Level-Up Apocalypse: Surviving With The Assimilation System

Chapter 241: Two Days Later

The moment they both shared in their relief, all of it was washed away by that "sensation." A ripple through the stagnant air; vibrations humming quietly, though felt like a malignant omen against his skin.

’What…is this feeling?’ He questioned.

As sweat dripped down his skin, he slowly turned to where the enigmatic entity was left suspended. It was no longer frozen; its eerie, black body moved as its arms pulsated, coiling with unfound strength.

[Restricted existence recognized.]

["Ravager"] [Level: 500]

–It surpassed logic, witnessing such a level be assigned to the mysterious lifeform as its serpentine lower half slithered across the tile. The presence it invoked was suffocating, as if the air became solid.

A mortifying existence; even without any knowledge on the being, it froze both assassins in place. It wasn’t an existence of magic, not born of fantasy; no–it was an entity of quandary, feeling as though it came from the farthest reaches of existence, beyond the threshold of the cosmos.

’What…is this thing?’ Finn thought.

’Something this strong exists? Just laying dormant down here?’ Jeong-Hui questioned.

It didn’t seem to even acknowledge their presence as the black-skinned entity stood there, stretching its arms out, flexing its body unnaturally as though its muscles filled with air. While it almost felt necessary to defend himself, Finn found himself unable to budge even a single finger.

Every part of his mind and body restricted him from moving even a millimeter, fearing that even a breath a decibel too loud may bring the ire of the enigmatic entity.

No, "fighting" wasn’t an option–it wasn’t even an eligible concept against something of this magnitude. All the two men could do was stand there in the deep, dark chamber, unblinking as they watched the alien lifeform awaken.

’Survive a week here? In this world? With this thing here–? It’s impossible, isn’t it?’ Finn questioned.

As his mind ached with what to do, it was the scrape of Jeong-Hui’s foot, making the slightest of movement, that produced the first sound from either of them. He felt like screaming at the man to his left, as if he’d just doomed them both.

All they could do was stare at one another with wide eyes, exuding sweat as the full presence of the unimaginable entity was felt.

"Helpless."

–Feeling its stare on him, it felt as though all the strength left his body, unable to muster the will to even run. A noise like that of a heavy weight dragging across the floor filled the room, feeling that ominous presence inching closer and closer until–

It was right there.

No doubt about it, it loomed over from no more than a foot away, casting its shadow over the two men.

’I have to do something!—’ He decided.

Ignoring every ounce of fear in his body, he pushed past it to defend his own life. It seemed the sentiment was shared by Jeong-Hui as they both moved in unison—

"Hyuk!"

"Pyuh!"

—Before a single skill could be called upon, a tremendous force drove into his abdomen. It was the very same for his companion, delivering an ungodly amount of strength.

’Survive! Survive! Survive!’

The thought ran through his mind on repeat, feeling the force rippled through his insides. He released a gasp as he was blown back by the strike, slamming into the furthest wall alongside the red-haired assassin.

Everything went black within an instant, having no chance to fight back as his consciousness faded.

It was impossible to know how long he’d been asleep, unwillingly. There was no dreaming, at least that he could remember. All he knew was that his eyes were finally opening, looking up at the dreary, spiral-carved stone.

’How long have I been out…?’ He questioned.

It was as he blinked a few times to focus his vision that he saw the words inscribed into the air above his head: "Five Days Remaining."

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’Five? Then…I’ve been out for two days?’ He thought.

Picking himself up, his entire body ached, bringing him to lift his shirt as he discovered a massive bruise encompassing his abdomen. Even just breathing in was enough to incite pain, though it was manageable.

’That thing…It punched me, no–it just sort of drove its fist into me and I ended up out for two days? Shit…I’m just glad it didn’t finish the job. Guess it didn’t even see us as a threat–oh right, us,’ he thought, remembering he wasn’t alone, or at least, he wasn’t before.

Looking over, he found another hole in the wall where the red-haired assassin lay motionless. It wasn’t surprising he was the first to wake up considering his peculiar physiology, though it was worrisome to find the man still not moving.

"Hey, Jeong-Hui–hey," he called out, approaching the slumped figure.

Going over, he knelt down, slightly shaking the man by his shoulder. From the light snores, it was at least clear he wasn’t dead. He grabbed the man’s arm, lightly tugging before—

"Ah—?"

He found the red-haired, young man quickly jumping up, immediately pressing a dagger near his throat.

"Oh," Jeong-Hui blinked, pulling his blade away. "It’s you."

"Good morning to you, too," Finn sarcastically said, standing back up.

A few coughs came from the red-haired man’s mouth as he wobbled a bit when picking himself up, nearly falling back over. Jeong-Hui caught himself against one of the stone pillars, breathing out.

Finn looked at him with a raised eyebrow, "Concussed? I’m feeling the same as well. Whatever that thing was, well…It got the better of us."

"It didn’t kill us. I’m not sure why," Jeong-Hui questioned, rubbing his own head groggily.

It was awfully quiet in the otherworldly chamber, only dark and dreary, absent of anything but carved stone and the scent of coal.

"Well, we somehow managed to pass two days just by being knocked out. Silver lining, I guess," Finn remarked, moving towards the entrance.

"It’s a bit worrisome…I’m hungry though," Jeong-Hui said, holding his stomach as it growled. "You?"

"No, I’m fine. I don’t really feel hunger anymore," Finn answered while walking beside the assassin.

"Really? Just a fasting expert?" Jeong-Hui asked.

Finn shrugged, "It’s a system thing."

"Oh," Jeong-Hui accepted. "A system thing. I get it."

It was a natural understanding with the oddities of systems as they left the chamber, ascending the slope.

There was something already quite strange, visible at the end of the underground slope when peeking at the summit.

"Do you see that—?" Jeong-Hui asked.

"Yeah," he answered. "Not sure what that is."

The sky of rifts was replaced by an abyssal sea that hung above with pitch-black tentacles of colossal size swaying down. Reaching the top of the slope, back into the surface, it hardly seemed like the place to be—

Vrrrrrrr.

A constant hum fluctuated through the air as the abyssal sky swayed with an ominous depth. There was no sign of the various worlds that were once peered into, only that harrowing darkness.

"It’s completely taken over," Finn observed. "Whatever it is."

"Do you think it might be that thing we encountered?" Jeong-Hui asked.

"I was considering it, well…I didn’t want to think it could be the case. That thing…It was an entirely different level than anything I’ve seen," Finn said.