Level-Up Apocalypse: Surviving With The Assimilation System

There wasn't much of a choice as Finn caught himself, kicking both feet into the air not just to jump to his feet, but to push the fighter back.

Just as his feet touched the grass, what felt like a truck ramming against the bridge of his nose greeted him.

The impact sent him stumbling back, unable to catch his footing as it felt like his whole face was on fire.

"Still on your feet? Better than I expected," Seung said, waving his fist.

Finn stood there, looking at the grass as tears welled in his eyes from having his nose nearly sent to the back of his skull. Blood dripped onto the verdant blades of grass below.

Even still, the pain wasn't quite enough; he felt he needed more. He deserved more, for letting another friend die; for being insufficient yet again.

'I'm a half-assed piece of shit. I didn't learn after what happened, Damian. I was too weak again,' he lamented.

After all, those were the standards he held himself to.

These thoughts swirled like a fog in his mind, bringing him to grab the crooked bridge of his nose before—

Crack.

"Pyf—"

A sharp jolt traveled from his face and throughout his body as he tugged his dislodged nose back in place.

Finn straightened himself out with an exhale, using his arm to wipe the blood from his nose as he looked ahead, "Alright. Let's get back to it."

"If you want more broken bones, that's fine by me," Seung accepted, though it looked as though he expected the skirmish to already be over.

This time, he met the man halfway, not even attempting to dodge as he wildly threw his fist forward as well. Any attempt to use technique or mitigate his own damage received was suppressed.

"Ghh!—"

"Hah—"

Both connected at the same time, though Finn felt himself punching a brick wall while he himself was hit by a hammer.

Being hit a second time, he could taste copper on his tongue. Finding his balance was like trying to stay still on wet ice, hearing the yells of Charlotte at the window overlooking the forest clearing.

"Haa…" He exhaled before spitting out the blood that filled his mouth.

Seung breathed out, looking unfazed himself as he glanced to the side, "You done yet? Don't think there's anything else to—"

Before another word could escape, Finn tossed his fist square against the crusher's face. He put his entire body weight into that punch, practically throwing himself at Seung.

Jasper watched from the second story of the towering manor, whistling at the solid hit, "Nice one, mate."

It definitely caught Seung off-guard, as the steel wall of a man took a step back, holding his hand out as blood dripped from his nose and onto his palm.

"I felt that one. Hah!" Seung laughed.

The joy from the brawler left Finn a bit confused, though found himself at least able to find some enjoyment as well. He was beginning to learn something about himself, perhaps a concerning part of him that he didn't want to admit.

As he found a sense of joy, retaliation came before he could even raise his arms. He found the brawler right in front of him, swinging his fist with such ferocity it felt as though a rhino charged him head-on.

Those knuckles rammed against his cheekbone with terrible strength, blowing spit and blood out of his mouth.

["When I'm fighting and my heart is beating in my ears, I feel good. It's when I feel in control—whether it's with my daggers or just my fists, I'm free. That pain dulls everything else."]

It was only one blink from being on his feet to staring up at the illuminated, soft-blue leaves, feeling the grass at his back.

"I'm weak," he admitted with blood trickling down his nose.

Only a moment of laying there was enough for the brief distraction to wash away as the emotions dwelling within him resurfaced.

"I'm goddamn weak—I can't protect a single thing. All I do is tell myself I'll do everything in my power, but I don't do a damn thing until it's too late. I'm half-assed to the core," Finn pushed the truth he felt out while laying there, not caring for his bloodied nose or gums.

Amidst his confession to himself, he found his view of the glowing trees above blocked by the man looking down at him.

Seung extended a hand down with a raised eyebrow, "'Nuff of the sorry shit. You're weak, but you have some fire."

He was hesitant to accept the brawler's helping him, expecting another punch to the nose as he grasped his hand. Instead, as soon as their hands met, he was tugged right up to his feet in one motion.

"Thanks?" Finn confusedly said.

Before he could even gather himself or let go of the hand that helped him up, he was tugged closed, brought face-to-face with the smirking man.

"If you wanna be strong and forget all that whimpering, I can teach you how to really level up," the offer came from the hot-headed man.

"Err—?" Finn raised an eyebrow, unsure of what to think.

Being on the receiving end of those dazzling, silver irises, it was suffocating being in the presence of somebody as intense, yet scarily attractive as Seung.

The man of princely features, yet blemished by scars, let go of the assassin's hand before giving him a slap on the shoulder, "When morning rises, meet me out here—I'll show you how to level like a real man."

"What? Wait, what about—" Finn tried to ask.

"Not them," Seung rejected the idea before it could be proposed. "Just us. Don't worry—we'll be back before they even wake up. Sound like a plan?"

While it seemed equally shady and reckless, there was no doing that the man in front of him was in another league of strength from himself.

"Listen, just sleep on it—if you're not out here before the leaves turn gold, I'm heading out myself," Seung told him before heading back inside the manor.

For some time, he caught his breath outside amongst the watchful trees. There was still throbbing in his face, feeling the aftermath of just a few blows from the abrasive brawler.

As he felt his nose, which was already sore to the touch, he was greeted by the long-haired Aussie.

"You took it like a champ, mate. Even gave him a good couple of smackas to the face—bam! Nice going," Jasper assured him, slinging his arm around Finn's shoulder.

"I think that's a nice way of saying I got my ass kicked," Finn walked arm-in-arm with him with a small laugh.

"Chin up, mate. I know you're beating yourself up over what happened—I am too. He made a choice though. Magnus wasn't the kind of guy to regret what he did," Jasper spoke honestly.

"You're right. I know that, it's just…I don't want to be in a situation again where that sort of choice needs to be made," Finn said, passing the threshold into the old elf's abode.

Jasper nodded, "Same here, mate."

There wasn't a whole lot said between anybody as they settled into their beds in the tree-turned-inn. He still had yet to see the old elf again as he settled into a bed.

"Ashuuu…"

"Haaa…"

Of course, both Nova, Jasper, and Seung had already fallen asleep with their snores on full blast. Though while Nova had a more gentle, quiet sound, Jasper's was more pronounced with Seung's being tenfold louder like that of a hibernating bear.

Finn sat there on the bed, not yet sleeping as too much was laid on his mind; it was hard to sleep with thoughts swirling in his mind like a whirlpool.

"Can't sleep?"

He looked over as he was quietly asked, seeing that Charlotte was still awake herself, though tucked into bed already.

"Can you blame me?" He said, scooting himself to the edge of the bed to bring himself closer to the young woman.

Charlotte sat up, slightly shaking her head, "No, I'm not having such an easy time myself. I…It doesn't get easier over time, does it? Losing somebody, I mean."

There was some silence as the question stirred up plentiful memories, bringing him to slowly nod, "Not really. I think all that gets easier is how quickly you can jump back up and keep going after it happens. Besides that, it'll always stick with you."

"I guess I thought as much…He didn't always show it, but he was kind and meant the best for us all," Charlotte quietly grieved, bringing her hands together.

"Yeah, he was a helluva guy," Finn agreed while sitting there. "Get some sleep, alright?"

"You too," Charlotte pointed his request back at him.

"I'll try," Finn assured her, laying himself down on the bed while looking up at the tree of tree roots.

As he laid there, the exhaustion he didn't acknowledge until that moment took hold, not even needing a single minute before his consciousness faded.

["Dreamwalking Initiated…Entering Faraway World"]

"Ah?"

It only felt as though he closed his eyes for a moment before finding them open again, though to a vastly different view than the quiet roof of the treehouse. Instead, he found himself in a colorful, bright world, sitting in a chair with a tea table.

"G'morning, sleeping beauty! Did you have a good rest?"

A moment was needed for him to adjust, blinking a few times before acknowledging the person sitting across from him that had greeted him eccentrically.

The pale-skinned man with fuzzy, orange hair and a ridiculous, verdant tophat sat there, staring at him with a cup of freshly-brewed tea in his hands.

"You–" Finn confusedly said.

"Me!" The man with skin like that of a clown responded.