Once they succumb to their injuries I once again sense a mysterious source of energy growing inside of me.
[LEVEL UP]
"What?"
[You have leveled up due to acquiring the needed EXP requirements]
"What happens when I level up?"
[You gain the ability to allocate POINTS to your overall stats to increase a specific STAT]
"How do I know my current status?"
[Simply say "Status Window" and you will be able to see your personal information]
"Status Window"
[Name : Ben Wilson
Lvl : 2
EXP : 0 / 50
HP : 30 / 30
MP : 0 / 0
Points : 3
STR : 3
DEX : 7
INT : 5
LCK : 4 ]
"Did I level up by killing these Woompas?"
[Yes]
"What was that weird sense of energy I felt within me?"
[That was EXP from killing the Woompas]
"What are the conditions to get EXP?"
[Any life that the Abyss creates will give EXP when killed]
Let's think this through if I keep gaining EXP I can get stronger, if I get stronger I can delve down into the abyss without having to worry, and the deeper I go the closer I am to learning the unknown. With a somewhat achievable plan, I can't help but smile as I can see the steps needed to be taken to reach my dream.
But that smile quickly shifted to sadness as my stomach is now roaring due to hunger, I quickly looked around to see if the Woompas had any food on them but as I do so I could only see their bodies merging into the ground.
"What the heck is happening to the bodies?"
[The abyss is using their bodies as a means of returning energy to itself]
"For what reason?"
[Energy can not be created nor destroyed therefore since the abyss created them they will now transfer the energy back into the abyss]
"Sounds reasonable enough, what if someone like me dies, what happens to my body?"
[You too will be used to return energy into the abyss since the abyss has given its energy to you]
"Wait so if Descenders have the abyss's energy does that mean they too will give EXP when killed?"
[YES]
So you can get EXP by either killing the life within the abyss or those who descend it, good to know.
I stare at the bodies that were now completely absorbed into the ground but as they merged I notice what looks like a cube left behind. When picked up I notice that the color is gray, the size is equal to the palm of m hand, and its weight is surprisingly weightless.
"What's this?"
[That's a loot]
"Do all life left behind loots"
[Yes but it is now always guaranteed]
"So there's a chance it will drop loots and a chance it won't"
[YES]
"How do I use this loot?"
[Look at it and choose yes]
"Look at it and choose yes?"
I look at the cube and a small window popped asking if I would like to open the loot, as I follow what was instructed I chose yes. Upon doing so the cube opens up from the top side and what I got is a small red crystal.
"Now what can I do with this? Is this edible?"
[That is a blood crystal that restores a small amount of health]
"Useful but right now I'm more hungry than hurt so what else can these loots give?"
[Depending on its rarity it can give you food or even an item]
"So my only choice is to kill more things until I can eventually find one that gives me food? I can't simply just cook the things I kill down here?"
[You can cook and consume the life but you won't gain any loot since they'll need to be consumed by the abyss for you to receive a loot]
"What a weird way of life down here"
"Wait a minute, if I kill the Borga wouldn't the body be consumed by the abyss?"
[YES]
"Then what's the point of killing it if i's just gonna get consumed by the abyss before I could even use it as a sleeping bag?"
I angrily say to the System who was the one who suggested that I take shelter within a Borga, the apex creature of floor 1.
[It will take 10 hours for the body to completely emerge with the abyss]
"But those Borga took about 5 minutes to be consumed by the abyss"
[That is because they weren't that strong due to their low level]
"So let me get this right the stronger or higher level you are the longer it will take for the abyss to consume you?"
[YES]
"I'm guessing that's due to the accumulation of EXP within the body?"
[YES]
I was hoping we could change the plan of having to kill a Borga and sleep within it but now that I know how the abyss works my last hope of finding an alternative was quickly swept away. As I turn towards the direction of the Borga my stomach who was fine a minute ago was now causing a sharp pain within me due to its need for food.
If I fight the Borga as I am now I highly doubt I will win so I guess the best option would be to first get some food.
"I guess I'll hunt some more creatures until I find some supplies of food and hopefully water as well."
I quickly ran towards the forest while leaving some marks to help me return back to the spot where the Borga was sleeping at, as some time go by I managed to find an Acu.
Acu is a medium-sized two-legged creature who has a medium body but a small head at one end and a short tail on the other are known for their speed, luckily they aren't known for attacking anything near them.
Without much thought, I sprinted at the Acu with my knife gripped tightly and a smile on my face.