As Liam neared his apartment building, a shiver of unease crawled up his spine. The dimly lit street seemed to stretch out menacingly before him. The shadows cast by the streetlights appeared to dance in sinister patterns, and the murmurs of the city seemed to fade into a distant hum. A knot of apprehension formed in his stomach, warning him that something was amiss.
As he quickened his pace, Liam noticed a group of strangers assembling around him, forming a tight circle that closed in like a trap. Each face was unfamiliar, and their intent was far from clear. Anxiety gnawed at him as he attempted to move away, only to find his path consistently blocked by these menacing figures.
"What do you want?" Liam's voice quivered slightly, a mix of fear and defiance underlying his words
From the depths of the gathering, a familiar figure emerged. It was the skinny man he had encountered at the toy shop earlier. A smirk twisted across the man's lips as he spoke, his vo
As if suspended in time, the footsteps paused. Liam held his breath, his body frozen in place, his entire being focused on the sound. He could hear the gang's leader, a skinny man with an air of authority, uttering curses under his breath. The gravity of their situation hung in those words, a promise of harsh retribution."Where is he?" the leader's voice was tinged with a dangerous edge, the threat of violence lurking beneath the surface.As the tension escalated, Liam's senses were suddenly engulfed by a familiar sensation – a notification window popped into existence. His heart raced as the words unfolded before him, announcing that one of his game boys had been sold at a rapid pace. He clenched his fists, silently urging the system to let him purchase the concealment skill if he had enough money.Liam's breath caught as one of the group members, a silhouette framed by dim lamplight, approached. Every footfall seemed to reverberate through the air, each
Lost in contemplation, he whispered to himself, "What have I gotten myself into?"As if sensing his inner turmoil, the system chimed in, its digital voice resonating in his mind. "Curiosity and uncertainty often walk hand in hand, Liam. Your discovery of this new world comes with its share of complexities."Liam's eyebrows furrowed, his curiosity getting the better of him. "But what if my balance becomes zero? What then?"The system's response was immediate, devoid of emotion, yet weighty in its implications. "If your balance reaches zero, your existence in this realm will cease. Your life, as you know it here, will come to an end."Liam's heart skipped a beat, his mind racing to grasp the gravity of those words. The very essence of his being was tied to the gold he possessed. Each coin represented not just wealth, but the days, the moments that comprised his existence.He leaned back, the weight of this newfound knowledge pressing upon him. The allure of wealth now held a darker shad
There, lay his elderly landlady sprawled on the ground, her form twisted in an unsettling manner. Without hesitation, Liam rushed to her side, concern etching his features. "What happened?" he asked urgently, crouching down beside her. The landlady, wincing in discomfort, managed to explain, "I tripped over my dress and lost my balance." Liam's heart went out to her. Without a second thought, he helped her up and supported her. Gently, he slipped one arm beneath her shoulders, his other arm supporting her frail frame from the side. With careful strength, he helped her into a sitting position, his eyes never leaving her to gauge her comfort level. The delicate lines of her aged face were now drawn with discomfort, her hands gripping her ankle as if trying to alleviate the pain. Her breaths came in uneven, shallow gasps. Liam can see that the landlady's ankle had swelled, and Liam's brows furrowed with worry. "We need to get you to a hospital,"
"So, when does the time for the quest run out?" he inquired, his voice tinged with a mix of eagerness and uncertainty. The system's reply came promptly, its digital voice carrying an air of detached efficiency. "The quest's time limit is 7 days. You must complete the task within this timeframe before being transported to another dimension to locate the quest item." Liam nodded slowly, his mind processing the information. "And how long will I have to search for the item in that other dimension?" he queried further, his eyes fixed on the window displaying the system's responses. The system's tone remained steady as it answered, "The quest duration in the alternate dimension is indefinite. It will last until you either successfully complete the quest or meet your demise." With the knowledge of the impending challenge before him, Liam delved into action. The following seven days became a whirlwind of preparation, fueled by his determination to succeed. Fr
Liam's eyelids fluttered, his consciousness gradually returning to him like a distant whisper. His body felt like a leaden weight, weak and unresponsive. A dry rasp escaped his parched throat as he attempted to move, his feeble efforts met with little success. His trembling hand, hardly more than a quiver, reached out for his inventory window. It was a struggle, his movements sluggish and uncoordinated, like a puppet controlled by frail strings.Amidst his weakness, Liam managed to open the inventory interface, a small victory over the persistent haze that clouded his thoughts. His voice was hoarse as he addressed the system, the words sounding more like a mere croak. "How long was I out?" he managed to ask.The system's response was swift and matter-of-fact, its digital presence unwavering. "You were unconscious for 3 days," it informed him.His eyes blinked slowly as he absorbed the information, a mixture of surprise and realization dawning upon him. He needed
He realized that he could manipulate these conditions to his advantage. With his body still weak from the recent ordeal, he chose to take his time and prioritize his recovery. For the time being, he need his body to regain strength while he meticulously planned his approach.Leaning against the cool, damp cavern wall, Liam inhaled deeply, letting the subtle warmth of the minor healing potions spread through his veins. The gentle hum of magic brought solace to his weary body, encouraging the mending of his wounds.Each day, he meticulously planned his daily routine. As sunlight filtered into the cavern's entrance, he would assess the goblins' activities from his hidden vantage point. With his body weakened and the injuries from his previous encounter still throbbing, he knew that now was not the time for impulsive action.Liam delved deeper into the intricacies of the skill he had acquired. Aware of his lack of combat experience, his body's less-than-optimal stat
With every level earned, he was rewarded with additional skill points. Liam distributed them with calculated precision, bolstering his abilities with a balance of intelligence (INT) and dexterity (DEX). Intelligence for heightened skill refinement and dexterity for unparalleled agility—essential for a shadow-bound strategy."More intelligence will make my skill truly formidable, and dexterity will turn me into a shadowy blur."Equipped with his dagger and his newfound stealth ability, Liam melted into the shadows, becoming one with the darkness. He moved with the fluidity of a shadow, stalking his unsuspecting targets. His strikes were swift, honed to precision through careful calculation. He aimed to disable each goblin swiftly, before they could mount any defense. In this deadly dance, he wove his surroundings into his strategy, using cover and obstructions to his advantage.His first kill ignited a rush of adrenaline, a triumphant pulse coursing through
As the system's portal wrenched him back into his apartment, Liam found himself blinking against the sudden onslaught of familiar surroundings. The stark contrast from the cavern's shadows was disorienting, and he instinctively raised a hand to shield his eyes from the harsh light. "Well, that was quite the ride," Liam muttered to himself, his voice tinged with a mix of amazement and exhaustion. His body felt like it had been through a wringer, a sentiment that was echoed by the various cuts and bruises that adorned his form. Gingerly, he assessed his injuries, his fingers tracing the lines of his struggles. As the weight of the battles settled upon him, he knew he had to address his wounds promptly. "Back to the real world, with its real-world problems," he sighed, his words carrying a hint of wry amusement. Cleansing and dressing his wounds became his immediate priority, a task that required more determination than he had initially anticipat