Dream's chest heaved like a broken bellows. His sword- hand shook, slick with blood that wasn't his. The six predators continued to circle him, waiting for his guard to drop. Even a little bit, there lean bodies moving slowly with terrifying coordination.
His legs felt like lead, every step forward was a battle in itself. The shredded clothes clinging to him were soaked through with sweat, blood, and dirt. His lungs screamed, his heart thundered, but he gritted his teeth.
"I'll survive" he declared.
The predators didn't lunge mindlessly. They tested him, feinted, probing his defense like seasoned hunters. Their fangs glistened, their long clawed hands scraping the broken ground. Dream staggered and immediately one dashed in, however he was only pretending as he raised his blade in time. Stabbing the attacker, though he was also still forced backwards, his heels skidded against stone.
A sharp pain shot up his ribs -- he'd been grazed.
"Damn it...!" he hissed, gasping.
A cold chime echoed in his ears
[+900 XP]
[XP: 1,000/700]
[Level up]
[+1 to all stats]
[+5 available stats point]
[XP: 300/1,500]
[ Wounds recovering...]
The gash across his ribs scaled, flesh knitting together in a faint glow. His breath steadied slightly. Flesh Knitting together in a faint glow.
"Strength, put all in strength"
[+5 strength]
[ Strength: 17]
The predators noticed the flicker of strength in his eyes, which confused them. But they also sensed he was still on the edge of collapse.
Dream tightened his grip on the sword. His knuckles turned pale.
One beast lunged at his back, another at his front. Instinct screamed, and he dropped low at the last second. The two predators collided with each other, snarling in fury. Dream shoved his sword upward, the blade sinking into the chest of one.
[+900XP]
[XP: 2100/1500]
[ Level Up]
[ +1 to all stat]
[XP: 600/2500]
[5 free stat available]
"Agility" he commanded
[+5 to agility]
[ Agility: 18]
Taking a recovery potion, his stamina was fully restored, his eyes never left the predators. He was fully immersed in the battle. The predators regrouped, noticing something wasn't right. The longer this fighter drag on, it's like he continues growing stronger. They decide to all attack at once not leaving any openings. Two split wide to his left and the other two to his right.
Dream staggered backwards, leading them towards a broken ridge where the ground dipped slightly. He waited. Waited until one lunged to recklessly -- then sidestepped. The beast crashed into the ridge, exposing its neck.
Dream didn't hesitate. His sword carved through.
[+900 XP]
[Current level: 6 -- progress(1500/2500)
Another followed immediately after his comrade had fallen, Dream dodged to the side about to strike when another lunged forcing him to defend, another was about to attack but he simply leap backwards, creating space between himself and the predators. They rushed in again but now they were all infront of him, surprisingly he rushed in himself. Rolling forward on the ground to dodge the first attack and immediately followed it with a thrust forward that went through the chest of the second.
[+900 XP]
[ XP: 2400/2500]
Forcing the blade out, he blocked the last one's attack, sensing the first predator was about to attack again, he moved out of the way making the beast claw away at it's fellow predator, right in the eyes. Dream wasted no time and drove the blade through the attacks back.
[+900 XP]
[ XP: 3300/2500]
[ Level up!]
[+1 to all stats]
[ XP: 800/4,000]
[ 5 available stats point]
"Strength..." he said calm this time as he watched the predators that had been hit ride in pain as it held his face. He walked calmly at the defenseless beast, slowing raising his blade....
".... Die" he roared, and in a swift motion, it's head was decapitated.
Silence fell.
Dream stood frozen, drenched in gore. Then his knees hit the ground. He gasped, each breath ragged, relief. It was over.
[+900 XP]
[ XP: 1,700/4,000]
[ Quest complete: predators pack eliminated]
[ Rewards: +15,000 XP]
[ XP: 17,000/4,000]
[ Level up!]
[+1 to all stats]
[ XP: 13,000/6,000]
[ Level up!]
[+1 to all stats]
[ XP: 7,100/8,000]
[ Additional reward: unique item unlocked]
Dream's head jerked up. His vision cleared to see the light gathering before him. Slowly, an object manifested -- a black shard, glowing faintly with violet cracks, pulsing inside it like a heartbeat. It floated weightlessly in the air, humming with an ominous resonance.
Dream's jaw slackened. "What... is this?"
The system's voice echoed, low and steady.
[ Item obtained: fragment of the void core]
[ Description: the void core is the heart of this broken dimension. Scattered fragments of it exits, bound to the beasts that roam here. There's currently a crack in the void, this crack is where beast of other dimension pass to invade this realm.
Beast remain here for too long will go insane by the void, thus, their eyes becomes crimson. As long as the void crack is opened you will continuously face beast after beast, a battle with no end. To fix this crack, you must obtain all three fragments]
Dream reached for the floating shard. It was cold at first, then it burned faintly in his palm, pulsing like it was alive.
[The remaining two fragment locations will be displayed on the map]
[ This realms value will slowly be restored when the crack is fixed]
" Fixing this void is another step I must take in order to leave this place"
[ Yes]
He clenched the core and with a determined expression said. " Then let's do it"
But then ---
The ground rumbled.
A deep, guttural vibration echoed across the wasteland. The broken sky rippled, and in the far distance, a colossal roar erupted. It was deeper, louder, more primal than anything Dream had ever heard. The very air shivered.
His blood ran cold.
He turned slowly, eyes scanning his surroundings and the sky. Far beyond the horizon, a shaw shifted -- something Titanic stirred in the void.
His grip on the shard tightened until it cut into his skin.
".... What is that... Why do I feel like, I just awakened something"
[.....]