An earsplitting wail erupted, the horrific sound slicing through the air as the demons leapt forward, their bodies crouched, ready to pounce on me. It was a hideous sound, one that echoed the darkness and despair that had consumed my existence. Without a moment's hesitation, I voiced out, "[Subspace]!" The word, a command to the unknown, pierced the air like a beacon of hope in the suffocating despair.As though materializing out of the fabric of reality itself, a shimmering blue window appeared before me. I reached out, extending my hand towards it, aiming to select an item from the list that displayed itself before me. However, even as my fingers neared the translucent screen, I felt a sudden and overwhelming crunch. One of the monstrous beasts lunged at me, its gnarled fangs sinking deep into the soft flesh of my arm. The immediate pain was piercing, the beast's sharp fangs gouging out a chunk of my skin, its teeth burrowing into my flesh with ruthless force. The agony was almost

"Jackpot!" My heart throbbed with exhilaration as I surveyed the sight before me. The apartment I had stumbled upon, formerly inhabited by an unlucky soul, was much neater than anticipated. Everything was meticulously arranged, offering a contrasting image to the grim realities of my own living quarters.The stranger’s home was similar in size to my own, with two well-kept rooms. Still, it bore no resemblance to the house I grew up in. Life had a way of playing tricks, and this seemed like an unusually lucky draw in the lottery of this apocalyptic world.Opening the fridge, my eyes widened at the variety of foodstuffs. From a copious amount of meat and fish to eggs and veggies, it was fully stocked. I couldn't suppress the smirk that crept onto my lips, "This guy certainly knew his nutrition."A dozen bottles of milk stacked together caught my eye, and without a moment of hesitation, I seized one. Twisting off the cap, I downed the whole bottle in a few satisfying gulps. I let out a s

"Alright, Damian, just breathe," I quietly admonished myself. My words echoed in the deafening silence that surrounded me, bouncing off invisible walls that only I could perceive. I could feel the tension coursing through me, threatening to override my logic with fear and panic. I knew I had to counter this with tranquility. So, I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and let the cool air slowly fill my lungs. I held it for a moment before exhaling, feeling my tension partially dissipate with the expulsion of air.In the throes of my current predicament, it was easy to fixate on the uncertainties, the potential perils that seemed to lurk around every corner. It was easy to feel overwhelmed by the weight of things I couldn't control. But I knew that surrendering to this fear was not productive. Time was my ally, and I intended to use every second wisely to come up with a strategy to navigate the myriad challenges that loomed ahead.I forced a semblance of positivity i

The battlefield was a grisly panorama of lifeless bodies, a tribute to the fierce struggle that had just concluded. I stood triumphantly amidst the bloody carnage, a satisfied grin marking my face as the fallen demons dissipated, metamorphosing into experience points for me. As their spectral bodies vanished into the ether, they generously bequeathed their valuable cores.Although my successful onslaught facilitated a level-up six times, it was a disappointing number compared to my aspirations. It felt as if the mountain I was scaling was growing steeper with every step; every subsequent level-up becoming an increasingly challenging feat to accomplish. This was a common principle I'd encountered before in the role-playing games and novels I'd immersed myself in, but to experience it firsthand was another story.As I surveyed the battlefield, my gaze was drawn to the scattering of luminescent purple stones — the residual cores of the fallen demons. I let out a low,

With a confident smile, I responded to his desperate plea. "Certainly, I'll assist you," I assured the trembling man tied before me. Relief began to replace the terrified expression on Arthur's face."R-Really?" His voice wavered, seemingly unsure whether to take my words at face value."In all honesty, I've been struggling to escape this place on my own," I admitted, exhaling a heavy sigh. "I need your assistance just as much as you need mine.""Even with your high level?" He questioned in disbelief."Well... the situation is a little complicated..." I confessed, masking my unease with a vague reply.It had become quite apparent that Arthur was a novice when it came to navigating this world and its embedded system. I'd initially regretted not being among the first batch of summoned individuals, assuming I'd missed out on crucial information. However, it appeared that even the early arrivals were clueless about many aspects of this world.If I could garner Arthur's trust and collabora