Chapter 26: The Undead
That guy, Simon. He is really suspicious.
When we had our little street fight, I noticed that there was a bloodstain on his neck before I bumped into him. At first, I assumed it was probably just sauce but a hungry sensation filled my mind telling me it was blood.
I''ve been having this condition ever since I obtained the title of Sin of Gluttony and Derivation. It''s almost as if I''m a vampire; I''m more attracted to blood than regr food.
But anyway, as I was saying, that blood was not mine neither was it his. It was someone else''s.
I''ll have to keep a close eye on him from now on.
When the time came, Kiyomi and I went towards the ce where we were supposed to meet up with the others. Upon arriving, there were eight others including Simon. When they spotted us, we were greeted by a young man wearing sses.
"You must be the remaining members. My name is Kyle just in case you wanted to know who I am. Anyway, now that we have everyone here, let''s ge-"
"You!"
I closed my eyes and shook my head hearing that voice. Of course, he''s gonna want to fight right here.
"What tough guy? Looking for another beating?"
I walked up to Simon who red down towards me. I returned the same re and there was a clear feeling in my hands to punch him in the face, but I held myself back. I''m gonna need him for this, maybe as bait when the timees.
"H-hey now, let''s not fight. Maybe when weplete this mission ande back alive, you guys can go at it. Doesn''t that sound good?"
Kyle said as he pushed us away from each other. Kiyomi ran in front of me just in case Simon decided to try and tackle me.
"It''s alright, you can stay back for now."
I patted Kiyomi''s head and she blushed as she stepped away.
"But big brother, he-!"
"Shut up Simon, you''ll get what you wantter." Kyle quickly retorted.
Simon scowled before turning away.
"Anyway, let''s get to it now, shall we?" Kyle said as he took out a staff.
Considering how everyone follows his orders, I''m guessing he was assigned to be the leader. From what I heard, he is a green-rank adventurer so he must be pretty experienced.
Before entering the mist, we put on our mask and then entered the mist.
As we walked through the mist aimlessly, we were all cautious and wary of our surroundings. If one of us got lost, it would be a hassle to group up again so we need to stay together. Though that doesn''t really need to apply to me, and especially Simon over there. We both do have the skill Wolf''s Blood so find each other won''t be difficult.
I''ve used Analysis and inspected everyone''s levels and skills. As I guessed, they were all around level 200. They had plenty of skills, but not any skills that were in my interest. Well, not like I wanted to get their skills or anything. I just want the skills from this witch.
But Kyle over there had some skills that might suit my interests.
[Level 254; ss: Mage]
{Abilities}
Passive Skills: Wind Maniption, Fire Maniption, Water Maniption, Earth Maniption, Lightning Maniption
Active Skills: None
Skills: Aura Barrier(Lvl.5), Ice Armor(Lvl.4), Earth Dome(Lvl.7), Five Elemental st(Lvl.6),Lightning Field(Lvl.3), Frost Bolt(Lvl.2)
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However, I think I''ll just savage those off of a demon or a boss monster. That''ll be much more convenient unless somethinges up, that is.
Rattle~!
"Huh? What was that?" Kyle said and we all stopped.
Rattle-rattle~!
This sound, there is no doubt.
I activated Wolf''s Blood and inspected my surroundings. Sure enough in the mist, there were countless figures approaching us. Their outlines were light green, meaning their levels were below mine, but definitely above 200.
Then came lunging towards us was a zombie. I got into a stance and got ready to attack it but I realized its hostility wasn''t directed at me.
I stepped aside and it ran past me. When I saw who it was heading for, my suspicions rose even more.
The zombietched onto Simon but Simon was quick to react, shaking it off before jamming his de into its skull.
More zombies came and I slid past them. They were all targeting one man, Simon, or that''s what I thought when one pounced at Kyle.
"Everyone! Hold the line!" Kyle yelled as he began casting spells that lit the zombies on fire.
My suspicions were increasing by the minute. Zombies have one thought that echoes through their heads when they arise. That thought is to get revenge on those that killed them. If they died by natural causes, then they will just be mindless corpses with absolutely no objective but they can easily be influenced by anyone with a mind-controlling skill which is the ability most necromancers have.
In this case, whoever those zombies were formerly must''ve had some business with those two brothers. For now, I should keep watching.
But I should also fight as well.
While zombies have an objective, skeletons on the other hand have no objective and are mainly controlled by their casters.
With no flesh and brains, theyck durability, meaning they are weak, fragile, and easily destroyable. However, they are surprisingly agile and they are fueled by the caster''s hatred which increases their strength.
A skeleton approached me with a rusty sword in its hand, and I quickly kicked it away. When it attempted to tackle, I performed Soaring Dragon Fist, sending it flying and its bones disconnected and shattered.
[Leveled up!(5)]
[Soaring Dragon Fist Leveled up!]
Now that''s a message I haven''t seen in a while.
Another wave of skeletons rushed towards me and I quickly drew my dagger and used Swift sh, cutting them into pieces.
[Leveled up!(13)]
[Leveled up!(17)]
[Passive Skills Obtained: Haste, Extreme Might, Invincibility]
Interesting... I don''t think I''ll need an exnation for what these skills do.
[Notice: Haste will automatically rece Sprint. Proceed?]
Sure. Why not?
[Haste has reced the skill Sprint]
[Haste: Automatically activates once the host starts running| Effects: x4 Agility]
After fighting another wave, I noticed I had separated from the others. Well, at least I don''t have to watch them anymore.
Kiyomi had also separated, but I eventually spotted her wrecking a horde of skeletons. She was also leveling up pretty quickly.
[Party Member Kiyomi has leveled up!(53)]
All the zombies had passed us and went towards the others.
I had noticed that the zombies and the skeletons wereing from one direction and after a few seconds of thinking, I knew exactly where they wereing from.
They were alling from that cemetery. It must be the cemetery that we passed two days ago.
If that''s where they areing from, then that must be where the witch is located.
"Master, I''m here."
Kiyomi said as she appeared next to me.
"Huh, just on time. Let''s head to that graveyard we passed days ago."
"Ok."
***
When we arrived at the graveyard, the whole ce was in ruins. Every single grave and coffin was empty and the only thing that remained was... well, vacant coffins.
As I guessed, those zombies and skeletons must''ve risen from this cemetery.
Walking through the cemetery, I noticed there was a building located in the center. It was the size of a shed and the gates were unlocked. When I poked my head in to take a sneak peek, there was a passageway leading underground.
Ehh, I hate underground ces. It just reminds me how close I was to losing against that pig. I shouldn''t be remembering those kinds of stuff.
The witch must be down there. After all, where else is she gonna hide? In a coffin? Maybe...
I told Kiyomi to head back to the group while I entered alone. She was worried at first and insisted oning with me.
"Why can''t Ie?"
"Because I need you to watch those two?"
"The brothers?"
"Yes, them."
My suspicions told me that told two must be somehow rted to the serial killer. Though they haven''t done anything suspicious, getting targeted by zombies is already suspicious enough as zombies are all driven by revenge instead of wanting to eat brains and flesh... which they still do.
"I just need you to join back with them and if they decide to abandon the others, take them out. When that is done, I''ll reward you. Understood?"
Kiyomi''s face turned bright red before she nodded. I gave her a pat on the head and she went on her way.
"Now then..."
I began walking down the dark passageway.
As I kept on walking down, I could hear bones ttering and deep, scratchy groaning sounds. Those were skeletons and zombies, but what was that other sound?
I could hear someone whispering and I felt mana waves in the air. I attempted to activate Wolf''s Blood but it didn''t work. Well, judging by how heavy my legs feel right now, this must be pressurized mana in addition to anti-mana.
I activated Aura Barrier and a faint red color appeared around me. My legs eventually began to feel lighter and I could breathe normally again.
Good thing I have my own anti-mana spell. Now then.
When I reached the bottom, I ended up in arge vacant chamber. There were skeletons and zombies roaming around but some of them were... kneeling?
I activated Stealth and approached the crowd. Then that whisper from earlier got louder and that''s when I spotted a woman sitting on a throne made of bones. When she noticed me, I got a quick nce at her appearance.
She had pale skin, empty white eyes, long ck hair tied in a twin-tail, wore a ck gothic dress with a purple jacket and ck leggings with ck boots. The aura emanating from her gives me gothic vibes. I swear if she starts saying something about her right eye, I''m gonna end my life right here. Though if I ignore all that, she did look a little appealing.
"How did you get past my mist?" She demanded as she got up from her seat. The throne behind her copsed.
"Hmm I don''t really know, all I know is I want my prize."
I drew my sword and pointed the end of the de at her.
"Soe on."
"Tch, your arrogance will be yourst undoing."
The skeletons and the zombies rose and turned towards me. Not only that but when her hands glowed, more skeletons rose from the ground.
"I''m giving you a chance to flee, or I''ll resort to killing you."
"How sweet. I think I''ll take the third choice where I kill you instead."
"You-! Attack, all of you!"
The skeletons and the zombies obeyed her and they lunged towards me.
I sighed and got into a stance.
"This''ll be fun."
.
.
.