Chapter 2 The Cost of Survival

The monster on the wall let out a roar that shook the bones inside my chest. Its glowing red eyes burned with pure hatred. Thick saliva dripped from its massive fangs and sizzled when it hit the broken stone.

The red text of the System screen hovered directly in my line of sight.

[Activating mandatory defense skill will cost: Six Months of Lifespan.]

I had eleven months and ten days left to live. If I agreed to this terrible deal, I would lose more than half of my remaining time. I would be left with just over five months to figure out how to save myself. It felt like a cruel and sick joke. Back in my normal world, a car accident was meant to be the end. Now, I was being forced to bargain with my own soul just to survive another five minutes.

The beast crouched low to the ground. Its powerful leg muscles tightened like thick steel cables. It was preparing to jump right at me and tear my throat out. I did not have the luxury of overthinking.

"Do it!" I screamed at the top of my lungs. "Take the six months!"

[Cost accepted. Six months of lifespan deducted.]

[Remaining Lifespan: Five Months and Ten Days.]

[Skill Activated: Dragon Scale Shield.]

A blinding light erupted from my chest just as the beast launched itself into the air. The monster came down with the force of a falling building. But instead of crushing me flat, it crashed into a glowing green dome of magical energy. The shield had formed perfectly around me.

The monster roared in pain and confusion. The heavy impact sent a massive shockwave of energy outward. The shattered stones and broken weapons around us were blown away into the dark purple sky. The beast clawed fiercely at the green shield. Its sharp claws screeched loudly against the magical barrier, creating bright showers of yellow sparks.

I fell to my knees inside the dome. My chest felt incredibly hollow. Losing six months of my life in a single second took a heavy physical toll. I felt exhausted and completely weak.

[Warning. The shield will break in ten seconds. The host must counterattack.]

[Recommended Skill: Dragon Piercing Strike.]

[Cost: Ten Days of Lifespan.]

I laughed bitterly. The System was draining me piece by piece. But I had no choice. I raised my right hand and pointed it directly at the chest of the monster.

"Activate it!" I yelled.

[Cost accepted. Ten days deducted.]

A glowing spear of pure green fire formed in the palm of my hand. The heat was incredibly intense but it did not burn my skin at all. I focused all my remaining strength. I thrust the spear upward just as the green shield shattered into pieces.

The magical spear flew through the air. It pierced directly through the heart of the terrifying beast. The monster let out a final and pathetic squeal. Its massive body exploded into a cloud of black dust and foul smelling smoke.

I collapsed completely onto the hard ground. I was gasping for air. Every single muscle in my body ached like I had just run a marathon while carrying boulders. The quiet ruins around me felt incredibly eerie after such a loud and violent battle. The smell of burnt monster flesh filled the heavy air.

The blue screen chimed happily inside my head.

[Supreme Threat defeated. Five Hundred Experience Points gained.]

[Level Up achieved. Current Level: Three.]

[Level Up Cost applied. Thirty days of lifespan deducted.]

I closed my eyes in pure frustration. Leveling up was supposed to be a good thing. In this cursed body, it was just another nail in my coffin.

I forced myself to sit up and look at the updated numbers.

[Remaining Lifespan: Four Months.]

I had been in this strange magical world for less than twenty minutes. I had already lost more than half a year of my life. I needed to get out of this ruined courtyard before more soldiers or monsters showed up to finish the job.

I stood up slowly and stumbled toward a large puddle of rainwater near a broken statue. I needed to see what I actually looked like. I leaned over the dark water.

The face staring back at me was completely unfamiliar. It belonged to a tall young man with sharp and striking features. He had silver hair stained heavily with dirt and dry blood. His eyes were the most shocking part of the reflection. They were a bright and piercing emerald green. The vertical pupils looked exactly like a dangerous predator. I really was the fallen Dragon King. I possessed the body of a ruler who had lost everything.

I splashed the cold water on my face to wake myself up fully. I had to find a way to stop this countdown. There had to be magic or medicine in this world that could heal my life force.

I turned away from the puddle and looked toward the large wooden doors of the ruined courtyard. They were broken wide open, hanging off their iron hinges. Beyond them was a dark and mysterious forest filled with thick grey fog. That was my only escape route out of this slaughterhouse. I needed to find a safe place to rest and understand my new powers.

I took a confident step toward the exit. Suddenly, a sharp and twisting pain ripped through my stomach. It felt like someone had stabbed me with a burning knife from the inside. I fell to my knees and coughed violently. A handful of thick and dark black blood splattered onto the grey stone ground.

The System screen flashed a blinding bright red once more.

[Hidden Status Effect Discovered.]

[The host is infected with the Royal Shadow Poison.]

[Lifespan will now decrease by one day every hour until the cure is found.]

I stared at the screen in pure horror. One day lost every single hour. I did not just have four months left. If I did not find the cure by tomorrow, my time would completely run out before the week was over.