NOIM; Connected Worlds

"AHHHHHHHHHHH!" I screamed the top of my lungs out as I summoned the last bit of energy I have to keep myself conscious while I tightly hug my parents' dead body. I was losing consciousness.

"No! Don't! I don't want it! I don't want it!" I stumbled backward as Origin essence flew out from the dead body of my parents. Completely ignoring my thoughts, my body greedily sucked in the last bit of life in them. It felt as if my heart was being torn to pieces as I watch over the green energy particles flew towards my body. I couldn't even protect them yet, why? Why?! Tears continued to fall down on my greasy face as I laid down on the ground a few meters from them. My consciousness was slowly fading as my heart started to get numb from all of the grief and sorrow I've felt.

A few seconds later I heard slotching sounds approaching me. Lurkers... They must've heard my scream just then... I can't die here... No... I'm not allowed to... My parents sacrificed themselves to keep me going... I must keep going until the end of all this... Or at least until I can die happy... I opened up my eyes looking at the ceiling of the subway. Muttering the words 'I'm not allowed.'

The lurkers continued crawling towards me as I was lost in thought. I continued laying down as if I didn't notice anything in order to save the last bits of energy I have. I closed my eyes and tried to differentiate the sound of the footsteps. One... Two... Three... There were three of them charging from different directions and speed. The closest one is twenty-four meters away from me...

Noticing that it was already so close to me. I immediately opened a smaller version of the interface hiding it between the blind spot created by the body of my dead parents. I materialized a twirl shaped dagger and purposely hastened my breathing to feign weakness.

Lurkers are demonic humanoids that live on dark and wet places. They are the hunters of the night and assassins of darkness. They have scale-like skins and heads similar to fishes. A unique thing about them is that they love to toy with their prey before dismembering them piece by piece. Tearing a limb before purposely letting its victim go. Chasing the victim again and again. Tearing one limb each time the victim is caught. They would repeat this over and over until the victim breaks down or until the victim dies from bleeding.

Hearing the pace of my breathing excitement flashed across the eyes of the Luker in closest to me as he rapidly charged like a wild dog hunting its prey. It aimed at my arm as soon as it got in range, wanting to tear it apart. But just when he was about to grab my arm, I lifted my self and skewered the dagger I materialized in his heart before kicking away its lifeless body that was on top of me. Origin essence flew towards me again as the lifeless body of the lurker loses its color. Seeing this the other two lurkers shouted in unison.

*Lurak!!!!*

I used the burst of energy from the Origin essence I gathered from the lurker to quickly dash towards the inner region of the subway, sliding down into the stairs. Before quickly rushing towards the tunnel where the train used to go. I was starting to gain hope before I realized that...

The lurkers earlier were just toying with me... Seeing their fallen comrade the other two lurkers got serious and immediately charged towards me with astonishing speed. In a few seconds, they were just a few meters from me. The blue lurker got to me first and it immediately threw a claw at me. Seeing this I materialized a shield and turned around to block it. But the shield shattered as soon as it collided with the claw. Cutting its way towards my chest down to my abdomen. Slicing down some of my bones and organs in the process as it knocked me back a dozen meters towards the wall close to the tunnel.

"Ahhh..." I spat out a mouth full of blood. It was so painful that my mind was going blank. I couldn't even scream. I bit of my tongue to avoid passing out and immediately drank the two high-grade blood potions I materialized earlier. My eyes regained color again as the potion washed away the pain and repaired some of the damages on my bones and organs. Looking at the two Lurkers relentlessly charging at me. I quickly tried to materialize another weapon but...

<System message: Insufficient Origin Coins.>

I just realized a fatal flaw, since all of the items materialized from the game will vanish after using it once. Most of us survivors gathered high-level weapons since almost every moment of our lives involved life-threatening situations. And as a former ranker back then, I naturally don't have a shortage of Origin Coins. I tried to materialize every weapon available, without even looking at the weapons, I began tapping each of them one by one hoping anyone of these would work. It's funny, but who would've thought that this would be my downfall. After 8 whole years of struggle gaining my Origin Coins, it all went down to drain.

<System message: Insufficient Origin Coins.>

<System message: Insufficient Origin Coins.>

<System message: Insufficient Origin Coins.>

<System message: Insufficient Origin Coins.>

<System message: Insufficient Origin Coins.>

Just when I was about to hit the bottom of the list, I noticed a familiar item in my inventory.

"These gloves..."

....

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Hey, did you get the package I sent you? Check it in your inventory.

Gloves? It looks great. But isn't its stats way too low?

I materialized the crafting materials from Noim, then used modern tools in the real world to design and embroider it properly. Who would've thought that the interface would still accept it? This would be a great addition to the movie! I plan to use this method for some other props as well.

Nice! That would make the movie more unique and personalized.

Keep that one. Maybe one day you'll make use of it.

....

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"Hahahahaha!" I stood up, laughing maniacally as I reminisce a memory in the past. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath as I entered a state of emptiness. After a few breaths, I opened my eyes and looked at the gloves that I am now wearing. Closing and opening my hands as I muttered the words my best friend used to say to me whenever I lose a match. 'We used to play around like little kings during high school, how can you give up your crown just like that.'

Taking a stance, I charged forward towards the two Lurkers without uttering a single word. For some reason, I knew that these gloves were all that I needed. The Blue Lurker dashed towards me and tried to send a claw again. I dodge the claw by sliding using one leg, sending a kick to the knee of the Lurker with my other leg. Followed by a knee to the chin to knock the Blue Lurker to the ground. I immediately used the opportunity to charge towards the other Lurker.

*Lurak!!!!*

The Blue Lurker screamed as it tried to stabilize its body. It was a good thing that Lurkers had similar anatomy with regards to the vein structure of humans if not a kick on the chin wouldn't even make the Lurker flinch. Although my body was greatly enhanced by origin essence it couldn't match up to the level of these Lurkers so I can only disable them temporarily by taking advantage of their anatomy.

Closing in on the other Lurker, I immediately sent a jab aiming at its abdomen targeting some of its organs. Causing the lurker to bend downwards. Afterward, I sent a barrage smashes and punches towards the back of his head leaving the Lurker's face bleeding on the ground.

"It seems that these gloves barely qualify to break through their defense..." I muttered while looking at the low-grade equipment that I'm wearing. Seeing that this lurker wasn't as strong as the blue one. I immediately let out a sigh of relief. Looks like the Blue Lurker was the leader of the three.

Wait... The gloves... They didn't vanish... I couldn't help but mutter. "You knew it all along didn't you?" I muttered those words as I stared in blankly. I don't know if Edizon knew that crafting the materials from Noim and mixing it with real-life materials will allow the items to be permanently used or that if he knew that I was going to need a low-level weapon within a few years time because my Origin Coins will be sucked dry. But somehow he knew that I was gonna need help.

Edizon... Who would've thought that your life would end just like that? You once said that you'd be happy to have her as your only weakness... Who would've thought you'd die together being unable to leave her behind... Who would've known? Even the great you didn't...

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