[ ] = main character toughts
{ }= window message
The arrow struck my shoulder with deadly precision, its cold steel piercing flesh and muscle. In that split second, time appeared to freeze as pain exploded through my veins like liquid fire.
The window message:
{Critical Hit Received!}{Severe Bleeding}
Without conscious thought, I began to run, my body propelled solely by survival instinct. The dark forest twisted around me as my "Escape" ability warped the space close to my form.
[Ahhh, ahhh]
The pain was excruciating, yet stopping meant certain death. Every second counted, with each heartbeat pumping more blood from my wound.
[Keep running… just keep running…]
{HP slowly decreasing}{Bleeding status: Continuous damage}
I ran relentlessly, the lodged arrow scraping low-hanging branches with every stride. Each impact sent shockwaves of agony racing through my body.
[That crazy archer… why are they trying to kill me? What did I do? I was just watching…]
{Ability "Escape"}{Time remaining: 15 seconds}
When the twenty‐second duration expired, I glanced behind me: nothing but shifting shadows and silence. My ability had given me a safe distance, but the arrow still remained.
[Ahh… this cursed arrow… Is it poisoned?]
[One thing is certain… it hurts like hell. I've never felt pain this intense. When I find the one who sent me here, I'll crack their skull open.]
I forced myself onward, each step a battle against the growing weakness in my limbs.
[Thank God there aren't any goblins around… they'd be the end of me.]
[I need to do something about this arrow… fast.]
[I need to search for a safe location.]
I collapsed against a massive boulder, trembling hands reaching for the arrow shaft.
[Come here…][Cursed thing!!!]
Summoning a surge of desperate strength, I snapped the shaft in two, discarding it while the arrowhead remained embedded in my flesh.
[I removed it…][Even then, the pain hasn't lessened…][I must find healing… and fast.]
Struggling to my feet, I staggered forward with no clear direction. Pain and hunger weighed on me like enormous stones. Ten agonizing minutes dragged by as my condition deteriorated rapidly. I avoided goblin territories while desperately scanning for any sign of fellow warriors.
I would have had to lie—claiming a goblin archer had shot me—but the truth would only raise suspicions. The hunger, thirst, and relentless pain were slowly killing me, yet survival demanded I keep moving. Fate wasn't finished testing me; then three goblins emerged ahead.
I attempted to slip away quietly, but their beady eyes locked onto me. With nothing left to lose, I steeled myself for battle.
[Come here, you lowlifes. I'll split your skulls open!]
The three goblins carried only small swords. I gripped my own weapons and sprang into action: I hurled my axe at one goblin's head and flung my dagger at another. The third, witnessing the carnage, began to flee into the woods.
[At least one of you has enough brains to know when to run.]
In truth, I had nothing left—the bluff alone had saved me. The effort left me utterly exhausted, barely able to walk. I had to lean on a broken branch as a makeshift crutch, my condition worsening with every passing moment.
{Character health below 50%, immediate healing required}{Embedded arrow: Remove before death claims you}
[I know… but how?]
I limped forward, my strength and will slipping away.
{Character is bleeding}[I know!!! Shut up!! You're useless!]
My mind grew foggy, and with each labored step, desperate hope began to fade.
{Time Skip: 24 Hours Later}
Without sleep, nourishment, or proper healing, I crawled across the forest floor, completely drained of strength. I'd used my escape ability as often as possible, praying for someone—anyone—to appear.
{Character health below 10%, heal immediately}{Character status: Critical}{Embedded arrow will soon claim the character's life}
[I can't… take these messages anymore…][My head… it's exploding…]
I continued crawling, but it was futile—my body had betrayed me, and hallucinations danced at the edge of my vision. My muscles refused to obey.
[I'm going to pass out… I'm going to…]
{Character has no remaining strength}{Character will soon perish}
< rhhhr krkrkrk >
[Goblin voices?][So this is how it ends?][I didn't want this…][Is this my fate?]
< herhrhr herhr >.......
Female Voice 1: Lilia, what are you doing?! Wake up and support me!!
[What?] [A voice?]
My eyes fluttered open.
Female Voice 2: Okay, wait—I'll prepare.
Female Voice 1: Hurry!
Female Voice 2: Okay!
Through blurry vision, I saw a mage and a barbarian engaged in combat with the goblins.
[What a strange pair…]
They dispatched the monsters quickly. I began crawling toward them again, hope flickering like a dying ember.
Female Voice 1: Well done! Look at all this loot, hahaha!
Female Voice 2: Yes, you're really strong!
[Almost… there…]
Female Voice 2: Ahhhhhhhhh!Female Voice 1: Lilia, what happened?!Female Voice 2: Come here and look!
The two women turned toward me, their eyes fixed on my broken form as I dragged myself closer. The barbarian immediately took a defensive stance, her massive sword at the ready.
"Help... please help me... I can't keep on…"
Female Voice 1: Why should we help you? Who are you? And why are you in this state?
"I'll tell you everything… please, save me first."
At this point, pride was meaningless—survival was all that mattered.
"Please... I've traveled so far… save me, and I'll be forever in your debt."
The barbarian remained skeptical.
Female Voice 2: Come on, Frenya, let's help him. His condition is severe—he's on the brink of death.
Female Voice 1: No, Lilia. I've heard humans can't be trusted. Leave him be. Besides, look at him—he's a looter. His face makes me want to kill him.
"If you wish, I'll give you my loot… just help me, I'm begging you."
Female Voice 1: Really? How much loot have you got?
"I've slain over 54 goblins… and the Void Stars are in my pockets."
Female Voice 2: But do we really have to take his loot? Isn't that too harsh?
Female Voice 1: It's the price he pays for being saved. In comparison to life, this price means nothing.
The barbarian retrieved the Void Stars from my pockets.
"Please... save me now… I can't hold on much longer."
Female Voice 1: Do you want to save him?
Female Voice 2: Are you really asking me that—after taking his loot?
Female Voice 1: Fine then, heal him while I remove the arrow.
With steady, strong hands, the barbarian gripped the arrowhead.
"AHHHHHAAAAAHHHAAAH!"
Female Voice 1: Stop screaming! Are you a child?
The mage's healing magic cascaded over me like cool water. Gradually, the pain subsided and life surged back into my wounded body. When the healing was complete, I could breathe normally again.
As I stood, the barbarian resumed her defensive stance.
"Thank you... truly, thank you. May I ask—do you have any food? I've been starving for too long."
Female Voice 1: You're not too proud to ask for food now, are you?
Female Voice 2: Come on, Frenya, don't be like that. Here, take this—it's not much, but it should help.
"Thank you so much... I'm truly grateful."
She handed me a piece of bread and some soup, which I devoured immediately—each bite tasting like ambrosia after such a long deprivation.
Female Voice 2: What's your name, and what brought you here in this condition?
"My name is Doruuk. Doruuk Velor. I was shot by a goblin archer. And what are your names?"
Female Voice 2: I'm Lilia Silverwynn, a mage. Pleased to meet you.
Female Voice 1: I'm Frenya. That's all you need to know.
[Silverwynn... I've heard that name before—one of the most renowned families in the magic sector.]
"Silverwynn... I know that name."
Lilia: Yes, my family is quite illustrious.
Frenya: Lilia, you needn't get involved with him. And you, get out of here before I cut you with my sword.
"I'm grateful for your help. I truly hope I can repay you one day."
With that, I staggered off to continue my mission, determined to return. Once I was far enough away, I could still hear fragments of their conversation:
Lilia: He was such an enigmatic man—so dark and mysterious, don't you think, Frenya? He asked nothing, just left. But what is he—a swordsman? A mage? His attire was peculiar, with those long, dark clothes.
Frenya: Yes, indeed. When I took the Void Stars from his pockets, I noticed he also carried a dagger and a small axe—though hardly effective as proper weapons. But how long had he been crawling like that?
Lilia: Exactly. He's truly a strange person.
Chapter End