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One cold morning,I decided to stroll along a small stream on a nearby forest.

The original plan was just to jog around the neighborhood before the sun shows up.

But here I was, barefoot, while trodding the shallow stream.

Shivering a little as the cold water hit my skin. The water ever gently creeping up. Up towards both of my legs.

I walked about 3 meters from the banks and I noticed that the water was almost knee deep this time.

I reckon that it must have been getting deep as I move forward towards the center of the stream.

I decided to step back a little.

Some fifthteen minutes later, I spotted a cluster of gigantic boulders.

The natural rock formation was about twenty meters from where I first sighted it.

Ran towards it, I did, thus quickly reaching the area.

After climbing, I decided to sit on top of one of the biggest rock among the cluster.

"This seems like a good spot". I said as I plopped on top of the boulder.

Sitting on a lotus position up a top of a rock, I closed my eyes and started to feel the sorroundings around me.

The sun just peeked and slightly grazing the forest with its sunrays.

It was forming multiple lines of radiant columns stabbing the forest trees with its brilliance.

The forest was awake now.

Creatures of the forest like the kingfisher can be seen swooping down the cold water stream.

It just snatched a small fresh water fish.

"Alright. Time to back track."

I sort of slapped both of my cheeks with both left and right hands in sync to wake myself up.

It has been 12 days since I started playing Cefiro Online. For that twelve days total, I had died four times. That was 432 hours multiplied by four penalty inside the game. .

Shocking! I know!

Special race my ass.

Life Steal my ass.

Goddamnit demon life is hard!

I was beginning to somehow regret my decision for choosing this race.

'I could have made it easy as a human.'

*Sigh*

I was full of regret at the moment but I decided to broaden my understanding.

I needed to re-evaluate the situation.

To be able to succeed in the future, I must know what I did in the past.

First question...

What went wrong?

First, I realized that the game decided to choose my egg spawn point on a random spot of the vast dungeon floor.

I was not positive either as to which floor I'm in.

I dont know if the area only has one floor or there are many. Not sure really.

The map that I had would only show the area where I manage to uncover.

It does not indicate anywhere high or low where I really am.

The game just would not give me any clue.

It doesnt give you any free information.

"What a bitch right?" I frowned.

The good thing about dying four times though was that I managed to find something out.

The shell fragment of the egg from which I spawned from was where I respawned again after death.

I did not respawn into the beginner demon town (if there was even such an area like that here).

On my first death, the moment I respawned, I dashed like a madman to see if I can find an area where I could hide first.

I needed to secure my perimeter.

The good thing about this dashing like a madman method was that every ground I cover, the map would record it permanently on my archive.

In mere minutes I was slowly expanding my knowledge of the area terrain, together with its flora and fauna location.

The not so good part was that I also attracted unwanted companions.

The Hellwolves were there again.

Fucking level 1 of me versus level 10 of them along with their wolf pack, was so frustratingly unfair!

I died again.

No surprise there.

On my second death, I had a thought.

What if I can move my spawn point?

And so, I've decided to experiment.

The moment I appeared in the dungeon I immediately examined the egg shell fragment from which I spawned from.

I touched it and lifted the biggest broken piece.

Ding!

Do you wish to relocate your respawn point? Yes/ No?

'Fuck yeah it worked!'

'Please designate a different spawn point.'

The instruction said that I can carry the shell fragment with me.

I can then store it in my inventory and place it on an area only where I would choose to respawn again.

It didnt told me about limitation of tries, which was good since I can really find a suitable place for my next spawn point, without worrying about my tries running out.

Atleast I just needed to find an area where it was relatively safer.

'I can work with that.'

My 3rd and 4th death was dedicated to solely finding that safe spot.

After my second death, I stopped caring about dying.

Sure I will not be able to play for 3 days again but what choice do I have?

I made a lot of progress with my fourth death finally.

While evading the Hellwolves, an accidental discovery ensued.

By a freak luck, I happened to pass by a crevace along a small mountain.

It was an area up north of the dungeon.

I was about ready to explore the tiny cave but once again I was hindered.

Death came once more to me under the fangs of the fiery mutts.

I cursed at them.

I was really loathing against these creatures now.

Fast forward 12 days after my first death, I strategized inside my head, while sitting on top of a rock, on a lotus position.

I was visualizing my game plan.

I have to get inside that cave.

I have to make it happen today no matter what.!

Im so behind now with my character level and gold farm.

I wasted too much time dying.

Well, the twelve days wasnt entirely a waste of time so to speak.

In those 12 days I managed to perform some thorough check up of the house.

I found out that the roof near the kitchen area needed repairs. The water pipe at the back of the house were rusty and broken which means those needed replacements.

Some of the nipa shingles of the house are also damaged.

Lasty, the window in one of the free guestroom at the right wing side wont properly close. In short, the house was in serious need of help.

There was also the concern of my monthly upkeep.

The electric bill is coming up soon together with the water bill. Not to mention the monthly subscription for Cefiro Online as well as the bi-monthly tune up of the VR pod.

My head's spinning already from the many issues that I had yet to address.

This doesnt even include the issue as to how am I going to get my 3 meals a day in the future?

If push comes to shove, I was actually contemplating about using my tiny savings for these types of setbacks.

I just wish though that I can start earning money through this game as soon as I can.

Most likely, I will have tofu and rice for breakfast for today and for the next meals to come!

I felt like Mr.Poverty was slowly creeping in.

I believe he was almost at my doorstep.

Scary thought!

One of my greatest fear was to go hungry.

I think everyone else has this fear too Im pretty positive.

I found myself in the bathroom of my place an hour or so after that brief encounter with nature.

I washed to prepare for battle.

Twenty minutes before spawn time. I steadied my resolve.

I have to make it this time or else.

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The dungeon was dark.

The environment spells of desolation.

Pebbles and uneven rocks big to small abound were peppered everywhere.

Few eerie trees stood here and there giving the place a rather depressing aura.

Despite that, there was a sense of beauty about this terrible place.

Like an embrace of solace.

I am welcomed by such place.

"There is no time to be idle" I said inwardly.

With lightning speed movement, I opened the mini map along with a precorded information of the area.

I carried the egg shell fragment with me as I prepared myself to trudge the vast darkness.

I knew where I should go.

I dashed my level 1 ass going north with all my might. The map right beside my peripheral vision purposely expanded to assist my navigation. A glance at it from time to time to confirm my progress.

Some 12 minutes after, I can already see the X on the map that I had marked.

It was where the cave was.

"Fuck Mister Freeman, why you keep inviting these wolves to my party?"

I groaned when I knew that the Hellwolves are at my tail again.

I focused every inch of my energy towards running.

Stride by stride I'm exerting power to my legs.

I'll be damned if those damn furballs would gain on me again.

The entrance to the cave was just a stone throw away as per my estimation.

"If I follow the bend then I should be home free."

I can hear the growls of my relentless pursuers behind me.

Theyre hounding me tirelessly. Their footsteps getting louder as they approach.

"Please. Just a little more".

I pleaded for Lady Luck to smile upon me.

Hoping she would cast those smile my way today.

And smile 'she' did since I safely reached the cave.

However, Im still not out of danger.

Woof!

Woof!

Damn! I cant shake those buggers. Not even once.

I still need a nook to hide .

I started to panic.

But then I saw something from a distance.

There!

At long last I can finally see salvation.

Thankfully there was that one corner of the cave that showed a little crack on the wall.

The crack could fit my child like body from the look of things.

I quickly slid my self inside. It was very narrow but I can still move from side to side.

Moving like a crab I managed to come out into an open area on the other side of the crack.

"Guaaah!!!!"

I crashed into the ground upon coming out.

My chest was heaving rapidly.

I was panting like crazy.

Sweats dripping all over me from all those running and adrenaline rush.

Hahahahahaha!

Seitan is alive!

Im alive!

I cant help but cry deliriously.

I was in euphoria.

After 4 deaths and 12 days later, I finally had a break!

Laughing and screaming like a deranged man for a good 3 minutes or so, I finally managed to control my emotions.

I started to normalize.

I looked up towards the ceiling of the little secret cave.

Somehow it was spacious. Like a dome. There are red crystals protruding like swords on the ceiling of the dome.

All of the red crystals evoked gentle red lights.

Theyre beautiful!

And then I discovered somethingat the center of the cavern.

My eyes widened.

"What the hell?"

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