The barrier that had saved Dream for those fleeting moments was beginning to fracture.
Tiny hairline cracks formed along its glowing surface, each one spreading like veins of doom. Beyond it, countless pairs of crimson eyes glared at him with hunger. The beasts howled and slammed against the barrier, their grotesque shapes rippling in the dim, blood- red glow of the eclipsed moon.
Dream fell to his knees, trembling. His throat was dry, his voice barely more than a broken whisper.
"Please ... Don't let me die here. I -- I don't want to be here" he kept pleading
"Please, there are hundreds of them, a sword do anything. A gun would even be useless" His voice cracked as fear surged even more.
[15 seconds remaining]
" I can't fight them, they'll tear me apart before I even swing the word"
[ Instruction: Access weapon in the inventory]
He shook his head violently, tears clinging to his lashes. "No, no, no, don't you understand? I'm not a fighter. I can't ..."
A new sound cut through his panic.
[First Quest: Survive the collapse. Kill 1 beast]
[Reward: Emergency Teleportation]
Dream froze. His sobs hiccupped into silence. Just one beast. Just one kill. That was all it asked for.
A trembling hand reached out toward the glowing sword icon. His fingers clenched at nothing, and then suddenly a weight dropped into his grip. A blade with a faint glow materialized, it chipped edge gleaming faintly in the red moonlight. It felt heavy -- too heavy.
His breath came in ragged gasp as the countdown ticked.
[10..9...8..]
The beasts snarls turned into an orchestra of hunger. Their fangs scraped against the barrier. Dream held the sword like a kid clutching a stick.
"Please" he whispered, voice breaking. "I don't want to die..."
[ 3...2...1..]
The barrier shattered.
A thunderous roar filled the air as the horde surged in like a tide of nightmares. Their claws scraped against stone, their glowing maw's dripping with hunger. Dream screamed, raising the sword with shaking arms.
The first beast leapt. It's maw opened wide, rows of teeth glistening. His eyes squeezed shut as he thrust the sword forward blindly.
Impact.
Something warm splatter across his hand. His eyes shot open. The blade had pierced through a beast's chest. It gave a shrink cry, convulsed, then went limp.
He was surprised but his shock turned to terror has he saw a beast claw slash across his face.
[ Quest Complete: First Blood]
Before the others could close in completely, Dream's body was engulfed in a brilliant light. The world blurred. The claws and fangs froze mid- air --- then everything vanished.
He crashed on his back again, coughing, lungs burning. The ground here was different - solid, cracked earth instead of the smooth ground of the safe zone. The air was heavy but quiet. No snarling. No glowing eyes. Only silence.
Dream layed there for several moments, chest heaving. His hands still shook as he stared at the bloody sword. It's blade slick with dark ichor. His heart refused to slow, and every breath buried with disbelief.
"I... I killed it" he whispered, as though saying it might make it real.
A cold chime of the system interrupted.
[ Congratulations: Quest Complete]
[Congratulations: Host has killed a void lurkers]
[ Level up!]
[Rewards: +1 to all stat]
[ Bonus: +5 stat point available for distribution]
Dream blinked rapidly. Words filled his vision, glowing in pale light. He didn't fully understand half of them, but the numbers stared back at him.
" Le..levl up?,Is this a ... a game?"
[ Would you like to view your status?]
"S..status?"
A panel unfolded
[ Name: Dream Crowne
Level: 2
HP: 20/20
Void energy: 10/10
Strength: 2(+1)
Agility: 2(+1)
Stamina: 2(+1)
Endurance: 2(+1)
Mind: 2(+1)
Available stat point: 5
He stared, dumbfounded.
"These... These numbers. This is just like a game" his lips twisted into a bitter smile. "Except I'm not behind a screen, I can feel the fear. I can bleed. I can die. This is not a game"
The panel faded, replaced by another notification.
[ Alert: Base Lost]
[ Your safe zone has been overrun by void beast]
[ New Goal Quest unlocked]
[ Quest: Reclaim the base]
[ Objective slay all void beast in that area]
[ Beast remaining: 99,999/ 100,000]
Dream's stomach dropped . His knees went weak.
"One hundred... thousand?" His voice low "that's insane!, you expect me to kill that many?!. Please I'm begging you, just take me back to earth, I don't want to be here"
Silence. Then the system's response rang like Iron.
[ Grow stronger. Only the strong may command the void. When you are strong enough, even this realm shall bend to you will]
Dream stood there shaken. His lips quivered, but something sparked his eyes. A faint ember, buried beneath fear.
"Are you saying I can get out of this hellhole, if I'm strong enough"
[ Exactly]
"Then show me, show me how to become stronger"
[ It's simple]
[ Just Level Up]