Chapter 2 – The Cycle of Death
Galvin sat alone, his back against the cold, metallic wall. His body trembled, his breaths shallow and uneven. The smell of blood lingered in the air—thick, metallic, and nauseating. The massive, lifeless body of the crab-like monster lay just a few feet away, its thick exoskeleton split open where the sword had struck.
His fingers dug into the cold ground beneath him. Was this real? He looked down at his trembling hands, still sticky with the creature's blood.
"This isn't a dream, is it…?"
Swallowing hard, he forced himself to stand. His legs were weak, but he willed them forward. He needed to move—sitting in fear would only lead to death.
As he took his first uneasy steps, something caught his eye—a small, rusted dagger lying on the ground. He bent down, hesitated for a moment, then wrapped his fingers around the handle. It was light, barely a real weapon, but it was better than nothing.
He exhaled sharply. "Survive. Just survive."
Galvin wandered forward through the eerie, desolate landscape. Everything around him felt… artificial. Like a prison without walls. The air was stale, almost manufactured.
Then, in the distance, he saw it—a river.
His dry throat burned at the sight. Without thinking, he rushed forward, kneeling by the water's edge. The cool liquid ran through his fingers as he splashed it over his face.
"Ahh… finally…"
He leaned down, cupping water in his hands, bringing it to his lips—
SNAP!
Something latched onto his leg.
A violent force yanked him into the water. Cold. Deep. Suffocating.
A crocodile.
Galvin thrashed, bubbles of air escaping from his mouth as he struggled against the monster's grip. Its jaws clamped down harder, dragging him deeper into the abyss.
No… no… I'm going to die!
His mind screamed, but his body reacted. His hand shot to his belt where the dagger was. He had no choice.
With a desperate thrust, he jammed the blade into the crocodile's mouth, driving it deep into the fleshy roof.
The water turned red.
The creature released him, thrashing in pain, and Galvin kicked upward with all his strength. His lungs burned, his vision blurred—but he reached the surface.
He gasped, coughing up water as he dragged himself onto the shore. His body collapsed, chest heaving.
"What the hell was that…?" he muttered between breaths.
Then, suddenly—
[SYSTEM UPDATE]
+100 XP for killing a Crocodile.
A mechanical voice echoed in his mind. His vision flickered, numbers and letters flashing before his eyes. His first kill. His first level-up.
Darkness swallowed him before he could process it.
---
A New Cage
When Galvin opened his eyes again, he was no longer by the river.
Cold metal surrounded him. Another prison.
But this one was different. The walls weren't rusted or worn like the last—they gleamed, polished and reinforced. His heart pounded.
Why am I here again?
He stood up, pushing open the iron bars. The outside was nothing like before. Instead of a barren wasteland, he stepped into a massive city— no, a castle of steel. Towering buildings made entirely of metal stretched into the sky. The streets bustled with people, their eyes filled with false joy.
At the center of it all sat a throne, surrounded by metallic soldiers. A king, clad in silver armor, watched over the festivities with an eerie, emotionless expression.
People cheered. Laughed. Celebrated.
What the hell is this place?
Airships hovered above, releasing confetti, and mechanical beasts roamed the streets like parade floats. It was as if the people here had no idea they were trapped.
A hand suddenly grabbed Galvin's shoulder.
"Come on, Galvin. We need to leave."
He turned—it was the man from before. The one who had saved him from the crab monster.
Without hesitation, the man pulled him into the shadows, leading him away from the crowds.
Galvin struggled to keep up. "Wait, what is this place? What's happening?"
The man didn't look back. "They think they're free."
Galvin's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"
The man stopped and faced him, his expression grim.
"They don't know they're in a death game."**
Galvin's stomach twisted.
"What?"
The man nodded. "When they die, they think they're reincarnated into a new world. But it's all part of the system. No matter how many times they 'start over,' they're still trapped here."
Galvin clenched his fists.
"That's insane. People can't be that stupid."
The man sighed. "Hope makes people blind. And soon, you'll realize… this game has no end."