“Eww..”

  The smell of rotten flesh and almost complete darkness wakes me up. The moist damp air and water dripping, slightly echoing through the tunnel; that means only one thing; it was all successful and I made it back, back to the cavern where the rotting corpses of turtle hybrids are scattered all around.

  “That clang. It was my pitcher hitting the floor again.” I whisper to myself calmly, my eyes wandering in the flames while thinking. Poor thing, has fallen on hard ground many times, it was deformed already.

  “Inventory.” I say out aloud.

  “As I thought so.” The pitcher is missing and my hammer is there next to the dirty massive chair. Quickly pulling out the bulletproof vest in a great condition I strap it tightly around my body.

  The velcro around my shoulders, strong front panel and the overall weight pressing me down leaves nothing else but the extra coziness and feeling of being safe.

  “Stats.” Checking for any changes I see nothing new. Focus, just as before shining gold, it was the last power I’ve used.

  Now, the last step is to roll my dirty and perforated socks down and check for the missing thumbs. “Indeed. It automatically follows the most probable way.” A corner of my mouth raises as I finally confirm what I was thinking of.

  It all looks fine so far, “but this has to stop!” I order myself as I shake my head looking at my leftover thumbs. A few more of them gone and it would affect my stability.

  My body is completely healed now, I feel warm and cozy, rejuvenated while sitting around the fire, but as much as I would love to stay here I know there is something more important awaiting.

  Looking around I feel disgusted that the stone statue is resting its massive ass somewhere above my head; I cannot wait to face it when I’m confident enough.

  Despite the flame being cozy, I need to leave the cave as soon as possible, eager to know what's going on with the newcomer.

  Somehow kinda afraid of whatever the beast might be awaiting around because so far every small foe got a bigger upgrade somewhere around. I take out both my hammer and my dagger wielding them the same as before, but without the seatbelts.

  I still don’t believe the stone statue above has to do something with the horrific spiders here so I better watch out.

  The moment I lean from the cozy fireplace I start sprinting towards the heavy door, which we left only a crack open. Ignoring everything else I gaze only at the slight light difference through the crack, as the dusk almost took over even when I was in the forest.

  How much time has passed? I wonder, while squeezing myself through the crack avoiding touching the webs all over. Just a thought that some regular large spider might be crawling under my shirt or over my face sends massive chills down my spine.

  Knowing very well where to enter the forest I grab the hammer close to the head for better balance and less strain. My right hand switches the knife in a reverse grip for stabbing and I start to sprint but focusing highly on my steps.

  Agility was never my thing nor the speed itself, yet I believe with Focus I can maintain my maximum speed for longer, but I need to be careful of stumbling over and falling.

  Stolen story; please report.

  I wonder what Mike sees the world like, is he sharper and his reactions faster or the time around him slows down while he uses his Focus. While running I keep thinking of random stuff.

  Left, right, left, right, left, right; my sweatpants rubbing against each other as I cheat by supporting the muscle in my calves avoiding the pain and strain and eventual collapse.

  While sprinting avoiding the bamboo, focusing on steps I yawn to pop the pressure in my ears.

  I need to have my hearing sharp as every snap of a twig could be a potential threat, either the small monkey or the huge humanoid one; my most vulnerable body part is still not covered; my achilles knee.

  After all this is settled I’m gonna go for some heavy scrubbing and polishing at the stream.

  “Yeah!”

  While thinking of my possessions I’m suddenly content as I remember not only the mighty medieval armor but the duplication which hopefully occurred, for me the first time.

  So what was it? I ask myself while strolling through the massive flat area left from the temple’s foundation after it disappeared.

  A second, hammer! Does dual wielding them even make sense? Probably not, but I can sell it one day, somewhere, maybe.

  Bulletproof vest, now I can match Harald, as he has a spare one in his inventory.

  Then, the knife. Do I finally return it to him or I can finally be confident using it for stuff I would rather not to dull it.

  Sneakers. Poor boys, but there is always room for an extra pair. Now I would have three pairs, each in a different state of decay.

  And the last item, I’m curious the most about; the amulet relic, I believe it was gifted to me as a treasure for annihilating a snake hybrid. Still, even after the dust settled I think that decision to use inventory and the Hummer was ingenious.

  *Bang*

  “What the heck! Are they still in there?” How much time has passed?!

  My sprint intensifies.

  Maneuvering between the bamboos and closing my distance to the crew I both enjoy and curse the pain and the sweating, considering if I should jump on the acid train again or not.

  It’s good that my body tells me when there is damage, but I won't be able to cope with Harald in terms of working out on the other hand; with the 180 degrees turn in my lifestyle now, my weak body craves protein and workout.

  And we will probably suffer malnutrition due to lack of vitamins and fiber in the long run.

  Too soon to decide yet, but I will definitely use the acid when the pain would be unbearable once more.

  As I think of all this and calculate the most efficient way to get as strong as possible and map and clear the largest area to feel more safe, I hear the voices and the other gunshot in the distance.

  “Please, do not shoot at each other.” That language barrier and the heat of combat could end up in one of us getting killed. Even worse, the new woman, if is indeed a native or not a system user, could be dead for good. I could not live with it as she saved not only Mike now but I believe she was the one saving me.

  The moon in the distance illuminates everything the way I see only silhouettes.

  “One, two, three, four.” Two of them are in front limping towards me. The other two are standing in the back.

  Astrid is definitely still strapped to Mike, that means the ape is the other one? I wonder, slowing down. Two two limping towards me?

  One is definitely Nathalie, nobody has a figure and walks like that!

  But the other one being dragged besides her seems to be the old man.

  “Fuck! What just happened?!” I frown, focusing my sight.

  “What the actual f…” I whisper as I notice who is besides Nathalie.

  “No! This can’t be real!” I say out aloud, walking towards them.

  Looking around my body I raise my hand, trying to comprehend if I’m alive or not.

  As she is dragging me.

  “Nathalie?”

  I say out aloud, staring at her face, not a blink.

  “Mark?” She responds with an accent.

  “Como?” (How?)

  “That’s what we were trying to tell you dumb woman!” The old man yells from a distance, saliva spitting.

  *Thud*

  She lets the hold off of the body and it falls on the ground right away lifeless, crooking itself in a weird manner. The sticking bone of the missing arm pins into the ground and I notice how instead of a hammer are only leftover seatbelts.

  “Phew.”

  A humongous burden is relieved as I wasn’t sure if the body was still alive, in a zombie state or even worse; a clone.

  My mini existential crisis is over and I start assuring her that everything is fine.

  “Mark. Okay.” I pound on my chest with my right arm and try to crack a smile, hoping it’s not creepy.

  She suddenly sprints towards and I flinch, yet when close I know I will blush.

  She hugs me.

  A glimpse into her eyes, I assure her it’s all fine as this is the only way of communication now.

  One of us should really start teaching her some ingles. I think quietly walking towards the area where I died.

  “Guys? Did anyone or anything take my hammer?” I ask the approaching trio while looking on the ground where my hand tied up with the combat dagger and a blood stained bulletproof vest rests.