Level-Up Apocalypse: Surviving With The Assimilation System
Chapter 28: Real; Illusion

Chapter 28: Real; Illusion

As he turned around to continue following the trail he was set on tracking, he stopped dead in his tracks once again. He froze at what his eyes found, feeling the rapidity of his heart beat increasing–

The windows of the abandoned storefronts in front of him were completely filled; dozens of pairs of eyes stared at him from behind the glass. Glistening with viciousness, the beady, red eyes belonged to a horde of goblins, all standing as still as statues, watching him as though he were some sort of prey.

'What the...? They weren't here a moment ago–wait, it's another trick. It's not real–don't let it get to you,' he thought, convincing himself the best he could.

As he approached the entrance to the warehouse store, reaching for the door where countless goblins stood completely still, it was hard to convince himself they were merely illusions. He could hear their heavy breaths, as if waiting to nibble on his flesh; it unnerved him.

'It's fake. A swarm of goblins don't just appear out of thin air–they don't behave like this, either,' he convinced himself further.

Drawing in a careful breath, he opened the door, choosing not to fear the standstill horde of fiends–

As the door was pulled open, he blinked once before replaceing his blood running to a chill in his veins. His sight was completely consumed by the goblins, greeting him at the entrance as they crawled, leapt, and lunged at him.

There was nothing he could do, completely outnumbered, only praying that his theory was correct that they were indeed merely tricks of the darkness.

However–

"--Ngh!" Finn let out, wincing as one of the fiends sank its teeth into his shoulder.

Before he knew it, he was completely engulfed in the horde of barbaric goblins, feeling their teeth sink into his flesh at every angle.

He attempted to stay on his feet, though the vile creatures leapt on him, clinging to his body as he found himself collapsing.

"Aeugh–!"

Though he yelled out, it did nothing to help as the sensation of teeth digging into and tearing off his flesh was the only sensation he could focus on.

'--The illusion was...that they weren't there in the first place–I couldn't see them,' he realized.

The strength faded from his body as did his blood; the warmth beneath his back was a deathly feeling for him, knowing he laid in his own essence.

'Am I...dying?' He questioned.

It was difficult to muster a thought as he felt his scalp being gnawed on, along with his legs being torn by the vicious teeth. Even his arms were compromised as he felt teeth sink into his forearm.

Yet–

He moved to retaliate, though it was a struggle with the weight of many goblins pinning him down. Even so, he had his ways–

["Orcish Boost"] [4:59]

The momentary skill filled his body with fleeting strength, allowing him to slide one arm free, already soaked in his own blood. He didn't blink as crimson liquid leaked from his forehead into his own eye, reaching his hand up as he gripped the head of the goblin that bit into his own.

Without remorse, he squeezed, popping the fiend's skull like a walnut as its brain matter splattered.

["Lost Goblin defeated."] ["Anarch Coins x10 obtained."]

[Experience points: +100] [1950/12500]

[Assimilated ability from ["Lost Goblin"]: "Blood Tracking" 1 / 5]

At the same time, he placed his other hand on the fiend's head that bit into his side, whispering out, "Replication."

Another "crunch' and splatter emitted as the touched goblin's head exploded as if crushed by an unseen force.

["Lost Goblin defeated."] ["Anarch Coins x10 obtained."]

[Experience points: +100] [2050/12500]

[Assimilated ability from ["Lost Goblin"]: "Wild Instinct" 2 / 5]

Getting two off of him, he jumped up to his feet, pushing off the other goblins as he readied his dagger without hesitation.

Normal thoughts were absent from his mind; instead, the young man's entanglement with death brought him to an ice-cold focus. A veil of blood obscured his vision, having run over his eyes, though he could still see that he was far too outnumbered by the ravenous goblins.

Compared to the normal goblin they were faster, stronger, more aggressive, and worst: unpredictable.

He decided to change his approach as he allowed his daggers to vanish, instead holding both hands together as a different weapon was called upon:

["Bloodstained Odachi"]

Into his grip, the blade as tall as his own body manifested through a slick darkness; the heavy sword was still painted in old blood, tied to its very existence.

As he leaked his own arterial fluid from the wounds across his body, Finn steadied his footing, having to be careful in maneuvering the unorthodox weight of the lengthy blade.

The aim was simple; use the overwhelming length of the sword to overcome the disparity in number.

"Come on," Finn mumbled, speaking merely on partial consciousness.

As he stood there with the odachi readied, the goblin's kept their distance, growling and snapping their jaws at him. Even in their madness, they seemed to respect the lethality of the unorthodox weapon.

["Gale Blessing"] [2:59]

Wind shrouded his body, enveloping him in a serene coat of swiftness as he faced down the fiends that had already gotten a taste of his flesh.

It wasn't just for survival; he felt an anger boiling inside of him at having been treated like a meal by the creatures.

As he inched his foot just a bit closer, it set off the ravenous, lunatic goblins as they each lunged at him in unison.

His bloodsoaked vision was engulfed by the sight of the man-eating fiends each parting their jaws in hopes of seconds.

However—

He swung the lengthy blade, feeling the wind guide it with a graceful push. An unwieldy weapon; without the support of the enchanting wind, a proper swing would be impossible.

The reach of the visceral edge swept forth, cleanly slicing through the bodies of those that sought his flesh. He could feel the blade traversing through many in a split-second before the slash was completed.

A spray of blood splattered onto the warehouse exterior as he watched the horde of vicious goblins fall down, left bisected by the unwieldy blade.

"...Hah..." Finn breathed out, letting the sword rest against the concrete.

["Lost Goblin defeated."] ["Lost Goblin defeated."] ["Lost Goblin defeated."] ["Lost Goblin defeated."] ["Lost Goblin defeated."] ["Lost Goblin defeated."] ["Lost Goblin defeated."] ["Lost Goblin defeated."] ["Lost Goblin defeated."] ["Lost Goblin defeated."] ["Lost Goblin defeated."] ["Lost Goblin defeated."]

["Anarch Coin x120 obtained."]

[Experience points: +1200] [3250/12500]

[Assimilated ability from ["Lost Goblin"]: "Claw Extension" | "Summon: Lost Goblin" | "Summon: Rusty Weapon"]

The flood of information to his system came upon slaying the horde of goblins, leaving him standing there as he caught his breath.

Even an overwhelming victory wasn't enough for ascending a level, leaving his body riddled with wounds as he bled. He breathed, wiping his face as blood still stained his vision.

'...I don't know what's real and what's not right now. The best course of action is to treat everything as a threat rather than not,' he thought, looking down at his trembling forearm as it oozed blood.

On his left hand, the pinky and index finger were lost, though the pain of it didn't register to his pain as he simply stared at it.

It was hard to make out how bad the wounds were, seeing as the abundance of red fluid obscured his injuries. At the very least, they didn't seem too deep; a hardly reassuring factor.

Either way, the only way he could trust were the tracks revealed to him by his skill. The illuminated footprints led into the warehouse, into the unseen darkness of its unlit interior.