The BUG Deity

Chapter 2: The Demon's City

Chen Xingyu quickly picked up the greatsword from the ground and swiftly turned around, holding the sword defensively.

A crimson monster appeared before him, slowly advancing from the front of the ancient castle. This creature wasn't a living corpse but was even more grotesque and terrifying. Its skin, as if burned, was covered in countless boils oozing yellow pus. If there was a word to describe it, it would be a demon from the depths of hell. Yes, a demon! The more Chen Xingyu looked at it, the more familiar it seemed. It was almost identical to the demonic beings of legend, resembling the Fallen Ones from the game "Diablo," but taller. Thinking about the inexplicable fear in his heart and the paintings on the castle walls, Chen Xingyu recognized the creature.

Even though he was mentally prepared, Chen Xingyu couldn't help but be startled by the sudden appearance of such an evil and hideous being.

As the demon approached, Chen Xingyu gripped his sword tighter and stepped back. The demon advanced, and he retreated step by step until his back pressed against the tightly shut castle door. He had no way out! The coldness of the door cleared Chen Xingyu's mind. He knew he had no choice but to fight desperately.

Kill!

Whether it was a demon or a mutated beast, whatever it was, he had to cut it down to survive!

Facing the threat of death, Chen Xingyu's expression twisted with determination as he charged at the advancing demon. It was either kill or be killed; the demon obviously had no intention of sparing him. Shouting "Kill!" he swung his greatsword at the demon. The sword cut through the air with a fierce, heavy sound. In a burst of potential, the sword cleaved the demon from head to toe, splitting it in half. Its innards spilled everywhere, and even if it were a true demon, it was now undeniably dead.

Sizzling sounds filled the air as the demon dissolved into a puddle of yellow liquid, quickly vanishing into the red wool carpet, leaving nothing behind but a pungent sulfuric smell, confirming the demon's presence and its lowly status. Even the lowest-level demons had their peculiarities, never leaving a corpse behind.

The tangible feel of the sword in his hand assured Chen Xingyu that this was no dream. The sensation of the sword cutting through flesh told him the demon could indeed harm him; if he didn't resist, he would truly die! He vaguely heard the sound of the demon's bones shattering, and the scene of blood splattering and the demon dissolving under his sword left him with a subtle thrill. Chen Xingyu found himself inexplicably excited by the sight of the demon's dark red blood spurting out.

Maybe I'm really going crazy, Chen Xingyu mused. However, killing a low-level demon boosted his confidence. These small demons weren't very strong and were slower than him. If he was careful, he could kill them one by one.

As another demon, identical to the first, approached him, seemingly unaware of its predecessor's gruesome end, Chen Xingyu didn't hesitate. With a hint of excitement on his face, he stepped forward and swiftly killed it with another sword strike.

Indeed, demon blood is black, Chen Xingyu noted, finding some grim amusement in evaluating the demon's death. He knew his time was running out. He realized that demons appeared endlessly, and if he stayed here, he would eventually be overwhelmed due to exhaustion and torn apart by the demons. Staying here meant certain death, but moving forward might lead to a quicker demise. However, Chen Xingyu knew he had no other choice. To grasp even a slim chance of survival, he had to keep moving forward, hoping to find a safe place or a sealed room to die with some dignity as a human.

Demons, demons, and more demons. There was no one he could communicate with. Walking on the red carpet, Chen Xingyu killed demon after demon. He understood their pattern: one demon appeared every minute. His decision to move forward was correct; if he had stayed by the door, he would have been overwhelmed by the relentless onslaught. These demons felt no fear and seemed like mass-produced fodder, possibly mere toys for the castle's master.

Chen Xingyu lost count of how many demons he had killed, but he knew he was out of strength. His trembling hands warned him that he couldn't swing his sword any longer. However, after much effort, he saw something different ahead—a large door. Gathering his remaining strength, he killed the demon before him and quickly moved towards the door.

Life or death, let fate decide!

Chen Xingyu pushed open the door and stepped inside. He didn't know what awaited him, but he knew he couldn't last any longer if he didn't find a safe area.

What!

Chen Xingyu widened his eyes, fearing he was mistaken. Above him floated a giant demon with a pair of four-meter-long bat wings. This was a true demon! Its powerful body, black horns, and long tail exuded an overwhelming sense of despair.

Alright, I'm tired too. Chen Xingyu realized he had reached his limit. Even if he were twice as strong, he couldn't defeat this high-level demon.

A gust of wind swirled around the demon, lifting Chen Xingyu's bangs and cooling his forehead. He stared at the demon, awaiting his final judgment.

The demon ignored the insignificant Chen Xingyu below, uttering a string of unintelligible demon language. Then, it spread its wings and dived at Chen Xingyu without any intention of communication.

Ahhhh!

Chen Xingyu screamed in frustration. Given a glimmer of hope, only to face an insurmountable foe behind the door. Who brought him to this place? Even if he died, he wanted that person to understand he wasn't a mere plaything! Seeing the demon charging at him, Chen Xingyu neither dodged nor wanted to. He showed a courage that even he found surprising, lifting his greatsword with his remaining strength and thrusting it at the demon's eye.

Wait! I'm not dead. Chen Xingyu remembered being disemboweled by the demon, but why was he alive now? The cold sweat covering him made him uncomfortable. He didn't know if the demon had truly existed, but his last impression was that he had blinded one of its eyes before dying.

"You worthless piece of wood!"

A teacher-like figure yelled angrily, "Alright, get out. How can my class have a student with such low potential?"

Who is he, and why is he yelling at me? Chen Xingyu looked blankly at the middle-aged man, whose voice seemed distant and indistinct. However, Chen Xingyu followed his words, like a puppet, and stepped out of a device resembling a gaming pod.

"Haha, look at his dazed expression. Did he get scared stupid? The teacher said this Demon Castle is a world full of demons. Can this guy handle it?"

"Hey! Chen Xingyu, your session is over. Go home and eat! Giving a real combat slot to a loser like you is a waste. It would have been better to let me play another round." A student quickly entered the gaming pod as soon as Chen Xingyu vacated it.

The teacher remained silent, but his expression showed he agreed. He didn't voice his true thoughts due to legal obligations and his duty as a teacher.

"With the teacher's guidance, he still came out so quickly. I bet he didn't even see the first minor demon in Demon Castle. Trash is trash. With his unenhanced abilities, at least he had the sense to give up. But now, entering is just self-humiliation. You think Chen Xingyu's rating will be the lowest E again, right? Haha." Another student's words made the crowd outside burst into laughter. Chen Xingyu's incompetence was well-known among the students. Even though they were all low-level players, compared to Chen Xingyu, they were geniuses.

I'm alive!

From death to life, Chen Xingyu was filled with endless joy. The sudden shift from the eerie castle to a high-tech classroom felt surreal, but it didn't matter because he was alive! Chen Xingyu didn't know why he was here or why these people mocked him, but seeing humans made him want to cry. Standing in a classroom full of sci-fi vibes, Chen Xingyu's rigid nerves finally started to relax. He was probably in another world, and those gaming pod-like devices were likely 100% realistic virtual game pods.

Seeing the dozen students eagerly waiting to enter the game, this virtual game seemed widespread, and he had just come out of one. The ridicule from others was likely because of his poor performance in the game. Did gaming talent matter that much? As people said, it showed his extremely poor gaming aptitude, which was why they despised him. However, Chen Xingyu didn't recognize this place or the people around him, even though they knew him and called him by his name. He felt no shame because he knew he was a 21st-century Earthling. Whether he was still in the same universe, only heaven knew!

Walking out of the classroom, Chen Xingyu found himself clueless about where to go. Staring at the stunning high-tech buildings around him, he was bewildered. Who could tell him where he was supposed to go?