Wallace's heart skipped a beat as he winced at the gruesome sight before him.
The head of Knight Alistair, bitten from behind by the wolf that had been sneaking up on him, making his eyes unable to see where the attack came from, now his body lay there as a chilling reminder of the danger in these treacherous woods of gaming dungeons.
[ Game Over ]
Is what was written on Wallace's hologram on Alistair Livestream.
Not much to his surprise, though, Alistair emerged from his 'Gaming Dungeon', pausing for a moment to absorb the shocking reality of his sudden death inside the game.
Soon, Wallace saw that unlike the Mage Marcus, who would have taken longer to recover, Alistair seemed to regain his composure quickly, and his eyes met Wallace's gaze.
Intrigued, Wallace watched as Alistair reached into a bag, taking out a handful of sparkling magic crystals.
With purposeful strides, he approached Wallace and offered him the bag, expressing his gratitude for his dungeon's benevolence. But there was more to Alistair's request than a simple show of thanks. "Sir, I want to play again," he declared, determination shining in his eyes.
Impressed by Alistair's calm response and swift actions, Wallace nodded, acknowledging his bravery.
"Go ahead, you still have a lot of time within an hour," he informed Alistair.
Alistair, grateful for the opportunity, bowed politely. "It caught me by surprise, but once I return, I'll outsmart the group of wolves with my intelligence and experience," he promised.
Wallace's confidence in Alistair's abilities was clear as he replied, "I believe in you. Your companions have already understood the situation, except for your leader, Mage Marcus. He seems to be struggling to grasp the truth."
Alistair froze, disbelief evident on his face. "Sir, Baron, can you see us?" he asked, his voice trembling.
With a casual nod, Wallace confirmed, "Of course I can. You all agreed to let me watch your adventures on the live broadcast."
Alistair was completely shocked by this revelation. "Young Baron, how did you-." he began to ask, but Wallace interrupted him, cutting off any further questions. "You have limited time to play. Save your questions for later. Besides, I'm not in the mood right now," he dismissed with a hint of annoyance.
Realizing his mistake, Alistair bowed deeply, apologizing, "I apologize, Sir Baron." He turned and quickly made his way back to the "Gaming Dungeon," eager to make the most of the remaining time that had been given to him.
As Knight Alistair made his way back to the dungeon, with a determined body movement this time.
Not long after ,the holographic Livestream in front of Wallace showed that Alistair and his comrades had finally understood the truth of the pack creatures, no longer underestimating the pack creatures that displayed an eerie intelligence.
Wallace, fixated on the hologram, felt a wave of relief. However, he feels there was a restlessness that hung in the atmosphere as he watched them inside his gaming dungeon.
In an effort to ease the tension, Wallace turned to the soldiers who had stood faithfully by his side.
"You three can relax now," he commanded, hoping to bring some ease to the atmosphere.
To his surprise, the soldiers remained motionless, their unwavering gazes fixed on the entrance of the dungeon.
Perplexed, Wallace questioned their stoic behavior. "Why are you three still standing?" he asked, his voice filled with curiosity.
A heavy silence fell upon the chamber, and the soldiers hesitated to respond. Finally, one of them spoke, his voice tinged with apprehension.
"Sir, they could come out at any time..." he trailed off, the unspoken implications hanging heavily in the air.
Wallace furrowed his brow as he processed the soldier's words. Somehow he could understand their situation and began to sink in, still he could only shake his head.
"And?"
Wallace's tone grew sharper, his frustration seeping through.
"What can all of you do?"
He knew they were soldiers, trained to defend. If the Mana Knights decided to attack, there would be no one to protect them within these territory.
In fact no one could stop the Mana Knights.
A few tense seconds passed, they could feel their weight pressing down on their shoulders as if they could now understand Wallace was saying.
Then, as if surrendering to an invisible heavy gravitational force, the soldiers slumped to the ground, weariness etched on their faces. The oppressive heat added to their discomfort, intensifying their thirst.
Wallace also longed for a drink, his dry throat a constant reminder of their predicament.
Yet, there was no water to satisfy their thirst, leaving him feeling helpless.
As Wallace and his three soldiers finally relaxed their guard, their muscles easing after a long and tense day with the guests Mana Users. But just as they started to feel a moment of relief, a faint sound caught their attention, cutting through the silence.
Immediately, the soldiers snapped to alertness, their senses sharpened, they stood up and surrounded their master, ready to protect Wallace at a moment's notice.
And there they stood, a group of people who emerged from the 'Gaming Dungeon' looking wide-eyed and disheveled.
Alistair, Cedric, Eldric, Gideon, Ivander, Jasper, and Mage Marcus, their collective presence both intriguing and unsettling. What had they encountered in that place?
Wallace couldn't help but be curious, his tiredness replaced by a sense of wonder.
As their eyes met, the newcomers exchanged glances, showing a mix of embarrassment and humiliation on their faces.
It was a silent acknowledgment, a shared understanding of the dangers they had faced. And in that instant, Wallace grasped the truth, a knowing smile appearing on his face.
"Let me guess," he said, a hint of amusement in his voice. "That spider thing again? Or maybe those feared facehuggers?"
As Wallace spoke the words "spider" and "facehugger," a chilling silence fell upon Alistair, Cedric, Eldric, Gideon, Ivander, Jasper, and Mage Marcus. It was as if a cold shiver ran down their spines, turning their faces a deep shade of red. Their eyes widened with a mix of fear and disgust, bracing themselves for what was about to happen.
One after another, the men were overcome by a strong feeling of sickness that tightened their stomachs.
Alistair, trying his best to remain composed, bent over in pain, sweating as he struggled to maintain his dignity amidst the inner turmoil.
Cedric, known for his strength, stumbled backward, clutching his aching belly, moaning and retching.
Eldric, the experienced warrior, clenched his fists, gritting his teeth, expelling a malevolent force along with the rising bile.
Gideon, the unwavering guardian, fought to suppress the mounting discomfort but eventually gave in, audibly vomiting.
Ivander, the learned Mana Knights that loves to study creatures, trembled uncontrollably, violently emptying the contents of his stomach.
Jasper, the nimble rogue of the Mana Knights, pale and terrified, fought against his weakness, retching and struggling to regain control.
Mage Marcus, frozen in horror, gasped and disgorged his dinner in a grotesque manner.
In that moment, these men, united in their suffering, formed a bond through their shared revulsion. They wretched and groaned, one could only imagine what they experienced inside the dungeon before they died.