Godmode: The Dead Game Odyssey

Chapter 7: Unraveling the Truth

Chapter 7: Unraveling the Truth

Lucy sat at the breakfast table, yawning, clearly looking as though she hadn't had a good night's sleep. She leaned against Liam, lazily resting her head on his shoulder.

Gerald, too, had spent the morning dozing off. He looked pale with dark circles under his eyes, and his skin took on a strange, grayish tint as if he hadn't rested. 

But it was Andrew who caught Liam's attention. There was something off about him. His pupils seemed smaller than yesterday, his entire demeanor tinged with a jittery, unsettling energy. A faint fishy odor clung to him, something Liam hadn't noticed the day before.

Liam took out his coin and scanned it across Andrew.

[NPC Name: Andrew (Mental State Decreasing, Mutating)]

Andrew, seemingly starving, had already dug into the hotel's self-serve breakfast, piling plate after plate of food into his mouth, shoveling it down like he hadn't eaten in days.

Near the sea, the hotel served mostly grilled, fried, and boiled fish. Fish soup glistened with grease, and fish fillets crisped to golden perfection. All looked appetizing.

But to Liam, the smell was overpowering—putrid, rotting fish. It reminded him of the stench at a fish market, the dead fish rotting away in piles with flies buzzing around them. The thought of eating any of it made his stomach churn, and he recoiled in disgust, unable to even consider taking a bite.

Yet, Gerald and Lucy were digging in with smiles, clearly enjoying it.

Liam scanned his coin again, and both showed signs of mutating. It seemed clear now that the mermaid statues in their rooms were having some influence.

Andrew, without a care in the world, was gobbling down the fish as if he were starved. His black fishtail dangled from his lips as he chewed, a grotesque image. His face seemed half-lost in a haze of hunger, his hands tirelessly reaching for more food as though he couldn't stop.

Lucy looked at Liam, a bit surprised that he wasn't eating. "Aren't you going to try it, darling? The fish fillet is really delicious! I ate two pieces already, and I'm on a diet!" She said with a pout, trying to tempt him.

"You really picked a fantastic hotel by the sea!" She added, moving in for a kiss.

But the overpowering smell of fish from Lucy's breath was too much for Liam. He instinctively pushed her away, then, realizing the situation, casually moved her plate away from him, pretending to be serious.

"Baby, you look perfect the way you are. I won't let you lose your beauty over a fish. Let's have some salad instead, this fish fillet isn't that great." 

Lucy smiled widely at the compliment. She happily started nibbling on the salad while reluctant to part with the fish.

Still playing the part, Liam served Gerald and Andrew a little salad.

Gerald, however, was eating absentmindedly, his eyes glazed over. 

Andrew, noticing the exchange, sneered. "Is our rich boy running low on cash? You came here bragging about all the free meals, but now you won't even let us have a piece of fish."

"Look, Lucy, this is your stingy boyfriend!" He taunted, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Lucy snapped at him, clearly irritated. "Andrew! If it weren't for Liam, do you think you could afford this hotel, let alone the fish fillet? Without Liam paying, you wouldn't even make it out of here!"

Andrew was furious, his anger boiling over. He spun around, ready to lash out at Liam, but before he could, he raised his hand and went to grab the back of Liam's shirt.

Unfazed, Liam wiped his mouth and glanced up at Andrew, flashing a calm, almost smug smile. "If you still want me to pay for your meal, then you'd better not touch me."

Andrew's hand froze midair, his nostrils flaring as he seethed with rage.

His eyes turned bloodshot, and he spat out venomously, "Tonight, when you fail the bet we made, I'll make you regret ever crossing me. You'll never be able to touch a woman again, let alone be with one."

Andrew's gaze was filled with fury, his mind clouded by rage, but he still held himself back. After all, he needed Liam's money to continue his stay here.

Just then, a piece of broccoli rolled off Gerald's plate and landed on Andrew's shoes.

Andrew, as if on cue, snapped. Before Gerald could even apologize, he swung his hand and slapped Gerald hard on the back of the head, sending him tumbling forward and causing him to vomit onto his plate.

"You ruined my shoes, you disgusting freak!" Andrew growled, looking down at the mess. A smirk of satisfaction crept onto his face as he watched Gerald's pitiful reaction. He then kicked Gerald, who was still reeling from the slap.

Liam's eyes lingered on Gerald's vomit—a fish fillet that had been chewed and then expelled. The inside of the fillet was a deep, unhealthy greenish-black, almost like decaying flesh. And worse still, it was crawling with what appeared to be vermin, almost like parasitic creatures wriggling in the fillet.

Liam recoiled, his stomach churning. This was not food—the waste used to feed large, scavenging fish at a market.

Liam remembered something one of the fish vendors had said—large scavenger fish preferred to eat decayed meat. No wonder the statues seemed to be influencing these people so heavily.

As the breakfast continued, the driver arrived to pick them up.

[Main Quest: Visit the Eclipse Wax Museum, Reward: 50 points]  

[Main Quest: Attend the Mermaid Fishing Contest, Reward: 50 points]

Liam was intrigued. These two activities seemed to be the main attractions of the town.

He was about to ask the driver about them when Gerald suddenly stepped in front of Liam, blocking his view of the driver. Gerald's face was gaunt, his cheeks hollow and pale. There was blood on the corner of his lips from where Andrew had struck him, his jaw clenched as he trembled slightly.

Liam raised an eyebrow. Gerald has been avoiding direct contact between him and the driver since yesterday. Something was off.

Liam absentmindedly twirled the coin in his hand. The familiar motion helped him think clearly, and the sensation of control over even something as simple as a coin calmed him.

It struck him: Gerald had been acting strangely ever since he handed money to the driver. Liam suspected the money was for the driver's services dealing with Andrew. But why is there a constant attempt to block Liam's connection with the driver?

Despite his tough exterior, Gerald seemed to be as wealthy as Liam. He appeared to be from a much lower background—far from being in a position to make bold demands like Andrew could.

Liam's theory was solidifying. Gerald had likely used the money Liam had given him to hire the driver to get back at Andrew, which would explain Gerald's guilty behavior and reluctance to let Liam near the driver.

Just then, the driver turned to Liam, his eerie expression visible now that he was up close. Despite all his horror movie resistance, Liam couldn't help but be taken aback by the driver's appearance.

This man had unnaturally large whites around his eyes, and his irises were barely the size of a fly. His eyes darted around, almost as if they were uncontrollable, adding to Liam's unease.

The driver's skin was sickly white, almost translucent like cheap wax, and he chewed on his fish sandwich, unaware of how disgusting it looked. He flashed a disturbingly wide smile as he spoke, revealing teeth stained a sickly green-black from the rancid fish.

The scene was set: the mysteries of Eclipse Port were unraveling, but every answer brought more chilling questions.