Axel blinked and looked around, trying to make sense of his surroundings. He couldn't believe he was back in his own bed. Was it all just a dream? The game world felt so real, but now he was back home. Confused and disoriented, Axel tried to piece together what had happened.
"Hey, baby, your food is ready," the voice called, making Axel look up to see his pregnant wife, Camille, standing in front of him and smiling.
"Camille!" Axel yelled, his body tensing as he rushed up to the young lady, drawing her into his embrace. "I thought I had lost you. Turns out everything was just a bad dream."
"What's wrong? What kind of bad dream did you have, honey?" asked Camille, freeing herself from Axel's embrace. She walked up to the bed and settled down with Axel, who lay with his head in her lap as she combed through his hair with her fingers.
"In the dream, you died. Our Zoe also died. I also died and got transmigrated into a game world where we play a life and death game with other people," said Axel, his expression sad as he gazed into Camille's eyes. "I love you so much, baby. I'm glad everything was just a bad dream."
"Yes, it is love!" said Camille with a bright smile. "Nothing will happen to our family. Zoe and I will always be there for you."
"I love you, baby," said Axel, kissing Camille deeply.
HONK*
"Oh, Zoe is back from school. I'll go get her," said Camille. Axel lifted his head from her lap and watched her as she left the room.
"It's actually a dream. A terrible dream," murmured Axel to himself. He quickly glanced at his phone, which was placed next to the bed, and turned it on to scroll through his contacts and information.
"Damn it! Today is the day I'm supposed to carry out the assassination of the prime minister," Axel said with a burst of laughter. "It seems like the heavens love me so much to show me what will happen if I kill the boss's daughter," he added with another burst of laughter.
Is this really what would happen to me if I had killed the boss's daughter? Axel wondered to himself. I never thought I could see the future.
"Daddy!" yelled a little girl, bringing Axel back from his whirlpool of thoughts as she ran inside the room, laughing and giggling. Axel spread his arms wide and knelt down, waiting to catch her in his arms. He caught her, carrying her and giving her a big hug.
"How is my princess feeling today?" asked Axel with a bright smile on his lips.
"I'm good, daddy. I missed you so much," replied Zoe, with light chuckles.
"Aww, that's so sweet. I miss you too, princess. Give me a kiss, darling," said Axel, whose words were followed immediately as the little girl planted a kiss on his two cheeks.
"Let's go and eat, darling. I'm starving," said Camille with a grumpy face as she began to walk towards the exit.
"Oh yes! We shouldn't starve the little prince growing in mommy's stomach," said Axel, who followed her immediately with Zoe in his arms.
The family of three finally settled at the dining room, enjoying the variety of dishes set on the table.
"Can you please stay home today, Axel? Just stay with me and Zoe," said Camille with a sad expression.
"But I have to carry out a mission for the boss today. How am I supposed to tell her that?" Axel thought to himself.
"I really need you. Let's stay home together today," pleaded Camille with her eyes.
"Why are you acting different today? You've never told me to stay at home with you before. Usually, you tell me to attend to work first. So what's wrong today, honey? You are suddenly craving my presence, aren't you?" asked Axel jokingly, with an outburst of laughter.
"I just want you to stay with me at home today, and you're right, I'm craving your presence," said Camille.
"After that bad dream, it would be nice to stay home and receive some cuddling and kisses. I'll have to tell my boss to postpone the mission," Axel thought to himself.
"Alright, I'll stay home with you today, baby," replied Axel with a smile. Camille also smiled in response.
_
Meanwhile, in the game world, every other players were also hallucinating.
Ava's eyelids suddenly fluttered open as she quickly stood up, panting heavily. Tears began to pour down her cheeks as she remembered what she had just gone through. Amidst her tears, her gaze suddenly shifted towards Lionel, who was standing beside the supermarket exit.
"Hey! How long have you been up?" Ave asked, but Lionel ignored her, showing no interest in giving her attention.
Frustrated, Ave's gaze soon shifted to Axel, who was lying on the floor.
"Axel!! Come on, wake up!" she said as she lifted him up, resting his head on her lap. "They are all going to die if they can't fight the smog demon," she said, her brows raised at Lionel with a panicked expression.
"Exactly! But it seems like they're all enjoying this dream. Once they're unable to defeat the demon in their sleep, they'll eventually die," explained Lionel with a deep sigh.
"Axel! You mustn't give up now. Remember we still have some unfinished business to do," whispered Ave into Axel's ear, tears rolling down her cheeks.
Livi soon opened her eyes, tears rolling down her cheeks as she panted heavily for breath. "I killed my mother," said Livi, weeping uncontrollably. "I stabbed her myself."
"It's okay, Livi. I also dreamt that I killed my father. It turns out the smog demon took on his appearance. This demon is so cunning," revealed Ave.
"Axel isn't back to reality yet. I hope he realizes that everything in his dream is the smog demon's doing," said Livi, with a panicked expression.
(Another monster is about to appear)
"What the heck! we haven't even finished dealing with one and here comes another," exclaimed Livi, her expression tense.
"What monster are we dealing with now?" asked Livi.
(The snare beast.)
"What's that?" asked Livi, her eyebrows raised in curiosity.
(A Snarebeast is a massive, hulking creature, with thick, scaly skin and a wide mouth filled with sharp teeth. It has eight long, tentacle-like limbs that it uses to ensnare its prey. These limbs are covered in barbed hooks, which dig into the flesh of its victims and pull them closer.)
(The Snarebeast is a patient hunter, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Once it has its prey in its grasp, it drags them into its mouth, devouring them whole. Its body is covered in scars, evidence of its many battles with its prey.)
"We're all in trouble," said Livi with a dejected expression.
GROWL*
Soon, a low, rumbling growl that seemed to emanate from the very earth itself was heard by the three conscious players. The growl was deep and guttural, like the grinding of tectonic plates or the roar of an erupting volcano. It was a sound that was both primal and terrifying, striking fear into the hearts of all who heard it.
"There's a store room in this supermarket. Let's hide Axel and the rest there until they regain consciousness," said Ave, her voice carrying urgency and command.
"Great idea!" replied Livi, and they quickly began dragging the other players into the store room and were soon finished.
Inside the store room were various types of dangerous weapons: guns, axes, swords, knives, and more.
"Oh sweet heaven!" exclaimed Lionel with a wide smile. Without wasting much time, he quickly took three guns with bullets and handed one to each of the two ladies.
Ave, Livi, and Logan stood fearlessly in front of the supermarket door, each holding a gun. The sound of other players screaming in fear could be heard from outside.
Suddenly, a loud growl echoed through the supermarket. Looking up, Livi saw the snare beast on the ceiling, its tentacles reaching down and grabbing her. It wrapped its tentacles around her, pulling her up as it gained entry into the supermarket.
Logan and Ave began shooting at the monster, but their bullets seemed to have no effect. The snare beast stood with Livi still wrapped in its tentacles, ready to attack.
Lionel grabbed a sword and proceeded to cut one of the beast's tentacles, but he was then attacked by the beast, which used its tentacles to fling him against the wall, crushing his back.
The Snarebeast then used its razor-sharp claws to slice through Livi, wrapping its eight limbs around her and pinning her in place. Despite her struggles, Livi was unable to escape and could only watch in horror as the Snarebeast's long, serpentine tongue emerged from its mouth.
The Snarebeast's tongue is coated in a potent venom, which it injects into its target's bloodstream. The victim feels their body growing numb and heavy as the venom courses through their veins.
Ave and Logan can only watch in terror as the Snare beast uses its long, serpentine tongue to drain Livi's blood,leaving her a withered husk.
"We're dead," murmured Ave, her body trembling in fear.