Not a Game Anymore

Burned?

By now I was level 48, twice as high as normal players. I was on floor 24, the Dragon's Lair. As I wondered carefully through the rocky area, I fought off small dragons, looking for the big one. After about an hour of just walking, I brought up my menu. The time was 4:29 pm and it had already been a month and a half. I then brought up my map. Great. I was lost... Ugh... That is the last thing I needed right now in a situation like this! Especially when I'm in a place where I could be burnt to a crisp!

"Ugh!" I groaned. "Where the hell am I even going?" I started walking again.

I had plenty of supplies, except food... I was starting to get hungry... I hadn't eaten for two days now and I guess it was starting to take its toll on me considering how hungry I was starting to get. But I couldn't let it get to me right now. I had to keep going to clear this floor. And with my level, this should be easy pickings! I also hadn't slept in almost a week, so I was starting to get tired too... When I clear this floor, I'll check into a hotel in the nearest town and get some rest, and something to eat while I'm at it...

Suddenly, while I was too busy daydreaming, another dragon minion appeared as he burned my left arm. Dammit! And that was my good arm too! Shit... I used my other arm to kill the little bastard before using a healing crystal. My burn healed as my heath went back to max, making me sigh in relief. Time to keep moving. But it didn't stop there as I came to a river of fire. A blast of fire spurt from it as a flaming ghost girl appeared. She reached out and took the silver necklace from my neck, holding a golden rock in the other hand.

"Choose one." She said.

I stared at each object. "Neither."

"You must choose."

"The sil--" I cut myself off. "No, I don't want either one."

She nodded. "If that is your choice..." She said before disappearing.

Suddenly, a huge gust of wind blew behind me. I didn't expect it as I lost my balance. "NO!!!" I screamed before falling into the flaming river.

I screamed at the top of my lungs, fire surrounding my body. It burned. I couldn't feel anything but the pain coursing through my body. What do I do!? Kirito! Asuna! Someone! No! I can't die, not like this! I can't! I won't! I tried to move, to run so I can heal myself, but it was all in vain. I couldn't move because my body was being burned alive. No... I wanted to cry, but my tears were boiling up inside my body. Mom... Dad... Kai... I'm sorry that you won't be able to see your only daughter alive again...

But just when I was about to give up, a bright yellow light surrounded me. I opened my eyes as something appeared in front of me. A new skill? No, something different. It read 'Unlocked: Character's Nature Element: Fire' with a fancy fire symbol next to it. Okay, now I was confused... What was going on? But it was then I noticed that the fire didn't burn anymore. I looked around to see a circle around me of fire. I lifted my hand to grab the fire, spinning it in a small tornado. This was awesome! I could control fire! I quickly jumped out of the river of fire, flipping before landing. I then turned around to see the flaming ghost girl as she smiled at me, holding my silver necklace out.

"Congratulations. You have unlocked a skill no one else may posses. I wish you the best of luck on your journey, player." She said before disappearing.

My necklace dropped in my hand as I stared at it before putting it back around my neck. I then jumped over the flaming river as I went to look for the boss. When I found him, I used his own flaming breath against him as he was easier to defeat than I expected it to be! Once I defeated him, I got an attack bonus prize. It was the Dragon Spirit. So not only was I able to use fire in battle, I could use this spirit as an attack too! I smiled proudly before pulling my hood over my head, moving on to the nearest town.

When I made it to the town, I quickly stocked up on food along with ate some of my own before checking into a hotel for the night. Since I was off the map no one could track me so I was safe for one night as I had a peaceful rest I hadn't had in a while. This is going to be a long journey, I can tell...