A Necessary Pause

Mark collapsed onto the cold floor of the rest area. His breath was ragged, his muscles frozen from exertion. Each pulse in his injured ankle reminded him how close he had come to death.

[[Recovery in progress. All injuries will be healed.]]

The familiar voice of the system echoed in the silent air. A gentle warmth slowly spread through his body, soothing the pain. The cuts, bruises, and even the sharp burn in his ankle gradually faded away.

Mark lay still, staring at the bright ceiling of the room. He was exhausted, mentally and physically drained. The thought of immediately facing another floor felt insurmountable.

— No… Not now. I need to recover.

He rolled onto his side, watching the floating interface blinking softly in front of him.

[[Shop available. Do you want to browse?]]

Mark frowned. He had never really explored the shop. This time, he had the luxury to do so.

[[Shop – Healing & Consumables]]

Energy Ration – 200 credits

Restores 25% endurance and suppresses hunger for 6 hours.

Partial Revitalization Crystal – 800 credits

Restores 30% endurance and eliminates mental fatigue.

Instant Regeneration Potion – 2,500 credits

Instantly heals all non-lethal injuries and restores endurance.

Mark opened the "Status" section to check his resources.

[[Available Credits: 1,200]]

He sighed. After all those trials, that's all he had earned? But his eyes caught a reassuring line.

[[Complete recovery. All injuries have been healed.]]

The pain was gone. But another problem made itself known. His stomach growled loudly.

— Of course… They heal you, but don't feed you.

He hesitated for a moment, then bought two Energy Rations for a total of 400 credits.

Two silver packets appeared before him. He opened the first, revealing a compact bar, similar to an energy bar. The smell was bland, almost industrial.

— Smells like cardboard…

He took a bite. The taste wasn't much better, but the effect was immediate. A gentle warmth spread through his body, calming the hollow sensation.

[[Endurance restored to 100%. Hunger suppressed for 6 hours.]]

Mark downed the second ration just to be safe.

[[Hunger suppressed for 12 hours.]]

— That should be enough for proper rest.

He lay back, letting the fatigue consume him.

[[Shop – Available Skills]]

Combat Instinct – 1,000 credits

Enhances perception in combat, increasing attack accuracy by 10%.

Minor Regeneration – 1,500 credits

Grants passive recovery of minor injuries over time.

Iron Will – 2,000 credits

Reduces the effects of negative mental conditions by 40%.

Perfect Balance – 1,800 credits

Improves bodily stability, reducing the risk of falling and enhancing responsiveness.

Mark pondered. With only 800 credits left, he could only afford one skill.

— Unyielding Stride, huh? After that damn endurance trial, this could save me from another nightmare.

He confirmed the purchase.

A sensation of lightness enveloped his legs, as if his muscles were recovering faster.

— Not bad. If I have to cross endless voids again, this could make all the difference.

After a few hours of rest, Mark stood up, feeling a renewed energy. He looked at his hands, arms, and legs.

— I can't just sit around. If I want to survive, I need to get stronger.

He started with simple exercises: push-ups, squats, sit-ups. The rest area was spacious, offering enough room to move freely.

Minutes turned into hours. Mark cycled through sets, pushing his body to its limits, trying to understand his new capabilities. The Silent Boots muffled his movements, while Unyielding Stride allowed him to train longer without the usual fatigue.

He finished with a series of punches. His style was raw, instinctive, but each strike grew sharper and stronger.

[[Endurance consumed: 30%.]]

Finally, he stopped, drenched in sweat but satisfied.

— I'm progressing. Slowly but surely.

Mark sat up, his mind clear at last. He checked his status.

[[Mark's Status]]

[Physical]

Strength: 22

Agility: 22 (+3 from Silent Boots)

Constitution: 36

Charisma: 2

[Mental]

Intelligence: 9

Perception: 12 (+5 gained on the previous floor)

Luck: 4

Mental Endurance: 16

[Skills]

Unyielding Stride: Reduces fatigue from long-distance movement.

Steel Mind: Decreases the effects of mental illusions by 30%.

[[Special Items: Wanderer's Compass, Clarity Amulet, Silent Boots]]

Everything was in order. No injuries, no fatigue.

Mark smiled. This time, he felt truly ready.

He glanced at the floating interface.

[[Do you wish to proceed to the fourth floor?]]

Mark stood still for a moment. There was no countdown, no pressure. He could stay here as long as he wanted.

He clenched the compass in his hand, feeling its cold surface against his skin.

— I'm ready. But this time, I'll decide when to move forward.

He dropped onto the floor, hands behind his head, savoring the fragile peace.

The next challenge could wait. For the first time since arriving in the D.M.U., Mark was in control.

And he intended to enjoy it.