Jay escaped the outskirts of the shopping district and hid in an old basement leading to the sewers.
Along with the pain in his stomach, the recoil of the technique twisted the muscles throughout his body.
He leaned against the wall, breathing heavily.
[Progress: 3.1345% -> 3.1348%]
0.0003%.
He stared at the system window.
The result of an extreme struggle that involved destroying a weapon, suffering internal injuries throughout his body, and almost paying with years of his life, was merely a change in the fourth decimal place.
'At this rate, how many more do I have to get until I can return to Earth?'
He felt his goal of returning to Earth becoming an increasingly unrealistic in the face of this world's "progress."
It wasn't progress as he had imagined
***
He tore a piece of old cloth lying on the basement floor, forcibly pulled out the fragments embedded in his body, and put them in his pocket.
The bleeding wasn't severe, but the deep pain in his body from using the technique to its limit didn't subside even with time.
[Physical Condition: Internal Injuries (Stage 2). Regeneration required for complete recovery (Time required: 0.5 years).]
The system recommended paying half a year of his lifespan, but he refused.
Half a year was too great a price.
He used his remaining strength to get up.
His fight couldn't stop now.
Time was ticking.