I used to live a normal life.

  Just a regur guy. Finished college, had dreams, big ones. I wanted to be rich, powerful, respected. I thought I had time to make it all happen. I was just starting to get a taste of it, that sweet, sweet success. And then boom! life pulled the rug out from under me.

  I died.

  Killed. Just like that.

  And not even for something big. It was over money. My cousin’s husband beat me to death because I didn’t have anything to give. Because his kids were hungry. Like I was the one who made them. Like I was supposed to be their wallet.

  _______________________

  “It hurts…” I muttered in the dark.

  My head felt like it was on fire. My chest was tight. Breathing was hard. It felt like I was being cooked alive from the inside.

  “Make it stop…” I groaned. “What’s happening to me?”

  Then… silence.

  When I opened my eyes, it was pitch bck. Cold, too. The kind of cold that crawls under your skin.

  I tried to move, but pain shot through every part of my body. I couldn’t even scream properly. Everything felt broken or bruised.

  “Did I really die?” I mumbled.

  Bits and pieces started coming back. The fight. The shouting. My cousin’s angry face. My blood on the floor. Yeah. That was real.

  I tried to sit up and felt something beside me. A sack? My fingers brushed against something inside there's a stone. It was warm. And glowing, just a little. Enough to be useful to lit up.

  I pulled it out and the soft light helped me see around me.

  Underground. A cave? No… a dungeon?

  As I look around, I notice something in my left. That’s when I saw it.

  A massive dead insect, right next to me.

  I nearly jumped. “What the hell is that… a giant mosquito?”

  As I leaned in, trying to look at more detail, it twitched.

  I stopped breathing. Trying be smaller, if it's still alive.

  It didn’t move again, so I slowly let out a sigh. “Okay… okay, calm down.”

  I looked inside the sack again and found a small, rusted tag. The letters were strange… but somehow I could read them.

  **Alex.**

  That name hit me like a truck.

  Suddenly, I remembered more. Memories that weren’t mine. A spoiled noble boy. Third son of some powerful house. A guy who used his name to do whatever he wanted. Arrogant. Selfish. Greedy. Until he pushed too far and got himself exiled.

  He tried to be Get revenge. Tried to explore this new dungeon to prove himself. But he came in here with no pn, no tools, no team.

  He got wrecked. By just one bug.

  He get Poisoned. Starving. Crying in the dark. Without any pns when this happens. And now… I was in his body?

  Did we merge? Did I take over? I don’t know. But I was alive, and he wasn’t anymore. That’s all that mattered now.

  I checked the sack again and smiled. “Guess being a selfish jerk has its perks.” I said as I found what I am looking for. Inside was a tiny potion bottle. I opened it and chugged it down.

  “Ugh it's bitter,” I gagged. “But damn… that feels better.” my thirst is quench for now.

  The pain faded. I stood up slowly, still weak. My leg hurt like hell.

  I looked back at the giant bug and sighed. “Sorry, pal. I need you for parts.” I grab a rock nearby. A medium size one.

  I broke off one of its legs and used a rock to shape it into a crude walking stick. Disgusting? Yeah. Useful? Also yeah.

  Few minutes ter. I started walking, the stone lighting the way. The blue light shimmers enough to see the ground and ceiling.

  The cave felt endless. The silence was scary. My stomach growled. My throat was still dry. I was tired. And pissed.

  “Dumbass,” I muttered to myself. “What made you think you could solo a dungeon, huh?” I cursed myself. Maybe Alex? I don't know.

  As I walk, I suddenly feel something else. Then I saw something in the distance. It's big, not human for sure. I froze. I put the stone in the sack and Hide behind a rock.

  I couldn’t see it clearly, but I could hear it breathing. Moving. Heavy steps. It's not simir to any animals I know.

  I started shaking. Scared and confused, I started to think any possibility, any pns for escape.

  “I wish I had a gun…” I whispered without thinking. That's when I heard a voice.

  **“Think of it.”**

  I jerked my head around. A woman’s voice? Soft, calming, but it's very creepy, but no one there. Am I hallucinating?

  Shit, maybe, maybe. But… something told me to try. Maybe I am getting crazy but let's give it a try.

  I closed my eyes and pictured a gun. A simple one. Something I saw in games or YouTube videos. A Colt 1911. Pistol. Easy to carry. powerful enough to stop something.

  As I imagine. I feel a warm air touched my skin. I opened my eyes

  A glowing box appeared in front of me.

  “No way…”

  I grab it and opened it just as the monster started roaring in the dark. Shit, shit shit.

  Inside of the box was a pistol. It's Real. Loaded and ready to use.

  “Think! Think!” I yelled at myself as I grabbed it. “Safety… where’s the safety?” I begin to panic as I feel it. I clicked it off, pulled the slide, aimed with both hands. My arms were shaking.

  The thing rushed toward me.

  I close my eyes, and pulled the trigger.

  **Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang.**

  The noise was like thunder. The kick nearly made me drop it. The smell of gunpowder filled my nose. I kept pulling the trigger.

  **Click.**

  Empty.

  Silence.

  I gasped for air. Slowly raised the mana stone. I see blood, and the smell of burning flesh. I see it. The monster was dead.

  I hit it. I actually hit it. I manage to do that. That's my first time to use a handgun.

  I look at it with the stone. It's like “A giant cockroach…” I muttered. “Gross.” I flinch as I hear something at the distance. "Looks like it's not alone." I look at the box again.

  I grabbed the two extra magazines inside the box and reloaded. Clicked the safety back on. Then I limped away, leaning on my bug-stick.

  That gunfire was loud. If anything else is in here, it knows I’m here now. This pce isn’t a game. This is real. Maybe this is my punishment, this is my hell.

  ---

  Thanks for reading it. English is my second nguage, sorry if I have some errors or misspelling. Thanks!