Since we killed the spectral ghost thing, I was hoping that counted as undead but my quest for cleansing the area did not advance. I decided to keep pushing deeper into the woods. I was beginning to feel at home in the woods in a way I had not felt before.
I was also hoping that finding one dead this way might lead me to more undead. If I recalled correctly, there was a cemetery that was out this way. I didn’t notice it the first time I went out of town but everything looked different. I swore to myself to never get high again. That entire day could have been one big hallucination. I wasn’t sure anymore about the local terrain. The air felt different too. It felt heavier, like we were at a lower altitude. I’m sure I will figure it out as I go along. Everything will work out.
My persistence was rewards sometime later when Thor called me back and let me know he had found a group of dead smelly things. I recognized them as badly decayed zombies. They looked awful.
As I heeded Thor’s call and approached the location, I braced myself for what I was about to encounter. The zombies that Thor had found were a grim sight, even by the standards of the undead.
These zombies were in a state of advanced decay. Their flesh, what little remained, was tattered and hanging loosely from their bones. It was a sickly, mottled grey-green, with patches of bone visible where the skin and muscle had rotted away completely. The decay was so severe that it was hard to discern any features that might have indicated who they were in life.
Their movements were sluggish but persistent, a grotesque lurching as they ambled aimlessly or stood motionless until disturbed. Their eyes, sunken and clouded, gave off a faint, eerie glow, hinting at the unnatural force that animated them.
The stench surrounding these zombies was almost unbearable, a putrid mix of decay and damp earth that seemed to cling to the air. Flies and other scavengers were attracted to the zombies, adding to the macabre scene.
Clothing on the zombies was tattered and dirty, barely clinging to their desiccated frames. It was torn and stained, suggesting they had been wandering through the woods for a long time.
As I observed them, I could see that these zombies were more than just a physical threat; they were a manifestation of the unnatural imbalance plaguing the area. They represented a corruption of the natural order, something that I as a druid, felt compelled to rectify.
Despite my revulsion and the danger they posed, I understood that these creatures were the victims of a greater evil, a force that robbed them of their humanity and turned them into mindless husks. I prepared to cleanse their blight upon the land.
Stolen novel; please report.
With Thor and Loki by my side, I approached the group of zombies. I knew that despite their decayed state, they could still be dangerous. I prepared myself mentally, channeling my druidic energy and preparing for combat.
As I neared, the zombies detected my presence. They turned towards me, their movements slow but determined. Their eyes, devoid of any intellect, fixed on me and my companions with a haunting emptiness.
I initiated the encounter with a spell, sending a surge of wind to push the closest zombies back, creating space for me to maneuver and spread them out a little. The zombies staggered but relentlessly advanced again, barely affected by the spell’s force.
Thor and Loki sprang into action, flanking me. Thor, using his shadow magic, created illusions around the zombies trying to disorient the zombies. Loki, with her ice magic, blasted a chilling mist at their feet, attempting to slow their advance.
“Thor, they’re dumb zombies, they aren’t using their eyes to sense us. I don’t think your illusions are doing anything.” I called out to Thor. I could tell he was disappointed he didn’t have any ranged attacks.
“Don’t worry buddy.” I comforted him. “We’ll find something you can bite real good. Ok buddy?”
“Woof woof.” Thor barked back.
The fight was a dance of strategic magic and physical combat. We worked in unison, each of us playing to our strengths. Thor’s illusion weren’t very helpful this time but I knew we just had to find the right match up. Zombies were a bad match. Loki’s frost attack stole the show again. She was getting really good with her magic. She was practically a machine gun with how fast she fired the spells off.
Despite the decaying bodies of the zombies offering little resistance, the sheer number of them made the fight challenging. I had to constantly move, using both my spells and staff to fend them off.
After several intense minutes, the last of the zombies fell, its body collapsing to the ground with a finality that signaled the end of the confrontation. I stood amidst the aftermath, breathing heavily, feeling a mix of exhaustion and relief at a battle well fought. Thor and Loki, unharmed, moved back to my side. Their loyalty and bravery once again on display.
The loot was so-so. I received some more mystical essences. Those went straight into the dimensional shard.
I received the tattered remnants of clothing. There was nothing useful about them. I thought about bringing them back with for trade, but I finally decided against it. They were too gross to carry around.
There were ancient coins. They were worn with age and had markings on them I didn’t recognize. I kept those. I was sure I could figure something to do with them. At the very least, I could melt them down.
The final thing was the good stuff. I received herbal components from the zombies. I think the plants had grown over the skeletons. I hoped they would be useful in my future potion making endeavors.
The experience wasn’t great. I only received three hundred fifty experience for clearing the pack of zombies. But every little bit helped. The skill upgrades were nice too. Survival Instincts gained a level as did my Elemental Mastery.
After all the fighting I decided I could use a rest. I took a break to catch my breath and regain my mana. Thor was still ready to go, but Loki and I were a little tapped on mana. I wanted to start the next fight with a full mana bar.