Level-Up Apocalypse: Surviving With The Assimilation System

If it wasn't just the grandiose scale of the beast that resembled a cross between a serpent and a dragon, the level presented made his blood turn to frost in his veins. The first thought that entered his mind was simple–"Impossible."

"Level 100"--that was imprinted into his mind as he was given a unique feeling that he hadn't felt in a long while. It was like that of playing an RPG and encountering an "endgame" boss at a beginner level; being a mere gnat against a god.

Perspective was placed in his mind of the beast he struggled to put down even with the aid of many others, yet even its strength fell short of that winged terror. It was the very idea of overcoming such a monstrous existence that didn't even seem possible to him, drawing uneven breaths from his lips as he halfheartedly raised his daggers.

The beast leapt down from the jagged peak before crashing down on the charred land before him. Its claws dug into the burnt soil, looming itself over him as its elongated neck allowed its head to leer at him far too close.

He could smell its foul breath, reeking of smoke and putrid flesh, though he could hardly bring himself to look up at it.

"A meager human yet remains in this land. I thought I vanquished them each, save for that mad Hatter," the Jabberwock spoke, each word leaving with a repugnant wind that brushed against the young man's hair. "Nonetheless, I will ensnare you in my jaws."

The claim was followed up swiftly as Finn found its serpentine neck thrashing, bringing its jaws upon him with haste.

["Phantom Flow"]

He slid back as the jagged teeth snapped at the air in his place. There was no wasted time from the unorthodox creature as it stomped towards him with steps that rumbled the dead soil.

"I have turned this Wonderland into a land of ash. Yet, I am not satiated in my wrath. I slash, I chew, I burn, I smite! Monarchs and heroes! All have fallen!" The Jabberwock boomed as its voice carried out with thunder.

As if its very words commanded the skies, lightning struck down upon the burnt valley, crashing with intense flashes of malevolence.

Finn kept his distance, feeling static buzzing at his ear. The light sensation of electricity against his skin prompted him to jump back just as a bolt touched down beside him. He witnessed the soil be tossed up as it was drilled by the lightning, returning his gaze to the serpentine dragon as a flash caught his attention.

It stood on its hind legs, raising its hand unlike that of a beast, but a man. A bolt of lightning struck down, only to be caught in the claws of the Jabberwock. It wielded a spear of perpetual fulmination, setting its wrathful gaze on the young man.

'--What? It's using the lightning…like a weapon?' Finn witnessed.

The Jabberwock raised the captured lightning high, bringing the clouds above to coalesce and swirl into a great oblivion, "Witness your death, meager human! Unwelcome guest into my world of ash, I will grant you a spectacle upon your end!"

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Finn could only watch as the calamitous beast brought the bolt down upon the land, striking the charred soil with mighty strength. A flash of light engulfed his vision; a riptide of force swept through the land, knocking him off his feet as he protected his body with his arms.

The eruption of lightning scattered the land; he felt its bare force cutting into his arms, only able to endure it the best he could amidst the calamitous flash.

'I don't stand a chance…Why is something like this here? Why am I here?!' Finn questioned as he could feel the scattering lightning rending his forearms.

"Finn!"

"Aaaaaaergh!--"

["Dreamwalking completed."]

Amidst feeling his own end closing in, he suddenly sat up, finding himself not caught in a storm of lightning, but in a dimly-lit, quiet room. He was covered in sweat, still holding his arms up as he sat in a bed.

As he looked around, he found there were other beds in the same room, discovering his companions up and looking at him with worry. It was utterly confusing to the young man as he caught his breath, still out of air as he was clad in sweat; his heart still thumping wildly.

"Finn? Are you alright?" Charlotte asked.

"A dream…?" He mumbled through breaths.

"What happened–your arms!" Jasper gasped.

He looked where his friends' eyes had gone, discovering his forearms were bloodied and bruised, leaking onto the olive blanket that sat over his legs, "Ahh…?"

It left him confused from what he could only assume was a highly-detailed dream left him with wounds he recalled clearly.

"Where's the ambrosia?" Magnus asked in a hurry, rummaging through the belongings at the bedside.

As the others scrambled to help amidst the confusion, he watched as Charlotte held his arms with a gentle touch while Jasper placed a rag against his covered forearms. The pain nor the wounds themselves are what he pondered about, only sitting there as he considered what he just experienced.

"Status," he said in a breathy whisper while his companions worried.

[Level: 30] [30505/50000]

<Vitals: Danger>

<Magic: Healthy>

Seeing that notch in his experience confirmed it without a doubt for him, fully knowledgeable about what that value was before he stumbled upon the Wonderland.

'It wasn't a dream…The lightning scarred me, I gained experience there from that rat–it all happened. "Dreamwalking" –that's what I heard. The ability I assimilated during that night…I couldn't figure out what it does, but is this what its purpose is?' He considered as he sat there.

As the bottle of ambrosia was discovered by Magnus, he was promptly served a drink of it while his arms were wiped down by Charlotte. With his wounds closed and the panic settled, he sat up with the others looking at him.

"What happened, mate?" Jasper asked with concern.

Finn didn't know exactly how to answer, "To be honest, I don't even remember coming to this bed–I never came back in after talking to you, Magnus."

"That's not right. You followed me right back inside," the blonde-haired cannoneer contested.

"I don't remember it like that. I found a rabbit hole and slipped in…It was like a fever dream," Finn explained, rubbing his forearms as he could still remember the wounds. "Last thing I remember, I was confronted by this terrible creature. I used my arms to block its attack…"

"Wait, are you saying–wait, wait, wait, this doesn't make any sense," Jasper said, shaking his head as he paced through the room.

Charlotte sat on the edge of the bed beside his own, looking at him, "Finn, are you sure that's what happened? It's crazy to think, but…those wounds were real."

"It's not the craziest thing to happen lately," Magnus added.

"I'm not all too sure about it myself, but I think it's a skill of mine I obtained. Sorry for waking you all up—I'll figure this out," Finn apologized while settling back into the bed.

Jasper shook his head, still wearing his armor even as he got back under his sheets, "No sweat, mate. Just glad you aren't dying."

"Yeah, just keep that ambrosia beside you—" Charlotte insisted.

Finn accepted, setting the bottle aside, "I'll do that. Goodnight."

"Night," Jasper said.

"Night," Charlotte answered.

Magnus simply slumped into the bed across from Finn's, seeming to instantly fall back asleep. There were a dozen beds in the rather spacious room, though Finn couldn't tell what floor it was on the tree-abode.

All he could see from the window were the soft, glowing leaves of a blue shade.

It didn't take more than a minute before he began to hear the snores of the knight, which brought Magnus to sleep with his head under his own pillow.

Finn laid there on the comfortable bed, thankful for the hospitality of the elf still, though unable to shake what he experienced.

It was too odd; far too concerning to simply go back to sleep over.

"Finn?" The gentle, whispered voice of Charlotte called to him.

He turned on his side, looking at the young woman whose bed was only a few feet apart from his own, "Just thinking."

"Try and get some rest though, okay?" Charlotte insisted.

"Yeah, don't worry," he assured her.

It took some time to fall asleep again, though it led him directly to the next morning without any further problems.

The new day was brought upon by the blue leaves once more shifting back into their golden glow.

An aroma of eggs and bacon guided him and the others down from the guest floor and into the dining area.

"Breakfast? Sweet," Jasper said, not wasting a moment before sitting himself.

"Where's the old man?" Finn tiredly asked as he sat down as well.

"Dunno, but he was kind enough to leave this for us," Charlotte answered before biting a piece of bacon.