Antony watched Matthew's face, a subtle smirk playing on his lips. He had just delivered a performance worthy of the grandest stage, a symphony of feigned tears and desperate pleas. "Did you see my Oscar-winning acting?" Antony thought, a silent, triumphant whisper to himself. He had played Matthew like a fiddle, exploiting his compassion, his sense of justice. He was learning, adapting, becoming a master manipulator in this deadly game. Matthew, his expression softened by sympathy, reached down and gently pulled Antony to his feet.
"I understand, Antony. I understand what you have gone through. And I know it wasn't easy for you," Matthew said, his voice laced with genuine concern. He was convinced, completely taken in by Antony's carefully constructed narrative. Antony, ever the actor, continued his charade, feigning a sniffle, a lingering tremor in his voice.
"I—hic—sorry! I didn't know it would lead to such a misunderstanding," Antony stammered, his eyes wide with feigned remorse. He was laying it on thick, ensuring Matthew's trust was solidified, his suspicions completely dispelled. The more Matthew believed him, the easier it would be to achieve his own goals.
"I understand. Now lead me to the room. I want to see what you are trying to show me," Matthew said, his voice firm, his resolve to investigate the Master's experiments unwavering. Antony nodded, a silent acknowledgment, and began to lead him deeper into the facility, towards the chamber where the true horrors lay. As they approached, a disgusting, cloying smell, a mixture of decay and something metallic, wafted from within, a grim harbinger of the atrocities committed there.
```
MATTHEW BRAMBLE'S TRUST STAT HAS INCREASED!
```
"Nice, System!" Antony thought, a surge of satisfaction coursing through him. His manipulation was working, his stats were rising. He was playing the game, and he was winning. He pushed open the heavy door to the chamber, revealing a sight that would haunt Matthew's nightmares. The room was vast, dimly lit, and filled with countless containers, each one holding grotesque, preserved remnants of the demons they had just fought. It was a macabre museum of the Master's failures and twisted successes.
"How on earth is this possible?" Matthew gasped, his voice a choked whisper, his eyes wide with horror as he surveyed the gruesome collection. The sheer scale of the Master's depravity was overwhelming, a testament to his inhumanity.
"I knew you would be surprised. This place is a heaven for leveling up, which is why Lucien chose it, even though he has no traits to be a vampire," Antony explained, his voice carefully casual, as he walked around the chamber, gesturing to the various containers. He was subtly guiding Matthew's thoughts, reinforcing the narrative he had spun. He knew the true, horrifying story behind these specimens, a story he couldn't reveal, not yet. He had to maintain his innocent facade, his role as the unwitting victim.
"I have no idea how the Master collected all this," Antony added, a feigned shudder running through him. He knew exactly how. He had seen it in the game's lore, the chilling details of the Master's experiments. "He was a greedy person even in the game, but I didn't expect him to die this fast by just a level fifty monster when he could have been more than a mid-boss in the game," Antony thought, a cynical observation. The Master, for all his power and cruelty, had been surprisingly fragile in the face of Lucien's unleashed fury. It was an unexpected twist, a deviation from the game's original storyline.
"What? What are you thinking?" Matthew snapped him out of his thoughts, his voice sharp with concern. He had noticed Antony's momentary lapse, his distant gaze.
"Nothing. You can take whatever you need. It will be helpful in future quests," Antony said, quickly recovering, his eyes sweeping over the containers, mentally cataloging the valuable resources. He was offering Matthew a share of the spoils, a gesture of goodwill that would further solidify their alliance.
"Quests?" Matthew asked, his brow furrowed in confusion. The term was clearly unfamiliar to him, a relic of Antony's gaming past.
"Oh, I mean commissions. You must have a lot of commissions since you are an upgraded-level vampire. So, there might be a lot of commissions for you, right?" Antony stuttered, quickly correcting himself, trying to sound natural, convincing. He was navigating a delicate balance, trying to use his game knowledge without revealing its source.
"Oh yes, I do. But I have stopped taking commissions now. I am solely focusing on leveling up my companions. So, you should take them. It will help you level up and become an upgraded vampire," Matthew said, his voice firm, his dedication to his team evident. He was a leader, a mentor, and he saw potential in Antony. This was an unexpected boon, a chance for Antony to gain power without having to share it.
"I know that's my motive. But if you had taken it, then it would have been only my loss," Antony thought, a wide, triumphant smirk spreading across his face. He was getting everything he wanted, and Matthew was none the wiser. He was a true protagonist, even if he had to manipulate his way to the top.
As Antony reached for a container, a new notification flashed across his system screen, a welcome sight.
```
YOU HAVE OBTAINED INFERNO HEART!
```
```
A VALUABLE INGREDIENT THAT CAN BE USED TO FORGE WEAPONS IMBUED WITH FIRE DAMAGE!
```
The system described the drop, its words a confirmation of the item's immense value. "Perfect for me!" Antony thought, his eyes gleaming. The Inferno Heart, a rare and powerful ingredient, was exactly what he needed to upgrade his wooden sword, to truly unleash the power of his Fire Element. He could already envision the blazing blade, the fiery attacks that would devastate his enemies. He reached for the next item, his fingers tingling with anticipation.
```
EMBER CLAW HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE INVENTORY!
```
```
USED IN ENCHANTING WEAPONS TO ADD BURNING EFFECTS,
```
The system described, its words a symphony of power and potential. "Both are in my favor!" Antony laughed, a genuine, uninhibited sound of pure joy. He was accumulating power, becoming stronger with each passing moment. This was what he had always dreamed of, what he had always strived for in his games. He was no longer just a player; he was a force to be reckoned with.
His gaze then fell upon a display case, a single, magnificent blade resting within. Its hilt was intricately carved, its blade shimmering with an inner light. "Crimson Reaver Blade? What is it?" Antony mumbled, reading the name on the showcase. He had a feeling this was something special, something truly legendary. He needed more information, a detailed analysis.
"System, describe the quality of the blade!" Antony ordered, his voice filled with a newfound authority. The system, ever obedient, responded instantly.
```
YES, THE DESCRIPTION OF THE BLADE: A LEGENDARY SWORD FORGED FROM THE BLOOD OF A THOUSAND FALLEN WARRIORS. IT DEALS SIGNIFICANT PHYSICAL DAMAGE AND HAS A CHANCE TO CAUSE BLEEDING ON HIT.
```
Antony looked at Matthew, who was still observing the place, his back to the display case. He knew this blade was meant for Matthew, a perfect match for his physical damage capabilities. He also knew that if Matthew acquired it, their combined power would be unstoppable. He was building a team, a formidable force that would conquer this game, this world.
```
EFFECT: +50% PHYSICAL DAMAGE, 10% CHANCE TO INFLICT BLEEDING OVER 5 SECONDS,
```
The system chimed again, detailing the blade's powerful effects. Antony turned to Matthew, his voice filled with a carefully constructed enthusiasm. "Matthew, I think you should take this!" He gestured towards the Crimson Reaver Blade. Matthew turned, his eyes falling upon the weapon, and a gasp escaped his lips. His eyes glowed, an intense, almost primal light, as if the blade was made just for him, a destiny fulfilled. His aura flared up, a powerful surge of energy that made the blade clink within its case, vibrating, as if trying to come out and choose its master.
"Is it something you are doing?" Antony asked, feigning surprise. He knew the blade was responding to Matthew's immense power, his inherent connection to such a weapon. He was merely facilitating the inevitable.
"No, but I guess the blade is destined to be with me," Matthew said, his voice filled with awe. With a powerful surge, the blade shattered its glass prison, flying directly into Matthew's outstretched hand, where it shone with an ethereal aura, pulsating with raw power. It was a magnificent sight, a testament to Matthew's strength and the blade's legendary status.
"Woah! I've never seen something like this," Antony mumbled, a genuine sense of wonder in his voice. He was witnessing a true legend in the making, a moment that would be etched into the annals of this game's history. But then, a familiar insecurity, a nagging doubt, crept into his mind. "He is giving off more main character energy than me. Am I really the protagonist in this game?" Antony mumbled, his gaze fixed on Matthew, who now radiated an undeniable aura of power and destiny.
```
PROTAGONIST HAS BEEN SHOWING SUSPICION TOWARD THE SYSTEM!
```
```
THE SYSTEM IS GETTING ANGRY AT THE PROTAGONIST!
```
The system buzzed, its words flashing across his vision, a clear indication of its displeasure. "Woah, a system can get angry too? I didn't know!" Antony acted, feigning annoyance, a playful challenge in his voice. He was pushing the boundaries, testing the limits of the system's patience. He was the protagonist, and he would not be questioned, not even by the very entity that had chosen him.
```
HOW DARE A MERE PROTAGONIST ACT SUPERIOR?
```
The system questioned, its digital voice laced with a surprising amount of indignation. It was clearly offended, its authority challenged.
"Hmph! Now a mere system that chose me as the protagonist dares to question me? You've got a lot of guts, don't you?" Antony said in response, his voice filled with a mock arrogance. He was enjoying this, the power dynamic shifting, the system reacting to his provocations. He was no longer a pawn; he was a player, and he was dictating the terms.
```
YOU MERE PROTAGONIST! YOU THINK YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE IN THE SYSTEM? YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY ONE THE SYSTEM HAS CHOSEN. THERE ARE DIFFERENT SCENARIOS WITH DIFFERENT PROTAGONISTS, AND YOU ARE JUST ONE OF THEM. YOU ARE NOTHING SPECIAL,
```
The system responded, its words a harsh, digital slap in the face. The revelation was startling, a cold splash of reality. He wasn't unique, not special. He was just one of many, a cog in a larger, more complex machine. The thought was unsettling, but it also ignited a new kind of determination within him. If he wasn't special, he would make himself special. He would rise above the others, prove himself worthy of the title of protagonist.
"I don't believe it," Antony said, his voice firm, a challenge in his tone. He was about to move to another section of the boss drops, eager to prove the system wrong, to find something that would truly set him apart, when something popped out from the system, a small, ethereal creature, shimmering with a faint, blue light.
"You human! You dared to mock the system!" the little creature shrieked, its voice surprisingly loud for its size. It floated in the air, its tiny fists clenched, its eyes glowing with digital fury. Antony stared, dumbfounded. He had never seen anything like it, a physical manifestation of the system itself. "You! Who—how did you…?" Antony panicked, his eyes darting to Matthew beside him, hoping he had seen it too, hoping he wasn't losing his mind.
"Antony? What happened? Why are you looking around? Are you searching for something?" Matthew asked, his brow furrowed in concern. He clearly saw nothing, heard nothing. The creature was visible only to Antony.
"No, but can you see anything?" Antony asked, his voice a strained whisper. He needed confirmation, a shared reality. But Matthew's blank expression was all the answer he needed. The creature was a secret, a burden he had to bear alone.
"Hey, hey! I'm looking at you! Where are you looking?" the little creature demanded, stomping its tiny foot in the air, its digital voice filled with indignation. It was clearly annoyed by Antony's distraction.
"No, I can't see anything. But what do you want me to see? Is there something in particular, like the magic orb you mentioned before?" Matthew asked, making a thoughtful face, trying to understand Antony's strange behavior. He was trying to be helpful, but he was completely in the dark.
"No, nothing like that. But I think if we search further, we might find something for Mr. Beastman," Antony said, faking an expression of innocent curiosity, trying to deflect Matthew's questions. He was still reeling from the system's revelation, from the appearance of this tiny, angry manifestation.
"Antony, I don't know if you're purposely calling him Beastman or if you really don't know his name. He is Kael. Even though he looks like a beastman now, he was once a human. So, show some respect," Matthew said, his tone becoming cold once again, a clear warning. He was protective of Kael, and Antony's casual disrespect was not appreciated.
"Oh, I'm sorry! I really didn't know!" Antony said, feigning remorse, though he felt none. He was still annoyed by the system's pronouncement, by the creature's sudden appearance. He was the protagonist, and he would not be lectured, not by a mere system, and certainly not by a companion, no matter how powerful.
"Hey, hey! You, player no. 12! Don't ignore me!" the little creature shouted, stomping its leg in the air, its digital voice filled with a comical fury. Antony ignored it, his gaze fixed on Matthew, a new plan forming in his mind. He would prove the system wrong. He would become the most special protagonist this game had ever seen. And he would do it his way, with or without the system's approval. The game was on, and Antony was ready to play.