Chapter 10

When I woke up, I wasn't in front of the safe zone's save point, but back in the cave where I first met the black tiger.

I did some stretching and flexibility exercises on the spot to check how my body was doing.

Well, there's no need to panic about dying anymore. Honestly, getting used to dying as a human is a bit strange, but as long as I can still die, it's not a bad idea to get used to it.

Not reviving at the save point but here was exactly as planned.

If the game creator is enjoying this, then I'll use all the knowledge I have as a gamer to deal with it. Save points are a very convenient feature, but once you save there, you can't go back to before that point. This isn't a problem if you can save multiple times, but in a game that only allows one save, it's something you need to be very careful about.

I've experienced games where, if you save before a boss fight, you can't clear it because you lack necessary items or levels, which is a really nasty design. In such cases, it's better not to save before a boss fight.

My current situation, where I'm challenging with my real body, is the epitome of that. If this game is designed to make you die from the very beginning, I need to be suspicious and take extra precautions.

Choosing to level up was a process of elimination, based on the assumption that I would die and come back. I was worried that my level would reset when I died, but the message on the glass panel said:

--- However, you can only choose one at a time, and the effect is etched into your soul, so it won't disappear even if you die ---

If I believe this, then the level-up effect won't disappear even if I die. Since you can only choose one at a time, it also means that if I come back multiple times, I can choose one each time.

So, if I ignore the save point and defeat the black tiger again, I should get another reward. I thought this and decided to act on it, and it seems I made the right choice.

"Well, for that to happen... I have to fight and win again."

I couldn't help but smile wryly at the familiar black tiger's appearance. After a close battle, I have to risk my life and fight the same opponent again. It's so reckless that it's almost foolish. But this is necessary to survive until the end. The level-up effect is still there, and my body feels much lighter than before.

I shouldn't be careless, but I should be able to do better than last time.

With my smartphone and ballpoint pen, my two main weapons, I was ready. I approached the black tiger as I did before and stabbed the ballpoint pen into the spot where it lunged. With my physical abilities more than doubled, I should be able to do this more easily than before.

As I closed the distance, the black tiger crouched low.

Alright, that's the preparatory movement before it lunges. The flash on my smartphone is ready. Come on, anytime!

With the next step, I would be within the range it lunged last time. Alright, here I go!

...Why isn't it coming? It's crouching and growling, "Grrrrr!" This is a new pattern.

Is it being cautious? Why now? I'm moving the same way as before. Why is it different?

My legs stopped at this unfamiliar situation. Why is it like this this time? Nothing has changed from before. I'm coming back from death, so nothing, nothing... No, something has changed. I've leveled up.

Maybe it's because of the "presence detection" ability I got as a reward? That ability might allow it to sense my strength. It's just a guess, but it feels right.

Damn, this is troublesome. Even with my physical abilities doubled, I don't think I can defeat it in a real fight. But I have to.

Since I can blind it, I have to work from there.

More determined than ever, I stared at the black tiger.

It's still big. But I'm not scared, not scared. I'll close the distance a bit more...

I took two steps forward and, the moment I felt the tiger's body move, I took a picture with my smartphone.

"Roar!"

Before the familiar scream, I switched from the ballpoint pen to the deodorant spray and threw it into the black tiger's mouth.

It screamed and opened its mouth, which I had already anticipated. Thanks to the level-up, the deodorant spray flew straight into its mouth.

The sound of the can being bitten and then the can exploding followed.

The explosion forced the tiger's mouth open, and the force of the explosion tore its mouth apart.

"Ooooh!"

The black tiger's face burst into flames, and it thrashed on the ground. It must have been trying to put out the fire that had spread all over its body. It rolled on the ground, but its movements gradually weakened... and after a while, it became a charred corpse, emitting black smoke.

I didn't let my guard down and, as before, confirmed that it was dead.

The highly flammable fur burned better than I imagined. I didn't think it would actually burn. I had considered that it would suffer from the explosion and the contents of the spray, but I didn't expect it to be this effective.

Still, it burned too much. It was like it had been doused in oil. Maybe I didn't know, but spray cans can be this dangerous. I've heard of fires starting from them.

I feel a bit bad about what I did to the black tiger, but this is the law of the jungle. I have to survive, so I hope it can accept this as a sacrifice.

This time, I didn't leave the black tiger's corpse and dragged its leg to the door.

"Damn, it's still incredibly heavy!"

With my improved physical abilities, I can barely drag it, but before the level-up, I wouldn't have been able to move it at all.

"Huff, huff, huff, this is the most tiring thing I've done since I got here..."

I opened the door and went in with the charred corpse.

The wounds heal, but the corpse doesn't come back to life. The black tiger remained charred.

I placed it gently in the corner and checked the glass panel.

The text that appeared when I touched it was mostly the same as before, except for one part. The reward section had only one change. The text that said, "One level-up and improved physical abilities by defeating the black tiger" was completely gone. Once chosen, the reward disappears. It's not that easy.

Without hesitation, I chose "heat resistance." There's no doubt that this is the ability I need for the next stage.

I then checked my status on the adjacent glass panel.

Special Abilities: "Guts" 3, "Heat Resistance" 1

Life Points: 92/100

The changes are there. My Life Points are down by 1, and my "Guts" have increased.

It seems that Life Points are tied to the number of deaths.

I checked the text on the left glass panel again, and there was another change. One of the black tiger's special abilities can be taken. The options were "presence detection," "night vision," "dissolving liquid," and "roar," with "heat resistance" missing.

"Alright, alright, alright!"

I couldn't help but smile.

By accepting death and preparing for the battle with the black tiger each time, I can gradually gain its special abilities. The winning pattern with improved physical abilities was established in this battle. As long as I don't make any major mistakes, I should be able to win.

"Still, the premise is that I'll die from dehydration..."

Of course, I don't want to die. The correct strategy is to die at least six more times to get all the special abilities, then recover my Life Points and get an explanation of the current situation.

To do that, I have to experience that suffering many times.

"Damn it. In reality... you can't get used to dying..."

The moment of death, when everything goes dark and the heat leaves my body. I've tried to convince myself that I've gotten used to dying after experiencing it multiple times, but that's not possible.

It's pathetic. As soon as I felt a bit more relaxed, the fear of death came rushing back.

I've died eight times already.

If possible, I want to clear the next stage without dying. Well, I've already died once.

I'm tempted to save, but I can't, not yet. I need to endure. After making sure to hydrate myself thoroughly and soaking my suit, I prepared to move.

It's a bit harder to move, but it's necessary to survive.

"Complaining won't do any good. I need to steel myself!"

I dragged the black tiger's corpse out of the door. Once the charred corpse was completely outside, the double doors closed automatically.

I felt the heat was much milder this time. It's still very hot, but I can endure it for a longer time than before.

I pushed the black tiger's corpse out of the path, and it instantly turned to charcoal.

If I jump out with my real body, I'll die instantly.

"Spending more time here is a waste. Let's go!"

This time, I ran at a much faster speed without being cautious. With my physical abilities more than doubled and the effect of "Guts" added, I can endure three times as long as before... or so I hope!

"Good going, yeah, I can do this, I can do this!"

I ran frantically, absorbing the water from my soaked suit.

I could feel my stamina being drained by the heat, but I can still go. I can still do this. I'm lasting more than twice as long as before.

I'll keep going, keep going, and overcome this stage.

My breathing is labored, and my lungs feel like they're burning, but I have to endure.

Stopping means death.

Even if my vision blurs, my throat dries out, and my skin cracks...

I can still, I can still, I can still, I can still walk...