Trapped Inside My Favorite Game

Chapter 3: The Monster That Should Not Exist

The words echoed inside Luna's mind.

The Tutorial Has Been Permanently Rewritten.

Her hands trembled.

For years, she had memorized every quest, every hidden dungeon, every boss pattern, and every secret in Eternal Realm. That knowledge had been her greatest advantage.

Now it felt almost worthless.

A loud explosion pulled her back to reality.

Boom!

One of the Crimson Fang Beasts smashed through a stone wall and charged into the center of the village.

Kael Ravencrest stepped forward without hesitation.

His black cloak billowed behind him as he raised his sword.

"Formation Three," he ordered.

The Black Phoenix Guild moved instantly.

Four shield warriors rushed ahead while archers climbed onto nearby rooftops.

A mage lifted her staff.

"Ice Prison!"

Dozens of blue chains burst from the ground and wrapped around the beast.

For a brief moment, it stopped moving.

"Attack!" Kael commanded.

Arrows rained from every direction.

Swords flashed.

Magic exploded against the monster's body.

Luna watched carefully.

It wasn't enough.

The Crimson Fang Beast roared, shattering the ice with a violent burst of energy.

The shield warriors were thrown backward.

One of them crashed into a house.

Another coughed blood as he struggled to stand.

Kael frowned.

"It's stronger than expected."

Luna bit her lip.

No.

It wasn't just stronger.

It was completely different.

She had fought Crimson Fang Beasts hundreds of times in the game. Their attacks were predictable.

This creature moved differently.

Its strength was far beyond anything it should possess.

The beast opened its mouth.

A sphere of crimson energy gathered between its fangs.

Luna's eyes widened.

"Move!"

Kael reacted immediately.

"Scatter!"

The guild members jumped aside.

The red sphere shot forward.

Instead of exploding, it sliced through three buildings like a blade of light.

Wood, stone, and dust filled the air.

The villagers screamed.

Luna stared in disbelief.

"Crimson Fang Beasts don't have ranged attacks."

Her heart pounded.

Another change.

Another impossible change.

Emily clung tightly to Luna's arm.

"What do we do?"

Luna looked around desperately.

Running wasn't an option.

The roads were blocked.

The village gate had collapsed.

Even if they escaped, the monsters would catch them.

She forced herself to think.

Think, Aria.

Think.

She remembered every corner of Oakheart Village.

Every hidden object.

Every useless decoration.

Then something clicked.

"The old bell tower."

She turned toward the center of the village.

The tallest structure still stood untouched.

Years ago, players discovered it could collapse if its support ropes were cut.

Most ignored it because there was no reward.

But now...

"If I can bring it down..."

Her eyes moved to the Crimson Fang Beast.

It was standing directly beneath the tower.

A dangerous plan formed in her mind.

She grabbed Emily's shoulders.

"Listen carefully."

The little girl nodded through her tears.

"When I tell you to run, don't stop. Go to Captain Rowan."

"But—"

"No matter what happens."

Emily hesitated before nodding.

"I promise."

Luna took a deep breath.

Her legs still shook with fear.

"I only have one chance."

She sprinted toward the bell tower.

The beast noticed her immediately.

It let out an angry roar.

Again?

Kael followed its gaze.

"Why does it keep targeting that girl?"

The monster ignored everyone else.

It chased Luna.

She raced through the narrow streets.

Broken carts blocked the path.

She jumped over them.

The beast smashed straight through them.

Its footsteps shook the ground behind her.

Too close.

Way too close.

She reached the bell tower.

Looking up, she spotted the thick support ropes holding the giant bronze bell.

Just as she remembered.

She climbed the wooden stairs two at a time.

The tower swayed violently.

Behind her, the beast slammed into the base of the structure.

Crack!

The tower shook.

Splinters flew from the wooden beams.

"Hurry..."

Luna reached the top platform.

She pulled out her rusty dagger.

One swing.

The blade barely scratched the rope.

"No..."

It was too dull.

The beast rammed the tower again.

The floor tilted.

Luna nearly fell over the railing.

Below, Kael shouted.

"Get down!"

She ignored him.

Instead, she wrapped both hands around the rope.

"If the dagger won't cut it..."

She took a deep breath.

"...I'll use the broken edge."

She sawed back and forth with all her strength.

The rope slowly began to fray.

Her palms burned.

Her fingers bled.

"Hurry..."

The monster hit the tower again.

Several wooden beams snapped.

The entire structure leaned dangerously.

The rope was almost severed.

The beast prepared another crimson blast.

Luna looked down.

If she stayed another second, she would die.

She closed her eyes.

"Now!"

She threw herself from the tower.

The world spun around her.

For a terrifying moment, she thought she had made a terrible mistake.

Then...

Snap!

The final strands of rope broke.

The enormous bronze bell crashed downward.

The tower collapsed with a thunderous roar.

Wood, stone, and iron buried the Crimson Fang Beast beneath tons of rubble.

The ground shook.

Dust filled the air.

Silence followed.

Luna landed hard on a pile of hay beside a broken wagon.

The impact knocked the air from her lungs.

She coughed violently.

Everything hurt.

Slowly, she forced herself to sit up.

The villagers stared at the collapsed tower.

No one spoke.

Captain Rowan lowered his sword.

"Did..."

A loud crack interrupted him.

The pile of rubble moved.

Luna's heart stopped.

"No..."

The beast was still alive.

A crimson claw burst through the broken stones.

The monster dragged itself free.

Its scales were shattered.

Blood poured from dozens of wounds.

One of its horns had broken off.

But it was alive.

Luna's face turned pale.

"How?"

It should have died.

Even Kael looked surprised.

The wounded beast glared at Luna with pure hatred.

Then another red window appeared above its head.

Mutation Complete

Crimson Fang Alpha

Level 35

Luna felt her blood run cold.

"It evolved..."

That had never happened before.

The monster let out a furious roar that echoed across the entire village.

Then it charged straight toward Luna once again.

Kael's eyes narrowed.

"Something is controlling that creature."

He tightened his grip on his sword.

"But why is it obsessed with her?"

Luna struggled to stand.

Her legs refused to move.

The Alpha Beast was only a few steps away.

Then, without warning, another blue notification flashed before her eyes.

Unique Skill Unlocked

Weakness Analysis

The skill activated on its own.

Golden lines spread across the monster's body.

One point began glowing brightly on the left side of its neck.

Luna's eyes widened.

"A weak point..."

The Alpha Beast leaped.

She tightened her grip on the rusty dagger.

"This is my only chance."