Chapter 12

...

I felt like I was floating.

Lost in space, but without any stars.

I tried to breathe, and I found I didn't need to.

Then, out of the darkness, something... "Pinged"

Selected Name: John

Username: [Locked]

Global Chat Access ->

[Restricted]

Full Menu Access: ->

[Restricted]

Total Days in Trial:

[42 Days]

Floors Completed: [1]

Current Floor: [2]

Unspent Attribute Points: [4]

A new screen.

That was interesting.

Floor 2 - Minimum Clear Condition:

Defeat 50 Goblins

Another one.

50 Goblins, huh?

That couldn't be too bad, could it?

I'd seen Goblins on the news, once.

I could only remember them as small, angry, green... things.

Like green-colored children, if children were all violent cannibals.

Between the guns and the bow, I figured I could handle them though.

Hopefully I could take my time.

Long as it wasn't all 50 attacking at once, I'd be fine.

[Task… Pending]

Huh.

Title “Ambitious” - [Recognized]

Query: [Apply Title to Floor 2?]

[Yes]

[No]

I stared at this for a long while.

The message waited for an answer.

[Yes] (?)

[No] (?)

It asked again.

I guessed that I had taken too long.

The system was starting to get pushy.

At the same time, I found it difficult to know what either choice would mean.

Looking around, it wasn't like there was anyone I could ask.

Just nothing.

The absence of light.

Empty space in the void.

Query: [Apply Title to Floor 2?]

[Inquiry – Assessed]

[Additional Information – Granted]

[Activating Title will provide additional opportunities for growth]

Ah…

I pondered that for a moment.

So… it was a good thing?

I figured this had to be a good thing.

Additional chances for growth sounded promising.

It sounded like something I needed.

Logically, I could use every little advantage I could get.

Decided at last, I mentally pushed towards an answer.

[Yes]

Something in the system screens "clicked" as my response registered.

Then, it began making a sort of... creaking noise.

As if some sort of great invisible machine was being rolled into place.

Gears turning and rotating as some massive process moved along towards its intended result.

I had felt reasonably sure of my choice before.

Now, I was starting to feel the opposite.

[Title Activated – Difficulty Increased]

[Floor 2 – Task to complete: Reassessing…]

[Floor 2 – Task to complete: Survive]

I cursed.

I cursed like a sailor.

[Floor 2 – Secondary Conditions:]

[Defend the Cities: Progress 0/5]

[Slay 10,000 Demons: Progress 0/10,000]

Shit.

Oh no.

I flailed at the screen, trying to find an "undo" button.

There wasn't one.

[Defeat the Demon Lord: Progress 0/1]

Oh no no no no-

[Floor 2 – Start]

Yep.

There was no doubt.

This was not good.