Chapter 92: Chapter92-Stabbed by whom?

I decided to close my eyes and rest for a bit, planning to set up a strategy later. Slowly, I started to drift off... Just as I was about to fall asleep, a ringing sound echoed in my mind, and a virtual screen suddenly appeared in front of me. When I opened my eyes to see what was on the screen, my eyes widened, and a shiver ran down my spine as I read the message. "What the heckkkkk?" [Host, the Zone will stop shrinking within 3 hours, ultimately leaving an area of 3 to 4 kilometers!] [Host, the number of High rank monsters has been increased to match the actual quest level!] [Good luck!] "System, if you were a girl, I'd have f*cked you by now," I thought to myself. Damn it... I was frustrated by the sudden messages... I already had immense tension from not having a plan, and now this added another problem to my plate. My mind was racing, and the stress was almost palpable. I took a moment to calm myself, taking deep breaths, knowing that a hot head wouldn't help me think clearly. I needed to approach this with a cool mind. I then carefully examined the messages one by one, making sure I didn't miss anything important. Each word could be critical, and I couldn't afford to overlook any detail. Hmm, so I have 3 hours... But I still had many questions swirling in my mind, including concerns about the area and, others... I inquired, "System, what will the final range be?" "Three or four kilometers?" The difference might seem small, but in this situation, every kilometer was crucial for my survival. I needed to gather as much information as possible, understanding that each kilometer could mean the difference between life and death. [Sorry, host, no information about this quest can be provided. If I gave you details, it would make the quest too easy to clear.] Fuck you... After cursing the system, I sighed, having already anticipated that reply... It wasn't hard to guess, considering the system had been with me since I first arrived in this world... Returning to the current situation, the system's refusal to provide answers only added to my troubles. How? My main concern was to ask about the number of high-rank monsters that would spawn within 3 hours. I wanted to know their numbers because, if I knew their quantity, I could easily decide whether to participate in the upcoming fight or not, given that I had been stuck in the gold rank for far too long. The uncertainty made planning nearly impossible, and the stakes were too high to go in unprepared... Frustration grew as I mutterred, "At this rate, I might not even be able to come up with a good survival plan." Still, the system gave me an interesting clue. Its hesitation to give the exact final range suggested that knowing the exact area could really help my chances of survival. It almost seemed like the system knew something about the future or thought its predictions would be more accurate if it gave me more details. For now, with so few details, I had to make the most of whatever I had to ensure my survival and, gain more EXPs... First, I needed to check the time. I hurriedly checked my watch to see how much time I had remaining. Name: Michael Frostburne Total Rules Broken: 1 Current Rules Broken: 0 Time: 9:30 a.m. Alright, so the zone will stop shrinking precisely at 12:25 a.m. I had almost three hours to get ready and, of course, to come up with a solid plan. I closed my eyes again and thought deeply about every detail. I decided to focus completely on making my plan and not let myself get distracted by thinking about what might happen in the future. *** Twenty minutes later, while I was deeply engrossed in my planning, a sudden knock pulled me back to reality. I quickly checked my watch and saw it was 9:50 a.m. With only ten minutes left until the one-hour mark, it was clear that whoever was at the door needed me urgently. I hurried to the door, wondering who it could be. It had to be Lia, the Smith brothers, or others. I didn't think anyone else would come with such urgency about my duty. Taking a deep breath, I opened the door, ready to see who was there. "So, what do" I began, but my words were cut off as I felt a sudden, searing pain in my stomach. What the hell? This pain... My eyes widened in shock as I looked down to see a dagger lodged in my abdomen, blood pouring out in alarming amounts. My stomach? Blood everywhere? What's happening? Was I stabbed? How did this happen? I lifted my head and saw that the person in front of me was neither Lia nor the Smith brothers. A rebel? It was a rebel, his face hidden by a blue mask, eyes cold and determined. How did he get in here? Didn't Allen say the security was top-notch? Then how did this happen? Damn it, why am I even thinking about security now? My stomach is stabbed, blood is pouring out, and here I am, arguing with myself? But wait, why don't I feel any pain? I immediately regretted that thought because as soon as I had it, my adrenaline wore off, and a wave of pain hit me like a tsunami. All of this happened in mere seconds. I painfully gritted my teeth, suppressing a scream of agony as I willed my daggers to materialize from my inventory. They appeared in my hands, and I lashed out at the rebel, slashing wildly despite the intense pain. He immediately retreated, putting some distance between us with his daggers raised, ready for a fight. His eyes never left me, and he took a defensive stance. But I had no intention of fighting. Seizing the moment of his retreat, I used it to my advantage. I slammed the door shut with a bang, not giving him any chance to attack me further. Locking the door quickly, I then collapsed to the floor. Too much blood had already spilled from my stomach, and the effort of moving made me dizzy. Blood pooled around me, staining the entrance, the door, and the floor. I struggled to stay conscious, but the blood loss was taking its toll. My vision blurred, and I knew it was only a matter of time before I passed out and potentially died. I immediately opened my inventory, frantically searching for the last Ace rank potion I had saved for emergencies. Damn it, I don't have much time left. I need to find it fast. While I was trying to find the potion, the rebel kept pounding on my door, hoping to break it down and kill me easily. He was relentless, but the door wasn't made of wood or any soft material, so it would take him quite some time to break it down. But would he even be able to break it? Despite everything, I had to remind myself: it wasn't my fault! It was absolutely not my fault! I kept telling myself this because I believed that even if I had checked before opening the door instead of making assumptions, the outcome might have been the same. How could I have known? I didn't know what was happening outside, so even if I went out, I'd still face others, which would likely mean getting seriously injured same like this way... Coming back... It didn't take long before I found the potion. With trembling hands, I took it out and opened it, ready to drink. But just as the first drop was about to touch my lips, my strength gave out. I collapsed to the floor, the bottle slipping from my grasp. Ehh? What happened? Why did I fall down so suddenly? Wasn't I fine just a moment ago? I tried moving my body, but nothing happened. I couldn't movenot even my hands or legs. Why can't I move? Move, move, damn it... No matter how hard I tried, nothing changed. My limbs remained motionless. It was as if I were paralyzed. Panic surged through me as I struggled to comprehend what was happening. Has my body lost all its energy from so much blood loss? But, why now? Why couldn't this have happened a few minutes later? My mind raced, but my body lay still, unresponsive to my desperate commands. The potion spilled onto the floor, the precious liquid scattering uselessly as my vision began to fade. Now, what should I do? My vision could fade at any moment... I need to think... Think, Michael, think. Desperation clawed at me as I lay there, bleeding out on the floor. The precious potion was so close yet so far. Yeah, I can do that, right? I tried crawling, using 100% of my strength, and was surprisingly successful as I managed to move little by little... But can I even get there? Though the distance between me and the liquid wasn't much, it still seemed daunting in my weakened state. I waited a few seconds, hoping for a suitable idea to come to me, but the dizziness started hitting harder and harder... My mind screamed at me to move, to do somethinganythingto save myself. So, I did what I was best at: I stopped thinking, closed my mind to everything else, and focused solely on motion. Summoning every ounce of strength I had left, I began to crawl, inching my way toward the spilled potion. Each movement sent waves of pain through my body, but I gritted my teeth and pushed on. The floor beneath me was slick with blood, making it even harder to move, but I refused to give up. Slowly, painfully, I dragged myself forward, my vision blurring and my limbs feeling like lead. Finally, I reached the scattered liquid. With no other options left, I slowly began to lick the liquid of the healing potion off the floor. It was disgusting since my blood had mixed with the potion. But it was my own blood, so I didn't have a problem with that... I tilted my head from side to side, trying to lap up as much of the potion as possible. Each lick was slow and deliberate, ensuring every drop made its way into my mouth and down my throat. The taste was bitter, but I swallowed it down, desperate for its healing effects. After spending several uncomfortable minutes licking the dirty floor, trying to gather every bit of the spilled potion, I finally felt it beginning to work. It's working, it working... As the potion spread through my system, I felt a warmth radiate from my core. Ughh, this feeling... The pain in my stomach began to subside, replaced by a soothing sensation that spread through my body. My vision cleared, and I felt my strength slowly returning. The bleeding stopped, and I could feel my wound knitting itself back together. Breathing heavily, I leaned against the wall, grateful to be alive. The potion had done its job, but I knew I couldn't stay in the floor... There was still a rebel outside the door, and I needed to be ready. For now, I allowed myself a moment of relief, savoring the feeling of the potion's magic working through me. But my mind was already racing, planning my next move. Now that my health is back, I'm ready to fight, but I'm not going to rush outside recklessly. Even though I'm feeling better, I still don't know my opponent's rank or skills, so heading out isn't an option. I'll wait here until he breaks the door. I still can't believe he has so much patience. If it were anyone else, they'd have given up and gone after someone else by now. What's this guy's deal? Why is he so determined to kill me? Do I have a bounty on my head or something? If not, what's his reason? After a few moments of thinking, I let it go and prepared myself with both daggers, ready for whatever comes next. But then suddenly...