novelraw Chapter 12: Redoing the First Scenario
Chapter 12: Redoing the First Scenario
One hundred push-ups later, I transitioned into sit-ups without pause. The strain I expected simply wasn’t there. It felt almost surreal—like my body had been supercharged, as if I was on some otherworldly steroid. It was like there was a vibrant energy that made every motion feel efficient, almost automatic.
Your Strength has increased by 1.
I didn’t know how things would progress from here. Each scenario was random, and not even I had full knowledge of what awaited. The memories from my dreams were, after all, fragmented and incomplete. If I couldn’t adapt, I’d die. If I acted like I knew everything instead of facing the reality before me, I’d be eaten alive.
As I transitioned seamlessly from sit-ups to squats, Michelle and Boris exchanged glances, clearly baffled by my abrupt dive into physical training. Though I simply didn’t care about their stares.
But then Boris broke the silence with a hearty laugh. “I like your spirit, young Maxim!” Without hesitation, he joined me with surprising energy for someone his size.
Meanwhile, Michelle stood frozen for a moment with a bewildered expression. Perhaps this kind of physical training was foreign to her, but after a pause, she dropped to the floor and started doing push-ups—albeit with some hesitation.
The heat burning within me settled into a focused, driving force. My heart pounded steadily in my chest—not from exhaustion, but from sheer determination. Physical strength alone wouldn’t carry me through this world. I also needed to become mentally stronger. I couldn’t survive this game without a half-baked mentality.
I managed just fine growing up without the shelter of “real” parents or anyone to watch my back. But I needed the tension from back then. I had to become unstoppable.
Sweat pooled on the wooden floor beneath me, but I kept going. I wouldn’t stop. Not until I’d wrung every ounce of strength from my body and the elixir coursing through me. Still, we must have been louder than I realized, as about an hour or two into the relentless training, a sharp knock echoed through the wall.
“Hey, quiet down over there!” a man’s voice shouted, muffled by the thin wooden barrier. “Sheesh! Kids these days don’t know any shame.”
Hearing that, Michelle’s face turned crimson. “I-I think the guy next door has the wrong idea,” she muttered, avoiding eye contact.
Well, no gain comes without sacrifice. Still, next time, it would be better to train at the training ground—doing it here felt oddly unsatisfying. That aside, several of my stats had gone up.
Your Stamina has increased by 1.
Your Mind has increased by 1.
Your Strength has increased by 1.
Maximillian Anderson Lv. 10/20 (EXP 70/100)
Rank: Aleph [1]
Patron God: Istellia (Goddess of Imagination)
Class: Novice
Title: The Unyielding Survivor
Status: Normal
Strength: 8 + 5 | Dexterity: 5 + 3 | Stamina: 8 + 5
Mind: 7 | Magic Power: 5 | Luck: 14
Free Attributes: 10
Signature Skill(s): [@!$#%*?&]
Skill(s): [Alchemy Lv.2], [Basic Spearmanship Lv.1], [Desperate Willpower Lv.1], [Fast Reading Lv.1], [Inventory], [Negotiation Lv.1], [Pain Tolerance Lv.1]
Although the improvements brought a faint smile to my face, my body was screaming for rest. While the elixir’s effects hadn’t completely faded, I was totally exhausted. Consequently, I dropped to the floor, lying flat on the wooden boards, my chest heaving intensely for air.
“Guess that’s… enough for now,” I said, wiping the sweat from my brow with the sleeve of the coat. Surprisingly, despite being a cursed robe, the disorientation that it supposedly caused wasn’t as severe as I’d anticipated. I suspected that perhaps the robe’s curse only manifested fully when Unstable Presence was fully activated or during moments of intense battle.
Suddenly, Boris, who had matched my intensity throughout the training, clapped me on the shoulder with a hearty grin. “You’ve got a fire in you, boy. I like it! How about I teach you martial arts sometimes?”
I chuckled weakly. I had every intention of giving both Boris and Michelle the elixirs, but I was short on soul coins. Elixirs like the one I made should, in theory, be available in potion stores, but I doubted any existed in this district. Even if they did, the prices would likely be exorbitant, and the quality would be pitiful. Most of them would be diluted and far less effective than what I could create myself.
For now, though, I had nothing left to give. I needed to rest, and badly.
As a tribute to the Goddess of Imagination, Istellia, 100 Soul Coins have been deducted from your balance.
***
Early the next morning, the soreness from the previous night’s intense training was impossible to ignore. Every muscle in my body ached as though they were protesting against the very notion of movement. However, I refused to let that become an excuse. Gritting my teeth, I pushed myself to my feet.
The others were already stirring. While I couldn’t see Michelle from my bed, Boris was by the window, stretching his broad frame against the soft glow of morning light. Soon enough, we all gathered downstairs for breakfast in the inn’s small, dimly lit common area.
As we sat down, Michelle gave me a puzzled look. “Wait… did you sleep with the coat on? And why do I feel like your presence keeps flickering in and out?”
“Well, it’s a cursed magic coat,” I said matter-of-factly, earning a wide-eyed stare from her.
“C-Cursed?”
Boris let out a hearty laugh. “Hahaha! Maxim here sure knows how to live life on the edge!”
I wasn’t sure if that was a compliment or just Boris being Boris, but our meal arrived before I could dwell on it. It was a simple piece of bread and thin porridge, barely enough to stave off my hunger. Just like dinner, Boris received a better meal, but I felt bad about letting him share his meal again, so I refused his offer. He had a bigger body and needed more sustenance.
After finishing the modest fare, we left the inn and made our way toward the place to challenge the scenarios. My weariness in my limbs had somewhat recovered at this point.
According to the people we asked along the way, the place seemed to be near the Hall of Beginnings. Once we were there, we discovered that the place was quite crowded with divine warriors milling about in groups. By rough estimation, there were a few dozen of them, most looking like newbies with mismatched armor and basic weapons. They crowded around what appeared to be a huge alcove in the city’s wall, where a striking marble mural carving of angels glistened under the soft glow of light.
“The Rift of Scenarios,” I murmured to myself.
The Rift of Scenarios was a gate that connected this realm to the scenarios. We had to traverse the rift to be able to go challenge the scenarios. Actually, the Rift of Scenarios was not the only gateway here; there were actually two others not too far away, but these weren’t important right now.
“Looking for a partner to attempt the second scenario, ‘Exploring the Post-Apocalyptic City’!”
“Need a group for the first scenario! Let’s earn those soul coins and survive!”
“…”
Voices clamored from all directions, divine warriors calling out as they scrambled to form parties. Doing scenarios solo was an option, but doing it with a group had its own advantages. Though each scenario had its own individual limits.
As we got closer to the Rift of Scenarios, I spotted a woman dressed in a tailored office-like uniform with a warm, inviting smile standing right behind the counter, right beside the alcove. There was no mistake—it was Elysia.
“Elysia?” Michelle asked in surprise.
Elysia turned toward us. “Welcome, divine warriors. Are you here to challenge a scenario? Simply tell me which scenario you wish to attempt, and I will open the Rift of Scenarios for you. But since you have only completed the first scenario, your options are to reattempt it or proceed to the second. The choice is yours.”
“Rift of Scenarios?” Boris rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Is that the gateway to the scenario we entered yesterday?”
“Indeed,” she confirmed with a nod. “This is the gateway to all scenarios.”
“What happens if we fail the scenario this time?” Michelle asked hesitantly.
“Failure will often result in death,” Elysia replied without hesitation, her smile never faltering. “However, each scenario comes with unique objectives, rules, and penalties. Variations may exist, so preparation is vital in challenging the scenario.”
Michelle instinctively drew her head back slightly at the answer.
It had to be noted that higher-level scenarios usually had themes, and subsequent scenarios became increasingly difficult. What was more, the first ten scenarios were like a tutorial. Only scenarios after the tenth were truly deadly and life-threatening, even to those who were well-prepared. So, it could only be imagined how hard it would be.
“So,” Elysia questioned, “which scenario would you like to attempt?”
“We want to reattempt the first scenario,” I said decisively.
“Very well.” Elysia gestured toward the huge alcove and said, “Then please stand before the mural, and I will open the portal.”
Exchanging a brief glance, we approached the mural together. Moments later, a dark portal swirled into existence, pulling us in before we had the chance for second thoughts.
The moment my vision cleared, I was standing in the ruins of a city torn straight from an apocalyptic nightmare. Broken cars and twisted streetlights were strewn across the desolate streets. In the distance, humanoid monsters with grotesque octopuses clinging to their heads wandered aimlessly, accompanied by ominous flying octopuses that flitted through the air. The acrid stench of charred ground assaulted my nostrils, adding to the oppressive atmosphere.
There was no doubt—we were back in the first scenario.
Scenario #1 [Survive the Horde]
Survive against the onslaught of Octoferals and their hosts, Octoferal Zombies, for one hour.
Mission Type: Survival
Difficulty: F
Time Remaining: 60 minutes 0 seconds
Reward: 500 Soul Coins & Aleph-Tier General Lootbox
Penalty for Failure: Death
Extra Conditions:
1. Kill 10 Octoferals or Octoferal Zombies. (0/10)
Reward: Common-Grade Armament Voucher
2. Kill 25 Octoferals or Octoferal Zombies. (0/25)
Reward: Uncommon-Grade Armament Voucher
3. Kill 100 Octoferals or Octoferal Zombies. (0/100)
Reward: Two Uncommon-Grade Armament Vouchers