Under the spectral illumination cast by James' elemental magic, the unlikely trio journeyed toward the town. Perched atop their menacing undead bears, they moved like phantoms against the inky backdrop of the night. Amidst the rhythmic thudding of the creature's heavy paws, Jake murmured almost to himself, "Our last battle catapulted us straight to level 10. Remarkable, isn't it?"
Breaking his reverie, he pulled up his stat screen, his gaze soaking in the figures gleaming back at him:
Strength: 51
Magic: 50
Mana: 50
Resistances: 10
Their silent momentum was broken by James' sudden outcry, echoing eerily in the void, "Jake! I've just remembered we can use the minimap to track Daniel, but there's an issue."
Tensing, Jake called back, his voice cutting through the air, "What's the issue, James?"
"Daniel has left the party," James replied, his voice heavy.
A chill ran down Jake's spine as he processed this information. 'If he's left the party, it's either because he's met his end, or he chose to leave. Neither bodes well,' Jake contemplated.
Sarah, sensing his distress, chimed in, "Maybe he accidentally left. He's probably fine, Jake."
Jake hoped she was right. "We can only pray so. In the meantime, Sarah, it would be wise for you to join our party," he proposed, sending her an invite.
A small chime echoed in his mind, followed by the confirmation:
Party invite accepted
3/7 Party members
Jake raised a brow, "Strange. The max party size has jumped from three to seven. I wonder if that implies more fatalities from the party or if others are stumbling into this world."
The trio journeyed in silence, the silence soon becoming heavy, until the town loomed ahead of them. However, something was eerily off. As they neared, a horrifying sight greeted them. One that would forever be seared into their memory.
Their approach to the town unveiled a grotesque scene of inhuman horror. The same malevolent creatures from the forest were unleashing brutal havoc on the townsfolk, their chilling screams piercing the night. Flesh was torn and blood sprayed in all directions. Men, women, children - no soul was spared from this unspeakable carnage.
"WHAT IN THE ACTUAL FUCK!?" James' voice shattered the chaos, the shock tearing him off the back of the undead bear.
"James, climb back on! We need to get the hell out of here, now!" Jake's words struggled to escape his lips, his stomach churning as if trying to expel the very horror before his eyes.
"No bloody way! We can't just turn our backs, Jake. We hold the power to stand against this. I couldn't bear the guilt if we ran now!" James retorted, his voice erupting with defiance as he charged his powers with a roar that rivaled the din of the massacre.
Sarah's voice choked with tears, broke into their exchange as she too dismounted, "I'm with James. We can't just... just stand by."
"Fuck me, you two are crazy... Heroic, but batshit crazy. Alright, let's do this! We're going in!" Jake exclaimed, his mind buzzing with the insanity of their decision.
'Since when do forest creatures develop a taste for town massacres?' Jake's thoughts swirled in frustration.
With a primal battle-cry, James launched himself into the melee, his spells wreaking havoc on the marauding beasts. He cast one that conjured a deadly trap on the ground, an invisible pyre that incinerated the unsuspecting creatures that dared cross its path. Others met their end convulsing in the grip of an electrical aura James conjured around himself, their shrieks fading into deathly silence. As the battle raged on, it was clear they were in for the fight of their lives.
Shock painted the faces of the saved townsfolk, who gazed at their saviors in disbelief. These were children, barely into their double-digit years, standing tall amidst the bloodbath. Their thanks fell from trembling lips as they fled the scene, the echoes of their gratitude swallowed by screams of terror.
"Where the hell are all these damned beasts spawning from?" James spat out, the enormity of their situation reflecting in his wide eyes.
A chillingly familiar voice emerged from the shadows, slicing through the cacophony, "Well, look who finally made it to the party! You guys won't believe the experience I've been racking up from killing humans. I'm already at level 25!"
"Daniel?" Jake's voice was thunderous, laced with a venomous edge. "You're behind this? Have you fucking lost it? Put an end to this goddamn carnage!"
Daniel's features shifted, surprise evident as he held up his hand, the beasts suddenly frozen in place. "First things first, Jake," he said, his tone eerily calm amid the chaos, "I owe you a thank you. You know, that chat in the cave? It made me realize I was made for this world. It's a dream come true, having all this power at my fingertips. You wouldn't believe the rush it gives me."
"You're a deranged bastard, Daniel! There's no way in hell we're going to let you continue this madness!" James roared, his fists clenched white-knuckle tight, the fury in his eyes a mirror to his words.
An eyebrow arched on Daniel's face, "And what, pray tell, can you lot do about it? Don't forget, we're in a game. These aren't real people, remember?" His words were icy, dripping with derision. Even as he spoke, his monstrous pets began to subtly encircle Sarah, James, and Jake.
Sarah spat out her words like poison, her face a mask of abhorrence, "Real or not, the terror is the same. You're a monster!"
Laughter, sickeningly light and cruel, burst from Daniel, "Already found my replacement, huh? You all move quickly!"
Jake could no longer hold back the bile rising in his throat, the harshness of his words was matched only by his disgust, "Sarah is right, you are a sick fuck, Daniel. Real or not, they feel pain, they bleed, they scream. In any world, people are still people. Your twisted reasoning doesn't change that."
Daniel sneered, "You're the idiot if you think they matter! In this world, power is the law. Why else would these NPCs be such easy prey, and reward so much experience? They're fodder, tools for our growth!"
James's conviction resonated in his voice as he charged a spell, "I can't believe I once felt guilty about you. You're a rabid dog, Daniel, and you need to be put down before you inflict more damage on this world."
"Agreed," Jake echoed, his hands curling into a battle-ready posture, priming his spells for a direct assault on Daniel.
Ignoring the palpable threat, Daniel casually dropped a bombshell, "Did you know you gain more experience when you're solo in a party? You should give it a go."
Daniel's sickening smile made Jake's skin crawl. "Well, I did try to play nice," Daniel shrugged. With a sinister flourish of his hand, the beasts that had been idly lurking sprung into action, lunging straight at the defiant trio.