The angel hadn't contacted Gabriel since he arrived in this new world. Moreover, a strange window floated in front of him, never disappearing. His nerves were being put to the test.
The man continued walking until he found a small stream running through the forest. His tongue was pasty and his mouth dry from the panic of the fall. He dipped his knees into the dirt. Using both hands, he scooped up the water and brought it to his sunken lips.
A pleasant sensation of freshness flooded his palate. The desire to quench his thirst grew stronger and stronger, but Gabriel knew that drinking this water could make him ill. If he fell ill in the middle of the forest, all his efforts at survival would have been for nothing. He spat the water out with a heavy heart.
His back slumped to the grassy ground. His thoughts wandered through the branches of the bright blue sky. But a blue window spoilled this beautiful sight.
"I'd live here if it weren't for that thing."
| You have received a new message.
The notification faded, replaced by a new sentence.
| Azrael: I hope your first few hours in Danmachi weren't too rough. I've sent you a small parting gift to make up for the fall earlier. You can use the 'reply to this message' tab if you have any questions. Good luck!
| You've received the beginner pack [Travelers from another world]. Would you like to open it?
So the angel of the apocalypse was called Azrael. Gabriel had forgotten to ask his name for the first time. At least he hadn't abandoned him to his fate.
He moved his finger to the latter window that had been unveiled.
As he raised his chest, three flashes of light appeared in front of him. In the blink of an eye, three objects had dropped onto his thighs.
The first was round, pointing in all four directions. He had also obtained a liter bottle of plastic water and a hunting knife. He emptied the bottle in a few seconds. The sensation was a hundred times better than river water.
Gabriel laid the bottle on its side. His gaze fell on the compass. During his fall, he had noticed a strange tower overlooking the sky.
"Was it north? Or west?"
He sighed and put the compass back in his pocket. Gabriel didn't know where he was after walking for so long in the forest.
His stomach began to rumble.
"Now I'm hungry…"
The angel's message still hovered in front of him.
"I could use the reply tab to ask him for help."
| Gabriel Simon: What's that blue window that floats and never disappears?
| Azrael: You're a hopeless case. This is a game window, used to help you on your adventure through imaginary worlds. You have four basic windows: the status window, the goal window, the market and the message window. To make them appear or disappear, all you have to do is think about them. |
Gabriel did as he was advised and the message window immediately faded. A sigh left his mouth.
| Gabriel Simon: And where is Orario?
| Azrael: I'd love to tell you, but I'm not allowed to help you on your worldwide quest. You can buy a map in the market, though... |
Opening the market window, Gabriel understood the angel's reticence in the last sentence.
| Welcome to the Dimensional Adventurer's Market!
The market was divided into three levels. Elementary, advanced and expert.
Gabriel saw offers for the basic level, the other two being grayed out.
The card of which the angel talked about cost 10 dimensional points. The cheapest item at that. A '1' appeared in the top right-hand corner of the window. Gabriel felt spikes in his brain. He closed the window to avoid any more pain.
| Gabriel Simon: How do I earn dimensional points?
| Azrael: Accomplish the objectives.
Gabriel thought the angel wanted him dead. Resolving, he picked up the knife, closed the window and got up.
As he went to look for berries or other sources of food, the bushes behind him began to shake. Before he could react, something pounced on him. Gabriel put his forearm in front of his face to protect himself. A stabbing pain emerged from the affected area. Gabriel was dismayed to see huge fangs digging into his flesh. Blood poured onto the ground. He let out a cry of rage and reflexively plunged the knife into the beast's head.
What appeared to be a large wolf collapsed to the ground, lifeless.
"Shit!"
Gabriel lost his balance and fell into the stream. The water turned red. Grunts echoed around. Several salivating mouths emerged in front of him. Gabriel's vision narrowed. He felt the same as he did when facing the zombies. Total helplessness.
He wanted to get up, but because of the exhaustion and the water, his legs wouldn't move a centimeter. His whole body was shaking. At the same moment, another wolf pounced on him.
"It's all over."