The First Quest

The playground had been abondoned for months. Tall grass surrounded it, making it seem like it was part of a forrest. Spencer could see the top of the slide above the sea of grass.

"Visability is low. I can't even see the monsters." Blaze said.

According the the barrista. Monsters stayed in certain areas like this. If they left the parameter, that became a quest. Quests paid money and items if completed. Spencer didn't like the mixture of an mmorpg and reality. It didn't mix well. Almost like some kind of bad fever dream.

The Vampire Princess was a tank warrior class. That meant she was able to take some hits and inflict some damage too. Blaze on the other hand was an attack damage carry. His offensive abilities were great, but his defense was on the low side.

Spencer had three moves or abilities. He could see the abilities in his line of sight. Like some kind of video game hud. If he looked at the icons, text appeared explaining the ability and how to cast it. The first ability surrounded a weapon with energy. When swung, it would throw that energy and absorb some health points. The second ability had an icon of a ghost. It surrounded the user in phantoms that acted as a shield and a minor infliction of damage. The last ability was called an ultimate ability. It transformed any weapon into a grappling weapon. Once latched on to an enemy. It would pull and fire a shotgun like blast.

"Yeah, thats what happens when you don't cut the grass." Spencer said.

"Maybe I can burn it.." Blaze extended his hand with a ball fire. Spencer's eyes widened with awe at the sight, until he realized the implications.

"No. You'll burn the whole park down..anyways. I guess we should go in.." Spencer said. He could already feel his legs itch at the idea of walking in talk grass. It didn't help that he had a dress on with no leggings.

"Alright, I'll get my ability ready." Spencer looked at his HUD and looked at the hookshot skill.

"Invalid action." A voice said.

"Wait what? I want my hook..oh right. I need a weapon first." Spencer said.

"What are you going on about?" Blaze asked.

"It's ugh, nothing. Got it all under control." He said.

His scythe meterialized in his palm. As if woven by some unseen thing. It felt heavy in his hand. If he held it by it's tip, it would definitely be too heavy to handle.

Two blades formed in Blaze's skeleton hands. Almost like something an assasin would have.

"So ugh, Blaze…whats your story? I told you my bike riding incident.." Spencer bit his lip nervously.

"I don't think I want to talk about it." Blaze said.

"Oh…right. I don't blame you. This body doesn't feel like me anymore. I can't imagine.." Spencer paused.

He didn't want to finish his sentence, Imagine being an undead.

"Finish it.." Blaze stopped right before the tall grass.

Spencer gupled audibly. His heart felt like it sank deep.

"F-finish what?"

"What you were gunna say. I can't imagine?" Blaze sounded hostile now.

"Oh, that…I forgot what I was going to say." Spencer felt beads of sweat building rolling down his brows. Blaze's eyes lit up brightly.

"You need a towel? It seems like your nervous. Lying doesn't suit you." The skeleton threw a hankerchef and Spencer caught it.

"Look..I don't need your pity or sympathy. I just need you to help me win this and get me back to normal. That is…all I want." Blaze said.

Spencer handed him the towel back and forced a smile.

"Yeah, we'll win this battle royale or whatever the Hell this is."

Spencer stepped into the grass and he instantly regretted it. The moment he did. He heard barking and a tiny fucked up looking dog ran at him. It looked like a chihuahua with a decomposing head. It leaped and bit his arm. It then retracted like a snake.

"Fuck!" Spencer yelled.

The area it bit began to itch and he saw multiple tiny dots of blood on his wrist.

"What the fuck is this little shit!" Spencer shouted as if he'd cry at any second.

"Are you alright!?" Blaze shouted.

The little ugly dog creature smiled revealing tons of needles in its mouth. It was as if its mouth had syringe needles instead of teeth.

"Ahhh!" Spencer turned and ran back. He was out of the tall grass almost instantly, but he could hear the little dog chasing him.

Spencer cried and ran in circles, meanwhile Blaze was forced to play wack the mole.

Blaze managed to kill it after ten minutes. The humiliation burned in his chest and he felt like he'd cry at any moment. Men usually weren't allowed to cry and as a man he never felt the need. But now, the urge came stronger. Spencer sat on a stump. Hugging his kneese as he studied the ground. His eyes were red and his nose was still runny from crying. He didn't even think he would ever cry as an adult. The last time he cried was when he was eleven years old.

"So, umm…look. I'm sorry. I wish I could.." Blaze said as he rubbed the back of his head.

"No..its not your fault..I'm the only idiot who got chased by a, by a…fucking chihuahua." Spencer's face felt hot with embarrassment.

"Right. I think we need to go in the monster zone. We have to level up." Blaze said.

Entering the tall grass was inevitable to pass the quest. They had to slay ice hounds, but they didn't make it easy. As proof of completion. They needed ice hound tails.

They entered the tall grass. This time Blaze went first. He managed to kill every small monster that sprung out from the grass. Spencer could tell he was trying extremely hard. Blaze's head jerked at every sound. His hands were tensly gripping his swords to the point they made a clicking noise. Spencer wanted to tell him to relax, but he was afraid he'd attack him out of sheer instinct.

"I think we might be close." Blaze whispered.

"How could you tell?" Spencer questioned.

"Easy. Its getting colder."

The air was colder now. As they walked deeper. Spencer noticed the grass gradually started to have a thin layer of frost on it. Then a few steps later,the dirt under the grass felt hard too.

"Well shit." Blaze said.

Spencer hadn't realized Blaze stopped and bumped into his back. The hard bone actually hurt his nose and his eyes watered.

"Ouch..what happened?" Spencer said.

"We got trouble." Blaze said as three creatures turned their heads.

The ice hounds were already dead and the killers had already begun to cut the tails.

"Well. We got extra game boys!" A bird like creature said.

"These are most likely champions. We need to go." Blaze whispered back at Spencer.

"Hey now. Don't go, you gotta little pretty lady there, bone boy!" The lizard one said.

"Right..can't see her face though. Not under that hood." The last one said.

"We're not here to fight." Blaze said.

"Who said anything about fighting? We're taking whats ours. You'll be our experiance points and keys." The bird man said.

Next thing they knew. The orb fell from the sky. The alien grey's hologram projected up and it was too late to run.

"Next match ready. Elric Keeper of Egyptian relics! The Lizard King! And Mel The Imp Lord, versus, Inferno! King Of Iron and The Vampire Princess!" The alien shouted.