Hoku just kept running even if it meant running into more of... whatever that thing was. Even if it meant slipping on his wet clothes or tripping in the dark or cracking his skull running into some jagged cave wall. He just needed to hope for the best. His legs burned, and his arms ached from carrying.
The tunnel was dark, twisting around like a snake.
Finally, the noises calmed down, and tremors were far behind him. All he heard were occasional sounds from up above, from what he hoped were bats.
At last, he had a chance to rest and sort out the objects he had been carrying around. He brought his phone, a 30-cm ruler(potential weapon), and the previously empty can of Fanza that was now filled with cave water. He put them down to the side and let himself slide down against the left wall of the cave, eyes closed, soaking in the new calm atmosphere.
He was now past the tunnel at a part of the cave that was larger in size. The top seemed vast and daunting; he didn't bother looking all the way up. The width of the passage was about 10 meters, leading to the right side wall that faced him.
Something cold touches Hoku's neck, and before he can shout or even scream, his hand instinctively swipes behind him, smacking it away.
"Some bat," he scoffed. There, a small creature lay. It had a round green base and was sprouting light pink petals. The "creature" part was given away by its small, cute, dotted face. Sadly it had been smushed :(
Jarringly, a woman's voice rings out in Hoku's head. He slaps again, this time at his ears, but there's nothing else there.
[You Have Defeated A Trivial Unbound Monster: Singing Bud]
[You Gained 1 EXP]
"You again, huh…" Hoku said, standing up now, looking at the words in the sky. "So I guess this confirms it. I'm actually in some kind of game."
'I had my suspicions. It's not unbelievable after the thing with the hand in my monitor'
The system continued with a different tone; however. Oddly enough, his interruption seemingly made her mad.
[!Warning Combat Without Alphasuit Detected!]
[Penalty Issued]
"Huh? What penal-AAAHHHHRGH!"
In a moment's instant, Hoku felt a sudden pain across his whole body, like being hit by a baseball bat. His nose started bleeding, and he dropped to one knee. "You Bitch!" He shouted.
He slapped again, but this time at his mouth, because a hair-raising, unnatural roar violated his ears. His moment of calm was stolen following the growing footsteps that seemed to match the beat of his heart. Hoku wanted to run, but he felt like his weary legs would curse him if he got up.
He nervously stared at the black hole that was the tunnel he had come from. He tried to calm his breathing, but his lungs didn't listen. He waited. Its footsteps... seemed to be getting weaker. But his uneasiness couldn't be cured so easily
Another small bud appeared out of nowhere. Hoku braced, but it took no interest in him, instead moving closer to its murdered friend.
"That was an accident, okay?" Hoku whispered.
It innocently bounced on the floor then started to move in Hoku's direction.
"No. Stay right where you are, little guy," Hoku whispered.
The bud didn't listen, now beginning to hum softly as well.
Hoku fearfully glanced at the tunnel entrance 'Shit! He thought.
He wiped the blood from his nose, picked up all his stuff, putting his phone in his pocket and his ruler at the back of his pants.
He tried to get up but almost fell back down. Thankfully, he caught himself against the wall.
As he ran away, he found that the humming sound was following behind him. In another context, it would've sounded beautiful.
Suddenly, another hum came from above him. A duet.
then a triplet.
then a quartet.
quintet?
'What comes next? This is getting ridiculous.'
Hoku looked up. His expression gradually expanded into a stammering shock.
The entire ceiling was alive, an incomprehensible number of little pink creatures were raining down from the sky. Hoku felt nauseous just looking at it. He was running through a snowstorm. That's not even a metaphor or exaggeration. If you showed someone a photo of this, very moment, that's exactly what they would think.
"Uh... system!" He shouted into the air, unsure of what to expect.
[Yes, user Hoku]
"What the hell are these things?" Hoku asked.
[They are Trivial Unbound Monster: Singing Bud]
[Their background is-]
The words of light that system formed were obscuring Hoku's view. "Okay, okay! " Maybe later," he said.
Hoku moved with extreme haste. Or that's what he imagined he was doing. The buds were scattering in every direction, and the humming was getting so loud that it harmonised and started to sound like an opera house stuck on a few single notes. And with that calming melody came a sharp drum as the beating sound of a beast reached its crescendo. Reawakened by the singing, it now approached from beyond the tunnel's confines with a terrifying new rhythm.
'C'mon, keep going. ' He thought, feeling the strain in his muscles. He was starting to see his path narrow out. Hopefully leading to an exit.
A few buds would land near him, some even on him, singing in his ear.
Then Hoku found the worst and best possible thing before him.
Four Branching paths, he paused for a moment looking at each path.
"System minimap!" He shouted
[No Such Command]
He glanced around again and finally chose the one on the right. However, that moment's pause let a couple of buds land on his head and shoulders. He shuddered and instinctively knocked them off.
[You Have Defeated A Trivial Unbound: Singing Bud]
[You Have Defeated A Trivial Unbound: Singing Bud]
[You Have Defeated A Trivial Unbound: Singing Bud]
[You Have Defeated A Trivial Unbound: Singing Bud]
[You Gained 4 Exp]
[Congratulations, You Levelled Up!!!]
[You Are Now Level 2]
"NONONONONO"
Hoku tensed to brace himself.
[!Warning Combat Without Alphasuit Detected!]
[Penalty Issued]
[Penalty Issued]
[Penalty Issued]
[Penalty Issued]
A rush of intense pain, like being dropped off the roof of a house, came over him.
Hoku missiled downwards, grasping at his heart.
He struggled to breathe in and out, and blood gushed out of his nose.
"Why... why are they so fucking delicate?" His voice barely made it out, only to be drowned out further.
The buds landed around him and continued to taunt him with their song.
He curled up on the floor, covering his ears, drowning everything out, until all he could hear were the growing vibrations in the ground coming from the beast just around the corner.
"What the hell did I do to deserve this?" He cried out.