PART 2
Alicia white
Yggdrasil time [20:08]
???
A burst of flashing light illuminated the area, revealing Alice, who found herself staring at the terrifying Handgobbler. Its blackened eyes sprouted from multiple hands that emerged from its monstrous maw. Alice's mind raced, desperately trying to capture every detail of her surroundings while grappling with the sheer terror that permeated her will.
'So this is how you look, you vile monster!' she thought.
Alice's gaze filled with a mixture of disgust and contempt. Despite their distance, Alice's mind stored the Handgobbler's image deep in her memory. Emerging from the darkness, half of its body loomed from the unknown. With jagged, long hands escaping erratically from its massive jaw.
The monster's disfigured body was sickeningly pallid, with putrid brown hue marks reminiscent of decaying human skin. It bulged and trembled. Countless gnarled, thin hands clawed their way out of its gullet, twisted and contorted into unnatural, creeping poses. These nightmarish appendages, resembling spider legs, squirmed and slithered across the ground, eliciting an unsettling horror.
As the monstrous creature continued its brazen display of profound vileness, Alice was in constant search of anything that could aid her. Suddenly, a glimmer of silver caught her attention. She saw it reflected in the surroundings: a bell resting beside a pristine white hat.
Oh, right. My equipment!
The moment was quick - almost instantaneous before the spark of light faded into darkness, shrouding the room in an impenetrable umbra. Despite the moment that passed in the blink of an eye, it was enough for her to gather information and assess her surroundings. Alice's heart pounded as her mind immediately processed what she saw to reevaluate her situation. Unfortunately, Alice was not able to see any walls, or perhaps there wasn't any in the first place. Its absence made Alice disoriented and unable to discern her current location.
Am I inside? Or am I outside? I am confident that 40 minutes have passed in reality, which means 18 hours have passed in the game. That would be more or less 8 p.m. based on UT time.
Alice found herself contemplating the existence of a starlit sky in Yggdrasil, where floating islands already defied the laws of nature. It seemed incoherent for a dimension like this to possess celestial bodies suspended in space; it simply felt unnatural.
Given the disorienting strangeness of the surroundings, Alice struggled to formulate a definitive judgment. She contemplated multiple assumptions based on her experiences thus far. Above her, a vast expanse of darkness stretched out, devoid of any shimmering light. The air hung heavy with an unpleasant stench, and the already cold environment steadily declined further.
So many questions left unanswered. I need to be more vigilant.
With a trace of nonchalance, Alice navigated through the darkness, her mind recalling the precise location of the white hat and the bell. She gracefully knelt at a specific spot, extending her hand to retrieve her equipment. In an instant, a chilling sensation gazed at her fingertips - A familiar touch that caused Alice to freeze.
“Are you awake?” it said, its groggy voice embodied monstrosity.
‘Absolutely not,’ Alice thought, ‘you may have caught me off-guard, but not this time.’
Alice expected the Handgobbler would get lured by the fire. She steeled herself for what was to come, preventing her mind from succumbing to panic and maintaining control over her body. Then, a multitude of hands grasped at her wrist, arm, and neck.
It muttered, “Are you awake?”
A chilling voice echoed, whispering ominously in front of her, like a devil raking the resolve she had mustered. Unconsciously, she held her breath as every strand of hair stood on end in fear. A pulsating sound reached her ears, accompanied by a nauseating stench that threatened to overwhelm her senses. Icy and clammy, she could feel the monster's fetid breath on her body, as if she was inside its monstrous maw. The wildest imagination corrupted her mind as her body began to tremble in fear.
You’re lucky that I don’t have a gun! You’re lucky that I’m limited in my abilities! You vile spawn! You vile scum! I will make you regret this!
“Are you awake?”
Please no. Absolutely not. You already have so many hands! Why is there a demand for mine?
Unable to suppress the fear, parts of her conscious augments shifted in thinking ways of escaping this grave situation. Unbeknownst to her, it caused the arm that was ripped off to throb in pain but was eclipsed by fear and panic. Another hand slid to her chin and gently rubbed it as if giving comfort. Then, a wet feeling touched her face as if wiping her.
She felt the familiarity of this action, rubbing her face with what seemed to be a moist cloth. Soon, a putrid stench permeated through her nostrils, triggering the urge to vomit, but she managed to suppress it by using her conscious augment to command her stomach.
“Wake up! You should wake up now!”
Moments later, the hands untangled from her trembling body, and the bloody skin dropped to her knees, leaving Alice confused and alone. Recognizing such a familiar pattern in its action, Alice stored the information in her memory.
Tap tap
The sound of the Handgobbler's steps faded into the distance until Alice could no longer hear it. Confused by the monster's sudden action, Alice wiped the blood off using her cuffs while throwing the cloth away.
What is that monster’s obsession with that line? How does it even speak such a comprehensible language?
Just as much as everything Alice had experienced thus far, almost everything remained unknown. After wiping the blood away, she placed the hat on her head.
I wonder if I had missed the chance to inflict damage on the monster. But there is no telling that it might call for others.
When Alice began to compose herself, she felt a sudden sharp pain in her torn-off hand. Realizing that she was bleeding, she immediately commanded her body to aid and stop from wasting more blood. At that moment, something suddenly clicked within her, triggering a flash of unregulated memory.
Right.
As one of the Aetherian imperial subjects, it was natural for them to biologically alter their body using a Special cell called Augment cells, controlled via consciousness. Just like when she blocked her pain receptors from being registered in her mind or how she commanded her cells to immediately stop her body from bleeding on her ripped-out hand.
'Is the monster really attracted to light, or it is attracted to heat?' Alice pondered, 'But if it was heat, it wouldn't have just taken my arm.'
As Alice touched her own skin, she felt a chilling coldness, as if she was touching a corpse. Failing to develop her initial assumption, Alice felt compelled to test her other hypothesis to come to terms with her understanding of the Handgobbler.
She clenched her teeth, consciously keeping her emotions in control while attempting to relax her body. After a few moments, a strange chemical taste filled her mouth, accompanied by a bluish-green glow seeping from her mouth. All the while, her saliva transformed into slimy, dense fluid.
Alice cautiously inspected her surroundings before opening her mouth. Her saliva underwent a mesmerizing transformation, emitting an intense bioluminescent glow as it trickled glow from her parted lips. Suddenly, a wave of dizziness washed over her body, causing her to grasp for support.
Alice wondered, 'Did I use too many A-cells? I was so confident that my A-cells would be the same as before now that I inherited my real-world race?' Frustration welled inside her as she realized that not only she was already constrained by the limitations placed on her conscious augment, but she had never anticipated running short of A-cells.
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Regret gnawed at her as she recognized her faults in failing to assess her new avatar's condition before inspecting her strange environment. Alice had grown complacent from her previously known perfect body, and the initial self-body evaluation slipped from her mind. She started to hate herself for this perceived weakness, which had led to her current critical situation.
Alice grimaced. She wanted her torn-off arm to regenerate like her real-world body normally could. However, Alice sensed that her avatar was not generating enough A-cells to support such. Instead, she decided to command her body to close the wound.
The intense glow radiating from her closed mouth cast a hazy light on the floor. If anything, her face would be the only visible in this abyssal darkness, vulnerable to almost everything.
If the Handgobbler is indeed attracted to light. Then I fear a grim fate awaits me. I may face another terrifying prospect of losing yet another arm, or, worst of all, I might meet my first death.
Opening her mouth, causing the glow to intensify, and the thick fluid trickled down her lips. She could see her cheeks glowing in bluish-green. With a mix of suspense and fear, she could hear her heart racing, anticipating the possible arrival of the Handgobbler from the darkness. Yet, to her surprise, it never came.
‘Excellent.’ Alice thought as she sighed in relief. ‘Next up…’
Alice closed her eyes. A sharp and agonizing piercing sensation overwhelmed her eye, causing her hand to unconsciously cover it as her fingers dug into the tender tissues. She panted heavily, as if she were out of breath, exhausting her body.
After the intense waves of discomfort subsided, she cautiously opened her eyes, only to be greeted by abyssal darkness. Gradually, her eyes adjusted and unveiled a monochromatic world. The once-glowing bluish-green bioluminescence transformed into shades of gray in her vision. The floor gradually gradates from gray to deep black as it grows in distance from her. However, the change in her vision made it possible for her to discern the details of her surroundings.
In this expanse, she realized she was in a vast, empty room, sitting alone in the center. Large towering pillars supported the weight of the ceiling, shattered glass from windows lay scattered on the floor, and numerous pieces of wooden furniture aged with dust, emblematic of its past destruction.
I despise the feeling of visual intensifier eyes; it is uncomfortable. Also, where is my map?
With the ability to see through the unknown, Alice's calmness rejected any fear of the horrors lurking in the dark and kept her mind in control. Moments after she had thought of a map, a holographic displayed in her top right vision.
Her eyes quickly move between the map and her surroundings to confirm its functionality. The map displayed the obstacles of the land and living entity of Alice and the Handgobbler as green dots, contrasting to the map's transparent blue holograph.
More or less 20 meters visibility map. Not very useful. But I'll take it.
Alice's gaze fixed on the peculiar Handgobbler, which lifted its body with countless hands as it aimlessly moved around the room like a spider. Shivers ran along her spine.
I would rather have spiders instead of demi-human spiders. Not to be degrading to their kind, but it's a mere preference.
Her eyes darted around, landing at the sight of an open hallway at the corner of the room. With caution, she raised her body and grasped the bell by its clapper before stealthily advancing towards the entrance.
As she continued to walk, she kept a vigilant eye on her map, not allowing any monsters to catch her off guard. Various thoughts filled her mind, 'Should I risk venturing towards the boundary? But what if there are even more monsters there? Perhaps I should wait until my arm fully recovers, but without food, that is impossible. Either way, time is not on my side. Others may approach at any moment, and I cannot afford another encounter.'
Alice glanced at the Handgobbler, 'Is it possible to eliminate this threat? Or rather, do I have the current capability to eliminate it? Limited conscious augment, lack of A-cells, and lack of a weapon. In short, it's impossible.'
She recalled the details of her avatar from her memory bank and deconstructed the meaning of their descriptions as if interpreting a poem, 'Ones that I find useful are possession and fire, but aside from it, [synonymous radiance] and [A Fiery Blood] remains questionable.'
She wondered why her body was not glowing despite the literal understanding of the [synonymous radiance]'s description. The effect of the racial traits would have been obvious as it can be seen with eyes, not like the [A fiery blood] which required Alice to inspect her body thoroughly to understand its effect. But she postponed that inspection as it was not the right time.
In conclusion, I have no ability that can assist me in these dark times. How wonderful.
Alice sighed inwardly, crestfallen. But regardless, she pressed forward, weighing her options with each step.
After reaching the entrance of the open hallway, Alice leaned against the left side and inspected her map to confirm the presence of monsters. Concluding that it was safe, she cautiously scanned the right side and noticed a faint, indistinct shape. Alice could not discern what it was. However, her monochromatic vision, together with the reliance on the glowing light in her mouth, made it difficult to discern distinct shapes. She squinted, desperately trying to perceive what it was.
A statue?
Despite squinting, Alice remained uncertain, but the looming presence of a wall-like structure behind the figure strengthened her belief that it was the end of the hallway. She cautiously peered her head out and scanned the left side, where seemingly endless broken furniture and pillars obstructed the pathway. The thick veil of darkness cloaked her view, rendering it impossible to discern more than what was nearby. Swiveling her head to the right, she confirmed the silhouette was a statue.
Alice found herself surrounded by an eerie silence, devoid of any signs of life or even a trace of nature. Yet, despite the emptiness, an insidious sense of danger lay a deep presence in her mind. She feared that at any moment, monsters could emerge from the shadows. The map, once a source of reassurance, now offered little solace in the face of the unknown. Alice retreats her head back to the room to ponder.
She inwardly sighed at the difficulty of the situation, but she did not want to be stuck with the Handgobbler for eternity. Furthermore, she sought a player who would help her log out.
'Approximately 20 days in Yggdrasil time until my real-life obligations take over, I must urgently find a solution before then.' Alice declared.
Before venturing into the hallway, there was something she wanted to try. Alice cautiously placed down the bell as much as possible to avoid making any sounds and collected several pebbles nearby. Her intent gaze fell on the Handgobbler, partially obscured in the enveloping darkness, rendering half of its body invisible to Alice. Swiftly, she hurled a pebble next to the Handgobbler, the resounding impact shattering the silence, its echo reaching Alice's enhanced hearing.
Her body tensed in anticipation, ready to flee immediately if the monster attempted to approach her. However, the Handgobbler seemed to be oblivious to the noise, engrossed in its own world. Alice let out a sigh of relief, but she knew she needed more information. She hurled another pebble at the creature's body and swiftly retrieved the Bell from the ground.
The Handgobbler abruptly halted, its grotesque form frozen as it scanned its surroundings. Then countless writhing arms lashed, desperately seeking the source of the disturbance. Moments later, it resumed its prior actions.
Excellent.
Gaining new information about the unknown, Alice felt a wave of relief wash over her as she now possessed a clear understanding, no matter how insignificant it was. Her previously tense body released its tension, and shifted her gaze to the map, ensuring that the only entities present were herself and the Handgobbler.
It's time to check the hallway out.
Alice cautiously poked her head out one more time before stepping into the hallway. Considering her options, she decided to go to the left side, as the right side appeared to be blocked. As she looked around, Alice could no longer bear such a short distance of her sight. She dexterously moved the bell on her fingers, so she could take some bioluminescence that was spilling from her lips.
Disgusting... But my life is on the line. Although it feels like I can revive if I interpret the description of [Arise from ashes], I rather avoid it due to the lack of facts.
Suddenly, her attention was pulled towards a movement in the corner of her eyes, causing her head to jerk in quick response.
As Alice glanced at the statue she had seen before, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was different about it. The statue appeared uncomfortably close, prompting her to recall its original location and notice a significant shift. Its closeness offered a discernible view, revealing a figure similar to a knight.
The map indicates it as an obstacle, not a monster. Am I going insane? It's probably nothing. I wonder why I chose this spawn.
She considered hanging the bell on one of her belts. However, with so much unknown in her surroundings, the noise it would produce as she moved might attract other monsters besides the Handgobbler.
Tap tap
As Alice continued to walk down the dimly lit hallway, an eerie sensation crept upon her. A palpable presence seemed to be training behind her, causing her to turn around abruptly. A shiver ran down her spine as she beheld the sight before her.
It moved! It definitely had moved!
Alice caught sight of the knight statue, only to find it frozen the moment she laid her eyes on it. Fear grew in her, intently staring at the knight statue as if preventing it from moving so likely. Her sense was alarmed, heightening her senses and survival instinct.
Suddenly, she heard heavy footsteps approaching her in haste, causing her eyes to shift reflexively towards it. What she saw shocked her - another statue almost twice the size as the first, with its seemingly bone-looking stone hand outstretched towards her. Even though it became frozen, it's hard mass and height intimated Alice. She couldn't fathom how this large-bony statue managed to move.
She turned her gaze to the other statue and was startled to find it directly in front of her. Suddenly, something clicked in her mind as if she had come to a realization. Without hesitation, she quickly jumped to the side of the knight, while maintaining her sight on both.
Damnation.