Only I Can See The End

It was a calm night.

I dreamt of a peaceful night's rest, my body finally free from hunger and regret.

I was completely at peace, and I looked forward to another day of demon hunting, my heart filled with determination and purpose.

... Until...

~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!~

But then, a deafening explosion disrupted my rest.

I jolted upright, my eyes searching for the source of the noise.

That's when I saw it.

It was when I looked at it that I understood the true meaning of despair.

The metal obstruction that secured the front door of the Drugstore had collapsed, and standing right outside was a horrifying creature I had yet to encounter.

[SYSTEM WARNING]

<You Have Encountered A Dangerous Demon>

'Dangerous?' I thought. Weren't all demons dangerous? The fact that the System labeled this one as such meant it was deadlier than anything I'd faced.

And I wasn't surprised by that analysis.

My hands trembled as I reached for my weapons, realizing this would be a battle like no other.

This demon stood five meters tall, a grotesque mix of fat and muscle.

Its potbelly jiggled as it tore down the metal door securing the drugstore, sending shards of metal flying through the air. Panic surged within me, but I had no choice but to stand my ground.

Our eyes locked, and instantly I knew there was no escape.

"ROOOOOOOOOAAAAARRRRRRR!!!"

It lunged at me with a savage fury, too fast for me to prepare or throw my 'Rocks.' They wouldn't have made a difference anyway. Its sheer size and power were overwhelming, and I felt a sinking sensation in the pit of my stomach.

~SQUELCH!~

Its fangs sank into me, draining my energy in an instant. Pain coursed through my body, and I could feel my strength waning rapidly.

[SYSTEM WARNING]

<Your Life Force Has Dropped Below 5 Percent.>

{You will soon die…}

In a last desperate move, I struck the creature with both rocks.

It felt like hitting an impenetrable wall.

My feeble attacks couldn't stop it from consuming my flesh and innards, causing blood to pool at my feet.

As darkness closed in, I clung to a glimmer of hope, praying for a miracle.

And then, the thread of my life snapped...

[You Have Died]

<Dream Sequence Has Ended>

{Based On Exclusive Skill: <Dream>; your recent experiences have been dissolved into a dream}

<You Will Now Be Returned To The Preset Save Point>

[You Will Now Wake Up]

... And I woke up from the dream.

********

<Day 5 of the Tutorial>

[12:52 PM, Thursday 4th of May, 2023]

"Argh! ahhh... haaa...."

I awoke from a terrible dream, clutching my body instinctively. I found myself back in the drugstore after my short nap, following my meal.

"Haa... I see. So that's what happened."

In my dream, a demon more powerful than any I'd ever encountered had appeared.

Even with my increased levels and trusty weapons, I stood no chance against it.

'It seems I still haven't grasped basic survival as I thought.' A wry smile crept onto my face as beads of sweat trickled down my face.

Did I truly believe I could breeze through the tutorial by merely completing simple tasks?

Why didn't I consider the possibility of stronger demons and tougher challenges?

'Looks like I made a mistake again. It cost me my life, and if not for <Dream>, it would have been game over.'

My exclusive skill had saved me countless times. It was a lifesaver for someone like me. It made even an idiot like me capable of living through this hell.

'To be fair, though, there's no way I could have seen it coming. How did it know I was here?'

I wondered, but the answer didn't seem important now.

There was one thing I was sure of though.

This place was no longer safe for me.

'I've studied the lesser demons, and learned their moves and patterns, but this one is a mystery.'

It was too risky to try to figure it out now.

'I'm too weak to take it on. Grinding for the rest of the day might not even make me strong enough to stand a chance.'

Also, if one dangerous demon could breach the drugstore, others might follow.

After all, I wasn't certain only one of those Demons existed.

'The System specifically warned me about a 'Dangerous Demon.' That implies there might be more out there.

I couldn't let my guard down. 𝒃𝙚𝙙𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝒍.𝒐𝙧𝒈

"It's regrettable, but it seems I can't stay here any longer."

My previous approach no longer applied.

"To be safe, I can't linger in one place for more than one night."

It could be paranoia, but I had a feeling that the Tutorial wanted to discourage staying in a single location for too long—specifically one as comfortable as this one.

Being both an active hunter and nestled in this haven filled with everything I needed, I had the best of both worlds.

Perhaps my extended stay had upset the balance of survival, and the massive demon was sent to disrupt my newfound stability.

'Or maybe I'm just unlucky. Overthinking won't help anyways.'

The plan was simple. Gather supplies and food, then leave.

"It's a shame, but it's for the best." I glanced at the stash of drugs and medicines in the room, realizing I couldn't leave them behind. It would be a waste.

'Who knows when they might come in handy?'

And then an idea struck me!

"Why don't I relocate these drugs and most of the resources to a different area? I'll use it as my storage. Then, I'll pick another spot as my living quarters and rotate between them from time to time."

This way, I could safeguard my assets.

'It'll take some time, but it's not impossible.'

This was a residential area, offering plenty of options.

'If I can predict the Demon's patterns, I won't even need an invisibility potion. I'll just avoid them and transport the resources in batches.'

Afterward, I had to find a residential area close to the storage spot for easy access and monitoring.

'There are only about two days left before the Tutorial ends. I should hold out until then.'

Leveling up would have to wait for now. At this point, I needed to move.

'But... that's not all, is it?'

The frustration and humiliation from facing that colossal demon still weighed on me. I had never felt so powerless.

"I can't just forget about it." I thought sadly.

Despite trying so hard to ignore it, I just couldn't let it go.

"Haaa... it seems it's not over yet." A smile crept onto my face.

Since it was that demon's fault that I couldn't level up today and that I was now homeless, it had to take responsibility.

"That's right. I need to reclaim those lost levels somehow..."

A determined glint shone in my eyes as an idea formed.

"I have to hunt it down. The Colossal Demon."

This newfound determination filled me with a sense of purpose. I wasn't just surviving in this world anymore; I was going to take the fight to the demons, starting with the one that had humiliated me. With a plan in mind, I began to gather my belongings and prepare for the dangerous journey ahead, determined to rise above this ordeal.

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[A/N]

I wonder what plan Mikey has up his sleeves. Comment your thoughts below.

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