[Volume 4 begins here]
[Ryan’s POV]
It’s been a grueling week. Exams started seven days ago, a harrowing gauntlet of magical and mental exertion.
Not that I’ve done much ever since.
And the last time I saw the crazy pink haired bitch was probably six days ago. Since then, every fiber of my being has been on high alert, a sentinel guarding the hard-earned points I clawed my way to from goddamn motherfuckers. Fear has morphed into paranoia, turning this abandoned house into my self-imposed prison.
"Sigh,"
The things I do to survive.
Days have bled into an indistinguishable blur. And the blasted "food" I’ve been surviving on is a grim symphony of questionably-old fridge scraps and dubious, dust-coated snacks scattered around the place. Hey, beggars can’t be choosers, that’s the harsh reality of my situation.
Before this, I never entertained the idea of scavenging for food, probably cuz the prospect of food in a virtual world didn’t seem right to me. But as it seemed, that bastard instructor let no stone unturned in making his absolute hell.
god, I hate that bastard.
But fear of getting my point snagged, isn’t the only reason I’ve been hiding. Back then, I needed to recuperate. Plus, It took almost a full day for my mana pool to refill, which was a silver lining in this dark cloud.
[Mana: 55/55]
Apparently, pushing myself to the brink actually expanded my mana capacity a little. A welcome surprise, but a small consolation compared to the gnawing uncertainty about the exams.
The points I stole from the pink-haired girl... I have no clue if they’ll be enough to secure my standing after the exams. That’s why I need to grind for more. The bigger the haul, the better.
Unfortunately, my stomach’s rumbling symphony is a different kind of urgent. These meager scraps won’t sustain me for much longer. Starving to death isn’t exactly how I pictured surviving this whole ordeal.
With a defeated sigh, I surveyed the dilapidated house for the last time, the dust motes dancing in the afternoon sun like unwelcome companions. Time to find a new hunting ground.
This escape route was a strategic choice I made during my initial exploration. If someone stumbled upon my hideout, the easy window access offered a much better chance of escape compared to the other bombed-out buildings I passed.
My grip tightened around the wooden club I found inside. It’s riddled with cracks, a sad excuse for a weapon, but beggars can’t be choosers, part two.
"Where do I even go from here?" I muttered to the empty alleyway, my eyes darting between the two paths ahead. Each direction held the unknown, a potential haven or a death trap.
As much as I hate to admit it, the thought of encountering the pink-haired girl again sends shivers down my spine. The look in her eyes when she vanished... it chilled me more than anything that terrifying night. Another sigh escaped my lips as I clutched the club tighter and started walking right. Here’s hoping I only encounter low-level enemies today, but with my luck...
Reaching the corner, I pressed myself against the building and peeked around. The coast was clear. I repeated the process on the other side – all seemed quiet. "Alright, let’s do this," I whispered, stepping out of the shadows and cautiously navigating the sidewalk, constantly scanning my surroundings for signs of trouble. Yeah, like I’d know the difference!
The sudden explosion pierced through the air, causing me to freeze in fear. I quickly searched for cover, but the open street offered little protection. My heart raced as I crouched behind the wall of a nearby shop, my eyes darting around in search of the source of the chaos. As I peered out, I saw two students engaged in an intense battle on the rooftop. Each move was executed with precision and grace, as if they were performing a deadly dance. One wielded a gleaming trident, its sharp prongs glinting in the sunlight. The other held a deadly bow and a quiver full of arrows, their tips pointed towards the sky. The sound of clashing weapons and grunts of exertion filled the air as they fought, their movements fluid and graceful.
"Wait a minute," I muttered under my breath.
Suddenly, an idea sparked in my mind – what if I could wait until one emerged victorious, then swoop in and steal all their accumulated points? It was a brilliant plan, assuming someone else wasn’t thinking the same thing!
With this thought swirling in my head, I scanned the scene again, making sure I wasn’t about to become someone else’s heist target. Satisfied that I was the only one with such a cunning plan, I darted across the street, sticking close to the wall to avoid attracting attention. The clash of steel echoed in my ears, a testament to their obliviousness. Perfect.
With a burst of adrenaline, I threw open the front door of the building they were fighting in. It was a multi-story structure, the rooftop offering a potential vantage point to scout the area for less chaotic hunting grounds. But first things first, I had to navigate the obstacle course of a hallway.
As I kicked open the door, it gave way with a loud creak, revealing a scene that left me breathless. The room was in a state of complete disarray, as if a tornado had swept through it, leaving nothing untouched. Plush furniture, which had once been a source of comfort and luxury, now lay in tattered shreds all over the carpeted floor. The monitors and surveillance cameras that had once kept watch over this place were now nothing more than broken pieces of equipment scattered haphazardly about the hallway.
The chandelier, which had once been a grand centerpiece, was now a shattered mess of glittering pieces. It was clear that whoever had been here before me had been angry and destructive. I couldn’t help but let out a deep sigh, feeling weak in the face of such destruction. But I knew I had to press on, despite the chaos. With a determined resolve, I took a deep breath and plunged into the mess, determined to reach the rooftop and find a way to turn this chaotic situation to my advantage.
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As it turns out, I just needed a few days rest.
Welp, guess I’ll need power stones then 😜