Waking up from the endless pit of pain, I quickly catch my breath as if I was drowning from the lack of air.

Like always the sweats that covers my whole body were one those side effects of this so called strengthening method that I discovered.

It was a torturous thing to do that hurt my body and my soul but I went through it for the sake of something or someone.

Im not a fan of pain to be exact, I loath it. the reason I endure was the benefit of it.

This time I engulf more than I can chew and the result were several intense pain that defeat the other night by a huge margin. Even I don’t know how I could survive that torture, but one thing for sure I wont backdown.

Like always after each night I will inspect my status to see the fruits of labor pain, LOL labor pain huh~ that cracks me up.

Status WindowNameRaine MahdLevel19Titles-Health Point1290/1290(+10)tr]Mana Point50/50[/tr]Stamina Point760/760Strength45(+1)Vitality16(+2)Agility35Dexterity5Intelligence18Attack24.5Defense0(+6)Magic Resistance0Status Point5

Plus in health point and defense were not bad, increasing the survivability percentage but I would prefer addition to the status point rather to such statistics. The pain I experience last night was indeed much worse than when I engulf the targoz boar cube. I guess this proof something, ingesting low level cubes may come give rise to more points but the pain that need to be endure would be much more harsher. I close the status window after distributing the points all to strength.

Not giving it so much thought about it, I went to equip myself with all the armor that I have including the brand new gorilla leather tight pants. My facial expression turns a bit complicated as this knee length pants would not doubt raise eyebrows from the others.

‘meh, at least it buff up some defense gonna make do with all you have then’

I wore it without thinking much and completing a look that stay between the boundary of a strong warrior or a cosplaying pervert, either way it didn’t matter. The important thing were the stats given. Now the only thing I need is some good footwear to cover up my nimbly feet.

Grabbing the steel pipe and a dagger kept on my waist, I went outside with a brand new day in a brand new world. for now there was not much danger. Since I haven’t explore the other rooms, there was too little information for me to say about the likeness of the others to survive without me. So that’s why for now I need to survey all the rooms in this campus to see if there are any threatening creatures. For now the azaleaback hyena room is off limits for them, even a swipe will kill them instantly.

I wish those two girls could pick up the pace and reach a comfortable level, then I wouldn’t feel so guilty of leaving them. Like usual I did my routine work filling up the seminar room with frog monster. huh~ I wish I had an identification skill, calling them frog was too bland. A monster name should be cool rather than just calling it based on its resemblance.

Filling them with an extra two would suit them four, I do think they are making progress seeing how the rooms were empty but for them too be that tired is it too tough for them or should I monitor them? Hmm no need I guess if Rao La and Ling er could do it, I bet Jalani could be on par with them for the others not so much I think.

After that all finish, I reach the library to see the progress of the new heal man, Han.

Entering the library slowly, I saw the two of them were sleeping on the couch. It were both Mas and Naina. For a girl both of them did good, taking this one step is a big leap for them. Anyway I search for the other two with my prying eyes. Walking around I saw Balan reading books on the floor between the bookshelves, he seems engross with the reading. Well to begin with, he was the most motivated person in my group who want to be a doctor and seeing all those turns into ruin must have at least depress him a bit. Hmm let him be I guess.

As I walk forward toward the door, I heard shouting inside the room. looking at the window Han was indeed doing his best in his training. His shout carry a burning determination within it, no doubt about it. he must have felt being left behind since the others are getting stronger while him to stay weak. Well I do understand him seeing how he was a body builder and such. He must have put himself to cover the weak with all his muscle. But sorry to say Han, this world stats means everything. I guess he’s starting to understand it, I hope.

Entering the room, Han was still concentrating even when I already enter. He was so self absorb in his training just like when I once accompany him during his gym training. He would be one of those tough fighter if he had the right aptitude in status as well as skills. Hmm I think I should give him one of those steel pipe in the store room. even mine seems to be on the breaking point. Not wanting any longer I shouted at Han;

‘Han!’

Han took a glance at me and he instantly become delighted.

‘hey Raine, I been killing them all night you wouldn’t guess how I much I make progress with’ said Han with his grinning smile and jokester laugh. It seems the wound was good as heal already, although the badly done scar were there, it seems he didn’t mind about it.

For now I have the general idea of building Han as a reliable pillar of the group, with his heart of leader it maybe beneficial for him to be the one leading them, and to lead strength must back it up. That’s why I was planning to build him around the vanguard position which mainly rely on tanking the opponent attacks while giving others the chance to attack. a position suit for a man like him who would face danger even when weak, the bite incident itself was proof enough.

‘you still level 2 right don’t be so cocky Han’ I try to speak with playful manner while also hinting a bit of a warning to him.

‘yeah I know but still increasing in level felt my body is full of energy, so without a doubt im getting stronger’ said Han enthusiastically.

‘even so I still cant catch up with you Raine’ Han look a bit disheartened. Then I figure it was worth a shot and if anything happen I would be there so it would be fine. The sooner he get stronger the better the group chances of surviving.

‘hey how about you and me go training for a while’ I invite him to go out training.

‘of course!’ Han didn’t hesitate, he knows the danger of the outside but he still want to go with Raine. he though if being immersed in battle such as in Raine case, he would have the chance of getting stronger faster.

I brought Han outside while the rest of the three stay inside, Mas and Naina continue their slime slaughter while Balan seems disinterested in doing it and spend his time reading books rather than fighting.

Going upstairs to the storage room, we both met a few Doberman and Runic badger but it was handle swiftly. I also try of having Han get a go with them. After disabling their limbs, I let Han to strike them with the steel pipe that I lend him to crush the defenseless Doberman. Although it was only one Doberman, killing it take almost 20 minutes showing the lack of strength of Han’s attack. I advise him to focus on strength and vitality in order to lure him building himself as a vanguard.

Han didn’t object and he comply with my instruction. Defeating one Doberman which was at level 9 shot his level straight to level 3 at the border of reaching level 4, Han seeing this was getting excited once again and distribute his points accordingly.

I at his side seeing this think it would be good if we hunt more Doberman afterwards. Although I had an easier plan in mind but if I implement it, it would only hinder Han’s battle experience. Hitting a non moving enemy would not be much of a training as if hitting a log. But as a matter of fact, increasing his level first would be the better option in this time of need.

Equipping myself with another spare steel pipe while another one was given to Han. Han try to swing a few with his new weapon and he felt it was a good weapon. The only thing was to search for a proper shield for Han. It would be lucky if he gain a shield drop but to expect something so far out was indeed not advisable thus using the desk of a desk chair as the shield, I made a few adjustment for the grabbing hilt making him able to grasp it. although it was crude, being able to use it was good enough.

Han felt a bit weird of using such desk shield but he didn’t complain. The motive was to get strong and not care about appearance. I don’t know why he was looking at me and also at the shield in a criss cross manner, but I can predict what he was trying to say to himself. if I can wear such ridiculous attire so can he. A pretty easy to discern his thinking process when just by seeing his expression.

Returning to the ground floor, the morning sun has come up while the monsters were getting aware of our presence in the corridor. I brought Han back into the library while asking him to standby at the front door. While I at the outside deal with the monsters.

The plan was a 2 step plan that involve me crippling the Doberman and Han hitting them till its death. Although it sounds simple, I hope Han could kill them faster not wanting to waste any more time. after securing almost 10 cripple Doberman inside the library while Han hitting them away, I advise him not to get complacent while doing this and not to let his guard down. Always maintain a good distance between the dogs to not get rip to shred by their jaws. I said to him I will be back after 2 hour or so and I try to push him to finish by 2 hours.

Han just nod and continue his simple bashing practice. Going back outside, I venture out in the corridor with my intention of going into the violet lecture theatre. It was a smaller theatre compare to yesterday lecture theatre which I annihilate a clan of primates.

I cast my spell heightening my defense to expect the unexpected within the closure of the theatre. As I walk inside slowly the whole theatre was within my sight and inside it were mushroom like creatures hopping around moving without a care. these mushrooms cap color varies from one end of the color spectrum to another end.

Although it would seem cute but the reality was, the mushroom looks really weird with slit like eyes at the center of its stalk while its mouth was set slightly below its eyes. Jagged teeth can be seen pointing outward out of its mouth making the whole idea of a cute mushroom gone astray.

As I step inside, the mushroom didn’t even care about my presence. The numbers were more or less the same as the primates from the other lecture theatre reaching at most 200 or so. Venturing deeper into the theatre, the mushrooms didn’t felt agitated at all by my presence. most of them walk by me not even looking at me.

Reaching the bottom part of the theatre, two huge mushrooms were static with its eye closed. Vines sprouting out from above and below its mouth may represent a beard of some sort. Its stalk were even look disheveled. I didn’t dare approaching it in case something would happen, but then as I stand there blankly a feeling of oddness sprout within me. Like there was something amiss going on.

As I was thinking hard, I suddenly nod down and to my surprise two or three small size mushrooms were biting at my legs but the things I didn’t feel a thing. Is it because their attack only amount to zero. As they were munching on my leg, I barely felt any pain but as my eyes watch closer drip of blood start pouring out.

‘eh?’ I shake them off wiggling them off my feet. After sending them off, they start to approach by hopping slowly towards me clamping down their jagged teeth. My vigilance returns at that instant and I jump on top of the desk. Looking at the sight of injury blood drip from the wounds but the wound was only superficial not to deep.

Opening up my status window, my health point drop a bit that must be due to the wound. I was bewildered by this event, why did I suddenly cant feel any pain. But then my eyes concentrated down below the description for additional status or effects.

‘this… Analgesic status ailment? This mean, I cant feel pain due to this status ailment?’

I ponder when did I receive this status ailment, for one thing the only thing that are relevant are when I enter this theatre. Before that there was no such event that can make relate it with. is it the effect of being bitten by this mushroom. If its true then one would not feel any pain while fighting this monsters. A rather hard to adapt if the situation was turning bad the absence of pain will undoubtly mislead the person and was enough to lead to their death.

A rather troublesome monster to fight. But wait…

‘why didn’t I thought of this first, well this will be the path of getting stronger faster then. Should I let them all know about this?’

With a new experiment to test, I quickly went to my private seminar room, where I stash a whole lot of my cubes. After checking my status once again, the status ailment was gone. This shows that the bite status effect would only effect up to certain period of time. I guess I need to take a periodic bite to induce the analgesic status ailment then.

With the loots stash in the box, I walk back to the theatre. After entering I quickly sat down on the desk while once again I take a look at the status window.

‘eh? Its back? but when did I get bitten’

The analgesic status ailment had return as soon as I enter the premise. A weird phenomenon had occur, I didn’t thought of it but while thinking of it logically based on facts alone, mushroom secrete spores and by spores it can travel through air and one way or another it can transmit whatever effect it can bring based on the monster itself. So this conclude it, this whole theatre is fill with analgesic mushrooms spores.

‘damn it no wonder I was hit by those effects easily’

At least I wont have to be bother getting bitten by those mushrooms. Readying myself, this time I only remove the upper armor while still wearing the pants, didn’t want to go full naked with these mushrooms around. Not wasting anymore time I held one cube of the invisible chameleon cube to see what effect does it brings.

Eating it in one sweep, I wait for the pain to come but then time pass

1 minute

5 minute

10 minute

‘I cant feel any pain’

This time a shortcut to power was well made for me as the side effect of the cube clearly disperse being in this theatre. Excited by this pure notion of getting strong even I cant wait to see what status that I will gain. Looking up to my status, my eyes turns wide with what im seeing right now.

‘my health is depleting fast!’

The health bar was dropping down point by points, seeing this my heart sunk. The absent of pain truly brings your guard down. The pain I suffer each night who would have thought I would lose damage through it. on second thought, how did I survive those hellish pain to begin with.

Before I could think off any reason, the health deplete in front of my eyes, don’t know what to do about this, I gulp down the red test tube that I have collected over the days I have been training. Since some of it I have used for the ladies, there were a few left for me to use. With every gulp, my health raise a bit until it fallen again.

This continue until none was left, I felt remorse a bit on how wasting it was off using such thing but right now im in a predicament that could fall me to death. Seeing how my health was dropping, Biella quickly appeared in my mind. the healing skill that she has may help me.

I rush back up the stairs wanting to reach Biella before its too late and as I reach the corridor of the seminar room area, a blasting wave of pain spread to my whole body. I collapse down to the floor jerking my body in every direction. This was the pain that I have always felt every night and by the look of it, a hint of amazement of how I deal with this pain.

As the pain was too much to bear once again, I fell unconscious not knowing is it my end of the life or just another cycle of sleep.

---

two hours pass

I woke up realizing I was still alive but I groan as the pain still persist a bit. Waking up I heard a voice calling out to my name;

‘Raine, are you okay?’ said someone with a soft but gentle voice.

Opening my eyes, the jet black hair with her light brown complexion exude a certain attraction which even attract myself even for a bit. But I recognize the face of this voice, as it was Biella.

Sitting up, I watch as Mui and Biella were both at my side. While the trio junior stood far at the corner of the room still oblivious of how things happen. I spoke to Biella;

‘what happen? And how did I get here?’

‘Jalani and the others found you laying on the floor, there were surprised and they instantly brought you in here, luckily nothing happen. It seems your health bar was only half but overall there was no injury on your body so I just heal you for precaution’ explain Biella while her face still showing concern towards me.

‘thanks Biella’

‘Raine, I know you are getting stronger but at least rest when you need to, it would be…’

THUMP!

Before Mui could finish her words, the lights that brighten the whole seminar room shut off as well as the air conditioner that was always running twenty four hours non-stop. Seeing these everyone turn silent, the room was dark but the light from the outside shines a bit of the interior.

‘why did the lights go off?’ ask Mui with look of worried on her face

‘it must be the electricity it must have been cut off or they must be a problem with the electrical supply, I was expecting this but didnt thought much of it since the electricity was all fine’ I said to them explaining behind the logic of the electric being cut off.

Im well aware that for the electricity to be cut off something must have happen at the electrical generator station. One way another, monsters must have invaded that place or the auto relay system must have gone down if there was no one to monitor it all.

‘this time, we are going back to the stone age’ I said it without paying much attention to Mui and Biella.

Both of them look a bit trouble at this, but it was a normal response anyone would indeed hold importance to electric as its been in our life since the day we were born and to feel the lost of need of this important need may throw our life astray.

‘don’t worry for now it would be best if we stay strong and stay united, for the both of you come since the electric have gone the time for departure is coming close’

Both of them nod without any retaliation. It seems my word may have effect them to the better. before bringing them to the library, I went to see the four in training. I explain to them on whats happening and they more or less accept it. I ask of them to continue training but only use the room with windows for better vision although it was not perfect it was still count as training.

I place a few more frogs than usual to counter balance the unused seminar room, I didn’t thought it would be hard but I guess they can handle it. well training was meant to be hard to begin with.

So good for them right?

After settling that down I went to the library, it was dark as in a cave but I can hear the sound of Han still hitting the defenseless Doberman. Pity them even with the cover of dark they were still unable to rest in peace.

‘Biella can you cast light orb? Its too dark in here hehe’

Biella comply and quick cast her light orb spell without muttering any words of enchantment. The small orb of light gave vision in the proximity of its light . Han who saw the baffle stop for awhile and stare at the source of it.

‘guys…’ seeing for the first the orb of light, Han was astonish by it until I snap him off of it.

‘hey Han, how is it doing good?’

‘ah yeah, its fine and all. I already reach level six and just after finishing this mutt I would reach level 7’ said Han with a grin on his face. then he suddenly realized;

‘eh? Why the lights went off?’ only now did he realized that the electricity was cut loose.

‘ay Han you are being too engrossed with training even when the light were cut off you still didn’t realize it’ said Mui with a sarcastic tone

‘haha I guess im too engross with it then’ Han didn’t realized that it was sarcasm thus he shrug it off as a friendly gesture. Quite a naïve guy this Han but at least he had the determination.

‘so how many are left?’ I ask of him about the Doberman count

‘hmm 5 or so’ said Han

‘I see then I need to two of them for Mui and Biella’

‘yeah sure’ said Han

‘ouh yeah Biella can you leave the orb here or do you need to control it all the way’ I ask of Biella if the orb can be left without her support.

‘hmm I will try’ as she said that she floats the orb above the door entrance and after a while it hover there.

‘yes I succed’ shouted Biella excited with her accomplishment, I gave a high five for her accomplishment.

‘anyway we need to see the other two, they must be afraid of the dark in that room’

After that we went to the room where the slimes spawn. Mas and Naina were frighten as they were hugging with each other with tears flowing down their cheeks. Seeing the first light from the orb that Biella manifest, Mas and Naina hurried to Mui and Biella crying their lungs out.

I guess darkness doesn’t suit anybody let alone for woman. After explaining of what happen, both of them calm down, and after Biella floats the orb of light at the center of the room, the whole place was brighten and both of them continue their training. Meanwhile I brought Biella and Mui in front of the barking cripple Doberman.

‘aww, I feel sorry for the Doberman’ Biella felt pity to the dog, well it does reflect how compassion she was even to a monster no less.

‘Biella, there are monster you know its either us or them’ Mui gave a stern lecture to Biella with her eyes showing resolution.

‘well lets cut to the chase since there is no electricity you two need to level up faster so this is the only way, now come lets do this’

I hold down the head of the Doberman while Biella use the knife to pierce through its eye. the only soft spot where it can be hurt. Biella look unwilling but she follow through with it until the Doberman turn lifeless.

I can see that Biella don’t really doing such thing but she need to realized it we are in a different world. after helping Mui finishing off the other Doberman. Both of their level raised quickly to level 3. Since the weakness of the these Doberman was already known to me, I didn’t want to tell Han since it would proof to easy for him.

Anyway after all of those are done I brought a few more Doberman that were cripple for Han while the two girls continue to do their things leisurely. Both Mui and Biella start reading up the medical text.

I on the other hand went to the corridor and sat on a bench near the window. Opening up the skill window I open up the skill which I thought to be useless but then I realized something, the reason I was able to survive the pain the reason I was able to earn the bonus point.

‘this…..’

Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:Laze King’s SlumberIntermediate328%When sleeping;

-increase health regeneration up to 420%

-increase stamina regeneration up to 420%

-increase effect of potion up to 180%

-heal status ailment

-increased absorption of any soul item to 30%

‘this skill is incredible!’ I exclaim while knowing the importance of this skill of mine.

Then without a doubt, I would use this to the fullest!