209 Porkchops, anybody?
“What happened…?” He mumbled to himself, holding his head.
After pondering for a moment, racking his brain for his last memories, he finally remembered what happened last.
That’s right…I reached the Tower–that lady said we’d fall asleep and wake up within the first floor…so, this is a floor in the Tower? This doesn’t seem like just some floor–was it true, then? I thought it was an exaggeration when she said each floor is a separate world, he thought.
It was confusing, but it seemed to be the only plausible explanation for the unfamiliar scenery around him.
He brought himself to his feet, brushing off his pants as he continued looking around. The distant surroundings were made up of towering mountains that seemed to reach higher than any he had seen before; piercing the clouds and almost acting like walls around the region.
I don’t get it, what am I supposed to do here…? I’m in the middle of nowhere, he thought.
Grumble.
Growling out, his stomach let out its own verbal complaint as he caressed it, now realizing just how hungry he actually was.
Damn, when was the last time I ate…? He wondered.
Despite the tranquil scenery around him, the instincts he had forged throughout his time surviving Armageddon were still on high-alert as he began marching through the unfamiliar fields.
…There’s gotta be something nearby, right? He thought.
It seemed like the pasture stretched on endlessly as he walked across its vast coverage, finding the gentle breeze and fresh air to fill his body almost like a medicine.
Eventually, after trekking forward for around an hour, he did find something new, if only a change in environment: a lustrous forest that welcomed him in through a barely-visible trail.
In fact, the trail he found was something only able to be sensed because of his proficiency as an assassin.
First on the agena: food, he thought.
Though it was clear he wasn’t going to have the luxury of just being able to walk into some abandoned store and find leftover cans of vegetables or meat just sitting around–it looked as if everything was going to have to be from scratch.
…It’s time to get medieval with it, I guess, he thought.
The grumbling of his stomach forced away any reluctances he had as he began looking not just for any wild game stalking the forest, but natural grown fruit as well.
It definitely wasn’t as if there was a shortage of berries, but there was another problem at hand:
I don’t know what any of these are!…Isn’t it like the first rule of survival to not just stick random berries in your mouth? He thought.
There were extremely colorful assortments of berries hanging on shrubs, but that colorful nature is what made him hesitant.
Do I have some sort of poison resistance as an assassin, at least…? He questioned.
[Answer: With your [Venomancy] proficiency, you’ve acquired a baseline resistance to all poisons and ailments.]
The System’s response did alleviate some of his restraints, but he was still skeptical. However, his stomach didn’t have the same witholdences as him as it growls again, prompting him to sigh out and collect the berries he found.
Alright, risks need to be taken…! He thought.
As he plucked the pink and green polka-dotted berries from one of the tall shrubs–it moved.
“Huh?”
The bush in front of him began violently rustling, but it’s not as if there was an animal of sorts moving around inside of it.
What’s…? He thought.
His instincts prompted him to jump back and draw his daggers as the bush he was picking from suddenly sprouted up, unraveling thorn-covered roots that swayed around like arms.
“What the–?!” He let out.
[Enemy Identified: “Man-Eating Shrub” | Level 17]
It was definitely a new sight–a living, angry plant that was definitely capable of doing as its name suggested.
Level seventeen? He thought.
Though it was a surprising enemy to run into, the level it possessed was nothing short of laughable for the young man as he almost felt as if it was a mistake.
The living, thorn-clad plant lashed out, tossing its spiky roots towards him, but he simply moved his daggers without much haste, cutting the natural tendrils apart casually. It was remarkably slow to his eyes, and no more threatening than a mouse as he made little effort in dispatching the mystical creature.
“–Down you go,” he said.
With a single blink step, he left a few slashes across its form, cutting it up and instantly dispelling it without any trouble.
[“Man-Eating Shrub” Defeated. EXP + 100 | 19800/20000]
It wasn’t surprising that the experience obtained was minuscule, as the enemy he fought was so far beneath his own level. ρꪖꪕᦔꪖꪕꪫꪣꫀꪶ
This encounter was a relief for him, but not because of what it meant for his own survival for the time being.
If the creatures are at this level, then the others will be fine. I’m guessing since the requirement to reach the Tower was just level twenty, it would make sense the creatures on the first floor are around that level, he thought.
As another part of his victory, he decided to claim the pink berries he initially tried to pick from the sentient shrub, taking them with him as he delved deeper into the forest.
Part of him was simply enamored with the domain of verdant, flourishing trees itself, exploring it with a certain excitement as he marched through its uneven flooring, using his daggers to cut through low-hanging branches.
Earth was hell for a while. Even before Hell literally descended on it. I…forgot about the beautiful parts of it–like this. Though I guess this isn’t “Earth” exactly, is it? It’s some sort of recreation by “God”–but, isn’t that what Earth is, anyway? I don’t know, he thought.
He sat down for a moment, finding a fallen over, moss-covered tree trunk to use as a bench as he took out the berries he had acquired, bringing them from his pocket and looking down at them on his palm.
There was a rainbow-like variety of them as he poked at them, rolling them around between his fingers as he picked up a bright-blue variation, sniffing it.
It smells sweet. Is that a good sign or bad? He thought.
He realized that with the lack of knowledge he had was only going to work against him if he tried to think about it, and instead chose to rely on his built-in poison resistance as he popped the natural-grown nutrients into his mouth.
It was somewhat crunchy, for some reason, but even more than that, it was juicy.
It’s sweet–so fresh, he thought.
A natural smile came over his lips for what felt like the first time in a long time at this small piece of joy, but he couldn’t help it. It felt like forever since he had something so authentic, fresh, and refreshing.
Being able to sit there amidst untampered nature, snacking on berries, having made it to the Tower–he felt as if so much weight had been lifted from his body.
But, he wasn’t completely relieved.
…I still have to find the others, he thought.
As he ate a few more berries, he got up and continued trekking through the forest in his lonesome journey.
–
[“Somewhere Else”, Floor One]
“What the hell is up with this…? I’m totally gettin nowhere!”
Standing on top of a mountain peak, the young man with spiky, blue hair and sharp teeth yelled out to the horizon.
“Gimme my damn status,” he huffed.
[Name: Yeong-Un]
“Damn, right.”
[Health: 5200/5200]
[Spirit: 3800/3800]
[Level 29]
[Current Experience: 21500/25000]
Sitting down for a moment on the edge of the grass-clung mountain, he let his legs dangle as clouds passed by directly beside him, overlooking great plains and forests that sat below.
“Seriously, where the hell am I…? Is this really that ‘Tower’ place?” He mumbled.
I was right beside the others before…BAM, I passed out…then I woke up, snoring and crap, right on the edge of this mountain! He thought.
As a small noise caught his ear, he placed his hand on one of his swords sheathed on his back, staying still as he listened closer.
STOMP. STOMP. STOMP.
There was something prowling in the midst, approaching him from behind as he slowly glanced behind him while rising to his feet.
It came from a cave burrowed into the heart of the mountain–an enormous ram with curved horns and a fluffy coat of silver wool.
A damn goat…? He thought.
Though it was definitely fantastical in comparison to similar animals that existed on Earth–it was easily the size of a moose, or perhaps even a small elephant, staring him down with its beady black eyes as it began to scrap its split hooves against the gravely floor.
[Enemy Identified: “Cloud-Dwelling Ram” | Level 19]
“…Angry fella, aintcha?”
Well, I am pretty fuckin hungry right about now…He thought.
He drew both of his blades from his black-and-white sheaths, holding his shark-like smile as he looked his enemy down.
“Well, come at me, then!” He yelled out, issuing a challenge to the massive ram.