Ch.04

Once they succumb to their injuries I once again sense a mysterious source of energy growing inside of me.

[LEVEL UP]

"What?"

[You have leveled up due to acquiring the needed EXP requirements]

"What happens when I level up?"

[You gain the ability to allocate POINTS to your overall stats to increase a specific STAT]

"How do I know my current status?"

[Simply say "Status Window" and you will be able to see your personal information]

"Status Window"

[Name : Ben Wilson

Lvl : 2

EXP : 0 / 50

HP : 30 / 30

MP : 0 / 0

Points : 3

STR : 3

DEX : 7

INT : 5

LCK : 4 ]

"Did I level up by killing these Woompas?"

[Yes]

"What was that weird sense of energy I felt within me?"

[That was EXP from killing the Woompas]

"What are the conditions to get EXP?"

[Any life that the Abyss creates will give EXP when killed]

Let's think this through if I keep gaining EXP I can get stronger, if I get stronger I can delve down into the abyss without having to worry, and the deeper I go the closer I am to learning the unknown. With a somewhat achievable plan, I can't help but smile as I can see the steps needed to be taken to reach my dream.

But that smile quickly shifted to sadness as my stomach is now roaring due to hunger, I quickly looked around to see if the Woompas had any food on them but as I do so I could only see their bodies merging into the ground.

"What the heck is happening to the bodies?"

[The abyss is using their bodies as a means of returning energy to itself]

"For what reason?"

[Energy can not be created nor destroyed therefore since the abyss created them they will now transfer the energy back into the abyss]

"Sounds reasonable enough, what if someone like me dies, what happens to my body?"

[You too will be used to return energy into the abyss since the abyss has given its energy to you]

"Wait so if Descenders have the abyss's energy does that mean they too will give EXP when killed?"

[YES]

So you can get EXP by either killing the life within the abyss or those who descend it, good to know.

I stare at the bodies that were now completely absorbed into the ground but as they merged I notice what looks like a cube left behind. When picked up I notice that the color is gray, the size is equal to the palm of m hand, and its weight is surprisingly weightless.

"What's this?"

[That's a loot]

"Do all life left behind loots"

[Yes but it is now always guaranteed]

"So there's a chance it will drop loots and a chance it won't"

[YES]

"How do I use this loot?"

[Look at it and choose yes]

"Look at it and choose yes?"

I look at the cube and a small window popped asking if I would like to open the loot, as I follow what was instructed I chose yes. Upon doing so the cube opens up from the top side and what I got is a small red crystal.

"Now what can I do with this? Is this edible?"

[That is a blood crystal that restores a small amount of health]

"Useful but right now I'm more hungry than hurt so what else can these loots give?"

[Depending on its rarity it can give you food or even an item]

"So my only choice is to kill more things until I can eventually find one that gives me food? I can't simply just cook the things I kill down here?"

[You can cook and consume the life but you won't gain any loot since they'll need to be consumed by the abyss for you to receive a loot]

"What a weird way of life down here"

"Wait a minute, if I kill the Borga wouldn't the body be consumed by the abyss?"

[YES]

"Then what's the point of killing it if i's just gonna get consumed by the abyss before I could even use it as a sleeping bag?"

I angrily say to the System who was the one who suggested that I take shelter within a Borga, the apex creature of floor 1.

[It will take 10 hours for the body to completely emerge with the abyss]

"But those Borga took about 5 minutes to be consumed by the abyss"

[That is because they weren't that strong due to their low level]

"So let me get this right the stronger or higher level you are the longer it will take for the abyss to consume you?"

[YES]

"I'm guessing that's due to the accumulation of EXP within the body?"

[YES]

I was hoping we could change the plan of having to kill a Borga and sleep within it but now that I know how the abyss works my last hope of finding an alternative was quickly swept away. As I turn towards the direction of the Borga my stomach who was fine a minute ago was now causing a sharp pain within me due to its need for food.

If I fight the Borga as I am now I highly doubt I will win so I guess the best option would be to first get some food.

"I guess I'll hunt some more creatures until I find some supplies of food and hopefully water as well."

I quickly ran towards the forest while leaving some marks to help me return back to the spot where the Borga was sleeping at, as some time go by I managed to find an Acu.

Acu is a medium-sized two-legged creature who has a medium body but a small head at one end and a short tail on the other are known for their speed, luckily they aren't known for attacking anything near them.

Without much thought, I sprinted at the Acu with my knife gripped tightly and a smile on my face.