《Deadfall [LitRPG Survival ]》 Memento Mori The sun had fully set, casting the world into an eerie twilight. Juan''s eyes snapped open, his senses assaulted by the unfamiliar sounds of ramming water around him. As he pushed himself up, a wave of nausea washed over him. His head throbbed, and the world seemed to spin. Blinking away the fog, he focused on the setting sun, its golden rays casting a glow across the shoreline. Where? Am. I. Juan noticed an unfamiliar stone axe in his hand, his fingers trembling as he tried to make sense of how it had ended up there. His school uniform, rumpled and damp with sea spray, clung to his frame, a stark contrast to the primitive weapon in his hand. Panic rose in his chest as he scanned the deserted shoreline, the crashing waves and swaying palms serving as the only witnesses to his bizarre predicament. His mind raced, grasping at the fragmented memories that flickered through his consciousness like a damaged film reel. The last thing he recalled was the blinding light in the classroom, the panicked shouts of his classmates, and then... nothing. Juan''s heart pounded as he struggled to piece together what had happened, his gaze darting from the unfamiliar landscape to the crude tool in his hand. Swallowing hard, he forced himself to take a steadying breath, willing his racing thoughts to slow. Think, Juan, think. He had to focus, to make sense of this surreal situation. Juan rose on unsteady legs, gripping the axe tighter as his eyes scanned the horizon for any sign of familiarity, any clue that might lead him to an answer. Then, a realization dawned on him¡ªwas he truly still himself? Juan hurried towards the small puddle in the sand, his heart pounding as he dropped to his knees beside it. Peering into the still water, he caught a glimpse of his own reflection - a young man with dark, disheveled hair, pale skin, and brown eyes framed by a pair of slightly crooked glasses. Raising a trembling hand, Juan tentatively touched the surface of the water, watching the ripples distort his image. It''s still me¡­ Damn it, I knew watching all those isekai anime would mess up my head. he thought, his breath catching in his throat. The realization that he was, in fact, still himself seemed to ground him, if only for a moment. Straightening his glasses, Juan started tidying himself, brushing off the sand and seaweed that clung to his uniform. As he straightened his clothes, his attention was drawn to a small book hanging at his right waist, secured by a chain. Intrigued, Juan examined the item, his fingers followed the chain. To his astonishment, the chain vanished just before reaching his skin, as if attached indirectly on him without any visible link. The turmoil in his mind was overwhelming. Was this all just a dream? Wincing, he slapped himself, it hurts. Confusion overwhelmed Juan as he flipped the book open to its middle pages. An entry caught his eye: "Day 4 - I met Diana and agreed to become teammates soulmates." Skimming further, he read, "She''s cute, to be honest... Day 8 - Do not go to any Ruins." His mind raced. ''A Diary?''If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Juan''s eyes narrowed as he flipped through the strange book, tracing the cramped entries. The sloppy handwriting seemed to blur across the pages. A sharp pain shot through his temples, causing him to wince and close the book. He pressed his palms to his forehead, willing the throbbing to subside. As the last ember of daylight faded, Juan knew he had no choice but to stop skimming the Book. With a deep breath, he took his first tentative steps, the crunch of his shoes against the coarse sand the only sound breaking the eerie silence.
Gripping the unfamiliar weight of a stone axe in his hand, Juan scanned the area, his heart pounding with a mixture of fear and adrenaline. The lush vegetation surrounding him was both beautiful and ominous, a stark contrast to the shoreline he had awoken on. There must be a road¡­ or someone else out here, just as lost as I am. After what felt like an eternity of walking through the vegetation, a sudden, piercing screech from the nearby undergrowth caused him to flinch, his grip tightening on the stone axe. Cautiously, Juan''s gaze landed on a peculiar creature that seemed to defy the laws of nature. Its form was liquid-like, shifting and morphing before his eyes in a mesmerizing yet unsettling display. He had never seen anything like it, and the sight sent a chill down his spine. A cold chill gripped Juan as the creature¡¯s face twisted into something familiar, one of his classmate. "Juan¡­" it hissed, its voice disturbingly familiar. The creature then shifted again, morphing into the shape of a dog, its jaws gaping wide as it lunged toward him. Panic coursed through Juan, and he instinctively swung the stone axe, desperate to fend off the attack. The weapon connected with the creature''s form, but it failed to make an impact, and then a slimy sensation enveloped his whole head. Struggling to breathe, Juan flailed, inadvertently dropping his axe and frantically clawing at his own head, desperate to escape the creature''s grip. The agony was searing. With a final, desperate strike, the creature''s hold on him finally broke, and Juan collapsed onto the sand, his lungs heaving for breath as his frame shook with unease. The creature didn¡¯t flinch. Gritting his teeth, he reached down and grabbed the stone axe, its weight a steadying force in his trembling hands. With a renewed sense of determination, Juan surged forward, swinging the crude weapon with all his might. The axe struck the creature''s shifting form, and to his surprise, it seemed to recoil. Emboldened, Juan pressed his attack, raining down blow after blow, his breaths coming in ragged gasps. The creature''s liquid-like body splattered and oozed with each impact, until finally, it began to melt away, collapsing into a puddle at Juan''s feet. Amidst the remains, a blue orb and a torn piece of paper caught his eye. Loot drop? Wiping the sweat from his brow, Juan knelt down, his eyes narrowing as he examined the strange objects. The orb pulsed with an otherworldly blue light, while the torn paper appeared to be some kind of familiar. Ah, it looks just like the book page on my hip¡ªonly this one¡¯s got tattered edges and stains. Juan stared at the tattered page, his brow furrowed in frustration. The fading light made it impossible to make out the faint scribbles on the paper. He brought the page closer, squinting his eyes, but the words remained a mystery. "Ugh," he muttered, his grip tightening around the crude stone axe. The weight of the weapon felt reassuring in his hand, a tangible reminder that he was still in this bizarre reality. Am I really still on Earth? he wondered, his mind racing. The appearance of the strange, shapeshifting creature had shattered any illusions he might have had about this being a simple dream or hallucination. No, this is too real. Too damn real. Juan''s eyes fell to the glowing blue orb that rested on the ground. He reached out, his fingers brushing against its pulsing surface. As he was about to store both the orb and the torn page in his pant''s right pocket, the items touched the mysterious book dangling at his waist. Suddenly, the book flashed, and the orb and page were absorbed into it, vanishing from sight. Juan stared in bewilderment, his hand hovering where the objects had just been. His brow furrowing as he tried to process what had just occurred. I better stop thinking. Calm down. Juan trying to steady his nerves. It seems the answer for my current situation is in this book. I need a safe place... Juan looked up, his gaze settling on the towering trees. Without hesitation, he holstered the stone axe and approached the nearest tree, searching for sturdy branches to climb. Carefully, he made his way up, the rough bark biting into his palms as he pulled himself higher. Once he reached a suitable height, Juan settled onto a thick branch, his eyes scanning the horizon. The clouds began to part, and the moonlight spilled through, casting a light over the landscape. Juan opened the book again, his fingers skimming the faint text on the pages. Perhaps the answers he sought lay within these pages. He settled in, resolved to unravel the mystery before him. As he turned to the very first page, he noticed words and symbol written in a deep crimson hue. Remember Death. IIII-I By the Blade, By the Blood " Remember Death. IIII-I " Carefully, Juan ran his fingers over the words and the symbol, as if the very ink had been drawn with blood. Its creepy and unclean. I don''t have a clue what it means. This damn book''s owner... Who''s death am I supposed to remember? Juan impatiently flipped to the next page and saw the header: Table of Contents. He noticed, all the text was on the right page, while the left page remained empty.
Table of Contents
¡ó Preface ¡ó Table of Contents ¡ó Character ¡ó Core ¡ó Slot ¡ó Archive
The Table of Contents revealed enough information for him to understand that this is the real deal. So, this is not a diary but rather a book. Juan immediately flipped to the Character page, his eyes narrowing as he took in the details. On the left page was a precise depiction of his body and gear in two dimensions. It felt as though someone had captured a photograph of him at that very instant. They didn''t even missed the stone axe hanging from my belt. Beneath his two-dimensional representation lay a red, white, and blue bar. As he concentrated, the label became clear.
Blood 90/100
SP (Soul Point) 49/50
Mana 31/100
He couldn''t help but wonder if he was somehow trapped within a video game. As he shift his eyes on the right page there he saw:
Name Juan Lopez
Race Human
Age 18
Skills Active: 0/10 Passive : 1/5
Cores Might O Soul O Mind O
"Character sheet, checked" Juan mumbled. Juan furrowed his brow at the possibility. Could it be a prank? That seemed unlikely. It was only 2025¡ªhad virtual reality really advanced to this level? He shook his head, struggling to reconcile this reality with his understanding of tech development.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Just as he was about to investigate further, a flickering light caught his eye. His heart raced as he swiftly closed the book and pressed his back against the tree trunk. Holding his breath, he peered through the leaves, trying to identify the source of the disturbance. Hushed, cautious voices drifted through the air, their words indistinguishable. Juan''s heart raced as he strained to hear the voices through the foliage. He pressed against the tree trunk harder, blending into the shadows. Cautiously peering through the rustling leaves, he spotted flickering light in the distance. The rustling leaves and muted voices grew nearer, and he tightened his grip on his stone axe. The flickering light grew brighter, casting three silhouettes through the foliage. Tensing, he prepared to act at the first sign of danger. But as the three shadows shifted, they revealed humanoid shapes, not monstrous forms. Hope surged within him. As they stepped into the light, Juan realized they were indeed human. A wave of relief flooded over him, but it quickly gave way to unease as he noticed they have spears and torches. He hesitated to reveal himself, scanning their faces for any sign of recognition or hostility in their expression. And why are they dressed like cavemen? he wondered. To his surprise, the burly figure raised a hand in a gesture of peace. "Easy there, friend," the man said softly. "We mean you no harm." Juan remained silent, still cautious of these men. The trio scanned their surroundings, looking for any hint of movement. The stout man faced the skinny youth. "Elmer, are you sure this is the correct spot? Did you actually see someone, or is your imagination running wild again?" Elmer seemed nervous as he responded, "Not a person... but I noticed a light." His voice shook, as though he were on the verge of crying. "Strike one," the bulky man commented, imitating a baseball swing with his torch. "I''m¡­ sorry, Derek. I''ll find them right away..." Elmer faltered, then he repeatedly called out to see if anyone was there. After a moment, the third man, of average build, tapped his feet impatiently. "We''re not making any progress". Derek''s frustration boiled over as he snapped at Elmer, his voice sharp and impatient. "Idiot! Use your Codex" "Ahh yes," Elmer responded softly, a low grunt escaping his lips as he shifted uncomfortably. In that moment, Juan realized his first interaction with another human in this place wouldn''t be as smooth as he had imagined. And¡­ Codex? So, that''s what they''re calling this book. Juan watched the situation unfold, torn between fleeing or facing them head-on. They appeared to be plotting something unpleasant. Suddenly, a chilling thought crossed his mind. Should I attack first? As Juan hesitated, he noticed Elmer suddenly holding an opened book, similar to the one he had. But I didn''t see it before? Where did he hide that? Juan wondered, his gaze shifting between the three men. Elmer appeared distressed as he looked at Derek. "Derek, I don''t have enough mana... but in 30 minutes I... I can cast it." Before Juan could react, a spear pierced Elmer''s chest. The boy tried to grasp the weapon, but his eyes dimmed, and he fell lifeless to the ground. A heavy silence hung in the air. The crackling of the torches seemed deafening, filling the void left by Elmer''s final breath. "Out!" Derek''s voice dripped with contempt as he sneered down at the lifeless body. "Excuses, excuses¡ªthat''s all you ever had." "Yet, you only give him one strike," commented the other man. "Okay, here comes Strike Two," a cruel grin spreading across Derek''s face as he delivered another kick to the lifeless body. "Followed by Strike Three. Stay dead." "Happy?, Nathan" Derek added, glancing at the other man.
Did I just witness a murder? Frozen in place, Juan watched in horror as the burly man, Derek, viciously kicked the lifeless body. The moderately built man, Nathan, stood nearby, appearing unaffected by the horrifying scene. Juan''s mind churned with conflict, caught between the instinct to flee and the burning guilt of inaction. I can''t just stand here and do nothing, his grip tightening around the stone axe. Just as Juan was about to silently step out from his hiding spot, a sudden movement caught his eye. The average-built man turned, his gaze sweeping the area. Juan held his breath, praying he hadn¡¯t been spotted. He''d be at a serious disadvantage, whether he tried to run or fight. After a tense moment, the man shrugged and turned his attention back to Derek and Elmer''s body. "We should get moving," he said. Derek grunted, delivering one final kick to Elmer''s lifeless body before straightening up. "Useless piece of¡ª" He paused, scanning the surroundings. "Where''s the Codex?" Derek rolled over Elmer''s corpse, revealing the book beneath. He brushed the dust off the tattered cover with a satisfied grin. "It''s here" He tapped the book, then swiftly produced another book from his side and pressed them together. A brief flash of light erupted between the two books, illuminating Derek¡¯s face with a manic glee. "Hah! Let¡¯s see what we got!" He flipped open his book, eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Jackpot!" Derek exclaimed, waving Nathan over with urgency. Juan squinted from his hiding spot as Derek held up a brown orb, its surface glimmering faintly in the flickering torchlight. "Are you planning to swap your cores?" Nathan asked, tilting his head slightly, skepticism etched across his face. "Do you even have enough essence?" Derek chuckled softly, the sound dripping with malice. "Hehe! Why not? Elmer''s donation makes it easy." Juan''s stomach churned at Derek''s casual remarks. Derek then reached into his opened book and retrieved a red orb with difficulty. As he did so, blood trickled from his mouth, ears, eyes, and nose¡ªan unsettling display. ¡°Insane¡­¡± Nathan muttered. With a cough that echoed like gravel scraping against stone, Derek pushed the brown orb toward the page in his book. The orb hovered just above it for a moment before settling down. Derek grinned wide despite the blood trickling from him. "Let the hunt begin!" Axe and Sludge Derek glared at his Codex, the sharp lines of his jaw tightening as he flipped through the pages with rising frustration. Each turn of the page seemed to amplify his irritation. Noticing the tension in Derek¡¯s furrowed brow, Nathan leaned against a nearby tree, arms crossed casually. ¡°What¡¯s going on? You look like you''ve swallowed a fly.¡± ¡°Damn it! I¡¯ve lost my favorite skill¡ªFlameforged!¡± Derek exclaimed. Nathan couldn''t suppress a chuckle. ¡°Did you really swap your best orb? You¡¯ve got to be kidding me.¡± Rubbing the back of his neck, Derek sighed, exasperation heavy in his voice. ¡°I didn¡¯t think I''d lose my slotted skill, dammit!¡± ¡°Did you even bother to pay attention during the experiment we conducted on those rookies?¡± Nathan retorted with a grin, mischief glinting in his gaze. ¡°Forget it! This will have to do,¡± Derek muttered, tapping something in his Codex. ¡°I need something fun for a change.¡± His voice dropped as if he carried a darker weight within him. Yet in less than a second, in a fit of irritation, he hurled his torch to the ground, where it sputtered violently. ¡°Argh! Even the name of the skill sounds lame!¡± ¡°Nathan! Keep an eye out while I try out my new toy,¡± Derek exclaimed. Nathan stepped next to Derek, setting his torches down and casually resting his spear against his shoulder. As the light from the torch flickered, Derek''s shadow morphed into a shape resembling a dog. Derek muttered his spell: ¡°Sniff, sniff...¡± his irritation growing visible. Juan watched as Derek closed his eyes, his head jerking about inconsistently as he seemed to focus on something. A triumphant grin spread across Derek''s face as he shouted, ¡°Found you!¡± The excitement in his voice sliced through the forest, sending a ripple of tension through Juan, who instinctively tensed. Derek tightened his grip on the spear, his eyes scanning the bushes with suspicion. He leaned back and hurled the weapon with a grunt, more out of frustration than precision. The spear spun through the air, slicing through leaves and branches before landing harmlessly in the dirt below Juan''s hiding spot. "Did they find me?" Juan thought in a panic. ¡°Missed,¡± Derek grumbled. A tiny blue shape appeared from the foliage. ¡°It¡¯s just a damn slime.¡± At that instant, Juan saw as Nathan acted without warning. A sizzling green sludge burst forth from Nathan''s mouth, striking the slime with precision. The slime barely managed a slight movement before it died, releasing a foul stench. Nathan turned to Derek with an inquiring look, lifting an eyebrow. Derek groaned, rolling his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s because of Elmer¡¯s pathetic orb! Even the stats are lower than my previous one!¡± He kicked the dirt beneath his feet in frustration.
"How...how is that possible?" Juan thought, a human, had just unleashed some kind of magical sludge from his own mouth, effortlessly dissolving the strange creature. "This is bad¡ªa bulky guy with a fierce temper and now a long-range magical shooter," Juan muttered to himself. It was clear that the rules of the world he knew no longer applied. As Derek moved toward the spear he had thrown, Juan swallowed hard, realizing how dangerously close Derek was to uncovering his hiding spot. Derek retrieved his spear and began to turn, but at that moment he Sniff! In a split second, Derek pointed up at the tree. ¡°Nathan!¡± ¡°Shit!¡± Juan thought, his eyes widening. Without a moment''s hesitation, Juan summoned every ounce of courage he could muster and leaped toward Derek, swinging his stone axe with all the strength he could gather, aiming directly for the man''s head. It was crucial to capitalize on any small advantage he could find in this ambush; he simply could not allow them to overpower him. As he soared through the air, fully committed to his strike, a flash of green goo zipped by him, forcing him to twist his body at the last second. He narrowly avoided the corrosive substance.
Juan''s heart pounded in his ears as he lunged toward Derek, the stone axe gripped tightly in his hands. He could see the man''s eyes widen in surprise, and in a desperate attempt to defend himself, Derek held his spear horizontally, bracing for the impact. Axe slammed into the spear, shattering the wooden shaft. Shards of wood flew in all directions, some of them striking Derek''s face. Juan''s blow also hit, slicing into the man''s right eye and drawing a gush of blood. Blinded and reeling, Derek stumbled backward.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Juan steadied himself. He couldn''t let Derek recover.. Juan seized the opportunity, swinging his axe down at Derek, who had landed on his backside. As Juan''s axe descended, Derek lunged desperately, his hand shooting upward in a frantic attempt to grab the weapon. Juan instinctively bit his lip, twisting the axe just as Derek¡¯s fingers grazed the handle. Derek''s other hand clawed for leverage, locking onto Juan¡¯s wrist as the two men collided in a chaotic grapple. Their limbs tangled, each straining for control of the weapon. Gritting his teeth, Juan drove his knee into Derek''s stomach with all the force he could muster, earning a sharp grunt of pain from the larger man. Seizing the moment, Juan swung his leg out in a motion, sweeping Derek¡¯s feet from under him and sending him crashing to the ground. Derek sprawled, momentarily incapacitated, and Juan staggered back a step, catching his breath. Just as Juan prepared to deliver another strike, a sizzling green glob of sludge hurtled toward him with a sharp hiss. Acting on pure instinct, he twisted his body, the corrosive substance whizzing past and splattering against the ground. His eyes darted to the side, locking onto Nathan, whose mouth was already opened, ready to unleash another sludge. Nathan''s long-range sludge attack is really pain in the ass, and Juan knew he couldn''t afford to be hit by one of those corrosive projectiles. So he quickly repositioned himself, circling around Derek to put the larger man between himself and Nathan. Hearing Derek¡¯s pained groan, Juan eyed him warily, waiting for an opening. The injured man was struggling to his feet, his good eye frantically searching for Juan. "Nathan! "Come over here and use your damn weapon!"!" Derek bellowed, his voice laced with panic. Nathan hesitated, his gaze flicking between his injured comrade and the determined young man before him. With a resigned sigh, he began to move forward. Juan tensed, readying himself for Nathan''s approach, knowing he''d have to act quickly to keep the advantage. Juan evaluated the circumstances. Derek was a formidable force, a living, breathing melee juggernaut just like in his favorite strategy games, but he could handle him. On the other hand, Nathan¡ªthat long-range sludge-spitting bastard¡ªwas the real challenge. As Nathan drew closer, Juan noticed that Derek was limping, favoring his right leg. "Looks like that last blow did some damage," Juan thought, a glimmer of hope. Juan surged forward as he aimed at Derek''s injured leg. But just as he prepared to press his advantage, a sizzling glob of green sludge shot past him, narrowly missing his face. He flinched, instinctively twisting his body to avoid the corrosive projectile. "Damn it!" Juan growled, his eyes darting to the sludge-spitter. He knew he couldn''t keep using Derek as a shield forever. He needed to find a way to take down the long-range threat. Gritting his teeth, Juan pivoted, his focus shifting from Derek to Nathan. He had to act quickly before the sludge-spitter could unleash another disgusting slug. Juan charged toward Nathan, his movements a blur of determination. The sludge-spitter''s eyes widened in shock, clearly not expecting Juan to turn the tables and come directly at him. "What the¡ª?" Nathan shouted, bringing his spear forward just in time to weakly strike at Juan. The weapons clashed with a resounding crack, the force of the blow vibrating through Nathan''s arms. Juan pressed the attack, raining down blow after blow, his muscles straining with the effort. Nathan backpedaled, struggling to keep up with the onslaught. "Damn, this kid''s got some fight in him," he grunted, his brow furrowed in concentration. Sensing an opening, Juan feinted to the left, then swung the axe with all his might, aiming to shatter the spear. Nathan reacted quickly, twisting his weapon to deflect the blow, but the impact still jarred his grip, causing him to stumble back. "You little¡ª" Nathan spat, his eyes narrowing. He lashed out with the spear, the sharp tip lunging towards Juan''s chest. Juan barely managed to twist aside, the weapon grazing his arm and drawing blood. Gritting his teeth against the pain, Juan pressed on, his focus laser-sharp. He couldn''t afford to let Nathan gain the upper hand. He swung the axe in a wide arc, aiming to cleave the spear in two. Nathan saw the attack coming and tried to parry, but the force of the blow was too much. The spear splintered, the shattered pieces flying in all directions. Nathan''s eyes widened in alarm as he found himself suddenly disarmed. "No!" the sludge-spitter cried, his voice laced with panic. Instinctively, he opened his mouth, a glob of corrosive sludge surging forth. Juan ducking to the side as the sizzling projectile whizzed past, narrowly missing him. Juan watched Nathan''s panicked retreat. Its raining corrosive slug, Juan darted behind a nearby tree, narrowly avoiding the hissing glob of green sludge that splattered against the bark. Peering cautiously around the trunk, Juan spotted Nathan backing up to stand beside the injured Derek, the two men now side by side. "This is bad¡ªthey''re regrouping," Juan muttered under his breath. He needed to find a way to separate them, to prevent Nathan''s long-range attacks from overwhelming him. Glancing around the forest, Juan searched for any advantage he could leverage in this desperate situation. A grin tugged at the corner of Juan¡¯s mouth. This is dangerous... and yet, something about this fight, that felt... strangely right.
¡°We need to retreat,¡± Nathan urged, urgency lacing his voice, eyes darting around as if sensing danger nearby. ¡°Fuck fuck fucking eyes!¡± Derek exclaimed, struggling to regain focus, frustration forming a tempest behind his gaze. ¡°He¡¯s a newbie for fuck¡¯s sake! Look at his clothes!¡± ¡°Not a chance,¡± Nathan replied coolly. ¡°He¡¯s a baiter.¡± Derek, shielding his injured eyes, asked, ¡°What?¡± ¡°That stone axe requires 100 essence and a workbench to unlock,¡± Nathan replied, trying to reason with him, his tone serious. ¡°Whether its true or not, we can still kill him!¡± Derek scoffed dismissively, refusing to back down. ¡°No, we should retreat! He''s teammates must be around¡± Nathan insisted, stepping closer to Derek, who was now shaking with fury. ¡°Impossible! He''s alone! He isn¡¯t even using his Codex!¡± Derek shot back defiantly, wild determination flashing in his eyes. ¡°That¡¯s what¡¯s frightening,¡± Nathan retorted, his expression hardening as he gauged Derek''s mental state. ¡°No! I want him dead!¡± Derek yelled, his fury boiling over like magma ready to erupt. ¡°I said retreat!¡± Nathan pressed back. With that, Derek swung his splintered spear at Nathan in a fit of anger. The air crackled with the unspoken threat. ¡°I see you¡¯ve lost your mind,¡± Nathan replied, stepping back, wary of how much Derek had unraveled. ¡°Find me once you''ve calmed down. I¡¯ll prepare your items on your return.¡± With that, Nathan pivoted and started to retreat into the underbrush. Just Another Day in Paradise Juan stared at his hands. Am I really this strong? he wondered, a tinge of disbelief coloring his thoughts. Growing up, he''d always ended up in fights¡ªat school, at home, alone¡ªbut he''d never imagined he could overpower two opponents like these... cavemen. Yet, as Juan replayed the battle in his mind, he couldn''t deny the sense of familiarity, the way his body had moved with a fluidity that felt almost natural. The sharp focus that had narrowed his world to the clash of weapons¡ªit was as if he''d been training for this moment. "I want more," Juan felt, a flicker of something primal stirring within him¡ªa quiet, unspoken urge to reclaim control and test his limits. Juan scanned the battlefield, his gaze sharp with caution and curiosity. Patches of ground sizzled with goo, scattered debris marking his struggles. His eyes flicked to Derek and Nathan, standing apart, their hushed voices laced with tension. Suddenly, Nathan turned and disappeared into the dense foliage, leaving Derek alone. This isn''t good. Juan gaze settled on the underbrush, where the more irritating Nathan had disappeared. Are they planning to flank me? "Come on out!" Derek''s loud voice echoed through the forest. "I''ll finish you off myself!" Juan kept his guard up, knowing this fight was far from over. The situation was only growing more complicated. His eyes darted across the dense foliage, carefully scanning for any hint of Nathan''s movement. A single misstep could cost him everything. Do I need to retreat? he thought, his gaze fixed on Derek. A part of him wanted to turn and run, to escape the growing danger, but his feet refused to move. As he weighed his options, a guilt settled in¡ªlike he was betraying himself just for thinking about leaving. Then Juan barely heard the muttered curse that followed. "Fucking coward Nathan..." Derek growled, then his hand reaching out through his Codex. This was the scenario Juan hated most¡ªthe uncertainty, he didn¡¯t have a clue how the book - Codex, worked. Derek''s voice boomed again: "I don''t care if you''re a Baiter or a fucking worm! Come out and fight!" While furiously flipped through the pages of his Codex. ¡°Baiter?¡± the word echoed in Juan''s thoughts, confusion flickering across his face. He remained uncertain about what to do. Suddenly, Derek let out a warcry, his hand going to the Codex. From its pages, he pulled a glowing brown orb, its surface pulsing faintly. In his other hand, a red orb suddenly appear and shimmered with a sinister light. Without hesitation, Derek swapped the two, the orbs throbbing with an unsettling energy as they shifted places. Juan recognized the orbs¡ªexactly the same ones Derek had swapped earlier. Retreat... fight? Juan knew this was a critical moment. He slapped his cheek, trying to shake off the doubt. Fight! Juan charged forward. The thought flickered briefly in his mind¡ªif it gets too dangerous, I can pull back. It didn''t offer much reassurance, but it steadied his nerves as he closed the gap between himself and Derek. But this is already dangerous, a grim smile tugging at the corner of his lips. The sound of rustling leaves in the distance only heightened his senses, reminding him that Nathan could reappear at any moment.
Juan charged forward, his body moving with a newfound confidence that contradicted his earlier doubts. Derek, caught off guard by the sudden assault, braced himself, his muscles tensing as he prepared to meet Juan''s attack. Juan''s strike met Derek''s broken spear. Blood oozed from the edge of Derek''s mouth, yet the spark in his eyes showed no signs of fading. "This isn''t enough," Juan mused, as he prepared to counter Derek''s assault. Despite the continuous bleeding, compounded by his prior injuries and the possible consequences of whatever he had done with his Codex, Derek''s gaze burned with fierce intensity, unmistakably signaling to Juan that he would not yield. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. Juan''s muscles tensed as he braced himself, anticipating Derek''s counterattack. But to his surprise, the larger man remained rooted in place, waving his broken spear in a chaotic manner. What''s he playing at? Juan narrowed his eyes, studying Derek''s movements. The spear''s reach still gave the larger man an advantage, forcing Juan to stay on his guard. "Come on, then!" Derek''s voice boomed, the challenge clear in his tone. "Show me what you''ve got, you little worm!" Juan''s jaw clenched at the taunt, but he refused to rise to the bait. Instead, he shifted his weight, circling Derek cautiously, looking for an opening. The older man''s erratic swings left him vulnerable, but Juan knew better than to underestimate his opponent. He''s toying with me, Juan realized. Derek''s refusal to launch a proper counterattack suggested he had something else planned. Juan''s gaze darted to the Codex still clutched in Derek''s free hand, now the red orb hovering nearby. "He is buying time" Juan concluded. Juan pushed forward, his gaze laser-focused on Derek''s exposed right side. That right eye injury. Feinting left, Juan then lunged right, his weapon arcing towards Derek''s vulnerable flank. This is my chance! Derek''s left eye widened as Juan''s strike closed in, but he was no fool. With a swift turn, he deflected the blow, his broken spear clashing against Juan''s weapon. Undeterred, Juan pressed his advantage, raining a flurry of strikes against Derek''s defenses. The larger man''s attack, while still powerful, had a noticeable hitch, his right eye clearly impacting his depth perception. I can use this. Juan''s muscles burned as he continued his assault, each strike testing the limits of Derek''s faltering defenses. The larger man''s movements had grown sluggish, his spear''s reach less precise as Juan''s barrage continued. Blood soaked the cloth around Derek''s side where a deep gash had opened, and his breath came in ragged bursts, the effort of blocking each strike visibly weighing on him. Juan¡¯s own body ached, his arm throbbing from an earlier blow. He could feel the sting of several shallow cuts across his arms and neck. "He''s tiring", Juan thought. But as he prepared to land another blow, he noticed a faint glow in Derek''s Codex. Instinctively, Juan knew he had to stepback. Just as Juan leapt back, a wall of hot air exploded between them, the searing heat singeing his skin. Juan stumbled, his eyes watering from the intensity. Derek''s body seemed to becoming reddish, an intense heat radiating from him. Juan realized the danger he now faced. Without warning, Derek charged forward with his broken spear. Juan gritted his teeth as Derek''s strikes grew faster and harder, the heat radiating from him stifling and draining Juan¡¯s strength with every blow. Sensing an opening, Derek suddenly abandoned his spear, his fist snapping forward in a powerful punch. Juan barely had time to react, his body recoiling from the impact. Juan staggered, his vision blurring from the impact of Derek''s powerful punch. I can''t keep up with this, he thought desperately, his mind looking for a way to turn the tide. As his eyes refocused, he noticed something that gave him a glimmer of hope - Derek''s fist also received damaged, the skin reddened and blistered from his own punches. Derek sneered "If I had my lovely orb from the start¡ªyou¡¯d be a piece of cake," "If you hadn¡¯t pointed it at me, you might still have both your eyes," Juan shot back, his voice steady but sharp. Derek chuckled darkly. "Here I thought you were a mute!" "And here I thought you hated excuses," Juan countered, a smirk tugging at his lips. "I like you, boy!" Derek barked, almost amused. "No, thanks," Juan replied coldly.
The tension hung thick in the air as the standoff continued. The weight of the axe dragged at Juan¡¯s arms, each second making it harder to grip. I can''t keep up with this. Without warning, he hurled the axe at Derek, the sudden move catching him off guard. The weapon spun through the air, forcing Derek to stumble as his stance faltered. Seizing the moment, Juan surged forward. Their fists collided with bone-jarring force. He felt the sting of split knuckles as he traded blow for blow with the enraged caveman, the fight devolving into raw fist fight. Similarly, Derek''s attacks were relentless, each punch carrying the weight of a sledgehammer. Juan felt his ribs ache with every impact, but he refused to back down. Gritting his teeth, he returned each strike with equal ferocity, his body moving on instinct. I can do this!, Juan growled inwardly, the thrill of the fight mingled. An opening! Juan lunged forward, slamming his forehead into Derek''s, the impact sending both of them tumbling to the ground. Seizing the opportunity, Juan scrambled toward Derek''s abandoned, broken spear. He gripped it tightly and drove it downward, aiming for Derek''s chest. Derek¡¯s hands shot up, grasping the spear''s shaft in a desperate attempt to hold it back. Their strength clashed, but Derek¡¯s resistance was waning. The oppressive heat radiating from his body faded, his energy draining as Juan pushed the spear closer and closer to its target. With a final surge of strength, Juan drove the shattered weapon into Derek¡¯s chest. A pained gasp escaped Derek¡¯s lips as he crumpled beneath the force. Juan staggered back, collapsing onto his knees, his chest heaving as he gulped down ragged breaths. Derek¡¯s own breathing was harsh and uneven, a gurgling rasp that filled the air. Juan dragged himself closer, his voice trembling with anger and desperation. ¡°Tell me,¡± he demanded, ¡°are you one of the men who put me here? Why?!¡± Derek let out a weak, rasping chuckle, blood bubbling at the corner of his mouth. ¡°You¡¯re... the real deal... a 100% idiot,¡± he managed, his voice thick with mockery. ¡°So it¡¯s true... someone like you would... ha...¡± Juan shook him, his voice rising. ¡°So its you?!¡± Derek¡¯s chuckle deepened into a broken laugh, his body trembling with the effort. ¡°Idiot... remember my name... Derek... don¡¯t forget it...¡± His lips curled into a twisted grin. ¡°And... welcome... to Paradise.¡± With a sudden, violent motion, Derek gripped the spear embedded in his chest and yanked it deeper, blood pouring from the wound as his laughter faded into silence. At the Edge of Night and Dawn Juan was taken aback, stunned by Derek¡¯s fading smile. ¡°Psycho,¡± he whispered under his breath. His hands trembling, Juan muttered, ¡°In a sense, he took his own life.¡± The words felt hollow. ¡°No... what kind of twisted logic is that? I¡¯m the one who killed him.¡± ¡°Self-defense... revenge? I don¡¯t know... but at least I¡¯m still alive,¡± he whispered, wrestling with the reality of it all. After a moment, Juan struggled to stand.Nathan didn''t attack. Did he abandoned Derek? He moved next to Derek and noticed the Codex lying by the partially charred body. The Codex was beginning to deteriorate as well. A wave of panic washed over him, and he swiftly grabbed Derek¡¯s Codex. Juan flipped open Derek''s codex. He scanned its pages, but they were completely empty. Had I picked up the wrong Codex? He carefully checked Derek¡¯s belongings, but found nothing useful. Then he recalled what Derek did with Elmer¡¯s Codex. Should I do it now? Juan hesitated. He knew that activating it would produce a brilliant light, illuminating this place and potentially exposing his position to any lurking dangers nearby. I¡¯ll do it later. I need to check...His gaze shifted to Elmer¡¯s lifeless body. Juan approached Elmer, his heart weighed down. Elmer¡¯s eyes were still open. He placed his hand on the man¡¯s nose and mouth, feeling no breath. A quick check for a pulse confirmed it¡ªElmer was gone. Beside Elmer, Juan spotted a pouch and picked it up. He gently closed Elmer¡¯s eyes, feeling a twinge of guilt. I killed Derek; that has to count for something, right? Juan covered Elmer¡¯s body with leaves and branches, offering a silent prayer before deciding he couldn¡¯t stay. Grabbing his axe and torch, he headed in the opposite direction where Nathan had gone. Panting, Juan reached the base of a small hill and paused to catch his breath. He examined Derek¡¯s Codex¡ªit was nearly falling apart. In a rush, he flipped through his own Codex, scanning the pages. He needed to understand his Codex state before merging it with Derek¡¯s. No core, only a single skill marked with a lock symbol, two items in the archive, and some diary entries. Juan didn¡¯t have time to investigate further. Juan held both Codex and pressed his against Derek¡¯s. A blinding light erupted, just as expected. But, to his surprise, Juan felt no pain or bleeding. He remembered the bloodied expression on Derek¡¯s face when he used the Codex. As the light faded, Juan found himself once again holding his Codex. Success. But I need to move, and fast. Howls and eerie noises echoed through the forest, signaling its awakening.
At the foot of a barren slope, beneath the shadows of withered trees, a young man held his torch and axe, fending off decaying, wolf-like creatures that closed in around him. ¡°These wolves are persistent, huh.¡± Juan muttered, having spent what felt like hours escaping the abominations. He hadn¡¯t even checked his new Codex. As Juan tried breakthrough, the wolves grew more aggressive, closing in. He glanced around¡ªtwenty wolves surrounded him. His heart raced at the sight of his only possible escape route. Below the slope, a swamp stretched out¡ªa strange, out-of-place biome. The trees twisted unnaturally, their trunks bent at odd angles. I had thought I was somewhere on a Pacific island, surrounded by familiar vegetation in the Philippines. But now... I wasn¡¯t so sure. And Water plus mosquitoes... sigh. The worst combination, things I really can¡¯t stand, Juan thought, realizing that fighting twenty zombie-like wolves was not a better option. Cornered, Juan charged into the swamp while fighting off the wolves, who followed in pursuit. As he reached the swamp¡¯s edge, Juan noted how the trees twisted unnaturally, but at least they were easier to climb. No mosquitoes. That¡¯s a plus! Juan planned to stay only on the swamp¡¯s edge, battling the wolves. He managed to hit one, then seized the chance to climb a strange swamp tree. Phew! they can¡¯t climb, right? Upon confirming the wolves couldn''t climb, Juan looked down to see them encircling the base of the tree, leaving him with no escape. Curious but wary, Juan studied the zombie wolves: they were about the size of regular dogs, with black fur and decaying patches. Why do I keep running into these disgusting enemies? First Nathan, now these wolves. As he pondered, a grim realization hit him. If they¡¯re zombie-like... they probably don¡¯t get tired. Great, did I just trap myself? After observing them for a while, Juan raised his hands in defeat. Undead or Zombie, maybe they¡¯ll die when the sun comes out! He decided to check his Codex - Core page first.
Might ? Soul ? Mind ?
Flipping to the Core page, he noticed nothing had changed. But this was likely where Derek put his orb ¡ª and bled like hell, judging by the empty circular space in the page. That¡¯ll be the last thing I do. Next, he checked his Character Profile: His blood had decreased, but it was the same amount before merging with Derek¡¯s Codex. It was just a tally¡ªhe¡¯d probably lost some during the fight.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. The Soul Points showed no changes. But my Mana increased from 70 to 80. Interesting. Juan then navigated to his Slot page.
Skill O?
Blueprint
Recipe
Active Skills
I II III IV V
VI VII VIII XV X
Passive Skills
Memento Mori
II III IV V
He found ten empty active skill slots, along with one skill named ¡°Memento Mori¡± in the passive slot. When he tapped it, a pop-up appeared, asking him to consume 50 Death essences to unlock it.
50 Death Essence required to unlock the inactive ''Memento Mori'' skill.
Death essence? Nothing made sense. He checked the Blueprint and Recipe sections, but both were empty.
Skill
Blueprint O?
Recipe
Next, he checked the Archive page.
Orb
?? ?? ?? ??
Blueprint
Recipe
¨€ ¨€ ¨€
Essence
61 Fire | 24 Beast | 10 Grass | 5 water | 9 Life | 14 Ground
Skills
Woah! Before it was only one blue orb and one sheet of paper (recipe) he had collected from the slime, but now he had: This has to be good, right? Juan reached for the Red Orb icon. When he touched it, two options appeared: Claim and Info. He chose Info. A pop-up appeared in the page.
Cinderhoof Affinity: Fire | Rarity: Rare | Rank: I
A boar-type creature with charred, cracked skin that glows faintly like embers beneath a smoldering log. Its hooves leave fiery prints on the ground, igniting patches of grass or wood wherever it treads. Its tusks are jagged, glowing red-hot at the tips, and it can summon small bursts of flame from its nostrils when enraged. A faint trail of smoke follows in its wake, marking its presence long after it''s gone.
Finally, some useful information, Juan thought. This was the first time the Codex provided a description. What a badass name for a creature; its description sounds powerful. Is that why Derek liked this Orb? Curiosity piqued, Juan checked the Blue Orb he had acquired himself.
Shapeshifting Blob Affinity: Water/Illusion | Rarity: Uncommon | Rank: I
A blue liquid-type slime that ripples with traces of the forms it has mimicked. It can transform into a near-perfect copy of any creature it has seen, using this ability to trick or lure its prey. If it consumes its victim, the slime absorbs their brain, gaining their fragment memories, voice, and even mannerisms. With each kill, it becomes smarter and more deceptive, often mimicking familiar faces or voices to its next victim. Despite its cunning, the Shapeshifting Blob is fragile and easily destroyed by strong pierce attacks or intense heat, as its body offers little defense. It relies on stealth and deception to survive.
Lame name, but the description was like a powerful creature. Is it? recollecting his battle with the blue slime. But wait¡ªit uses the voice of its victim... does that mean my classmate, Theo? Beo? Tadeo.. I can''t even remember his name¡ªwas here and got consumed? Juan didn¡¯t feel any real attachment to this classmate, but the thought of someone he barely knew being consumed like that was still unsettling. Suddenly, another thought struck him: Is it possible all my classmates ended up here? Most likely, he thought, but he didn¡¯t know Derek¡¯s group. They all wore primitive clothing. Just how big was the scale of this event? Unconsciously, he glanced at his character stats. My mana dropped by half. What caused that? reading my Codex? Juan wanted to check other items in the Archive and read the diary entries, but he didn¡¯t want to risk losing more mana experimenting. Looking down at the unmoving wolves below, he decided to rest for a bit until the sun came up.
The swamp lay cloaked in shadows, as if the very earth itself had swallowed the light. The treeline was only faintly kissed by sunrays¡ªa sliver of hope in an endless night. I recovered some blood and mana, but he couldn¡¯t determine if these were fixed numbers. He waited for nearly 30 minutes, but nothing changed. The wolves were a real pain; their smell reached him even from three meters above. The real problem was, they hadn¡¯t left, even with the sun now up. Juan massaged his neck, deep in thought as he gripped the Red Orb tightly, contemplating his next move.