章 8: 2.1 Scenario 1: Village

Under the coiling storm clouds, waves crashed into the hull of a merchant ship, tilting it sideways. Just a harrowing inch more and the ship would have tumbled on its side, sending it to the murky depths of the ocean.

Beneath the leaking deck, a group of men were currently huddled close to each other for warmth.

Crates upon crates of goods were stacked against the walls, held back by only a few thin ropes. Nets and fish hooks swung from the ceiling with each back-and-forth lulling of the ship.

Mould and moss climbed the wooden walls, thriving in the wet surroundings, growing rampant underneath their feet.

An oil lamp hung from the ceiling. Few decaying bodies of emancipated rats laid half-hidden in the shadowy corners, the light in the beady red eyes long gone, maggots squirming beneath the matted fur.

Outside, the storm raged on.

In the captain's cabin, a man clung to the wheel, trying his best to not let it swirl out of control. Not only was his life on the line, but so were the 40 men's lives below deck.

Lightning split the sky, and not far ahead, the outline of their destination could be seen. A towering church loomed over low grey stone houses. And a port that stood in waiting.

But there was no permission to enter, not yet.

9 days.

They have been hovering near the port for 9 days.

The food and fresh water had long run out, the infested rat carcasses tempting. Yet none dared even nibble on a dead vermin. They held on yet for another day. Endured the pain that clawed at their stomach.

Just a little bit more, and they can step on land.

[Scenario 1: Village. Prepare for docking.]

[Task: Survive the scenario for 3 full days. The scenario ends at dusk on the third day.]

[Special identity cards distributed. The card can be found in your inventory.]

As soon as the system cut out, Thanh Van was tossed sideways.

The ship had abruptly changed its course, the rain drumming against the wood deafening.

The other players were in no better shape. Most faces had gone pale or sickly green. Some tried to hold in their vomit, whilst others struggled to breathe in the musky air.

Thanh Van scanned the group, but there was no sign of a certain beefy sergeant. Disappointment settled in and he pushed away from the crowd, stumbling towards the ladder.

But instead of walking forward, he slid sideways along with the ship.

Whoever the fuck was driving this thing should be stabbed!

The useless and frail flower body was worthless - just a pretty vase for others to fawn over. A tiny wind could send this NPC skin on his ass, wailing. It would take some time to get used to before Thanh Van learned to regulate his strength accordingly.

Thanh Van groaned as he pushed himself off the layers of moss that thrived on this particular corner, hands slipping over the wet surface. A second try towards the ladders at the opposite wall was less of a struggle.

"Where do you think you're going? Your sergeant is not here to protect you, so be a good boy and stay put." It was the nasally E-ranker, Christof Kunze.

A ratty face - the bottom tier of rank E. Lanky and crooked, very much like those cowering eunuchs that would stab you in the back once a chance for it arrived.

Thanh Van paid his words no mind.

"You all stink. I need some fresh air."

That was not entirely a lie. The sour smell of rotten fish lingered in the still, moist air and it made Thanh Van want to hurl.

But what was more worrisome, was that the system had cut the introduction short this time around.

For now, no further missions and tasks of this scenario had been informed yet aside from surviving the first 3 days. But survive what, exactly? This could only mean that the intro to the scenario was not over with.

Not to mention Thanh Van had received no character cards - there was also no information on how many special cards were distributed.

However he didn't bother himself with this point right now - after all, there was no task to identify these cards or the players who received them.

Standing around here would do nothing to kick the scenario going, and all these newbies were too frightened to move first.

Let this little lamb lead the way, then!

Thanh Van managed to cling to the ladder and hauled his ass up the rotting wood that creaked pitifully beneath him.

The others gaped when the lid flung aside effortlessly. For a while, they merely stood there, dumb-founded.

"S-shouldn't we follow…?" Someone whispered.

Christof's gaunt cheeks reddened under the flickering flame. He pushed another E-ranker, Hai Le, forward. "Don't ask stupid things and get moving!"

Quickly, these ducklings scrambled after Thanh Van, ready to ditch the filthy hole.

Outside, the rain greeted Thanh Van with a wet smack in the face. He crawled out as gracefully as a drunken swan. His thin shirt and pants quick to betray him under the mercy of the wind.

But the cold never bothered him, anyway.

Church bells rang out in the distance. As if on cue, light breached the stormy clouds, the rain turning into a light dribble, and an old village with a tall church tower came into view, with a curtain of mist hung on the perimeters.

They were on a damn island.

Thanh Van's lips trembled. Although on the outside he appeared to be freezing, he was more than that - he was busting by the seams. Anything could happen on an island in the middle of nowhere!

A quick look over their clothing and the pitiful state of the village ahead - it was clear they weren't anywhere near modern times. No. They were at least a few hundred years in the past.

Seeing how the players were E and D rankers aside from Thanh Van's F-rank self, this scenario shouldn't be too difficult.