[MISSION ACQUIRED!]

[Main Mission Updated...]

[Slay the Zombie Boss: The Protective Groom and Revive her Undying Bride.]

[Objective: Take down the groom and save the bride]

"What the hell? Why does this system want me to ruin someone’s relationship? And why am I supposed to break up a newlywed couple?! I’ve never done anything like this in my life! This is sick!"

As soon as he locked eyes on the groom with a legendary-rank stare, a keyboard prompt appeared.

[Shift + W]

Sid sprinted forward, every muscle thrumming with adrenaline. The Protective Groom didn’t lunge to meet him. It didn’t even shift its stance. The monster simply stood its ground like a mountain of rotting stone, its massive frame hunched over, arms like slabs of rock shielding the bride. Its posture screamed one thing: defense.

"Damn it, you’re not even budging..."

The combat vision lit up, glowing keys appearing and telling him to use his shotgun, but Sid ignored them. He chose to fight with his bare hands.

[B]

Wanting to test the groom in a man-to-man fight instead of using his shotgun.

"I don’t need shells to drop you, I’ll do it with my fists. Man to man, come on!"

New keys appeared, backing his decision.His fists swung.

[Left Mouse Button]

One after another, pounding into the groom’s chest, ribs, and shoulders. The impacts thudded, his knuckles stinging. It was like striking a wall of meat and concrete. The groom didn’t flinch, and his HP bar didn’t drop an inch.

"Ow—man, hitting you feels like punching a sack of wet cement. You’re built like a wall but twice as dumb."

[Ctrl + Space Bar] + [Right Mouse Button]

Sid ducked, rolled to the side then came in low with a shove, trying to drive his shoulder into the monster’s gut... Nothing. The groom’s bulk absorbed it all, still standing immovable. Its dead eyes locked onto him but didn’t strike. Not yet.

"That’s it... you’re guarding her!"

His gaze flicking past the giant’s shoulder. The bride loomed just beyond, veiled, half-shielded by the groom’s bulk.

"You’re not the boss—I mean, you are but she’s the core. You’re stalling me."

He ignored again the combat vision keys. He feinted left, then lunged right, slipping around the hulking wall of flesh. His hand snapped for his shotgun, raising it high as he aimed at the bride’s chest. His breath caught. This has to count. He pulled the trigger.

BOOM!

The shot cracked, ringing through the cathedral. The bride jolted as the round struck home, her body lurching backward, a black smear bursting from her chest. For the first time since the fight began, the groom’s head snapped around.

[This Combat Vision skill is optional, you can ignore the prompts and act freely for flexible gameplay.]

Sid’s eyes widened at the system message that scrolled past his vision. His voice broke into a strained laugh.

"Now you see why I’m the best player in Dead World Online. I don’t play by the script. I’m bound to no one—I make my own gameplay!"

The groom’s chest heaved, rage swelling like a storm. A guttural roar ripped from its throat as it finally moved. One hand shoved the bride away with terrifying force, her body tumbling across the floor. Marble cracked where she landed, her veil splayed across the dust.

"You... shoved her? Why—why would you—"

The question never finished. The groom’s roar split the air.

"GGGRRROOOOOAAAAHHHH!!!"

The groom lunged, arms wide, its bulk crashing forward. The combat vision key lit up.

[Q]

Sid raised his forearm instinctively, bracing against the blow. The impact rattled through his bones, His HUD flashed red as his HP dropped. His legs nearly gave, but he held.

"GAAH!"

[Ctrl] +[Ctrl + Space Bar]

He dropped low, sliding under the groom’s arm, rolling between its legs. He popped up on the other side.

"Alright. Guess it’s just you and me now."

The groom spun with surprising speed, its bulk cracking stone as it pivoted.

[Hold Right Mouse Button] + [Left Mouse Button while Aiming]

Sid fired the shotgun, the blast tearing into the groom’s shoulder. It staggered half a step, bellowing in rage as its HP finally dipped. Sid smirked, adrenaline pumping hot in his veins.

"Yeah, that’s right. You can bleed, big guy!"

The combat vision pinged bright:

[W + Left Click]

Sid surged forward, slamming his shoulder into the monster’s chest. It barely budged, but it was enough to break its balance. The shotgun cracked upward, blasting at its jaw.

The groom reeled back, snarling. Its hands shot out suddenly, fingers like iron bands clamping Sid’s torso, lifting him off the ground.

[Hold Q]

Sid gritted his teeth, muscles straining as he fought the crushing grip. His HUD glowed red, flashing warnings, but his lips curled into a defiant grin.

"Like hell I’m letting you crush me!"

[Hold Right Mouse Button] + [Left Mouse Button while Aiming]

With a roar of his own, he jammed the shotgun barrel against the groom’s wrist and fired. The blast tore through sinew. The grip loosened, and Sid dropped hard onto the floor.

He rolled back, scrambling to his feet, chest heaving. His eyes narrowed on the massive figure looming in the stained-glass light.

"Let’s dance, groom. Round two."

The cathedral rang with their struggle. The clash of speed against immovable force. Sid steadied his stance, his mind racing.

"You’re guarding her... but you just shoved her aside. What kind of protective groom you are ha?"

He set his jaw, adrenaline roaring through him, eyes gleaming with something fierce.

"Fine. I’ll draw your aggro. I’ll make you so angry your head will burst and I’ll take your bride!"

The groom roared, its voice booming off the cathedral’s vaulted ceiling, shaking dust loose from the stone rafters. It charged, each footstep pounding like a war drum, shattering the marble floor beneath its bulk.

Sid darted left.

[A] + [Shift + A] + [Hold Right Mouse Button] + [Left Mouse Button while Aiming]

His sneakers scraped across the marble, shotgun blasting again. The shot struck the groom’s arm, jerking it slightly, but the monster barely flinched. The giant swung down in a hammer blow.

[Ctrl + Space Bar] + [Hold Right Mouse Button] + [Left Mouse Button while Aiming]

Sid rolled across the floor, narrowly missing the crushing fist. The impact left a crater, shards of marble scattering. Sid popped up on one knee, firing upward. The slug tore into the groom’s side, finally earning a guttural snarl.

"Heh. You’re big, loud, ugly but I’ve fought worse."

He spun the shotgun, racking it with one practiced snap.

"In the game, bosses like you are just meat walls. Big health bars. Easy to read once you know the pattern."

The groom twisted suddenly, faster than expected. Its thick arm swept across the floor in a wide arc.

[Q]

Sid braced. The force hurled him backward, his back slamming into a broken pew. He coughed, chest aching.

"But this..."

He spat blood, rising unsteadily.

"This isn’t scripted."