[You have entered the game. Please claim your starter pack!]
As space twisted around him, Mark found himself in a shabby little wooden cabin, with drafts leaking in from every side.
This had to be his spawn point.
He moved his body around and found that it felt almost one hundred percent real.
Time was short. Mark had no time to indulge his curiosity and immediately summoned the game interface.
[You have claimed your starter pack!] [You have obtained a level 1 skill: Quick Movement!] [You have obtained a standard Defense Helmet x1.] [You have obtained a Common Longsword x1.] [You have obtained a Demon Hound x1.]
"Demon Hound?"
Mark looked around but saw no sign of his Demon Hound.
He did, however, spot a virtual arrow on the ground.
[Quest: Find your Demon Hound and give him a name.]
Mark glanced at the pet window in the game interface.
It showed an unremarkable black Doberman whose upright ears reminded him of Batman.
"Then I'll call you Bruce!"
He named the Demon Hound first, then put on the Defense Helmet and picked up the slightly rusty Western-style longsword.
Then he followed the arrow and opened the wooden door.
Creak...
The wooden door opened. Mark took a few steps and found his Demon Hound among the bushes around the corner.
"Hey, Bruce, come over here!"
Mark beckoned to the Demon Hound, but Bruce merely glanced back at him, then stood rooted to the spot.
Could this dog not be Bruce?
Impossible. He's clearly a Doberman.
With that thought, he called out again.
"Hey, Bruce, what are you doing?"
But Bruce merely blinked, still making no move.
There was another dog, a Pomeranian, facing the Demon Hound.
A red Pomeranian, in fact. Very strange.
Mark instantly grew wary.
This Pomeranian was very likely a demon.
Who dyes a perfectly good dog's fur red?
On their balconies, Peter and Mary Jane faced each other across the gap.
Mary Jane was his next-door neighbor. She had moved to Bleecker Street three years ago.
Whenever something troubled Peter, he liked to confide in Mary Jane.
Of course, Mary Jane had more troubles of her own.
So she came to chat with Peter more often.
This time was no different.
Something awful had happened to Mary Jane that day, and she needed comfort.
She opened her window, and Peter happened to be there.
"Hey, Peter, how have you been?" Mary Jane looked a little worn out, but she rallied herself and forced a faint smile.
Peter Parker also forced a smile. "Not great. You probably haven't heard, but I've run into a real nuisance."
"A girl who likes you?" Mary Jane looked eager for gossip.
Peter Parker smiled bitterly and glanced down at his empty right sleeve.
"No one likes a cripple. You know that."
Mary Jane looked embarrassed. "Sorry."
"It's all right."
Peter Parker shook his head. "I'm used to it. How have you been lately?" His smile grew gentler.
At the mention of herself, Mary Jane leaned helplessly against the window, her long red hair fluttering in the breeze.
Beneath the moonlight, her features were delicate, and her fair skin seemed to glow.
"Peter, people at the Theater questioned my abilities today. No one appreciated my singing or my acting." She looked miserable.
Peter Parker wasn't quite sure how to comfort her.
"Mary Jane, plenty of people appreciate you. I'm one of them. You know that."
"Yeah, I know."
Mary Jane smiled faintly, then looked behind Peter Parker.
"Peter, there's something else I know."
"What?"
"A thief has snuck into your home."
"What?!"
Peter Parker jolted.
Before he could turn around, he heard Mark's voice.
"Bruce, come back to me."
"Bruce?"
Peter Parker turned and saw Mark wearing his Motorcycle Helmet, with a bald broom tucked at his waist. He was solemnly beckoning to Peter, looking utterly ridiculous.
Oh no, he's having an episode!
At the sight, Peter partly covered his face, then turned back to Mary Jane with an embarrassed expression and explained:
"It's okay. He's not a thief. He's Uncle Ben's child, Mark Parker-my cousin. He just moved in today."
"Your older cousin? Are you sure?"
Mary Jane's eyes were full of doubt and scrutiny, along with a hint of something odd.
Peter Parker thought for a moment. "Actually, he was taken in."
Mary Jane: "..."
"Bruce, I know you heard me. Come here."
Mark urged him again.
Mary Jane seemed to notice something was wrong.
"Peter, is he calling you?"
"Uh, I... think so!" Peter Parker was deeply embarrassed.
Mary Jane took another look at Mark's outfit and finally became certain.
"Peter, I remember you had a cousin who was sent to a mental hospital."
Peter Parker shrugged helplessly. "Yeah. That's him."
Mary Jane looked sympathetic. "Peter, you've really got your work cut out for you."
With that, she hurriedly shut her window without even saying good night.
Meanwhile, Mark watched the Pomeranian turn and disappear into the dense woods, and only then let down his guard.
He stepped forward, surveyed the surrounding forest, and spoke gravely to Bruce:
"Bruce, don't let that female dog tempt you. She could very well be a demon."
After speaking, he gently patted Peter Parker's head, his expression full of tenderness.
"From now on, we're partners."
[Bruce found. Quest complete. You have obtained standard Defense Cloth Armor x1.]
Mark put on the Defense Cloth Armor without hesitation.
Peter Parker: "..."
Why did this guy drape a bedsheet over himself?
That came out of nowhere.
Then he sighed helplessly. "Mark, did you take your medicine today?"
"Bruce, you can actually talk! What a wonderful surprise!"
Looking astonished, Mark rubbed his head, then looked at the information panel above Bruce's head.
[Demon Hound: Bruce] [Rank: Elite] [Talent: Keen Scent] [Keen Scent (level 1): Can detect the presence of demons within a one-kilometer radius.] [Attributes: Overall strength 10, overall defense 10, overall speed 10, spirit 10, stamina 300, health 300.] [Skills: Bite (level 1), Claws (level 1), Demon-Hunting Dart (level 1).] [Bite: Deals 1 point of physical damage to demons. Costs 1 stamina. No cooldown.] [Claws: Deals 1 point of physical damage to demons. Costs 1 stamina. No cooldown.] [Demon-Hunting Dart: Instantly conjures a Holy Light Dart. Costs 10 stamina. Locks onto a demon and deals 100 points of magic damage. Cooldown: 10 seconds.]
Great, a target-locking skill!
Mark nodded in satisfaction.
Sure enough, anyone named Bruce knows how to use darts.
"Well done, Bruce. Let's start hunting demons!"
Peter Parker: "????"
Demons?
Where?
He looked around.
Never mind. Better find the medicine first!
He began rummaging through the medicine Uncle Ben had brought.
Three minutes later, he found the Illness-Suppressing Medicine, poured out two pills according to the instructions, and handed them to Mark.
"Take these, then get a good night's sleep."
Mark accepted the pills, looking touched.
"Bruce, thank you for the Roasted Chicken Leg."
With that, he swallowed the pills in one gulp and took the glass of water Peter Parker offered him.
"Bruce, thank you for the Hot Tea."
Peter Parker: "..."
As he watched the unhinged Mark, guilt surged wildly within him.