[World Message: A party has uncovered another piece of the story of the blood moon.]
The message was sent to every player. To most players, it didn't change much, but the message was devastating for a few.
"Shit. Where could have the trace been hiding?"
Some players were looking for a continuation of the story. These type of players were the type of players that wanted to uncover the story by themselves.
"Hey, let's wait for further messages. Perhaps there will be a sudden attack like the introduction of the story." A mage player replied to his cursing party mate.
Plenty of players, whether they be in a party or solo, were anticipating the next few messages. Teleportation scrolls were ripped in preparation to join the next fight should they be not within its vicinity.
But there was no new message.
Minutes passed, yet the anticipated continuation did not arrive. This caused a panic among the story hungry players. This could mean that the story would progress without their participation.
Within a guild room in-game, a few people wearing armors and weapons that are so far in levels from this story's main protagonists were gathered.
"Shit. Find that party!" A man in grand armor slammed his hand on a circular table as he screamed.
"Yes! Guild leader!" Numerous voices echoed and flurried footsteps resounded.
-
The page that was just uncovered was only caused by discovering the existence of vampires. There were plenty of scenarios that were laid within plenty of holds and villages throughout the game.
However, the first party that found it, as luck may have it, was Bob's party. And getting the first discovery of the storyline would indeed bring about a fitting boon.
[Quest Unlocked: Solve the Vampire Crisis]
-Within the shadows of the lands lay the creatures of the night that brings demise to every person they could get their fangs on. They were once prominent before but have been repelled by the coalition of religions from the past era.
-With their return, you are given the task to root out their nests. The flow of the story would be up to you, the players, therefore, you get to choose what to do now.
-Warning: Vampires are high leveled undead creatures.
-Quest Reward:
-
"This can't be it!" Annera screamed.
Her eyes were focused on something but she wasn't looking at anything particular. Her voice was agitated and her eyes were bloodshot, it seems that she had problems with something.
"Why are there no written rewards?!" She continued.
It turns out, she was reading the quest that they just received as a party. Everyone else was still reading the details about the quest that they haven't gotten to the quest reward part yet. And with Annera's scream, they turned their eyes towards the rewards.
"Interesting." E said as he grabbed his imaginary goatee.
"Dude, E, this ain't real life. You don't have a goatee here." Enma pointed out E's pet peeve.
The concept of not having a reward written meant that the rewards they will receive will be heavily based on their decisions. E was skeptical of this and was brought to heavy thinking.
He was put into deep thought. On the other hand, the rest of the party were discussing the details of the quest with loud voices, utterly confusing the NPCs within the room.
"Are they okay?" Marissa asked Nora while still looking at the sudden rowdy party.
"I don't know. They seem like they're enjoying themselves though?" That was all that Nora could get from their jovial interaction.
"Excuse me." E's voice resounded clearly within the noise.
Everyone heard him and became silent. E, despite having a low presence at times, was still the party leader after all.
"Priest Ped, let's continue this discussion in a couple of minutes from now. I need to discuss things with my party members." He said politely as he bowed.
"Oh. Okay." Priest Ped could not react in any other way.
After getting the confirmation, E pushed all of his party members outside.
"What's up, E?" Bob couldn't help but ask. Lavanuk perched on his head, as per usual.
"Let's talk somewhere private." E said promptly and continued walking.
Once the party stopped traveling, they arrived at a local inn in Sunnyside. The party went inside the inn and E instantly went towards the innkeeper and had a short conversation with him. E brought out a couple of gold coins and the innkeeper brought out keys.
"It's yours for a day."
E nodded his head and silently walked towards the lodgings.
'Nice. The rooms are upstairs, there will be fewer people.'
Looking at the keys that were on his hands, he found their corresponding rooms and opened a random room and invited the party members inside.
"Huuuuuu. Alright. It should be safe here." E exhaled deeply and said.
"What's with the sudden solemnity? What are you? A bald monk?" Minion found the chance to talk.
E only shook his head at Minion's side comment. He breathed properly for a few moments before opening his mouth once more.
"Here's what we are going to do. We will mark our names as the party that discovered the resurgence of the vampire crisis."
E's words were straight to the point. However, that was an abstract concept. They certainly were the players that found the traces of the vampires but this was a virtual reality game. Despite not having the quest, players could report of this finding and gain glory.
"I'm sure that the system will limit reports from other players, which means that we have a grace period that will keep this quest to ourselves at this time."
E further deliberated his point to the party. The members of the party, and a chicken, listened closely and the discussion soon ended.
"Okay. So we just finish the weird shit that's going on here and then run back to the city, am I right?" Minion couldn't cut their course of action more.
"Yep. But let's be quick, and remember, don't tell anyone. Not even the NPCs." E was being very careful, he didn't want other players to get their boon.
"Alright. Let's go confront that Ligma!" Annera said loudly, totally missing the point of acting covertly.
Knock~
Annera knocked on the backdoor of the grand house. She only tapped it once, which was what she observed from earlier. And a few moments later, the door opened and Alex's face greeted them.
"Oh? I didn't expect you to come back so quickly. Has there been any news?" Alex asked.
"Yes. Martin's dead." Annera declared.
Alex's jaw dropped and was left speechless. She didn't say anything and only acted to invite them inside. She wanted to ask about Annera's party but that would have to be for later.
Once they were situated in the area of discussion, where some of the tattletales from earlier were still present by the way, they took a seat and began talking.
"He's dead?" Alex couldn't help but ask for confirmation.
"Yes."
Alex was informed by the group of what happened earlier, and what they were thinking of this scenario.
"It can't be!" Alex couldn't accept their allegations.
Alex could accept the fact that their mistress was a sex-driven maniac. After all, most of the tattletales also had the lust of a bull. However, she couldn't accept the claim that her master, Ligma, is a vampire.
"You're lying."
A flat low tone came from Alex and the atmosphere suddenly turned chilly.
Bang~
The doors and windows within the room suddenly shut themselves. Alex's eyes turned red and her neck's blood vessels were suddenly up for everyone to see.
"yOu Do'Nt KnOw AnYtHiNg!" Alex's voice distorted and her muscles bulged as she showcased her growing nails when she clawed her dress.
"Shit! She's being controlled! Quickly! Kill her before she completely turns!" E commanded and spawned his signature wolves.
Bob quickly retrieved his spear and plunged his spear straight into Alex's chest.
However, Alex didn't die. The wound that Bob inflicted was devoid of the skill effects of Sugarcoat. He forgot to use the buff in his haste and now his weapon was buried in the enemy.
"Keeeeeee!"
Alex screamed. Despite it being a trivial wound for a vampire fledgling, the pain was still there. Alex swiped her claws in retaliation and hit Bob squarely in the face.
Bob saw the prompts that informed him of his status as an Essential. He had 0 defense on his head and his health was the least amount possible, so a single strike from an unleveled enemy would surely take him out in a single hit.
"Cluck!"
Lavanuk was startled and jumped towards Alex, the vampire fledgling. She pecked at Alex twice and the beast burst into flames. The party now knew of the effect of Bob's contracted monster and didn't expect much from the effect.
"Argh!"
However, Alex was rolling in pain. She was scratching her skin with her claws and the blood dripped from the wounds she caused. It was uncharacteristic of the low damage output of Lavanuk.
After a few seconds, the burning extinguished but the enemy before them was now as weak as a harmless chicken.
"Wow. Lavanuk has that much damage?" Bob couldn't help saying it.
But that's not true. Lavanuk barely did any damage at all. The irritation the flames caused the vampire made it attack itself with its claws. Vampires were weak to flames and the sunlight after all.