System Log 2: You know what you have done

Now, I understood why the system hesitated to wish me luck.

In front of me, multiple red eyes illuminated the dark room. I couldn't see anything else—only a blue prompt that appeared before me.

[Mission: Slay all the enemies]

My breath hitched as the prompt vanished. I looked up and saw them getting closer... and closer.

I trembled, turning as my eyes widened—the door was gone.

W-Where is the door? I reached out, but there was nothing. Only empty space.

Suddenly, low growls came from behind me. I trembled, slowly turning.

Shrrk!

It hurts. I don't know why it hurts. Why do I smell blood? Is this mine? This isn't right...

THUD!

The world faded to black. The last thing I saw was a black prompt:

[Skill activated: Restless Failure]

[All Enemies Stats Increased]

[You have died.]

[Your sins will not be forgotten.]

Thump... Thump... Thump!

My eyes shot open. My heart raced. I rose, touching my body frantically. No blood. No wounds.

"W-what happened? I'm alive...?" I stammered, trembling, clenching my cloak.

When I glanced around, I saw it. The door with "Floor 1" labeled over it, but it was different. The door was larger this time, with lit torches on both sides.

A blue prompt appeared in front of me.

[Death Count: 1]

"D-death count one?" Wait... did I die? My thoughts raced, trying to remember what happened. A fog filled my mind. Yet... it was temporary.

Another blue prompt appeared:

[Floor 1 has been changed]

"Changed...?" My brows furrowed. Trying to piece together what that meant. Is that why the door looks different? Even the dark room smells strangely nice. Could this be the cause of my death?

Hmm... I closed my eyes and took a steady breath. I walked toward the large door. It was further this time—20 meters away, I noted. As I approached, a blue prompt appeared.

[Do you like to try again?]

[Yes or No]

Why would I try again? I pressed "No." The prompt glitched—then reappeared.

[Do you like to try again?]

[Yes or No]

What? The prompt glitched again, just like last time?! I pressed "No." Again, the prompt glitched and reappeared.

[Do you like to try again or give up?]

That very instant, I finally realized. Chills prickled down my spine. My heart began to beat faster. My eyes widened. Faster, the pounding in my chest. I took a step back and a new blue prompt appeared.

[Try again or give up.]

The prompt glitched to red.

[Try again or give up?]

Back to blue.

[Try again or give up!]

I didn't do anything, just stood there watching the prompt change over and over again. Fifteen times, I counted. Until this happened...

[Try again?!]

[Yes or No.]

[Pick?]

[Not trying to choose?]

[Whatever.]

[Guess it doesn't matter.]

[Maybe this will help you remember.]

W-what...? Suddenly, the torches went out and the large door in front of me turned into dust. The dark room began to tremble. I tried to steady myself, yet all I could do was stumble left and right. I heard something—it sounded like a whistle. Wind. A powerful cold breeze brushed by me, nearly sending me flying off my feet. The second I covered my face with my arm, it stopped.

When I lowered my arm, I was in a large illuminated gray rocky field, stretching into a distance that was almost imperceptible. The sky was replaced only by a dark void. There was no sun, no light. There was nothing, but darkness.

Where am I? I thought, glancing around. Then, a large blue prompt appeared above me. I glimpsed up and my brow furrowed as I read.

[Kill them all]

"What?" The prompt disappeared. Low rumbling filled my ears, and something caught my eye. In the distance, I saw multiple figures. Each wearing different colored armor and emblems. I heard behind me a loud roar. I turned and saw different beasts and... dragons? Wait… Dragons?!

Armies upon armies of beasts, figures, and different races surrounded me. My heart almost stopped as they closed in. 

I tried counting... tens of thousands. 

Wrong. 

There were millions.

No.

Hundreds of millions. 

I trembled and dropped to my knees and at that moment I said to myself:

"Y-You can't be serious... R-Right?"

A blue prompt appeared before me.

[Good Luck.]

"G-Good luck..." I tried to chuckle, but it faded quickly as the prompt disappeared. Desperately, I asked:

"Isn't this a bit much for a tutorial?"

[This is the tutorial?]

Those words crushed me. Not only my hope, but the next prompts destroyed my soul.

"What did I do...?"

A red prompt appeared and began to glitch, flickering into different colors.

[What did you do? You will know.]

[That no one is here to save you.]

After that, the prompt vanished. I froze—couldn't think of anything, nor had anything left to say. 

Thud. 

Thud. 

I gazed up. 

An armored knight stood before me, white eyes glowing beneath its helm. It raised its sword. 

When it came down...

The world faded to black.

[You died.]