Fast.
It was far faster than the one I had fought before.
Its claws cut through the air, aiming straight for my throat.
I didn't dodge.
I stepped in, completely focused.
'Now!'
At the last possible moment, I twisted my body to the side. The claws grazed past my shoulder, tearing through my already tattered clothes, but missing flesh by a hair's breadth.
Before it could stabilize itself, I swung the stone.
BAM!
It landed on its jaw, snapping its head sideways, and made it stumble.
But it didn't fall.
'Tsk!' I clicked my tongue in disappointment, then my eyes flashed.
After killing the monster earlier, I had perhaps become somewhat overconfident and underestimated them, but this exchange made me realize the truth. I was still the weaker party.
Before I could take advantage of the monster's imbalance and follow up with another attack, the second monster charged at me from my blind spot.
'Damn it!'
Snap!
I threw myself backward, barely avoiding the third monster's bite. Its teeth snapped shut just inches from my face.
Thump! Thump!
My heart raced.
These three were faster than the one I killed earlier.
Not only that, they were also stronger… and… hungrier.
My breathing grew heavier.
This situation was different from before. I had been acting on instinct at the start at first, then I got the gift and killed it.
It wouldn't be inappropriate to call it a lucky kill.
This time, however, for better or worse, I wasn't acting on instinct, adrenaline wasn't moving me. I was completely aware of everything and… it was scary.
—
[Viewer 'BloodSpectator': Clumsy.]
[Viewer 'SilentWatcher': Reaction speed is too lacking.]
—
"Easy for you to say."
I muttered under my breath, angry. They were just watching. Give me a gift so I can deal with them damn it.
The monsters circled me and got closer, leaving very little room for me to maneuver.
Damn!
They were coordinating.
Herding me.
"Great… even monsters are smarter than me."
I tightened my grip on the stone, my mind racing to find some solution.
If I kept fighting like this, I'd die.
I had no boost. No advantage.
Nothing.
'I'll really die this time, unless…'
—
[Viewer '???:001' is observing.]
—
My eyes lit up.
"001… Don't just watch."
I said quietly, my eyes locked on the monsters.
"Give me power. Invest in me. In your entertainment."
For a brief moment… there was no change in the floating screen.
Then…
—
[Viewer 'BloodSpectator': Hah! He's begging.]
[Viewer 'SilentWatcher': Pathetic.]
—
"Shut up."
My eyes blazed with madness.
"I'm not begging."
I shifted my stance again, lowering my center of gravity.
"I'm offering a better show."
The monsters lunged together from three directions.
There was no escape.
"Come then!" I growled and rushed forward… straight toward the nearest one.
Snap!
The moment it snapped its jaws toward my neck… I ducked and rolled under its body.
"Argh!"
Then, I slammed the stone upward into its throat with all my strength.
Bang!
Grrr!
The monster let out a choked howl.
Before I could celebrate this small victory, not that I had time to, pain exploded across my back.
"ARGH!"
Claws had torn into my flesh and I was sent crashing across the ground, rolling onto the damp, stony ground.
My vision blurred.
Along with burning pain, I could feel warm liquid spread across my back.
It was my blood and it was too much.
I struggled to push myself up, but my limbs felt heavy.
Weak. I was too weak.
"…Is this it for me?"
—
[Viewer 'BloodSpectator': Boring. He's dying already.]
[Viewer 'SilentWatcher': Disappointing.]
—
My vision was swimming, but somehow, I could clearly see the floating screen, and thus their comments.
Rage bubbled within me.
"Not…yet." I clenched my teeth and growled.
I refused.
I refused to die like this.
Right then…
—
[Viewer '???:001' has sent a gift.]
—
My eyes widened.
—
[You have received: Minor Agility Boost (15 seconds)]
—
'Thank you for not giving up on me.' I muttered in my heart, feeling a power surge through my legs, feeling my body become lighter.
Swoosh!
I pushed off the ground just one monster lunged, wanting to end me.
This time… Everything felt slower.
Shua!
I sidestepped with ease, slipping past it like a shadow.
'Got you.' I growled as I grabbed a jagged piece of broken stone from the ground and drove it straight into its eye.
SHLICK!
The monster shrieked and tried to move away.
I followed and twisted the stone, driving it deeper into its eyes with all my might until the monster went limp and…
Thud!
Fell to the ground, dead.
'One down.' I breathed.
—
[Viewer 'BloodSpectator': Oh?]
[Viewer 'SilentWatcher': Better.]
—
My lips curled up into a smile. Though I hated to admit it, I felt a lot better seeing, or rather, reading their reactions.
'Well, I shouldn't feel bad about it since an artist performs for his audience.' I chuckled under my breath.
Then I turned, faced the remaining two monsters while taking a deep breath to relax a little and soothe my burning lungs.
Blood continuously dripped from my back. In this short amount of time, I had lost quite a bit of my blood and was starting to feel the weakness.
But I was still standing.
I hadn't overcome the dangers yet, nor had I finished my performance.
'Keep your eyes peeled.'
Growl!
The second monster charged at me after warily eyeing me for a moment.
It was Fast.
But, I was faster.
Shua!
I moved to the side, grabbed its fur, and used its own momentum to slam it into a stone pillar.
BOOM!
Cracks spread across the pillar.
The monster staggered.
Not giving it any time, I smashed its skull with the stone.
Bang!
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
I kept smashing its head until it stopped moving completely.
"Last one." I exhaled freely, feeling strangely refreshed.
I glanced at the floating screen to see how much time was left until the agility boost expired.
[Time Left: 1 Second]
The next moment, the final second also passed and the boost expired.
I was no longer feeling the lightness, instead, an aching and numbing sensation settled into my muscles.
But I didn't show any weakness, and stared at the remaining monster.
It stared back. Its red eyes flickered with hesitation and for the first time… a hint of fear.
"Heh, so you also feel fear?" I laughed.
—
[Viewer 'BloodSpectator' has sent a gift.]
[You have received: Minor Strength Boost (10 seconds)]
—
Seeing the messages, my lips curled and the slight hesitation I was feeling due to the agility boost vanished.
Power flooded my body.
'Perfect timing.'
I stepped forward.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
"Let's end this."
My action seemed to have provoked the monster's savagery and it lunged at me.
I didn't dodge. There was no need to. I met it head-on.
My fist, empowered by the boost, crashed into its skull.
CRACK!
Its bones gave way beneath my current strength and a crisp cracking sound echoed.
Thud!
The monster was dead before it hit the ground.
…
Apart from the faint sounds of my breathing, the cave once again fell silent..
But this time… the silence was different. It didn't put any pressure on me, instead, it felt soothing.
—
[Stream Ended]
[Peak Viewers: 3]
[Total Gifts Received: 2]
—
"Phew!" I exhaled a deep breath, finally relaxing. But my hands were still trembling, no, it wasn't just my hands. My whole being seemed to be trembling, but it wasn't because of fear of what might have happened, but… excitement.
—
[Broadcast Evaluation: Improved]
[Viewer Satisfaction: Moderate]
[Performance Grade: C]
—
"C? Not too bad." I murmured. "But next time, it'll be better."
After fighting two battles with my life on the line and winning, I had become confident.
Not only that, I also understood the rules.
If I wanted to survive such dangers, I couldn't show fear.
I had to fight with all my might and put on my best performance… to entertain them. Only then would they give me gifts that would help me survive.