Chapter 5: Survival

[ ] = main character toughts

{ }= window message

The arrow struck my shoulder with deadly precision, the cold steel piercing through flesh and muscle. Time seemed to freeze for a split second as pain exploded like liquid fire through my veins.

The window massege.

{Critical Hit Received!}

{Severe Bleeding}

I started running without conscious thought, my body moving on pure survival instinct. The dark forest twisted around me as my "Escape" ability warped the very space around my form.

[ Ahhh ahhh ]

The pain was searing, but stopping meant death. Every second of my ability was precious, every heartbeat pumping more blood from the wound.

[Keep running... just keep running...]

{HP slowly decreasing}

{Bleeding status: Continuous damage}

I ran without pause, the arrow lodged in my shoulder scraping against low-hanging branches. Each impact sent shockwaves of agony through my body.

[ That crazy archer... why are they trying to kill me? What did I do? I was just watching... ]

{Ability "Escape"}

{Time remaining: 15 seconds}

Once the thirty seconds elapsed, I looked back - nothing but shadows and silence. My ability had put considerable distance between us, but...

[ Ahh, this cursed arrow ]

[ Is it poisoned? ]

[ One thing's certain... ]

[ It hurts like hell. ]

[ I've never felt pain like this before. When I find whoever sent me here, I'll crack their skull open ]

I trudged forward, each step a battle against the growing weakness in my limbs.

[ Thank the God there aren't any goblins around... that would be the end of me ]

[ I need to do something about this arrow... fast ]

[I need to search for safe location]

I slumped against a giant boulder, my trembling hands reaching for the arrow shaft.

[ Come here... ]

[ Cursed thing!!! ]

With a surge of desperate strength, I snapped the shaft, tossing it aside while the arrowhead remained buried in my flesh.

[I removed it]

[ Even after that, the pain hasn't decreased ]

[ I need to find healing... and fast ]

I struggled to my feet, stumbling forward without clear direction.

Pain and hunger weighed on me like giant stones strapped to my back. Ten minutes passed like an eternity.

My condition was deteriorating rapidly. I tried to stay away from goblin territories while searching for any warriors in the vicinity.

I'd have to lie, tell them a goblin archer shot me. The truth would only raise suspicions.

The hunger, thirst, and pain were killing me slowly, but survival demanded I keep moving. Fate wasn't done testing me - three goblins appeared ahead.

I tried to slip away quietly, but their beady eyes locked onto my form.

So i prepare myself for battle.

[ Come here, you little lowlife. I'll split your skulls open ]

the three goblins had a small sword as a weapon.

I take my weapons and then start the hunt.

with my axe I throw it on the head of a goblin and the dagger on the other goblin, the third one who remained watching the end of his 2 companions became intimidated.

and I pretend to take out a weapon from my coat, seeing this he starts to run away into the woods.

[ At least one of you has enough brains to know when to run ]

In reality, I had nothing left - the bluff had worked perfectly.

The effort left me exhausted, barely able to walk. I had to use a branch as a makeshift crutch, my condition worsening with each passing moment.

{ Character health below 50%, immediate healing required }

{ Arrowhead remains embedded, remove before death claims you }

[ I know... but how? ]

I struggled forward with what remained of my strength and will...

{ Character is bleeding }

[ I know!!! Shut up!! You're useless! ]

My mind was growing foggy, desperate hope fading with each labored step.

{ Time Skip: 24 Hours Later }

Without sleep, food, or health, I crawled across the forest floor, strength completely depleted. I'd used my ability every time it became available, hoping to encounter someone - anyone.

{ Character health below 10%, heal immediately }

{ Character status: Critical }

{ Embedded arrow will soon claim the character's life }

[ Can't... take these messages anymore... ]

[ My head...is exploding... ]

I continued crawling, but it was futile. My strength was gone, hallucinations dancing at the edges of my vision. My muscles refused to respond.

[ I'm going to pass out... I'm going to... ]

{ Character has no remaining strength }

{ Character will soon perish }

< rhhhr krkrkrk >

[ Goblin voices? ]

[ So this is how it ends? ]

[ I didn't want this... ]

[ Is this my fate? ]

< herhrhr herhr >.............

Female 1: Lilia, what are you doing?! Wake up and support me!!

[ What? ][ A voice? ]

My eyes fluttered open.

Female 2: Okay, wait, let me prepare

Female 1: Hurry!Female 2: Okay!

Through blurry vision, I watched a mage and barbarian engaging the goblins in combat.

[ What a strange pair... ]

They made short work of the monsters.

I began crawling toward them again, hope flickering like a dying flame.

Female 1: Well done! Look at all this loot, hahaha!

Female 2: Yes, you're really strong!

[ Almost... there... ]

Female 2: Ahhhhhhhhh!Female 1: Lilia, what happened?!Female 2: Come here and look!

The two women turned to stare at my pathetic form as I dragged myself toward them.

The barbarian immediately took a defensive stance, her massive sword at the ready.

"Help... please help me... I can't... go on..."

Female 1: Why should we help you? Who are you? And why are you in this condition?

"I'll tell you everything... please... save me first"

Pride meant nothing now - survival was all that mattered.

"Please... I've traveled so far... help me... I'll be forever in your debt"

The barbarian remained unconvinced.

Female 2: Come on, Frenya, let's help him. His condition is severe - he looks like he's about to die.

Female 1: No, Lilia. I've heard humans can't be trusted. Better to leave him like this. Besides, look at his clothing - he looks like a looter. And his face makes me want to kill him already.

"If you want, I'll give you my loot... please help me... I'm begging you"

Female 1: Really? How much do you have?

"I've killed more than 54 goblins... the void stars are in my pockets"

Female 2: But do we really need to take his loot, Frenya? Doesn't that seem too cruel?

Female 1: Not at all. It's the price he'll pay for being saved. Compared to life, this price means nothing.

The barbarian extracted the void stars from my pockets.

"Please... save me now... I can't... hold on... any longer"

Female 1: Do you want to save him?

Female 2: Are you really asking me that? After taking his loot?

Female 1: Fine then, heal him while I remove the arrow.

The barbarian's strong hands gripped the arrowhead.

"AHHHHHAAAAAHHHAAAH!"

Female 1: Stop screaming! Are you a child?

The mage's healing magic washed over me like cool water.

Gradually, the pain subsided, life flowing back into my broken body. Once the healing was complete, I could breathe normally again.

As I stood, the barbarian resumed her defensive stance.

"Thank you... truly thank you... I'm grateful. May I ask one more thing? Do you have any food? I've been starving for so long"

Female 1: You're not ashamed to ask for food too?

Female 2: Come on, Frenya, don't be like that. Here, I'll give you some food, though it's not much, okay?

"Thank you so much... I'm truly grateful"

She handed me a piece of bread and some soup. I devoured it immediately, the food tasting like ambrosia after so long without.

Female 2: What's your name, and what were you doing here in this condition?

"My name is Doruuk. Doruuk Velor, and I was shot by a goblin archer. What are your names?"

Female 2: I'm Lilia Silverwynn, a mage. Pleased to meet you.

Female 1: I'm Frenya. And that's all you need to know.

[ Silverwynn... I've heard that name before... Ah yes, one of the most recognized families in the magic sector ]

"Silverwynn... I know that name"

Lilia: Yes, my family is quite famous.

Frenya: Lilia, you don't need to associate with this man. And you, get out of here before I cut you with my sword.

"I'm grateful for your help. I hope I can repay you someday."

With those words, I departed to complete my mission and return.When I was far enough away...

Lilia and Frenya's conversation:

Lilia: He was such an enigmatic man, very dark, don't you think, Frenya? He didn't ask anything and just left. But what is he, a swordsman? A mage? I was curious to find out.And the way he was dressed was strange, with those long, dark clothes.

Frenya: Yes, you're right, he was quite strange. When I was taking out the void stars from his pockets, I saw he had a dagger and small axe as weapons, but they weren't strong as real weapons. But how long had he been crawling like that?

Lilia: Yes, you're right. He's a very strange person.

Chapter End