I always hated the silence.
Not the quiet. That gentle hush between the busy moments of an ordinary day.
No… the silence.
That long period, where everything seems to stop. Where the animals go hushed, the people become muted, and even the wind stands still. Where your ears can't even pick up a single sound and the hairs rise on the back of your neck because even you subconsciously realize the truth, that the silence is abnormal… unusual.
Unnatural.
And when I came face to face with that silence… the true silence. I knew things had gone wrong. For I could see nothing because I had no eyes. I could feel nothing because I had no skin. I tasted nothing because I had no tongue. I smelled nothing because I had no nose. And I heard nothing because I had no ears.
That was the silence. The ultimate silence.
I was nothing.
No, I am nothing.
I-I had died, didn't I? It's obvious now, with this great silence in front of me. How had I died? Who knows? It really doesn't matter now, does it? There was nowhere left to go, nothing left to do, no person left to be.
Only the eternity of the silence I so hated would remain.
PING!
But eternity never truly lasts forever.
Looking at what was in front of me was quite a shock. I mean one moment, I was monologuing about the endless nothingness of silence laid out in front of me at the end of a very short life. The next, I stood amidst a green-brown forest, staring at a translucent blue screen.
I blinked at the sudden shift in my surroundings, and then I slowly realized I had the ability to blink… again. In fact, I realized another thing. I was… breathing?
Oooookaaayyy Curt! What the hell is going on?!
As the thought raced through my mind, a staggering headache surged like my brain was caught in a tumultuous storm. I clutched my head, wincing in pain, and squeezed my eyes shut. Apparently, coming back from literal nothingness wasn't the relaxing and calming experience advertised.
Pushing through the discomfort, determined to understand my situation, I forced my eyes open. The sight that greeted me was beyond reason.
That blue screen, it was somehow... floating?
Welcome Gamer to RWBY the RPG! Out of billions upon billions of souls, you have been randomly chosen to participate in one of the most thorough and rigorous games ever created by the OneUp Gaming Corporation. RWBY the RPG features an advanced artificial intelligence system, premier realism and level design, and a top-of-the-line interface that quite literally immerses you into the world of RWBY.
Be prepared to face challenges unlike any you've ever experienced on Earth. We promise you that this game will be both painful and punishing. Only those with the luck, the skill, and the intellect will be able to overcome these trials and ultimately survive. With that being said please remember that there are no take-backsies. If you reach the end of the game, all of your fantasies and wishes will be granted. If you fail, your soul will be erased back into nothing, never to see life again.
You've been given a second chance so we're sure you know what's at stake here. So good luck out there Gamer.
You're gonna need it.
Reading the text on the screen intensified my headache. It was as if each word weighed heavy on my mind, making it harder to grasp the sheer impossibility of it all. After all, if someone told you you're inside a video game, would you just nod and accept it? But this wasn't someone—it was a persistent screen. And deep within, a nagging certainty stood: I should've been gone—consumed by that everlasting silence.
I'm not quite sure where I died, when I died, or even how I died, but I know I should be back there in that void.
Yet, here I stood. I could feel the gentle breeze of wind on my skin. I could taste the dryness of my tongue as it yearned for relief. I could smell the fragrances of the nearby flowers blooming in the sun. I could hear the sound of running water in the distance along with the almost musical chirping of the birds flying above the treetops.
And I could see a floating blue screen with midnight-black words right in front of my vision.
This… This is insane! This can't be real!
But with every breath, every sensation, it was undeniable: this was reality.
I could feel my headache beginning to ease up as that final realization set in. I was alive… again. I was also quite possibly in a game. A game that, in essence, just promised me that it was going to do its absolute best to send me back into the void, the nothingness, the dreaded silence.
And it was in that very moment, the raw sensation of fear – something I hadn't genuinely felt in forever – washed over me. The surrounding world seemed to mirror my emotions in a way I couldn't understand. The soothing breeze ceased, the birds' melodies halted, and the sun's brilliance dimmed, shielded by the encroaching clouds. Was this the world adjusting to my emotions, or was it simply revealing its true nature?
At the top of the screen, a bright red "X" appeared in the corner. Almost as if it was daring me to touch it, or maybe warning me? Hesitation etched itself on my face as I slowly raised my hand, the tip of my finger stopping mere inches away. Second thoughts, doubts, questions, all clouded my mind, but they were all silenced as finally…
I pressed lightly on the button.
The screen vanished.
In its place, another emerged.
PING!
QUEST UNLOCKED
Quest #1:
Escape the Forest
Gamer, back on Earth you were a friendless shut-in with little to no talent. Now you're alone in an unknown place with zero guarantees of help. Your fear and uselessness are obviously apparent. Use whatever means necessary to escape the forest as quickly and as safely as possible. But be warned... Danger lurks nearby.
OBJECTIVE:
Escape the forest using whatever means necessary
BONUS OBJECTIVES:
Escape the forest uninjured
? ? ?
REWARDS:
1000 Experience
You Unlock the Tutorial
BONUS REWARDS:
? ? ?
The appearance of another blue screen foreboding my death did little to quell my rising panic. And seriously, the game calling me a "friendless shut-in"? A low blow. Okay, maybe my friends weren't the traditional type. Maybe we didn't hang out or chat. But that doesn't make me a shut-in. I prefer the term "home enthusiast."
Regardless, my focus sharpened at the end of the paragraph.
Danger lurks nearby?
Fantastic. Considering my physique—noodle arms, long legs, and generally slender build—I wasn't exactly fit for a brawl. And now, I might be facing my own death sequel: "Death: The Redux." And the worst part? I recognized this world.
RWBY. It was a good show, up to a point. I stopped watching somewhere after Volume 3 when it lost its charm for me. But that knowledge might just be what keeps me alive now. Because if I've learned anything from RWBY, when you're stranded in a forest with an imminent threat, you're probably about to face humanity's biggest menace. The ones that literally track people through their fear.
The Grimm.
A gut feeling made me slam the bright red 'X', shutting off the screen. Whirling around, I took in the trees surrounding the clearing. These trees that, I for sure knew, hid humanity's eternal enemy. I looked left and right, back and forth, slowly backing toward the giant rock in the center of it all, hoping to create some kind of protection for myself.
But from the Grimm, there truly was no place to hide.
In the dim shadow of the trees, I spotted the unmistakable gleam of those red eyes filled with malice. The beast rumbled a guttural growl, not out of hunger like any ordinary animal but from a deep-rooted desire: a desire to eradicate the very essence of humanity.
Emerging from the shadows, the creature's sleek black fur slowly met the sunlight. Its white claws, sharp and deadly, adorned its limbs, while drool hung from its mouth, showcasing its razor-sharp teeth. However, it was the distinctive bony mask that truly marked this entity for what it was, revealing a singular focus on humanity's destruction.
A Beowolf.
The show never did these beasts justice. Seeing them up close and personal shot an injection of true terror to my bones. For the first time in my life (or relife), I was in real danger. I wasn't in the near-peaceful confines of human society. I was out in the wild, with civilization nowhere close by, and in front of something that up until a few moments ago, I thought didn't exist.
Seriously game!? What kind of starting area is this!?
For what seemed like an eternity, we stood there, each gauging the other. An intense standoff, waiting to see who would break first. But with my growing streak of bad luck, I, all of a sudden, had a sinking feeling as…
PING!
Minor Skill Unlocked
Through extensive observation of someone or something for a prolonged period, a new skill has been created.
[Observe (Passive) Lvl: 1]
Allows the Gamer to see details about People or Grimm. Gives greater depth with higher levels. Limited in scope by the current level.
That slight sound from the game, caused a flinch, a movement in me so very small it was almost undetectable. Key word being almost, as the Beowolf noticed my slight movement, and its predatory instincts kicked in.
It lunged.
"Shit! Shit! SHIT! SHIT!"
Every survival instinct screamed at me to run. So, without a second thought, I bolted deeper into the Grimm-infested forest. That damned blue screen persisted, clouding my vision, yet I couldn't focus on it. I heard the thud of the Beowolf and felt the ground reverberate as it collided with the solid rock, yet I couldn't focus on it. Then came its frustrated howl, beckoning more of its brethren to hunt down this pesky weak unassuming human being, yet I couldn't focus on it!
My entire world narrowed to the forest around me: darting past trees, swerving around branches, leaping over obstacles, praying to whatever gods might exist in this realm that I wouldn't stumble. The urgency drove me to speeds I didn't even know I possessed. But deep down, a grim truth gnawed at me – in a straight race, a human stood no chance against a Beowolf. None.
Their haunting howls, growing louder and more numerous, were a constant reminder of the impending doom closing in. The prospect of a brutal death terrified me, but the thought of returning to that oppressive silence? Unbearable. Just when I'd been given a second chance, it was all threatening to slip away.
I would have to do whatever it takes to keep living this life. I had to.
At least, that's what I told myself, and then, the unmistakable sensation of a Beowolf's claw slicing through my arm brought reality crashing down.
"FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!" I let out a borderline inhuman scream as a white-hot agony radiated from where the Beowolf's claw had torn through my flesh. Clutching the wounded area, I could feel the slick warmth of my blood as it coated my fingers, deciding to come out in full force, and splattered onto the ground below.
PING!
- 50 HP
While in the corner of my sight, I not only heard but saw the little indication, I ignored it. Instead, I tried to brace myself through the pain as the want to stop, sit there, and just cry raced through my mind more than a few times. My vision began to blur with tears, I had experienced nothing in my life that could ever prepare me for the deep brutal slicing of my own flesh.
But despite that, all of that, I remembered that silence, it was embedded in my psyche, and the raw need to survive propelled me forward. Every step was a battle against pure torment and exhaustion, every breath a plea for just a bit more time.
The growls and snarls of the Beowolves grew ever more threatening, echoing like death's promise right at my heels. In that desperate sprint, the sight of an opening beyond the trees became my lifeline—a beacon of hope in the encroaching darkness.
I drove myself harder, lungs heaving, muscles screaming, and my vision tunneled to that one escape. But as I crossed the tree line, the cruel reality hit once more.
There was no more land. No comforting thud of solid ground beneath my feet. Just a gaping void.
My momentum, coupled with my hazy awareness, betrayed me. I tried to halt, but the pursuing Beowolves, just as blindsided, slammed into me, sealing our collective fate.
And so, on my first day reborn, I plummeted off a cliff, plunging straight into the river's embrace below.
"Uh, Sis?"
I'm not worried. I promise you, I'm not worried. Not at all. I never worry. My mind is the epitome of calm and focus. Not a tinge of anxiety, stress, or worry (definitely not worrying) in sight.
"Sis?!"
I was definitely not speedwalking through a crowd of busy customers. Nor, was I forcefully pushing a few out of the way. My eyes were not scanning the crowd of faces as I moved past them, and my breathing wasn't becoming more frantic at all.
"Claire! Claire!"
Oh yeah, and I definitely, absolutely, unquestionably, was not searching for anyone.
"CLAI-"
"I'm over here silly!"
Just past the crowd stood my older sister Claire standing next to an older woman and her daughter. Seeing her, I quickly walked toward them, my heart remaining in the stasis of calm it was in before.
"I'm so sorry for my brother here, he gets a little worried when I'm gone." Claire, with her signature radiant smile, apologized to the woman standing amidst the racks of clothes in the department store.
"I wasn't worried!" I protested, feigning indignance. "You just sprinted off, right in the middle of the shoe section." I crossed my arms, my foot tapping on the polished tile floor, shooting her a glare.
She dismissively rolled her eyes at me, turning her attention to the little girl, who was holding onto the hem of her mother's floral summer dress. "Now remember, little miss," Claire kneeled down to the girl's level, her voice soft and tender, "you shouldn't run off from your mom. Especially not in a big store like this."
The little girl, her big blue eyes shimmering, nodded in agreement and continued to enjoy the lollipop - a cherry one, by the looks of it - probably a treat from Claire.
The mother, her eyes glistening with relief, pulled Claire into a warm embrace among the aisles. "I can't thank you enough for finding my Emily. I turned my back for one second and she was gone. My heart nearly stopped."
Claire hugged her back, her voice muffled by the woman's shoulder, "It's no big deal, really. Just doing what anyone would do."
The woman pulled back, ready to shower more gratitude, but Claire cut her off playfully, "Nope, no more thanks needed! Just see it as another day's work for the one and only Magical Girl Claaaaiiirree Weaver!" She then struck a pose that would be right at home in a Saturday morning cartoon.
I couldn't help but cringe inwardly, shaking my head at her antics. It was definitely a mistake introducing her to those late-night anime marathons.
The woman gave a slightly baffled smile, clearly not part of the anime fandom, "M-Magical Girl?"
"It's an...anime thing. Don't worry about it." I rushed to explain, my cheeks turning a shade redder. "Anyway, she's just happy to help. You folks have a great day, okay?" I hastily added, grabbing Claire's arm, and steering her away from the increasingly crowded clothing aisle.
"But I didn't get to say my full slogan!" Claire protested, pouting.
I pulled her along, "No one cares about the slogan. Come on, let's go!"
I adjusted my pace, steering us swiftly toward the exit. The sooner we left this place, the better we could mend our slightly dented reputation.
"You're such a wet blanket, Curt," Claire protested, wrenching her arm free with a mock huff.
Swiveling to face her, I retorted, "If I'm the wet blanket, then you're the blazing campfire. Someone needs to keep your flames in check."
She raised an eyebrow, playfully mimicking my earlier distress. "Oh, really? Like when you were desperately calling out in the store? 'Claire! Claire! Has my beloved sister vanished into thin air?'"
"Stop exaggerating. I wasn't that dramatic. And I didn't say 'beloved'. You just have this knack for disappearing when I turn my back for a second."
She fluttered her eyelashes at me, feigning innocence. "Oh, you were so distraught, imagining life without your awe-inspiring, Magical Girl Claire Weav—"
"Enough! Let's get out of here," I interjected, gesturing to the bemused and mildly concerned faces of the surrounding shoppers.
She let out a theatrical sigh. "Alright, alright. Onward, then."
We continued our path to freedom, pushing through the sliding glass doors. The outside greeted us with a cool, gentle rain. Drops kissed our skin as the gray overhead blanket of clouds cast a somber hue on everything below. The earlier banter seemed to fade with the daylight.
It took a moment for me to notice, lost as I was in the refreshing sensation of the rain. But then it hit me — something was off. The air felt heavier, even beyond the weight of the rain. I turned, finding Claire's usual vivacious demeanor replaced by a distant, melancholic gaze.
"Hey, everything okay?" My voice trembled slightly, trying to mask my concern as I looked into Claire's distant eyes. They seemed miles away, trapped in a thought I couldn't decipher.
She sighed, her face softening. "I just wish we could have more days like this, you know?"
"We will, won't we?" Uncertainty clouded my voice. "You'll probably mess with me again tomorrow, just like you do every other day."
She stepped onto the crosswalk, pausing to gaze deeply into my eyes. "Curt, deep down, we both know things won't be the same." Her voice held a sad certainty that sent chills down my spine.
"What's that supposed to mean?" I blinked, taken aback. My heart raced. Why did she sound so final?
Our conversation was abruptly shattered by a deafening honk. My head snapped to the side, eyes widening in horror at the massive truck barreling down on us. Adrenaline surged, and my body moved instinctively to dodge. But a firm grip on my arm stopped me cold.
"Sis!" Panic was evident in my voice. "We have to move. NOW!"
But Claire, with an oddly serene expression, only tightened her grip. "Curt," she said gently, almost exasperatedly, "that's not how today plays out."
"Claire, stop!" Desperation clawed at me. "We need to move!"
She looked me dead in the eye, her voice low but unwavering. "Curt, I've told you before. That's... not... what... happens."
The flood of memories hits me, and emotions I'd barricaded behind walls of denial and hope come crashing through. Fear, regret, anger, and an insurmountable sadness. "Claire, we can change this! We don't have to be trapped by this… this memory… this day!"
Her eyes, so full of the wisdom and strength I'd always admired, glistened with tears. "We both know we can't change the past, Curt."
"But why? Why accept this? You could just let go and-"
"You and I both know it's not about what I want. It's about what happens…. what happened."
I reach out to her, my voice shaky, raw with desperation. "Claire, don't leave me. I-I can't do this without you. Without your guidance, your care, your love. I need you. I've always needed you."
Her voice, though choked with emotion, held a resolve that broke my heart. "You are stronger than you realize, little brother. Even without me, you can and will move forward."
My eyes blur with tears, my voice barely a whisper. "Why didn't you save yourself? Why choose me?"
She pulls me into a comforting embrace, her voice quivering. "It's my duty as a Magical Girl, right? Protecting little brothers from harm, especially ones as special as you."
"But... why can't it be my turn to protect you? Why does it always have to be this way?"
She chuckles weakly, pulling back to meet my eyes. "Because, silly, you're MY little brother. My role is to shield you, even if it breaks my heart to do so." She leans in, her forehead resting against mine. "But Curt...I'm so, so sorry. Know that I love you, always."
The harsh sound of the truck's horn breaks through our bubble, a chilling reminder of the relentless march of time and fate. She whispers so softly, so intimately close that I can feel the warmth of her breath, "Little brother, your Magical Girl Sister has one last request."
She hesitates for a brief moment, collecting herself. "No matter what, promise me you'll live. Live for the both of us. Live… for me."
As her final words settled, Claire, with a force borne from love and determination, pushed me aside. I barely missed the oncoming truck, which thundered forward, merciless and unyielding. The tender sadness that had graced her face just moments ago was replaced by a radiant, comforting smile – one that would haunt me for a lifetime.
The sickening sounds of the impact, the shocked screams echoing around us, and the horrific aftermath would etch themselves permanently into the very core of my being. The girl who had always been there, my pillar of strength, my savior, my beloved sister... was gone.
Only one thought consumed me.
"I'm sorry."
PING!
Minor Skill Unlocked
For resting for a period greater than four hours, a new skill has been created.
[Short Rest (Passive) Lvl: MAX]
Allows the Gamer to regain half of their max health upon sleeping for more than four hours. Cannot be leveled up beyond its current level.
Luck.
Somehow, after everything, luck had my back. Maybe it was some old Irish charm (even though I don't have an ounce of Irish in me), perhaps it was Lady Luck giving me a wink, or possibly it was a guardian angel who decided to clock in today. I'd plunged off a cliff, straight into the grasp of turbulent waters, and yet here I am, still breathing. One would think I'd be throwing a one-man party, but the full scope of my dire straits was coming into view.
And then there's my arm.
Just a tip for anyone out there: having a monstrous bone claw rip into your flesh doesn't make for a great day. Blood had finally decided to stop gushing out, but the sight of my once-intact arm now looking like a reject from a horror movie, even though somewhat mended, didn't inspire confidence. Still, its rapid healing – courtesy of what seemed like a video game perk – underscored the weirdness of my situation. And I'm starting to think this "game" has more in common with nightmare mode.
I grunted, pain making its presence known, as I tapped away the hovering blue screen with a crisp red "X". Pushing through the discomfort, I sit up, trying to piece together my bearings. I'm parked on a shore where the land meets a restless river. My back to a menacing forest, likely harboring creatures not too keen on my continued existence, and the sun playing hide and seek, signaling an impending dusk.
Deep in thought, a gut-wrenching wave of nausea crashes over me, a sickening reminder of the events that just transpired. Before I can even register, I'm doubled over, emptying my stomach's contents onto the sandy terrain.
God this fucking sucks! It's just one disaster after another.
Even amid the haze of nausea and pain, a gnawing realization settled in: I couldn't just stay put. Resting here was a luxury I couldn't afford, not with the Beowolves or other Grimm potentially tracking me. The allure of civilization sounded so tempting—surely if I found it, everything would be alright. Yet, the gut feeling (and I had a lot of feelings in my gut right now) told me this "game" wasn't handing out easy passes.
A game. That word really didn't sit right. A game is fun, challenging maybe, but not... this. My scarred and healing arm was a testament to the horrifying reality of my situation.
Why couldn't I get a second chance without all the gamification… or the pain?
As I shoved my disgust aside, I forced my trembling body to its feet, sidestepping my own mess. The forest beckoned—or perhaps it was just my imagination. Trees. There always seemed to be trees in situations like this. Were they a refuge or just another trap? Having watched too many horror movies and not enough survival shows, I was decidedly unequipped. But standing still felt worse, especially if it meant enduring that unnerving silence again.
Taking a shaky breath, I pushed past the initial tree line, their leafy canopy swallowing me whole. Each step was agonizing. My body screamed, both in protest and pain. The forest itself felt alive, watching. Each rustle of leaves, each distant bird cry, set my nerves on edge. My heart drummed a frenetic beat that was probably unhealthy, but panic wasn't taking health tips.
Night began to wrap its tendrils around the forest. Trees stood like sentinels in an endless line, and the world became a monotonous wash of green. It felt like a maze with no exit.
Suddenly, nausea seized me again.
Not now, please.
But my body rebelled, expelling whatever was left in my stomach. As I tried to regain composure, a rustle snapped me to attention. The soft crunching sound of a step. My heart skipped several beats. Slowly, ever so slowly, I backed away, aligning my body with a tree—ready to sprint if the situation demanded.
One rustle, one step back.
Another, another step.
The rhythm continued until a white flash shot out from the underbrush. My breath caught. But it was... a rabbit. A small thing with white fur.
Seeing the rabbit, my pulse slowed, but the pent-up tension, fear, relief, and just pure exhaustion bubbled up. It was laughable. All this tension, and then a bunny? A fucking bunny?
I couldn't help it. A laugh erupted from deep within, ringing clear in the silent forest, "hahahaHaHaHAHAHA! OH MY GOD! I'M SO ON FUCKING EDGE RIGHT NOW!"
The rabbit ignored me and continued to feast on some grass. As I just continued to laugh. I brought my hands to my face and continued to laugh. Just laughing and more laughing and even more laughing. The ridiculousness of the situation just hammered itself into my brain.
"Giant monsters wanting to rip me apart, and here's this little thing, having a snack. Just..." Another wave of laughter. "Hahaha! I'm so damn tired." I continued to laugh as some tears joined the fun too until I couldn't laugh anymore. Until my mouth just refused to perform the motion any longer.
Drawing a heavy sigh, I pushed back my welling tears and turned my gaze skyward. The sun was about to bid its final goodbye, leaving me in impending darkness. Realization hit hard — night was the worst time to be out and alone. Glancing back at the rabbit, an idea formed. I approached cautiously, crouching down.
"Hey there, little guy," I began, my voice soft, trying to appeal to its better nature, if it had one. "You see that? Night's coming. How about you and me, sticking together, huh? Two is always better than one, especially in these woods."
The rabbit, with its ears twitching, seemed more interested in its dinner.
I chuckled nervously, "Oh, playing hard to get, huh? Look, I promise I'm good company. Best cuddler on this side of the forest." Leaning in slightly, I added, "You can even claim the coziest spot. And trust me, that's a prime offer right there."
For a moment, the rabbit halted its munching, lifting its head to study me with its glossy, black eyes. There was a stillness, a momentary connection — or so I thought.
Without warning, it darted, vanishing into the underbrush.
Panicking, I sprang into action. "Hey wait-"
Just as I took that fateful step forward, the underbrush rustled violently. Bursting from the foliage was a Beowolf. But this wasn't your garden-variety nightmare. This monstrosity towered above the others I'd seen, each of its bone joints grotesquely thickened and honed to a deadly point. Its eyes... those eyes were something else entirely. Not just voids of malice like its lesser brethren. No, these eyes were seething cauldrons of malevolence. They locked onto me, radiating a hatred so palpable, it felt like a noose tightening around my throat. Every fiber of my being could sense its singular intent: to kill.
The beast, seeming to relish in the terror it inspired, unfurled to its colossal height, releasing a howl so fierce, so raw, that for a moment, the very air seemed to tremble in fear.
But as that sound reverberated through the forest, something unexpected happened.
Alpha Beowolf
HP: 4000/4000
Level: 7
Above its massive head floated an indicator, showcasing its health points. My heart raced even faster—if that was possible—because, let's face it, the number looked frighteningly high. My mind raced. Was this what an ALPHA BEOWOLF's health looked like?
My survival instincts, surprisingly on point, kicked in just as the Beowolf lunged. I dove to the side in a desperate roll, feeling the deadly swish of its claws where my feet had been moments earlier. Scrambling upright, I tried to put some distance between us, darting between trees. But exhaustion and dehydration were cruel companions. I hadn't made it far when, with a speed that defied its size, it closed in, smacking me hard. My body flew into a tree.
PING!
- 100 HP
The world spun as pain radiated through me. "AHHHH!" The force of the blow left me yelling in agony.
PING!
Minor Skill Unlocked
Through intense endurement of a great amount of pain in a short period of time, a new skill has been created.
[Endurance (Passive) Lvl: 1]
Allows the Gamer to decrease the level of damage received and the durability of the body is increased. Attack damage is decreased by… 1%.
"Fuck you, SHUT UP!" I yell at the sight of the screen now blocking my vision. As the Alpha Beowolf lunged, my pulse echoed in my ears. Desperation drove me to raise my uninjured arm in defense, and I felt the creature's vicious teeth sink deep. Cold dread settled in as I sensed the bones creaking under the pressure.
PING!
- 140 HP
White-hot pain erupted, a searing contrast to the numbing cold of terror. I cried out, lashing wildly with my other arm at the Beowolf's bone-clad snout. Tears blurred my vision as fatigue threatened to pull me under. Desperate, my fingers grasped anything for salvation.
Miraculously, they closed around a stick. Time slowed as the monster lifted me, my imprisoned arm still clamped in its jaws. Summoning all my remaining strength, I drove the stick into its malevolent eye.
A harrowing screech of pain. My arm released.
I swiped the screen away, forcing my battered body into motion, darting deeper into the foreboding forest. The chorus of distant howls grew, an ominous soundtrack to my desperate flight. My thoughts swirled in panic. Every breath, a searing agony. Every step, a battle.
I couldn't just rely on speed. I needed a plan.
Desperate times call for desperate measures.
My mind as foggy as ever, came up with the only plan it could think of. I looked at the trees, and without hesitation quickly raced toward one. Climbing wasn't in my nature, but raw terror and the instinct to live took over. Each painful motion reminded me of the consequences of failing, but the beckoning silence held a scarier promise. The very idea of returning to it, however comforting it may have seemed right now, fueled my desire to live. Because I knew that supposed comfort was nothing but a mirage and a lie.
Reaching a juncture of branches, I nestled in, shrouding myself with thick foliage. Moments later, the enraged Alpha Beowolf tore through the underbrush. Its eye, previously impaled by my stick, was now a mangled void. Fury radiated from it. It prowled the ground, nose sniffing where I'd last stood.
Fear flew through me but I had to resist, I knew I wasn't going to live if I couldn't calm myself.
Happy thoughts. Sunlit beaches. Warm laughter. Sweet memories.
The Alpha began looking around and about. As more and more Grimm finally came by and joined up in the search.
The gentle sway of trees in a breeze. A serene sunset. The smell of fresh-baked bread.
Their monstrous forms danced beneath me, their predatory instincts sharpened by my lingering scent and the fading traces of my fear.
No monstrous wolves here. Only peace. Serenity.
But the emotional toll was relentless—dread, agony, exhaustion—they clawed at my consciousness.
Happy thoughts Curt. Happy thoughts.
As the hunt's intensity heightened and my strength dwindled, the fringes of my mind captured a solitary, final sound. A haunting noise.
PING!
Minor Skill Unlocked
Through an intense suppression of your emotions, a new skill has been created.
[Calm (Passive) Lvl: 1]
Allows the Gamer to more easily suppress a range of emotions from detection from other entities within a nearby area.
The surrealism of the game mechanics still tickled some absurd part of my brain. A chuckle, fragile and weary, slipped out just as the encroaching blackness lured me in, one last time.
Happy thoughts.
