Having successfully blended into the crowd, Moon-Fang Strike fell silent, afraid of attracting unwanted attention from the NPCs.
But the ripple effect of his livestream was spreading like wildfire.
Aside from the fact that he was showcasing the world's most talked-about, 100% realistic VR game, the streaming tool developed by the little fire creature was incredibly powerful. It offered nearly 360-degree coverage without any blind spots.
Viewers watching on their phones in the real world could manually rotate the camera to see Moon-Fang Strike's surroundings from any angle.
The hyper-realistic, cinematic quality of the stream was a draw in itself.
Despite the viewer count smashing past 200,000, the stream ran buttery smooth. No lag, no stuttering, even with thousands of bullet-screen comments and gifts flooding the interface.
Tech-savvy viewers couldn't help but marvel. The company capable of building a perfect virtual reality world clearly had servers made by the gods.
LetTheBulletsFly: Holy crap, does it have to be THIS real? I can see the shit on the street clearly enough to make me gag.
FlyingBatKe: Finally, actual gameplay footage! I'm so jealous. Damn devs, when are you dropping more beta keys?!
---
By the time Moon-Fang Strike and Iron-Pumping Superman shook off the two Gold Cloaks, they had no idea which alley they were in.
They were lost in a strange city, but all they had to do was look up to see the Red Keep looming over everything. They didn't need to ask a local; they knew the Royal Family lived in that massive red castle.
"We need to case the joint first. Figure out a way in. I need to get a closer look," Iron-Pumping Superman said, glancing back at a few filthy men slowly approaching them. He subtly flashed the short sword at his waist as he spoke to his partner.
"Let's move."
Moon-Fang Strike glanced at the grimy men retreating into the shadows and nodded.
They quickly left the alley. Using the Red Keep as their North Star, they navigated the twists and turns, wading through the filth of Flea Bottom until they were near the castle walls.
However, the number of Gold Cloaks patrolling the streets increased significantly. With guilty consciences, the two players kept their heads down, dodging patrols one after another.
"Damn, security is tight!"
Iron-Pumping Superman clicked his tongue, hiding in a side alley and looking up at the Red Keep with a headache. It was so close, yet so far.
"Crap! My foot's stuck!"
Behind him, Moon-Fang Strike, who had been busy narrating the operation to his "fam" on the stream, suddenly stopped.
They both looked down. A circular object resembling a manhole cover had tilted up and "bitten" Moon-Fang Strike's foot.
Iron-Pumping Superman bent down and heaved the "manhole cover" aside.
"Well, well. This shitty medieval city actually has a sewer system?" Moon-Fang Strike looked into the dark hole with surprise.
"It is the capital, after all. Whatever, cover it back up," Iron-Pumping Superman said. But as Moon-Fang pulled his foot out and they prepared to replace the lid, a thought struck him.
He whipped his head around to look at the Red Keep. "Hey... you think this tunnel leads inside?"
Moon-Fang Strike knew the question was directed at him, not the "fam" in his chat. He quickly dropped his streamer persona and replied:
"Whether it does or not... I feel like we have to try."
No sooner said than done. Moon-Fang Strike was a savage. In real life, his hands never touched dirty water, but in the game, he was ready to dive headfirst into a sewer.
Seeing his little bro jump in, Iron-Pumping Superman didn't hesitate. He followed close behind, remembering to pull the cover back over the hole above them.
Click.
A flame sparked in the darkness.
They lit their fire strikers. Instinctively, they drew their weapons and began to creep slowly in the direction of the Red Keep above.
OfficialGiveMeHelmet: Poggers! You guys are hardcore.
FlyingBatKe: Jumping into a sewer without hesitation? These aren't just assassins; these are true gamers! Respect!
The smell down there was atrocious. But the thought of killing the Usurper and the massive, unknown rewards that surely awaited them kept them going.
Pinching their noses, Moon-Fang and Iron-Superman stealthily advanced through the gloom.
---
Inside the Red Keep, servants and courtiers hurried about with their heads down.
It was the third day since the King's return, and the third day of preparations for the Hand's Tourney. Everyone had tasks to complete; the usual relaxed atmosphere was gone.
---
"Ugh, I'm gonna throw up from the smell!"
Moon-Fang and Iron-Superman climbed up a shaft, gasping for air, and looked around in confusion.
"Holy shit... where the hell are we?"
The moment Moon-Fang looked up, he knew something was wrong. This wasn't the golden palace he imagined. It was a dark, cavernous space, more like a dungeon or a crypt.
"These... look like dragon skulls..."
The fire strikers, which they thought they wouldn't need anymore, were struck again.
Moon-Fang and Iron-Superman could finally see what was in front of them.
A massive skull with a mouth full of long, sharp teeth was staring blankly at them with empty sockets.
And there were many more like it all around.
"Did we take a wrong turn?" Moon-Fang whispered, but his voice echoed loudly in the empty "cave."
"We're here now. Let's find an exit!" Iron-Superman frowned.
They fumbled forward, hoping to find a way out—preferably a secret passage that opened up right behind the King while he was sitting on the privy. That would be perfect.
"...found one of the bastards..."
Voices!
Moon-Fang and Iron-Superman exchanged a glance. They simultaneously extinguished their lights, dove behind a massive dragon skull, and pricked up their ears.
"...do as I say. Let us help the Hand. Once it is done, you will no longer be a little bird. I will give you your freedom..."
Moon-Fang and Iron-Superman looked at each other in the dark. They both realized they had stumbled upon a conspiracy—someone plotting against someone else.
Meanwhile, Moon-Fang's chat was exploding:
LittleFireMan: I know this trope! The moment he says 'Once it is done, I'll give you freedom,' that character is dead meat. Classic death flag.
LawAndOrder6: These two are content machines. Getting lost in a sewer and stumbling into a secret plot? Did they get the Protagonist Script? I'm actually jealous.
LightningMcQueen: Alright, spill it. When are the devs giving them the secret kung fu manual?
FlyingBatKe: I was in the bathroom. Can some pro explain where these two idiots ended up?
"Eh? Why'd the voices stop?"
Moon-Fang suddenly spoke, startling Iron-Superman, who was focusing intently on eavesdropping.
"Because they left, genius! You scared the crap out of me!"
It was like hearing half of a juicy gossip story and then getting cut off. Their curiosity was now itching like a cat scratch. They had to know what was going on.
Emboldened by the weapons in their hands, they feared nothing. They crept out from behind the skull and moved toward where the voices had come from.