Exit

[Upgrading gene cells]

[Initialization in progress…]

[10%...]

As the messages flashed before his eyes, Rama felt an unexpected warmth spreading through his entire body. It was soon followed by an unbearable itch that quickly escalated into a searing pain. The intensity forced him to his knees, trembling and unable to utter a word in complaint or regret. He could only endure it as the progress bar in his vision crept toward completion.

Finally, as the bar reached 100%, the pain subsided just as suddenly as it had begun.

[Gene sequencing completed]

[Your gene upgraded: common to superior]

[Spirit aptitude upgraded: C to B]

[All stats increased by 2]

Rama felt as if his body had been jump-started, his senses coming alive with renewed energy. He stood up, marveling at the sudden surge of vigor coursing through him.

Name: Rama

Level: 5

[Stats]

Strength: 9 (11)

Dexterity: 13 (15)

Perceptions: 11 (13)

Vitality: 10 (12)

Intelligence: 15 (17)

Available Points to distribute: 1

"WOAHH!! This is crazy… !"

Rama couldn't help but feel a surge of exhilaration. The urge to jump around and swing his dagger was almost irresistible. Having been bedridden for years, the sensation of newfound strength and vitality was nothing short of incredible.

He added the available points to strenght, boosting it to 12, and was ready to leave the left-wing building.

Rama stepped cautiously out of the building, his newly upgraded perceptions sharpened his vision, allowing him to pierce through the darkness, and his heightened ears made him acutely aware of any approaching danger.

Rama sneaked through the central yard toward the main gate, when something caught his eye—a towering stone statue in the middle of the yard that he had never know exist.

The statue was massive, standing about 8 meters tall, with intricate carvings etched into its surface. As Rama approached, he realized that the inscriptions covering the statue were in ancient Sanskrit, similar to those he'd seen on relics and temples in the real world.

He paused to examine the statue more closely. It depicted a goddess with four arms, seated gracefully on a lotus flower. The figure was unmistakable—Sarasvati, the revered deity of wisdom, art, and learning in Hindu mythology.

"Why is this statue here?" Rama muttered under his breath.

What made him even more curious, and slightly uneasy, was the strange aura that seemed to radiate from the statue. Drawn closer by this unseen force, Rama's mind raced with possibilities. Was the statue a part of the game world's lore? Did it serve a purpose, or perhaps hold some hidden significance that he had yet to uncover?

As Rama stood before the statue, the sky began to shift. The dark clouds parted slightly, revealing a faint crimson hue. The light seemed to bleed through the sky, signaling the arrival of twilight.

"Does this mean I can go back?" Rama wondered aloud, his heart skipping a beat at the possibility.

The scene above was eerily familiar, almost identical to the one described in the Avatar of God novel. In that story, twilight marked a crucial 10-minute window where the avatar warriors could enter and exit the shadow realm. But despite the anticipation building within him, nothing happened.

Frustrated, Rama tried to take control of the situation. "Log out! Exit!" he shouted, hoping the game system would respond to his commands. But there was no reaction, no sign that he was any closer to leaving this strange world.

"Nothing?! Really?" he muttered, exasperation creeping into his voice.

With no other options, Rama decided to head toward the front gate, only to be met with an unsettling sight—a group of Shadow Lizards, their eyes glowing menacingly, blocking his path. They were huddled together, a dark, writhing mass that made it clear they were guarding the way out.

Thinking quickly, Rama turned toward the nearest section of the estate's walls. The solid two-meter structure wasn't an impossible climb, and with his enhanced stats, he was confident he could make it over.

But just as he reached out to grip the wall, a sudden jolt ran through his hand. He recoiled in shock, realizing there was an invisible barrier in place, shimmering faintly where his fingers had touched.

"This is just perfect...!" he groaned, frustration boiling over. The walls, the gate, the lizards—every exit seemed to be blocked, trapping him in this twisted reality with no clear way out.

Suddenly a new message flashed before his eyes:

[New Objectives - Exit Path (unread)]

Without hesitation, he opened the message, eager for any hint of escape. The message was short but clear:

[Exit Path - Clear the estate of any creatures to receive a reward and a means to exit.]

Rama's heart sank as he considered the daunting task ahead. The Purnama estate spanned over 3 acres, about the size of two soccer fields. It has eight buildings scattered across the grounds. The sheer size of the place made it impossible to estimate how many creatures he would need to fight or if he could even survive long enough to complete the objective.

He took a deep breath, steeling himself for the challenge. 

Moving cautiously, Rama made his way to the nearest building, a massive warehouse located at the back of the estate. The structure loomed before him, its darkened windows and weathered walls giving off an ominous vibe. As he approached, a flicker of movement caught his eye.

When he peered inside, his heart skipped a beat. A group of massive, grotesque rats, each the size of a bear. Their matted fur, beady eyes, and sharp, gnashing teeth made them look even more menacing in the dim light.

[Giant Mole Rats]

The name flashed in his mind, and with it, a memory from the novels surfaced. These were tier 2 creatures—slow-moving but incredibly strong, with thick fur that served as a natural armor.

Rama clenched his dagger tightly, his knuckles turning white. "Alright, I can do this… just take them one by one," he whispered to himself, trying to summon the courage he needed to face these monstrous rodents.

Despite his best efforts, Rama was horrified to discover that his dagger barely scratched the surface of the rat's tough hide. The blade glanced off, unable to pierce deeply enough to slow the creature down. Before he could react, the giant mole rat lunged at him, slamming its massive body into his chest. The impact sent him flying across the room, crashing into the wall with a sickening thud. Pain shot through his body as he struggled to catch his breath, his HP plummeting by a third.

"Dammit!! I need to get out!!" Rama gasped, panic gripping him.

Scrambling to his feet, he bolted out of the warehouse, but his frantic escape only drew more attention. As he burst into the open yard, the sound of his hurried footsteps caught the attention of two nearby Shadow Lizards.

"Ooo no!!" he muttered in despair, realizing he was in even deeper trouble.

His heart raced as he pushed himself to run faster, but despite his upgraded stats, the Shadow Lizards quickly closed the distance. Their sleek, agile bodies moved with terrifying speed, and before Rama could reach the safety of another building, he found himself surrounded. Three Shadow Lizards had encircled him, their cold, reptilian eyes locked onto their prey.

"This is it… This is freaking unfair!!" Rama's voice cracked with frustration.

The Shadow Lizards roared in unison, their powerful jaws snapping in anticipation. All three were poised to strike, ready to tear him apart.

Just as the situation seemed utterly hopeless, Rama's body was suddenly seized by a powerful jolt. The shock was so intense that it momentarily paralyzed him, sending him crashing to his knees. His vision blurred, and he could feel his muscles stiffen, his control slipping away as the Shadow Lizards closed in.

"Wha—what's happening?!"

Rama's mind reeled, trying to make sense of the sudden chaos. Then, cutting through the noise and confusion, he heard a familiar whisper—his sister's voice, full of desperation calling his name.

"RAMA!! RAMA!!"

Her cries echoed in his mind, overlapping with a new system message that appeared before his eyes, cold and clinical.

[Initializing Force Log Out]

[5… 4… 3…]

Before he could comprehend what was happening, everything around him began to blur and fade. The world of shadows and danger he was trapped in dissolved into a brilliant white light, and in the next instant, he found himself gasping for breath, his eyes snapping open to a new reality.

Multiple faces hovered over him, their expressions a mix of concern and urgency. Doctors and nurses in white coats surrounded him, among them was his sister, her face streaked with tears, her eyes wide with fear and relief as she clung to his hand.

Rama's mind struggled to catch up, the shock of the transition leaving him momentarily speechless. It took several seconds for him to fully process what had happened.

He was in a hospital and had just been resuscitated. Somehow, he had been brought back to life after what must have been an hour of death.

"...."