A Weapon Master, huh? I mused to myself. Was it because she entered the game carrying a weapon? But in the end, my guess was as good as anyone else's. No one knew what logic or formula the so-called game masters had used to assign our classes.
#You have received a Squad Invite from @boxcutter
#Accept or #Decline
I didn't have much of a choice. Reluctantly, I accepted.
#Congratulations: You have successfully joined @boxcutter's squad.
Hm. Does that make her the squad leader? I wondered. The more I thought about it, the more uneasy I felt. This whole situation was becoming increasingly unsettling.
"Great! So... should we get started? No point in waiting around. Let's go murder some monsters," Boxcutter said, her voice brimming with excitement as she grabbed my wrist and pulled me along. I stumbled to my feet, reluctant and still trying to process everything. Isn't she in a bit of a rush? We just got here. A normal person would need at least a few hours to adjust to this new reality.
But then again, maybe not. The other players seemed to have already assessed the situation and were scrambling to form teams.
"A mage! I'm a mage! Join my squad!"
"I'm a Scout! I'll be useful! Please let me join!"
"My class is Hunter. Who wants to team up with me?"
The clearing was buzzing with activity as players tried to recruit or get recruited. It was chaos, but it was organized chaos.
"Umm, Boxcutter? Don't you think we should form a proper squad first? It'd be easier to hunt monsters that way," I suggested. After all, there's strength in numbers. Since this was just the tutorial, the monsters probably wouldn't be too tough, but it was still better to be safe than sorry.
"Nah, no need. We'll grab the points first. Once we've got enough, recruiting lackeys will be a breeze. Besides, I don't want a third wheel cramping our style. It's more fun with just the two of us," she said, pulling me along as I nearly tripped over my own feet. I opened my mouth to protest, but her icy glare shut me up.
"As you say, then," I sighed, resigning myself to her lead. We left the clearing and the other players behind, venturing deeper into the forest.
The further we went, the more I was struck by the sheer realism of the world around us. The trees, the earth, the air—it all felt so real. If the graphics were this immersive, I could only imagine how terrifying the monsters would be.
The forest wasn't too dense, and I could see quite far ahead. But so far, there was nothing but trees. No signs of life, let alone monsters.
"This way," Boxcutter said, pulling me to the right. Did she sense something? I wondered. Wolves? Goblins? Those were the usual tutorial monsters, after all.
"Look, there's one under the tree," she whispered, pointing with her blade toward a small, pink ball-like creature that was moving slightly beneath one of the trees. It was tiny, no bigger than a football. Was that really a monster?
We approached slowly, trying not to startle it. As we got closer, I could see that it was covered in soft fur and looked like a rabbit. Its eyes were a brilliant blue, and it was nibbling on something that had stained its mouth red.
A rabbit monster? I thought. Cute.
"Die!" Boxcutter charged forward, but I yanked her back by the hand she was still holding.
"Wait! You don't even know if it's a monster yet. I mean, it's so small. Maybe it's just an animal..." I said, hesitating. Was there even a difference between monsters and animals in this game? I didn't know, but this rabbit was too adorable to kill. And since it hadn't attacked us, my morals wouldn't let me harm it.
This game is way too realistic. If it feels this real, who's to say this rabbit isn't real too?
"Eek! B-bandage, don't pull on me like that out of nowhere! It's not good for my heart," Boxcutter muttered, her face turning red. Was she faking it? I hadn't done anything that extreme.
"Just wait. I'll check it out," I said, pulling my hand free from her grip and walking toward the rabbit. It didn't seem to mind my presence, though I could tell it had noticed me from the way its long ears twitched.
I crouched down to make myself less intimidating and reached out to touch it. Wait a second, aren't rabbits supposed to be shy?
My hand was just inches away when I saw it.
The rabbit's cute face twisted grotesquely as its entire head split open into a massive mouth lined with rows of spiky teeth, circling the dark void inside.
"AHCAAOSKQKKK!"
I screamed in horror, but it was too late. The creature had already bitten deep into my hand, its teeth sinking all the way to the bone. My wrist was completely engulfed in its mouth.
"Keek! Keek!" it squealed, its voice high-pitched and unnerving.
"No way. No way. No way!" I panicked, using my free hand to grab the creature and try to pull it off. But the pain was excruciating, like countless razor blades slicing through my flesh. Any doubt I had about this game being virtual vanished in that moment.
This was real.
"Ahhh! Arg!"
I fell onto my back, struggling desperately for just a second before I heard a sharp click.
Boxcutter had unsheathed her blade.
"Die."
In the next moment, the rabbit—or whatever it was—was sliced cleanly in two. Boxcutter had cut it in half with expert precision. Its lower body fell to the ground, but its head remained clamped onto my wrist, still biting down even as it lost strength.
[Teammate @Boxcutter has slain: Level 3 Teeth Bunny.]
"Heh... that was easy," Boxcutter said, smiling from ear to ear, her face splattered with blood. She didn't even bother to help me. "And I got 10 points for it."
I whimpered as I pulled the teeth out of my hand one by one, each one leaving behind a bloody hole. My hand was a mess, and the pain was unbearable.
"Fuck... only 10 points for killing that demonic thing?" I cursed under my breath. "I hope I don't get some kind of infection from this bite."
Thanks to my Healer class, my wounds were already starting to heal, but the effect was painfully slow.
"T-thanks..." I managed to say between gasps, avoiding her gaze. She might have saved me, but I knew her intentions weren't exactly noble.
"Heheh... don't mention it, partner. It's only natural to help your teammate," she said with a grin, squatting down to inspect my bloody hand. "Though I must say, you look pretty sexy when you're injured," she added in a low, teasing voice.
I quickly pulled my hand away, a chill running down my spine. It seemed monsters weren't the only danger in this damned game.