My heart rate spikes as I read the message. Rebel attack? Already? I grip the hilt of my sword tightly and look around the throne room, searching for any signs of danger. I don't see anything out of the ordinary, but I know better than to let my guard down.
With a loud crash, the heavy throne room doors burst open, and a pack of hideous demons invade. They fall to their knees in front of me, bowing deeply and addressing me as "Your Majesty." Their leader reports that a small group from the rebel army has breached the castle walls and is currently engaged in a fierce battle near the east wing. I clench my jaw, torn between staying and letting my trained guards and skilled army handle the threat or joining the fight myself. But what other abilities do I possess besides this sword? My mind races through all possibilities as I struggle to make a decision.
With a deep breath, I steady my shaking hands and grip the hilt of the sword. My heart races as I decide to join the battle, knowing that I am not the hero they are looking for. As I unsheathe the weapon, its sharp edge glints in the dim light of this virtual world.
"I'll fight with you," I say to the group of demons, determined to do my part.
I never wanted to be involved in this war, but as I follow their lead, I frantically search through my gaming menu for any hidden abilities or ways to level up my character. The thought of losing and dying in here looms over me like a dark cloud.
The remnants of my earlier meal still linger on my taste buds, and the scent of food fills my nostrils. This is no ordinary game; the virtual reality feels almost too real, and I can't afford to take any risks.
As we approach the east wing, the sounds of battle grow louder. The air is filled with screams and roars, and I brace myself for what's to come. I'm uncertain of my fighting abilities, but I know I must protect myself and my kingdom.
Turning the corner, I see my soldiers engaged in combat with the rebels.
Despite being outnumbered, they fight fiercely. With a deep breath, I join in the fray, sword at the ready.
I narrowly dodged an attack from one of the rebels and countered with a swift strike of my own. My heart races in my chest, and sweat beads form on my forehead. This is far more intense than any game I've ever played.
A scream catches my attention, and I see one of my demons fall to the ground, a rebel standing over them. Without hesitation, I charge forward and thrust my sword towards the enemy, piercing their chest with a satisfying crunch. Blood splatters across my clothes, and I feel a surge of adrenaline as I take down my first enemy.
A message pops up in front of me, "Congratulations you have leveled up. Please choose your new skill." I quickly look for the skill option and see a lot of them grayed out but a few I can unlock. I read the description and decided to pick the one that seems more helpful, at least right now:
"The Sword of the Demon King: Raises your damage by 10% when fighting against enemies that are not in the same alignment as you. You will also gain additional experience and abilities if you are fighting against an enemy of the opposite alignment."
Killing more of them will help me level up faster. Plus, I do need to do everything I can to ensure the safety of the Underworld.
I grab a healing potion from one of the fallen demons and run towards the fray. I need to take down as many of them as possible before they cause too much damage.
The scent of iron fills my nose, and I am filled with primal satisfaction as I hear the cries of agony and see my opponents crumple to the floor from my sword's blows. Surveying the battlefield of the east wing, I am met with a gruesome scene of blood and corpses. However, this battle marks my first victorious feat.
As if sensing my thoughts, a notification appears on the screen. "Side quest completed: 'Halt the rebel assault'. You have gained a skill point, upgraded armor, and a chest containing low-level rewards."
My heart skips a beat. I didn't expect to complete a quest so quickly. I wonder what I could have earned from such a simple battle. I suppose I'll have to wait for the system to finish rewarding me, but I can't wait to check out my new gear.
I selected the option to view the rewards and see what I'll be getting for my efforts. I'm not surprised by what I see: it's just a new set of armor and a weapon. The armor is a golden chest plate with a large, red symbol on it, while the sword is a blue blade. It's not what I would've expected to find in the Underworld. I guess this is considered 'mid-tier' equipment in the game. However, the equipment isn't the most important thing: I succeeded in my first quest.
Startled out of my gaming trance, I see another demon approaching me with urgency.
"Your Highness!" they exclaim. "Zeus wishes to speak with you." Without hesitation, I add the rewards from my quest into my inventory and exit the menu. I had forgotten a small detail about this virtual world - Zeus and Hades are brothers. A slight feeling of discomfort rises within me as I wonder how long I can continue living as Hades without facing any conflicts.