I managed to reach that doorway again. It was open, and there was that arrow on the floor.
Why'd I go back to where I died?
Because I wanted to confirm something.
Was my body still there?
The thought reverberated around my helmet as I walked, holding the last remaining mushroom light that was in the beginning chamber.
Finally, I reached that area, carefully kneeling; and not touching the door, or stepping into the room.
'I need to enter...' I thought to myself. There could be something useful there, and I wanted to see my body with my own eyes.
But what if there's another trap? I can't just walk in mindlessly.
'Hmm...' I looked around the corridor. There was lots of rubble lying around. I gently laid the mushroom on the side and decided to pick up a piece of rubble. A small rock that I could easily lift.
I hid from the side of the doorway, and swiftly bent and tossed the rock into the room.
I could hear it clacking, once, twice, probably against the floor...
Then an even smaller thud.
I know that sound. The sound of rock hitting wood. There was something else in that room.
I stood up and decided to walk i—
'But wait.' I stopped in my tracks.
'What if that small rock is too small to activate the trap?' I thought to myself in alarm. 'What if it wasn't the door that activated it, but me stepping on something?'
'No. I need to throw in a bigger one.' I realized, walking over and picking up a heavier rock with both of my hands. I made sure it was so heavy, I could barely walk with it.
"Hrnnn!" I grunted as I tossed it into the room and quickly jumped out of the way a mere moment before it hit the ground, rolling clumsily to the side.
THUD
CRACK.
-WHISH-
My eyes flared. The two first sounds I expected, but that third sound... I'd never forget it. That was the sound of an arrow piercing through the wind.
And in that instant, I could see a thin object emerging from the room.
Two absolutes occurred to me.
'It would've killed me a second time had I recklessly gone into the room.'
'Second... The fact that there's a trap activating a SECOND time... There must be something good inside that room, right?'
'Question is... How do I go in?' I looked at the room.
'I guess in both times, the arrow shot up. What about down?' I decided to crawl through the door way; looking down - to make sure my helmet blocks any potential incoming arrows.
But the room was too dark. I stopped at the entrance. I shouldn't go in without seeing if there's something there that could kill me.
I back tracked, and plucked a tiny luminescent mushroom that was growing nearby and tossed it in.
It seemed to have hit something in that room. I couldn't tell what exactly it was.
That, and the sides were totally dark.
What if there's another monster like the one that hunts me in these corridors?
I could not risk it.
I did not want to die again. NEVER again.
'Three times is enough—' THUD.
Thud.
Thud.
'NO.'
'It's coming..! Again..! NO.. NO...!' My head snapped around. The corridor was dark. I couldn't see or make out its form... But I could feel it. That rotten stench that thing carries...
There was no time to hesitate. I hurriedly crouched, heard another arrow fire right above me as I entered, and closed the door behind me. I could hear it thumping as I leaned against the door.
'No.'
'What if it can smell me? Fuck. I can't stay too close to this door. I have to go in further into the room... So be it.'
I turned around with a gulp, its footsteps pounding behind the door as I started crouching my way toward the mushroom I had tossed in the room. And as I picked it up... Before my eyes...
I could see a chest.
A small chest.
'... This could be another trap. No. I won't open it now. I'll wait until that thing passes by... Then I'll open the chest. That way, I'll be able to make my escape from the room in case this is just another trap waiting to happen.'
And so, I waited.
The thumping noise thudded once, twice, thrice...
The number went up. Eventually, the thuds were so loud, they vibrated the ground beneath me.
It was here. Right outside that door. I could tell. I didn't breathe or move.
It stopped in place.
I could hear its snout working, sniffing.
I could only pray that it didn't notice me in that room.
Then, suddenly. The sniffing stopped abruptly.
I held my breath...
Then, it thudded again. It sounded like...
... It was stepping away from this room. The thudding sounded less and less loud.
I sighed in relief.
'Haah... Damn it... Haah...' I waited a few more minutes, leaning against the chest as I waited until the noise was gone for a good long while.
That's when I gulped and turned to the chest, that was slightly illuminated by the mushroom's light.
'Alright... Please don't kill me.' I prayed as I stood up and placed my hadns ready to open the chest.
I then gave it a sudden pull to open it slightly, then backed away immediately several steps. Almost jumping away.
I looked.
Nothing. No reaction or trap activating.
I decided to try again, adding more force as I opened it even wider.
Again, as I stepped away swiftly, I noticed there was no reaction.
Deciding it safe, I opened it a third time, this time wholly, not backing off...
There was a weird, darkly glowing stone and some sort of parchment next to it.
I picked the parchment up, carefully avoiding touching the stone, believing it could be another trap or poison.
It wasn't a Japanese text, but I could read it clearly... It said:
"Dear Traveller... Or, whoever was doomed here by the kingdom of Aurelia. You have my commendations, or condolences and consolations, for finding this note. Here is a little reward to help you along the way. Godspeed."
"P.S... In case you've been cast away with no knowledge of the world, this is a one-of-a-kind ability stone. If you make it out of here, you could sell it for a life of luxury. But... I'd recommend using it for something useful. Just break it to receive the hidden ability."
The note wasn't signed.
My hands clenched around the parchment.
'This...' I gulped, 'Could also be a trap.' I thought, looking at the stone.
'But...' I picked up the stone, looking at it. 'I... I'll need all the help I can get.'
'And... The worst thing that could happen to me... Is dying painfully.' I sighed, gulping. I could feel sweat forming as I looked at the darkened stone.
That's when I saw Kazuya's face all over again.
I could feel the same fear I felt when he threw that stone at me.
And in that moment, all I could think of was...
... That I didn't want to be weak anymore.
So, I broke it with my gauntlet, closing my eyes. Bracing.
[DING]
"..!!" I flinched, curling further into myself as I waited.
And waited.
One minute passed. No pain.
Gradually, I opened my eyes and looked. Inside my visor appeared a message - the same way my status window appeared when I opened it earlier.
[You have gained a new Skill!]
*gulp*
[SKILL: Bottomless Item Storage (EX)]
Description:
A bottomless item-storage that suspends anything non-living within it. Each stored item may be up to 7x7x7 meters in size.
[Mana Cost: --]
[Cooldown: --]
[Bound to your soul. Immune to nullification. Cannot be stolen or copied.]
'... W... What...?' I collapsed to my knees, looking at it.
'Isn't that... Insane...? 7 by 7 by 7 METERS...? Isn't that the size of a small apartment...!? FOR EACH ITEM!?'
I could feel my lips shivering. My breath quivering.
'Something good... Just... Just happened to me?'
I shook my head.
No.
It can't be that good, I thought as I said aloud: "Item Storage."
There it is. Before me opened a 7x7 like item storage. There was a scroller next to it, but one I couldn't move at all.
Another gulp. I looked at the mushroom I had tossed earlier. I picked it up, and, out of instinct, placed it into that digital interface...
That's when the mushroom vanished from my hand... And appeared on the interface instantly.
[Dungeon Mushroom x1]
'Ah...' I clenched my fist.
'Something good really... Finally happened to me...' I thought, feeling the tears climbing up my throat.
But that's when I heard the growl from behind the door.