After crossing under the colossal frame of the gate Marco found himself standing in a barren courtyard face to face with a… skeleton? ‘Yes, it’s a skeleton.’ Marco told himself, ‘But… what is it a skeleton of?’

The collection of yellow bones was short, barely reaching Marco’s thighs. The skull was disproportionally large with a jaw so massive it could probably crush a rock. In addition the skeleton had a tail and, as it reached out to him, Marco noted that it only had three fingers and a thumb.

‘Wait...shit!’ Marco thought to himself, jumping back out of its reach. The skeleton seemed to be surprised but interested as its hollow eyes examined Marco. After a few seconds the skeleton raised its head, like an animal trying to smell the air around it.

You have been identified

‘What?’ Marco asked himself as the skeleton began to emit a deranged scream, charging Marco with outstretched arms intent on ripping into Marco’s living flesh. Without thinking Marco turned and ran, however the skeleton was already too close- with inhuman strength it launched itself onto Marco’s back.

The impact knocked Marco off his feet and onto his face, luckily sending the skeleton tumbling off his back to stare at him. Marco quickly jumped up and brandished his staff at the creature before it could rush him again. The creature didn’t seem to realize, or perhaps it didn’t care, that Marco was now seemingly prepared for it and decided to simply charge him again.

Marco stopped himself from trying to turn and run away from the monster, as in the back of his mind he was acutely aware that the safe place was, in fact, behind the monster- not back into the courtyard that likely contained more of these disturbed skeletons.

The moment the creature neared Marco it launched itself forward again, however this time Marco was prepared… relatively. With jerky movements Marco raised his staff and knocked the skeleton out of the air, causing it to fall to the ground with a resounding crack that reverberated through the air.

[Critcal Hit] -6 HP

‘How much Health does it have left?!’ Marco asked the system as he contemplated running past the heap of bones. In response a window opened in Marco’s sight:

[Kobold Skeleton] Identified Name: N/A Race: Undead Health: 9/15 Mana: 0/0

Marco trembled at the realization that this puny skeleton would be able to take at least two more hits before going down. However Marco’s thoughts were quickly interrupted as the screen flashed and disappeared to reveal the kobold skeleton lunging at him.

Without time to prepare a strike Marco was sent tumbling backwards, this time with the skeleton firmly remaining on top of him. Now pinned to the ground Marco struggled to try and move his staff between his chest and the skeleton smothering him.

Before Marco could wiggle his staff free he felt pain shoot through him as the clawed feet of the skeleton dug gashes into his stomach. Without time to think Marco sent an explosive burst of strength through his staff in an attempt to push the skeleton off of him, resulting in the realization that ‘THIS FUCKER IS HEAVY!’

-3 HP -3 HP

Although unable to free himself Marco had succeeded in keeping the kobold remains from battering him with its arms. Laying under the skeleton Marco finally realized what he should have done from the start. With adrenaline fueling his arms Marco twisted his staff and shoved the end into one of the skeletons eyes while shouting, “SHADOW SHURIKEN!”

In response to Marco’s panicked scream he felt a surge of cold energy rush out of his stomach, much more of it than last time… and moving a lot faster. As it rampaged up his chest and through his arm his screen lit up with messages to enlighten Marco as to what exactly was going on.

You have overdrawn your mana -10 MP -1 HP

Marco flinched from the sharp pain the mana left in its wake. Then Marco’s eyes widened as he read the next message.

EMERGENCY: Health is at 1

Meanwhile the energy shot out through the staff into the skeleton, sending it flying into the air as Marco welcomed the damage message with delight.

-8 HP

Hit with the realization of his situation Marco’s delight curdled to dread. ‘I have 1 health point left, and so does the skeleton…’ Marco thought. Unfortunately that meant the next blow would end this skirmish. ‘Without any mana left I don’t like my odds against this inexhaustible fucker.’ Marco observed with apprehension.

The skeleton, apathetic to its low health, simply stood up before charging Marco again. Through ragged breaths Marco told himself, ‘Calm. calm! CALM!' and strangely… it seemed to have an effect on Marco’s mind as the world around him changed.

It wasn’t that everything disappeared, it was just unimportant, and thus in Marco’s eyes it might as well have vanished. It was just him and the skeleton in front of him, moving noticeably slower to Marco’s eyes, even though his brain told him that should’ve been impossible.

Remembering what worked last time Marco readied his staff as if it was a bat, lining it up with the skeletons midpoint- that way if he was off he had the highest chance of hitting some part of it. Then with the last of his strength Marco slammed the fucking thing as hard as he could.

And it worked.

-1 HP You have defeated level: 0 [Kobold Skeleton]

Reward:

+ Bone Fragment

+ 1 Copper

With the adrenaline clearing his system Marco didn’t wonder why there weren't experience points, he didn’t care what a bone fragment was, and he certainly didn’t have any desire to go back into the courtyard. Instead, resting his hands over his mangled abdomen, Marco shuffled out from under the gate and began walking up the stairs with painful steps.

When he reached the room he had appeared in Marco collapsed onto the ground as he began to cry through ragged breaths. ‘What the fuck is this? This isn’t fun at all! This is fucking terrible! What the FUCK was I thinking accepting this?’ Marco sat up and heaved onto the ground as his body readjusted to the lack of imminent danger.

In addition to the smell of vomit that was now permeating his nose Marco also noticed that, to his embarrassment, his pants reaked of acrid urine that must have appeared when Marco’s body was pumped up on adrenaline.

Marco collapsed on the ground, away from the pool of vomit; his crying turning into a quiet persistent sob. ‘What the hell am I going to do now?’ Marco asked himself, to which he received a rather unpleasant response.

Visit the shop

‘Visit the shop? Where the fuck would that be?’ Marco wondered before his sobbing was interrupted by an unnaturally loud noise that usually came from someone clearing their throat. Marco sat up abruptly, wiping the tears from his face, as he realized that the opposite side of the room, which had been solid wall when he arrived, had undergone a change. The formerly solid wall had been replaced by a wooden counter, behind which stood a rather robust dwarf.

“Man kido. I’ve seen some shit but I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone this fucked up after their first time.” SteelBreaker said with an expression of empathy, “Here, take this.”

Shop Trade Offer:

You recieve 1 [Health Potion]

You lose 1 copper

Marco numbly accepted the offer with shaking hands, causing a small glass bottle filled with red liquid to appear on the ground in front of him. “If ye drink that-” the dwarf began before realizing that Marco wasn’t listening, but instead chugging the potion as fast as he could.

A small smile escaped the dwarf while he opened a dwarf sized door built into the wall to cross from behind the counter into the room with Marco. The dwarf patted Marco on the back while the potion swam through his body. A groan escaped Marco as a dull stinging sensation throbbed from the cuts on his stomach and the path that his mana had taken.

“Keep in mind kiddo, this may have been bad- but it could always be worse.” SteelBreaker said with a kindly smile. “What the fuck is worse than this?” Marco spat, rising with his hand firmly placed on the wall for support. “Isn’t it obvious?” asked SteelBreaker before roaring with laughter, “You could be dead!”