The Dreamer's POV

<Day 5 of the Tutorial>

[12:30 PM, Thursday 4th of May, 2024]

"Alright, Mikey..." With stable breaths and eyes tense with determination, I spoke to myself.

"You can do this. No, you have to do this!"

I cautiously peered through the slightly open blinds, my eyes scanning the desolate streets outside.

The once vibrant city was now a hauntingly silent wasteland, overrun by the grotesque creatures rightly called Demons.

They crawled and slithered, their malevolent presence evident in the eerie shadows they cast upon the sunlit pavement.

'Looks like they're still very active in this area. Should I use the back path to leave? Should I observe their movements more and come out once it's safer?'

Somehow, this reminded me of the few zombie films I watched when I was little. Back then, I didn't really have an idea what was at stake, and I was too young to experience the dread that the characters in the story felt.

But now... things were different.

Any slight mistake was going to cost me, and everything was at stake. I couldn't afford to mess up.

Though I knew the dangers that lurked beyond the safety of my base, a fierce determination burned within me.

'I should be patient and observe them a bit more. If I can memorize their patterns and movements, I should be able to come out at an appropriate time to strike.'

Since I was going to be doing this for some time, it was time to understand the behaviours of Demons.

My heart pounded with a mix of apprehension and excitement as I prepared myself for what lay ahead.

Equipped with nothing but my trusty Rock and an unwavering resolve, I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the imminent danger. Every instinct within me screamed to retreat, to hunker down and simply wait the Tutorial out. But something inside me urged me to try my luck, to test my skills against the monstrous horde that prowled the streets.

'Let's do this!'

**********

[4:56 PM, Thursday 4th of May, 2024]

With cautious steps, I slightly pushed open the rusted back door, its hinges groaning in protest.

The cool evening air embraced me, carrying the faint scent of decay and desolation. My senses heightened as I inched forward, my eyes darting from block to block, searching for any signs of movement.

'It took me hours, but it seems I finally have a chance to strike now.'

I eventually opted for the back entrance, considering it was simply made up of a steel door. As long as I had the key, I could go in and go out.

Compared to the metal barrier that existed at the front door, the access from the back was far more convenient.

I moved with deliberate silence, my footsteps light against the cracked asphalt. Every muscle in my body tensed, ready to strike at the first sign of danger.

The dimming sunlight cast an ethereal glow, illuminating the cracked facades of abandoned buildings, their broken windows serving as a reminder of the world that once thrived.

And then, I saw it—a Demon lurking in the distance, its twisted form silhouetted against a crumbling wall.

[SYSTEM WARNING]

<You Have Encountered A Demon>

'I can see that!' My thoughts rang loudly, but I maintained my composure and hid behind one of the several battered cars that was parked in the area.

Fortunately, it seemed the Demon hadn't noticed me yet.

Its glowing red eyes were fixated on nothing in particular, though it had a malicious hunger evident in its stance.

'More importantly, it's standing still. Maybe it's tired. Demons also have stats, so it must be low on vitality.'

The conditions were perfect for me!

Without hesitation, I tightly gripped my sturdy Rock, using all the strength I could muster in my muscles to aim directly at the Demon.

'I'm screwed if this doesn't work!'

~WHOOOOMMMM!~

In one swift move, I launched the Rock straight at the resting Demon, hoping—no, praying for a hit.

... I missed.

"Return!"

Fortunately, before the Rock hit something else, it returned to my grasp.

"Haaa... haa... that was close!"

Thanks to the special feature of the Rock, I could undergo as much trial and error as possible.

'But that doesn't mean I can spend too long out here.'

I didn't want to be caught and killed by Demons.

"Let's try again." Whispering to myself, I attempted my second round.

... I missed again.

"Let's do it one more time!"

... And again.

"This time for sure!"

... Again and again.

"Haa... fuck. This is harder than I thought." If it was this difficult to aim properly at a stationary Demon, how difficult would it be to hit one that was moving?

Despite how terrible the plan was already going, I couldn't give up.

Not yet!

'Let's try it again!'

~WHOOOOOMMMM!~

... And then...

~BAM!~

This time, it connected.

"RAAARRRHHHHH!!!"

The Demon let out a bone-chilling screech as my trusty weapon found its mark, hitting it on its head, right where it hurts most.

It convulsed in agony, thrashing wildly as it gripped its head.

'It's stunned. Can't waste this opportunity!'

At this point, I had resummoned my Rock and was already preparing another throw.

I recollected the sensation I had from my first successful throw, and thanks to my current composed state, I replicated the movement.

~WHOOOOMMM!~

The rock whirred as it went straight for the target. In no time, it closed the distance, and then—

~BAM!~

Once again, it hit bullseye.

The Demon suddenly stopped shrieking in agony. Instead, it just ceased movement, and not too long after... it died.

'H-huh? Just like that?'

I had expected a long round of 'back and forth', but to think it was this easy to kill a Demon.

'Was it already damaged before now? Yeah, maybe that's the case...'

In any case, I did it. I killed my first Demon!

~DING!~

A sudden notification disrupted my thrilled thoughts, and a System Message materialized before my eyes.

<You Have Leveled Up>

'Ah! Yes, that's right!'

With this, I was now in Level 2. I could feel myself growing stronger already.

As I smiled with glee, yet another pinging sound echoed in my head.

~DING!~

'That's not all?'

[SYSTEM NOTICE]

<Congratulations! User is the first to kill a Demon in this Zone>

{You will receive a Reward for this accomplishment.}

~Note: Rewards will be calculated and distributed after the Tutorial~

[END OF INFORMATION]

'Wooohooooo!!!' My heart leaped with joy as I reveled in my accomplishments.

The prospect of progressing further and reaping the fruits of my labor filled me with an intoxicating mix of pride and elation.

Unfortunately, in my jubilation, I had overlooked a crucial detail—a lurking danger I had failed to detect.

[SYSTEM WARNING]

<You Have Encountered A Demon>

"H-huh...?"

While I basked in my momentary victory, a chilling breath grazed the back of my neck, followed by a searing pain that exploded through my body.

"Gaahhhhh!"

I turned, but it was too late. Another Demon had seized the opportunity, its monstrous claws ripping through my flesh.

The pain sent my body into a state of paralysis, and I found myself drowning in regret.

'Mikey, you fool...'

[SYSTEM WARNING]

<Your Life Force Has Dropped Below 5 Percent.>

{You will soon die…}

Gasping for breath, I fell to my knees, the world spinning around me.

The elation I had felt mere moments ago transformed into a bitter realization. I had let my guard down, consumed by the promise of rewards and the thrill of victory.

Now, as darkness enveloped me, I realized that this was a stark reminder—a reminder that the path I had chosen to walk was one fraught with danger and treachery, where even the smallest lapse in vigilance could lead to a fatal end.

'Fuck...'

[You Have Died]

<Dream Sequence Has Ended>

{Based On Exclusive Skill: <Dream>; your recent experiences have been dissolved into a dream}

<You Will Now Be Returned To The Preset Save Point>

[You Will Now Wake Up]

*

*

*

Thanks for reading.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Cheers!