Cedric was still buzzing with excitement from his encounter with the Guardian Scout as he made his way back toward the forest. Though his body ached slightly, he couldn't help but smile. this world was full of challenges, and each one seemed more exhilarating than the last.
Meanwhile, Garrick and Kaden were happily mining in a quiet area they'd found earlier, their picks steadily chipping away at blocks of coal and iron. Elena, Lyra, and Ronan gathered nearby, keeping an eye on their surroundings, the group working together as a well-oiled machine.
But suddenly, Garrick noticed a strange figure emerging from the shadows a small green creature with an odd, blocky appearance and a pair of vacant, staring eyes. Its movements were stiff, yet it approached with a kind of eerie determination.
"What is that?" Garrick murmured, raising his spear.
Kaden glanced over, frowning. "Looks like a sickly zombie or something. Think it's dangerous?"
"Only one way to find out," Garrick replied, stepping forward. The two of them advanced, weapons raised, assuming this would be another easy encounter. The creature didn't look all that threatening just… strange.
As they drew close, the creature started to blink, flashing from green to white in an ominous rhythm. Both of them halted, uncertain, but the green creature didn't stop blinking. Instead, it began to hiss.
"What is it doing?" Kaden muttered, glancing at Garrick.
Before they could react further, the creature exploded in a violent blast, sending both Garrick and Kaden flying back in a burst of smoke and fire. Everything went black.
Back in the real world, Garrick and Kaden jolted awake, their hearts racing, the memory of the explosion still sharp in their minds. They let out a collective shout, the shock of what just happened settling in as they found themselves lying in bed in their makeshift in-game house.
The others heard their cries and rushed over. "Are you two okay?" Elena asked, worry filling her eyes.
Ronan raised an eyebrow. "What in the world happened?"
Kaden sat up, still breathing hard. "We… we died. That creature exploded out of nowhere! We didn't even know that could happen!"
"We thought it was just a weird-looking zombie or something," Garrick added, his hand trembling slightly. "It was too real… when it went off, it was like I could actually feel the blast. I… I didn't think a game could feel like that."
Lyra knelt beside them. "You're back here, though. So maybe… maybe you can't die permanently?"
The realization sank in, and both Garrick and Kaden let out a sigh of relief. "Yeah, we respawned. But the weird part is, it feels like we've lost everything. Our gear, all our loot it's gone."
The others stared, wide-eyed. Losing items upon death was another harsh lesson in the game's reality. After all their hard work, one creature had reset everything.
"We have to be more careful," Ronan said, glancing at the others with a serious expression. "This world isn't just a game… it's like it has rules of its own, ones we have to figure out."
Garrick nodded, his jaw set with determination. "Whatever that thing was… I don't plan on letting it take me by surprise again."
As they resolved to be more cautious, the group couldn't help but feel the thrill of their first encounter with the world's dangers.
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