Penality zone

As Oscar's day came to a close, the ever-persistent presence of the blue box loomed over him. Despite his attempts to ignore it, the glowing notifications continued to nudge him about the task he had chosen to neglect.

"I'll do it tomorrow," Oscar muttered, trying to brush off the uneasy feeling creeping up on him. With a resigned sigh, he began preparing for bed, hoping to leave behind the strange events of the day.

But just as he was about to drift off into a peaceful sleep, an unexpected jolt shot through his body. He shot up, blinking in confusion as he found himself surrounded by a vast expanse of snow-covered wilderness, the cold biting at his skin.

Before he could even begin to make sense of his situation, a message from the blue box appeared before him, its words sending a chill down his spine.

[Failed to complete daily mission. Penalty Zone activated.]

Oscar's heart raced as he understood the gravity of his situation. There was no time to waste, survival was the only priority now. But as he scanned the endless white horizon, his blood ran cold at the sight of a massive ice bear in the distance. Its glowing, predatory eyes fixed on him.

Without thinking, Oscar dashed for cover behind a thick ice wall, his breath coming in ragged gasps. His mind raced—what was this place? He was just a farm boy! He couldn't even comprehend how he'd ended up in this hostile, icy wilderness.

The bear roared, its massive claws slashing through the air as it began advancing toward him. Oscar glanced around, spotting a rocky outcrop nearby. Heart pounding in his chest, he made a break for it, scrambling up the incline, barely managing to avoid the bear's deadly swipe. He made it to the top, catching his breath as he looked for an escape.

The wind howled in his ears, stinging his face, and yet, he didn't dare rest. The bear roared again, charging toward him with thunderous force. Oscar knew he couldn't outrun it, but he could outsmart it.

As the bear rose on its hind legs, preparing for a devastating strike, Oscar's mind raced. He didn't have much to work with. His only weapon—a shard of broken ice—was almost laughable. But it had to be enough.

Just as he steeled himself to face the beast, a message appeared before him:

Ding!

[Host has gained +20 to Speed.]

A surge of energy coursed through Oscar's body, and his muscles screamed as they adapted to the sudden boost. With his newfound speed, he darted forward, weaving and dodging through the icy terrain. The bear, relentless in its pursuit, closed in with each step, its ferocity pushing Oscar to his limits.

"I should've done the damn quests!" Oscar shouted into the cold wind, his voice barely audible over the beast's roars. But it was too late for regrets now. His legs burned, and the weight of his earlier mistake pressed down on him like a heavy stone. The penalty zone wasn't just a punishment—it was a test of survival, and if he didn't adapt, he was as good as dead.

With every desperate dodge and weave, Oscar could feel the heat of the bear's breath on his back, and yet he refused to stop. He couldn't afford to let fear overtake him. He had to keep moving.

The terrain was treacherous, the snow and ice making every step a challenge. Oscar's pulse quickened with every leap, every sprint, his stamina pushing him further than he thought possible. A moment of respite appeared when he spotted a narrow crevice in the ice. It was small but could provide shelter from the bear's relentless attacks.

He dived into the crevice, his breath coming in heavy gasps, but the sound of the bear's claws scraping against the ice reminded him that his troubles were far from over.

Ding!

[Agility skill unlocked due to continuous evasion.]

Oscar blinked in surprise. He felt a subtle shift in his body—lighter, faster, more in tune with the environment around him. As the bear's next attack crashed against the crevice, Oscar knew he had no choice but to act.

With a renewed sense of agility, he scrambled out of the crevice and bounded across the icy landscape with new precision. Each leap felt easier, more fluid. His stamina seemed to regenerate as his skills unlocked, and he felt the burning ache in his legs lessen. The bear was still hot on his trail, but now Oscar had the upper hand.

With his enhanced abilities, he was able to dodge with greater ease, his feet finding solid ground despite the slippery ice. The bears' roars became fainter as he increased his pace, the distance between him and the pursuing predators growing wider with each passing moment.

Hours passed, and Oscar's body began to tremble with exhaustion. But as he finally found a temporary shelter behind an icy wall, he couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. The penalty zone had been brutal, but he had survived.

As the blue box appeared again, Oscar read the message with a sense of quiet realization.

[Daily quest complete.]

Despite the cold, Oscar smiled, the weight of his mistakes and the trials of the penalty zone fading with the passing hours. There was more to this strange world than he'd ever imagined, and it was becoming increasingly clear that if he was going to survive, he needed to embrace these trials and challenges head-on.

"I have to stop ignoring you," he muttered to the blue box. "Because if I don't, I'll have no idea what's next."

A newfound clarity washed over him as he prepared to face whatever lay ahead. He wasn't just a farm boy anymore. He had powers, skills, and now—he had a purpose.

As Oscar settled back into his blanket, his trembling body still ached from the day's events, he couldn't shake the feeling that the true journey was just beginning. The next message from the blue box would surely bring even more unexpected revelations.

Meanwhile in different place, Lilith, observing Oscar from the shadows of the void, smirked as she watched him struggle and grow.

"You should've done the daily quests," she chuckled, her voice echoing in the emptiness. "Guess you learned your lesson, didn't you?"

Her eyes glinted with a mixture of amusement and satisfaction as she plotted her next move. Despite her initial disappointment in Oscar's selection, she couldn't help but enjoy watching him squirm. He would be an interesting pawn in the grand game she was weaving.

With a wave of her hand, she summoned a holographic display and began to manipulate the threads of fate that entangled Oscar. She could already sense the direction of his journey—the stakes would grow higher with each challenge he faced.

"Let's see how you handle what's coming next, Oscar," she whispered, her lips curling into a wicked smile. "This is just the beginning."

The next morning, Oscar completed his daily quest, the memory of his harrowing experience still fresh in his mind. As he stood up, preparing to face the day, he glanced at the blue box with apprehension.

"What's next?" he muttered under his breath.

Ding!

[Select your reward from the three gift boxes below.]

Despite his trepidation, Oscar's curiosity got the better of him. He cautiously reached out and selected the first box, watching as it materialized before him. The box opened with a soft glow, and inside, he found a gleaming sword with intricate runes etched into the blade.

Oscar's eyes widened in awe as he felt the faint, pulsating energy radiating from the weapon. This was no ordinary sword—it was powerful, and he could feel it. He slid it into his belt, feeling a newfound sense of strength with the weapon in his grasp.

Two boxes remained. With a deep breath, he selected the second box, curious to see what lay inside. When it opened, a shimmering orb floated before him, radiating warmth and tranquility. As he touched it, a surge of peace filled his body. He knew that this orb would aid him in healing when the trials ahead became too overwhelming.

With one gift box left, Oscar hesitated. What could be left after such powerful gifts? He reached out and opened the final box. His eyes widened in surprise as a gleaming key appeared before him, its design intricate and ancient. The key pulsed with magic, and the blue box explained its significance.

[Dungeon Key obtained. Use it to unlock hidden dungeons.]

Oscar stared at the key, the weight of its importance settling in. He now had access to dungeons—mysterious, dangerous places filled with treasures and secrets. He couldn't yet comprehend what he'd unleashed, but the feeling of anticipation surged within him.

As the blue box showed him the location of a nearby gate, Oscar felt a sense of resolve. He had to face the challenges ahead head-on, and now, he had the tools to do it.

He stood up, the dungeon key in hand, ready to embark on his next adventure.

The gate to the dungeon lay within his own farm. As Oscar approached the spot where the gate should be, he twisted the key in the air, summoning a magical purple portal that shimmered in front of him. This was it—the start of his journey.

Oscar stepped forward, uncertain but determined. The dungeon awaited.

To be continued

Yeah this is me updating the Ch, sorry all the people commenting that got send to void because of this, I am sorry, I am doing this so my future readers can have an easier time reading the first 4 ch, I am gonna miss all the comments in these Ch