Chapter 3 – The Island of Nightmares
Raphael collapsed onto the sand, gasping for breath, his lungs burning. The ocean behind him still roared, and the shadow of the sea monster lurked, its yellow eyes fixed on the island like a patient predator.
I'm alive... but for how long?
The old man had been right: these islands were just a mirage. They appeared at dawn and disappeared at dusk. Already, the sun was setting, and Raphael could feel the ground vibrating beneath his feet, as if the island itself were breathing, ready to collapse into the ocean.
He closed his eyes and said in a trembling voice:
"Status."
A yellow light opened up in front of him, floating in the air like an invisible window. His eyes widened.
---
{ [Challenger Interface]
Name: Raphael
Race: Human
Age: 16
Statistics:
- Strength: 3
- Endurance: 4
- Agility: 5
- Intelligence: 7
- Willpower: 8
- Vitality: 3
Overall Abilities:
- None detected.
Innate Ability:
- Perfect Memory
Allows the user to remember absolutely everything, without ever forgetting. Every detail, every sensation, every strategy can be engraved forever.
- Activation duration: 5 minutes
- Usage limit: 10 times per day
- Aftermath: after each use, the challenger feels excruciating pain, as if being stabbed by a thousand knives for one minute.
Items:
- None.
Active quest:
- Survive 5 hours in the Sea of Monsters.
Condition: Stay alive until the island disappears.
Reward: ???
The reward will depend on the challenger's actions.
Quest progress:
- Time elapsed: 00:15
- Time remaining: 04:45
System comment:
Congratulations, challenger! You possess an exceptional innate ability... which causes you to suffer like a pig at the slaughterhouse every time you use it. Good luck not crying every five minutes. }
---
Raphaël stood frozen. His eyes narrowed, his fists clenched.
"Seriously?! You call that an ability? It's torture in disguise!"
He stamped his foot in the sand, furious.
"Perfect memory... great, now I'll be able to remember every time I get ripped open by a thousand knives. Awesome." Thanks a lot, system, you guys are hilarious.
The mocking comment still echoed in his mind. Good luck not crying every five minutes. Raphael grimaced.
"I'll show you. I'm going to survive, and when I'm done, I'll make you eat your words."
Despite his anger, he knew the system was right about one thing: his ability was powerful, but the aftermath was hell. Already, he had felt that excruciating pain, as if a thousand blades were piercing his body. One minute of unbearable suffering for five minutes of perfect lucidity.
He stood up, his legs trembling, and cautiously advanced toward the vegetation that covered part of the island. His eyes scanned every detail. His absolute memory activated instinctively, engraving in his mind the layout of the trees, the sounds of the waves, the rhythm of the vibrations in the ground.
Then the pain struck him again. A silent scream escaped him as his body doubled over from the shock. It felt like a thousand knives... His skin seemed to be tearing, his muscles burning. An interminable minute passed before the pain subsided. Raphael fell to his knees, gasping for breath.
"Oh yes, perfect... I'm going to be the first hero to die of pain without even fighting. Well done, Raphael, world champion of losers."
He got up, staggering, and plunged into the island's jungle. The shadows were lengthening. Every noise made him jump. He hid behind a rock, hoping that the monster he had seen in the distance would not find him.
But soon, a roar tore through the air. The ground shook. The creature was there, prowling, searching. Raphael held his breath, praying to remain invisible.
The minutes passed. His heart was beating so loudly that he feared the monster would hear him. I can't stay hidden... I won't last five hours like this.
He then understood the truth: running away was not enough. Hiding was useless. The system had not given him a quest to escape, but a quest to survive. And in this world, survival meant fighting.
Raphael clenched his fists. His face changed. The sarcastic comedian disappeared, replaced by cold determination. His eyes hardened.
If I have to suffer, if I have to die, it will be fighting. Not trembling behind a rock.
He emerged from his hiding place, his eyes fixed on the monstrous figure standing in the center of the island. His legs were shaking, but his will burned stronger than ever.
The sun was slowly setting, and the island was vibrating more and more intensely. Time was passing, relentless.
Raphael took a deep breath. Five hours... five hours of hell. But if I succeed, I will never be a slave again. I will become someone.
And as the monster roared again, Raphael took a step forward, ready to face his destiny.