"What is this? What the hell?" A young man's anguished scream echoed through the desolate landscape as he desperately tried to make sense of his situation.
His blonde hair was disheveled, sweat drenched his forehead, and his chest heaved with exertion—the pain, both physical and emotional, gnawed at his very core.
"It hurts! It hurts so much!" Arthur's voice cracked, his cries filled with frustration and despair. He clutched his chest, even though he had just consumed a healing potion.
The wound, both physical and mental, continued to torment him, refusing to fade away. Doubt crept into his mind, fueled by the overwhelming pain he had experienced.
The clothes on his chest were covered with blood, and his arms were filled with scars showing the intense battle he had just participated in.
His legs carried him forward in a frenzied sprint, the scenery blurring around him as he distanced himself from the battleground he was meant to face. It should have been his job as the centered person in this world, but he refused.
'System! What is this? Why didn't you warn me?' He spoke inside his mind; the feeling of fear was still lingering inside his chest.
Confusion mingled with his fear, creating a turbulent storm within him. He felt betrayed, questioning why nobody had warned him of the true dangers that awaited him.
At that moment, the only thing that was inside his mind was himself and himself only. He had already forgotten the girl that was trying to protect him from the demon while putting her life on the line.
<Warning! An unknown variable occurred!> At that moment, inside his mind, the voice of his trusted system echoed.
"Huh? Unknown variable?" He muttered with disbelief.
<Warning! An unknown variable occurred! Error. Error. Error.>
<Warning! An unknown variable occurred! Error. Error. Error.>
<Warning! An unknown variable occurred! Error. Error. Error.>
The relentless repetition of the warnings grated on Arthur's nerves, fueling his growing frustration. The system, which had been his constant companion, now seemed to be failing him when he needed it most.
"WHAT ARE YOU SAYING YOU SHITTY SYSTEM!" Arthur's voice cracked with anger and desperation. The pain from his wounds mingled with the bitterness of betrayal as he lashed out at the very thing that was supposed to assist him.
However, there was no response. "AAAAAAAA!" With a loud shout, Arthur kept running as he escaped, leaving the scene alone.
As he ran, his thoughts raced, replaying the events in his mind. Images of the demon's ferocious attack flashed before his eyes, a constant reminder of his own vulnerability.
The realization of his own limitations weighed heavily upon him, overshadowing his initial excitement and determination.
"What am I doing? How did it come to this?" Arthur's voice quivered with self-doubt, his strides faltering for a moment. "First that Callius bastard, and now this one. WHAT IS FUCKING HAPPENING!"
He remembered the events of that time, the hands that were caressing him, saying everything would be okay, saying he was the one that was chosen.
"How am I the chosen one?" The question lingered in his mind, stabbing deeper into his soul. His body staggered as his thoughts filled his head.
/THUD/
He stumbled, nearly falling to the ground before he forced himself to regain his footing. Fear coursed through his veins, but deep down, he knew. He knew he was pathetic. But he tried to refuse this feeling; he tried to console himself.
"Yes…. I needed to escape…. This is just a game, and I am the protagonist, after all…. Nothing will happen… HAHA… Everything will be fine…. The system said it was just an error… Everything will be fixed until tomorrow… HAHA…" Arthur's voice wavered, his words laced with a hint of madness.
He tried to convince himself, to find comfort in the belief that everything would be fine, that the system's errors would be resolved by the following day.
"Everything is fine. She is just a random heroine anyway; I can find another whenever I want…. HAHAHAHAHA! That's right…. I just need to survive and enjoy myself…"
The sound of his forced laughter echoed hollowly in the desolate landscape, a feeble attempt to mask the growing turmoil within him.
However, deep down…. Deep down, he knew… He knew the reason why it came to this… But he did what most people would do…. What human brain was programmed to save itself….
He justified himself instead of accepting…
The weight of his doubts threatened to crush him, but he pressed on, refusing to succumb to despair, with his smile becoming increasingly artificial, his emotions detached from reality.
"Hahahaha, hahahaha..." His laughter continued, growing increasingly strained with each passing second. It echoed in the empty air, a desperate attempt to mask the fear and uncertainty that consumed him.
Yet, deep within the recesses of his mind, the doubts persisted like a relentless specter haunting his every thought.
In the end, he, too, knew he was the one to blame for his actions…
/THUD/
He fell to the ground, growing tired from the constant running and the fight he had just done. He was tired, not knowing what to do….
But before he could drown in his feelings any longer, suddenly, the same voice that occupied him echoed inside his head.
<Ding! The error is identified!>
Yes, it was the voice of his system that had failed him.
<Ding! Error identified: Deviations from the game's story detected.>
<External influences, possibly originating from external sources or unforeseen events, have caused significant alterations to the game's predetermined narrative.>
<As a result, the balance of power within the game world has been disrupted, leading to an increase in the strength and capabilities of the villains.>
<The game's difficulty level has been elevated to accommodate these deviations. The main scenario is brought forward. Please exercise caution and adapt your strategies accordingly.>
The moment the system's voice reverberated within Arthur's consciousness, Arthur flinched.
'External influences?' He asked, his eyes wide open from the things he had just heard. 'What external influences?'
<Ding! Error identified: It is impossible to find the source of the deviation.>
The system's response struck Arthur like a thunderbolt, leaving him reeling with a mix of frustration and despair. The realization that the source of the deviations from the game's story could not be pinpointed intensified his feelings of helplessness and confusion.
"What do you mean it's impossible?" Arthur's voice trembled with a mixture of anger and desperation. He felt as though he were trapped in a labyrinth of uncertainty, unable to unravel the mysteries that surrounded him.
The knowledge that the game's difficulty had been elevated and the main scenario brought forward only deepened his sense of dread.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" And the only thing he could do was to release another primal scream…..
--------------------------A/N--------------------
With this chapter, I have now clarified the reason why the scenario of the game was changed while also showing how crucial the mindset of a transmigrated person is when dealing with life-and-death situations for the first time.
For some, this chapter may be a little boring, but I think it was important to show the way Arthur thought. At this point, I got my lesson. I will no longer show some random character anymore.
Though, I Hope you liked the chapter.
Check out my new book if you are interested. This time it will have a modern hunter theme, where MC will be driven by the feeling of vengeance.
The name is; Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest
You can check my discord if you want. You will be able to see the illustrations here and engage in a conversation with me if I am available.
https://discord.gg/XJEgBRM3C
This 𝓬ontent is taken from f(r)eeweb(n)ovel.𝒄𝒐𝙢