Adventure World Online (AWO)

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"Sob?"

Chang Long echoed, glancing towards the source of the eerie sound emerging from the newly-open dimly lit passageway. The wail from a dark shadow gradually approached, and soon something horrifying came into view. A woman in a white kimono was dragging her twisted legs behind her, her body bent unnaturally. Her pale face was marred by long scratch marks, with blood oozing from them. One eye was missing, while the other bulged grotesquely from its socket. Her mouth was torn wide, stretching up to her ears, with a long tongue hanging out all the way to her chest.

"Ahhhhh"

Without warning, Chang Long and her companions all screamed in unison, their voices blending together in sheer terror. Even her four ghosts— Fluffly Head-chan, Devi-chan, Hisa-chan, and Alice-chan—momentarily forgot they were ghosts themselves and joined in the chorus of frightened screams.

"F-Flaming Burst!"

Chang Long, stuttering, hastily activated her Eye of Fire skill. The ghostly woman continued to creep closer, and the system identified her as a Torn-mouth Maid Beast, level 52. Fortunately, she was alone, and upon being hit by Chang Long's fiery attack, she shrieked and retreated. The Thieving Field Mouse, terrified, quickly burrowed back into Chang Long's cloak, trembling uncontrollably.

"You're all ghosts. Why are you screaming, huh!"

Chang Long scolded her ghostly companions, clearly frustrated. The four ghosts let out awkward laughs and sheepishly admitted they had never encountered such a terrifying ghost before, despite being spirits themselves.

Kitsune then opened his mouth and unleashed a golden flame, finishing off the Torn-mouth Maid Beast instantly. The soul of the beast flew into Kitsune, much to Chang Long's amazement at his prowess. Even though Kitsune had recently reset back to level one, his flame easily destroyed a level 52 beast in mere minutes.

"It's the monster weak point, master. Plus, when the flame is from a pure-blooded sacred beast like big bro, even higher-level enemies can be defeated."

Hulu explained. Chang Long nodded in understanding before collecting what looked like an ancient gold coin. Then, she continued deeper into the newly opened passage.

Meanwhile, Oliang was growing increasingly annoyed. His best friend, Lidded Wet Trash Can, was clinging to him like a gecko, in bizarre and awkward positions that only worsened the situation. Hero, unable to contain his laughter, burst out in fits as Wet Trash Can clung to Oliang's leg so firmly that the latter nearly fall over, peeking out nervously from between his friend's legs.

"What the heck are you so scared of, Wet Trash Can. Let go of me right now!"

Oliang shouted, smacking his friend on the head. But no matter what, Wet Trash Can refused to loosen his grip. Hero continued to laugh uncontrollably as he fired at another Torn-mouth Maid Beast, sending it to its demise after just a few shots.

"Come on, Oliang. If they keep coming one at a time like this, I can help take them down. A well-aimed shot to their weak spot makes it easier. But seriously, Wet Trash Can, when are you going to get used to ghosts? You've been hanging around Chang Long for so long now."

Hero chuckled as he collected ancient coins dropped by the Torn-mouth Maid Beast and reloaded his gun. He led the way while glancing back at the loving duo behind him. (Oliang losing his patience, was kicking Wet Trash Can repeatedly) as the latter clung to him tightly.

Despite the screams echoing through all the hallways, none could top the record-setting loudest scream from Wet Trash Can. Chang Long and her group discovered that every ten to fifteen minutes, the mansion's mechanisms would activate, opening new passageways while possibly closing old ones, which would turn into walls.

"Oh!"

Chang Long exclaimed as she glanced ahead. A large square room stood before them, with an ancient wooden table in the center. On the table was a golden chest, wrapped in chains and talismans so densely that it was hard to tell it was gold. The chains were locked with numerous keys, and an eerie aura radiated from the chest.

"Just my luck, I wasn't even trying to find this chest,"

Chang Long muttered with frustration, eyeing the room suspiciously. Sure enough, Devi-chan confirmed there were traps inside. In the darkest corner of the room, a vague shadow loomed, something clearly untrustworthy.

"I'd better call the others,"

Chang Long decided, raising her wrist to call her friends, but before she could press the button, the shadow started moving toward them.

"Leave~"

A slow, ominous voice drifted from the shadow. The voice was calm yet carried a commanding power within it.

"Oh, come on, we just got here and you're already telling us to leave?"

Fluffly Head-chan grumbled, completely unfazed by the shadow.

"Leave~"

The shadow repeated. Chang Long's eyebrow twitched, remembering the time she faced an army of skeletons in Devi-chan's tomb. Those skeletons only ever said two words: no and intruder.

"Kitsune, breath fire!"

Chang Long ordered calmly. Devi-chan and Fluffly Head-chan chuckled, seeing Chang Long's eyebrow twitch. Kitsune smirked before unleashing its fiery breath, setting the shadow ablaze. The creature screamed in agony as the flames revealed its true form

—a frightening old woman, draped in a regal golden kimono adorned with delicate flower patterns, an odd contrast to her fierce, intimidating face. The system did not announce anything, so Chang Long assumed the ghost was either an NPC or a simple AI.

"Why did you hurt me?"

The ghost wailed.

"Why did you want us to leave?"

Chang Long ignored the ghost's question, countering with her own.

"W-well… I had to say it,"

The ghost responded.

"Fine, whatever. So, I got a quest about that chest over there. Mind telling me how to open it?"

Chang Long asked, sounding bored. Thankfully, the ghost NPC was not being too annoying, or else she would have blasted it with more fire by now.

"Well… technically, I'm supposed to stop you. But honestly, I don't like getting hurt. There are traps in this room, and ten keys to unlock those chains. The safe path is unpredictable, and it's so narrow that even if I don't stop you, you'll never make it through!"

The ghost ridiculed with a straight face.

"Kitsune…"

Chang Long muttered, causing the ghost to flinch and glance toward her. Immediately, it was met with a restrained burst of fire from Kitsune, making it yelp and complain in pain for a bit. After listening to the ghost's grumbling for a while, Chang Long tossed one of the ancient coins she had picked up from the Torn-mouth Maid Beast to the floor.

Clanggg!

Small spikes, almost like nails, shot up from the ground, leaving barely any space to step. Even Kitsune and Fluffly Head-chan's tiny feet could not find a spot to tread. Above the spikes, about a foot off the ground, darts flew back and forth. Chang Long was stumped by the trap and was just about to call her friends for help when she heard a small voice from inside her coat.

"What!"

The little Thieving Field Mouse squeaked in shock after hearing what Chang Long wanted it to do. The most dangerous thing it had ever done was steal food from the foxes, and that was because it was starving. But risking its life for nothing? No way—it was not eager to take that chance.

Chang Long pulled out the Horn of Abundance, filling a wine glass with assorted grains: sunflower seeds, beans, and corn. The rat's eyes lit up, and it audibly gulped, staring at its favorite food.

"Well, if you help me, I'll feed you like this every meal,"

Chang Long offered, waving the treat temptingly in front of the mouse.

"U-uh."

The mouse hesitated. Risking danger just to eat its fill every meal seemed tempting. Where else could it get such an offer? But it was still thinking hard on the offer, its eyes fixed on the food swinging enticingly before it. If it agreed, would that mean it had to follow Chang Long everywhere just to eat like this?

"What's taking you so long to decide? Is it not enough?"

Chang Long teased.

"Uh… if I help you I'll get to eat like this every meal. But, what if I want to eat like this but don't want to follow you around?"

The mouse asked, half afraid, half curious.

"If that's what you want… I'll fill up a sack with as much as you can carry and send you on your way,"

Chang Long replied with a playful smile.

"Oh! Deal. I'll do whatever you need me to!"

The mouse agreed eagerly, its eyes practically glowing in the shape of sunflower seeds.

After Chang Long questioned the old ghost NPC guarding the golden chest, she learned that the bride they encountered outside the mansion had brought back a certain weapon on her wedding day. It was a silver halberd with a terrifying design, considered an ominous and ill-fated object, especially for such a joyous day like the wedding day. The bride was accused of being cursed, a demon in disguise, and was sentenced to death. Her soul was sealed in the mansion, just like the silver halberd.

"The keys are hidden under the floor, right? So how many do I need to find? Oh, and call me Brownie."

The little Thieving Field Mouse struck a pose, trying to look cool, which only made Fluffly Head-chan want to smack it for being so full of itself.

"Uh-huh, it's all on you, Brownie. This important task can only be done by you!"

Chang Long encouraged, making Brownie puff out its chest even with pride—until it tripped and almost impaled itself on a spike jutting from the floor.

"Uh... okay, I'm serious now."

Brownie quickly got up, struck another pose, after falling. With determination, it shuffled its legs and darted into the field of traps. The path was marked, ridding Brownie of having to look and find. All it had to do was follow the tiny gaps left open, and soon enough, it would find the hidden keys on the floor. In no time, Brownie returned with all ten keys, completely unscathed.

"Well done, Brownie. Now, let's wait for the others. I've already called them, so we'll proceed with the next step when they get here."

Chang Long praised, handing the little mouse a glass filled with grains as a reward, which it happily devoured.

"What are you doing? Why aren't you unlocking the chest?"

The ghost NPC asked in confusion, slightly disappointed. She knew that if Chang Long tried to unlock the chest right away, the traps around the table would definitely get her.

"Nope. Hey, aunty. Tell me more about that weapon. Where is it now, and why can't my people locate it?"

Chang Long sat down casually on the floor, while Brownie continued munching on its pile of food, ignoring everything else.

"A-aunty..."

The ghost NPC stammered in shock.

"Yeah, aunty. Sit here and spill it all. Otherwise, I'll let Kitsune bathe you in flames again,"

Chang Long said, patting the spot beside her as an invitation. The ghost, with no other choice, reluctantly sat down next to Chang Long. Though clearly annoyed at being threatened by a player who was not the least bit afraid of her, she began to tell the tale of the cursed silver halberd that led to the beautiful bride's execution on her own wedding day.

The night before the wedding, the beautiful bride claimed she heard a voice calling out to her. She ventured alone through the snow, following the sound, and came upon a magnificent weapon. It was crafted entirely of silver, gleaming with elegance and value. However, the intricate design on the handle shocked many—a skeleton in a cloak wielding a scythe, holding chains in its other hand, which were used to bind souls. The souls depicted wore expressions of fear and sorrow as they were led toward what appeared to be a massive arched doorway.

The bride-to-be was viewed with suspicion. Was she a demon, or had she been cursed by one? Why had she brought such an ill-omened object into the mansion, gazing at it with such fascination? The weapon radiated an unsettling, terrifying aura. The bride-to-be was killed, and her soul was sealed within the mansion, along with the weapon she had found. It was hidden somewhere deep within the vast estate.

"So, where exactly is the weapon, aunty?"

Chang Long asked after the ghost NPC finished the story. Despite listening for so long, there was barely any information about the weapon she was seeking.

"Uh... underneath. Underneath that chest, there's a hidden door. But trust me, you don't want to go down there. It's much scarier than up here,"

the ghost stammered.

"There's something scarier than you down there!"

Chang Long feigned surprise, while the ghost NPC's face twisted in annoyance. She realized that she could not stop this player and decided to retreat into the shadows, having answered all of Chang Long's questions.

After waiting for a while, Chang Long's friends eventually gathered. Each of them looked pale and shaken, having experienced their share of the mansion's horrors. As for Wet Trash Can, there was no need to describe how terrible he looked—he was as pale as the ghosts he had encountered and was still clinging tightly to his best friend's arm.

"Master Chang, is that the chest sealing the bride's spirit?"

Peach Blossom hurriedly sat next to Chang Long. Although she seemed a bit frightened, she was handling it far better than Wet Trash Can.

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