The broad grin on my face was a mirror reflecting my sheer delight as I surveyed my plentiful collection of Demon Cores. After a brief period of unconsciousness that I used to rejuvenate my weary body, I found myself still surrounded by the deserted expanse of the ground floor, a stark reminder of the grueling battle I had recently endured.Re-examining the items stored in my [Subspace], a grin crept across my face, almost involuntarily. The progress I had made within a mere couple of days was astonishing. I was no longer the terrified boy I had been a few weeks ago when I first stepped back into the world; my growth was undeniable."Yet, there's more to come…" I muttered, glancing at the entrance not far from where I sat. The sweet aroma of freedom was intoxicating. However, my journey was far from over."Patience is key! I can't rush this!" The external world surely held more dangers than I could possibly predict, and my only source of knowledge was my time spent in the Sacred Hall.
With an expression of distinct discomfort, a young woman groaned, "Urgh! I still can’t get used to this…” She seemed to be in her early twenties and was garbed in a form-fitting outfit studded with various pieces of survival equipment. Alongside her were four other figures, three males and another female, their clothes varied but their gear echoing the practicality of their apparent leader's.One of her crew swiftly admonished her, “It can’t be helped, also keep your voice down!” His voice echoed a little too loudly for his liking, earning him a swift, scathing glare from the leader. Sheepishly, he fell silent.“You’re the one making noise, stupid. Take your own advice…” she retorted, her voice trailing off as she scanned their surroundings. The scene before her was distressing, to say the least, with collapsed buildings and raging fires, but by now it was a familiar sight. The stagnant air was stifling, exacerbated by the sweltering sun and sporadic gusts of wind that only added to t
With a wide grin, I mused, "This has been well worth setting up. Now then… let's see what they're capable of!" [Flashback to Earlier]Upon conquering the entire building and stepping into the outside world, I was welcomed by a deathly silence. The tangible sensation of solitude seemed to permeate my very being, causing a peculiar tingling sensation on my skin.I scanned my surroundings, and even with my heightened senses, I couldn't detect a single sign of life for miles around. It led me to question, “Am I the sole survivor in this area?”I had barely walked a short distance from my apartment building when I surveyed the surrounding structures. Some stood defiantly against the sky while others lay collapsed, their once formidable heights reduced to rubble. Surprisingly, my surroundings were eerily devoid of any monstrous presence.What made my apartment so distinct, I wondered? The answer was already forming in my mind, “It must have been due to the Gate that had materialized in the
Chapter 4: An Unforeseen RevelationContemplating my next move, I recalled an intriguing strategy I had conceived for such situations. The approaching group was part of an expedition team, inherently implying their superior combat capabilities. My understanding of the expedition teams' ranking, courtesy of the knowledge I gained in the Sacred Hall, made me tread carefully. I had to assume they were on par with my strength, no matter their rank. One wrong move could give away my presence.The expedition team drew closer, their attire and gear strikingly different from what I had encountered before. Their lack of visible enhancements baffled me. The most potent energy I could sense emanated from the woman who seemed to be leading the group. Shrouded in mystery, their true strength remained an enigma. But the answers were imminent.With ten Skills at my disposal, a few of which I acquired after becoming a thief, I no longer needed to manually access my Subspace to use items. Conjuring th
In a dimension distinct from the familiar laws of time and space, the Sacred Hall stood. This realm, ruled by God Himself, was a breathtaking marvel untouched by worldly concepts and constraints.In this domain, mere thoughts were transformed into tangible reality. Fatigue, discomfort, and hunger were foreign, replaced by an endless stream of entertainment that kept boredom at bay. The primary spectacle was the Golden Screen, aptly known as the World’s Mirror. It was a divine conduit through which one could observe any person, place, or event occurring within the earthly realm.Observing the daily unfolding of life from this privileged vantage point, I realized that God's famed omniscience was enabled by this all-seeing mirror. Time, an illusion in this realm, allowed me to immerse myself fully in humanity's last struggle, presented without restriction on the screen before me.With an unsettling fascination, I watched the desperate battles, the rivers of spilled blood, and the mounting
Anne was gasping for breath, her lungs straining with every inhale and exhale. Her eyes were wearied, and her body trembled on the brink of collapse. However, she clenched her fists, determined to persevere in her struggle, banking on a miracle to unfold. The previously fierce look on her face melted into a soft one as the monster bore down on her, its oppressive aura advancing relentlessly. Her comrades lay incapacitated on the battleground, moaning in agony as their lifeblood drained away, leaving them powerless."How did we end up here...?!" Ana seethed through gritted teeth. She had harbored some hope of overcoming the beast, but the creature’s overpowering ability that allowed it to withstand their combined assault was something she hadn’t accounted for.The ogre grunted, its mouth watering as it savored the intoxicating mixture of Anne’s sweat and blood. The scent only fed the monster's perverse thrill.Drained as she was, she had enough strength left for one final activation o
Clad in my dark, hooded cloak - check! Donned in my sleek gloves and boots - double-check! My exquisite sword at the ready - triple-check! And, to top it all, the fox mask that I had eagerly purchased online, inspired by one of my favorite anime - quadruple check! A rush of thrill surged within me as I stood poised before the mischievous Ogre. Enveloped in an aura of charisma, my mysterious persona brought a smile to my face. 'I must admit, I've always yearned to have an experience like this!'I had to credit God for this opportunity. This world was the perfect canvas to paint my fantasies upon, and I planned on creating a myriad of colorful memories.I summoned my Core-5 blade from the [Subspace] and brandished it at the Demon, a grin etched beneath my white mask. The sword, once belonging to an erstwhile ally, was tightly grasped in my hand. After losing my previous weapon to the Hell Kobold King and depleting my arsenal of daggers due to their frailty against its mana shield, t
As the day steadily transitioned into the evening, countless hours had elapsed since the taming of the monstrous ogre. My gaze remained fixed on the group from earlier, now on their feet and seemingly rejuvenated, though the trauma of the encounter with death still clung to their faces.While her comrades sought solace in rest, the leader, identified as Anne, decided to retrieve their coveted prize. A sense of wonder took hold of me; despite their earlier peril, they hadn't abandoned their quest. Was it purely the prospect of precious resources that anchored their resolve?Their ultimate aim, it seemed, was a Vending Machine. A banal device, but one laden with potential nourishment and items to bring back to their camp. Anne approached it eagerly, a palpable sigh of relief escaping her as she considered the dual victory - the fulfillment of their quota and the acquisition of a new skill from the defeated monster's Demon Core.'Ah, she's planning to transpo