Liam sprinted away from the scene, his feet pounding the pavement as he desperately sought to escape the chaos he had created. As he ran, he couldn't help but think about the four gangsters lying motionless on the ground. He quickly rummaged through their pockets, his hands moving with a practiced ease as he relieved them of their valuables. A wad of cash totaling $30,000 fell into his hands, a welcome prize for his troubles.
Breathless and wary of being recognized, Liam made his way to a nearby hotel. The building's façade was unassuming, its simple and neat design a welcome respite from the turmoil of his day. As he entered the lobby, his eyes landed on the receptionist, a cute girl with a look of surprise on her face as she took in his disheveled appearance.
"Room for a week, please," Liam requested, his voice firm despite the turmoil brewing inside him.
The girl's eyes widened slightly as she processed his request, her gaze lingering on his youthful features before she nodded and handed him a key. Liam took the key and made his way to his room, his legs trembling beneath him.
As soon as the door closed behind him, Liam's façade crumbled. He stumbled forward, his hand covering his mouth as he vomited blood onto the floor. The crimson liquid splattered across the carpet, a stark contrast to the room's pristine decor. Liam's vision blurred, and he fell to the ground, his body wracked with pain.
The fight with the gangsters had taken a toll on him, and Liam realized he might have stressed his mana core too much. A searing pain in his core confirmed his worst fears – it might be damaged. He checked his stats, and his heart sank as he saw that they had been halved. Panic threatened to overwhelm him, but Liam knew he couldn't afford to give in.
With a Herculean effort, Liam struggled to his feet, his body shaking as he cleaned the blood from the floor. He didn't want to arouse any suspicion, not now when he was so vulnerable. As he finished cleaning, Liam collapsed onto the bed, his mind reeling with the events of the day.
As he drifted off to sleep, Liam felt himself transported to a familiar yet alien landscape. He stood on a grassy plain, the blades tickling his skin as he gazed around. The demonic rabbits were back, their twisted forms a stark reminder of the dangers that lurked in this realm. There were five of them this time, their beady eyes fixed on Liam as they closed in.
One of the rabbits jumped, its razor-sharp claws aimed at Liam's face. He reacted instinctively, his fists flying as he punched the rabbit in the skull. The creature stumbled back, stunned, and Liam seized the opportunity. He grabbed the rabbit by the ankle and slammed it to the ground, the impact jolting through his arm.
The other rabbits charged, their demonic teeth snapping wildly as they tried to bite Liam. He dodged their attacks with a mixture of instinct and desperation, his hand closing around a stick as he slammed it into one of the rabbit's necks. The creature's eyes went wide, and it slumped to the ground, lifeless.
The remaining rabbits turned tail and fled, their twisted forms disappearing into the distance. Liam was too exhausted to pursue them, his body screaming in protest as he stood panting in the grass.
But his respite was short-lived. A strong gaze fell upon him, and Liam turned to face a monstrous creature unlike any he had seen before. A gigantic snake, 15 meters long, with purple scales that seemed to shimmer in the dim light, gazed back at him. Lightning flickered across its skin, casting an otherworldly glow over the landscape.
Liam's eyes widened as the snake's gaze locked onto him, its presence suffocating. He tried to react, but his body seemed rooted to the spot. The snake's mouth opened, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth, and Liam's vision began to blur.
The last thing he saw was the snake's face, its eyes burning with an ancient power, before darkness claimed him. Liam's consciousness faded, his body crumpling to the ground as the snake's gaze seemed to bore into his very soul.