Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: 6th Floor. There’s Always a Way to Survive... Probably
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Crack!
I smashed the skull of the fangfish that had bitten my arm with the blunt hammer side of my axe, then shook my leg wildly to shake off the one clamped onto it in the water.
But the bastard tightened its jaws even more, refusing to let go. The wound tore open, and I could see the water slowly turning reddish with blood.
'Gotta get out...!'
Staying in the water any longer would just turn me into a buffet for every fangfish that smelled the blood—like some karaoke bar owner handing out free snacks.
I flailed my arms, splashing frantically as I charged toward land.
But the water clung to me like it was trying to hold me back, making my progress agonizingly slow.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ You took 16 damage. "Guh...!"
I had to survive. With that single thought burning in my mind, I gritted my teeth against the agony of my leg muscles tearing and kept kicking.
I wanted to crush the fangfish gnawing on my leg even a second faster, but my stamina was starting to get dangerous.
'Status, brief.'
⚔ STATUS ⚔ Health: 19/96 ■■□□□□□□□□ Magic: 48/48 ■■■■■■■■■■ Hunger: 76/110 ■■■■■■■■□□|□ Thirst: 63/110 ■■■■■■□□□□|□ Temperature: ◀■■■■■■■□□□▷ Status: Weak Bleeding (7T) Just three minutes ago, my health had been full. Now it was down to the wire.
'Yeah. This is roguelike bullshit.'
The genre for masochists where even in perfect condition, one slip sends you straight to the abyss.
Still about five meters to solid ground I could stand on.
And then...
Crunch—
"Grrraaah...!"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ You took 17 damage. Your right leg has been fractured. The pain hit like a freight train—nerve-searing agony no amount of biting my tongue could hide. My eyes bulged wide, cold sweat pouring down as I felt it all.
"Se-Severa! Ice Spear!"
Fwoooosh——
The water froze solid.
Its icy chill clashed with the steamy heat, turning back into mist once more—not exactly refreshing.
"Hah... haa... fuck..."
Finally dragging myself onto land, I clutched my fractured leg and gasped for air, barely managing to spit out curses.
The ice spear had blocked the charging fangfish, but my condition was already critical.
Health in the single digits, bleeding, and a fracture—a perfect storm of debuffs. I looked just like a player about to get ejected back to Floor 1, helplessly awaiting death.
"Fuck... gotta live... gotta live..."
The key to breaking this situation. I frantically rummaged through my backpack. It was stuffed with stuff, but nothing I needed.
Potions? Used my last healing potion fixing the arm wrecked by the Sewer King.
Scrolls? Burned through every last one on that teleport scroll just now.
Desperate times.
Clinging to a shred of hope, I dug out disinfectant, bandages, and a splint from the first aid kit. My hands shook with terror as I wrapped my leg, the danger closing in.
I poured the stinging disinfectant like it was going out of style, fitted the splint, and cinched the bandages tight.
Each step was torture, but I couldn't just leave it.
"Hah... haa... no... not enough..."
My vision blurred. Was it fear of encroaching death, or just the chill rising from the frozen water? My jaw chattered, teeth clacking.
The bandages soaked red.
I dumped the waterlogged backpack, spilling everything onto the ground.
Please. Please.
Something—anything—to turn this around...
And there it was, at the bottom of the pack: an unidentified yellow herb.
"Unidentified" meant exactly that—no idea what it did. But I didn't think twice. I shoved it in my mouth and chewed.
Crunch—crunch—the bitter, grassy tang filled my mouth, sharp enough to make my teeth ache. Still, I clamped my jaws shut and chewed hard.
As if eating it would save my life.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ You feel your strength returning. Thankfully, my desperate wish came true.
'Ah... shouldn't sleep here, but...'
Feeling my vision slowly darken, I blacked out on the grass.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Hahk!"
I jolted awake, clutching my chest and scanning around frantically.
The damp feel of my soaked clothes and the still-dark jungle prison met my eyes. I let out a deep sigh—not quite relief, but close enough.
"Crazy... I really almost died. Teleport scrolls are out of service now...!"
Somewhere, I swear I heard an "Eh~ Honto?!" But it was probably just a hallucination from exhaustion.
I pulled up my status screen to check my exact condition.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ Health: 3/96 □□□□□□□□□□ Magic: 48/48 ■■■■■■■■■■ Hunger: 36/110 ■■■■□□□□□□|□ Thirst: 12/110 ■□□□□□□□□□|□ Temperature: ◀■■■□□□□□□□▷ Status: Weak Fracture (Stabilized) The hologram text laid it out plain: how dire things had been.
Hunger and thirst had dropped big-time, meaning a good chunk of time had passed, yet my health was still near death.
If that yellow herb hadn't been a healing one, I wouldn't have even this much left—I'd be gone.
And with a lingering weak fracture debuff, I could only sigh in frustration again.
The splint and bandages would let this body's insane regen kick in eventually, but until it fully healed, movement would be severely limited.
Worst of all? This happened on the first day of Floor 6, barely a taste of the tropical rainforest zone.
'Felt a bit like bad luck, but I should've known stuff like this is always lurking...'
Did clearing the sewers make me cocky? Thought I was being careful, but bam—trap sprung.
"Ah... let's rest a bit."
The real silver lining? I'd been out cold for a while and no ambushes. If there had been, I wouldn't be thinking straight now. Means it's safe as long as I stay out of the water.
Time to camp.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The lighter I'd stashed in an easy spot was soaked, but I shook it dry and—thank god—got a flame going.
Otherwise, in this state, trying to rub sticks would've been a nightmare.
Took time clearing the thick grass to keep the fire from spreading, but still way faster than primitive methods.
Crackle—whoosh—the flames danced hungrily, devouring logs and warming me up nicely.
I glanced at my throbbing leg, shoveled a spoonful of warmed canned food, glanced again. Rinse and repeat.
Forced down every last bit of the stubborn canned stuff and wiped my mouth.
"What kind of fish has jaws that strong...?"
Uglier than sin, sure, but still just fish. A bite snapping bones? Come on.
Even if it made sense, I'd rather it didn't.
"Miss those rat bastards today... Yellow incisors, vicious beasts, but they never broke bone..."
Hated sharing meals with 'em, but at least they didn't ambush from the water. Saints compared to fangfish.
Gross ones, though.
'Almost died without Hero. Gotta prioritize Constitution at 15.'
Constitution boosts health, reduces physical damage, and ups resistance to physical ailments.
Noobs even have guides saying pump it first, then head-dive as deep as possible.
But skew too hard that way without strong damage options you can use despite low Strength or Mind? You'll hit a wall fast.
'My stats are a mess anyway...'
15 Agility and Charm. 11 Strength, 8 Constitution.
Efficiency-wise, push Strength to 15. But without Constitution's perks, surviving this RNG hell gets brutal.
Looks like mixed-stat life for a while.
Weirdly wide awake. Probably got plenty of shut-eye while passed out.
Poked the fire to keep it going and checked the map.
Explored maybe 10-20%.
My yellow dot? Way off in uncharted territory—practically the opposite end.
'If there's a shady merchant or Sad Ghost nearby, gotta buy something.'
Only now hitting me: the real-world stuff I brought? Mostly convenience. Not much real survival value.
What I need: herbs, seeds, potions, scrolls—magic items.
Even if it pinches my GOLD, leaning on shady merchants will save my ass right now.
"Should've just pulled Severa out sooner."
If I'd braced for burns and scorched the room with fire magic, this mess wouldn't have happened.
Lesson learned: give what you owe. With that, I used my pack as a pillow and lay back for a nap.
Weeeeennnn—
A faint wingbeat hummed into my ear. Normally too quiet to notice, but in the silence, it grated as it drew near.
Roll.
Flipped over—the sound receded.
Wheeeeeennnn—
"..."
Bzzzz—wheeeeeennnn—
I sat up, glaring into the dark where the mosquito buzzed, face twisted in rage.
'Wipe 'em all out?'
'Slaughter 'em silent forever.'
If they don't want their turf razed, they shouldn't mess with me. But this mosquito? Oblivious. It landed on my arm, slurped blood, and buzzed off carefree.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Tempted all night to turn Floor 6 into a three-skeleton park, but superhuman willpower won out.
A nature lover like me can't go full eco-terrorist.
Woke up to less pain, but fracture debuff lingered. To minimize strain, I hacked a branch from the wall of trees with my axe, made a serviceable cane, and set off exploring Floor 6 again.
Wanna wait till fully healed? Sure. But dragging feet only hurts me.
"Oh."
"Customer, long time no see. Still kicking. Though you don't look so hot."
The first room after the passage: a suspiciously shady merchant in a mask, petting a headless beast, waiting for me.
"Look like you need stuff."
He cracked open his stall. I forced a haha—awkward grin.
Take my money! Now!