Episode 2. Become the Main Character (3)

Vince's head flew off.

The bandits were annihilated.

And the inevitable happened,

[You have died.]

Damn, how many times have I died now?

Even seeing a bloodbath doesn't phase me anymore. I just end up thinking, "Damn, again?"

I’m now confident enough to write a thrilling battle scene in my novels. Well, more like a scene where the main character dies...

[You have died.]

[Your soul has entered a comatose state.]

[Tentacles from the abyss gaze upon you.]

Tentacles staring at me in pitch darkness, voices wailing as if in agony.

—Come here. To this place.

—You too. Soon. Like this.

No matter how many times I see it, I can never get used to this horrifying moment in this damned death.

[Barely escaped the abyss. 500 dust deducted.]

[The story restarts.]

[Remaining dust: 900]

I gasped for breath and looked up to find the desert again.

I didn’t die this time.

Seeing the pop-up about 'dust' or whatever, I thought to myself.

Was this the reason?

For some reason, whenever I do something, I receive 'dust' from these 'stars.'

It feels similar to the 'donations' that steamers receive.

What's clear is that every time I die, this 'dust' decreases, and I revert back to the moment before dying... It's an unsettling feeling, like buying life with money.

"Hey, Lance. Hurry up. The boss is waiting."

In short, as long as I have dust, I can come back to life multiple times.

Of course, that doesn’t mean I want to keep dying.

"Aaaaah! Where are you going?"

Vince's face recedes into the distance as I run with all my might.

Sorry, bandit lackey number one. But what can I do?

If you stay there, your head will fly off.

[Some stars are disappointed by your cowardice.]

[300 dust deducted.]

Be disappointed all you want.

Do you think I'll die again?

According to the settings, the main character can annihilate the entire band with a single swing of his sword.

Especially after seeing the main character’s combat power in the previous episode, I had no reason to stay there any longer.

His overall combat power was 2281.

Mine was 5.

How am I supposed to beat him in such a situation?

Swoosh!

Thud!

[You have died.]

Damn it.

[Barely escaped the abyss. 500 dust deducted.]

[Remaining dust: 100]

The horrific scene flashes like a panorama, and once again, the vast desert unfolds. Vince, oblivious to his future, speaks to me again.

"Hey, Lance. Hurry up. The boss is waiting."

"Whaaaaaaat! Damn it!"

"What? Are you crazy?"

It's an endless loop.

No matter what I do, I can't escape.

Whether I run or fight, I end up dead.

Because this is that kind of 'story.' He's the main character of the novel, and I'm just an extra. It’s only natural that I can't win no matter what I do.

Now I only have 100 dust left.

What happens if I fall into the abyss without enough dust?

Will I be devoured by that monster?

Failed in the literary world, failed on the platform, and now I'm about to end my life in such a fantastical place without leaving behind a decent work.

It’s unbelievable.

What did I do wrong?

[Author skill 'Inferiority Complex' activates.]

[Self-deprecation decreases your mental strength.]

Even my skills aren't helping in this situation.

And why on earth is it named 'Inferiority Complex'?

[Very few stars enjoy your self-deprecation and pay 100 dust.]

[Some stars are frustrated by your self-deprecation.]

[100 dust deducted.]

They're making a racket. And what's with giving it and then taking it away?

I sighed and looked around.

Vince with his clueless face and some bandits were walking ahead without knowing what’s coming for them.

I need to find a solution.

The enemy is too strong, and there’s no way to escape.

No matter what I do, the main character follows me like a reaper and chops off my head.

Think, Lee HakHyun.

There has to be a way.

I recalled the contents of Yu ChanYoung's novel.

This scene where my head keeps falling off is definitely from the prologue of Yu ChanYoung's novel.

The introduction of the munchkin where the reincarnated character kills passing bandits to steal their artifact and amplify his spiritual power... Wait a minute.

"Lance, you have the Upper Soul, right? It would be troublesome if you lose it. That's why we gave it to you, the weakest looking one, to keep it safe."

I have something on me?

I absentmindedly search my pockets and find a sphere emitting a brilliant, multicolored light.

[Artifact Information]

Name: Upper Soul

Grade: S

Type: Consumable

Description: A rare soul elixir developed by ancient sorcerers. It greatly enhances the consumer’s spiritual power.

One of the four great elixirs of the continent, it has the downside of unequally boosting abilities.

Reading the item description, a ringing echoes in my head.

Why didn’t I think of this before?

In the midst of a sandstorm, I saw the main character with sharp eyes approaching.

I didn’t hesitate for long.

Why should the main character be the only one to consume it?

"Hey, what the hell are you doing!"

As Vince shouted, a brilliant array of colors burst from my mouth. A warm sensation flew down my throat and spread granularly throughout my body.

I already feel stronger.

Hahaha, how about that?

But the elation was short-lived. A burning sensation in my lower abdomen soon spread like lava through my veins and started an excruciating pain.

Oh no.

The pain was so intense that I couldn't even scream.

Every pulse of blood felt like a giant steel plate smashing inside my head.

Am I going to die before I even fight, just from taking the drug?

Eventually, the hot energy that had circulated through my body gathered back in my lower abdomen.

[Your spiritual power greatly increases!]

The bandits, confused and cursing, didn’t matter to me.

Is this what 'cleansing the meridians and penetrating the channels' in martial arts novels feels like?

Suddenly, I feel an overwhelming power surging through my body.

[Overall combat power has increased.]

[A few stars are pleased with your judgment and pay you 500 dust.]

My vision broadens.

With my senses expanded, I begin to perceive things I hadn't before.

Vince’s breathing.

The movements of the bandits drawing their swords.

The whispering of the wind and the presence of desert insects.

And—

Swoosh!

The movement of the flying dagger.

Vince's head shatters, the bandits' necks fly, and the enraged main character's sword comes at me.

Clang!

The shocked expression of the main character is visible.

Yeah, kid, surprised?

This time, it’s going to be different.

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