The other side of the portal was... a 200-foot drop.
Quite literally.
I fell from the sky, wind howling past me, tugging at my hair. My face stung from the pressure, my eyes burned. A single tear slipped out, stolen by the rush of air.
Below me stretched a vast forest it was endless, green, and ancient. My pack floated just behind me, barely hanging on. The notebook was still clutched in my hand.
The fall felt like forever. I needed a way to land safely...
Think, Aviel. Think!
The ground raced up to meet me.
This scene feels familiar...
A dangerous idea sparked in my mind. One mistake, and I'd be paste on the forest floor.
The timing had to be perfect.
I started counting.
1
2
3
4
5
6
And so on and so on until I reached 30
I activated [Flash Step] in mid air, reappearing just below a massive tree branch.
Adrenaline pumping, I reached out and grabbed it, barely. My fingers locked, and I hung on for dear life.
"Seriously... What is it with this Tower and dropping people from the sky?"
The ground was still far below, but at least I could climb now.
I rested then started my descent. A whole ten shaky minutes later, I reached solid earth. The grass beneath me was red. Overhead, three suns blazed in the sky—tripling the heat and radiation.
The blade on my hip gleamed in the light.
I did a quick inventory check:
– Notebook? Check.
– Gloves the professor gave me? Check.
– Flask of water? Check.
"So... he expects me to survive here for a week."
I looked around. "Well, doesn't seem so bad."
Oh, how I'd regret saying that.
That night, after making a small campfire, I was attacked.
It came fast. An arrow pierced the tree I leaned against. I rolled away instinctively. Diving into a bush.
Peeking through the underbrush, I saw it—perched high on a branch.
Tall. Beastly. Crimson-red fur. A glowing red eye. A long snout.
I opened the notebook and flipped through the professor's monster notes.
There it was.
"Ah... a WereBeast."
These things were considered the weakest mobs in the Tower so far.
Could I handle it?
I gripped my blade. The handle was smooth, well-balanced.
"Okay... How do I take this thing down?"
Its head twitched, it had spotted me. A smug expression spread across its snout. Almost... mocking.
Damn me and my loud mouth!
It raised its bow. Another arrow flew, barely missing me.
"Crap."
I had no choice. Sitting around wouldn't help. I charged.
[Flash Step] to the left. Again to the right. I zigzagged through the trees, trying to throw off its aim. My legs burned. I could feel a slight numbness in them.
"Damn, I really do have a poor physique..."
I reached the base of its tree.
"Now how do I get you down from there?"
Another arrow came whistling down. I dodged again.
"Okay, guess I'll have to do something stupid."
I readied myself. This was going to hurt.
I [Flash Stepped] straight up to a low-hanging branch, grabbed it, scanned for the next one. An arrow grazed my shoulder.
Move.
I saw another branch, [Flashed] to it. Then another.
I was burning through my reserves. Probably had five flashes left.
Arrows rained down like hail. But I pressed on.
Finally, I reached the top, appearing behind the beast.
It turned, panicked.
"Surprise, motherfucker!"
Horror flashed in its eye.
Sweat dripped down my brow. I'd nearly died fifteen times climbing this damn tree. To say I was pissed would be an understatement.
It tried to step back, too late. Nowhere to run.
You are stuck here with me now.
In a desperate attempt, it drew a blade from beneath its cloak.
I stared it down, exhausted. I could probably manage one more skill.
It saw me panting. Smirking again, it lunged.
I didn't move. Not right away.
I waited.
The blade came down, arcing toward my neck.
I smiled.
"Checkmate."
The WereBeast's eye widened in confusion. The world spun around it.
I sheathed my blade.
Its head dropped with a thud onto the thick tree branch.
---
[Quick Counter Lv.1]
[You have slain an enemy]
[Gained 25 Exp]
[Exp: 25/150]
[Level 1]
---
"That was... tiring." My breath was heavy, raspy.
Then I looked up.
"Oh crap..."
In the trees above, five more WereBeasts watched me.
Each one held a different weapon—
A scythe.
A longsword.
A jagged spear.
A shovel.
A whip.
A lazy grin pulled at my lips.
"So... they're already prepared to bury me too."