anxiety that had appeared in Silica’s mind began to change into confusion. She started to miss more, which opened the room for her enemy to counterattack. When she managed to lower the third Drunk Ape’s HP to about half, her attempt to keep performing combos caused her to overreach. The ape didn’t miss that opportunity and counterattacked, which landed a critical blow. The wooden club was crudely made, but the basic damage from its weight combined with the Drunken Ape’s strength stat caused Silica’s HP to go down by almost thirty percent. A chill ran down her spine. The fact that she had run out of healing potions added to her nervousness. Pina’s breath restored about ten percent of her HP, but it wasn’t something Pina could use very often. Even with that, if she were hit three more times by such an attack —— she would die. Death. Silica froze as soon as that possibility flashed through her mind. Her arm wouldn’t go up. Her legs wouldn’t move. Up till now, fighting had been thrilling, but it had been far from actual danger. She had never thought that it was linked to actual «Death» before—— As she stood frozen in front of the Drunk Ape who roared and raised its club again, Silica realized for the first time what fighting with monsters in SAO actually meant. It was a contradiction; SAO was a game, but at the same time it wasn’t something to be played. With the dull sound of a club rushing through the air, it struck her as she continued to stand rigidly. She couldn’t take the impact and