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Reborn as the Mid Boss

章 1: Chapter 1: The Last Game

It was a typical evening for Ren, sitting in his dimly lit room, eyes locked on the glowing monitor. He was engrossed in his favorite game, World of Ascendance. The open-world RPG had become his escape from reality, a place where he could wield unimaginable power, manipulate nations, and dominate as a fearsome vampire Duke. Despite his position as a mid-boss in the game, players routinely hunted him down. To them, he was merely an obstacle, a stepping stone to bigger victories. His character, Valen, was infamous for being the "Bad Luck Duke," the boss that no player wanted to ally with.

Valen, the pure-blooded vampire Duke, was feared, not because of his strength, but because of the curses that seemed to plague anyone who associated with him. He was always defeated, always betrayed. Ren had built Valen to be cruel, unfeeling, and manipulative. It was part of the allure, a character who would do whatever it took to win. Yet, despite Ren's best efforts, Valen was always left to face betrayal from his own disciples, losing to those who should have served him.

Ren clicked furiously on the mouse, dodging another attack in the midst of a dungeon raid. His latest batch of disciples, mere tools to further his power, had turned against him once again. Their voices echoed through his headset, taunting him as they dealt the final blow.

"That's it, old man! You're done!" one of them shouted, as their characters launched a coordinated strike.

Ren's heart pounded as he watched Valen's health bar drop to zero. The screen flashed the familiar red message: GAME OVER.

"Damn it..." Ren muttered under his breath. He leaned back in his chair, eyes still glued to the screen. This wasn't the first time he'd been killed by his own disciples. But tonight, something felt different. A wave of dizziness washed over him, his vision blurring.

Suddenly, his body grew cold, his heartbeat slowing. Ren reached out for the keyboard, but his hands refused to respond. His breath caught in his throat as the world around him faded into darkness.

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Ren awoke to the smell of damp earth and the chill of stone beneath his hands. His eyes fluttered open, revealing a vaulted ceiling above him, ornately decorated with gothic designs. His heart raced as he slowly pushed himself to his feet, confusion settling over him like a thick fog.

"This... this isn't my room," he murmured, voice steady despite the panic brewing inside.

He glanced down, expecting to see his familiar gaming setup, but instead, he found himself clothed in dark robes, his fingers pale and claw-like. His hands trembled as they instinctively moved to his face. His skin was cold, and when his fingers brushed over his lips, he felt the unmistakable sharpness of fangs.

"No..." Ren breathed. "This can't be..."

His reflection in a nearby mirror confirmed his worst fear: he was no longer Ren, the gamer. He was Valen, the vampire Duke. The cruel, manipulative mid-boss that players hunted down for sport.

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