Project Anima : A Virtual Reality / Reincarnated Tale

Chapter 2.3: The Glitcher

"Haven't you known?" Jeremy sneered. "Bots can't hurt players in this zone."

What kind of stupid rule was this? Bots can't damage players?

"Sacred Duel," the rascal leader said. "A bot can only damage a player if both agree to a mutual fight. The game's precaution for better player safety. It just turns out...it works in our favor."

Raiden faltered. How the hell is he supposed to defeat something that he can't damage?

Jeremy nodded to his member. "Take the swordsman out. But keep that rogue alive. I don't like the way he talked back to me. I'll torture him myself."

Before they could even react, a rascal suddenly grabbed Henry. Several members began violently stabbing him in the gut multiple times. Raiden could only watch in horror. Molsie covered her mouth at the bloody sight. The NPC swordsman's health quickly drained down. Guts spilled and coughing up blood, Henry groaned and shook with pain, then collapsed to the ground.

What the hell is wrong with this game?

Why can't bots fight back? Why isn't a dangerous zone like this patched up already?

"No...!" Molsie cried.

Clan Quickfingers took the loot from the dead swordsman, likely money and equipment. They were laughing among themselves.

Jeremy swaggered, and kicked Henry's corpse. The rascal leader turned to Raiden. "You know what happens to bots when they die in this zone?"

Raiden glared.

Jeremy gave a nasty smile. "They don't spawn back. They permanently die." After a few seconds, Henry disappeared into voxels.

Raiden froze. Was that true?

He was categorized as an NPC. If the rascal leader was telling the truth, then that means...

"Usually, we kill male bots right away," Jeremy eyed him. "But you had the nerve to talk back to me. So I'm going to kill you slowly. It will be a very slow, painful death." The rascal leader sneered. "But for now, all you need to do is watch."

All of a sudden, a sharp pain lanced to Raiden's shoulder. An arrow. He turned to where it came from, and saw the rascal with a crossbow. His body started to become numb. Knees buckling, he broke down in a kneeling position.

There was a lightning bolt icon above him. He was inflicted with Paralysis!

Raiden had never felt this helpless before.

"We were nobodies in real life," Jeremy circled around him. "We were that fat, ugly kid that no one liked. No girl even wanted to look at us! And then, we entered this game. And how wonderful our lives turned!" He approached Molsie, and held her chin up. "Now we could get whatever girl we want, as long as it's a bot. Your stupid AI brain can't even begin to imagine how much we have tasted already..."

Disgusting pieces of perverted scum, Raiden thought. All of you should roast in hell.

"Watch and despair," Jeremy sneered at Raiden. "You can't save anyone, not even yourself! You know why? Because you're just a stupid bot. You only exist to give us entertainment and pleasure!"

Raiden glared at him, immobile.

"Now," he turned back to the cleric. "Let's finish this up, boys."

Like bloodthirsty hounds, Jeremy and the rascals sprinted to defile the cleric. However, a protective sphere pushed them back.

A protection spell? Raiden thought.

The faces of Clan Quickfingers twisted in fury. Jeremy impatiently pounded on the magic shell, his fists making a dull sound against the barrier. "Take this down, you bitch!"