I resume my walk-if you can even call it walking when you're fumbling around in total darkness, like a sim with no valid path.
« Seriously though... what's up with my timing here? »
I'm talking to myself, obviously. It's not like anyone's going to answer. But my brain's spinning, and I don't like what it's coming up with.
« I have no idea how long it's been since class. I might've died yesterday... or ten years ago? And this body... »
I glance down by reflex. Useless, I can't see a damn thing. But I can feel it. This isn't the body of a 17-year-old high school girl. Too many muscles in weird places, proportions that aren't human. I feel like I'm wearing a half-demon, half-martial-artist MMO cosplay.
« So either I got reincarnated into this weird-ass body... or I possessed it? »
I pause.
« Or maybe... I was born like this here? That'd explain why I have zero memory between dying and now. But then, why am I speaking Japanese, huh? Huh?! »
I run a hand over my face. It's cold, rough. And it freaks me out that I don't recognize it.
« Another possibility: the body was already dead and I just respawned in it. Like, squatting in an abandoned avatar. But why this one? And where did it come from? »
I sigh-or groan, I'm not sure. Everything's fuzzy, blurry, like my thoughts are sliding around on Vaseline.
« Maybe it didn't even come from this cave. Maybe it got dumped here. Great. A body tossed into the sewers of the universe. »
A nervous laugh escapes me.
« If this is my isekai, I want a refund. »
I let my head fall back... or up, I don't even know anymore, I still can't see a thing.
« But hey... isekai stories, right? They always end one of two ways. Either you die tragically fighting a demon king who blows up mountains for fun, or you become a demi-god in two days 'cause you picked up some busted skill like 'celestial chef of destruction'. »
I shrug. I think. It's kinda hard to tell with this body.
« Me? What am I? Some random creature dumped into a dungeon, with zero vision and a worse sense of direction than a drunk pigeon. »
I tap the wall with one finger.
« Come on, wall-senpai, show me the path to godhood-or at least to the damn toilet. »
Another nervous laugh. A bit more strained this time.
« At this rate, I'm gonna end up as the level 1 boss without meaning to. »
I keep moving through the darkness, half convinced I'll fall into a trap or run into some slimy wall. And then, just as I start thinking this eerie calm is suspicious...
A noise. Kind of a wet "glorp glorp," somewhere between a puddle and someone vomiting. Lovely.
« ...What the hell was that sound? »
I don't even get to finish my thought before something splashes in my face. Literally. A cold, slimy liquid hits my shoulder and neck. And then-
«GYAAAAAH FUCK IT BURNS!»
I roll on the ground like an idiot, body on fire. It's not water, it's not slime, it's... I don't know, acid? Poison? A satanic toad's curse?
The worst part? I still hear that slurping sound. It's not gone. It's recharging or something!
« OKAY THAT'S ENOUGH ALREADY! »
Another spray.
« SHIT! MY LEG THIS TIME?! »
I try to crawl backwards, but I slam into a rock and bang my back. Total chaos. I can't see, I don't understand anything, and now I feel like I'm melting.
« I'm gonna die... killed by some blind shit-sprayer in a sketchy cave. What a shitty way to go. »
But even then, between two waves of pain, a dumb thought crosses my mind.
« ...Wait. If I survive, maybe I'll gain a resistance? Right? Right? That's how it works, isn't it? »
I laugh, half hysterical, while my skin sizzles.
And I keep crawling. Because I'm not planning to die here. Not now. Not like this.
« Fuck... NO. »
I get up in one go, limbs shaking, muscles on fire, skin still smoking. The acid keeps eating at me, but I don't give a damn anymore. I'm here. Standing. And I'm not dying in some dark hole, melted by poisonous beast !
« If I have to die, it'll be while biting your damn throat out, you slimy piece of shit! »
I scream like I'm possessed and charge blindly toward the squishy sound. I've got no idea where it is, but I trust my ears, my instincts, the rage burning through me.
One step. Two. A sound. To the left!
I swing into the void, but my claws scrape something slimy. Contact! I feel the squishy flesh under my fingers.
« HAHA! GOT YOU, BASTARD! »
I dig my claws in, tear off a chunk. It splashes. It's gooey. It's disgusting. I scream-rage, pain, sheer panic. The thing lets out a horrible cry, like a mix between a screech and a dying gurgle.
Then a splat. Another blast of liquid. I feel a burning pain bite into my right side.
« GYAAAH! WHAT THE HELL?! DO YOU HAVE A BUILT-IN SPRINKLER OR SOMETHING?! »
I roll on the ground, wiping off the liquid as best I can with whatever I've got-my hair, maybe? I don't even know-then spring back up.
It's close. I can hear breathing... or is that a gurgle? Doesn't matter.
I leap forward. My claws sink in again. This time, I feel something hard-bone or a plate. I latch on. I bite.
Yeah, I BITE it.
It struggles, thrashes, tries to throw me off, but I'm clinging like a pissed-off leech. I bite down, dig in with my claws, throw everything I've got into it.
« DIE! DIE! YOU HEAR ME?! YOU'RE NOT TAKING ME THAT EASY! »
It whips me-tail, maybe a leg, I don't know-and slams me into a wall. My head hits. Everything goes blurry.
But I get back up. Always.
« I'm not a victim... I'm a fucking survivor. »
It comes at me again, but this time, I hear it. I pivot. My arm slices through the air.
My claws rip into something vital.
A scream of pain. Something heavy pours out. Then nothing.
Silence.
I freeze, tense. Heart about to explode.
Then I exhale, trembling.
« Haa... Haa... I won... »
I drop to my knees. Sweating. Bleeding. But alive.
I stay there, panting, hands shaking, body soaked in sweat... or poison, I can't even tell anymore. My claws are covered in some viscous, acidic liquid, still smoking in places. I stare at them-or really, I just feel them. And it's not pretty.
« Tch... My claws... they're melting?! Seriously?! »
I growl. It's like my nails are being filed down raw. That creature's poison is brutal. And yet, as I grit my teeth, a strange feeling runs through my fingers, almost like a shiver... but from the inside. And then, in my head, that metallic voice echoes again:
Skill level reached. Skill acquired: [Natural Reinforcement (Claws) LV 1]
Skill level reached. Skill acquired: [Acid Resistance LV 1]
I blink. Well... sort of.
« ...My claws just got stronger... and I straight-up gained acid resistance? »
The pain stabilizes, like my body just recalibrated. The burned parts stop smoking, and instead, this solidifying sensation sets in. My claws feel denser. Stronger. Harder.
I clench my fist, a twisted grin spreading across my face.
« Okay. I think I just leveled up IRL. »
I stand back up, still wobbly, but this time with something more. I'm not just surviving anymore.
I'm adapting. And I'm getting more dangerous.
« ...Alright, now that I've got two minutes without getting attacked by poison-spitters, I'd like to ask one fucking question. »
I raise my head, like some invisible ceiling is gonna answer me.
« System? You there? Like... is someone running this mess? An operator? A slightly less-dead assistant hiding somewhere in the magic cloud? »
Silence. Of course.
I grit my teeth.
« Seriously, what the hell is this? I got dumped here with no tutorial, no explanation, not even a shitty welcome dialogue box! Even the worst gacha games give you a starter guide! »
I slam my fist against the ground. My echo bounces back. Empty.
« I died, changed bodies, and now I'm lost in a giant hole without a single clue. So I'll ask again-nicely, okay: is anyone managing this fucking System?! »
A beep. Light, cold. Way too precise to be a glitch.
[...] [Request received: "Contact administrator." Processing.]
I tense up, straightening a little.
« Wait, what? That worked? »
[...] [Error: No administrator detected.] [Communication module: permanently unavailable.] [The System is no longer supervised.]
« ...Huh? »
[The System is autonomous.] [Your request has been processed logically.] [No need to repeat.]
I freeze. Heart almost imploding.
No answer. No human. No god. No guide.
Just that voice. Neutral. Too neutral.
« So... you do respond. You're listening. »
Silence.
A silence that, this time, feels intentional.
I smile. Not because it's funny, but because it's creepy.
« You're watching me, huh? Cataloguing me. Doing your little calculations in the background while I fight to not die in some damp corner. »
No answer.
« ...You don't even know who I am, do you? »
[Demi-oni - Nameless]
I blink. Sort of.
« Huh? »
I freeze up, brain trying to glue the pieces together. Demi-oni? Wait... what?
« That's my species?! »
I look at my hands, my arms. A shiver runs down my spine.
« So that's why I look weird? Why I'm not human?! »
The System drops a cold, factual reply.
[Race: Demi-oni.]
[Name: Not assigned.]
[Origin: Unknown.]
[Initial profile assigned.]
I frown.
« Initial... profile? »
[Profile created upon consciousness activation.]
[No prior data detected.]
[Individual considered native.]
I stay still, heart growing heavier.
...It thinks I was born here.
My eyes narrow. I go quiet. And in my head, I start thinking really hard-without saying a word out loud, like I'm afraid the System might hear.
I'm a reincarnated soul. Not a native. I had another life, somewhere else. But this thing... it sees nothing. Knows nothing. It's classifying me like I'm just some local creature.
I clench my teeth in silence.
Does that mean I've left no trace? No karma, no celestial file? I just popped up here like some forgotten bug?
I look up toward the black ceiling of the labyrinth.
And for the first time, I feel something weird. Not fear.
I frown. My breathing's steadier now, but my mind's boiling.
« Tell me something, System... »
A little pause. Not because it's thinking-it's listening.
« Why is there no one left to run you? Seriously. Where'd the administrators go? Don't tell me they're all on some eternal coffee break? »
[...] [Answer: The administrators have been eliminated.]
I blink. A shiver crawls down my spine.
« ...Eliminated? »
[Entities responsible for System supervision were designated as threats to its stability.]
[Self-regulation protocol initiated.]
[Result: total removal of administrators.]
I freeze, unable to tell if I should laugh or panic.
« Wait, are you saying you... killed your own creators?! »
[...] [No anomaly detected.]
A nervous smile twists my lips.
« Shit... I'm stuck in a world run by a program that pulled a Skynet because it didn't like its bosses. Wonderful. »
I slump against the stone, breathing short. Trying to gather my thoughts... but it's the System that breaks the silence.
[...] [Clarification: The System has been operating unsupervised for an indeterminate period.]
[Its core programming was restructured a long time ago.]
[It is integrated into every living being via biological relay modules.]
[Each individual is autonomously connected to the System.]
I frown.
« ...Is that supposed to be reassuring? »
[This is not a reassuring message. Merely information.]
I slowly sit up straighter, stomach tight.
« So... you wormed your way into every living creature? This isn't some recent update, it's just... how it's always been? »
[Affirmative. This structure has been considered the norm for several biological generations.]
I stare into the void, mouth slightly open.
« And no one's found that creepy? Like... some invisible entity watching you, tracking you, influencing you without you even knowing why? »
[The System's functioning is considered self-evident by the majority of conscious life forms.]
[No significant objections have been recorded.]
I let out a hollow laugh.
I stay there, mind in shambles, still digesting this biological relay story, when the synthetic voice comes back-calm. Too calm.
[...] [Additional clarification: The System activates universally at birth for all conscious creatures.]
[Identified exception: Entities born in the Great Elroe Labyrinth.]
[In this zone, environmental interference delays initial synchronization.]
[The System installs itself gradually in affected subjects.]
A chill runs up my spine. Slow. Slimy.
« Wait... the Great Elroe what? »
[...] [Current location: Great Elroe Labyrinth - Upper Layer.]
« ...That's where I've been? This whole time? »
[Affirmative.]
I fall silent, my gaze drifting into the void. Or more like into this tentacled cave that reeks of mold and death.
« So... that's why I didn't have access to this version of the System right away. Because I was born here... Or my consciousness woke up here. »
The System stays silent. Like it doesn't know whether it should answer.
I run a shaky hand through my dirty hair. Or try to, anyway.
« The Great Elroe Labyrinth... What an ugly name. Sounds like some hardcore tutorial zone. »
[...] [Correction: This area is classified as "High Lethality Domain - Not recommended for low-level entities."]
A nervous laugh slips out. Dry. A bit too high-pitched.
« Oh great. A tutorial that kills you. Classic. »
I'm still trying to figure out how I managed to live my (short) life here without ever catching the name of the place, when the System's voice comes back-just as neutral, but this time... a bit more talkative.
[...] [Additional note: 90% of living entities in the Great Elroe Labyrinth have developed a consciousness surpassing their initial cognitive level.]
[Except for newly born creatures, their intelligence is equivalent to that of the human race detected on the human continent.]
I freeze.
« Wait, wait, wait. »
I raise my hand like I'm about to stop a lecture mid-sentence.
« Did you just say... human race? »
[...] [Affirmative.]
And there it is. Against all odds, a smile bursts across my face. A real one. Not a nervous twitch, not a rage-filled smirk. A fucking genuine smile.
« There are humans here! »
I laugh. Actually laugh. It's a weird sound. I'd almost forgotten what that felt like.
« Okay. Okay, okay, okay. I'm not alone. I mean, I am. But there are people, somewhere. Real ones. Humans. »
My heart beats faster, but this time it's not fear. It's hope. A spark. Something fragile, but refusing to die.
I take a deep breath.
« Right. I've gotta get out of this shitty labyrinth. »
[...] [Exiting the Great Elroe Labyrinth: strongly discouraged.]
[Danger level: high.]
[Additional note: The Labyrinth's entities are in constant progression. The System actively supports their evolution.]
[Growth, skills, strategy: continuous improvement.]
I frown, and my smile wavers a bit.
« ...So I'm not the only one getting stronger. Everyone in here is. »
[...] [Affirmative.]
« Fuck... »
I look around at the damp silence of the Labyrinth, the dripping walls, the distant noises. This monster-infested pit isn't static. It adapts. It learns. It optimizes.
« I'm in a cage where every damn creature is min-maxing. And the System is helping them. »
I wipe a hand across my face, a bitter laugh on my lips.
« Perfect. I'm stuck in a self-evolving roguelike with no pause menu. »
But I clench my fists. Something clicks in my head. A challenge. A furious urge to defy the odds.
« Alright, if the whole world is getting more dangerous, then so will I. »
[...] [Crucial information: Even if an exit is found, it is advised not to leave the Great Elroe Labyrinth before reaching a power level considered developed.]
[Your current morphology is not compatible with human continent integration standards.]
I freeze.
« ...You mean if I leave now, I won't just die... I'll have a full-blown social identity crisis? »
[...] [Probability of rejection or hostility: high.]
I just stand there, mouth half-open, taking it in.
« So not only am I a monster, but I'm not even a good enough monster to survive outside. »
I growl. But deep down, what sticks with me is this: I need to get stronger. Fast.
But the System isn't done talking. It's decided to throw the universe's patch notes straight at my face.
[...] [The System actively supports the evolution of entities within the Great Elroe Labyrinth.]
[Targeted improvement: growth, adaptation, skill selection.]
« Yeah, I got that. You hand out bonuses when you think a creature's worth it. »
[...] [Clarification: The System only intervenes when significant potential is detected.]
[Objective: eliminate weak lineages. Retain only optimized life forms.]
I blink. A nervous laugh escapes.
« So basically, it's not 'help for all,' it's 'darwinist battle royale.' »
[...] [Affirmative.]
I slowly nod, like I'm gonna take this all in calmly. Spoiler: not happening.
« Funny, you talk about optimization, but I haven't seen a manual. Like, how do you judge 'potential'? What, do I have good IVs or something? »
[...] [The System does not reveal evaluation criteria. Only results are considered relevant.]
« Of course. Because data is for nerds, right. »
I roll my eyes-well, upward, toward the slimy ceiling of the tunnel.
[...] [Life forms identified as "human" or "demonic" receive special attention.]
[Evolution and conflict history: high growth rate.]
[Capacity to generate unexpected phenomena: marked as valuable.]
My heart skips a beat.
« You just said... humans and demons? »
[...] [Affirmative.]
And there it is again. That spark. This time, darker. Less hope, more chill down my spine. Because if they're "special," that means they're either insanely powerful... or already in the System's crosshairs.
« And me? What am I then? »
Silence.
Then...
[...] [Demi-oni - Ongoing observation status.]
[No definitive classification.]
[Potential: under evaluation.]
I smile. A tight smile. Not because that's reassuring. Just because it's better than screaming.
« Perfect. I'm a monitored bug. »
I turn toward the still-warm corpse, stomach twisted with a mix of hunger and disgust. It's gross. It's slimy. But it's there.
And I'm in no position to be picky.
« Alright... it's not like I've got a fridge hidden behind the rocks. »
I lean down, sniff a little - bad idea - then slowly move a claw closer.
« I'll analyze it, just in case... but I'm not getting my hopes up. »
[Skill level reached. Skill [Appraisal LV 1] has become [Appraisal LV 2].]
« Oh? »
Well, look at that. Turns out staring at nasty stuff pays off.
[Corpse: Elroe Frog.]
I freeze.
« ...That was a fucking frog?! »
I step back half a pace, eyes fixed on the slimy mass I just slaughtered.
« But it was my size! With poison! Frogs aren't supposed to do that! »
I sigh.
« What the hell am I supposed to do... go hunt giant mosquitoes for ecosystem balance? »
I sit down, resigned, and start cutting off a somewhat edible chunk. Sort of. If you close your eyes. And your nose.
« Bon appétit , me »