(Prologue) A Chance at Life
[Recommended Song for chapter: 'Arlo's theme' "Sahara" by Hensonn]
POV: Arlo
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Mission
Difficulty: F
Objective: Survive
Reward: ???
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The otherworldly creature lunged at me, but my previously useless legs expertly dodged the strike.
I was working through the long process of becoming a doctor before the 'war' if you could call it that.
I had never been in a fight in his life, but now, it was as if I'd been in a million. My right eye unleashed a torrent of red particles, and I gracefully slid my dagger into the creatures carotid artery. The creature screamed and erupted into red particles. His retina lit up and the screen appeared.
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Strength Increase: +1
Skill acquired: Pierce (Rank F)
Proficiency: 1/100
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My retina lit up as a screen appeared in front of me. I quickly sent it away and looked at the next target. An injured reptilian creature with red eyes was walking towards him menacingly.
I burst forward and attempted to slash with my dagger but missed. I attempted to regain my poise, but when I looked up, a clawed fist was only inches from my chest.
BAM!
The fist landed directly in my chest. Searing pain radiated through my torso as the tiny blades from its claws made my already fractured sternum send shards of bone into his lungs.
Although I was conscious of the pain, the overwhelming amount of adrenaline coursing through my body refused to let me properly acknowledge it.
The creature raised his other fist, but this time, I raked the dagger along its arm and followed it to the reptile-like humanoid's neck, piercing it swiftly.
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Stamina Increase: +1
Skill acquired: Pierce (Rank F)
Proficiency: 2/100
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Right as the creature collapsed to the ground, the familiar red particles appeared. I felt immersed into the strange whirling particles before me. A strange feeling of dread came over me as I felt a presence at my back.
Before I could turn around, my vision was stained red and I watched helplessly as a green scythe ripped in and out of my stomach. My eyes shifted as I ignored my body's cry for attention. I quickly spun around to meet the preying mantis-looking humanoid face to face. The creature raised its scythe-like arms for a second attack, but before he could move, I plunged the dagger towards the creature's chest. An unnatural thought passed through my mind.
So slow
The dagger had a hard time penetrating, but eventually, the dagger dug it's way to the creature's heart and the enemy dissipated into red particles. A short beep sounded and I knew that the screen had just returned. However, the adrenaline dump was so intense that I couldn't move my body any more. I collapsed to the ground, struggling to keep my eyes open.
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Agility Increase: +1
Skill acquired: Pierce (Rank F)
Proficiency: 3/100
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Mission Complete
Difficulty: F
Objective: Survive
Reward: System, Floor 1 Unlocked
- Status is restored
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To my surprise, All of my injuries slowly began to fade. Even the symptoms of radiation began to dissipate. I was still dehydrated but,
I'll live…
POV: Derek
Where am I?
Darkness surrounded me, yet I still felt a tangible surface beneath. I attempted to stand up, but the empty void discombobulated me and crushed my equilibrium, causing me to stumble forward. The only sensation I felt was the wetness of an unknown liquid falling down my face.
A strong scent of iron penetrated my senses and I could guess as to what the liquid was. For some reason, the realization didn't bother me.
My sense of touch was clouded, but, at the same time, it felt like I was being embraced.
Arlo… Is that you?
POV: Arlo
I clenched my dagger as I felt a weird familial sensation coming from the weapon. I laid on the ground in tattered clothes now, but without a single scratch on my body. I had already fully accepted my death, but against all odds, I was still living.
"Maybe I'm the tumor." I whispered, referring to the cancer cells in my body that had now disappeared.
I knew that Derek would have appreciated the dark humor. A bitter taste popped in my mouth as I hoped that, somehow, Derek could hear me. The room around me began to morph. A bed manifested to my right. Two chairs and a table popped up, and a door to another room emerged. The sound of objects being manifested in the room behind the door was apparent. Even the sound of running water was heard.
Wait… water!?
My eyes sparkled as I shot up from the ground. I sprinted into the door, nearly breaking it off his hinges, and opened it to see a bathroom with-
"A sink!" I beamed audibly.
I ran to the sink, slammed the nozzle forward, and began to drink the water like an 8-week old Golden Retriever. After nearly drowning myself and taking quick breaks to breathe in some air, I wiped the water off of my lips and fell back on the wall behind me.
"Ah!" I couldn't break the smile plastered on my face. I burst out laughing, remembering the game that Maksim proposed.
"Fuck you."
I silently wished that Maksim could see me well and alive. Even more than that, I wanted to see his reaction.
I looked in the mirror to see a still soot-covered face. Methodically, I used the water from the sink to clear his face and looked into the mirror again. My rusty brown hair was still a mess, but it was the same Arlo I knew.
No, something's different.
There was a thin crimson ring around my right eye. If one looked briefly, they wouldn't be able to notice it, but upon closer inspection, it was definitely there.
It's just like the Syndicate.
I recoiled back from the realization, but quickly regained my composure.
The bathroom only contained a toilet and sink so, unfortunately, there wasn't the option to shower. I sighed and cleaned up to the best of my ability using the sink.
After finishing, I exited the bathroom and jumped on the bed. I let my arm fall over my head and breathed out deeply.
"I'm alive."
Right as my worries began to ease, my retina lit up again and a new screen popped up.
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Mission
Difficulty: F
Objective: Kill 1 Human
Reward: 30 days worth of Food, +2 Stamina, Randomized Skill
Accept / Decline
- If you decline, you will lose your status as an evolver and die immediately
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As I read the message, my smile disappeared.
"Ha. Hahaha!" Yet again, I couldn't stop the manic laughter from appearing.
It all makes sense now. The MAW troops, the Syndicate, and the widespread destruction.
I got out the bed and began to shake as anger took a deep hold over my mind.
"How many more people are you going to ask me to kill once I finish this mission? 10? 50? 100!?"
I stood there for a few seconds, but there was no response.
"Answer me!"
The silence became deafening. The sense of loneliness was now overbearing. The system that had spoke to me when I entered was now taunting me by remaining absolutely silent.
"Decline"
The room shook slightly. There was an instinctual feeling to scream out 'accept'. It felt as if someone was pressing me to answer that way.
However, I had already accepted his fate. This room was just a sick joke that gave him hope. There's nobody waiting for him even if he did live. I clenched my fist and screamed out defiantly.
"Decline!"
My retina lit up again and the screen appeared, but nothing was on it. The red screen shook and began to break apart. Small violet lines began to creep up the side of it. The purple light was almost blinding, completely overpowering the red screen.
Words began to appear on the screen.
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You are the first creature to decline in 5,278 years
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My eyes widened and the sense of anger returned.
You fuckers. Not one of you were willing to sacrifice. All of you were that selfish. How could humans be this greedy?
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The 17th Creator, Nexus, is interfering with the system.
New mission is being artificially created.
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