Survival quest

Chapter 18

It was after Ronan caught his breath that he had a chance to observe his surroundings.

The air was thick, humid, carrying the scent of damp earth and iron. The sky above was a deep, bruised red, like an open wound. In front of him, an endless stretch of ruins and jagged terrain spread out.

A sharp chime echoed in Ronan's ears, the system window flashing before him.

> Level-Up Quest Initiated.

Eliminate 60 enemies.

And then—movement.

A figure rushed from the shadows.

Instinct kicked in. Ronan barely dodged as a blade-like limb slashed past his face, missing him by inches. He twisted, heart hammering, as he finally took in the thing before him.

It wasn't human.

Not even close.

The creature had distorted, elongated limbs, a hunched, sinewy body, and a jaw that split open into jagged fangs. Its glowing, sunken eyes locked onto him, and then—it lunged again.

Ronan raised his arms to block—a mistake.

The impact sent him flying.

He crashed against the ground, skidding across the dirt, pain shooting through his ribs. The damn thing was stronger than him.

His breathing was ragged, his body already aching. This wasn't just a quest. It was a goddamn death sentence.

The creature didn't give him time to recover. It closed in, fast.

Ronan grit his teeth. Move. Now.

He rolled aside just as a clawed limb slammed into the ground where his head had been.

A sharp snap rang out as the earth split beneath the force.

Ronan sprang up, ignoring the pain, and swung his fist—gravity-enhanced.

The blow connected with the monster's skull. A deep crack echoed as the creature staggered back.

Not enough.

He closed the gap, using his speed to weave past its wild slashes before ramming his elbow into its ribs. A second hit. A third. The thing lurched, snarling, but Ronan didn't stop.

He pivoted, grabbed the back of its head, and drove it down onto his knee.

CRUNCH.

The impact left fractures along its face.

It screeched, thrashing wildly, and one of its claws ripped across his side.

Pain erupted through his torso.

Ronan stumbled, vision momentarily darkening. Shit.

His fingers pressed against his wound, sticky warmth already seeping through his shirt. The system notification flickered before him—

[Regeneration Activated.]

The pain dulled, muscles tightening as the wound stitched itself back together.

The creature came at him again. Ronan didn't hesitate.

He sidestepped, his mind eerily calm, then slammed his fist straight through its chest.

It shuddered—then collapsed into dust.

+1 Level.

Ronan barely took a breath before the next wave arrived.

---

Time blurred.

His body moved on instinct, dodging, striking, bleeding, healing—over and over again.

There was no break. No pause.

For every opponent he killed, another two took its place. Each stronger than the last.

By the time he reached thirty kills, his body felt heavy. His limbs ached, his breath came in ragged gasps.

A particularly fast enemy sliced his thigh open. He gritted his teeth, retaliating with a gravity-enhanced strike that crushed its ribcage.

He barely had time to recover before two more came.

They were learning. Adapting.

Ronan wasn't winning easily anymore.

His regeneration struggled to keep up. His dodges became sloppier.

And then—he made a mistake.

One of the monsters feinted a strike, baiting him into dodging the wrong way.

Too late, he realized the second one was waiting.

A massive claw drove straight through his abdomen.

A sharp, piercing agony.

His vision went white.

Blood spilled from his mouth. His breath hitched.

For a split second, he was back in that alley.

Back when he died the first time.

A surge of raw, burning fury tore through him.

[ New Skill Unlocked: Combat Intuition.]

Everything slowed.

The enemy tried to pull its claw free—Ronan grabbed its wrist.

He ignored the pain. Pushed past it.

With a vicious snarl, he twisted, using gravity to rip its arm clean off.

The creature howled—he didn't let it finish. He drove his knee into its skull, then snapped its neck in a single motion.

It crumbled into dust.

He turned to the other one.

The monster hesitated.

Ronan smiled.

---

He had no idea how long he fought.

His body was battered, broken, healed, then broken again.

Every muscle screamed. His movements felt slower.

When the final enemy appeared—he knew.

This wasn't like the others.

This one… was something else.

It stood taller than any he had faced before, clad in crimson armor, its blade longer than his entire body.

Ronan could barely stay upright.

His hands trembled as he tightened his grip on his weapon. One last fight.

The warrior moved.

Ronan only saw a blur before searing pain exploded across his chest.

He staggered—he didn't even see the attack.

Blood dripped down his ribs.

The armored warrior watched him. Waiting.

Ronan clenched his jaw, forcing himself to stay standing.

If he fell here—he was dead.

His fingers twitched.

[Skill Activated: Gravity Suppression.]

The air thickened. The armored warrior froze, its movements slowing.

Ronan took the opening.

He surged forward, dodging under its blade before driving his fist into its gut.

CRACK.

The impact shook the battlefield.

The warrior stumbled. But it wasn't enough.

It swung— a blinding arc of steel cutting through the air.

Ronan barely ducked in time.

The blade sliced through his cheek.

He couldn't take another hit.

His vision swam.

[Skill Activated: Combat Intuition.]

Everything clicked.

He moved before thinking, weaving through the attacks, each motion effortless.

Then—he saw the opening.

With a roar, he drove his blade straight through the warrior's chest.

The monster shuddered.

Then—it collapsed into dust.

> Quest Complete.

+20 Levels.

Ronan stood there, chest rising and falling.

His hands shook. His entire body screamed in exhaustion.

Then—the world shifted again.

---

When he opened his eyes… he was back.

The street was quiet. Untouched.

He looked down.

No blood. No wounds. No torn clothes.

Like nothing ever happened.

His breathing was still ragged, his hands still trembling. That was real. It had to be.

A system window flickered.

> Name: Ronan Vale

Level: 30

Abilities: Regeneration (Advanced), Gravity Suppression, Speed (Enhanced), Combat Intuition

Strength: 56

Agility: 52

Endurance: 60

Experience: 8,700/10,000

Ronan stared.

What the hell just happened?