I stand up and walk towards my door.
I'm not going to cry in the corner like a little girl anymore.
I'm strong.
right?
I've been through more than most people have.
I have to be strong.
I have to be!
The world won't be kind to those who are weak, no matter the context.
You can't just hate the world and demand it to feel sorry for you.
You have to go with it and accept that pain will always be in your life!
thats how it is...
and I really hate it!
but I need to calm down...
panicking wont get me anywhere.
I take a few deep breaths.
then I turn the knob, walk downstairs, and go out the front door.
Ouch.
My back hurts…
I open my menu.
[Name] Griffin Stone
[level] 3
[skills] level 2 "punch," level 3 "sword slash"
[items] level 2 "starter sword" level 2 "starter helm"
[total exp] 40
[exp until level 4] 40
[current quest] "defeat a level 2 or above monster"
Looks like it's time to go back out into the woods.
I walk down the street and eventually reach the edge of the village.
The trees are as green as ever, and it looks like a wholesome magical forest out of a kid's book.
Only it's not like that at all.
It's a place where people die.
Where I almost died.
And I don't want to go in there, but I don't have a choice.
I step off the safety of the cobblestone path and enter the woods.
***
After ten minutes of traveling, I see something.
A giant boulder.
But not just any boulder—it is shaped like a huge body.
What a strange rock.
I walk over to it in curiosity, and after closer inspection, I find a giant crystal.
That's huge!
I draw my sword and imagine slashing down on the crystal, chopping it off.
Then suddenly, my "sword slash" skill activates.
Clank!
My hands vibrate, my sword falling from them.
"Agh!"
The shock pulses through my body.
[Lesson learned] don't hit a rock with a sword.
[category] common sense that I should know.
I chuckled at the thought of this popping up in front of me.
But my amusement was short-lived after I heard a rumble coming from the boulder.
The large rock began to shake.
Then it stood up like a living being.
Its eyes and the crystal on its back glowed.
My menu opened.
[monster name] stone golem
[level] 5
[element] earth
[elemental weakness] water
[health level] 400/400
[energy level] 400/400
Stone golem?
Level five?
This can't be real…
Am I going to die this time?