C4 Monster and God

A man's piercing screams and his staggering dash toward the village plunged the unprepared players into utter chaos. They watched in horror as the torn muscles and fat of his severed arm flailed with his movements, blood gushing rhythmically from the jagged veins.

For most, such gruesome injuries were beyond anything they'd encountered in real life. Their instinctive reaction was to retreat quietly, seeking distance from the horrific sight.

Shadow of Wind was the first to snap out of it, shouting, "Stay calm, don't panic. This could be part of the quest!"

"That's right, he's a player too!"

"Yeah, yeah, I saw him go into the game and then run out!"

With Shadow of Wind's reminder, the startled players regained their composure, recalling they were in a game. Though the sight of their returning comrade was still unnerving, their initial terror subsided.

"Help me! Help me! There are zombies behind me!"

As the injured player reached the safety of the village, the others could now see several shaky figures closing in fast. Heeding his warning, they cautiously watched the approaching silhouettes, which became clearer as the distance closed.

Tattered clothing, decaying flesh, and unintelligible groans—it was the quintessential zombie look straight out of comics, movies, and games.

"Three... three zombies?"

"That's revolting..."

"Damn, we're twenty meters away and I can already smell the decay. Does this game need to be this realistic?"

"Hey, don't just stand there, I'm in agony!" The injured player, who had managed to return to the group, was nearly in tears. He had set out joyfully, only to have his hand brutally torn off by zombies. After struggling to get back, he found his companions idly gossiping instead of fighting off the monsters.

"This is making me queasy. Can you keep your distance, please?"

"Doesn't this game have doctors?"

"Thank goodness it was just a hand. What if it had been... you know, down there?"

A player's gaze drifted downward, followed by an involuntary shudder. He quickly banished the dreadful thought from his mind, while those around him nodded empathetically.

Despite the foolishness of many players, a few level-headed ones pushed through to Shadow of Wind's side, inquiring, "With no weapons or gear, how are we supposed to fight?"

The man speaking was clad in a black suit and leather shoes, exuding the aura of a successful individual. Beside him, a girl sporting a maid outfit and a ponytail echoed his sentiment, "Indeed, no skills or NPCs. Are we supposed to engage those creatures in hand-to-hand combat?"

A look of revulsion was plastered on the girl's face, a sentiment shared by many around her. The mere thought of physically battling monsters, their flesh rotting and their stench detectable from afar, sparked an almost irresistible urge to log off.

"Have you all noticed we're still in the same clothes we had on when we entered the game?"

"Sure, but what of it? It's not like any girls showed up in bikinis, which is a shame."

Shadow of Wind grimaced. "Never mind, it's nothing. I was just curious about what would happen if I was holding something when I entered the game. But these three zombies are probably just here to lead us into a quest. Surely a hundred of us can take down three measly creatures, right?"

As they conversed, the three zombies had made their way into the village, the leader now a mere two or three meters from the group, its half-severed finger dangling grotesquely from its mouth, sending chills down their spines.

The front-line players, with no room left to retreat, braced themselves for a desperate struggle. Faang Qiubai, who had been monitoring the situation, let out a sigh and reluctantly intervened.

His plan had been to let the players acclimate to the game by engaging in simple tasks like brick moving and tree chopping, to understand the reality of this self-reliant game world before gradually introducing them to monsters. However, an unforeseen sprinter had led the creatures straight to them.

Although a hundred players could easily overwhelm three zombies, the soul damage inflicted on the players would have lingering effects, causing various negative consequences and requiring significant time for natural recovery. While replenishing their souls wouldn't deplete too much of his creative power, Faang Qiubai wasn't one to squander resources needlessly. It was better to conserve his strength for other purposes, prompting a slight adjustment to his plan.

As the imminent clash between players and monsters loomed, a cascade of white light showered down from the sky. The players felt nothing, but the zombies rapidly disintegrated within the radiant glow.

The more alert individuals looked up to see a figure bathed in a soft white luminescence hovering above them. His voice, though not loud, carried clearly to every ear present: "At last, you have arrived, warriors from the Other Plane."

"Plot twist?"

"Definitely. No wonder there's nothing here—we're supposed to wait for a monster to trigger the event!"

"Is that... a deity?"

Players murmured amongst themselves, their voices a blend of excitement and speculation, as they listened to the celestial figure speak.

"The plane is shattered, the planet broken. The future of this world rests in your hands. Will you vanquish the dark kingdom and rebuild this realm, or will you be consumed by darkness as we were?"

"Now, I am merely a shell, with little power left. I can offer healing and reverse death, but it will take your determination and effort."

Puzzled by the skyward figure's speech, a player called out, "What does that mean?"

"It sounds like this NPC's role is limited to resurrection and healing?"

"Seems like it."

As expected, the figure in the sky declared, "Brave warriors from the Other Plane, defeat the dark creatures and absorb their essence. I can cleanse the darkness from it, allowing you to use the purified essence to empower yourselves."

Faang Qiubai's explanation was clear, and the players quickly grasped his meaning. The 'dark essence' likely referred to experience points, suggesting that both healing and resurrection were tied to them.

"How are we supposed to battle these creatures? There's no weaponry, no gear. Are we expected to fight empty-handed?" Shadow of Wind, convinced this was just a cinematic interlude, still couldn't help but call out to the sky.

Unexpectedly, the figure responded, "My energy is nearly spent from summoning you here, but I trust you'll overcome these trifles. I will leave an avatar among you."

With a wave of its hand, a five-meter-tall effigy materialized in the village center, its features indistinct and attire unrecognizable—its crudeness was almost offensive.

As the figure vanished, Shadow of Wind gestured dismissively. The entity had said so much, yet aside from dispatching three monsters, had resolved nothing.

"I think... I've figured out how we can get equipped."

Just then, a piercing scream rang out from the outskirts of the crowd.