"Eh… Everything's strange these days. A random system interface showing up out of nowhere on my phone isn't even surprising anymore. No wonder I can't sleep."
He stood up, stretching his arms.
"Might as well get some practice in."
He rummaged through his backpack, digging past old clothes, half-used protein bars, and many more things, until he finally found them at the bottom.
"A bit worn-out, but they'll do their job."
Aiden slipped them on and stepped outside, searching for the right tree to test out his kicks.
Until he found one, a half-cut tree, thick and sturdy, it was the perfect one.
He goes into his stance. One that he practiced for years, particularly for 9 years.
He starts imagining the trunk as another fellow martial artist.
Low kick to the thigh.
Jab to the face.
Then it follows up with a clean axe kick to the torso.
It was the result of what 9 years of practice would make a man be.
It was his signature combo, the one that always gave him the edge in fights, no matter who his opponent.
He was locked in, focusing only on what's in front of him, not knowing what's creeping up behind him.
"BOO."
"AHHHHHHH!" Aiden screamed his lungs out.
It was that same kid, the one that Karen pampered so much.
"You almost gave me a heart attack. What is wrong with you?!"
"Ah, well… I just want someone to talk to."
"Then I'm afraid you've come to the wrong person."
"Oh, I apologize then, uncle."
"UNCLE? You know im only 19 ye—-"
He didn't get to finish his words, as the boy completely ignored him, running towards his mom.
"Oh noooo, he's going to wake up that annoying mother of his."
But he didn't wake her up, he flashed a grin at Aiden, and covered himself with a blanket.
"What just happened?" Aiden mumbled to himself.
Then he turned back at the tree, just when he was going to throw another punch.
He got interrupted by an inhuman scream from the forest in front of him.
"Welp, I guess it's time to sleep…"
Aiden sprinted towards the campfire, then slid at it, and went to sleep.
Aiden finally woke up after sleeping like a baby for the past 8 hours.
Everyone around him was already awake and minding their business.
Some had just woken up too; others were complaining about their hunger, and that girl was nowhere to be seen.
"Did I really sleep that long?"
The pilots were headed in his direction.
"What do you want?"
But they weren't staring at him; they were looking at what was behind him.
Before Aiden could look back.
He felt a hand on his shoulder.
Suddenly.
He got slammed into the dirt.
"Up."
Behind him was that one girl from yesterday, who thinks she owns this place.
"I just woke up, can't you let me do my morning routine in peace?!"
The girl glanced at him a second time.
"Didn't I say, if YOU don't follow the rules, you won't survive out here?"
"Oh yeah, but isn't it too early in the morning?"
2 hours later.
Aiden has a big bump on his head, obediently following the pilots and the girl.
"What are we even hunting for…?"
No one answered him.
"Hey, at least give me an answer."
No luck, again.
"If you spouted just another word, I would've gotten rid of you immediately."
"Okay, okay, fine, I won't ask any more questions."
Aiden said while trying to keep up with them.
The moon has risen, but nothing has happened.
"Are we there yet…?" Aiden exclaimed
"What did I say?" The girl replied.
"Ah, look there, I'm pretty sure those are consumable mushrooms!" The co-pilot said.
"Yes, finally, we found something we can bring back for food."
They start aggressively gathering them, putting them in a small sack.
But then…
A strange, familiar sound rustled from the trees. Heavy footsteps, unnatural breathing…
It only meant one thing…
But before they could act.
The girl was gone… She was the first victim of the terrifying monster…
The pilots froze, looking at the horrifying monster equipped with two large antlers.
Then came their turn.
"Hey, I gathered all the mushrooms here. Is there anything else I should do?" he asked, but his words fell on Death's ear, and no one was left alive to answer. When he looked back, only a towering monster stood behind him.
Before he could grasp the situation.
No one lived to tell the tale.
Aiden opened his eyes. He was back at the campfire.
Same spot.
Same log.
The fire crackled gently.
People moved around him.
It was like what he experienced just a moment ago was just a dream.
He scanned his surroundings, and everyone was in the same spot they were yesterday, except the pilots; they were nowhere to be seen, gone, as if they had never existed.
DING
His phone in his pocket abruptly buzzed; he picked it up and turned it on.
[✖] Game #2: "Investigator" Lost, Try harder next time if you don't want to lose something precious.
And when he checked the menu again, the spot where the game #2 "Investigator" was gone.
[SYSTEM INTERFACE]
Name: Aiden Cross
Age: 19
Level: 1
Race: Human
Status: Alive
Title(s): [None]
Aura Color: None
Aura Core: Dormant
--- SKILLS ---
360° Kick (Lv 1) Mockery (Lv 1) Roundhouse Kick (Lv 2) Counter Flow (Lv 1 – Locked
--- USER STATS ---
STR: 7 | AGI: 9 | INT: 5 | END: 6
PER: 9 | WIL: 8 | CHA: 1
HP: 100/100 | Stamina: 85/85 | Aura: 0/15
EXP: 12/100
Currency: 0 Aura Crystals [Faint]
0 Aura Crystals [Low Grade]
0 Aura Crystals [Standard Grade]
0 Aura Crystals [Bright Grade]
0 Aura Crystals [Radiant Grade]
0 Aura Crystals [Pure Grade]