The Dreamer's POV

<Day 5 of the Tutorial>

[10:30 AM, Thursday 4th of May, 2024]

~CREAK~

Cautiously opening the metal door of the back entrance of my base, I took light steps to exit it.

Carefully, I uncorked the vial containing the Invisibility potion, its faint glow casting an ethereal aura around me. As I swallowed the elixir, a tingling sensation coursed through my veins, and suddenly, I faded from sight.

[You Have Just Consumed An Item]

<Invisibility Effect Activated>

{Time Left Until Deactivation: <02mins, 59secs>

'Every second counts from this point on!'

I became a ghostly presence, moving through the ruined streets unnoticed, a predator underneath the bright ray of sunlight.

With stealth as my ally, I roamed the desolate street, my senses honed for any sign of demonic activity. The eerie silence was easily broken only by the echoes of demonic growls and the shuffling of their grotesque forms.

'As expected, they're a lot!' I smiled, watching them lumber around without even noticing my presence.

The assurance of my safety prompted me to move with a purpose, my steps light and calculated, ready to strike at a moment's notice.

In no time at all, I found myself approaching an unsuspecting Demon. I would have sought after the ones that seemed exhausted, but since the clock was ticking, I had to make the best use of my time.

'They can't see you, Mikey. It's okay...' A calm wave of assurance washed over me as I took a step closer to increase my chances of hitting the Demon.

"GRRRRR..."

I tightened my hold on the rocks in my possession, my steely gaze transfixed on my first target. These makeshift projectiles had become my trusted weapons in this harsh reality, and I couldn't afford to waste any time hesitating any longer.

~WHOOM!~

~SWOOSH!~

With a practiced motion, I hurled my first stone, and then my second, sending them sailing through the air.

~BAM!~

~WHAM!~

They collided with the Demon's head, creating a resounding crack, and the creature instantly crumpled to the ground, defeated.

'Eh...?'

Just like that, without making any further sound or struggling noise, the Demon died on the spot.

'Is it... this easy?' I wondered to myself, remembering the previous time I also managed to kill my first Demon with relative ease.

I had thought it was because of that Demon's reduced health, but what if it was something else?

'I can't afford to waste my time thinking about that now! I just have to Level Up as much as possible right now!'

As soon as I had this thought, I received the expected ping in my head.

~DING!~

<You Have Leveled Up>

That wasn't all, though.

[SYSTEM NOTICE]

<Congratulations! User is the first to kill a Demon in this Zone>

{You will receive a Reward for this accomplishment.}

~Note: Rewards will be calculated and distributed after the Tutorial~

[END OF INFORMATION]

It seemed things were proceeding the same as the last time. I couldn't get too distracted by all my accomplishments, however, considering what happened last time.

~SHUUUUU...~

The dead Demon slowly transformed into mist, leaving behind nothing as it vanished into the air.

'Not even a single drop? Maybe that's because it's just a trash mob?' I suddenly found myself thinking.

In any case, I had to hurry to my next target.

The death of that lone Demon stirred up some chaotic movements among the Demons nearby, making things much more difficult for me. Fortunately, I was still invisible, so I could continue with my business.

'I'm going to grind like crazy!'

*******

One by one, I dispatched the Demons that crossed my path.

My invisibility gave me the advantage, allowing me to strike swiftly and silently. With each throw of a rock, I felt a surge of satisfaction as the monsters fell before me. Their twisted bodies littered the ground, testaments to my growing expertise.

Unfortunately, none of this could last very long due to the timeout I constantly experienced.

I had to retreat to my base once time had run out, and then reuse another potion to continue my Demon-slaying experience.

<You Have Leveled Up>

<You Have Leveled Up>

I leveled up two more times by the time the Invisibility Potions finally ran out and I had to retire for the day. There was a lot I learned from the experience.

Firstly, the higher my Level was, the more difficult it was for me to Level Up. Back when I was still in Level 1, I only had to kill one Demon to Level up.

However, for my Second Level Up, I had to kill five.

My third Level Up required fifteen.

In the end, I found myself stuck at Level 4 when I finally ran out of steam and Potions.

The other thing I learned was the state of the Demons. These terrifying creatures, despite being very dangerous in their own right, were extremely weak.

They fell to my attacks with ease, with only two rock throws required to defeat them. I hadn't yet distributed my Stats, so I could only guess things would get even easier the stronger I became.

At first, I didn't understand why this was the case. Why these scary creatures were so vulnerable. However, it finally dawned on me.

This post-apocalyptic world was simply a Tutorial. Despite the horrible state of the world, amateurs like me were still given a chance to survive.

These demons were simply nerfed versions, designed to aid our learning and growth.

'I can only imagine how cutthroat it would have been if they were too hard to beat. Most people won't make it.'

However, despite this being the case, the situation was far from simple.

It was only when I decided to try killing one that I realized how easy it was. I was certain most normal people wouldn't be able to take this leap of faith.

'Besides, I only decided to hunt demons because of the information I bought. What happens to those who decide to simply hide in their homes and not even try to fight?' In the end, most people wouldn't fight the Demons.

'Not like it matters to me, though. I'll keep doing this!' A wide grin formed on my face as I thought of how strong I could get if I kept up the pace.

A mix of relief and determination coursed through my veins.

Thanks to my encounters with the Demon, I was beginning to understand their patterns, their habits, and their weaknesses. What once seemed insurmountable now appeared conquerable.

The thrill of the hunt surged within me, propelling me forward.

[STATUS WINDOW]

- Name: Mikey Rael

- Race: Human

- Level: 4

- Life Force: 2/2

- Energy Level: 1/1 (+1)

- Combat Ability: 2/2 (+2)

- Stat Points: 9

- Currency: 400

- Role: <The Dreamer>

- Authority: <Dream/Nightmare>

- Titles: <Visionary>, <The One Who Saw The End>, <Chosen One>

- Skills (Exclusive): <Dream>, <Nightmare>

- Skills (Non-Exclusive): <Nil>

- Items Equipped: <Rock>, <Enchanted Rock>

- Alignment: Neutral

[Additional Information]

*******

[11:02 AM, Thursday 4th of May, 2024]

Entering the dimly lit interior of my base, I kicked off my worn-out boots and collapsed onto a rickety chair. The aroma of canned food filled the air as I opened a can of beans, the sound echoing in the silence. I devoured the simple meal, savoring each bite that replenished my energy.

'Haaa...'

The food wasn't bad, especially when I considered how much worse it was for others. I had enough food and water to last me many times over, and even if I ended up ill or injured, I was literally surrounded by medications.

'Come to think of it, my hands are aching.' Throwing rocks with all my strength for so long took a toll on my body. 'Using painkillers and balms should help.'

I couldn't have asked for a more perfect base.

As I sat there, contemplating the events of the day, a thought weighed heavily on my mind. I had already made a decision to live like this until the Tutorial was over; until I had mastered its challenges and could navigate its dangers with ease.

Considering the possibilities of what lie beyond, this was my best bet at survival. So far, things seemed to be going well.

'Still, I can't help but wonder... how many times will I have to die before I truly got the hang of this new world?' The prospect both terrified and intrigued me.

No one wanted to die, but at the same time, I found it amazing that I was given the chance to correct my mistakes if I ever ended up like that.

'I just have to make sure I do my best, huh?'

My thoughts then turned to the other survivors, scattered across different 'Zones', as the System called them.

I wondered how they were faring in their own battles against the chaos that had consumed our world. Were they facing the same demons as me? Or were their challenges different, more treacherous?

'Will I meet other people before the Tutorial ends? Or is that a useless thought?'

Two more days and this whole thing would be over. I had to focus on getting stronger before then. That was what mattered most.

With a sigh, I pushed those thoughts aside, knowing that dwelling on them wouldn't change my circumstances.

Once I finished my meal, I smiled and closed my eyes, feeling the warmth in my stomach and strength coursing through my body.

'I really did it. I won and survived.'

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[A/N]

Thanks for reading!

Character Arts are underway, don't worry!

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