I remained slumped where I was, the monster still on top of me. I wanted to push it away from my body, but the pain was raging through me so violently that I couldn't move. I had no choice but to lie there, waiting for the pain to subside a little and for some energy to return to me, before the system screen appeared before my eyes.
You have successfully killed Alkranda!
Evolution Points Gained: 40
=== Status ===
Username: Zak Alder
Race: Human
Class: Mage
Level: 2
Evolution Points: 40 / 200
Health: 11
Strength: 5
Agility: 4
Endurance: 4
Skills: None
Shop: Locked (Unlocks upon reaching level 10)
=====
I looked at my status for a few moments, then ignored it. I didn't have the energy to focus on it. After that, I stared up at the sky, continuing to gaze at it for some time, feeling a bit of my strength slowly returning to me.
Then, with great difficulty, I pushed the cockroach's body off me—or Alkranda… or whatever its name was. It was heavy and disgusting, its foul-smelling sticky fluid still clinging to my skin. After a great deal of effort, I finally managed to push it away.
I tried to stand up immediately, but the moment I did, pain surged through my entire body. I endured it—or at least tried to. I looked at my shoulder and saw one of the cockroach's fangs embedded there. I stared at it for a few seconds, then tried to pull it out, but a sharp pain shot through my body the moment I touched it, so I immediately stopped.
"Damn…"
I could only mutter softly.
I lifted my gaze toward the lake. I was extremely thirsty. I began walking toward it with difficulty, dragging my exhausted body step by step.
When I finally arrived, I knelt at its edge without hesitation, leaned forward, and plunged my face directly into the water. The water was cold and refreshing; I felt it flow down my throat, extinguishing the burning thirst that was close to killing me. I drank greedily without lifting my head.
A full minute passed—perhaps more—before I finally felt my thirst ease a little. Then I slowly raised my head, panting, water dripping from my face and hair.
That was when I saw my reflection on the surface of the water. I stopped moving and stared at the image before me.
It was the face of a young man who couldn't be more than seventeen years old. His features were balanced yet simple at the same time. His eyes were brown, with a faint hint of redness in them, and his eyebrows were naturally well-defined. His nose was straight, his lips slightly pink, and his skin was clear, marked only by a few faint lines that were barely noticeable.
A slight sense of astonishment crept into me.
"…So this is what I look like?" I murmured softly.
I watched my reflection for a few more seconds, before a faint smile formed on my lips.
Wow… he's really handsome.
I smiled lightly as I thought to myself:
"Hm… if any girl saw me looking like this, she'd probably fall in love instantly."
I paused for a moment, then added with slight sarcasm: "Mom, it seems your son is going to break the hearts of quite a lot of girls."
….
Ding… Ding… Ding…
I was trying to start a fire the primitive way, striking two stones together, but the task was far harder than I had expected. Twenty minutes passed with me trying, without any success.
"I've seen how easily they do it on the internet… were they just lying to get views?" I muttered to myself.
"They say: strike two stones together and fire will ignite instantly… but reality is completely different. Well… I won't believe anything shown on the internet ever again."
I paused for a moment, then added with concern:
"By the way… does the internet even exist in this world? Damn… how am I supposed to live if it doesn't? Maybe it does exist… I shouldn't lose hope just yet."
I continued striking the stones for long hours, exhaustion creeping into my body with every failed attempt. I was on the verge of giving up, but the weather was cold, and I had no other choice. After a long time, a small spark finally appeared… then the fire began to slowly catch.
"Finally…!"
A genuine joy washed over me after such long suffering. The sky had darkened, and the night was brutally cold. I immediately sat beside the fire and stretched out my hands to warm them, feeling the cold ease a little.
That was when I looked at my shoulder, where the cockroach's fang was still lodged. Damn… it hurt badly. I had to pull it out immediately.
I grabbed it carefully, muttering to myself in a low voice:
"You can do it… do it… you can."
I hesitated for a moment, but my self-encouragement gave me some strength. I placed my hand on it, then pulled it out in one swift motion.
A sharp pain surged through my body.
"Damn… this hurts…"
After a few minutes, the pain gradually began to fade. I took a piece of my clothing and carefully wrapped it around the wound. I sighed bitterly.
"At this rate… it looks like I'll be naked pretty soon."