In the dark.

"In the darkest corners of a tormented soul, pain thrived, an insidious beast that coiled around every thought, every heartbeat. It was a relentless tempest, an unyielding force, tearing through the fragile fabric of existence with the cruel precision of a surgeon's scalpel, carving scars that ran deeper than flesh, deeper than bone. It whispered its malevolent secrets in the silence of sleepless nights, promising no respite, no salvation, only an eternity of suffering."

…

As my eyelids fluttered open, a disorienting void greeted my vision, an abyss of impenetrable darkness. The frigid, unyielding ground met my touch as I rose, each movement of my body accompanied by a symphony of aches and pains. The sense of dislocation was overwhelming, as though the very fabric of reality had been torn asunder. I strained to discern my surroundings, yet the obscurity clung stubbornly to its secrets, offering nothing but the faint, chilling breeze that whispered through the void. Then, an unexpected and jarring ding cut through the stillness, a sharp, discordant note that pierced the solitude like a blade.

[connecting to host…]

In the depths of my bewildering predicament, a vivid image materialized within the recesses of my consciousness—an enigmatic jumble of words, cryptic and elusive. But as swiftly as this mental tableau unveiled itself, an excruciating bolt of agony surged through my head, rendering me powerless. I clutched my ears, the searing pain prompting involuntary whimpers and low groans. In an instant, the torment receded, allowing me to gingerly rise to my feet, shaken but resolute. With a palpable sense of urgency, I embarked on a determined quest to discern my surroundings, my eyes straining in the obscurity. Abruptly, my hand collided with an unyielding, frigid surface, its sharp contours inflicting a painful gash that instantaneously released a crimson tide. My breathing grew rapid, the ache in my hand a poignant reminder of my vulnerability, as though I could sense each pulsation of my life's essence coursing through my wounded appendage.

[congragulations! You have felt pain for the first time..]

[you have gained access to the basic system settings..]

Yet another cryptic image seared into my mind, the words it bore cutting through my thoughts like a knife, a symphony of agony reverberating in my ears. The silence of the room, so deathly quiet, was suddenly shattered by an explosive system noise that sent shockwaves through the stillness. My head throbbed in response, the cacophonous voice finally coming to a tumultuous, abrupt end.

[0.03 Pain points earned]

[Pain resistance gained.. ERROR.]

[pain resistance has been locked permanently]

Amidst the disorienting chaos of my situation, a question came to my mind. What were these pain points? I sternly pushed these pressing questions to the back of my mind, their answers rendered insignificant by the pressing urgency of my situation. The need to find a means of escape consumed me entirely, forcing me to redirect my focus to the immediate. Returning to the wall that had cruelly lacerated my still-bleeding hand, I gingerly pressed my opposite palm against its abrasive surface. Slowly, I searched for any subtle irregularity or a possible exit, casting my gaze across the chamber in vain. It was bewildering that my eyes remained stubbornly unadjusted, as though the very concept of light had forsaken this forsaken space. Tracing my hand along the wall with painstaking slowness, I yearned for a breakthrough, my fingertips eventually meeting another wall. It was then that I realized I had unwittingly cornered myself, confined by unforgiving obscurity and the unsettling mystery of my surroundings.

As I traversed the length of the dimly lit corridor, my steps echoing in eerie solitude, hope clung desperately to the possibility of finding an escape from this labyrinthine nightmare. With each footfall, I silently beseeched the universe for the revelation of a door along the final stretch of wall. My fingers brushed against the unforgiving texture of the surface, its cold, unyielding nature teasing my trembling senses. The thought of it being granite flitted through my mind, quickly dismissed in favor of my urgent search for a doorknob, a lifeline to freedom. Anxiety coiled around my heart as the elusive handle evaded my desperate grasp. Was this the sole path out, or had the fates conspired to trap me in this suffocating confinement? Panic's cruel fingers tightened around my throat, my breath quickened, and desperation clawed at the recesses of my mind until, with an abrupt tug, the door swung open, vanishing into the wall as a flood of searing light engulfed me. I shielded my eyes, tears welling, as the intensity of the radiance stung, and it took moments for my vision to adjust. What lay beyond the door was beyond comprehension—an expanse of wild forest, a stark contrast to the oppressive darkness I had just emerged from. The question that now gripped my soul was not only where but when I had unwittingly arrived.