Chapter 12
Worth of a Human
Name: Asher Rune
Age: 0 (Died at 23y, 8m, 22d; Atlantic Ocean)
Race: Human (Unevolved)
Cabin Name: Scallywag’s Enduring Torture Room
Titles: 0
Cabin Upgrades: 0
Blessings: 0
...
Health: 15
Health Regeneration: 0,2
Damage: 3
Movement Speed: 1,3
Attack Speed: 1
Strength: 0
Intelligence: 1
Agility: 0
Armor: 0
Critical Chance: 0.1%
Critical Damage: 150%
Cooldown Reduction: 0
Luck: 1
Gathering Range: 5 yards
...
Passive Abilities: 0
Completed Runs: 3
Unique Enemies Slain: 5
Bosses Slain: 1
Secrets Unlocked: 0
Asher’s shopping spree ended rather quickly.
He dropped from having an impressive 428 Souls all the way down to just 8 after a few minutes. He rolled the dice, as it were, and spent 150 Souls getting 1 point in Luck; the cost of the next upgrade shot up to 500 Souls, which meant that Luck was likely at least somewhat good. In addition, he added 2 more Levels into Movement Speed, increasing the base up to 1,3. He also spent some points on Health Regeneration, increasing it to 0,2 Health per second.
The value of it was evident--even if it was just 0,2 Health per second, in the map that runs 5 minutes, that’s roughly 60 Health restored just passively. Even if most of it would be overheal, as the last stage proved, it will be impossible to avoid taking damage entirely, but having passive regeneration could make up for some of the mistakes.
As he left the Upgrade Shop, he saw that the plaza had emptied somewhat, though that was simply relative; there were still over a hundred people scattered about, some surrounding the ‘seniors’, and some simply chatting between themselves.
Something was odd, Asher concluded.
He recalled the atmosphere between seven survivors when he cleared the first Stage--it was hardly this relaxed and jovial. It was almost as though the two parties lived through different realities entirely.
“No,” Asher mumbled into his jaw. “Knowing this godforsaken place... they probably have.”
They were being built up as saviors in all likelihood, which meant that their first Stage was a walk in the park. And now, they were met with 'seniors' who've gone even further, proving that it was possible. The next stage... would most likely be the funeral for the vast majority of them. Asher could warn them, for certain, but he had a feeling it would not matter. Just as their getting 'advice' did not matter.
Rather than going to the Tavern, he walked to the building next door and entered--the Furniture Store. He decided to check it out on a whim and see whether it was worth sacrificing some of the power for comfort in the next few stages.
The insides were dark and nothing came into view--it was all done through the menus, just like the Upgrade Shop.
If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.
Asher 'scrolled' past the first few options that he'd already seen until he arrived at the 'new unlocks'. His eyes widened when reading some of the newest options.
[Second Daily Meal for x7 Days] -- 800 Souls
[Rustic Dining Table] -- 1500 Souls (eating meals on it may award buffs)
[Wooden Barrel Bath] -- 5000 Souls (bathing in it may award buffs)
...
While they were interesting and tempting and also insanely expensive, what truly caught Asher’s eyes were the two choices that appeared separated from the rest, the reason being their cost: they did not require Souls but rather Divine Gems.
[Day and Night -- introduces a natural day and night cycle within and without the cabin] -- 2 Divine Gems
[Window -- adds a single window at the desired location within the cabin. Must purchase a ‘View’ as well for it to function] -- 1 Divine Gem
[View -- adds a specific View to the assigned Window. Some Views may award temporary buffs:
-- Unkempt Garden: overgrowths, weeds, and lack of care. Better than void, however -- 1 Divine Gem
-- Grassy Backyard: the only thing that seems to grow is grass -- 1 Divine Gem
-- Rainbow Skyline: the world is suddenly awash with colors and it inspires you grandly -- 50 Divine Gems]
Asher frowned.
So far, Divine Gems were simply collecting dust, but there was a reason why they existed and, more so, why they were a rarer of the two currencies. This felt... like a trap. Once again. They didn’t offer something that was so tempting it was simply mathematically necessary for survival but rather something that was just tempting enough that most people would fall for it. Combining the two upgrades--day and night cycle as well as a window--would mean that a person’s body would finally have a proper circadian rhythm.
Sleep regulation, hormonal balance, cognitive function, even metabolic health, and immune function... all these things, in varying degrees, benefit from a day and night cycle. They were minor in the grand scheme of things and a person wouldn't necessarily suffer too much for a short period, but in their current circumstances, where even a single slip-up might mean death, they were crucial.
But... that’s precisely why it was a trap.
Gnashing his teeth, he left the shop with trembling fingers, tempted still. There was no doubt in his mind--if he spent the Divine Gems right now, he would regret it. They wouldn’t simply offer something like this out of the blue and make it affordable. After all, ‘creating’ a whole skyline and a back garden was certainly more work than just giving him a barrel, yet a barrel cost 5000 Souls while a literal day and night cycle cost ‘just’ 1 Divine Gem.
Something would come up soon--perhaps the next stage, or even the stage after--where he’d need those Divine Gems desperately. The entire thing was bedeviled, through and through, and cruelty was etched in the vestitude of stone. It was all akin to a massive torture chamber designed specifically to torture people in ways that were almost imperceptible.
He went to the tavern right after, buying two jugs of wine for 4 Souls. It was filled to the brim already so he simply walked out rather than interacting with anyone. There was a two-day break instead of one, so getting a bit drunk was something he could afford.
Clutching the two jugs, pain suddenly burned through him and he found himself back in the cabin. Setting the two jugs of wine next to the half loaf of bread and the jugs of water, he looked around the cabin, imagining all the places he could have installed the window. As it stood, the entire cabin never knew dark--it was always lit up at the exact same level, unchanging, whether it was ‘day’ or ‘night’. Short-term, it wasn’t awful, especially because whenever he went back to the cabin, he was beyond tired in body and in spirit so he simply passed out irrespective of the cabin’s state, but if it went on for too long...
“Ho ho, I see your skepticism runs deep,” Qyne suddenly appeared next to him, staring at the opposite wall bereft of windows as well.
“So, it’s a trap?” he quizzed.
“Who knows?” she cackled, replying vaguely. “Maybe it’s a trap, maybe it’s a gift, maybe it’s a whetstone to keep you guys sharp for the next battle. It can be anything and everything as well as nothing--or, in the case of most, whatever you choose to believe. Some variety in this place would have been nice, though. I might have even visited more.”
“Qut said that his ‘fairy’ mentioned Richard’s past,” Asher said suddenly. “Does that mean that we are given information about specific people rather than just at random?”
“... what makes you say that?” Qyne asked with a faint smile.
“Zane and Mira,” Asher replied. “You conveniently happened to mention the two of them to me. A seeming goofball and a delusional teen. Just like them. Is it even true? The horrors they did?”
"..." Qyne fell silent for a moment and flew over to his front, facing him. "It's true," she said in a rare occurrence where she was neither smiling nor speaking as though she were smiling. "As much as you want it to be lies. Buuuut~~," however, the seriousness didn't last long. "Look at you, little nimrod. A lumbering oaf of flesh and bone, stumbling through questions with all the grace of a blind rat."
“Am I supposed to not ask questions?” he probed.
"Hmm, I wonder?" she grinned. "It is not so much about questions but rather the answers, you worm. Ask yourself this: will knowing impact your life in any way, shape, or form?"
“So, no matter what... this is it?”
"Ha ha ha, why are you complaining? This is more than the vermin of the human race deserve!" she exclaimed. "Were fair judgment be cast upon you, you would all be hung from the Sky Bridges, upside down, stripped of your form and dignity! There is no worth within your souls, no grace within your words, and no beauty to your design! In thousands of years, you could not even fathom the means to coexist with one another, and yet you dare demand more? Aah, I truly have been too soft on you,” she landed squarely on his nose, her gaze filled with disdain. “Do you know why fairies are assigned to you?”
“...”
“Because, without us, you all would have died,” she said. “You are so worthless, so pathetic, so void of value that you cannot even function in this realm without magic to ward off your mind’s terror, and without external guidance. Even now, as I speak, the only thing surging within you is anger. How dare she, you ask yourself. How dare she question my worth?! I dare, you graceless animal, because all you can do is resort to anger. Anxious little beasts with glass-made fragile egos... all you’re good for, in the end, is to struggle, claw, and strive to achieve anything worthwhile only to fail in the grand spectacle of flames, blood, and screams.
“So, yeah, this is it,” she chuckled. “Be grateful even for this, you pathetic scum.”
Asher remained silent. He was angry, very angry. He wanted to rip her apart, limb for limb. But he stayed his hand. Not because he thought she was right but because he knew he couldn't. One day, however, should he ever have a chance... he swore, within the depths of his soul, that he would dismember her until she begged him to kill her. And it would truly end as she claimed--in the grand spectacle of flames, blood, and screams.