Chapter 2: Is this level 1?

After losing his consciousness...

In Yeman's vision, there was only unending darkness. And the window-like interface in front of him.

What is this game interface? If I remember correctly, I was shot and lost too much blood and then… I can't remember anything else after that. So, what is this window interface in front of me doing? Create a character, huh!

Even though I don't know what is happening. I am trying to accept the fact that I am now in front of something like a window interface. Since leaving university, I have become one of those what you called SHUT-in. I've watched too much isekai genre anime after being suspended in university and read too much web novel with its popular genre reincarnation with the system, so I can't help feeling a little excited when I see the window interface. But still, I could not get rid of the doubt crawling in my mind right at this moment.

Did I die at that time? Am I going to be reincarnated into another world? But where is my goddess? Or Gandalf?

And why is it so dark here?

Wait… what if… this is just a dream? Maybe I will play it until I wake up. But what if it's not just a dream?

Hmm… I feel excited and concerned at the same time.

After a while, I have decided to try since there's nothing I can do anyways. Only me in this unending darkness. I can not feel anything other than loneliness.

So now, slowly pointing my index finger to the 'Ok' button.

[CREATE CHARACTER]

[Ok] [Cancel]

Click!

[Input a character name:_________]

[Ok] [Cancel]

After I pressed the [Ok] choices, Next is, it required me to input my character nickname. Since I'm no good at this kind of thing, I decided to use the nickname I usually use when playing some games.

Tap, Tap, Tap, Tap,

[Input a character name: Zombie__]

[Ok] [Cancel]

Click!

After tapping the [Ok] button, an avatar with my face when I was 17 years old appeared after I input my character nickname. The avatar was wearing leather chest armor.

"What?! How come my face is there? And I look young huh" I could not help being surprised when I saw my avatar's face.

And then, I noticed some choices besides the avatar.

[Hairstyle]

•Color

•Style

[Eyes]

•Color

[Cancel] [Next]

"So little choices!" I can't help feeling a little helpless.

Later on, I chose to make my hair a little shorter since my old hair is a bit longer and chose a pure black color, a very dark black. Then made my eyes red. I'm also one of those types of players who like to make their characters look cool.

Click!

After choosing my desired hair, I tap the [Next] choices.

[Choose your primary weapon!]

Shortsword [1Handed Weapon]

•Normal Attack

•Normal Defense

[Select]

Greatsword [2Handed Weapon]

•High Attack

•Low Attack Speed

•High Guard

[Select]

Bow [Long Range Weapon]

•High Attack

•Low Defense

[Select]

Staff [Magic Weapon]

•Magic Attack

•Magic Defense

[Select]

Knuckle [Melee Weapon]

•Low Attack

•Normal Defense

•High Attack Speed

[Select]

Halberd [Mid Range Weapon]

•High Attack

•Normal Defense

[Select]

[Random]

[Select]

A list of weapons appeared after tapping the [Next] button.

Hmm, a primary weapon? Maybe I can change it later or maybe I can use a secondary weapon. So, what to choose now?

Later on, I selected [Random] choices since I can't decide.

What follows next is like a raffle. A square as big as my thumb appeared. Inside the square is a rapidly changing icon of weapons. While the icons keep changing, a sound of *bling, bling, bling!* follows.

So hard if you are not a pro gamer. I wish I could play like a pro. But I'm just what you called ordinary in any game. Even though I spend money sometimes to boost my character. I'm still an extra player who populated the game without proper achievements! Well, I played for fun only and it's not just reasoning to hide my shame for being like a villager NPC in any games I played. Also, I played games to forget about my first love and all the bad luck happened to me in my high school-days and university."

*bling, bling, bling!*

The random raffle keeps on rolling. Later on after 3mins of waiting.

[Congratulations!]

[Unarmed selected!]

"....."

What? I exclaimed in shock. What this meant to be? Unarmed? No weapon? Is this a new kind of joke? You said primary weapon though. How come there's unarmed in the list! I wanted to shout to the developers of this game. Too bad I don't even know where I am right now.

I don't know whether to laugh or cry. But now I know I messed up.

Suddenly, after choosing my primary weapon. Before even, I could swallow the bitterness of choosing the wrong weapon selection, I mean randomize weapon. Everything turned dark again in a blink of an eye. The interface-like thing was gone. Only darkness again was remained.

Eh?! What was happening? I got scared of the sudden change. I tried to scream, but no voice came out of my mouth. Suddenly I felt like being stuck by a strong wave of energy until I lost my consciousness.

After a while...

I slowly opened my eyes. But what greeted me was a very dark sky. I tried to rub my eyes with my right arm. Then, I felt a strong pain in my forehead.

AwwwwwwWWWWW!!!

I felt my body become heavy and unable to stand. I felt a little dizzy too.

Eman! Eman!

I heard a loud call from someone I can't recognize. But, I don't know who this voice tried to call. I'm not Eman, I am Yeman. Thinking this guy was calling for someone else. I tried to get up while holding my aching head and peer to my surroundings, but I was shocked by what I have witnessed.

"W-What is this?!"

KLANG! KLANG! KLANG!

Tiing! Tiing! Tiing!

Woosh!

Swoosh!

In my surroundings, currently, a brawl was happening. Between people with leather armors and in their hands were different kinds of weapons and their enemies were monsters?

I saw a person about 20meters away from me. He was knocked out by a monster's tail whip.

I saw another person at 30meters from me trying to stab a monster on its forehead.

KeeeeeeeeEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

"Eman, Eman! Watch out!"

Shouted by a man's voice from earlier. I don't know who this guy tried to warn. Suddenly, I noticed a grotesque figure in front of me.

"Hiiieee! M-Monster!" I shout.

SqueeeeEEEEEEEKKKKKKKK!!!

The monster looks like a giant rat who stands on its two feet. It's 2 heads shorter from a grown-up man. In their supposed to be right front foot, is now a right hand which was holding a dagger. Its tail is 2meters and half longer which can be used to whip their enemies.

I noticed a red bar over the monster's head, and above the red bar, I can see a name. The name can be read as Ratman. Besides its name, there is a Level 1 text. In my mind, maybe the name is this monster's name and level 1 is this monster's level. I couldn't help asking myself, is this related to the earlier [Create Character] thing? So am I inside a game? But the pain is realistic though. Or was I summoned to another world?

Welp, where is my goddess? Did I just get dumped here? And where is this place anyway?

Why are monsters that could only be seen in movies or in games are here? Oh no, my mind was in a mess! I-I couldn't think clear.

SqueeeeeeeEEEEEEEAAAAAAAKKK!!!

No time to think of anything. The monster in front of me tried to slash me using the bloody dagger in its hand. Before the dagger could reach my chest, my right hand touched something hard. I grab it out of reflex without even looking. Then, I tried to block the Ratmen slash.

SqueeeeeEEEEEEAAAAAAAAKKKKK!!!

Ting!

A high-pitched tone from the collision of two hard objects rang out.

My hands trembled slightly. I was in a disadvantaged position. My butt on the chilly ground while my two legs stretch open and my hands holding the spear trying to fight back the monster's force.

CreeeeaaaAAAAAAAKKKKKKKK!!!

A grating sound from two hard objects reaches my ears while trying to push the monster's dagger away. The object that I accidentally grabbed was a spear.

CreeeeaaaaAAAAAAAAKKKKKKK!!!

The same spear used by some other people in my surroundings. But still, what kind of situation is this? What kind of place I was with? Is this really a game? Or I was summoned to another world? Even if I keep asking what's, the situation will not change. All I can do for now is grit my teeth so hard while trying to push with all my strength the monster in front of me.

SqueeeeeEEEEEEEEAAAAAAKKKK!!!

I noticed the monster's tail slowly stretched upward. I figured out that it plans to whip me using its tail just like the person I saw a second ago.

GyaaaaaaAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!

With all my might. I tried to kick its stomach.

BlaaaaAAAAGGH!!!

-0% hp

Eh? A damage reminder like in-game? So, this is a fucking game!

I saw a red text after kicking the Ratman. The same text I saw in an MMORPG game.

SqueeeeEEEEEAAAAAAAAAKKK!!!

Even though I've used all my might with that kick, I can only manage to make the Ratman step back 3 steps. Is this even a level 1 monster? I couldn't help doubting.

SqueeeeeEEEEEEAAAAAAAKKK!!!

But this is enough for me to stand my ground. Before the Ratman came back charging at me, I pointed the blade of the spear fast at the Ratman's stomach. My right knee on the ground while my left leg at half-kneeling state. Without a second thought, I stab it with all my strength.

ChaaaAAAAAAPPP!!!

A flesh piercing sound follows next.

-20% hp

Another Ratman's HP loss. I noticed the red color in its health point bar at 80% left at most.

SqueeeeeEEEEEEAAAAAAAAK!!!!

The Ratman tried to swing its dagger in any directions like a battle frenzy idiot. But the dagger is shorter than my 5meter spear so it couldn't reach me. I smirk a little at the struggling Ratman. I feel sorry for this fellow. But I need to kill this dude.

*Sigh*

Even though I stabbed it so hard, it's not able to kill the Ratman directly. What level 1? Is this level 1 monster a cheater? Holy cow!

I need to repeat my attack. When I pulled the spear back, the Ratman came charging at me at full force. So I quickly stab the Ratman again. But still, the Ratman managed to make me step back 5 steps. This level 1 is very tenacious and that's not all. It is stronger than I.

-20% hp

SqueeeEEEEEEEAAAAAAAKKKK!!!

And again it only lost 20% of its total HP. Now the current Ratman's HP is at 60%. And the red color on the red bar has almost half its original size.

SqueeeaaaaaaaAAAAAAAEEEEKKK!!!

I could feel the Ratman's painful cries while getting stabbed. It looks weakened now, also it's not as strong as before it lost HP.

I repeatedly pulled and stabbed the Ratman. Until the HP reaches 0%. What follows next is a notification.

Level 1 Ratman killed!

A bright green colored like energy goes towards me and it was absorbed by my body.

+100% Exp

Level Up!

I could feel my body getting a little stronger.

Anyways, this is so game-like! Right at this moment, I'm starting to believe that I am inside a game. But still, my doubts keep growing. I can't really explain my true feelings at this moment. It was a mixture of different kinds of feelings.

"Watch out!" After I killed the Ratman I heard a sweet female voice.