Today really is a terrible day for me, I muttered with a lifeless, exhausted expression.
My body feels like it's slowly dying in this rotten world. At the hospital, I was treated like a stray dog—looked down on just because I couldn't afford the medicine. Damn it… it's just a pill, but they asked for an absurd amount of money. I'd have to work like a slave for ten months straight—no eating, no drinking—just to afford that damn thing. In the end, I still had to buy it from the slums. My face was filled with exhaustion and despair.
My hair used to be jet black and smooth, but now it's turning gray like some old man in his 80s or 90s. I keep working overtime, getting exploited, and that greasy, fat bastard of a boss even cuts my salary. What a damn cursed world.
The dust in the city is getting thicker. The air is getting harder to breathe. I should probably buy a new mask… the one I'm wearing is about to break. If it does, I'm probably done for.
...Hah.
A month has passed since the early release of YGGDRASIL. The game officially launched a week ago. I've been grinding like crazy—hunting bosses nonstop. I mostly play solo since no one wants to team up with a grotesque heteromorphic monster like me. Well, whatever. I don't really care. Heh… heh heh.
YGGDRASIL really is an amazing game. I spend every bit of free time playing it. I've even dumped a ton of money into it—more than any game I've ever played. Damn it… I have to bury myself in work, drink twice as much coffee, just to earn enough to both survive and keep feeding this game.
That damn Zab threw me into this world just to struggle like this. And I started as an orphan too. Why am I an orphan in both lives? I don't want to be Batman, especially not while being broke. Other people get systems, wishes, cheat powers… and me? I've got nothing. Damn it… damn it all.
[Meanwhile, Zab]
Zab: "Achoo! Which bastard is talking behind my back?! Why do I keep sneezing so often…?"
"I'm a god with boundless kindness, you know! This is ridiculous."
"That young man must be incredibly grateful to me for giving him such a wonderful life—endless wealth and happiness! I truly am a good god! Hahahahaha!"
He grinned arrogantly from ear to ear.
"He's probably worshipping me as a supreme deity right now!"
[Back to To-do]
After another exhausting day of work, I logged into the game without a second thought.
Niflheim was just as cold as ever. The icy wind brushed against my chitin armor, producing faint, whisper-like sounds. But now, I'm no longer the lost wanderer at the edge of the forest.
Because monsters have started surrounding me.
At first, everything was simple.
Hunt low-level monsters. Learn my skills. Avoid dangerous zones.
But I hunted too much.
Now… I've started targeting players.
Their gear… their items… they look like fat sheep waiting to be slaughtered.
In YGGDRASIL, death is heavily punished. It directly affects character progression.
So instead of waiting for other players to grow stronger… why not hunt them when they're still weak?
Too perfect.
When players die, they lose a significant amount of EXP. Die too often, and they can even lose levels.
This game really is brutal—lifting you to heaven, then throwing you straight into hell.
And then there's item loss.
Players can drop equipment and items at their death location.
That's exactly what I've been exploiting.
Once, I ran into a player who hunted heteromorphic races. Unfortunately for him… he ran into me.
He was low level, so I killed him easily.
And I got something interesting from him.
[Ring of Tenacity]
→ When HP drops below 20%, grants 5 seconds of invincibility
→ Immunity to debuffs during effect
→ +10% defense
Jackpot.
And then there's resurrection.
Players can be revived by allies, but they suffer temporary debuffs. Lower-level resurrection even reduces recovered EXP.
And in some cases… certain skills or World Items can permanently erase a character.
That's the kind of power I want.
The power to completely delete someone.
Players… are just another kind of resource.
I remember one hunt near a lake at the forest's edge.
A party of three.
Two warriors and a mage—classic newbie setup.
Their gear looked flashy, but their movements lacked caution. They were laughing over voice chat, completely unaware of my presence.
"We still haven't found any heteromorphic players… I really want to level up my class…"
He never got to finish his sentence.
SLASH!!
A single strike across his neck.
His HP dropped to zero instantly.
"—What the hell?!"
The other two turned around.
Too late.
Their end had already come.
"Insects, advance… this is your downfall."
…Okay, maybe I do have chunni syndrome.
I gave them no time to react.
I activated my skill—
[Swarm Instinct]
For a brief moment, I could see their movements clearly.
Panic.
Mistakes.
Openings.
More than enough.
I closed the distance.
And ended them.
SLASH.
[+EXP]
[Player Kill Bonus Activated]
[Gluttony Stack +1]
I stood there as their bodies dissolved into particles of light… laughing like a madman.
"Yeah… I should probably stop watching so much anime…"
I continued wandering the forest's edge, searching for more prey.
But luck doesn't always stay on my side.
After leveling up and obtaining a new skill, I wanted to test it immediately.
And then—
I found them.
A group of well-equipped players.
I slowly approached from the shadows.
A sinister smile spread across my face.
At least… that's how I imagined it.