Death In The Game

King Romulus sat on his throne overlooking his subjects as they had their meal. Being bored was an understatement, when you've lived for a thousand years, you realize that nothing in this life surprises you. Hence, when he saw that puny human running away from one of his people, his gaze lit up. This one was going to be interesting - a little.

This won't be the first time that a human runs away from fulfilling their role of a meal. Occasionally, most of those weakly sign up, are attracted by the pay, and then chicken out at the last minute. Unfortunately, running away only excites the predatory nature in them and they end up seeing the human as a game.

"Humans never learn," Romulus sighed, his chin propped up on his armrest watching the scene.

Having predicted how the scene would go, Romulus was just about to pull his gaze away when a tantalizing smell hit his nose and a snarl escaped from his lips.

Sadly, he wasn't the only one that had snarled but approximately every vampire in the hall; those who had been feeding on the escorts abandoned their meal. The smell was heavenly and made his fang ache to have a taste, however, the smell was familiar but it seemed distant, as if it had been a long time since he smelled tantalizing blood like this one.

Romulus knew that girl was in danger and that every vampire in the room was about to get a piece of her. It didn't matter whether she survived because their animalistic side would want to get a lick. However, that didn't happen because the host vampire feeding on her suddenly froze up, and then, his hands went to his throat as if he was choking on something.

He watched as the vampire spewed out black blood and that was when it hit, why that blood smelled familiar.

"She's a Badblood!" One of the vampires screamed out before Romulus could even say the word.

At once, an uproar arose in the hall. Badblood? How was that possible? They had made sure to exterminate every single one of them. 

Dehlia didn't know what was going on anymore? One moment, the vampire had infused excruciating pain into her body, and the next, he just let her go. The way he looked at her accusingly as if she'd done something bad didn't sit well with her. 

But that was when she saw it, the veins on his body turning black as if he was poisoned or something. Then she heard it, the accusations from the people, some of them were pointing at her and calling her bad blood. 

Dehlia didn't know what badblood meant however she had a feeling that it had to do with the vampire's poisoning. The look on others' faces was murderous and she didn't need a prophet to tell she'd be torn limb to limb if she doesn't make it out of here. But how? She needed help. 

[Dear host, you called for help] 

Dehlia almost shrieked when she heard that robotic voice in her head. What the hell was going on? Things just keep getting worse. 

[Repeat]

[Dear host, you called for help] 

Dehlia gulped, this was really in her head. So she asked, "Who are you and what the hell are you doing in my head?" 

[I'm the busybody system, an emotionless Ai robot and your companion in this game] 

"Game?" Delia's brows raised, the information was too much for her to digest. And to think she's in a game? 

[Yes, you're a player in the Multiverse Adventure] 

"What player?" Dehlia was angry now, "I never signed up for any….." she trailed off when the memory hit her. The weird game she had signed up for the night before. Oh no. 

It was quite funny, each time she watched a horror movie and saw the character going into a dark room, she always scolded and called him or her stupid. 

However, she had become a victim to the same fate out of carelessness. Dehlia knew something was not right with that game yet she logged right in. She has no one but herself to blame. 

"So, how do I get out? Or quit the game?" She asked immediately. There was no other option but to leave, she didn't want any more of this craziness. Dahlia wanted to get back to her safe cocoon, her home

[Sorry host, but there's no quitting the game until you've accomplished the major quest] 

"The major quest?" 

[Having a happily ever after with the Vampire king, Romulus Dominica] 

"What are you talking about?" Dehlia was stupefied now. 

[Time has been frozen in the game to enlighten you else you would be dead by now. ] 

Just as the system said, Dehlia looked around to confirm that indeed that everyone had frozen in time - including her. She couldn't move and could only communicate with the system mentally. 

[Just as you chose the fantasy genre, you're expected to win the heart of the vampire king to return to your world. The purpose of the game is to equip you with exciting skills and experiences you would never get in real life] 

"So I can't leave until it's game over?" It dawned on her. 

[Yes, host. You'll be given certain tasks at which when fulfilled, you'll be awarded credit points that can be used to purchase skills and weapons. Thus, aside from the main task, random tasks are automatically triggered by the system according to the environment of the host. The reward and difficulty would be random as well]

"And with this explanation, why did I feel you have a task for me?" Dahlia has never been good with her luck. 

[Alert!] 

[Random task available!] 

"Oh, well," She wasn't even surprised. 

[Random task: Escape from the vampire palace alive] 

[Difficulty level: Hard] 

[Rewards:10,000 credit points] 

"I guess I'll have to die and return to real life," Dahlia knew this was mission impossible.

[Note: Death in the game equals to death in real life] 

At once, all color drained from Delia's face.