Episode(7): Perception Activates
SOVEREIGN OF DEATH~ (7)
I had a dream.
Surrounded by a vast field of green, short cut grass. A girl dressed in a white dress held my hand pulling me along.
The scene was clear, the evening glow soothing and yet the girls face seemed covered in a blurred veil.
Who are you?
I tried reaching out, but as my hands were about to touch her face my eyes shot open.
Huh?
What am I doing?
My mind was hazy, the surroundings dark and it seemed I was on jagged rock.
What was the situation?
I was genuinely confused, but the darkness prevented me from fully analyzing the situation.
!!!!
It was then, along with a sharp prickling sensation in his brain memories pieced themselves back together like a puzzle.
Right, that was right.
The day had been a rollercoaster ride.
From being summoned to another world to being sentenced to death, had it even been a full hour yet?
Sigh.
My head aches.
Perhaps he had been sent through space through much in a single day.
After all, I've never been sick so nothing else made sense.
The human body was so fragile that even with confidence in his own strength, having been through the wringer twice in a day definitely had an effect.
Thankfully it was just a small headache.
What if my head exploded?
He rubbed his neck slightly terrified at the thought.
He wanted to curse that Valkyrie with all his might, but warping through space left him not only with a headache, but some slight nausea.
Ugh! I might puke!
It wasn't after calming my breathing that the nausea receded and finally my headache seemed to ease a bit.
Let's hold back.
Puking now wouldn't be good, especially in a place where he wasn't guaranteed food.
Anyway–
[Where am I?]
There were glowing stones in the wall providing some level of lighting, but it was hardly enough for freedom of movement.
I won't trip and fall over myself right?
In an environment like this his eyes became a liability.
Sigh*
If not for my training, there's no way I could survive under these conditions!
He closed his eyes.
Instead of sight, let's rely on sound.
When one sense became inconvenient, just used the next.
Different sounds, from the thumping of his heart, the dripping of water from the stalactite covered ceiling of the cave.
All these sounds entered my ears at once.
[This is...the dungeon of death?]
A sense of danger kept pricking his skin like a needle from every direction and he felt he had to come to a decision fast.
Should I advance or stay put?
Staying put meant staying away from danger, but it also ran the risk of starvation.
There was no other choice but to advance.
On one hand, it was because he would starve to death if he just waited like a good boy.
On the other hand, it wasn't as if someone was going to rescue him so waiting would just be dumb.
In any case, if I want to see the light of day again the only way is by going forward.
There was still a problem however.
No weapons!
In this dungeon crawling with threats, Nagisa was a level one lamb waiting for slaughter!
As strong and confident in my skills as I am, I doubt a level one can face powerful monsters with just fists alone.
Anyone who thought this was a fool seeking death.
I need a weapon.
But that pigeon winged w*tch didn't even spare me a spoon!
No helping it, it's not like I can form weapons out of thin air.
Sigh*
When I return to the surface I must have some pigeon wing soup!
Since agitation would only fuel panic, he had no choice but to discard his worries for the moment.
In any case, making my way around by sound thanks to my perception shouldn't be difficult.
It wasn't as great as a bat's echo location, but it didn't fall short.
As for the direction, who cared?
Nagisa didn't know where he was to begin with so how could he tell the right way to go?
Better to stroll around and stumble on some weapons for self-protection.
If this dungeon was as bad as they said, there must be corpses with weapons here.
I don't like the idea of stealing from the dead, but better worry about my survival than the comfort of the dead.
However Nagisa worried, there was a flaw in his plan.
If he was on a high floor in the dungeon, would there even be an intact corpse or weapon remaining?
There was a chance he could get lucky, but would you call a person who ended up like this lucky?
But his survival would ultimately depend on that luck.
Just thinking about it pisses me off even more.
Recalling being used as an example to scare the others, Nagisa felt rage surging through him.
But he quickly calmed down.
Focus, don't worry about revenge just now.
Right, he had more important things to worry about.
Soon, a frustrated scowl spread across Nagisa's face and he paused.
[What's going on?]
Seriously, what was happening?
Over half an hour had passed yet Nagisa felt he was going in circles.
Was some playful being causing trouble?
Was it an illusion?!
No, that's not right.
Never once had he released his hold of the wall.
The texture of rocks, though still the same were slightly different meaning he had definitely not been going in circles.
But, why was it that he walked so long and forget corpses, not a single item or weapon.
Not even a monster was in sight!
Curse that pigeon winged b*tch to be single for a thousand years!
!?
A sudden sound caused Nagisa to twitch his ears and turn around.
Was it my imagination?
Nothing was there, he couldn't see nor hear anything strange.
But, as if mocking him.
The moment he turned back, a feral killing intent like that of a hungry beast locked unto him.
Damn!
Something was actually there!
Cold sweat trickled down his brows.
Reaching for a sword, he paused.
Flipping muscle memory, of course I don't have a sword.
*Rattle*
Really, did I lose all my luck today or was some being playing a prank?
If so, Nagisa really couldn't find the heart to laugh.
Shoo! Go away whatever you are!
Without a weapon, he really didn't want to fight.
He prayed for whatever it was to leave, unfortunately today was really not his day.
Growl!
Okay, fine don't leave. I'll just become one with the air!
Growl!
Buddy, can we just not fight?
At least find me a weapon and make it an even match first.
With his fist at the ready, he held a stance preparing to fight at any moment.
Since it couldn't be avoided, then fight.
Seeing the red eyes, the slight outline of a huge dog like figure Nagisa already knew what monster was hidden.
A wolf.
A really huge wolf.
Still, if it's just one, then-
He was about to say he could confidently take care of a single wolf even if it was a monster.
But-
'Red…..'
Countless pairs of red eyes appeared in the darkness all gazing at him as if eyeing fresh meat making his skin crawl.
On second thought, violence isn't a way to solve conflict is it?
[See ya]
He bolted.
Fight?
Are you crazy?
These were not one, but many fantasy monsters with skills and abilities.
Not to mention higher levels than his own.
Go fight if you want, I just know I'm definitely not fighting!
But why would the wolves let go of the tender meat that just appeared on the plate?
Chase!
Soon, a corner came.
Nagisa didn't even have time to break and turn so he slid on one knee tearing through the fabric of his pants and causing a bruise.
If I stop, I become dog food!
With this thought, the idea of stopping was in the farthest back of his mind.
But, as he ran so did the horde of wolves run after him tripping over themselves like zombies going for brains.
Damn!
Even with my speed I can't lose them?
It was just cheating being chased by fantasy monsters at the start.
All I can do is maintain my pace and not let up.
This game of chicken was over the moment he gave in.
Still, if this continues I'll be out of steam soon.
Fighting back was impossible but so was running forever.
Nagisa looked back.
Yeah, nope!
Fighting was out of the question!
[haa….haaaa!]
Perhaps due to anxiety, my form was sloppy and my energy was already at rock bottom.
The possibility of becoming wolf feed continued to grow higher and higher.
What do I do?
Fighting this large number of wolves is nothing but suicide, I'd need a miracle!
Damn!
If I had a weapon I could have finished them off in no time!
Was there really no other way?
Me, the guy who overpowered my entire clan and stood at the top?
The guy who mastered every martial arts suffering hell every day?
Without accomplishing a single thing?
Would he die just like this?
No way!
Ding!
[Skill 'Perception' has been automatically activated as the individual has been judged to be in a 'dire' situation]