As everyone rushed Mason, crowding around him and giving him hugs and slaps on the back, I cried. Oh thank the gods… He hadn’t died. Wait… No. Mason had died. There was no way around that, I’d seen the wound that massive Dire Wolf had left. There was no healing from that… Unless… I looked at Sam, who had an exhausted, but elated grin on her face.

Ah… I forgot the kind of world we were in. It was so similar to the video games I played back home. And just like in video games… Sam must have been given a revival spell when she was brought here… Haha, that lucky girl… I wonder how rare that was… I bet she’d be incredibly rich if she could make use of that and show it off at the capital. I turned to Mason and sorrowfully smiled. He really did seem okay, and was already grumbling about how he had lost his bow in the forest.

Good, good… Mason didn’t deserve to die for my mistakes. I pursed my lips, and shook my head hard, feeling the tears running down my cheeks. I mournfully stared out into the forest again. I knew what I needed to do, but I still wasn’t sure if I was ready. To just… throw away my life. It was a hard call for anyone to make, let alone a highschooler. I… didn’t know how I was going to be able to do it. I just knew that I had to. No one else deserved to die because of me.

I wiped my arm across my face and chuckled. Oh what was I doing crying? At least I could do one good thing for them all. I thought back to home and sighed. I missed my brothers and sisters. I missed my mom. I missed my dad. Haha… I never really thought that I’d say that… though, if I was being honest, I didn’t really miss my old world. Even if I died here, at least I’d had the most fun I’d ever had. I smiled at Sarah, and everyone. I’d even made some… friends. Ha… never thought I’d say that either! I always played solo back home, and preferred to stay in my room and read if I got the chance.

All those dreams of being the hero, all those dreams of soldiers fighting golems… I’d always tried to stay asleep so that I could be in a different world for as long as I possibly could be. But… That’s all they were ever going to be for me… Dreams. I sighed, and glanced at Sarah, Diane, Kai, Sylphie, Cyan, Sam, and finally Mason. Mason… he almost died because of me. Because I didn't let them take me while I was on guard duty. No wonder the dire wolf had been stalking me back then, it must have been waiting for me to go on guard duty the whole time, it just didn’t expect me to fight back!

I sighed and glared at the forest. What good that had done for the others… maybe it would have just been better if I let it kill me and take me away. That way, Mason wouldn’t have had to go through the trauma of almost dying for real. I ground my teeth and gripped my sword tightly. I might not want to go die, but I needed to. I wasn’t any special healer that could revive people, I couldn’t vanish without a trace, or pin a bee to a tree with an arrow. I couldn’t even cut a tree in half, or break a boulder with my bare fists. All I was really good at was running, and swinging a sword over and over. I laughed bitterly and cracked my knuckles. Yeah, I was good at running huh? No wonder this was happening… It was like I was made for this choice. Just to run away and act as a distraction… Fuck the gods, fuck the piece of shit that brought me here, and fuck these stupid fucking dire wolves! Agh, Fuck everything!

I glared at the forest, my knuckles white around my sword. I might be an overgrown bait piece, but I was not about to just accept this. I wasn’t just going to fucking die. I was going to go out like a firework, and I was taking down as many of those fucks as I could. I was going to be such a pain in their sides, that every single one of them was going to have to run after me, and all of my friends would be able to escape. Fuck that damn wolf, its eyes held a promise, that if it got me, it’d leave everyone else alone. But I wasn’t going to just accept that promise at face value! I was going to kill that fur ball if it was the last thing I did! That overgrown fuck had killed Mason! And the fact that it was going to kill me either way… well I couldn’t really try to argue with that. If I was going to be a bait, then I’d have to be the best bait ever, and bait always ended up getting eaten at the end of the day.

I turned and looked at Sam, who had managed to stand up finally, leaning on Cyan for support. It was a hard call I was making, but I got the feeling she would understand it. Of all the people here, she would know that I had to do it. That it was the one and only chance that we’d have. I just knew that she’d have noticed that look the wolf had sent my way, there’s just no way that she hadn’t. I waited until she finally managed to push off of Cyan and stand on her own two feet, but I should have known better. She was a natural leader, and as soon as she checked on Mason, she started giving out orders for everyone.

She started telling everyone where they should stand, putting Mason and Cyan on the backburners to guard Sylphie and Kai along with me, and putting Diane and Sarah on the front lines. I chuckled and shook my head. Well, at least I could rest easy knowing they’d be safe after I did this. Sam would keep them safe, I knew it.

I beckoned to her, taking a few steps farther back as everyone erupted in a flurry of motion. She turned to me, her lips pursed in a thin line and her eyes still flashing over the forest. Though, when her eyes landed on my wrecked shoulder, and the way I was holding onto my wrist, a worried look came over her face, replacing the focused one. She hobbled over to me, her steps becoming more sure as she got closer. As she opened her mouth, probably to ask me if I was okay, I cut her off.

“Sam, look, both of us know we don't have any choice. You saw that look the wolf gave me, you know how they hunt. They just want me, I should have done this earlier… gods, Mason didn’t deserve to die, hell, he shouldn’t have even had to! ”I laughed and shook my head, “No, thank you for letting me join the group, and I’m sorry that I put you all in danger…”

Sam stumbled forward and slapped her hands on my shoulder, “Matt, what are you saying? Shut up, look, we are all getting out of this! Together! We almost just lost Mason, I am not losing you too!”

I pursed my lips and glanced at the others, who were starting to give us looks now. Thankfully we must have been out of hearing range or I bet they would have been running over already. I let out a long sigh and took a long look at the forest before turning to Sam, a grim smile on my lips.

“Look, I’m not asking you Sam. I’m doing this whether you like it or not, and even if the wolves didn’t purposefully give that look, I’ll at least be able to drag enough of them away that you all can make a break for it.” Sam opened her mouth to protest again, but I forged on, cutting her off, “I’d rather die than have any of you die because I was too much of a coward to accept the truth… And besides, I have sprint, maybe I'll be able to outrun them, eh?”

Sam looked absolutely pissed by now, and I let out a yelp and jumped back as she swung her fist at me, “What the fuck are you on Matt!? We are not sacrificing you! Get that through your thick brain, or I swear to god, I’ll knock you out and defend you myself!”

I dodged another punch and sighed as I noticed the others were running over now, “Ah… I had been hoping to avoid worrying everyone, but I guess I don’t have much of a choice now… Sam, look, I’m sorry that it took me this long to tell you all, but in my bag, there’s some col and gems. I… I got them from some goblins I had killed the first night.” I let out a bitter laugh and shook my head as I continued to back up, “Take them. You’ll need them more than me anyways. And… if you manage to get back home, let my family know that I loved them, huh?”

I cracked my neck and reached into the void and activated sprint. Power surged through my legs and I dashed backwards, far out of Sam’s reach. She screamed and yelled at me to come back, but I just laughed and eyed the forest before turning to her. Her eyes were such a nice blue, I wonder why I never noticed that? I looked to the others, and my eyes darted from Kai, Sylphie, Cyan, Diane, Mason, and then finally, on Sarah. Everyone else looked confused, worried and were screaming questions into the air, but she… she just looked angry. She must have known what I had said to Sam, and as her eyes locked on mine, the rage in them shattered. She looked… sad. Really, truly sad. It almost made me stop, but instead I just shook my head and gave her a final smile before I turned and dashed into the woods, the sound of their screams echoing behind me.

Tears raced down my face and I angrily wiped them away, and roared into the night sky, “Come and get me you fucking bunch of hounds!”

I dodged around a tree, and grunted as I felt the branches tear across my skin and leave angry red marks. As my blood pooled from the cuts and began to leak down my body, I laughed crazily and ran even harder. I was glad that the smell of my blood was arcing through the air. I hoped that the smell would cause them to notice me even more, and as I leapt over another tree trunk, the sound I was hoping for ripped through the air. That same damned howl that had been tearing through the night this whole time, finally ringing again.

I laughed, and screamed into the air again, turning it up one more time and feeling my legs slam into the ground as I flashed through the forest. I ducked branches and clambered over the rocks, My eyes flashing towards every shadow I could see. And then… I watched as the shadows all around me shifted, I slammed my fist into a tree and swung the blade across a branch that got in my way. Good. My hunch was correct at least. They really were after me, but I had to make sure I got as far away as possible. So I could really give everyone a real chance to get away.

I flew around another tree, and heard another howl nearby, closer than it should have been. Answering howls and barks came from behind me and to the sides, and I cursed. Fuck me, I should have known they were fast, but a part of me had still been hoping that I could maybe outrun them. Actually pull off that wild escape that I had been lying about to Sam… Ha, now how funny would that have been? Actually tracking them down and showing up after they had realized I was as good as dead, or maybe even better, meeting them back at Cylkia’s when they showed up in a month?

I laughed as I raced through the forest, and slammed my fist into a tree trunk. Well what the fuck was I expecting anyways? I knew where this road led as soon as I saw the look that wolf had given me. I was just bait, right? Haha… and what happens to bait?

I roared into the night as I heard more howls echo through the air, “Bait gets fucking eaten!”

I giggled and laughed as I ran around. I ducked under branches, leaped over small creeks, dodged around tree after tree after tree, but… still. Still I heard them. As I flashed over a creek, still I heard that piercing howl. As I raced into another part of the forest, still I felt their hot breath on my neck, hungering for my flesh. Stil, still, still… I just couldn’t get away fast enough…

I raced faster and faster, my breath coming out in huge clouds of hot air, my legs on fire and my lungs on the verge of collapsing. I ran and ran, pushing myself harder every time I thought I couldn't push any more. Malxonus… that was the name of the one that had fucked me and my classmates over. That damn goddess. I don't know if there was an Afterlife here or not, but I was flashing towards it at record time. And when I got there? I was going to find that damned goddess and throttle her! Sprint? Enduring Heart? Really!? That's the best she could do? And then this happens? A pack of Die wolves that wanted specifically me!? Fucking shit goddess!

I roared and kicked a rock, sending it flying through the air so fast that it snapped a branch off of a tree. Then a chilling thought that had been eating at the corner of my mind suddenly became colder and colder, until it pierced my heart. This is what Malxonus wanted. The sacrifice. The first to die. The one that pushed the… heroes to be better and fight stronger. It was me. Fuck it was me. The wolves weren’t hunting like back home, I was just getting in my head. They weren’t tracking me because I was the weakest. They weren’t following me right now because I was the weakest. They didn't want to kill Mason and leave his body at our feet because I was the weakest. They were doing this because the goddess had ordered them to kill me.

I felt tears race down my face and I laughed, feeling my legs finally starting to shake and give out. I fell to my knees and laughed as I heard the wolves howling shake the forest trees. That was it huh? I laughed even harder, my entire body being shaken as I got up on one knee and turned my head up to the double moon with a wide grin on my face. My story ends here. Nothing I could do about that huh? Might as well just roll over and die… I wonder if they'd remember me when they were saving this god forsaken world? I shook my head and chuckled. Nah… I was just a footnote in their stories. Just the first to die, right? A side character. I laughed wildly and stumbled to my feet, before slowly turning around. I could still hear those damned wolves, and I knew what I wanted to do before I went out. I’d made a promise after all huh?

I gripped my sword in my working hand, and slashed it at the forest, which was alight with green eyes, “Alright you damn fucking hounds, where’s the big guy!?”

A deep, but still loud growl rumbled through the air, and vibrated my very bones, making me pause. I swallowed hard and watched as massive Dire wolf after massive Dire wolf stepped out of the forest. Ha… Haha! I laughed and shook my head. I was surrounded… though I guess I hadn’t expected anything otherwise, I was still pretty surprised by how many had come after me. Though that did make me happy knowing that they weren’t chasing after the others. I tightly gripped my sword blade and glared at them all. Either way, I was getting my blood payment. I bared my teeth at the wolves around me, and laughed again.

An answering growl came from the forest, and that same wolf that had dropped Mason walked into view. It had that same cold, rage filled gaze, and there was still that same burning intelligence there. It walked between the wolves that were circling me, and bared its teeth at me, making a huffing noise in its throat. Fucking bitch was laughing at me… I grinned at that, and then began laughing as well. I mean, why wouldn't it? I would laugh too if a chicken pointed a stick at me. I was just its next meal, nothing more nothing less.

Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

I cracked my neck and dropped into a fighting stance, grinning as widely as I could, “Fight me you tool! I bet the goddess wants you to rip me to shreds eh? WELL THEN COME ON AND FIGHT ME!”

With that, I charged forward and swung my sword, activating sword slash halfway through. It sliced through the air, and I poured in every bit of strength I could, straining every single one of my muscles, my torn shoulder screaming in agony. As I watched it crash into the unmoving wolf's hide it… ricocheted, bouncing off of it. I stumbled back, shocked and horrified as I looked down at my trembling hands. No… no way… I couldn’t even slash this damn hound!?

It made that same huffing noise again, laughing at my attempt. It shook itself and mockingly eyed my sword before it stalked forward and almost contemptuously paced around me. I turned with it, and dashed forward and slashed at its neck, but the wolf didn’t even try to dodge. It just casually took it and slashed its paw across my chest, its nails slashing through my skin like it was butter. I grunted in shock and stumbled back as I felt blood pour down my chest. As I looked down and saw my chest covered in red, something cracked in me and I roared jumped forward, activating sword slash and striking the dire wolf, over, and over, and over again. Each one bounced off of its hide, and I screamed in rage, my vision turning red as I poured all of my strength into each strike. The wolf just kept slicing me, slashing me, and glaring at me with cold contempt.

I coughed up blood, and stumbled, dropping my blade and feeling dizzy as the blood loss finally up to me. The wolf contemptuously walked forward and picked up the blade and shook its head twice before letting go and sending it flying through the air. It was comical watching it go flying into the forest, and I let out a choked giggle. The wolf made the same huffing noise as it glanced back at me, slowly pacing around me. Haha… it was hilarious wasn’t it? I was dying… and all that damn wolf could do was laugh at me and my suffering. Haha… I started laughing, having to pause as I coughed up blood, but still chuckling. I couldn't stop myself. I laughed even harder as I fell to my knees, pain and agony ripping through my body. I tried to move, even a little bit, but my body screamed in protest. Pain rocketed through my body, which made me laugh even more, and I fell backwards onto my back. I wish I could just pass out from the pain already, but damn was this hilarious.

Belatedly, I looked up in the trees, and blinked in surprise. Wait… Halfi? I stared harder at the trees, wondering if I was going insane. He had left with Cylkia and them that last day… I'd watched him leave. There was no way. Was he here the whole time? My eyes were stuck on his shadow, hope beginning to blossom in my chest. Maybe Cylkia was nearby? Could she heal me? Halfi could defeat all these wolves, he'd told us all that he was unbelievably strong… I had a chance! I was saved right?

I locked eyes with him finally, and mouthed to him, ‘help me… please…’. As his eyes met mine, surprise flashed across his face, and then he grinned. I grunted and slowly, agonizingly, raised my hand towards him. That grin only widened, and he cocked his head to the side, before he slowly raised his finger to his lips. Desperation and confusion pulsed through me, and I struggled to move again, but he just shook his head side to side. What… What was he doing?

As I still struggled to move, I watched as Halfi stood up from the branch he was balancing on, and after cracking his neck from side to side, dropped down. He flashed through the air, but somehow still silently touched down next to me. Instantly, every single wolf nearby switched their attention to him and began growling. Even that same super massive wolf took a step backwards and lashed its tail from side to side. Halfi didn't even move, but suddenly I felt a massive force of pressure crash down on me. I gasped, feeling my ribs crack under the intense pressure. I couldn’t even scream, and I cast a glare at Halfi. Fucking shit this hurts! Tears rolled down my face unbidden, and I saw that even that massive dire wolf was struggling to move, though it had somehow not fallen to the ground yet. Halfi chuckled and turned to me, looking me up and down.

He pulled a cigar out of nowhere and lit a match on his stubble, using that to light it before taking a long drag and crouching down and blowing a ring of smoke in my face, “Ah, I see… The wolves singled you out, but you must have been with the others. So instead of risking their lives, you ran away and sacrificed yourself in the hopes of dragging them away, eh?”

I couldn’t even respond, as my lungs were slowly being squeezed of every last bit of air. I struggled to move, but I just felt my bones creak and my blood boil. Holy fucking shit… the least he could do was let up on the pressure somewhat… I looked up at him, my eyes pleading with him. He just pulled in another drag and shook his head. He straightened out and let out a sigh, before reaching into his jacket and procuring a knife, which he used to clean under his fingernails disinterestedly.

He flicked the cigar end and sliced off the very end with an effortless flick of the same knife, “Good for you kid. You know, I’m sure the goddess appreciates it and all. After all, she obviously had some plans in mind for those kids. I mean, that girl's shadow walk? The boy's archery skills? And from what Cylkia tells me, your leader, hmmm… What was her name? Ah Sam. That's right. She has a revival spell. Countries would pay her a fortune just for her to be a healer for them! Not even taking into account the heads she’ll make roll as a paladin… Ha! You though? Ha!” Halfi leaned his head back and laughed boisterously, slapping his knee and looking back at me. “No. You don't have a future here kid. Cylkia thinks the same thing , and you know, I bet the goddess thinks the same thing! Cylkia actually sent me out here to keep an eye on you kids. Snuck off after we parted ways and have been keeping an eye on each of your groups. I was busy chasing off a war troll that was attacking Ashtons team, so I didn’t even catch the dire wolf pack stalking you all until now. Though to be fair, I never would have thought that you would attract the attention of the entire Dire wolf pack! Haha… what rotten luck you have eh? Though, I guess I should thank you for sacrificing yourself… Hmm… How about this? I'll leave you with a knife so you can end your suffering on your own terms eh? Cylkia made it very clear to me that I wasn't allowed to help you out. Waste of energy, you know?”

I couldn’t say anything, my confusion slowly turning to rage as my vision started to darken. That… that fucking bitch! With the last of my breath I forced out what were probably my last words on this godforsaken planet, “Go… Fuck… Yourself…”

Halfi laughed and spun the knife in his hand, before tossing it by my hand, “Oh I like your spunk kid. Real shame that you’re a reject, I bet you could’ve been a great squire lugging around all their shit. Oh well, I’ll let the others know you died valiantly, eh?”

With that, he snapped his fingers and suddenly vanished into thin air, leaving behind only the sound of his mocking laughter in the cold night air. After a moment, I felt the crushing pressure vanish and I drug in a deep, gasping breath, coughing up more blood. That damned bitch! I screamed into the forest and forced myself to stand, my rage fueling my moments. My chest was alight with pain, my shoulder felt like it was holding on by shreds, and I had lord knows how many broken bones. My body had been torn to shreds, I had no sword, and I was surrounded by a pack of very angry Dire Wolves that had just been freed from Halfi’s tyrannical pressure. Was there even a way I was going to be able to get free of this? What point was there in getting free of this clearing, the rest of the pack had already shown that they could track me down. What else could I do but die? I eyed the dagger and pursed my lips. Was that really the only option I had left?

I turned and glared at that massive Dire Wolf. It was still just standing there, its head cocked as it tried to decide if they were safe or not. I shook my head and cracked my knuckles. No, it wasn’t necessarily the only option I had left. I definitely wasn’t going to get out of this. I obviously wasn't going to see my family or classmates again. I was never going to see the ending to my dreams, and I wasn't even going to ever get stronger! But… I smirked at the wolves and picked up the knife Halfi had left me. I definitely wasn’t going to die without a bang.

I raised my shaking arm, and pointed the dagger at the forest, screaming out at the world, “You just going to wait all day? FIGHT ME YOU COWARDS!”

The lead wolf paused in its scanning and glared at me, rage roiling in its eyes. It let out a loud howl and charged forward, moving so fast that I could barely see it. It ducked its head and crashed into my side, but I was ready. I roared and wrapped my arms around its neck and squeezed. It didn’t budge, and I squeezed even harder, rage fueling my movements. I crushed and strained and struggled, but all I felt was the wolf's teeth digging into me, biting down and tearing through my flesh like it was paper mache.

I screamed, feeling agony and pain once again rip through every cell of my body. The wolf bit me again and again, ripping into my chest, and I laughed. I had no idea how I was still aware, or conscious, but I was glad. I had a promise to keep after all… I squeezed, and with my free arm I raised the knife over the wolf's head. It was so focused on tearing into me that it didn’t even notice, and I drug up all my strength once again, a grin coming over my face. Enduring Heart really was doing some real work keeping me moving and alive… ha… I guess it was good for something in the end, huh? I brought the knife down, and stabbed it into the back of the wolf’s skull. It didn’t even break the skin, but I saw the wolf flinch from the impact. Good… good! I stabbed down over and over as the wolf buckled and squirmed, trying to throw me off of it. I squeezed even harder, feeling my muscles rip and scream, but demanding more strength from them. Mercilessly, I struck. Mercilessly I pierced. Mercilessly, I fought!

Skill learned!

Pierce (Initiate)

I smirked as the image popped in front of my eyes. Pierce, huh? Well it was about damn time! I roared and reached into the void, which eagerly twined around my demand. Without even asking, it gave me the strength that I wanted, and my arm filled with strength. The wolf bucked and kicked, perhaps sensing what was coming, but I was latched on much too hard now. As the muscles in my arms and shoulders screamed for mercy, I pushed them even harder, and slowly, I raised the knife over the back of its neck and allowed the power to take over.

Faster than I could have ever expected, the knife stabbed down, propelled by my screaming muscles and finally slashing through that damned hide of its. It howled and bucked and ran around the clearing, but I didn’t stop. I screamed and reached into the void and it eagerly supplied my demand, and my arms filled with power as the knife flashed down again. And then again. And again, and again, and again. I stabbed the blade down, over and over. My face locked in a feral grin as blood spun through the air.

As I laughed and stabbed, I lost track of the time. It could have been seconds, it could have been days. I didn’t know, and I didn’t care. All I cared about was just that one part of the wolf’s neck as it bucked and bashed me around in the clearing. All I cared about was piercing through it, and tearing into the flesh and bone behind. Part of me realized that pretty much every bone in my body was broken, minus my arms and head. Part of me wondered how I was still alive. However, both those little parts were drowned out by the overwhelming rage that was filling every fiber of my being. It lit my senses on fire, and dulled every other thing that was screaming for my attention. I was locked into that one spot on the damn wolf’s neck, and I brought down that dagger again, my rage fueling me and giving me the energy to keep on going. I was sure of just one thing. This wolf was going to die.

Then, almost as if it never happened, almost as if all I knew was a dream, I felt the bucking slow down. The howls that were ringing in the background went silent. I frowned as I realized I wasn’t even moving anymore. I felt the great beast stop, stagger and then fall over, crushing me under its massive body. I coughed up more of my blood, and stabbed the knife down one more time, really twisting it around in the wound I had created at its neck. Damn wolf… damn dead wolf…

I flinched as I felt all my senses come alive as a bright light lit up in front of me, blinding me. I shut my eyes and growled, but nothing happened immediately. After a moment, I slowly opened my eyes and grunted in surprise when I saw that my status window had appeared.

LEVEL UP!!!

LEVEL UP!!!

ABILITY COMPLETE!

WOULD USER LIKE TO EVOLVE?

Name: ???

Race: Human

Level: Seven (NEW)

Title: Wolf Slayer

Abilities:

Enduring Heart (COMPLETE!)

Skills:

Sprint (Veteran)

Sword Slash (Initiate)

Pierce (Initiate)(New!)

I frowned and stared at the window, considering it for a moment as I fell to the side of the wolf. What the hell? Why didn’t I feel any of the healing euphoria if- All of that was cut off as I heard a loud crack, and with a wild swirl of pain, agony, and euphoria, suddenly I felt my body explode with sensations. As I screamed and blacked out, a dim part of me realized that my spine must have snapped, and cut off all my feeling below my waist… No wonder I hadn’t felt any of the euphoria, and the healing energy, putting my broken body together…

My eyes shot open, and I gasped, sitting up so fast that my vision blacked out for a brief moment. Then the pain screamed through my body and I groaned and fell backwards. I must not have been out for long if my body was still regenerating from some of the damage I had incurred. I sighed and shakily looked down at my legs, not knowing what to expect, but prepared for the worst. As my eyes landed on them, my face paled as all I saw was a bloody red mess. Oh gods… Even with the two level ups, I was barely being held together. The damn wolf must have been grinding me along the ground for hours…

I groaned and looked around at the woods, listening to the growls of the other dire wolves as the shadows stretched longer as they got closer. I had killed their pack leader after all, they probably wanted revenge. I ground my teeth together and looked back down at my bloody body. Well… I guess there was nothing better to do. The level ups had saved my life, but I could still feel every shattered bone in my body. My lungs were full of glass, my legs were so broken I was pretty sure I was never going to walk again, and that was if I ever was going to be able to feel them again! The wolf had shattered my spinal cord, back then, and as I struggled to move my legs, I watched as they just stayed still and frowned. I could feel down to my waist now, which was why I was currently in agonizing pain, but below that was still dead numb.

I groaned and spat a wad of blood to the side. Frankly that was probably the only reason I was able to think… Haha… lucky me, eh? I let out a long sigh, and reached into the void again and searched for my status again. Hadn’t it said something about evolving? At this point, I had no other options… Might as well see what that does, right? A howl echoed through the night air, and I desperately pushed on the status screen, feeling and saying yes to its question. As I felt the void rumble and roar, I swallowed hard. It was expanding from where it was inside of me, and as it grew, it consumed everything that it came into contact with. It devoured and took in everything until all that was left was my mind, and my rapidly darkening vision. Fear roiled through what was left of me, and I screamed into the cold, night air as the darkness took over.