Requiem Of A Failed Hero

After a long day of death and resurrection, what was more reassuring to confirm the fact that one still existed in this same plane of existence than sleep... maybe a slap in many cases. But a sound sleep was more relieving.

But that was his first mistake.

[You have met the first condition]

[This condition prepares you for the path of dissolution that lies ahead of you]

[The dust within you is resonating with your will to grow]

[There is no rest on the path to dissolution]

[You will be transported to the abyss every time you sleep]

Raith made a very big mistake by still closing his eyes to slumber as the series of messages kept pouring at the moment he felt dizzy and wanted to sleep.

His eyes that slowly closed were forced to open but not in his room.

The scenery before him had changed.

"What in the..."

Cracked blocks and stone that seemed to have been broken up by meandering tree roots, a vast plain beneath a sunless and moonless sky, and several fallen stone statues, the true roots had wrapped and cracked most of them.

Raith's jaw slightly drop.

He turned back, perhaps he would see a door but it was another side of the vast plain that seems to not meet the sky as no horizon was marked out in the space beyond his eyes.

"How?"

He paused and gasped. Then began to calculate.

"After I was done with the shower, I remitted a hundred leus to Mr. Fatty, and he told me to come back in the morning for my change. Then I entered my room, and I checked my status... then I was feeling sleepy..."

He looked around in a shock of realization.

"Oh my gosh! I'm dreaming! When last have I even –but this seems too real to be a dream... besides this setting looks like that of a nightmare."

He took another look at his surrounding.

[You are in the abyssal realm, a land of destruction and chaos]

[In this place you will be prepared for the path ahead of you]

[Consistent failure and death will define the person of which you will become]

"Uhh?"

He grunted at the series of messages that he saw. But what caught his attention more was the sudden change in color of the holographic message. The blue color he was used to had turned to black.

"Wait, what do you mean by I will be prepared for the path ahead of me... I am not a fan of riddles, even though I read a lot. I love when people go straight to the point."

~stomp~

~stomp~

~stomp~

The heavy sound of coming steps was the only answer he got.

'At least, I am not alone in this hellhole.'

[You will commence the first trial of death]

[Defeat the asura 'Thard-Harl' who has been trapped in the abyss]

"Eh?"

Upon seeing the message, Raith realized the sound of the footstep began to get closer at a faster pace.

"Wait, the voice of the world... you can't do this to me, I don't even–

He could feel it from behind him. He didn't need to turn, the presence was so elaborate that all.his back tingled as if there was a burning fire a breath away from him.

His shoulders shuddered and his pupils dilated.

Slowly, he took his steps forward and turned around to behold the potbellied feral-looking creature that stood six foot tall, with matted tufts of hair covering his torso and worn-out leather trousers. And his face was covered by a copper helm that was fashioned in the shape of a wolf.

'Nightmare...?'

Raith desperately wished it was one as this terrific being stood a few meters away from him.

The immense situation activated his fight-or-flight senses.

Raith chose—

~whooosh~

'If I can just find a way out of this...

Before he could take the next step after his swift turn –the hand on the creature pulled him back by his face.

He was slammed into the ground by the pull strength in addition to the momentum he had gathered to run.

His back screeched with pain as he landed on the stone ground which heavily bruised his skin.

Raith faced despair as he watched the razor-sharp claws attached to the creature's forearm tear through his bowels, digging out every of his viscera.

He cried till he couldn't hear himself anymore, his head wriggled in utter pain, and the voices in his head that he couldn't even arrange, continued to riot until they came to a sudden stop.

[You have died]

[Due to title: One who devours death, you will be resurrected]

[Pain and agony will be converted to stats]

[You have gained +2 strength stat]

[You have unlocked the endurance stat]

The same feeling of relief crawled through his skin. At this point, he didn't know what was going on anymore.

He just got killed by this creature... and is about to face the same fate a second time.

His brows drew together with a slight curl as his eyes slowly rolled up to the creature that gallantly stood before him.