[Scenario 1, introduction complete.]
[Players, welcome to: Plague Village]
Drip.
Drip.
Drip.
In the deafening silence, blood pooled in the cracks of the stone pavement. The sombre, grey film had suddenly gained a crimson filter, the world before the players now covered in bits and pieces of mayor Jean - and hundreds of slithering white that feasted upon human flesh.
Father Pierre had hidden behind the wing of the angel statue as soon as mayor Jean had stumbled out of the shadows. But now, the trembling wreck of a priest stepped from behind the fountain, wide eyes fallen on the remains.
There was not a single surface not covered in crimson.
"H-how can this be? We… We followed all the rules! H-how could he be infected?!" All blood escaped father Pierre's face as he took a shaky step forward.
"Don't come any closer!"
Father Pierre almost slipped on the blood, but Kim Jihun was fast on his feet, fingers wrapped around father Pierre's arm, yanking him back and away from the parasites that had flung far and wide from the rupturing of the body.
Just one step more and father Pierre would have become the primary target of the squirming slithering mass.
But instead of thanking Kim Jihun, the priest shoved him away, frantically wiping his hands on his robes as if Kim Jihun was the parasite itself.
"Don't - don't touch me! Y-you-!"
Father Pierre pointed at the players, a wild look in his gaze as it flickered over the bloodstained, dazed players, his long bony finger stabbing the air. "Y-you are all tainted!"
The players flinched at the words, finally taking in their own state.
Clumps of blood and strings of white clung to their humble clothes, dried along with the blood that stuck to their skin.
Chaos reigned as the players tried to brush the disgust off them. Some tore off their shirts, others rubbing their skin raw in a silent panic.
But Thanh Van was calm - too calm that it must have raised suspicions. He could feel the steel-blue eyes over himself.
Sergeant Kruger was unmistakably calm, and to Thanh Van's surprise, so was CEO Kim.
Kim Jihun had paled before the gruesome sight, but despite this, he had not descended to the mindless panic that had overcome the rest of the players.
Interesting. Truly interesting indeed.
Thanh Van's lips trembled. He so wished to openly chuckle at the current situation. The system surprised him successfully - still, the scenario didn't appear to be that difficult.
But Thanh Van couldn't really demand too much from the first scenario. After all, the players were mostly E and D rankers and the system tailored scenarios and difficulty based on the ranking of the players.
Even then, this seemed to be a little too easy on the players.
A plague village riddled with a parasitic disease that infected and killed within 10 days seemed terrifying. However, if any of these players took a moment to calmly recount their task, it was to only survive for three days.
And to Thanh Van's dismay, looking at the darkness that was only lit up by the crackling fire, already one day had passed.
Two days more, and they would be out.
This little tidbit must have occurred to sergeant Kruger as well. His calloused fingers brushed over Thanh Van's shoulder, deep voice tight.
"Considering the situation and the given task, this should be easy."
"Mm. Only two more days." Thanh Van cast a fleeting glance at the sergeant. Kruger's sword brows had pulled into a modest frown, his blue eyes studying the calm beauty.
Sergeant Kruger nodded approvingly. Despite the meek and frail outer shell, this beauty didn't seem to be the type to freak out at the tiniest setback. Appearing calm and collected - thoughtful even.
Like an observant cat.
The same could not be said for the remaining players lost in turmoil.
"Everyone, please calm down and think clearly," Kruger's voice boomed in the clearing, and the players froze momentarily. Father Pierre shot him a piercing glare. "Panic will not solve the situation. Take… just two… breaths to clear your thoughts."
"B-breath, my fucking ass!" Christof Kunze spat. He rested his back against the fountain, blood pooling alarmingly fast beneath his torn foot. "That thing just fucking exploded after almost tearing my leg off!"
Kruger's jaw tensed, but he said nothing as the other players murmured in agreement with Christof.
Thanh Van couldn't blame the man. It was the rules of the scenario. As long as father Pierre was present, they could not freely speak of the task.
If they caused any suspicion among the NPCs, the entire team would be eliminated or- in the worst-case scenario, the scenario would restart - with even worse stakes added by the system as punishment.
"Captain is right." Kim Jihun started, having caught the true meaning behind Kruger's words. Just two more days remaining. They will get through this. "We only need to take a couple of days to calm our nerves- then all of this will be over soon."
"Get the fuck outta here! You are all mad!" Christof heaved as he crawled up on his feet, limping like a wounded dog.
All the surrounding players stumbled back in fear at his movements as if expecting him to attack them like a rabid dog.
Seeing their reaction, Christof spat at his feet, cursing at them all. "What are you backing away for, huh?"
A hideous smile carved over his scared visage as Christof shot vicious glares at the players. "We are all fucked here!"
"May god have mercy on you all…" Father Pierre mumbled with his hand over the cross hanging from his neck, praying under his breath.
"You!" Christof limped towards the priest, who quickly hid behind Kim Jihun's tall figure.
"Stay away from me!" the priest shrieked, only fuelling Christof's anger further.
"This- this is all your fault! You... scheming fucking-!" Christof froze mid sentence.
Clang…
Clang….
Clang…
Metal struck against stone, the hollow noise cutting through the darkness.
Father Pierre trembled wildly, cowering in fear now. "God, no. No. No, no, no, no…."
Thanh Van tore his gaze away from the other players, green eyes peering into the darkness rising behind the angel statue.
This time, darkness stared back.