Civilization

[ Here is your reward ]

[ +5 Vitality

Bonus for being the first to complete the challenge: Skill - Sand Armor (Active) ]

Sand Armor (Active) - Cover the skin of the user in a thick sand armor for 15 minutes, creating a stable but flexible defense. +5 defense, additional 10% increase to defense if in a sandy area (Desert, beach or sandy river banks) Cool Down: 30 mins

"Wow… What a reward."

My first skill.

Even if it wasn't an offensive skill that I could use to beat down my enemies. This skill would allow me to take a beating for a while, and it would even become stronger depending on the environment. 

I like it.

Something that related to my struggles.

I look at my status to see how much MP it uses.

Name: Kingston

Race: Human

Health Points (HP): 38/38

Mana Points (MP):  0/0

Strength: 12

Vitality: 19

Intelligence: 5 

Dexterity: 5

Agility: 15

Luck: 1

Skill - Sand Armor (Active) - 2 MP

"Wait… I HAVE NO MP! OH MY GOD. I NEED TO INCREASE MY INTELLIGENCE STAT. AHHHHHH! WHAT A SHITTY GAME!"

I grip my head and ruffle my hair, screaming at the top of my lungs. 

What a catastrophe. I got a skill and I can't even use it because of lack of stats. 

"Whatever… What can I do?"

I just sigh to myself and accept the situation. I look at the system message, nervous but ready.

[ Are you ready for the next challenge? Yes or No ]

"Yes."

[ Third challenge: Defeat 1/1 ]

"Just one? This will be fine, right?"

Just as I finish my comment, the surrounding walls expand upwards. A low rumbling sound could be heard above me and the sand below me hardens until it became stone. It was still dark and since the system message went away I couldn't see anything around me anymore.

I felt something stab into my back lightly, like a small prick against my skin. I turn around only to find a spike jutting out of the wall. A bright white light shines down onto me and I turn upwards, covering the blinding light a bit with my hand. Suddenly, spikes start to appear above me, littering the walls. Spiraling up all the way to the top. I felt like I was trapped in a well with nowhere to go but up.

But.

The spikes along the wall started to sprout spikes along its surface. Some up, some down. Stabbing in every direction. Covering more and more room until I could barely see the light anymore, and like that I once again enter a room full of darkness.

Screeching and scratches.

Behind me.

In front of me.

Above me.

And.

Even below me.

I tense up as the sounds get close. 

My eyes slowly adjusting as sparks fly left and right.

Something small. 

No, is it, is it crouching as it runs around?

It darts around, always just in the edge of my vision.

What is it holding? 

What is making the sparks and the sounds?

I swing my spear around me, trying to catch the monster. However, it always seems to be a step faster. Dodging my spear and then retaliating with lightning fast attacks. I get cut on my arm, my leg and my cheeks. A stab here, a stab there. I bleed from different locations, unable to figure out what I am facing and unable to retaliate against it.

In a desperate attempt to find out what I am facing, I lunge forward with my spear, attacking in the place where it was running to. Luckily, my spear strikes the enemy's weapon and sparks fly between us, giving me a chance to finally see what it was.

Grey skin, tightly wrapping around its cheek bone, with an eerie grin. Eyes darker than black, with no pupil, or maybe the whole eye is the pupil. A jet black shoulder-length hair covering the sides of its face. Cracked lips were white as snow, right below 2 small slits, resembling that of nostrils. In its small, thin gray hands, held a spear like weapon, with a silvery gray handle and obsidian black head . 

As I was still observing the monster, something hit my stomach, pushing me away and crashing into the wall. I cough from the pain. It felt like I got hit by a truck. I check my stats quickly to see the damage.

Name: Kingston

Race: Human

Health Points (HP): 10/38

Mana Points (MP):  0/0

Strength: 12

Vitality: 14

Intelligence: 5 

Dexterity: 5

Agility: 15

Luck: 1

Skill - Sand Armor (Active) - 2 MP

I had already taken 18 damage from the small hits and cuts, but from the single attack to my chest I had lost 10 HP and in the next second a blow came from the side cracking into my skull and with it, I died once again.

As I wait to be respawned, I thought over my first death for the challenge. The monster looked smaller than me, something similar to a child or even a small teenager. Yet at the same time, it was stronger. Much stronger. Stronger than Balta. Stronger than Howard. In fact, it seemed stronger than the golem we faced with everyone. It was faster than even Luna. It uses a human weapon yet has stats and abilities stronger than monsters that I have faced.

How do I even beat that?

This just sounds like an impossible challenge. 

I get respawned and the change in environment starts again.

This time, I notice that the monster does not come out until it is complete dark. Only when the spikes above me close off all the light coming from above do I hear the screeching and scratching noises as it moves about. Minutes later, I finally see the sparks as the obsidian like head scratches against the walls, ceiling and ground. It's on the move. 

I try to attack it again, only to miss.

I strike.

I lunge.

I stab. 

Only to miss and get stabbed instead. Wounds litter my body and blood slowly oozes out from everywhere. I gasp for air. My hands feel heavy. An inhumane laughter echos around me. Sometimes I hear it next to me. Other times, far. Like a ghost. The sparks come close signally that is near me, yet the laughter comes from afar.

"Th-this monster is just playing with me."

I can't trust my ears nor my eyes. 

My head is a mess and I couldn't tell left from right, and before I know it. I died again.

.

.

.

I feel trapped.

Like I am in an endless loop.

For hours, for days.

All I see is sparks from a weapon as it brushes against the stone-cold walls. 

All I hear is a laughter that echos in my ears.

My head just spins in circles.

My body numb from the pain.

I don't even feel like doing anything at this point.

I just die.

Over and over again.

To small cuts and stabs

From a monster that I can barely see.

From the darkness that envelop me.

Then, after some time, I guess I snapped.

It was a total of 14 days.

Trapped in the Ikanda.

A fortnight.

Of dying.

On that 14th day, I went into the game and the moment I spawned.

I climb. 

I reach up, grabbing each spike as it branches out of the wall.

Even when a new spike stabs into me, I pull myself out and push myself higher.

That light.

I want it.

The light rains down from the top of the well. 

Such a bright light.

Below me darkness.

A monster.

But above.

Above. 

Is light.

A grin appears on my face.

Then.

A laughter. 

Something I hadn't experienced in the game in so long. 

I reach for it.

My hand so close.

Yet.

So.

So.

Far.

[ You have died. ]

Again. 

Yet again.

Another failure.

But this time. 

This time was different. I feel angry. Not sadness. Not helpless. Just anger. 

How long will I suffer?

How long is this going to go on for?

I scream.

I shout.

I claw at my own skin as the room changes, and the moment it goes dark.

I let out all my anger. 

My blood boils. 

I clench my teeth and lines appear between my eyebrows. 

I feel the head of a  spear stabbing my arm and without even thinking, I grab onto it. 

With my own weapon, I thrust in the direction of the enemy. I can feel the sensation of my spear entering flesh. Something hot sprays against my cheek and with a grin I let go of the enemy spear in my hands. Instead, I thrust my hand forward, grabbing onto its bony arms.

Laughter escapes my lips.

I stab harder. Faster.

Over and over again.

Laughter echoing in the dark room.

"How is it? Fun? I am having FUN! I see now why you enjoy stabbing me and then running away. It's fun. It's so much FUN! Why didn't I just do this earlier? I could have grabbed you as you stab into me. It's so. EASY!"

The rhythmic sound of flesh being pounded into a paste echos in the walls.

I don't even know what I killed.

[ You have acquired skill - Endless Rage (Active)]

[ You have completed the Third and Final Challenge: Defeat 0/1 ] 

[ Congratulations ]

[ Would you like to see your rewards? ]