Quest

[SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENT]

[COLL APSI: NEGATIVE LEVEL NIGHTMARE]

Coll Apsi panted heavily as he sprinted through the deserted village, his legs burning from exhaustion. The Night Predators were right on his heels, their snarls sending shivers down his spine.

"WHY AM I STILL ALIVE?!" he screamed as he vaulted over a broken cart, narrowly avoiding a pair of razor-sharp fangs snapping at his precious, gamer-certified legs.

[Master, I, too, am confused. By all calculations, you should have been ripped apart five minutes ago.]

"THEN WHY AM I NOT DEAD?!"

[Unknown. Perhaps your pathetic cowardice has activated a hidden survival instinct?]

Coll Apsi's eyes twitched. "ARE YOU MOCKING ME IN THE MIDDLE OF A LIFE-AND-DEATH SITUATION?!"

BIP!

The Afterlife System beeped and displayed his current status:

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STATUS WINDOW – COLL APSI

Name: Coll Apsi

Race: Human (?)

Class: [Unregistered Error]

Level: -1

Title: "The First Negative Level Player"

HP: 9/10 (Bleeding, Shaking, Mild Regret)

MP: 0/0 (Skill Issue)

Stamina: 1/100 (Running on Pure Desperation)

Strength: 5 (Comparable to a malnourished hamster)

Agility: 2 (Your grandma is faster than you)

Intelligence: 0 (Was always 0, let's be honest)

Luck: -99 (This stat should not be possible)

Special Status: [Unloved by the Gods], [Noob Among Noobs], [Hardcore Loser]

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Coll Apsi tripped on a loose cobblestone, barely catching himself before slamming face-first into the dirt.

"WHAT THE F**K IS THIS?!" he screeched. "WHY AM I LEVEL NEGATIVE ONE?!"

[Ah, yes. That.]

A new notification popped up.

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SYSTEM MESSAGE

Due to the [Hardcore Punishment], your level has been adjusted to negative values based on your in-game reputation.

Since you were previously known as "The Most Useless Player in Yggdrasil: Ascension", your starting level has been adjusted accordingly.

Have a nice day! (emoji_smileface.rpg)

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Coll Apsi felt his soul leave his body.

"…My reputation… d-determined my level…?"

[Yes, Master.]

Coll Apsi clutched his chest.

"That means… if I wasn't a complete piece of sh*t in my past life… I'd be a NORMAL PLAYER RIGHT NOW?!"

[Correct.]

"AAAAAAAAAAAAA...."

Coll Apsi screamed into the void.

The Night Predators growled as they closed in, their level 30 status gleaming above their heads like a death sentence.

[NIGHT PREDATOR – LEVEL 30]

[NIGHT PREDATOR – LEVEL 30]

[NIGHT PREDATOR – LEVEL 30]

Coll Apsi's entire existence trembled in fear.

A Level -1 versus a Level 30 monster.

He was literally a tutorial enemy to them.

Coll Apsi gulped, turned, and ran even faster—except now, he was sobbing.

Coll Apsi wheezed like an asthmatic grandpa as he skidded around a corner. The Night Predators snarled behind him, their glowing eyes burning holes into his soul.

He frantically scanned his surroundings.

Locked house.

Locked house.

Boarded-up house.

Literal pile of rubble.

Still burning house (???).

"WHY THE F**K CAN'T I ENTER ANY OF THESE?!"

[Master, you cannot enter buildings unless they are "authorized" safe zones.]

"WHO DESIGNED THIS GAME?! WHO THE HELL THOUGHT THIS WAS BALANCED?!"

[Ah, yes. The developers of Yggdrasil: Ascension.]

Coll Apsi felt hatred course through his veins. If only he were alive, he'd find the devs and—

Suddenly, a single flickering lantern caught his eye.

[RUSTY MUG INN – OPEN]

Coll Apsi's eyes lit up. Salvation! A safe haven!

"HAHAHA! F**K YOU, NIGHT PREDATORS! YOU CAN'T ENTER BUILDINGS!"

With newfound speed (and blind terror), he dove toward the entrance and slammed open the door.

THUD!

Coll Apsi tumbled across the wooden floor like a sack of rotten potatoes. He quickly scrambled up and spun around just as the Night Predators lunged at him—

SLAM!

The inn's doors shut magically in their faces.

Coll Apsi collapsed onto his knees, laughing and crying at the same time.

"SAFE! I'M SAFE!"

Outside, the Night Predators howled in frustration, scratching at the invisible barrier.

Coll Apsi smugly flipped them off.

"Can't touch me now, huh? Stupid furries—"

[Master, you should probably check your surroundings.]

Coll Apsi froze.

Slowly… ever so slowly… he turned his head.

Inside the Rusty Mug Inn, dim candlelight flickered against dust-covered tables. The air smelled like rotting wood, sour beer, and crushed dreams.

And in the center of the room…

Sat a mysterious NPC.

A hunched-over, cloaked old man sipped from a rusted mug. His glowing red eyes locked onto Coll Apsi.

The inn fell silent.

A system notification appeared.

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[WARNING: EVENT TRIGGERED]

You have entered the Rusty Mug Inn (Night Mode), the only available shelter in the Beginner's Village.

[Mandatory Event: The Rusted Stranger] has begun.

You must listen to the stranger's story… or suffer the consequences.

Difficulty: ???

Failure Penalty: ???

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Coll Apsi felt the blood drain from his face.

"…I have a bad feeling about this."

Coll Apsi gulped.

He slowly stepped forward, every instinct in his body screaming, "RUN, YOU FOOL!"

But there was nowhere to run.

Not unless he wanted to throw himself into the arms of those Night Predators outside and become a gourmet meal.

So, with the grace of a man walking into his own execution, he approached the mysterious old man.

The figure took a slow, agonizingly dramatic sip from his rusted mug. The liquid inside was thick, black, and bubbling ominously.

Coll Apsi tried not to gag.

"…Hey, old man."

The stranger didn't react.

Coll Apsi cleared his throat.

"Ahem! Uh, so… where's the guy that was running this place earlier? Y'know, the bald dude with the beer gut who kept scratching his ass?"

Silence.

Coll Apsi felt a chill crawl down his spine.

The stranger finally lifted his head. His glowing red eyes burned with an intensity that could melt steel.

"The one who stands in the light… is not the same as the one who walks in the dark."

Coll Apsi blinked.

"…Bro, what?"

The old man took another ominous sip.

"The Rusty Mug Inn of the day… is not the Rusty Mug Inn of the night."

Coll Apsi's brain lagged. He opened his menu and checked the name of the building.

[Rusty Mug Inn – DAY] (emoji_love.rpg)

[Rusty Mug Inn – NIGHT] emoji_skull.rpg)

"…"

His eye twitched.

"...I—WHAT THE F**K IS THAT?! WHY DOES THIS PLACE HAVE TWO VERSIONS?! WHY DID NO ONE TELL ME?!"

[Master, you never asked.]

Coll Apsi resisted the urge to punch thin air.

Meanwhile, the old man was still sipping his nasty bubbling sludge like this was some kind of high-class tea party.

Coll Apsi took a deep breath.

"Okay, okay… so you're telling me… that the guy I saw in the daytime just… ceases to exist at night?"

The old man smiled.

"Perhaps… or perhaps he simply becomes me."

Coll Apsi's soul left his body.

"WHAT THE ACTUAL F—"

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[SANITY CHECK FAILED]

You have gained the status [Mild Existential Dread].

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Coll Apsi clutched his face.

"WHAT IS THIS STATUS EFFECT? WHY IS THIS GAME PUNISHING ME FOR ASKING QUESTIONS?!"

[Master, please refrain from thinking too hard.]

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN DON'T THINK?! I NEED TO THINK TO SURVIVE!"

The old man chuckled darkly.

"In the world of Yggdrasil… thinking too much is the quickest way to die."

Coll Apsi froze.

His brain clicked.

His memories as a former Rank #1 player resurfaced.

The random cryptic NPCs.

The absurd lore mechanics.

The bullst difficulty spikes******

Coll Apsi stared at the old man with newfound horror.

"…This game really is designed by absolute sadists."

The old man grinned.

"Welcome back… Pro Player."

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[MANDATORY EVENT: THE RUSTED STRANGER]

[Begin Phase 2 – Choose Your Poison.]

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A new option appeared.

[Drink from the Rusted Mug] (???)

[Refuse and face the consequences] (???)

Coll Apsi felt like crying.

"…I hate this game."

Coll Apsi stared at the options.

His brain short-circuited.

Two options.

1. Drink the mysterious, bubbling, probably-toxic sludge. (Certain death.)

2. Refuse and "face the consequences." (Definitely certain death.)

Neither of these were good choices.

So, as a true professional gamer, Coll Apsi did what any legendary pro player would do in this situation.

He selected both.

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[ERROR: INVALID SELECTION]

[RECALCULATING…]

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The old man froze.

The Afterlife System froze.

Even the Night Predators outside stopped moving, as if the universe itself was too confused to process what just happened.

Coll Apsi grinned.

"That's right, baby. I'm a pro player. I take all the loot."

The system struggled.

[Master, I… I don't even know what to say anymore.]

The old man squinted.

"…Boy."

Coll Apsi pointed at him.

"Old man."

"…You truly wish to take both?"

Coll Apsi nodded confidently.

"100%."

The old man sighed.

"Then… so be it."

He extended the mug.

Coll Apsi grabbed it.

And at the same time—

He screamed at the top of his lungs:

"I REFUSE."

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[WARNING: MULTIPLE COMMANDS DETECTED]

[FORCING EXECUTION OF BOTH CHOICES]

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The Rusty Mug suddenly EXPLODED in his hands.

The entire inn shook.

Lightning flashed through the windows. The Night Predators howled. The ground trembled as if the game itself was having a panic attack.

Coll Apsi saw his life flash before his eyes.

And then—

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[STATUS UPDATED]

You have gained the title:

[Absolute Dumbass Who Breaks Game Mechanics]

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Coll Apsi collapsed.

His HP dropped to 1. His vision blurred. His stomach felt like it had just been invaded by 500 angry bees.

The old man burst into laughter.

"HAHAHAHA! BOY, YOU TRULY HAVE GUTS!"

Coll Apsi wheezed.

"I THINK MY INTESTINES ARE MELTING—"

The Afterlife System beeped.

[Master, congratulations. You have broken the logic of Yggdrasil: Ascension.]

[As a reward, your difficulty level has been adjusted.]

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[NEW MODE ACTIVATED: NIGHTMARE HARDCORE HELL MODE]

You are now permanently one-hit killable by everything.

Good luck.

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Coll Apsi screamed.

Coll Apsi laid on the floor, twitching.

His soul had left his body.

His eyes were empty.

His HP bar was a thin, miserable sliver of red.

The old man chuckled.

"Boy, I must admit… you surprised me."

Coll Apsi stared at the ceiling.

"Did I win?"

The old man grinned.

"Oh, you won, alright. If you had picked only one option, you'd be dead. If you had refused to choose, you'd be struck by divine lightning."

Coll Apsi's eye twitched.

"So you're saying… no matter what… I would've died?"

The old man nodded.

"Correct."

Coll Apsi's soul died a second time.

The Afterlife System beeped.

[Master, congratulations. You have survived a scripted death event through sheer stupidity.]

[No one was expecting this outcome. Not even the developers. Not even the gods. Not even me.]

Coll Apsi groaned.

"Old man… you're insane."

The old man burst into laughter.

"BWAHAHAHA! AND YET YOU'RE STILL ALIVE!"

Coll Apsi covered his face.

The old man stroked his beard.

"I like you, boy. You're an idiot. A real idiot. And that's exactly what this world needs."

Coll Apsi felt like crying.

The old man patted his shoulder.

"As a reward for your dumb luck, I'll let you stay here for free for the next three days."

Coll Apsi blinked.

"…Really?"

The old man nodded.

"Really. Three days, free of charge. Food included."

Coll Apsi felt his faith in humanity return.

Maybe, just maybe—

"Oh, but after that, the rent will be 10,000 gold per night."

Coll Apsi immediately lost all hope.