MMORPG: Rise of the Peerless Pumpkinmancer

"….. WE'RE FUCKED!"

The player's cry resounded loudly, only for a reply to instantly come.

"Hadn't I made this point very fucking clear!!! Now, what are you all waiting for?! Counterattack!!!" The Village Chief's bellowed.

He had indeed warned them: they simply hadn't believed! After all, what did immortal Braves have to fear? Pfft— They were used to dying!

But everything changed when XP loss was involved!

Only pain feedback —> Actual progression loss!

Now that they had something to lose, the scary monsters felt even scarier! The players were shaking, their feet already inching backward.

But as assuredly as there were cowards (a shitload of them), there were also fearless people.

In this moment of darkness, their courage shone as would a bonfire kindled after being doused in kerosene.

"Of course it wasn't clear, you bastard! You never said anything about those guys! Heck, I bet you have no goddamn clue what's going on!" CPR dude thundered loudly.

As soon as he shouted, a man spoke up for the chief:

"Hey, don't be so hard on him! After all, he's obviously retarded. Why else would he have gone against our God, the one and only Demon King!!" Uttered a red-robed old man.

"Screw you both! Everyone, stop freaking panicking! I'm gonna drive my spear very deep in the first guy that tries to run away!" Lead shouted very "encouragingly".

"Tch— Now's not the time to tell your I.R.L. boyfriends how deep you'll screw them! Tsk-tsk-tsk, no shame at all!" CPR dude taunted.

Then it instantly devolved into an insult contest with that one cultist's voice in the background praising the almighty Jack'O.

The trio was so goddamn ridiculous, and many found themselves smiling at their antics.

Were the monsters a joke to them?! Suddenly the nightmare-inducing creatures weren't that frightening.

But courage wouldn't suddenly reverse the situation. The creatures were still having one hell of a field day. For them, it was an all-you-can-eat human buffet!

— Screech!! —

The things rejoiced as they stole the vitality of even more players. They were akin to reapers as they half-ran and half-floated toward their next prey!

The more they devoured and the more potent the miasma was getting too.

[World Corruption Has Increased To 7%!]

There was only one way that the players could possibly survive this, and they all knew what it was. It was a tactic ingrained in their very DNA since times immemorial.

After all, humans had always been social animals….

"Group the fuck up!!! Get ready to slam them into oblivion!" (CPR)

"Watch your allies' back! Don't let them come anywhere near!" (Lead)

"Come to me. We shall pray to our lord and savior, the Demon King!"

D.L. was ready to go on the offensive.

I.R.L. barely managed to adopt a defensive position.

Cultists seemingly wanted to do it all, plus pray simultaneously!

Something strange happened. Some-fucking-how the cultists were the largest group! Everyone without a faction had huddled in their direction.

Soon three different Legions roamed the village, finding safety in their numbers. Every time a creature would attack, weapons would rain on it like green at the strip club!

Even being level 22, the hunters couldn't take the combined assault of dozens of players! But, it only delayed the inevitable.

Every other second, the monsters managed to bypass their defenses and run away with a player in their grasp.

"They got Dylan!"

"Fuck, this is like a horror movie!"

"You're right. This is freaking scary!"

"No, I meant they got the dumb bitch first!"

"…."

They casually bantered to calm their nerves, only to get a grim reminder of their situation.

[World Corruption Has Increased To 15%!]

That's when came the moment that Jack had been waiting all this time;

1. Players were calm enough to realize how fucked they were.

2. This harsh realization only increased their stress.

3. They were now praying for a miracle.

4. He would be that miracle!

That's what being a hero meant: to always be there at the optimal moment to save the day. Oh, Jack would make sure his grand entrance would never be forgotten.

"Let's get this party started, shall we! Let's see how tough you guys are!" Jack's chilly voice echoed.

What?! Was he hunting the creatures alone!  The players couldn't help but shiver. This guy was 100% crazy!

"He's so gonna die!"

"Yes, he's royally screwed!"

"Talk about a stupid way to perish!"

How could someone possibly fight level 22 monsters? It just wasn't possible, for they were everywhere! Many instantly assumed that he was doomed.

That's when the I.R.L. members finally saw the man as he came close to their group.

"Little devils, where are you hiding? Come out, come out wherever you are!" He was even taunting them?!

The players' eyes bulged as they barely discerned three shadowy blurs heading straight for the man's heart!

They watched eagerly, waiting for him to be devoured, some even cheering for the creatures. Jack gave a subtle knowing smile. He could feel their heated gazes upon him.

Just as the monsters pounced at him, he suddenly rotated on himself, sending three powerful punches in a row.

"As if a player could do anything to—" One playfully commented before choking on his saliva.

The shadowy creatures were sent flying! They flew so high that the players lost track of them! (Not too hard given the lack of visibility.)

"T-that was a level 22 monster, right?!"

"Not just one!! What the fuck?!"

"What kind of skill was that?!"

Many simply couldn't understand the scene they had seen. It was way too shocking! It didn't help that he was giving an unfathomable aura while sighing.

"Was this all they amounted to? How disappointing." Jack complained before he resumed his hunt for new prey.

The gallery was already gossiping:

"Holy fucking shit!"

"That's the D.L. leader, right?!"

"No wonder all the crazies call him a god!!!"

"At this point, I'm not so sure that they're crazy..."

In his wake, Jack left many awe-struck players. They still couldn't believe what they had just witnessed!

[World Corruption Has Increased To 33%!]

Jack felt slightly puzzled. Wasn't this going a little too fast?

Still, it wouldn't change his plan. He was already heading toward new gullible targets for another heroic show. He didn't have to fear for the whole thing was 100% fake!

Oh, this would be fun...

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[A/N] Hype! Feb Mass Release Time! 🔥

Day 5: A storm is brewing....and tea. • ☁ • (3/4)