Harsh Reality

"Anyone alive?"

Entering the room, I spoke in a low voice.

My eyes immediately scanned the dimly lit place, mapping out the layout of the area.

It took me only a few seconds to notice a creature lying in a pool of its own blood. The throat of the being had been precisely pierced, indicating a skilled and professional execution.

'It seems that I didn't miss…'

Kicking the body so it would roll and be face-up, I crouched to pillage the corpse of a deceased Demon.

Yes, this game does, indeed, have Demons within it.

They are the main adversaries that all players, no matter what character they pilot, must face. These evil doers are also the bunch responsible for summoning the 'Void Demon'.

Ash Morningstar just happens to meet one of them earlier than any other character and is forced to fight it with his weak Stats.

It is usually a grueling and hard fight, but not in my case though - I cheesed the battle.

"Found it!"

Unknowingly, I exclaimed.

Looking through the fallen Demon's belongings, I found a golden amulet with strange, pulsating veins running across its surface.

⌜Bloody Emblem ⌝

» Item Tier - Rare

◈ Description - This is a cursed item… Grants user a slight health regeneration.

I didn't even hesitate to quickly place the amulet around my neck. This was quite a good item to get early in the game.

Taking a deep breath, I tightened the amulet around my neck, feeling its cool metal against my skin.

The sensation was strangely invigorating, almost as if the veins pulsing on its surface were infusing me with some kind of energy.

I stood up, the Bloody Emblem now a part of me, and scanned the room once more.

It was then that I noticed the mangled body of a female human lying in the corner.

Her limbs were twisted at unnatural angles, and deep gashes marred her once-fair skin.

The sight made my stomach churn, a wave of revulsion washing over me. Her lifeless eyes stared blankly into the abyss, a silent testimony to the brutality that had taken place.

I turned my gaze away, unable to bear the sight any longer.

This world was filled with such horrors, but this… this was different.

There was something deeply unsettling about seeing a fellow human reduced to such a state. I clenched my fists, a mix of anger and sadness boiling within me.

'This is too… real'

I thought bitterly.

But this was the reality of the game, a world where life and death were governed by the whims of demons and the desperation of humans.

I took a moment to gather my thoughts, breathing deeply to steady myself.

Moving cautiously, I made my way towards the exit, my ears tuned for any sign of danger.

As I reached the doorway, I paused, glancing back at the fallen demon and the mangled body.

Tap…

Giving a few seconds of silence, I closed the door and retired to my room.

⌜Episode I⌝

◈ Investigate and Deal with the commotion next door [ Completed! ]

Falling into my bed, I saw a system notification blinking at the corner of my vision, however, I was too tired to examine it at the moment.

'Good night…'

***

I woke to the distant murmur of voices outside my door.

The remnants of sleep clung to me, but the gravity of my situation snapped me to full alertness.

Someone had likely discovered the bodies in the next room…

Sitting up, I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and forced myself to focus.

On the small table beside my bed, I spotted the loaf of bread I'd scavenged from the assailants earlier.

My stomach growled, reminding me of the physical toll of yesterday's events. I broke off a piece of the stale bread, chewing thoughtfully as I tried to piece together my next move.

The taste was dry and bland, but it was sustenance.

As I ate, my mind wandered back to the events of the previous night - the encounter with the demon, the discovery of the bloody emblem, and the grotesque scene in the other room.

'Disgusting…'

Finishing my meager breakfast, I dusted the crumbs from my hands and reached for the Starfall Academy certificate in my pocket.

This was the next step in Ash's gameplay.

After reaching Oakridge, the player has to somehow reach the capital of the Shadowblight Empire where the Academy is located.

There are a lot of ways to do it and the game allows you to experiment with your options and even explore the world.

If my memory serves me right…

[ Episode II ]

◈ Reach the Starfall Academy within a month.

Yep, I was correct.

I had around a month of time to make it there.

'So much time…'

Brushing the hair out of my face, I thought.

If I really wanted to, I could get to the Starfall Academy in a matter of days, but since I have plenty of time, I can take things at a more leisurely pace, explore the world, gather resources and strengthen my character along the way.

'What to do…'

Tapping my chin with my finger, I contemplated.

I had so many options to consider…

I could go fetch myself an artifact sword… or I could go and retrieve armor that negates 50% of magic damage…

Huff…

Letting out a breath, I closed my eyes.

I think I know my next step…