Crazy Blood Demon

Bob hesitated, looking at the list of potential supporters. He turned to Addak and asked, "Can I choose later?"

[Blood Shadow is annoyed by your question]

[Ruby Ruler agrees with your question]

[Night Whisperer doesn't like your question]

[Mysterious Wanderer is sad about your question]

The demon sneered, clearly unimpressed. "Of course, but I don't recommend it. Reinforcements could save your life."

Before Bob could respond, the Viking survivor spoke up. "Since we'll be together for a while, we should introduce ourselves. I'll start." He paused, then said, "My name is Eduard, and I'm 31."

The man in the suit followed. "David, 34."

"My name's Bob, I'm 21," Bob added.

"Nina," the teenager muttered reluctantly. "18."

[Blood Shadow is angry at Nina's attitude]

Addak's eerie grin widened as a glowing circle appeared beneath each survivor. In a flash, they were teleported onto a massive, unfamiliar bridge stretching across a wide expanse of water. Then, as suddenly as he had appeared, the demon vanished.

[Quest: Cross the bridge and stop at Etqa Station

Difficulty: E

Time Limit: 20 minutes

Reward: 150 coins

Penalty for failure: Death]

Bob furrowed his brow. 150 coins for crossing a bridge? Something doesn't add up.

The group started forward cautiously. Eduard looked like he wanted to start a conversation but couldn't think of what to say. For five minutes, they crossed the bridge in tense silence.

Halfway across, the sound of destruction echoed behind them. They turned to see a massive, 20-meter-tall blue cobra made of water smashing through the bridge and speeding toward them.

"Run!" someone yelled, and they all bolted. Bob led the charge, with Eduard close behind, then David, and finally Nina, who lagged at the rear, gasping for breath.

Just as they approached the bridge's end, Addak appeared, his smug grin widening. "Too easy," he said mockingly. "Let's spice it up a bit."

[Quest difficulty changed: E -> D]

[Living corpses begin to crawl out of the ground]

Panic set in as zombies clawed their way onto the bridge. The group sprinted toward their destination, narrowly avoiding the undead.

[Quest complete: Cross the bridge and reach Etqa Station]

[Reward: 150 coins]

They reached the station, but it wasn't over. Zombies began surrounding them, and the massive water cobra loomed ominously in the distance. The bridge groaned and crumbled, leaving Nina and David on one side and Bob and Eduard on the other.

[Night Whisperer didn't want your story to end, so they intervened]

[Mysterious Wanderer is grateful to Night Whisperer]

A dark, shimmering liquid formed a bridge between the two sides.

[Night Whisperer has given you a bridge, but only one organism can cross it.]

Eduard's face darkened at the message. Both he and Bob were silent. Nina and David, unaware of the restriction, watched in confusion. Their attention was drawn away by shuffling sounds behind them—zombies. Eleven of them, with dark green faces, were staggering closer.

Bob broke the silence. "Eduard, go. I need to test your strength anyway." He raised his sword, stepping toward the undead.

[Blood Shadow and Ruby Ruler like your words]

Eduard hesitated but eventually snorted, crossing the liquid bridge. It vanished behind him as he reached Nina and David.

Bob stretched his arms and legs, preparing himself. He charged at the zombies, swinging his sword. The first one fell, its head cleanly severed.

[+20 XP.]

[+90 coins.]

[Blood has gotten on your weapon. Your weapon deals 10% more damage]

Two zombies lunged at him, claws outstretched. Bob decapitated both with a single swing.

[+20 XP]

[+90 coins]

[+20 XP]

[+90 coins]

A third zombie leapt onto him, biting his shoulder.

[-10 HP]

[You are bleeding. Lose 1 HP per second]

Gritting his teeth through the pain, Bob stabbed the zombie and threw it off.

[+20 XP]

[+90 coins]

He swiftly decapitated two more.

[+20 XP]

[+90 coins]

[+20 XP]

[+90 coins]

Bob backed up to catch his breath, but a zombie with grey eyes sprinted toward him faster than the rest. Before he could react, it bit into his neck, knocking him to the ground.

Is this how I die? Bob thought bitterly. Killed by a mindless zombie?

His vision faded.

-- --

Bob awoke to searing pain and a flood of notifications:

[+80 XP]

[+190 coins]

[+20 XP]

[+90 coins]

[+20 XP]

[+90 coins]

[+20 XP]

[+90 coins]

[+20 XP]

[+90 coins]

[Blood Shadow admires your feat]

[Blood Shadow donates 50 coins]

[Coins: 2060]

Great, Bob thought sarcastically, noticing his bleeding wounds.

[HP: 13]

He tore one of his four shirts into strips and began bandaging himself as quickly as he could.

[HP: 11]

[HP: 7]

Finally, he tied the last bandage.

[HP: 4]

Exhausted, Bob collapsed onto a pile of zombie corpses and fell asleep.