Hei,

I’m sorry, for leaving without saying goodbye, but I can’t stay with you. Thank you for doing all that you have and trying to teach me how to survive in this world. I hope you find happiness and stay safe forever!

-Yin

That’s it.

All she wrote.

Shaking my head, I go to the window and stare out into the town. I can see some footprints, but it hasn’t rained recently and they’re too faint.

Should I try to track her?

“She’s too low level…” I murmur to myself. It’s true. Yin might have some knowledge, and I even forced to her finish just about every zombie I could, so she’s pretty close to Lvl. 4 at this point, but there’s no way the shy girl will be able to survive on her own. Even if she unlocked the major stat boost at Lvl. 5, without my knowledge or a party to support her this world is too deadly for a solo Hunter.

Stepping out the window, I stay low to the ground, and stride through the town, following the tracks. The townspeople give me odd looks, but seeing as I’m leaving them alone, they don’t bother me. Hopefully they don’t make any bad assumptions about the two bodies in the abandoned house, but it should be a while before anyone goes to check. I’m able to accurately track Yin’s trail all the way to the edge of town. It seems like she’s still following the original plan and heading for the city. However, as I’m bending over to check the dirt, the worst-case scenario happens.

*Tap Tap Tap*

*Shua! *

Little raindrops land on my head and quickly blossom into a fine downpour. Depending on how long Yin waited for me to fall asleep before leaving, it could have been several hours since she left. In a few minutes, all but the most obvious tracks will be erased in the rain. After spending so long as a top Hunter, I’m no slouch when it comes to finding people, but it’d be risky with just my base skills.

“DAMNIT!” I curse to myself and hustle into the woods. “That girl doesn’t even know that sword’s a replica. If she tries to fight without sharpening it…!”

How am I going to find her if the rain washes away her footprints?

I wrack my brain. Suddenly, an idea comes to me. There is a way to find Yin, even if the rain washes away her footprints!

Running full throttle through the path, I temporarily give up on following Yin’s path and start searching for undead. See the thing is, once you hit Lvl. 5, you get a massive stat increase to all your base attributes and can choose where to allocate points afterwards. However, there’s something else. You’ll unlock the ability to learn System Skills. In my past life people were throwing anything from fireballs to straight up blasting enemies with lightning. Those overpowered skills were something you had to gain through hard battles with zombie bosses.

At Lvl. 5, I won’t have access to anything like that. But there’s one thing I will be able to gain. If you’re sufficiently proficient at a real-life skill, there are many Passive System Skills which can activate to boost your natural abilities to superhuman levels. In this case, I should be able to immediately gain the Advanced Tracking System Skill Passive. Rain or not, I should be able to easily track someone like Yin who has no idea how to hide her trail then.

“Wait…” As I’m running, looking for things to kill, a thought occurs to me. It didn’t rain last time. I’m out a little bit earlier, maybe I just slept through it? But I don’t remember it being wet when we went out. Is it possible that somehow this world is different than the last? This doesn’t make sense. “Ugh, I don’t have time to worry about this. Yin comes first!”

Suddenly I remember a way to instantly hit Lvl 5.

What if I challenge the Corrupted Bear? But I’m early, if it isn’t back at its cave yet, I’ll just waste time. Though with this rain, I bet it is. Even still, it’s tough, and then there’s that wolfpack which might ambush me again. No…it’s too dangerous. There’s a lot of them, and even if I win, I’ll be practically Lvl. 14. That’s way too high! Ugh, I guess I have no choice!

Springing to the riverside, I grab the first decent stone I can find and send it spinning down the river with a throw that would make Hercules proud.

One.

Two.

...

Thirty.

Forty skips later, the stone drops a good way down the surging river.

*Plunk!*

When it drops in the dark waters, the raindrops tumbling all around make the splash seem like just one of many.

“Please…please let there be someone in there!” I wish for another Drowned Soul with a fervency that no one in history has probably shared. For a minute, the rain pours down on my head and I stand there dumbly, slowly losing hope. Cold drops splatter into my eyes and make my eyelids heavy. When I wipe them with the back of my hand, that’s when they appear. I don’t know if it’s the sound a skipping stone makes, some special frequency, or just my luck, but even in the pouring rain they have noticed my throw.

A dozen Drowned Souls rise out of the river like mishappen fish with legs. Their mouths gape with bloated purple lips, sucking greedily at the rain even as bits of their rotting flesh flutter in the rapid river. They stare at me with a horrid greed. These frog-like undead are hungry. I stare back with an equal hunger, impatient for them to land.

“COME!”

“GIVE US WAAARRRRMMTTTH!” They scream as they leap straight out of the water. Black ribbons of brackish gunk fall from their bodies and I dodge out of the way as my cleaver comes out. Though they are Lvl. 6 or 7, I don’t care. All of them must die here for Yin’s sake. The first one lands on the shore-

“Die!” My cleaver flashes forward. I meet the undead even before it can regain its balance on the sand. There is a very good reason I was called the Black Butcher. Unlike the other four Death Gods of the strongest party, I often hunted alone. And my specialty was mass slaughter. I ground out every bit of my experience from the blood of a hundred-thousand monsters. Now, though there is no one to see, I intend to take that title back, if only for a day!

*Shing*

My blood boils as a second Drowned Soul loses its head. The disgusting frog-like body slips back into the water and washes away as my level increases to three.

Just two more to go!

I whirl.

Slash behind me.

My cleaver sings

“Warm-“

Another head falls.

It is an endless dance, a gruesome battle beneath the cloudy sky and rainy river. At some point, I hit Lvl 4. But there is no time to celebrate. I’ve done my best to keep them from getting on the beach, but still six of them have survived the ascent and now lumber towards me. Eyeing their feet which leave no footprints, I back away and try to think of how to deal with so many. My muscles are sore, leveling gives you more stamina, but the true benefits won’t be seen instantly. Without a period of rest, I’m growing weaker in the cold rain. Even still, I find myself licking my lips in anticipation of the fight.

“That’s it! This feeling, it’s been a long time! Come on! COME ON!” A familiar bloodthirst, one which frightened both friend and foe in the past takes over my body. I’ve been holding back for the sake of the world. Always thinking of Yin, and making sure I don’t level too hard.

But now I can finally let loose!

*Crack!*

I smash my cleaver down on the next one’s head. The shock of hitting its hard skull ripples through my white-knuckled grip but it feels good, solid, REAL!

*Splash*

My roundhouse kick catches another in the side of the head, and I spin, using my momentum to force its face into the river water. As it splutters, shouting and kicking its unnaturally long white legs, I stomp down on its neck.

*Snap*

Two down.

The third is already behind me. I spring forwards to avoid its hands and feel the wind of its claws passing over my neck. Swinging around, I don’t have time to deal with this one as a fourth approaches from the right.

“Nice.” I compliment them for surrounding me successfully. However, I’m not a Lvl. 1 Hunter anymore. All of my stats have been boosted massively by hitting Lvl 4. Crouching down, I unleash a roar as lightning surges in the dark skies and leap up.

*Kaboom*

I can just briefly see my shadow slipping over the disturbingly white Drowned Souls as they turn their heads and see me fly several body-lengths into the air. Sticking out my hand in midair, I give them the finger, enjoying taunting the undead. When I land outside their encirclement, instantly I slash backwards.

*Gurgle*

“War-!” The Drowned Soul’s last breath sounds surprised before I cut off its head. Thunder rumbles overhead as if to punctuate my landing and I let the deep vibrations roll through me. Clenching my fist, I grin at the last three Drowned Souls.

“You sure you still want to fight?” I call out though I know they will not understand. My confidence is not unfounded. In the corner of my vision, a special message from the system flashes gently.

Congratulations, you are now Lvl. 5.

All Stats Up!

Prior to Lvl.30, receive one stat point per level to be allocated as you wish!

Passive Skill-Basic Tracking Unlocked

Passive Skill-Basic Combat Unlocked

…

…

…

Passive Skill-Basic Prescience Unlocked

Accept?

I frown because I was expecting to unlock Advanced Tracking but instead, I got Basic Tracking. However, it doesn’t matter. For this fight I’m more interested in another message.

All Stats Up!

I mentally accept the level up. This is where being a Hunter truly begins. Last time, things happened too fast and by the time I gained my skills it was too late. This time it’s different. Clenching my fist, I step into the three remaining Drowned Souls.

I no longer need a strategy to deal with them.

As they attack, I see the muscles rippling beneath their bloated skin, watching the little bumps of flesh stretch and contract. It’s like I can predict where they’re going to swing before it happens. With such a head start, as well as my already strong knowledge of their combat patterns, it’s a simply thing to sway back under all three of their attacks.

*Swish*

*Swish*

*Swish*

After they pass overhead, I straighten and retaliate. The system has unlocked Basic Combat. My cleaver is now more than just a short butcher’s knife. It sweeps around like the Reaper’s scythe and takes the throats of each and every Drowned Soul in one blow. I can’t get their heads off, even with Basic Combat unlocked, that’s impossible with such a short blade. But I can bite into their spinal cords and sever them.

*Shing*

*Thump*

*Thump*

*Thump*

One slash. Three bodies fall, one after another. The black blood remaining in their rotten corpses spills out into the sand as rain trickles down and falls off my face like regretful tears. However, only a cold smile awaits on my face.

“God…it feels good to blow off some steam!” I cackle into the storm. Suddenly I hear something behind me from the forest. A branch breaks. Instantly, my Basic Prescience kicks in and time seems to slow slightly as I whip my head around. My gaze catches a flash of black in the trees. Rapid footsteps run away before I can react.

Wait that’s…

“YIN!” I cry out and give chase. She must have heard the battle and came to see what was happening. “Wait! It’s dangerous! Stop!” However, the damn girl isn’t listening. Perhaps she witnessed my laughter and thought I’d gone insane. Maybe she thinks I’m a deranged killer who wantonly commits slaughter. To be honest, if she knew exactly what it took to earn the title of Death God and Black Butcher, she might be right. But I’ve never had anything but good intentions for her. Even now, as she runs from me and I hurtle through branches and bramble, I still remember what it felt like hold her in my arms. To wake up next to her smiling face.

If I can just catch up and explain…

*Puchi*

A nettle vine comes out of nowhere and the thorns latch onto my cheek, drawing blood. Even with Basic Prescience, it’s impossible to traverse the forest without hitting something. I’m closing in on Yin, she must be struggling in the rain with her lower level. Every now and again I can see branches springing into position.

Traces of her passage. She’s close!

“Wait!” My shout pierces the rain. “Just wait!” I crash through the undergrowth without a care, just wanting to reach her side. Somewhere inside, a terrible feeling of danger is welling. Perhaps it's a side-effect of Basic Prescience, but I know if I don’t get to her now, something awful is going to happen. “Damnit, stupid girl! Why won’t you just let me explain!”

“AHHHHH!” Her scream is cut off by a peal of thunder and I stumble as I hear it.

No!

I dart forwards, using my palm and the handle of my cleaver to push aside branches. They hold me back as if trying to prevent me from seeing what’s happening.

“Yin! I’m coming!” However, I don’t hear an answer. A cold hand grasps my heart as I think about what that might mean. She probably just fell. That’s it. She just tripped. And I need to help her up. That’s it. Just a fall. “Yin? You okay?”

Still nothing. She wasn’t that far ahead. Where is she? Suddenly, I hear a snarl. It sounds oh so familiar. Then the baying of wolves sounds rips through my calm and I see red.

“You pieces of trash!” I rush through into the clearing to see the infected pack crowded around a prone figure on the ground. “No! GODDAMIT WHY COULDN’T YOU JUST WAIT FOR ME! WHY ARE ALL YOU BASTARDS HERE ALREADY?!”

This time I scream alone.

For Yin is no longer here with me.

She has her replica katana out.

As if that would have done something.

It’s not sharpened.

A wolf lies beside her, gasping its last breath. Its windpipe has been crushed. Even without me, she took one down with her. But the others…oh god the others…I want to look away. I…I don’t want to see what they’re doing to her. I can’t stand it, the blood, the torn flesh, they’re almost like zombies the way they tear away pieces of her and smack their lips as they swallow.

“NOOOOOOO!” I’m not sure who I’m talking to anymore. All I know is that there are two living things still left in the clearing. One of them is me, the other is these wolves. “I’ll be damned if I let you live…over my dead body!”

I don’t think, I just charge in and start swinging. There is no strategy. I don’t intend to survive this. I have nothing to protect. I just need to satisfy my rage, my frustration.

“I HATE YOU!”

“AWOOO-“ A wolf is cut off mid-howl. Another yips as I kick it in the ribs with the strength of Lvl. 5 hunter. It stumbles back painfully sprawling in the mud. More surround me, always more, an entire pack. That’s how many were feasting on Yin.

Just seconds, mere seconds and they had already…done…done…THAT to her!

“GODDAMIT I LEVELED ALL THIS WAY FOR NOTHING! I KILLED THEM FOR NOTHING!” My screams terrify even the infected and the wolves try to back away. But I am the Black Butcher right now. No one is leaving here alive. Not them, not me. When it is over, I’m covered in scratches, but not a single one bit me. I’m not infected. Blood leaks out of my hand. It’s their blood, not mine. I chuckle emptily at the sky, a bleak smile on my face. “I didn’t make any mistakes. But she wouldn’t listen to me. Goddammit, why didn’t she just wait?”

I stumble over to her broken body and my smile turns ugly. She has her mouth open, like she’s trying to say something to me. But I know she’s already dead and gone. For a few minutes, I just stand there, staring at the blood and wasted beauty. Wondering where I went wrong.

How could I have prevented this?

*Shua*

The rain falls even heavier, washing away her blood until all that remains is her pale skin and blank eyes. In death, she is still beautiful. Just…I don’t want to see it. The way she is right now, all twisted, all wrong.

It makes my insides twist.

It makes me feel all wrong.

I’m losing it.

Then the worst thing happens.

“Huuurk!” At first, I think she’s still alive. Maybe she’s going to wake up and I can help her or something. Then I realize what’s really happening.

“You bastards. You goddamn bastards!” I sweep my gaze over the dead wolves. Their severed heads gaze back at me with tongues wagging, as if mocking me for not seeing this coming. The final gift of the pack. Yin’s sightless eyes swivel, snapping onto me as she begins to crawl to her elbows and knees.

“M-Moooonster…” She croons. The virus from their bites has infected her. Though she is so torn and ragged, her brain is still intact. She’s reanimating before my eyes.

“I…I don’t want to do this, Yin.” I remember how she begged not to have to kill me in the past. Oh, how the tables have turned. “Really, I don’t!”

“Come here…!” The beautiful, broken body lunges at me and I reach out and grab her neck. Feel her slim fingers, still warm with fresh blood, scrabble to reach me. She snarls like a wolf, angrily lusting after my flesh and I cry tears as my trembling hand holds her away. Muddy fingernails scrape at the skin on my arms. I don’t want to do this. But I can’t leave her like this. It’d be wrong.

“I’m sorry.” I say. Then I fling her back to the ground and bury my cleaver into her throat. It’s fast. She barely has time to react. Her fingers reflexively grab at her throat for just an instant before the neurons stop firing. Then she’s gone. And I’m alone.

Again.

“Screw this.” I whisper to the sky. Thunder explodes overhead, shaking the clearing. I can’t tell whether my eyes are blurry from real tears or rain. Does it matter? “This wasn’t how it was supposed to end.”

Scrubbing my eyes with the back of my wet hand, I lay down beside Yin’s corpse. I stare her in the eyes, her beautiful eyes as I raise my cleaver up high, just above my neck. It’s an awkward shot. One I can’t afford to miss. But with Basic Combat unlocked I don’t think I will.

“I’m done playing this game.”

Then I let the cleaver fall.

*Shing!*

The voice is always there at the end. It seems to understand when I’m going to die. It doesn’t want to go.

Hahaha…you messed up!

#

Hah…

The world is tilted. I thought it would be darker, black. Dying should be like that. Instead, everything is…gray. So very gray.

No…no…this isn’t right!

I try to move my limbs. Shouldn’t I be waking up right now? There was someone I was supposed to meet. Why am I like…this, instead?

“Grrrrrrr…” A hideous growl erupts from my throat. There’s a burning sensation in my throat, and when I stumble to my feet, my head dangles limply. Like it’s not attached properly to my neck. It’s only when I see my reflection in Yin’s sightless eyes that I realize what’s happened.

NOOO!

I missed.

My spinal cord is still intact, though the cleaver in my neck is almost halfway through. All my thoughts are jello-like. The virus has taken over and now I wander according to its whims.

This is bad. Really bad.

But I can’t do anything to stop it. The world is just a gray-lit movie now, and I am a spectator. We stumble together, this thing and I, away from Yin’s body. Searching for fresh prey. Desperately, I try with all my might to reach up. If I could just control one hand for an instant! Maybe I can push the cleaver through. Get it the rest of the way until my neck is severed.

Nothing moves.

It’s hopeless.

I’m stuck.