A night in the slums

The night was still early yet fatigue had already defeated the two as they curled on the single large bed created from wooden crates and old futons. And they were so knocked out by the chores, they snore heavily in their sleep.

But how could I blame them? Today was one heck of a day.

They've barely survived today's treasure hunting, almost caught and found by the bandit mobs, and had gone all out rehabilitating this space from cobwebs and dust. And adding the swarm of rats Gabby hated almost made her faint, it was too much for them.

And on the other hand, there's me.

I, who went back into the past after experiencing hell and then found myself having this mysterious system with such anomalous abilities. And unintentionally killing my own kind for the first time. One could have gone insane right now.

"Abyss..." I whispered into the air, and the system once again showed itself.

** Abyssal Dragon System **

Name: Cipher "No surname"

Rank: E

HP: 15/15 MP: 0/0

Str: 3/10 Agi: 6/10 Vit: 1.5/10 Int: 3/10 Magi: 0/0

Main quest:

1. Protect Gaia a.k.a Earth

2. Survive the incoming wave

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"Just what the heck is this system?" I mumbled in annoyance, staring at the screen which almost said 'Hey, I know all about you than you have' and bluntly showed it.

But somehow, thanks to it I remembered a crucial memory of the incoming trouble. And although it was still far, it was something none should take lightly.

Dimensional rifts and waves are distinct entities. While the rifts can be likened to babies, the waves are akin to troublesome, destructive parents armed with monsters. The rifts are small portals to other locations, whereas the wave represents a much larger version of it, accompanied by smaller ones.

In short, either you get the hell out of the wave's zone or die trying to survive it.

Most of the waves disappear eventually on their own but some rifts stay open for unknown reasons, and those rifts turn into a portal. An open gateway that never closes unless its source of stability is destroyed. The only time I saw one closing was when a group of players entered and finished some kind of mission inside.

** Item Classification **

Item name: Abyssal Dragon Orb

Possession of the Abyssal Dragon.

Effects: unknown

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The hovering information materialized upon contact with the orb. Even the sphere was stated to be related to the dragon and deemed important yet all I could do for now was store it in the storage the system itself had provided.

"I don't really understand what's happening…" Bewildered, I let out a groan, and soon after, I caught the sound of heavy footsteps and the clanging of metal coming from the lower floor.

As I made my way down to the ground floor of the shop, I found the blacksmith busy arranging his goods.

"Need some help?"

"And here I thought you were just gonna stand there and watch," he said, grinning as he rubs his beard before pointing to the box next to me. "You can start by putting the knives on the shelves."

"Kitchen knives?" I asked upon discovering the contents of the crate.

"Hey, kid. This is a smithy, not an armory. I can make and sell anything I want" he claimed.

"You don't need to get all grumpy, I was just surprised. Most blacksmiths these days would go hammering something more lethal arsenals."

"Can't blame them for that. Not after what happened twenty-two years ago-" He paused for a moment as he saw an old wooden box underneath the crate of piles of words. He blew the cobwebs and dust on the cover then the item inside somehow tickled him to laugh "Funny, isn't it? We were so advanced, we had guns and nukes but it can't even do a thing against those invading neighbors."

It's not that it can't. It works on most lower and weaker class monsters, but those who are stronger have either magic to deflect it, have too thick hide or armor to penetrate, or are just too fast to get hit. And unlike swords and other melee weapons, guns are rendered useless once out of ammo.

And nukes are far too destructive to ourselves rather than the ones we aim at. Using them against enemies with no sight of extinction is just slowly killing us by shortening our domain.

From the box, he took a handgun to flaunt. "This personalized handgun was invented by my friend as a gift for me years ago. But now, it's just another useless piece of crap that no longer has value."

"Want this toy, kid?" he added as a question.

"A toy? You're literally giving a 'kid' a gun?" I sarcastically replied.

"It's broken, anyway. And all the bullets made especially for this piece of trash are gone. And none are capable of making them again. " he claimed, tossing the gun for me to catch.

"For a gift, you sure don't care about it at all."

"What's the use of a gift if you can't even use it?" he bluntly claimed, then a deep sigh expelled from him. "Besides, it only reminds me of my dead friend… I don't even know why I brought it here with me in the first place…"

He started taking out a cigarette from the pockets of his apron, then fumes exhaled from his mouth upon lighting it and filling out the air.

"Dang, just when I said I'd quit…" he cussed, scratching his head.

"... fine, I'll take this burden out of you," I replied, throwing the gun into the storage.

"Thanks, kiddo," he replied, throwing the cigarette into a metal trashcan. "Now back to work."

The shop was enveloped in silence as none of us spoke until the stocking was over. All the items that were already rusting were placed in a crate to be brought into the forge for repair while some just needed grinding.

"Hey, kid!" the man abruptly called then tossed a couple of banded cash as I was fixing the door sign. "Go buy yourselves something to eat and make sure you stuff the others. I don't want your corpses in my shop just because you hadn't eaten."

"What's with that grin?" he added.

"Oh, nothing. Be right back" For a second, I was taken aback by his poor acting of not caring at all then hastened outside before the old fool could change his mind. I guess he had a soft side for children.

The night market was still open, brandishing illegally imported goods from the docks. Not illegal in the sense it is something addicts seek but rather, things the government couldn't afford to spare for the poor.

Meat, greens, and other personal necessities for basic human needs. None of that was available in the slums in the first place, and even safe water was priced. And they all shift the blame on the invading monsters, although many countries are producing more than enough merchandise.

Without the seafaring traders, things like those goods only reach the slums in the form of charities and donations upheld by politicians to pretend to care for the masses' livelihood. The reason why every day was hell while the days of the incoming election were heaven.

But I guess to some, it's still hell as some take other people's received ration by force.

"Hey, there young man! I see you taking glimpses of my wares! Don't be shy, they're on a discount tonight!" a slanted eye man around his twenties called within his little stall as he fans a grill in front of him.

It appeared that I had strayed quite a distance from the shop, but surprisingly, I stumbled upon another store that specialized in selling ready-to-eat food.

Or rather, it found me.

"A barbecue… I think the two would flip in joy if they get to taste it." I pondered as most of the time, we'd only have leftovers and soggy bread to fill our stomachs. Time for them to taste something else. "Oh, A dozen-No, make it twenty pork barbecues, please."

The stall seller widens his grin upon hearing a large number of orders and prepares four wooden containers for it. And before I knew it, I was on my way back into the smithy.

A peaceful night, if I should say. Or so I thought.

Out of nowhere, a sudden impact struck the back of my head, and in that moment, a familiar "ping" sound echoed through the air as I crumpled to the ground, feeling weakened and disoriented.

** You've received 14 damage **

** Warning notice! **

Health point is too low.

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"The heck…" I was losing consciousness as the world darkened, hearing vague arguments from people above me as my body was dragged into the soil of the slums. I wanted to scream yet I couldn't find the strength to do so and none seemed to be around within my vicinity to help.

I felt my body being raised, and as I looked up, the lights of the market began to dim and fade into the distance. Then, in an instant, everything turned pitch black.