"Ugh, how much longer do I have to walk!? My legs are feeling numb." - he groaned in frustration.
"I feel you buddy."
The moment the kid heard that he yelped and jumped forward, stumbling a few steps away and turning around to see a man, maybe in his 20s, brown hair and eyes, some earing made of some type of gem, his ears were slightly swollen around the metal.
"Calm down,, man, i ain't here to hurt you.", the man stopped in his track and raised his hands.
Then the kid remembered: he can just no-clip through anything.
"Also are you alright, dude? You are glitchy all around."
The man pointed at him.
"Simply natural." - The kid replied, his shoulders raising for a second, before he relaxed again. -
"Anyways, what's your deal? Where have you headed?"
"To level 11 of course, I need to restock on food and water."
"How?" - The kid asked, giving him a confused expression.
"What do you mean how?"
"I meant from where..."
...
The guy was looking at the kid judgingly before saying: "From level 6.1."
"Mhhm~" The kid just looked at him knowingly, unbeknownst to the man, the child had minimal knowledge of the little system the humans have created.
...
"Alrighty then, i'm off, good luck, mate." - With that the man continued onward, for the desire to not die is greater than all.
The kid just followed him, cuz he also needed supplies, and besides, he is untouchable anyways, or so he thinks.
On the other side occasionally - occasionally the man would look to the side, just so he can give a side glare to the kid, thinking: "Maybe he will leave me alone after the end."
But that weren't the case, a few hours later of mindless wandering forward the level shifted to a concrete jungle: Level 11, The city that never sleeps.
From there the kid continued to follow him.
Eventually the man felt that this was enough and he turned around to confront his "stalker" : "Alright, buddy, can you stop following?"
"Nuh uh."
"The fuck you mean 'Nuh uh'?"
"I'm also hungry."
"Ohhh..."
"Yeah..."
"Alright, we are looking for a restaurant entrance, if you spot one don't hesitate to notify."
"Like that one behind you."
"Huh?" - the man looked back and saw just that, a shiny red-ish painted on the edges glass door.
The man smiled and look back at the kid, - "Nice job, mate."
Without another word he walked towards "Snacktopia".
He opened the door and walked inside, before looking around.
As he did a smile formed on his face and he lifted a hand, - "Yo, Ash."
"Tim, it's been a while. What brings you here?" - a friendly voice came from a woman who turned around.
"Nothing much, just need to restock a bit. Also check what i got!" - He said reaching for his ears, but the girl quickly stopped him and shushed him, once she realized what he wore.
"Shh, it's not good to show these off. They are valuable and there are some people who would do anything to get those."
He nodded, understanding her concerns and he removed them. She gestured for him to come with her, and so they both left, the kid followed after him.
"Is that dude with you?" She asked.
"Yeah, but there weren't much of an agreement for how long."
She nodded before going to the child. - "Hey kid, we won't be needing you while i treat him self-inflicted injury... So, you are free to go."
"Alright." - The kid replied.
Ash left with Tim and so the kid was alone once more.
"What was i up to again? Oh yeah, i was supposed to be hungry... OH the tragedy, starving to no end." - He mocked as the feeling had long abandoned him, had he been hungry for too long, or something else? He had no answer.
The feeling slowly returned as he began to pay attention to it, so now he had a reason to go find food.
He walked through the halls, past the bar where Ash was treating the wounds Tim created, so now he could wear the earrings.
The atmosphere of the place was nice, tables, chairs, the lighting, the facelings working.
Then came the halls, which quickly proved to be inferior in design quality.
At least it serves it's purpose, right?
The kid spot a few vending machines: two for food, and two for beverages.
He looked with indifference, scratching his shoulders and contemplating the concept of hunger that he felt. How come he feels hunger when he is focused on it?
He decided to go for a walk, ignoring hunger - and there he had it, no true hunger, but a lingering feeling, clinging on for some reason.
"I just need to forget about it - wait the thought out."
He walked back towards where he came from.
Once there he sat down and rested his head on his arm, which served as a pillow in this case.
He closed his eyes and tried to take a breather - and he achieved it, or atleast half way, before he heard a bit of a commotion.
He looked up with half opened lids and saw Tim being mugged, Ash went off quickly.
The kid stood up, the chair's legs screeching as he pushed it back.
"Good day, gentlemen." - The kid said as he stood besides Tim, who was trying to protect the earrings.
The child of level 999 has joined the battle.