Unholy_Student

[The Tainted Lands] 2 – Rebirth and Escape

Added 2024-02-02 06:56:45 +0000 UTC

[A/N: So, I feel like clarifying that the system I am using takes great inspiration from Randidly Ghousthound and The New World by Monsoon]

For what felt like an eternity, I floated alone in a dark abyss, accompanied by nothing but my thoughts and a random timer that slowly ticked down from three hours.

While it did count down from three hours, it felt like three times the amount of speed was passing as the timer ticked down painfully slow.

To make matters worse, as time passed, I felt an increasingly hot pain flood through my veins, making it feel as if I was boiling from the inside out.

I first thought I may somehow still be alive and dissolving within the monster's stomach, but now...now, I could only think I was in hell as I screamed and screamed from the agonizing pain flooding my mind.

That's when I heard a series of 'Dings' within my mind as if a computer notifying me of something echoed within the recesses of my mind.

[Pain Tolerance has leveled up!]

[Rebirth Timer: 10 Seconds]

[Rebirth Timer: 5 Seconds]

With a flash of light, I found the void having completely disappeared, leaving me blinded by the light.

[Rebirth Cooldown: 24 Hours]

When I managed to adjust to the brightness, I was met with an empty street and a blood-red sky flowing and shifting high above me.

Suddenly, a horrid sound entered my ears as I heard inhuman screeching echoing from down the street. Turning to the noise, I saw that the same abomination that had killed me was dragging itself down the street at a fast pace toward me.

Getting my teeth, I turned around and dashed further down the street towards my Jeep.

Only then did I realize that I was as naked as the day I was born and, therefore, did not have the keys to my Jeep or even shoes, as my feet began to scrape and burn from the hotel concrete.

As I ran past my Jeep, I dodged to the side as the Clinic's receptionist lunged for me from behind the Jeep.

I dodged her by the hair of my skin and leaped back as her body rolled across the ground before she began to twist and shake suddenly.

Knowing I was wasting time, I did not wait for her to transform; I turned around and dashed as fast as possible.

[New Skill Unlocked: Sprint]

Sprint - Level 1

Description: At the cost of your stamina, for a brief amount of time, increase your speed by 1%

Not even noticing myself going slightly faster, I dashed down the sidewalk to the end of the street, where I jumped around the corner and ran as fast as I could further down the road as fast as I could.

Hearing the screeching behind me, I grit my teeth and turn, running straight for the trees, sliding under the barbwire, cutting my skin and feet even more.

Once I made It through the barbwire, I briefly turned to look behind me, seeing multiple figures chasing after me. Not wanting to risk it, I turned around and ran deep into the forest, dodging and weaving through the trees, bushes, and whatever else got in my way, wincing in pain every time I stepped on a rock, branch, or sticker.

Luckily, I kept in one direction, deciding once I got far enough to stick somewhat near the road so that once I felt safe, I could simply follow the road until I got back to the house.

Following the road by memory, I crossed a few houses, deciding to avoid them for now as I did not want to get mistaken for one of the monsters and get shot. I figured with me in my birthday suit right now, and whatever the hell was going on with the sky and people in town, I'd get shot at first and questioned later.

Almost half an hour later, I started slowing down as the closer I got, the more tired I felt. Yet, I struggled on, bumbling through the forest until I eventually reached the outskirts of my house and groaned in pain and exhaustion as I stumbled into my front yard.

Not even waiting, I rushed into my house and closed the door behind me before locking it just to make sure.

Wincing in pain, I ignored my bloodied feet and pushed through the pain, quickly getting to my room to throw some clothes on.

Just as soon as I got dressed, I began hearing banging on my door.

Cursing, I quickly ran out of my room and saw the axe resting against the wall by the back door.

Quietly rushing over to grab it, I began hearing that inhuman screeching coming from outside, just outside the front door and whatever was banging on it.

Cursing, I quietly unlocked the back door and slipped outside.

With the axe raised high, I scanned my backyard, not seeing anything.

So, gritting my teeth, I snuck around the house, until I reached the corner of the front, where I peeked around to see whatever was banging on my front door.

Banging on my door was one of the townspeople, their faces split open revealing rows upon rows of teeth.

Walking as quietly as possible, I snuck around until I was coming up from behind it.

That's when it suddenly grew an eye on the back of its head.

Recoiling only slightly, I quickly raised the axe overhead and swung down.

With a sickening crunch, the blade of the axe sunk inches deep into the shoulder of the abomination.

Not wasting any time, I quickly kicked it while pulling on the axe, ripping it out of the abomination's body.

Not even reacting to the pain, the abomination charged at me.

Cursing, I raised my axe, as it grabbed onto my axe before ripping it away with inhuman strength.

Not wasting a moment, I let go, allowing it to throw the axe away, and without hesitation, I socked the creature in the face, causing it to reel back.

Not wasting the opportunity, I dropped to the ground, sweeping its legs from under it.

When it fell to the ground I dashed for the axe, hearing a muted 'ding' in the background.

[Sprint has leveled up!]

Grabbing the axe, I swiftly turned around to find that its legs and arms had shifted and warped, making it seem more like a four-legged animal than a human.

Not wasting a moment, I swung the axe down on the creature as it aimed to bite into my leg, brutally chopping into its neck, and with another swing, I chopped through it, severing its head from its body completely.

Gasping for air and stepping back, I felt another 'Ding' in my mind.

[You have slain Shade Level 16]

[Sprint has leveled up!]

[You have leveled up! x3]

[You now have 15 free attribute points to assign!]

[You have not selected a class!]

...What?

...

/=========+=========\

Name: John Constantine

Class: N/A

Level: 4