Zack coughed, his voice still raw from that star flame breathing practice. Smoke puffed out of his mouth like he had just tried eating fire for the first time.
Okay… I am still alive, surprisingly. And not burnt. He looked at his hands, with black dust all over them. Flexing his fingers, they were still thin with prominent bones showing through the skin. And very weak.
Ding.
[Newbie quest unlocked]
Survive three days until the marriage
Bonus increase cultivation to Mortal Tier 2.
Reward mystery gift packet
"Survive three days? The fuck does that mean? Is my new wife an assassin? "Am I gonna die?" Zack muttered, while rubbing his face.
"Of course, I am gonna die, it's a fucking murder game."
The panel blinked again.
Ding.
[Hint: Your cousin Max is planning something out of jealousy.]
Zack sat up straight. In total disbelief: "Wait… Max?"... that bastard! I knew he was fucking bad but why does he have to do me dirty like that!?."
He remembered the way Max was smirking so evilly at the dinner table. If this system weren't messed up, Max would have probably killed him by now. Probably before the wedding.
Zack groaned. He only wanted to play games, not be in a game world!.
Zack dragged himself up, he couldn't let his cousin win. His legs were wobbling like noodles. He stumbled over to a mirror that was broken while leaning against the wall.
His face wasn't pretty. Hollow cheeks and dark circles under his eyes.
"Great. I look like a fucking zombie"
The system dinged again.
[Status panel unlocked]
Name: Zack Electro
Cultivation: Mortal Tier 1: Star flame
Breathing: Beginner
Strength: 3
Agility: 2
Vitality: 2
Charm: 6
Luck: ???
Zack blinked three times at the numbers. "This must be a mistake…" "Strength three?"
"Agility two?. That's like… toddler stats. The fucking universe thinks I have the same agility and strength as a toddler!?. And why is my charm higher than everything else!?." His feelings were rather disappointing in the stats.
The system didn't react. The silence was almost painful.
He looked at the panel, his face becoming red, he was really mad.
"Oh, don't tell me this is the Harem part. No way I am surviving with-."
The system cut him off in a rude way.
[Hidden stats detected: Survival instincts 0.5]
"Zero point five, you couldn't even give me a full number," he said angrily, his voice almost sounding like he was shouting.
"You could have gotten a 5 instead of complaining to us to improve, it's not our fault you are useless.
"The useless one can't even stand up straight."
Tears slowly began to show on Zack's face but he told himself that he was a man and men don't cry.
"...Master Max will take over everything soon anyway."
Zack's eyes were in panic and his jaw tightened
His eyes twitched left and right, clearly a sign that he was panicking.
He wasn't exactly surprised. But now, with the panel floating in front of him, the voices were worse. Like the game itself was mocking him.
This all felt suspicious, too real, and not at the same time.
The amulet at his chest. Vibrated weak…bzzzz… bzzz… Just once in a heartbeat.
Zack stood still… felt like he couldn't do anything… he completely froze.
He slowly looked at the chain and didn't realize he was wearing it. The black chain was burning cold on his chest. Cold like the temperature of a freezer. But then he heard a whisper.
Max will betray you. But I can help with revenge.
He threw the chain away, "Hell nah. I was not born yesterday. I am not gonna listen to creepy jewelry voices.
But he couldn't let his cousin win either.
What if he just gave the jewelry a chance? That won't really be a bad idea right?
His first mistake, heart open for revenge.
The system dinged again.
[Side quest: Investigate the amulet.
Reward. ???]
Zack kicked a bench and buried his face in his hands. "Why does fucking everything come with a quest? Can't I just do something normal, like is napping illegal?"
[Failure Condition: Death.]
"... right… of cour thenet's make it by giving him the death penalty."
He sighed. Knowingly then life is over before it even begins.
With his head low he forced himself towards the, Scared
If Max really thought he could kill him to death ,Then Max didn't know him well, and maybe he should give the weird ass necklace a silent
If the necklace really protects him. He should give it a try.
The hallway outside was dim. The halls looked cool though, Zack walked silently, walking silently, he didn't know why Scared so scared, not even making a little sound.
The guards screamed like a kid at a birthday party.
Halfway down the corridor, heMaxoze.
Two figures stood at the far end.
" What, scared now?"
Zack rolled his eyes, "Scared of what two adults trying to play bodyguards.
"Lord Max wants it done by today." One of the bodyguards said.
"Well tell Lord max to fuck off."
Both guards looked at him angrily.
"Oh, shit. This doesn't look good." Zack turned around and ran out the hall.
[Warning: Combat Encounter Detected.]
"Now!"? Couldn't you have warned me like thirty seconds ago!?"
He opened the nearest door and got inside.
It was a really dusty old storage room which nobody used most likely. The guards slammed against the door a second later.
While screaming.
"Come out, brat."
The amulet against his chest… Hey wait, how did it get back there?. It doesn't matter, the amulet vibrated. Fight.
Zack's hand tightened around it begging to not die today.
"No no no. I don't fight, I am a run and scream guy.
I am the kind of guy who needs protection NOT THE ONE WHO PROTECTS."
He stressed out much and walked around like a maniac who didn't sleep for three days. Could he survive this.?
[Skill unlocked: star flame spark.]
"Wait…what?."