After struggling for half an hour, the giant finally collapsed. While little bird retrieved its core amid that sea of flames, which was still burning like hellfire, devouring everything in its surroundings.
"Little Guy, if not for your help, I don't know how I would have survived these days. Once I deal with that crazed monkey, I will give a big treat."
"Squeak... squeak…"
Little bird quickly became happy about hearing that it would get a treat.
'We haven't even eaten a stomachful for these 13 days. Only running day and night, barely surviving.'
I looked at a shiny black crystal of an advanced-grade monster. It was similar to those intermediate and other monster cores, just slightly colder.
'This is my only chance. If I failed now, maybe there won't be a way out for me.'
I looked at my watch, and it was 07:48 PM. There were still almost 4 hours left. I clenched my fist, ready to make this desperate move, which I would have never thought about if things weren't this dire.
"Watch out for the monsters till I try to make a breakthrough."
"Squeak..."
After asking the little bird to protect me from these monsters, I sat on the ground cross-legged, putting the metallic black crystal into my mouth. As its metallic surface touched my saliva, it melted like cotton candy, sliding down into my stomach quickly.
A sharp pain suddenly hit my stomach like it was being torn from the inside. I was clenching my teeth, black blood seeping from my jaws. This pain was 10 times worse than what I experienced today. It was just beginning as more black veins started to emerge, and the pain continued to intensify.
The Pain was becoming more intense with time, and the black blood had already started to seep from my seven orifices. The only difference was this time, pain wasn't just spreading on my flesh, but it was seeping into every inch of my bones. Making it 100 times more deadly than what I have experienced in my whole life. Unfortunately, there was no way out.
The black blood seeped from my eyes like tears; even with all this pain, I couldn't even scream, because my scream would only bring more danger instead of hope.
With every passing second, I wanted to give up. I literally don't have any reason to live. A question came to my heart. What am I suffering for? Wouldn't it be better to die? Then to suffer meaninglessly.
My thoughts were scattered, though these questions felt genuine, but they weren't; they were the sign of losing.
'I was losing hope in myself, not in others. I have survived these hellish 13 days, and I will survive even longer. I still have one last thing. I can't let it be buried with me.'
Once I remembered the reason to live for, I literally couldn't die, or my soul wouldn't be at peace, even in hell. With resolve for survival in my heart, I continue to endure this pain. As time passed, my body started to become numb to this hellish pain.
I started to lose the sense of time, falling into this cycle of eternal pain. My mind was getting dizzy with every passing second. Slowly devouring me, as I lose my consciousness.
"Squeak…"
I don't remember how long I have been unconscious for. When I opened my eyes, Little Bird was in front of me, staring at my face with tiny crystal-like eyes. But I didn't have the luxury to enjoy these moments. I quickly gave a look at my wrist watch.
"Fuck… where is my watch?"
I quickly looked at the surroundings, finding my wristwatch on the ground. Its wristband had been broken, luckily, it was still working, and when I saw the time, I took a long breath. It was 11:58 PM.
I stood up, placing the broken watch in my pocket. Before observing the changes in my body. After breaking through the 7th stage Nightmare realm. Though it wasn't a complete success, it should be enough for today's survival.
I raised my fist and slammed it on the building's roof, and I actually fell to the 8th floor below. The increase in raw strength was tremendous. The increase in muscle and body wasn't just for show; I didn't feel pain in my body.
'Unfortunately, I can't even enjoy this new power, because the crazed monkey is also getting stronger night by night. Hope it would be enough for tonight's survival.'
I moved out of the building, jumping straight off the 23rd floor to the ground.
Bang…
A few metres long crater appeared on the ground as I landed. I quickly took another look at the time, and it was exactly 00:00 AM. I looked at the sky.
'Just in time.'
A laughter started to echo in the surrounding as a black shadow descended from the sky. Wind was becoming even chillier with the crazed buzzing in my ears. The shadow landed in front of me. Taking the form of a familiar half-human and half-monkey.
"Haha… why aren't you running today? Did you accept your fate?"
I looked at this monkey, which also felt slightly different from before. His figure had grown slightly, not much, but the crown made up of red crystals on his head was also glowing brighter than before. After observing him for a bit, I decided to buy a few extra seconds; after all, time is scarce.
"Well, I had decided to quit. How long can I run for? Sooner or later, you guys will catch me."
I was playing along with this crazy monkey.
"Haha… good that you realised it earlier. Give it to me, and I will let you stay under my protection."
"Really… I didn't expect you to be such a kind monkey. Here, take it."
I walked closer to him, my hands in my pockets, closing the distance between us. Once, I was close enough to him, I took my hands from my pockets, delivering a strong punch to his ugly face while using my other hand to grab his crystal crown.
"Fuck…"
Next second, as I thought I succeeded too easily, my body was sent flying, directly crashing into the building behind, followed by a crazed roar.
'But it was worth it.'