of different scenario where such a thing would happen. Even so my hand kept reaching out to the mirror reflecting my image. I touch the blue window and it vanish, just like that it simply vanish. I thought it would pop out another window but the opposite just happen. I lean on toward the mirror wanting to take a closer look at my reflection.
Watching carefully there was nothing out of the ordinary but with keen sense of sight, I spot something. a blue cube hovering beside my ear although it was small I manage to saw it. with a dimension of around 0.5cm3 , it light hover around. I glance to my right side wanting to see it in real life, but to my expectation there was nothing there. Except it exist in the mirror through my reflection.
Curiosity taking over mind, I reach my hand toward the cube in the mirror and as I touch it another blue window opens up. There were two optional bar in the rectangle, one where it said ‘Status’ while the other said ‘Skill’. quite lacking in features cross my mind, but I didn’t bother dwelling in it. I start to getting the idea of this game-like situation. I have read countless light novels about virtual game and this here clearly resemble it. for your information although im lazy ass who enjoy sleeping I also has a hobby of reading. So don’t be judgemental toward me.
Anyway, although I know where this pace was heading, deep down in my heart I was still excited encountering such thing in my life. Without waiting for a single second, I press the first option. A table of sort came out depicting the condition of my body and certain parameter that can be usually seen in role playing games which quantify my body prowess in numbers. Looking at this table I can see my a few number here and there but only a single digit for each parameter excluding the health point, intelligence and stamina point. A lacking of a common parameter does leave me confuse which was mana point but still I didn’t let it bother me. Looking at the numbers I do not know if my status can be consider normal or below average.
[table]
Status WindowNameRaien MahdLevel3Titles-Health Point160/200Stamina Point100/160Strength5Vitality6Agility5Dexterity5Intelligence18Attack2.5Defense0-none-Status Point10
Raising up my level twice without myself knowing it was kind of good, at least it was not a waste being in death like situation twice. From the parameters that I have observe, intelligence seems the highest with eighteen points. It must be related with my knowledge inside my brain well it was kind of rational seeing how I being in a prestigious university like this I would at least have this much of a recognition isnt it.
Even with a high intelligence I don’t think I can make use of it right now, its not like I have any magic or so and I don’t even have mana point. The thought of casting magic goes way beyond what I could think off. does this status like game doesn’t allow magic or am I the only one who don’t have mana point. A rather interesting thing to be sure off once I get back to the classroom.
Before I close this off, with ten points to spare I was thinking where should I distribute these ten points. Although its not much but at least it could help me gain a slight advantage if I met anymore monsters. Since it was too much of a hassle I dump it all in strength. To be strong would be the most desirable dream of any men so as I am like any other man lets just do it like that first.
Closing the window, I then open up again the window which depict two options and right now I was interested in knowing if I have any skill. pressing the button with high expectation, I was hoping it would be an attack skill that would make it easier to dealt with any monster especially rats. After pressing the ‘Skill’ button, a small window open up with only line at the above part of the rectangle. I read it out loud;
‘Laze King’s Slumber’
The word King was overwhelming as if it was like superior skill that reign above the others but the adjective in front made me frown. Laze? Lazy?
Doesn’t matter as long as its sound like its powerful its enough to support me to go there. I don’t want to waste anymore time. time is of the essence. I touch the skill to see what does it actually do.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:Laze King’s SlumberBeginner180%When sleeping;
-increase health regeneration x10 (0.00025/sec > (0.0025/sec)
-increase stamina regeneration x10
-increase effect of potion up to 50%
‘its that it?’ I was dumbfounded literally. It was a support skill and not an offensive one. I don’t know what to say, and it could only be used when I am sleeping. Is this my karma, my karma of sleeping to much?
“nevermind, at least im alive”
Not wanting to sit in this filthy toilet anymore, I wash up my whole body getting all the blood off but my cloth. It was in tattered state, blood stain were all over the cloth. Wearing just my brief, im in a pitiful state, I could have just gone back to the classroom but since my body isnt as muscular as those superhero moviestar like Chris Evan I wouldn’t dare gone back being naked. People would be disgust at me.
“ah! I forgot I have my labcoat, its in my locker and… shit its downstair”
I curse my bad luck again as the only hope I left was on the ground floor where most of the monster roams around. Continuous sigh released from my mouth, with my shoulder drop down to the floor. Not wanting to give up, I made a decision, I made a decision to find cloth first! before I exit, I collect three cube that was the same from the dog, but the flickering flame inside it resemble a rat’s head.
Tying my leather shoe lace, I was all set, with only brief and leather shoe it was an embarrassing scene. But I don’t care right now, I need to scavenge for cloth first. Exiting the bathroom, I carefully watch my surrounding. Being attack in this situation would not be favorable for the naked me. I walk with my back behind the wall being cautious of my surrounding. The dark night of the campus was certainly eerie with the dark corners not light leaving a feeling of discomfort with the thought of something coming out of the shadows.
I steel my nerve and ran to the door at the opposite end of the corridor. Looking around it was safe for the moment, I enter as I turn the knob. It was dark and my sight cant discern anything whether it was object or even myself. My hand wander around to the side of the wall hoping to find the light switch.
With a little bit of luck I manage to flip it and the light turn on. I scour through the things in the storage hoping to find something that resemble a cloth or sort. He rummage through the pile of junks and also look at every nook and cranny of the room. after spending almost half an hour, he found a bundle of curtain most probably the one use to hang by the window of the seminar room. with the bonus 10 in strength he tear the curtain into a fitting size which doesn’t drag to the floor. He cover himself with the curtain making it like a makeshift cape that can cover him fully. The curtain was only up to his ankle, he entwine the ends of the curtain by using a plastic rope making a knot to complete the overall simple design of a cape.
Feeling rather warm, Raine was thankful for finding this curtain at least he wont be shivering all the time. before he leave the room, he took one of the mop and remove the end only leaving the stick. As a countermeasure to any attacking forces, he would safe just to hold something rather than being naked with his fist. With a makeshift cloth and so called weapon equip by Raine, just by appearance alone he looks like a homeless person but still it was better than being naked. He swiftly return back with his instinct saying it was rather safe to move faster. Arriving at the door of the classroom, he opens and enter the room.
Every eyes were on him as soon as he walk in. but he get the feeling that something terrible has happened by the heavy atmosphere enveloping this whole room. their eyes has no shine in it, with hopelessness shrouding their sight. They were looking weak and pale. Only Han react to Raien ;
‘raien where have you been and whats with the curtain around?’ said han even his voice was rather meek than his usual confident voice.
‘I got my cloth dirty so i change it’ said raine calmly. He question on what happen to these guys as if they have met some kind of misfortune.
‘han, what happen here why is everyone looking rather down?’
Taking a deep breath , Han explain to Raine what just happen ot hem, from the start to end he told of him about the plan and about the trio leaving them and also about how Ah Mi sacrifice himself to save Lina.
Raine was shocked, he was in disbelief. He didn’t thought his intelligent classmate would do such risky plan such as this and they go along with it. if it was Raine himself he didn’t mind because comparing how intelligent he was in the group he wholeheartedly agree he was the last one in term intelligence in the classroom. But his friends…
They are all bright young chaps who was the elite of this university and by doing such reckless action such as this, Raine knows even if someone was the most intelligent person in the world but if he could not evaluate the condition he was in and cannot handle the stress he was facing, he would just be the same as any other human in the world.
He would have wanted to share his incredible findings about the game like feature but in this kind of situation he would rather not. In the case of Ah Mi being sacrifice, he was not really worried about him. he knows Ah Mi would be the most rational in case things going downhill so he has faith in him. rather one more thing that make sure he wasn’t worried about him was Ah Mi was an avid gamer if he discover what Raine himself found, he would not be trouble at all because he was much more stronger in gaming compare to Raien. Just thinking about it, if Ah Mi did discover this game feature he would be much more powerful in the near future, just the thought of it cause Raine to shiver in excitement.
“I would leave it at a later moment if he really survive then, it would be good” whisper himself in his own thought.
Raine walk around the classroom, looking at his friends who were on currently staring into blank space their condition right now wasn’t that good. He then stop his track while staring at Biella, from the time he step out of the classroom until now she was still devoted to her religion, repeating the word of her religion to her utmost. Holding on to the symbol of her religion, she was deep in her trance. Raien was amazed looking at her condition. This was the strength of a religion toward people when things spoken came to reality. Mui her bestfriend was sitting beside her playing with her smartphone. Seems all the comfort she try to soothe Biella was a failure.
Even so she never left Biella side. Raien look at her with admirable look. Although all of them were not in a good condition only Mui look a bit better than the rest. Raine had an objective to be accomplished, he need to fine a makeup mirror to act as an interface for the game interface. Approaching Mui he ask of them with a polite voice.
‘Mui can I talk to you for a second?’
‘this is rare, what is it Raien?’ said Mui with interested look
“oohh it seems she was not affected much, quite a strong mind she have”
‘can you lend me you makeup mirror for awhile, I promise you I will give you back after this’ said Raien with his face asking like he was pleading for her help.
Mui cant help looking at Raine with a confused look,
“why would he want my makeup mirror for?”
‘are you going to tell me why would you want my mirror?’ question Mui
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
‘maybe later, im in need of it right now’ answer Raine with the intention of distracting her from the real reason. For the time being it would be best if he hid the fact of the game feature.
‘hmm okay wait for awhile’ Mui didn’t ask further as Raine must have a reason to keep it hidden.
Rummaging her backpack, she then gave him the mirror. Raine said thank to her and went to the corner of the room, sitting on the desk chair. Inspecting the mirror he try to simulate the thing he has done on the toilet’s mirror. it was a circle mirror, he watch his reflection and touch the mirror where the cube was.
The mirror was fill with blue color and two option appear. The ‘Status’ and ‘Skill’ appear. Raine gave an accepting nod, it seems every kind of mirror works. Since this matter was confirm, Raine sat on the ground and lean on the wall. Based on his status right now, his health and stamina was not full yet since the last battle that he fought.
Closing his eye, he easily went to sleep. Without him knowing it, the skill ‘Laze King’s Slumber’ made him easily fall asleep. A rather convenient skill for Raine, as it allow him to sleep everywhere and in any situation without being disturb. Like a baby sleeping in the cradle of their mother, that was how similar Raine and a baby.
Drifting in his sleep, he wrap himself with his makeshift cape. The thick fabric kept the warmth of his body to circulate within the confinement of the wrap cape. Not bother to his surrounding, he fell asleep silently. Mui who watch him sleep in mere second after looking at his reflection felt dumbfounded. She didn’t thought Raien would be able to sleep so easily amidst this whole situation. Han can only sigh looking at the sleeping Raien, he has a lot of question to ask of him and more importantly about the situation on the outside.
The night pass would out a care about the dwellers of the night, it move accordingly following the law of the world that was set up since the beginning of time. without a hitch none had happen over the pass the night. only the bark and growl of a few monster around the parking area accompany the night of the survivors.
As the moon vanishes from the black sky, the dawn of a new day arrive. A day that was filled with unlimited possibilities for them to unravel making a way for them. But the path for salvation was certainly distorted and uncertain seemly based on the gloomy atmosphere of these people.
But among them only one has a plan, a plan to override this misfortune of theirs. Facing the window, Raine stretch his body while yawning with heat rays of the sun shining across his body. the warmth of the first light of the day was a new sense that he had long forgotten. A light that gave him the comfort from the sun itself.
With a new beginning, Raine open the mirror and notice a notification.
You have been bless by the first light of the Sun, gaining additional increase in status for a certain period of time;
-health regeneration increased by 10%
-all status increased by 1+
Buff period: 60 minutes
“ouh a buff, didn’t though it would be easily obtain like that” said Raine within his own mind.
‘lets do this then’
Arm with a stick and curtain cape, Raine once again enter the realm of the monster in the hope of gaining any lead of escaping this place. He ignores the soulless looking classmates of his. By the look of their dark eyebags, none of them were able to have a good sleep. Raine on the other hand thought of helping him but with his current strength it was too weak to call as help. Raine turn down the door knob and ready to embark but a voice halt him from his advance.
‘Raine, can you take me with you I want to follow along’ a man voice out his desire and as Raine turn his head, it was Han who ask of this request.
Raine burrow his eye brow for awhile, he though of bringing someone else but in this current situation even if he brings him it would only be as a burden rather than aide. He contemplates for awhile and then he told of him what was out there.
‘Han, i would tell you this, you can decide after you hear what im going to say, out there monsters are roaming down the corridor, and they can kill you without a doubt. So if you really want to go with me I cant promise you your safety are you sure you are going with me’ explain Raien blatantly.
Han let out a small laugh, he cant believe for someone as weak as Raine to act as he was a big shot. In his mind, he was a lot stronger than Raine but he didn’t know the existence of the game features let alone the intensity of those monsters out there. Although Han was a considerate kind of guy, he also had confidence about his strength, he was gym member who had done weight training since 4 years ago and the muscle bulge on his body was the proof of testament of his hardwork.
‘what are you talking about Raine, then tell me how did you survive outside from yesterday then’ said Han with a jolly looking face. he didn’t believe Raine would survive fighting against those monsters as he know what Raine capabilities was.
‘huh~ you don’t believe me ha, suit yourself then I wont be helping you out there’ said Raine who was starting to get annoy by Han belittling him.
‘ouh yeah FYI you would really be dead if you let your guard down’ continue Raine.
Then both of them went out to the corridor, Raine walk slowly follow by Han at the back. compare to Raine, Han was armless without any weapon to protect himself. Raine on the other hand didn’t bother much, if he let Han saw a few of those monsters it would have scared the hell out of him.
He went to the right side of the corridor, walking slowly with his guard up. Han was also anxious at the back with his eyes always frantic looking around to his surrounding, even if he was strong than Raine but he wasn’t confident enough to fought those monsters.
Raine, walk along the side of the corridor and crouch down. The architecture of the building was made with the 1st and 2nd floor to be connected with the open space of the foyer allowing vision to the foyer from an above view. In front of Raine was the view from the 1st floor, he could see many monster snuggling within their own kind while some roams around the area. He could see the dog like monster which he confront from before and also a few new one, some looking like an oversize badger some looking like a moving mushrooms with mouth and eyes.
And some resembles wild boar but hardly has any similarities with the large boar from yesterday. Raine calmly look at those monsters but Han expression turn anxious looking at those multiple numbers of monster. he can hardly contain himself, he would have run back to the classroom if he wasn’t maintaining his pride as someone who think he was stronger than Raine.
Raine though otherwise, if he could gain some kind of skill that can identify this creature he would have a lot more information for him to plan something that can make him stronger. The only thing that he was confident on defeating were those rat and about the monster dog, the chance of defeating it may have increase compare to before.
Nonetheless he need to kill something to become stronger. With a lack of information, it was the utmost importance for Raine to gain new found knowledge of this new bizarre world. not wanting to waste anymore time, they continue their way to the other end of the first floor. But then they stop on their track, near the staircase there was a pack of dog monster which was bronze in color.
But this time it wasn’t one, it was eight or so dog monster sleeping nestle between their each other warmth body.
“now that’s bad, I need to alert Han to be silent before…”
PANG!
The worst situation possible had happen, before he could warn Han. Han made the situation to be much worse, he accidentally cause a few stack of table to fall down. Looking at Raine bewilderedly, beads of sweat start to form across his large forehead, and he felt his hair standing up knowing their situation turning to the worse.
The pack of dogs who were sleeping just now were awaken by the crashing sound, their eyes open and their ear poke out upwards to the sky, their nose start twitching smelling the air of its surrounding. Sensing the cause of that crash. Then it bark
RUFF RUFF RUFF!
The sleeping dog one by one stand on their four legs, following the leader of the pack bark. Raine face turn distress seeing how the pack already took notice the both of them, he hurriedly shouted to Han.
‘Han!! Run!!’
Immediately after Raine shout, the pack start hunting them down. Both of them ran to safety. Not wanting to be breakfast for these dogs. They ran for their life, and the pack was catching up to themreaching the door to the seminar area, Han enter the area while Raine was still outside hesitating to enter. He hesitates as an idea came to him in this desperate times. He yell at Han.
‘Han barricade the door, lock it and block it with the desk chair’ shouted Raine to Han.
Han show a confused face, he didn’t get what Raine said to him. in his mind Raine was crazy for wanting to be there with those mosnters.
Now he knows the ferociousness and danger of these monsters. Han didn’t hesitate and lock the door leaving Raine to fend for himself alone against the dog monster. It just happen in the spurt of the moment, but his heart, his reasoning and his mind were all shouting to him to save himself for the greater good of those still alive in the seminar area. At that moment, sacrificing another person was easy as cutting a slice of cake. He don’t know why but the feeling regret instantly come after he finish doing blocking the door. He even don’t have the guts to look at Raine through the small window. He just unknowingly crouches down with his head face to the ground crying over the death of Raine.
In the corridor, Raine look at the incoming pack of dogs with bronze color skin. Their speed outclass ordinary dogs and they were getting closer to Raine. At a sharp corner to the left, Raine nearly arrived at the intended spot. But before he could make his way there, a dog already leaps and bites him in the shoulder.
AGHH!
‘damn you mutt!’ scream Raine to the hanging Dog on his shoulder. One of his knee drop to the ground, but he stands back again. Raine ran toward the intending spot, and at the same time he slam his shoulder to the wall. Knocking the dog’s head to the concrete wall. The dog’s bite loosen and he knock the dog down using the end of his stick. Freeing himself from the dog’s bite, he ran to the narrow pathway. The pathway which only fit for one person, the path for his salvation.
Raine stood his ground at the end of the dark pathway arm with his stick. The dogs gather at the other end of the corridor, staring at Raine with their saliva dripping down to the floor. With their patience getting low all of them bark and went straight for Raine.
RUFF RUFF!!
Sadly for them, the pathway could only fit one dog. Two of them got stuck at the start of the pathway. They bark loudly and fierce as they cant reach their prey while struggling from the position they are in. then a bark can be heard, leaping through the stuck pair. Another dog manage to leap and ran toward Raien.
Raien can only smirk with his effort come into fruition. The dog leap and Raien stab the dog straight to its open mouth. Not faze by the stick, the dog bite the end of the stick and turning it into shards of wood. The might and force of its bite was unparalleled compare to Raien wooden stick.
But Raien wont give up, he retreat his stick and once again strike the incoming dog with a knock at the side of its head. clashing the dog’s head to the concrete wall. The dog stand on its four leg shaking its head knocking of the dizziness of the impact. Raine wont wait for even a second showing no mercy to the canine, hitting it with his stick numerous time in an amateurish way. after a dozen or so, the dog could wriggle a bit as his head already smash and crack.
‘one down and seven to go’ a smirk on his face.
The one more came and another follow along at the back. Raien break the stick into two leaving a pointed end at both stick. the dog came and leap into him. a rather predictable action from the dog, Raien cant help but think the dog attack was already programmed. Is it a living thing or is it just manifestation of data. Raien imagination ran wild but none of that matter, as the important thing was to survive and grow.
He plunge the sharp end into the jaw of the dog from below, still moving ever after being pierce Raien stick another one to its head from the side leaving it lifeless. The other one swiftly ran pass through the dead body and aim the leg of Raien. It was fast and the dog manage to bite his leg.
ARFG!
‘shit!!’
He forcefully dislodge the stick and struck both of it into the head of the dog. With its guard down, it didn’t bother to block Raien incoming attack. both the stick pierce right into its head. it turn lifeless as slide down Raine’s leg.
‘Come on, you bunch of experience!’ shouted Raine with his eyes burning wildly.
The rest of the dogs start pouring in the narrow pathway, baring their teeth against the lone man who were in their way who kill their brethren. Raien can only saw them as nothing as a stepping stone. A stepping stone, for him to go there.
Half an hour or so past, and Raien was going against the last one. With his breath erratic, his leg was trembling and his vision starting to get blur. On his body numerous bite marks was visible. Blood was oozing from those bite wound. His body was once again cover by the crimson blood of his own. Still his eyes weren’t dead, it was still living it was still burning, it was still hungered for more.
The last dog rush to Raine, and Raine meeting its expectation ran toward it with his resolve. A resolve that was simple but with held the power within it. Raine arm with only a shard of the left over stick came face to face with the dog. But this dog was the fastest, just by speed alone it was able to close the gap in a split second. Raien overwhelm a bit by the sudden speed, but Raien kept calm and let it went forward. Retreating a step back, Raien slip from the puddle of blood, with a stroke of luck he dodge the incoming attack from the dog.
Taking this chance, he swiftly lodge the piece of shard into the neck of the dog. Both of them collapse as one slip from blood and one being injured. The dog was writhing in pain, its leg waddle as it try to stand but cant. The dog loss a lot of blood as the neck wound was too deep.
Raien force his weaken body to stand, trembling madly as there was no energy left within that body of his. Raien struggle and manage to stand, walking slowly to the injured dog. He stare at it with a cold eye, the state of mind he was in has not change even in the brink of death. This lazy bum when he had a goal he need to accomplish he pursue like his life depends on it.
Raien, approach the dog and kneel down beside it, his hand reach a broken stick shard. Holding it rather flimsy, he summons all he had and pierce it straight into its eye ending its feeble life.
Raien feeling relief that the battle has end, flop down to the floor with his mind slipping into unconsciousness. The makeup mirror accidentally opens, revealing a blue notification.
You have level up!