This was my chance. I took a deep breath, gathered all my courage, and stepped outside the safety shield. Everything after that would be easy, or at least that's what I told myself. I moved quickly toward the lone Fallen. But when he saw me, my surprise attack failed instantly.
"I will kiss you! Come here, I will kiss!" he shouted, slurring his words.
He had just turned toward another human when he noticed me. His mouth hung open, and he looked completely drunk. As I got closer, I saw something that made my stomach turn. He was holding his victim tightly and drooling all over their cheeks.
Would I end up like that too? No way. I wasn't going to let alcohol destroy my life a second time.
I kept repeating those words in my head as I got closer—three steps away from this nightmare. The weirdest thing was, the drunk Fallen's face looked exactly like Muharrem's, the guy responsible for ruining my life before.
"I will kiss you! Come here, I will kiss!" he yelled again.
"Shut up already!"
I had only punched someone once in my life, and that one punch had started a chain of events that eventually landed me in Hell. Maybe this slap would be just as important.
I closed my eyes, said a quick prayer, and hit him with everything I had. I didn't really expect to do much damage. I just hoped I could hurt him a little before he knocked me out.
A loud crack rang in my ears, and I felt a slight pain in my arm. But it wasn't from him hitting me—it was from my own punch.
When I opened my eyes, the Fallen was lying on the ground. His eyes were rolled back, and his body was twitching. After one last breath, he disappeared completely.
I had done it. I killed a Fallen. I survived eight hours of torment… all on my own.
I wanted to scream, to laugh, to dance. I smacked that thing right in the mouth and took him down.
But this wasn't the time to celebrate. The other man, the one who had been working with the Fallen I killed, had just finished off his own victim. Now he was staring directly at me.
"I will kiss you! Come here, I will kiss!" he shouted.
I knew I had to run. I was already turning around to escape when something on the ground caught my eye.
There were a few copper-colored coins and a small book, no bigger than my hand. It was loot—my first reward.
Even though I was terrified, I forced myself to pick them up in one motion, then sprinted back to the safety shield as fast as I could.
Outside the shield, the Fallen looked clumsy and slow. But once they got aggressive, they moved like bloodhounds.
Luckily, fear makes a person run like Usain Bolt. I made it back into the shield, smiling like an idiot.
I had done it. I had killed a Fallen and even got loot from it. The book I picked up looked just like the ones I had seen in the Talent Book shop.
Could things get any better?
I was about to open the book when suddenly the world started spinning. A strange feeling rushed over me, and before I could react, I passed out.
It felt like falling again—like the moment I had first entered the First Floor of Hell. All the joy I had just felt vanished in an instant. The butterflies in my stomach flew away, like they knew spring was over.
"Wake up, sinner!"
A bright light pierced through my eyelids, making it impossible to ignore.
"You punished a Fallen. You can now access your abilities and stats!"
"Go back and keep fighting. Do good deeds and work toward your salvation!"
The voice came from a shapeless light, calm and powerful. I didn't reply. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't. I was still a sinner. I had no control here.
I felt like I was suffocating again. But it wasn't as scary this time. After going through it twice, I was getting used to it. This time, it almost felt peaceful—like floating on my back in the ocean.
That's when information started pouring into my brain.
Name: Max
Title: Sinner
Level: 1
Life Points: 10
Magic Points: 10
Energy: 10
Attack: 10
Defense: 10
Power: 1
Stamina: 1
Agility: 1
Wisdom: 1
Ability: None
Profession: None
It wasn't like reading. Even though my eyes were closed, I could see everything clearly, like it was printed directly inside my mind.
I was thrilled. This was real progress. I had stats now, and I even had some info under the Profession section.
Special Trait: Alcohol Resistance
Specific Immunity – You are resistant to the effects of alcohol-based Fallen at your level and below.
What? I wanted to fall over with joy… but I was already unconscious.
Still, I couldn't believe it. This meant I could fight against drunk-type Fallen without suffering like before. As long as they didn't hit me, I could take them down without worrying about getting knocked out for eight hours.
I started wondering: How did I get this power? Were my loot items still with me?
I'd get my answers soon, I thought. The falling feeling was ending.
Just a few seconds later, I felt the ground beneath me. I slowly sat up, clenched my fist, and sighed in relief.
I still had the loot. That was the first thing I checked.
But my main question remained: How did I become immune to alcohol attacks?
I now had time to think things through calmly. But first, I wanted to check out the small book I picked up.
I carefully wiped the dust off the cover. Faded gold letters appeared, just barely readable.
Physical Ability – Unstoppable Fist
It was a skill book.
I stared at the cover for a while, letting it sink in.
The irony hit me hard. The skill was related to my right fist—the same one that had started the chain of events that got me kicked out of school. And now I had alcohol resistance, even though the reason I ended up in Hell was the raki I drank last night—maybe even during my last hour alive.
My whole body got chills. Everything was starting to make sense.
I realized something. Before I drank that last glass of raki, maybe my good deeds and sins were balanced. Maybe the only reason I ended up in Hell was because of that one last drink. Maybe that's why the Creator showed me mercy—by giving me this immunity.
And the punch? That first punch in real life had brought me to Hell. But now, that same fist had given me the power to fight back.
I remembered the words the formless light said before I blacked out:
"Go back and keep fighting. Do good deeds and reach the day when you will reach your salvation!"
So that's what I would do. I'd fight. I'd do good.
One day, I'd be saved.
Without waiting another second, I opened the book and let the glowing lights pour into my mind.