17: Struggles

*briing!

[You've leveled up!]

*Tring!

[You've gained a new title!]

Asta shook as her red painted hands dropped the blood stained rock, her pale blue eyes looking haunted as she stared down at the corpse.

It was the tenth person she'd killed, and it was the her twelfth level up.

No matter how many people she killed, it always hit her that she'd taken the life of someone, and that that person would never return. Even so, she didn't feel like vomiting anymore—she was too used to it have any severe bodily reaction like that.

She let out a sigh, quietly surveying her surroundings for any sign of approach before beginning to loot the body. It was disgusting, and she had to grit her teeth at her own actions, but it was vital for her survival in this death game.

But this one turned out to actually be a decent haul, so she didn't feel too bad about it; a fresh knife, provisions, a new shirt, and even shoes and a jacket was what greeted her.

A small smile came to her face as she looked down at her filthy feet, glad that she was able to get some protection against the cold and the ground. The knife she was less excited about, but at least she had a proper weapon to defend herself and hunt.

Asta looked back at the corpse, and let out a shudder at the bashed in skull of the woman. She grabbed the rock she killed her with, dreading the next step.

She dragged the corpse away, leaving behind a trail of blood to her current burial ground. Looking at the piles of bones from the other corpses, an expression of regret scribbling briefly across the canvas of her pale, exhausted face as she laid this new corpse to rest. Her fingers shaking, she dabbed them in blood before writing an inverted Yr rune on the stone before resting it on the chest of the deceased.

This was the most kindness she could grant.

"Activate [Awareness]."

[Skill [Awareness] activated]

A 360 radius that extended to twelve feet around her made a map of the terrain, letting her search for the monster that had lived near these rocks—the monster feeding on these corpses, which she exchanged for her life.

Sensing no presence, she kept it activated, her eyes now a glowing, dark sapphire as she quietly stalked to where her abode was—if she got there, she was safer from the monster.

It was when she heard a twig snap and sensed a cold being that she sprinted as fast as she could, the snarls of the monster fading before growing as it noticed her and not the corpse.

However, it was too late for the monster, she'd already slid into her home, murmuring, "[Barrier]!"

[Skill [Barrier] activated.]

A black plane of energy formed at the entrance of her room, and she crawled towards the back of the small enclave, flinching as the long claws of the monster scratched at the barrier, its long, skeletal limbs straining to break her only protection.

Prickles of dread rolled over her flesh, and she stuffed her face into the crook of her elbow, trying to hide as much breath as possible. Her legs shuffled to her chest even more, her back pressing painfully into the rock that surrounded her.

A shriek of annoyance started, and it was only after some time at passed that it stopped, instead leaving to feast on the now cold corpse.

A breath of relief came from her only after waiting for ten minutes for any sound of the monster—once she'd taken down the barrier right after it left, and it had rammed back in, its limb reaching for her and scratching her before she'd used the barrier to push it back again.

Now she waited for at least ten minutes before even breathing properly; she knew it lacked the patience to wait longer for her.

Asta was just glad that she'd managed to grab her loot before moving the corpse.

"Main Menu."

[Generating [Main Menu] for player Asta...]

{[Main Menu]}

*[Status Screen]

*[Patron]

*[Ingrained Talent(s)]

*[Inventory]

Asta tapped on [Status Screen], her brow furrowing as she read her level again.

——————————

Name: Asta Alfsdotter

Race: Human

Patron: Jörmungandr

Level: 12

Title(s): Survivor, (+1!)

———

Stats:

AGL: 23

STR: 20

DEX: 30

SPI: 100

LCK: 10

CONST: 35

PERCEP: 25

MANA: 15

——————————

She tapped on the titles, and her expression contorted with horror as she read the title and description:

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

>[Monster-kin:]

[+20 stats to STR, AGL, PERCEP, CONST and DEX when fighting humans]

[Congratulations! Due to your chosen Patronage, you have been recognized as a human monster at your 10th kill! Monsters will feel a certain affinity towards you; humans will feel an increased sense of unease around you.]

[Restrictions: Can only be activated against humans—animals and hybrids do not apply. Those aligned with Patron will feel kinship rather than disgust.]

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

So, this was the reward for her struggles?

Being congratulated as a murderer and then excluded from humanity even more?

Asta didn't know whether to laugh or cry; she didn't want this. She just wanted to play a game, level up with friends, maybe have a little fun—she didn't desire to become an actual murderer.

Should she have chosen a different Patron? Should she have not dreamed of that boy, or sympathized with that serpent in the myths?

As she thought deeper into the implications of this title, she fell apart.

———

A small snuffling sounded woke Asta, and she opened her bleary eyes towards the hole; bright red eyes gazed down at her.

A shiver curled up her spine, and a she immediately curled into her corner further, her eyes shaking with fear as the creature slowly entered her enclave; shock and adrenaline woke her up fully, and she whispered frantically, "[Night Vision]!"

[Skill [Night Vision] activating...]

Her eyes turned a ghostly periwinkle, and the shape that was crawling—no, slithering—into her shelter came into focus.

A pale snake with glowing eyes that looked like crystalized drops of red dawn that glimmered as they stared at her, slowly approaching her huddled form; curiously, aside from the shock of her awakening, Asta didn't feel any fear towards the creature, nor did she sense any fear from it.

Instead, she tilted her head, and it mimicked her movement; slowly, she reached out her hand to the small snake, and it tasted her with its tongue before slowly slithering up her arm, climbing until it curled around her forearm before stopping and staring at her more.

She smoothly but cautiously raised her other hand, petting the snakes head gently before it closed its eyes and wrapped around her finger a little, as if happy that Asta had pet it.

*briing

[Would you like to form pact with [Baby Soul Serpent]?]

[Yes/No]

Asta turned her attention back towards the baby serpent, her eyes widening at seeing how it was also seeing the screen. It turned toward her, and nudged her finger towards the [Yes] option.

"Are you sure? I think this is permanent little one..."

The serpents tourmaline red eyes glistened more, and it wrapped itself around her arm more, as if to say it was okay.

"O-Okay..." It didn't occur to her that speaking to a serpent was odd as she tapped the [Yes] option, and then, the pact was formed.

A sharp inhale of breath came from her, her eyes widening and turning a similar color to the serpents before they faded back into her usual blue, the same happening to the serpent, only its eyes turned a glowing blue before fading back to its red.

It looks like her struggles really were properly rewarded in the end.