Round two DING DING DING!

I wake to the always pleasant sensation of being crushed alive. Everything is dark. I feel as though I have been encased in a rancid clay that reeks of rot, death, and plague. So to recap, even after dying, I'm still dealing with this bullsh*t. Can't a guy or, well, gal get a freakin break? Who sh*ty idea was to make every single step forward like walking through a mountain of blades and a wasteland of fire.

I try to stay calm to figure out what is going on. Calm, just like when I used to have asthma attacks. The more I panic, the worse it gets, so STAY CALM!

Inventory, minimal movement, severely restricted breathing, enormous pressure in all directions. The last known location was a desert coated in a sticky substance. Inhale. One two three. Exhale.

The plausible cause is likely a 50 percent chance of being swallowed whole by the desert worm or whale species 50 percent chance of being submerged by a sandstorm. Note no odors of acid or burning sensations. Overall warm feeling. 80 percent chance buried in the sand with a large object on top. Inhale. One two three. Exhale.

My current status is a cultivator and is buried. Qi levels. Sensing inward, I feel surprised to find 10 strands of qi in my dantian. Based on the existing knowledge, that puts me at the peak of the first level of gi refinement. The second level should give me just enough strength to break free of this. Suddenly I feel the pressure above me start to lessen.

I felt relief and became so happy I hadn't even tried to break through yet. Then bang, it feels like I'm taking repeated blows to the gut in quick succession. "urrggh" I grumble as my voice is still suppressed by the vastness of the earth above me.

Just as quickly as the pain assaulted me, it seemed to subside. Quickly taking advantage of this moment and no longer holding anything back, I circulate all 10 strands at the same time. Quickly they are refined and absorb more gaseous qi condensing into a purer and strong qi strand. As they make the last pass-through of the 72 revolutions and reenter the dantian, I feel it begin to swell.

Grunting from the exertion to suppress and store this qi, I finally succeeded. It felt like the space inside my dantian suddenly expanded a bit. And the ten denser strands of qi started to rapidly absorb the ambient energy through my body, circulating and condensing the energy on its own as, one by one, more strands formed, flowing and settling back into the dantian. And in a couple of breaths time, I now have close to 40 strands of 1, settling me in the middle of the second qi gathering stage.

I focus and remember a body enhancement spell that only requires a few strands of qi that I can keep active for a short while. Forcefully circulating the qi and executing the technique, I feel my strength surge. It's enough to intoxicate a lesser man, well, woman, with false power. As I gather my strength, prepping to punch my way out, the ground around me rumbles furiously.

HAH!

Striking out with all my might, all the pressure instantly disappears, and I can breathe again. Well, mostly air, but still a good bit of sand mixed with it, though. Just as the sand is clearing, I Roar out with a Victory Battle cry.

HOOOORAAAAAAH!!

No sooner do I finish roaring than I see a half circle of warriors with weapons drawn, all projecting murderous intent towards me at full blast as though they face the mightiest dragons. Ptooey. Even my inner monologue thinks too highly of dragons. Why do I even dislike dragons? I still don't know. Probably something buried in these new memories.

I start raising my hands to de-escalate everything when what appears to be their female leader rushes at me. I try to say stop, but before the word leaves my mouth, she's half a swing to my head; instantly raising my arms to defend, I take the impact and use it to launch me further from my attackers.

"ARRRRRHHHHHHA!" That Freakin Smarts, seems to have almost broken my arm. Thank me. I activated the enhancement spell ahead of time, or I would be done for.

"It's definitely a mutated beast! Starla Cast water magic at the creature to see if it helps. Its body is solid like stone." Altina shouts while still staring me down, ready to swing if I get closer.

"URRAAAH SHHHHAAAP!" I shouted while trying to say you stop but with a mouthfuls of sand. This further cements in my monster status.

"it has high defense but weak attacks. Form up." Another adventurer shouts while the girl continued her pursuit. If I didn't look like a desert version of a swamp monster I might be flattered by the single minded dedicated assault on my body.

Dodging the attacks from Altina several times, I'm suddenly caught off guard by a magic spell. At

"Water Barrage." The chunni shouted as she cast this magic. A massive wave 3 meters high sweeps and floods the pit that I am in.

Boom! Boom,Boom; krakaBoom.

Slowly floating in this now miniature oasis, I am finally free. No sticky stuff, clothing intact mouth clean of sand. It's the simple joys of life that matter most of all.

Now that im not fighting for my life, I can now read in my mind the first change brought by my technique, 1st transformation, the hairless ape. Instantly circulating the technique, my fur disappeared as though it melted, leaving me with a model-like face, no side burns, amber skin as though molded from solidified honey and polished to perfection. My muscles toned just right leaving a warrier princess vibe.

Not that I care!

Finally surfacing on the water seeing the adventurers about to attack again I can't help but be frustrated and shout at them.

"Would you stop attacking me it is ridiculously annoying!"!!