VIII

As soon as Alex opened his eyes in virtual reality, feeling his feet sink into something sticky and cold. "Ah, great! My new adventure starts with me stuck in a swamp. What's next? Crocodiles?" he said sarcastically, looking down and trying to pull his feet out of the muck. But the more he tried to move, the more the swamp seemed to grip him.

The smell was unbearable, like a mix of rotten eggs and old socks. "Just as I imagined… it's like the forest decided to greet me with the worst of my nightmares. I smell 'trouble'."

As he tried to make sense of his surroundings, Alex started noticing that the swamp wasn't ordinary. The muck was writhing and moving unnaturally. "I guess this is the right time to say: 'Give me a sneak attack, or give me nothing at all.'"

Alex raised his dagger in front of him, ready for whatever might emerge from the muck. "If I had a dollar for every time I was about to become food for some strange monster… well, maybe I'd be the richest guy stuck in a swamp in this virtual world."

However, there was something unsettling about this place, but Alex, with his sarcastic spirit, decided to ignore it for the moment. "If I'm going to sink into this muck, at least I'll do it looking cool… or at least trying to."

He began moving cautiously, attempting to escape the swamp, adding, "Next time I decide to enter a simulation, remind me to check for a straight path, preferably one near a beach filled with girls. Just a suggestion."

Little did he know that this beginning was merely a prelude to something far more terrifying and thrilling than he could have anticipated…

Suddenly, as Alex tried to free himself from the muck, he noticed something strange between the bushes in the dark forest ahead of him. Red eyes gleamed in the shadows, watching him with eerie silence. "Oh no, red eyes in a dark forest… I totally didn't expect that!" he said sarcastically, trying to mask his tension with humor.

The eyes began to move, and it was clear that whatever was watching him wasn't friendly. "Alright, let's be honest here. How many times am I going to face a giant monster in a dark forest? Obviously, I have a knack for attracting trouble."

Taking a deep breath, he tried to assess the situation. "If these red eyes mean what I think they do, it might be time to start thinking about how to get out of this mess. Or at least make sure I don't end up as dinner tonight."

Alex gripped his dagger tightly, ready for any sudden movement. "Do you think I look tasty? Because, in reality… I might need more taste! So, if you're planning to take me down, at least be gentle and let me out of this swamp first."

The red eyes drew closer, and the sense of danger intensified. But Alex, with his usual wit, couldn't resist adding, "If this is your welcoming party, I'm already impressed by the service! Now, can we move on to the part where my tender flesh isn't put at risk?"

As those eyes came closer, the scene finally became clear. Emerging from the bushes was a group of massive lizards, resembling a strange combination of orcs and giant reptiles, with sharp fangs and thick scales glistening under the virtual moonlight.

"Oh, of course! Orc lizards! Exactly what I should have expected!" Alex said sarcastically, trying harder to pull his foot from the muck. "Because regular monsters just aren't enough, are they? We had to add a new twist, something between Godzilla and Shrek."

The lizards began to move toward him slowly, and Alex was trying to think fast. "Alright, let's be realistic, I've got a tiny dagger, and a bunch of trailer-sized lizards are heading my way. Everything's going exactly as I planned… yeah, definitely didn't expect this."

He raised his dagger, trying to prepare himself for the fight. "Alright, lizards! Let's make this quick and clean. But remember, I'm not an easy meal, and maybe my meat will cause some unforgettable indigestion."

As the lizards approached dangerously close, Alex suddenly felt an unexpected warmth on his forearm. He looked down to find that the tattoo on his arm had begun to glow a bright blue. A notification appeared on the tattoo, saying: 

"Would you like to try one of the tattoo's abilities"

[A/N]

Alex, while still watching the lizards advance toward him, glanced at the notification in surprise. "Well, this isn't something you see every day. And since I'm in a less-than-ideal situation, it seems like the perfect time to test what this tattoo can offer."

Raising his eyebrows, he said to himself, "Is there a better time to try out new abilities? Let's see if this can make me look a little less like a tasty snack for those lizards."

Once Alex decided to accept, he felt the power emanating from the tattoo flow into his body. "Alright, show me what you've got, tattoo. If you can make me less prone to being trampled by orc lizards, I'm all in."

While Alex watched the tattoo notification, a new message appeared: 

"Unlocked a new ability: 

Probability Manipulation (Limited) 

Effect: influence specific probabilities, such as increasing the chance of a successful attack or reducing the likelihood of an accident."

Alex felt a mix of excitement and tension. "Oh, things just got more interesting! Now, let's see if this ability can help me survive this nightmare."

Taking a deep breath, he felt the pressure ease a little thanks to the new ability. "If this power works as expected, I might be able to turn the tide of the battle in my favor. But, if it fails, I guess I'll end up as lizard dinner."

Alex began focusing his energy on manipulating the odds. He tried to increase the success rate of his attacks and improve his chances of avoiding the monsters' strikes. "Alright, let's see if this power can make a difference."

He swung his dagger and launched a quick strike at the nearest lizard. With each hit, he watched as the dagger left a poisonous effect, paralyzing the creature for a moment, making it easier to take them down. "One down faster than I expected. Seems like the magic in this dagger adds a touch of drama."

As he approached another lizard, he felt the probability manipulation start to take effect. "I feel like things are improving… or maybe I'm just imagining it. Either way, I'll enjoy the moment."

Each time a lizard fell to the ground, a notification appeared: "You have gained 5 experience points." "Ah, lovely numbers. If this keeps up, I'll go from lizard bait to adventurer hero."

Alex continued the fight, and the notification of the red eyes among the trees slowly faded with each lizard he defeated. But the battle wasn't over yet, and more challenges awaited him in the shadows.

"I wouldn't say I'm enjoying this, but… well, maybe just a little," Alex said with a slight smile, taking an offensive stance as he prepared for what was coming next.

Deep in the forest, Alex became alight with speed and agility, moving at astonishing speed between the trees. The tattoo on his arm glowed a bright blue, growing more energized with each new move he executed. "Alright, looks like I've discovered my new talent for jumping and gliding through the trees!" he said sarcastically, lunging at another lizard with his shimmering poison dagger.

With each move, Alex pushed the limits of speed and precision, attacking the lizards with incredible accuracy. He leaped from tree to tree, navigating through the forest as if swimming through the air. The lizards couldn't keep up with him, and he dodged their blows with unprecedented smoothness.

Each time a lizard hit the ground, a notification appeared on the tattoo:

 "You have gained 5 experience points." "Amazing! Maybe I'm not a superhero! But right now, I feel more like a stuntman in the jungle."

As Alex lunged at another lizard, he felt a question arise within him. "Am I hungry? Maybe because I'm moving so fast, I need more energy? Or perhaps… maybe these new abilities make me look like a superhero in an action movie."

Taking a break on a tree branch, he watched the lizards, which were increasing in number. "These lizards don't run out, and it doesn't seem like this fight is ending anytime soon. But at least I seem to be learning something new every moment."

Catching his breath, Alex leaped back into the heart of the battle, with the lizards filling the forest. "I'm not giving up now. If I keep getting experience points at this rate, I'm ready to keep up this dance till the end."

He launched another attack at a lizard, moving forward, jumping between trees, and fighting at top speed. "Now, let's see how long I can keep this up. And despite everything, it seems these lizards won't be the last challenge I face."

After Alex had slain more than twenty lizards, the remaining ones began showing clear hesitation. They were retreating and avoiding confrontation with him, as though they were waiting for something. Then, from the shadows, a distinct lizard emerged, unlike the others.

The massive lizard charged through the forest, causing tremors that shook the ground. Its scales were a deep violet-black, some of them covered with what looked like metallic armor. The leader lizard let out a terrifying roar, echoing throughout the forest in a chilling resonance.

Alex, watching this majestic creature, felt his heart race. "Ah, looks like we've got a leader here. Could this be the monster that decides whether I'll be the hero or dinner?" he remarked sarcastically, preparing to face the leader.

They exchanged glances, each watching the other with anticipation. The leader lizard emanated an aura of majesty and fear, clearly indicating it was no ordinary lizard. "If this is the leader, then I think this might be the true test of my skills," Alex thought to himself.

Taking a deep breath, Alex felt his newfound abilities coursing through his veins. "Alright, I guess it's time to test everything I've learned. If I'm going to continue this fight, it's time to prove myself a little."

He raised his dagger, ready to use all his powers. "This won't be easy, but if I manage to overcome this challenge, I might just be able to face anything that comes after."

The leader lizard began advancing, each step causing the ground to shake. Alex, taking an offensive stance, decided to use his probability manipulation abilities to assist him in this crucial confrontation. "I won't let myself fall into a trap. I'll put all my skills into this fight."

To be continued…