I’d always heard that when you want time to pass quickly, it crawls. I’d experienced that before — waiting in lines, during long nights — but I’d never truly felt it until now.

  I sat under the counter, listening to the chilling sounds outside.

  I tried to picture what was making them, but my imagination came up empty. Ghosts, witches, wailing widows — all the old stories came to mind, yet I knew the System wouldn’t be that predictable.

  My Mini Map showed no red dots, no Kobolds. Instead, silver dots covered the display, scattered everywhere. I watched them for hours, too afraid to move. They drifted slowly, passing through walls and across rooftops — floating things, not bound by solid ground.

  I’d never been so relieved to see red dots appear again. Morning had come.

  I was starving, but food could wait until I killed a low-level creature or two. For now, a Basic Food and Water Package would have to do.

  All I wanted was to go home. To lie down. To forget the night.

  I ate a little, crawled into bed, and passed out the moment my head touched the pillow.

  My Comm Crystal woke me — and I was thankful it did. I’d been trapped in a nightmare, something dark and twisted, filled with the things that hunted in the night.

  “Hi, Claire.”

  “Danny? Are you okay?”

  It took me a few moments to realize I’d slept past our meeting time.

  “Sorry, Claire. I was sleeping. I… got caught outside last night.”

  She was quiet for a bit — processing, no doubt.

  “What happened?”

  I told her everything. From the first attack to the alley escape, to the darkness that followed. She didn’t interrupt once. When I finished, there was only silence. I waited, giving her time.

  “Wow,” she said finally, her voice soft. “That’s intense. I can’t imagine what that was like.”

  “I’m sorry I made you worry. I completely passed out and didn’t even stir until the Comm Crystal woke me.”

  “Are you sure you’re, okay? Do you want to sleep a little more?”

  “Nah,” I said with a small laugh. “I feel rested now — and I really want to get a better-level Food Package. Going back to Basic is… not pleasant.”

  Claire giggled. “I can imagine. What are your plans? Are you going to do the quest?”

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  I had to think abut that for a while, and the honest answer was…

  “I don’t know. On the one hand, I could do with some non-combat activity but maybe I should get back on the horse as soon as possible. Honestly, I just want to stay in bed and cover my head with blankets, and forget about the System and the Kobolds, and whatever is lurking in the night.”

  “I know, but you can’t. We can’t.”

  “I know.” I sighed, “I think I am going to practice this evening and tomorrow, and then the day after tomorrow, I will do the quest. How far are you before you level up?”

  “I am almost there, but I am not rushing. I think slow and steady will be the wise approach.”

  “Thank you, Claire. I will meet you tomorrow.”

  I took a shower and ate the rest of the Basic Food Package. When I stepped outside, I was amazed at the difference — the city felt almost peaceful in daylight, a muted calm compared to the night.

  I walked until I spotted a lone Level 5 Kobold. I checked the area for other threats and kept my eye on the Mini Map as I stalked it.

  I disposed of it with practiced efficiency.

  It was later afternoon, and I decided to go practise. I wanted to see how the Level 6 Kobold fights. I first needed to get an eye on the monster fighting at night for fit to be available in the simulation.

  I looked over my inventory and took note of the advanced expansion shard. I knew I was avoiding the inevitable fight in the simulation, but… I had the shard, and I can just as well use it.

  I took the shard out and the System message popped up in front of me.

  Yes.

  The apartment downstairs next to my A.C.S.C Chamber opened. I chose the area and clicked to accept. I had another one and was curios what it would do.

  Yes.

  I claimed the small part still available downstairs and then it snapped to the apartment to the other side of my apartment on the same floor.

  I wondered what the Sentinel Eye Crystal would be, but it sounded promising. I would just have to wait and see.

  I made my way down to the A.C.S.C Chamber. Just before the chamber a passage was formed, and it let to the area I claimed earlier. I did not investigate it. I did not want to know if it was empty or if the previous occupant was one of the casualties of the System.

  “I want Basic please, with single Level 6 Kobolds. I want to fight 2 and then re-evaluate the difficulty.”

  New York formed around me in all its empty glory.

  I gripped my staff tighter and began walking, reviewing everything I knew about the Level 6.

  It carried an Ironscale Glaive, giving it a longer reach than most Kobolds. The weapon wasn’t just for slashing — the hooked blade could catch or pull, turning any mistake into a fatal opening. Its strikes were strong and fast, but heavy; the recovery time between swings left narrow moments to counter.

  The Warrior was smarter too — it used terrain, moved fast, and didn’t fight like the lower levels. But that intelligence came with something else: overconfidence. Once it thought it had an opening, it committed fully, leaving itself exposed for a heartbeat. Predictable, if you knew what to look for.

  I could use that.

  I just had to study its rhythm, learn how it moved — and stay alive long enough to put that knowledge to use.

  Dying in a simulation might not be permanent, but it was still… unpleasant.

  Let’s go hunting.

  Hey everyone! ??

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  first Royal Road chapter of each pair. The second one won’t have pictures. If you want to see all the art together (or earlier), it’s on Patreon with the combined chapters!