Ryuga was kneeling over the cooling body of the creature, breathing heavily. Blood dripped from his arm onto the dark stone floor, soaking into it.
The system screen appeared again. This time it was different. Strangely... it looked more "gentle."
[Question: Would you like to move to the next floor?][1. Yes. I want to go deeper.][2. No. I want to get out of here.]
Ryuga's eyes narrowed. Sweat ran down his forehead and mixed into his eyes. He was surprised.
"...Get out?"
This thought was new to him. Until now, he had fought like a prisoner, seeing every floor as the next deadly step. But this...
"Outside... was that even possible?"
Below the screen, a warning flickered in shaky letters:
[Warning: The outside is more dangerous than the dungeon.]
Ryuga's lips parted.
"Outside... more dangerous than the dungeon?""I die at every step here. What could be worse?"
He didn't know the answer to his own question. But something nudged him. Curiosity? A desire for death? Or maybe just a will to challenge his cursed luck...
[Selection made: 2. I want to get out.]
[Confirmed. You will be teleported to the outside world in 3 seconds.][Be careful.]
Ryuga turned his gaze to the darkness, unsure of what to think. Then the familiar light that enveloped his body...
3... 2... 1...
Suddenly, the ground vanished.
The floor pulled away.
His eyes were blinded.
And silence.
When he opened his eyes... the air was dry and cool.Dust stung his nostrils.
Looking around, he realized he was in the middle of a ruin.The sky was gray, the clouds torn as if ripped apart. The city... yes, this must have once been a city. But now, it was nothing but collapsed buildings, shattered roads, and rusted iron debris.
He took a few steps forward.As the stone beneath his foot crushed, something broke. He bent down.
A human skeleton. Tiny bones wrapped in decayed pieces of cloth.
Ryuga's throat tightened.
"Is this... outside?"
He kept walking. Bones were scattered around. Not just human bones... but monsters' too. Some had massive claws. Others looked very human but... with unnaturally long necks, twisted bones, and shattered skulls.
The bloodstains... were dried. All had flowed long ago.
"When did this happen... what happened here?"