11 Acceptance

*******hello author here, just a heads up, Ligi's thoughts are gonna be depressing and sad in the start.**************

"D——-d————Dad?!"

Although Ligi knew his father wasn't the best person in the world, it was still his father. His OWN father!!!

He thought his father still cared for him deep in his heart. He thought his father was still redeemable. But this? This was too far.

He could take being shoved, being cursed, and berated but leading his own son to death was devastating. Add salt to the wound, his father prioritized the egg over him.

Was he less than an egg? Was he, his father's own blood and flesh, not even worth looking at? Was he not even worth saving? Was he not allowed to survive? Was he not allowed to live?

He deserved to die. He wasn't worth to anyone. He would just let the events unfold. He would let the Limaw kill him. It didn't matter, he didn't want to live anymore. He didn't even want to cry.

Ligi's thoughts were depressing and sad. The emotions that he bottled up inside him led to this deep dive in his psyche.

He was lacked sleep, he was tired, and he was speechless.

He just kneeled and closed his eyes as the shaking gets closer.

Then, on his darkest of times, he was suddenly pulled away. It was Bang. The same person who saved him from critical moments in multiple times.

'Why does he keep saving me? I don't have anything to repay him with.'

Ligi kept looking down while he was being dragged to safety.

——————————

'Fxxx, what now system? You told me to save him but it looks like he didn't even wanna save himself!'

He was running slow because he was still dragging Ligi by his hand. They didn't have the time. The Limaw is gaining distance on them.

'Come on man, the least you could do is run by yourself!'

Bang wanted to lecture Ligi but it looked like Ligi was depressed enough. He felt like anymore berating and Ligi would stop running. That would do no one any good.

While running, Bang could see a cave. This cave had a small opening and it looked like the Limaw couldn't get in.

Even without the system saying it, Bang rushed in the cave's direction. It was the only way for them to survive. They obviously couldn't outrun the Limaw, so this is their only hope.

Running in, the narrow cave turned out to be massive. Only the entrance was small. Bang thanked the gods that the Limaw couldn't get in.

The inside of the cave was dim. There were only few holes in the cave that let some sunlight seep through.

Bang couldn't see what was on the ceiling but he knew it was very tall.

Brownish orange stalagmites of all shapes and sizes were scattered all over the floor and some raised to the top.

There was also a pond on the side the wall. This would be very useful if they were to hide in here for a few days while they wait out the Limaw.

Exhausted, Bang sat on the floor and panted. He wasn't sure when the Limaw would leave but he was gonna wait a few days before going out.

Bang looked at Ligi and saw that he had his head down on his knees and curled up.

'I pity this guy. His own father really just abandoned him like that.'

Seeing that Ligi wasn't moving, he changed his focus on the outside. It was eerily quiet. There was no sound. There was no shaking. Only the sound of silence.

A bad premonition came to Bang.

Then suddenly like a tsunami hitting the shore, he heard a loud crash. The whole cave was shaking to it's core.

Only a few seconds after, the same thing happened again, only this time, he could hear rocks cracking.

It was the Limaw. It was forcefully trying to get in.

Bang panicked. They had no where else to go, they were trapped. If the Limaw successfully breaks through, they will die.

As the sounds of cracking gets louder and louder, Bang's heartbeat got faster and faster.

'System! Do something!!!!'

+++++++++++++++

QUEST

-Main Quest

•Save your future crew member

# Save your future crew member

+++++++++++++++

Then, as if the gods answered his prayers, he received a ray of hope. His system is telling him what to do.

Rushing to Ligi's side, he shook and looked in his eyes.

"Hey...Hey...HEY!!!"

Bang shouted to get Ligi's attention. They finally saw eye to eye and Bang started his speech.

"Hey, you're not useless. There are so many things you could do in your future. This is not your life. This is not what you're meant to be.

This is just a bump in the road. A little obstacle. I know you are struggling but don't lose hope. There will always be a bright side in everything.

Don't be discouraged of these problems. This will inevitably make you stronger. Stronger than you will ever imagine. You will learn to value yourself, not because others find you useful. You will learn to love yourself, not because someone loves you.

You don't have to have big dreams in order to find a reason to live. You can take it step by step. No need to rush yourself.

We all still can't find our true purpose in life, but that doesn't stop us from advancing. If you can't find your purpose now, it's okay. Just protect yourself first. Value your own life.

You wanted to know why I saved you right? It's because I saw the potential in you. I saw the way you could be not the way you are now.

I saw that your problems will only help you succeed. That's why I saved you. Now you need to save yourself.

Tell me, do you believe in yourself? I believe in you. Take the first step and realize your worth."

It was at this point that Ligi started crying. The dam in his heart finally broke. All the emotions he felt. All the things he bottled up came and rushed to him like a waterfall.

No one had ever said those words to him. Those words of encouragement felt like fresh cold water in his dry and deserted world.

He had always felt he needed someone to validate his own life. His father needed him, although in a twisted way.

He had always just let things happen to him. It never occurred to him to fight for himself even without others protecting him.

He realized that what he did was wrong. It was okay to not be okay. It was fine to show your feelings. It was fine to want to live.

Back when he was running away, this was what he felt. It was only a sliver back then, but not it grew to a full fire.

His renewed sense of self helped him realize what he wanted to do.

He looked at Bang and was about to say something, but Bang stopped him.

"Internalize that feeling. Believe it in your heart and close your eyes."

Ligi closed his eyes.

Bang raised his hands and pointed it at Ligi's heart and reached it.

Bang felt power coming from deep inside his heart. It transferred from his hands and into Ligi. It was an indescribable feeling. He felt weak but at the same time he felt stronger than ever.

Before Ligi could feel the power, the entrance to the cave finally broke.

What entered was the Limaw that they both dreaded. It didn't waste any time and rushed to Bang and Ligi.

The ground underneath it's feet trembled at it's size and the smaller stalagmites broke. It had only one thing in it's sights, and that was the thieves who killed it's partner.

Horns suddenly grew on its forehead and glowed in power. This Limaw was clearly stronger than the previous one. Maybe because the previous one had just laid eggs, or some other factor, they didn't know.

The Limaw got close and reared it's horns point blank.

Just as the Limaw thought his horns were gonna pierce through Bang and Ligi, it felt some resistance and he tumbled backwards due to the rebound.

In the smoke of shattered stone was a silhouette of a man. He looked calm, confident and the look in his eyes were as clear as the sky.

It was Ligi, who now looked healthier and stronger. The most glaring difference from before was the shield that was attached to his arms that saved them from the Limaw.

This was the same man who had lost all his will to live just a second ago. Now he had the power in his hands to protect himself, and even others.

+++++++++++++++

QUEST

-Main Quest

•Save your future crew member

# COMPLETED

+++++++++++++++

'Congratulations! You have completed a main quest. 100wp will be rewarded.'

'Congratulations! You have recruited a crew member. 500wp will be rewarded.'

'Congratulations! Your crew member has broken through the first stage of advancement. 100wp will be rewarded.'

'Congratulations! You have unlocked more options for the store.'

+++++++++++++++

STORE

CURRENT WP - 720 wp

-Self

•mini map upgrade : 50 wp.

•self defense : 100 wp.

•information : will vary

•wish : will vary

-Crew

•unlock a crew member : 100 wp

•power up : 100 wp

•crew apprentice : 10000 wp

-Ship

•unlock a ship : 1000 wp

-Village

•unlock a village : 1000 wp

+++++++++++++++

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