My body quivered, trembling with an unfamiliar sensation, a disconcerting numbness spreading through my limbs like a silent, creeping storm. It was a moment that hung in the balance, teetering between survival and demise, an instant that would decide if I could find my place in this world, or be discarded like obsolete flotsam in the face of an era that was alien and daunting in its savagery.
"As a rational person, should I fail to kill a Demon during our first encounter, what hope could I possibly harbor to explore the chaotic world that lies in wait beyond these walls?" This grim realization sank like an anchor in the sea of my thoughts.With an unwavering grip, I clutched the sharpened metal rod that was my only line of defense, a pitiful shield against the brutal realities of my existence. With measured movements, I tilted the rod, aligning its razor-sharp edge towards the direction of the ascending staircase."Skraakiiiikk!" The eerie sound resonated in the cavernous silence, the dull tapping noises created by the abominable creature as it trotted up the staircase amplified until it was so close I could sense its powerful, insatiable lust for blood. The world around me seemed to hold its breath.Gulping down the anxiety that had crept up my throat, I willed myself to stand firm. "I can do this, I can do this!" I repeated to myself, summoning every shred of courage I could muster.Suddenly, the first grotesque limb of the creature made its appearance, its monstrous foot landing on the platform of the third-floor hallway. It resembled the limb of a feral beast, complete with enormous toenails and an unsettling, slimy brown color.Before my brain could process the horror before me, another leg followed, the creature's body gradually materializing in my field of view. Frozen, paralyzed by a chilling fear that threatened to devour my resolve, I could only watch as the Demon unveiled its true form.This monstrosity, while being no larger than a child, boasted a height of barely two feet. Its gait was hunched, and the creature's grotesquely long arms nearly grazed the floor as it moved. The eyes, almost bulging out of their sockets, appeared monstrous and bloodthirsty. Sharp, elongated ears sprouted from its large, bald head which would intermittently tilt as it skulked around."Griiiik…" The guttural sound filled the air as the creature looked in my direction, tilting its head curiously. With an ominous grin, it revealed its sharp, deadly teeth, a thick, grimy saliva oozing from its large, cavernous mouth.[System Alert][Danger]Suddenly, a red status bar flashed into existence, an ominous beacon identifying the peril that lay before me.[System Information]- Name: Hell Kobold Spawn- Level: 2- Race: Demon (Lesser) – Grade: 1- Age: 29 days[Stats]- HP: 12/30- MP: - -- Strength: 9- Agility: 30- Vitality: 10- Intelligence: 1[Status Condition]Please leave comments to support me. Thanks!
With a resonating "Skrreaeeek!", the cavernous hallways of the forsaken edifice reverberated with the guttural cries of otherworldly creatures, malicious echoes snaking their way through the labyrinthine pathways that had once offered the promise of escape. But it had become glaringly clear that the maze now only led to dead-ends.An eerie realization dawned on me, chilling me to the core yet oddly sparking a determined resolve in my heart. There was no path for flight, no possibility of escaping the hellish scenario I found myself ensnared in. The only victory lay not in evasion, but in confrontation. I had to suppress these demonic creatures, overpower every single one of them lurking within the decrepit walls of this forsaken structure. It was a daunting task, to say the least, but one that could not be avoided. The only way to gain an upper hand was to anticipate their attacks, strategize against their strengths and weaknesses, for my resilience against their unexpected onslaughts
The gruesome squelch of monstrous flesh under force echoed throughout the confined hallway, marking yet another victorious battle against a wave of demons. "Skriiiiikkk," the creatures wheezed, issuing their final, feeble death cries as the life seeped out of them.I surveyed the bloody aftermath, an odd sense of satisfaction washing over me. "This marks the third wave," I gloated, casting a scornful look at the pathetic beasts now lying lifeless at my feet.As if in response, an unexpected message rang through my mind, a voice both alien and intimate simultaneously.[You Have Leveled Up][You Have Leveled Up]My eyebrows lifted in mild surprise. Leveling up twice in quick succession? I had expected a more substantial boost, given the formidable opponents I had just laid low.The slain demons were a group of three, and each of them held an impressive level. One was at Level 6, the remaining two at Level 5. Considering my level was at 4 when I killed them, I had been hoping for more e
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
It was amidst the buzz of cosmic energy that a golden-hued interface flickered into being, its luminescent presence serving as a beacon amidst the tumultuous chaos that had so recently gripped my existence. The inscribed details on its screen revealed the stark reality of my current circumstances and the significant progress I had made since my last ordeal.Before the debacle involving a menacing swarm of demons, my experience had peaked at Level 6, and now, having ascended four levels during the fray, I felt a surge of expectation ripple through my being. The lure of greater prowess, reflected in the numbers on the golden panel, was a tantalizing promise of the potential growth that lay within my grasp.[STATUS INFORMATION]- Name: Damian Stark- Level: 10 – Exp: 10.30- Race: Human- Job: None- Age: 16 Years- Sex: Male- Height: 5” 3. – Weight: 115 pounds- Alignment: Chaotic Neutral- Karma Points: 100 – (G) Karma Points: 10[Stats]- HP: 600/600- MP: - -- Strength: 140- Agili
"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
The control panel of my 'Gift'— a supernatural ability bestowed upon me—glowed azure as I browsed through its settings. Before me, the panel displayed the 'SubSpace Edit' menu, summarizing the core statistics of my Gift: - Current Rank: F - Current Level: 1 - Total Amount Of Slots: 10 Cost For Edit are (G) Karma Points.' My current balance? A mere 10 points.Intriguingly, despite the countless hours I'd spent at the Sacred Hall, I'd never come across an option to edit the core features of my Gift. Should I change the Rank, which would redefine its essence, or just the Level? Increasing the Level would most likely expand my SubSpace storage slots, yet keeping it in the same Rank would limit its overall potential.Considering the cost of (G) Karma Points for each edit, this was a decision of utmost gravity. My pool of Karma Points had remained stagnant at 10, even after nine hard-earned level-ups. The panel didn't specify the cost per edit, making it a risky gamble. After wrestlin
"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
"Let the games commence," I declared, as a rush of adrenaline coursed through my veins.In mere seconds, propelled by my significantly enhanced agility and speed, I crossed the desolate hallway, landing at the staircase in the blink of an eye. A glance around revealed the vanished remains of the slaughtered monsters; the system had efficiently eliminated their bloodied carcasses, turning them into demon cores and assorted artifacts. As a result, even their spilled blood was being absorbed into oblivion.The staircase was devoid of any creatures. I made haste, descending to the third floor and soon found myself on the second level."This will be a true test of skill," I muttered under my breath.I found myself confronted by a teeming horde of Demons. I stepped cautiously into the wide hallway of the second floor, and instantly, dozens of creatures fixed their malignant gazes upon me, baring their sharpened fangs threateningly. An initial estimate s
In the quiet aftermath of the tumultuous ARMAGEDDON, I found myself standing at the precipice of a new reality. The remnants of the battle lingered in the air, and I could feel the residual power and (G) Essence coursing through the fabric of existence. As I gazed upon the aftermath, a solemn determination settled within me – a resolve to forge a reality free from the influence of both Demons and Gods.With newfound purpose, I raised my hands, drawing upon the remnants of power that swirled around me. As I concentrated, the very fabric of existence seemed to warp and bend to my will. The Demons and Gods, the Administrators of this chaotic universe, were to be left behind in the debris of ARMAGEDDON.In a surge of cosmic energy, I began to shape a pristine reality, one untouched by supernatural forces. The skies cleared, the land became fertile, and the seas calmed. I meticulously crafted a world where the laws of nature reigned supreme, untouched by the meddling hands of higher bei
"Oh well, there's nothing else I can do…" Even if I was annoyed about the whole thing with Arthur, it was still a fact that he lost.Thanks to their emergency escape, the Pariah party missed their chance to challenge the Hidden Floor of the Tower Of Conquerors.Not only that, but their plan to use Leah and the others as hostages didn't work. They were in my [Subspace].'It's not like they matter to me at this point…'I could simply keep them as (G) Karma Point banks.Now that I could once again resort to farming (G) Karma from people, wasn't this the perfect opportunity to gain as many points as I could?'Ah, but I need quite the number of Points to advance to B Rank…'My Gift was currently in C Rank. While the abilities were pretty broken at this point, I couldn't help but wonder what awaited me if I could get a higher Rank.'With this whole gods business, I need to get as strong as possible…'With a smile, I gazed upon the warbling portal in front of me."Speaking of stronger… I sh
What happens when a person keeps climbing the Tower?Yes, with each Level Up, wounds heal and the body is restored. However, mental fatigue is something that piles up. The strain a person has is something that gathers over time.The Rankers knew this quite well, so they all agreed to climb together. It was very obvious what they were planning on doing.—Letting the other person die!In this world, there were many ways to get stronger. It was also possible to use certain loopholes in the System—especially if one wasn't an Evil Aligned yet.Since the Rankers were in a Party, they must have been very certain of their Alignments, making them completely 'trust' one another.But, these things could be deceptive.Just as I managed to kill a bunch of people without a change in my Chaotic Neutral Alignment, the same applied to a lot of people—especially in a dangerous place like the Tower.As they fought monsters, it was certain that Rankers would get weakened. Then… if, by chance, some 'accid
[SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENT!][The Tower Of War Has Been Cleared!]Torrents of thoughts flowed in my mind as I looked at the System Window displayed in front of me.'What the hell…?'Why?How?Who?It didn't make any sense.The average Level for the current denizens of the world was 50. The strong ones were about to reach Level 100, but I didn't expect anyone to have attained Level 150 talk-less 200.The Levels and Grades of the monsters climbed as one advanced through the Floors, and since the Towers had similar difficulty, I expected others to receive the same treatment I experienced.No one could have succeeded in that venture, but me. It wasn't pride… but reality!However…'Could it be.—?!'Perhaps it was something I failed to consider. I had always suspected it, but after the Tutorial ended and I kept a watchful eye on the Leaderboard, Auction, Tower Updates, and several other elements of this new world, my doubts were cleared.There shouldn't have been anyone else who was granted somet
"Rise and shine, sleepy head." A voice greeted Abhoth as he opened his astral eyes.His vision blurred, but it only lasted for a moment.Soon, he could see everything around him. It was the exact scene he remembered before dying—the underground room where he was brewing his Elixir.Did he not die? Had he managed to survive?Countless thoughts lurked in Abhoth's ghost-like body… until he realized the fact… that he was in a ghost-like body.He nearly shrieked, seeing as he had a near-transparent form, and floated like a ghost. A purple aura emanated from him, and his body was incorporeal—well, nearly.He was made of energy, and he could even see his actual body—his corpse—lying on the ground.Abhoth didn't need a prophet to tell him that he was dead.'Ghost Magic…?!' His thoughts rang, and imaginary cold sweat broke out on his forehead.He was a ghost, so he couldn't really sweat.Still, Abhoth understood the implications of what had happened to him. As an expert in Magic, he knew of th
The audience was astonished!Sweat fell from their brows and their bodies shuddered. Even though they were protected by the sturdy pink layer, none of them were immune to the chill that coursed through their bones.The group had thought they saw the full extent of the Masked Man's powers—or at least close to it. However, his current actions shattered their preconceived notion."I-impossible…""This can't be real… right?""I can't believe this… is he really human?""Masked Hero! You're so amazing!"They all had different ways of expressing their shock.For starters, the group didn't know how it was possible to clear the battlefield of corpses. They had seen so many dead bodies—like an insurmountable sea—yet, in an instant, the Masked Man cleared them all.It was a feat like none other.As if that wasn't amazing enough, a massive Dragon suddenly emerged from a dark cloud and soared into the sky. The Demon—a being that far surpassed anything they had seen up until that moment—charged bri
There were many ways to win.I knew that from the get-go. I could use [Subspace] to shave off parts of the Dragon's body, reducing its health until it completely fell apart.I could use my purification to severely weaken it and blast the monster to kingdom come. An easy solution would also be to use the seventy-one Treasures OF War to impale the beast on all ends. If I added my Mana to them and increased their efficiency, the monster stood no chance.I could keep going on and on as to how I could win, but what was the point?Once in a while, a person needed some excitement in their life—I was no exception."COME!"My declaration prompted the Dragon Of Storms—or rather, what was left of him—to charge at me with frightening speed.>WHOOOOSSHSHHH
The area around the beast was charred, and nothing but black, sooty grounds surrounding it. Impaling it were several weapons; ranging from spears to blades.They all looked very powerful and valuable.There were seventy-one of the weapons that pierced the monster's body… most likely what killed it.My eyes narrowed on the dead beast, and a wry smile appeared on my face. It now made sense why I sensed such powerful energy from beyond the gate back then.This monstrosity was the cause.Laid on the ground, surrounded by destruction and carnage was one of the most powerful races of Demons that existed.—A Dragon!Judging from the battle scene, I had a fair idea of what transpired here… at least what the narrative of this Floor was.A battle occurred, and the several races combined forces. They had a common enemy, and that was the fallen beast at the center of the battle. I had an idea of the difficulty if seven hundred thousand individuals ganged up on the creature.'It's at least a Grade
I realized my childish body was too inefficient.In so many ways, the fact that I was below average in height and build was going to impede my future plans… which was why I decided to solve the problem.Using Lara’s Gift, now my Skill, I could shape-shift into any form I desired. However, it consumed Mana, and it also had a duration despite how much I maxed it out. Since I couldn't maintain it for too long, the ability was useless as a permanent solution.Scouring for a solution in the SHOP, I finally found my answer. It was a Potion known as the Perfect Growth Compound. After reading its description, I understood its function.The potion simply elevated whoever drank it to their ideal, most perfect physical state. As a result, it could take me to the peak I could ever attain physically.I was a little worried that I was going to remain short, but seeing as there was also a Reversal Potion being sold, I decided to take my chances.Who would have thought… it actually worked!I grew to