Risk It All!

The creepy Giant Leech was moving from surface to surface pulling its bulk forward with a series of rhythms, its mouth leading the way followed by its tail. Chasing every fish it could get its hands on. 

But there doesn't seem to be any change after Alex's arrival. It was completely pitch dark and all of the sounds were overshadowed by the water stream. Completely unaware of Alex's existence due to the heavy sound and lack of light, it continues doing its work. 

Alex left out a sigh. 'Phew'

But soon his face was disgusted. Small leeches were all over the place, particularly coming from the Giant Leech's body. Disgusted and scared, Alex runs towards the source of the water coming from.

The water flowed through the middle of the cave, with both sides filled with rocks. Beneath the rocks hid rats with sharp teeth, while wolf spiders clung to the top of the cave. And now, in the water, were fish that looked like piranhas.

It was a horrifying place for Alex to be, but compared to the Dragon or the Snake it still looked safer in comparison. 

Alex absolutely hated snakes. 

Soon something jumps on Alex, it was so quick and unexpected that he could just notice, only after it jumped on him. It was a frog, not so terrified, he grabs it and throws it back into the water only for it to be consumed by the fish.

[You have been affected by Poison]

[All your stats will decrease by 0.5% for 15 minutes]

Although the debuff wasn't significant, he could feel himself walking slightly slower than before.

_____________

[Player : Alex]

[Level : 1 (0/100)]

[Vitality : (341/520)]

[Stats : ]

[Strength : 14.6] (-0.5)

[Stamina : 10.9] (-0.5)

[Agility : 18.1] (-0.5)

[Skills : ]

[Sage Vision : Level 1]

_____________

[Vitality : 341/520]

[Vitality : 335/520]

[Vitality : 327/520]

[Due to being poisoned, you will lose your vitality over time]

[If your vitality drops to zero you will die]

'I see now...vitality was more or less about my state of being. But what if I die from a gunshot or something, would my vitality immediately drop to zero? There's so many things I want to know.' 

Alex was now walking slowly noticing that his vitality drops every time he runs. I should at least maintain my vitality and not let it go less than 50% which is about 260 points.

[Vitality : 327/520]

The cave was way too deep and endless, the deeper he went the denser the air gets. 

'There is no way I'm going back, that leeches, I'm positive, they were poisonous too.'

Alex was now walking for 30 minutes straight already, but there was no sign of any change. Soon a red message appears on top of the screen.

[Vitality : 312/520]

[Warning!!! Due to extreme hunger, your immune system will decrease your vitality every minute]

So based on the amount of vitality, I have like 300 minutes to feed myself? 

No, considering any unexpected creatures potentially charging at me, and with the condensed air and me having to walk. It's safe to assume that I have 45 minutes or even less. 

Also there is no guarantee if the moment it drops below 50 my health won't deteriorate or if the system will punish me in any way.

Alex had now been more careful than ever. 'Could I eat the rat? I have no weapon nor am I confident about how they will counter attack.'

'The frog? It's poisonous. Leech? Its disgusting nature brings shivers down my spine, I would rather die than eat it, plus they look extremely poisonous.'

'Spiders? creepy as hell and they are in a group too. And lastly the Fish? Forget about it, the fish will literally eat me before I do.'

'So in the end it's a do or die, I see'. Alex with a tired face looks at the roofs. "I have never missed home more than ever."

'If I really had to bet, the frog is the safest option.'

"Alright let's do it" Alex shouts with determination. 

Near the water, two frogs sat unaware, while fish hid beneath the surface, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Not willing to let it happen, Alex picked up a small rock and tossed it into the river. The frogs immediately jumped away from the water.

'Now is the time to strike' He throws a rock towards the frog, the rock barely misses it. After three repeated failures, he finally manages to hit it.

With the frog crippled, Alex rushes to catch it. Now the impossible part was how will he eat it?

Raw? there was no way in hell he'd do it. With his spirit broken, he just leaves the frog back. I can't really eat it after all, it's gross, my immune system can't handle the stress and torture.

The frog, injured, was slowly trying to escape from Alex. Suddenly, one of the fish leapt out of the water, devoured the frog, and, with a few flaps of its body, returned to the water.

Alex smiles, this can work. 

Using the same old method he catches one of the frogs, cripples its movements and baits him out. As soon as the fish leapt onto the land, Alex grabbed a large rock and hurled it at the creature. However, he narrowly missed, and the fish managed to escape back into the water.

Alex was determined, he was gonna have fish for dinner, the next try. This time however, it hits the fish. The injured fish was trying to run but Alex kicked it to the side of the walls, separating it far from the water.

This was a successful attempt.

Alex hits the fish with the stone, once the fish is dead, Alex hears a sound. 

[You have slain a Black Piranha!]

[You have gained 5 exp!]

'So this is how it works, unless I kill them I won't get any exp. I thought it was a mission based'

Alex felt less morally disgusted as he tried to eat the fish raw. If I don't eat you you would have eaten me, once I was defenseless. This is a food chain, I'm sorry poor soul. 

[You have consumed a poison!]

"Wait what???!!!"

"Poison??"

Alex's eyes were getting blurry, it was starting to get dark again. His hands felt unresponsive and blood was leaking from all over his body, from his mouth, eyes and also his ears. 

The first thing Alex made sure was to get to the safest place in the vicinity. Slightly higher from the ground and about two meters far from the water, Alex lies in the rigid rocks. 

"Am I going to die?" Alex breathes slowly thinking about all the things he had spent doing. 'Well I was gonna die earlier anyway' 

As he slowly loses his consciousness, Alex closes his eyes accepting his defeat. 'I should have done more in my life, I always hold back on my life, always hiding my talents from my peers and never actually work on honing them and being actively competitive, I just wanted to live a normal happy life. But now I'm regretting not going all out living to the fullest. I'm gonna die without living the actual life I truly wanted.

'This is it'

[Vitality : 108/520]

[Vitality : 77/520]

[Vitality : 37/520]

Alex dies*

Or so was what he thought. 

[Your immune system has resisted the poison!]

[Congratulations! You have obtained a new skill!]

[Poison Resistance : Level 0]