This isn't looking good.

If I could use my mana or even my body at all, this thing would be a lot more doable. For now, however, I'm a sitting duck.

I guess I might as well get a closer look at this thing. It's already in front of me after all.

It's tall, with green skin and two sharp tusks coming from its jaw. With its feet right in front of me, I've learned that this monster is not interested in the concept of hygiene.

So what I'm saying is...it's not a goblin. At least I don't think. It could be a different variant of goblin but considering the only thing it has in common with one is its green skin, I don't think that's a fair assessment.

The monster excitedly hobbled over to where my summoned demon landed after being lobbed like a fleshy baseball. It looked at it, poked it with its club, probably checking if it would react, then walked away, disinterested.

I don't know whether this thing is highly intelligent or really stupid.

The creature walked away from the non-moving eye and made its way towards me.

Once it was right over me, it poked me with its club, just as it did with the eye.

I stayed perfectly silent, unsure of whether I would be able to make a sound anyway. The creature soon gave me the answer to that question, as it bashed me on the back with the strength of what I could only compare to a small truck, forcing me to let out a grunt.

Critical Hit!

You have taken 55 damage!

The force of the blunt weapon surpassed all expectations, almost certainly leaving an already bruising mark on my back. I couldn't check for obvious reasons, but I was sure it was there.

The monster hit me again, this time definitely breaking my spine.

Critical Hit!

You have taken 69 damage!

Status Effect Gained: (Paralysis)

I would have made another sound had my lungs collected air from the last hit.

As I await the next hit that will inevitably end my life, nothing comes.

What's going on? Did it get bored of hitting me? It can't be that simple, right?

I see the creature's feet stumble away, out of sight.

Am I going to live because this thing is too stupid to finish the job? Well, maybe it's less stupidity than it is carelessness, but it's two sides of the same coin when every day is a struggle to live.

...

I've been lying in silence for about an hour now, and the pain has finally started fading. I still don't think I'll be walking anytime soon, but my mana is actually regenerating fairly quickly.

Name: Jacob Bates

Level: 6

Exp: 555/2000

Class: {Dark Magus} Race: Human Health: 59/165 Mana: 62/350 Strength: 13 Endurance: 10 Dexterity: 10 Agility: 12 Intelligence: 30 Wisdom:

20

Attribute Points:

0

Skills:

[Blood Trance] {Mire} {Summon Demon}

Titles:

[Cool Headed] [Murderer] [Monster] [Predator] [Sadist] [Traitor] {Cursed Mage} [Firebug]

My mana has gone up by 62, which is really nice. My health, however, has only gone up by less than 20. Is this what I get for only putting the bare minimum in Endurance?

...

It's been another hour, and I just realized something. The eyeball thing I summoned is still alive. I saw it twitch a second ago, and I swear I can hear something crying in my head. I've tried to tell it to give me a sign, but it just keeps laying there. At least it can't get any worse.

...

I shouldn't have said anything. A goblin just rounded the corner and I'm just hoping it doesn't see me. Nope. Too late. It found me.

...

I was saved when a pair of kobolds rushed the goblin with shortswords. It looks about evenly matched right now. I just hope they can keep at it until my mana is back.

...

The fight only lasted 10 minutes. The kobolds won, but not by much. One of them got stabbed where I assume to be the abdomen and looks to be bleeding out. They are going to die if they don't get help soon.

...

The healthier kobold picked up its friend after its failed attempts to stop the bleeding and is now running away. Is it bringing it back to its group for help?

...

My mana is just 100 away from being full now. My health, however, is still just barely below 100. Is this really how fast my health regenerates? It might have to do with this mana deprivation thing, though I'm not sure.

...

I'm pleasantly surprised with the sound of something weakly whispering in my ear.

"I'm sorry...master..."

Where were you?

"I was put into my (False Death) state master..." It answered.

And what exactly is that?

"It's when my body fakes its death after a large amount of damage is sustained..."

Hmm...that's probably why the big green thing didn't care to attack you anymore. That doesn't mean it didn't attack me though...

"I'm truly sorry for that master..."

It's an automatic response, right? Don't worry about it. As long as you can prove your worth by protecting me until my mana reaches its peak. Think you can do that?

"I believe I'm capable of that, yes."

Great. Start by floating higher in the air to get a vantage point above the shelves. If you see any roaming monsters, try to deter them from this area. Got it?

"Affirmative..."

With that, the eyeball creature floated higher and higher, until it reached the ceiling.

Hopefully that's settled for now.

...

My mana will be full in a few more minutes, but what concerns me is that my health is still a good 50 away from being full, itself.

I suppose I can finally make use of that vial of goblin blood I've been saving. Also, there's a fresh goblin corpse right here. Might as well make use of it.

...

The second my mana ticked to full, I felt my body loosen up, no longer binding me from the inside.

I tried to move my arms and legs, but neither would budge. Oh yeah, I'm paralyzed. Yay...

...

My health is ticking up much faster than it was before. I guess my health regeneration really did have to do with that mana deprivation thing.

...

As I waited for my health to slowly make its way to being full, I noticed something. I felt a connection suddenly break. It was as if a small chunk of my mind suddenly disappeared.

ALERT!

Your summoned familiar has been slain!

Familiar: {Lvl. 3 Beholder} sent to summoning dock.

Engraving familiar signature for future summons.

Familiar Death Message:

"Danger...up..."

That isn't good.

I take heed of my familiar's last words and look up.

What I see is the underside of a boot, and my vision goes black for the third time today.