The next morning, with my belly empty and throat dry I finally start making my way to the library.
I couldn’t sleep a wink last night knowing that thing was close by.
Every time I felt something was off, or my instincts screamed at me I bolted upright prepared to flee for my life.
Thankfully, that massive creature didn’t come my direction after destroying the stadium.
On my way to the library I stealthily move through the streets and between buildings, avoiding any open areas. I have no intention on getting attacked whilst unprepared. If I come across more of those Wailers or similar, I want to kill them with a surprise attack before they can do anything.
Especially those Wailers. If that one I killed yesterdays screaming is what brought that thing to the stadium then by no means what so ever can I allow another one to scream.
Eventually, as I was moving through the backyard of some half-destroyed house, I finally came across another creature. It was inside the house seemingly asleep on the floor. I only noticed it because it happened to move slightly.
I climbed the outside of the building silently to get closer to the creature and inspect it. If I think I can kill it in one move, I’ll blast it from above.
As I careful crawl across the exposed beams supporting the ceiling I stare down at the small black ball below me. It’s side pulsating with each breathe, hinting that the ball is alive. It is about the size of a gym ball and has small obsidian spikes running down it’s spine. Its scaly skin, pitch black like the night sky.
If I didn’t know this thing would probably try to eat me on sight I might have admired it’s beautiful scales.
But alas… I am going to kill it.
Reaching my right hand forward I prepare to cast [Incarnat] but before I could it suddenly woke up. It’s head shot into the air and surveyed it’s surroundings, seemingly looking for danger.
I retracted my hand and just watched it as I didn’t know what it was looking for. I was half expecting another creature to show up but instead…
The creature below suddenly looked straight up at me. It had a long neck for its body and a funny spherical shaped head. It had one yellow eye with an innocent gaze and small beak like mouth. As it stared at me, it’s eye suddenly reduced to a red slit as it stood up.
‘That’s not good’ I thought as I immediately went to kill it. But before I could the creature’s body puffed up like a balloon and then…
BOOM!
It exploded!
The explosion was massive and sent me flying into the air. The house was completely destroyed and I landed about 50 meters away in the middle of the road.
The explosion itself didn’t really hurt me. Just surprised me. And the fall was nothing much either. But why the heck did it explode!
Getting back up I stare at the now burning wreckage that was a half-destroyed house before.
It was a pretty big explosion.
WHICH IS THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT I WANTED TO HAPPEN!
Without thinking anymore I quickly go to run away before more creatures show up. But it was already to late. Every house around had one or two or more of those exploding thing come out of them. When each one of them saw me they would stop and stare at me, there eye becoming a red slit, assumingly meaning they are going to go boom as well.
I didn’t even bother trying to run.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
I was surrounded in every direction by at least 10 of these things and more could be seen in the distance.
It was at this point that I realised why I hadn’t seen any creatures on my way before now.
It’s because this entire area is a nest for these things.
Just one of them isn’t much trouble… but 100… maybe 1000… or more…
GURGLE GURGLE
Suddenly I felt something disgusting coming from the house that just blew up. It was like my instincts had replaced my hearing. And sure enough, walking out from the flames was the creature that just self-destructed. It’s body was a bit charred and some of it’s scales were lost but for the most part it looked fine.
Which brings my problem to a whole new level.
These things not only self-destruct but they also survive that and can likely do it again.
I guess this is one of those weaker creatures that fight as a colony, making them really dangerous…
Having established all of this as they continued to surround and slowly close in on me, I finally decided what to do.
If I can’t run then…
“[Incarnat!]”
“[Incarnat!]”
“[Incarnat!]”
“[Incarnat!]”
“[Incarnat!]”
“[Incarnat!]”
Using both my hands as I spin around, I blast the creatures closest to me with fire. My fire may not be strong enough to kill these things since they seem resistant to fire, but, at the very least it should keep them away.
In fact, even better than I expected, my fire seemed to cause these things to explode prematurely. Every time I hit on of them with a red eye, that creature would explode, cause all the other red eyed ones near it to explode too.
Soon enough a massive cacophony of fiery explosions could be seen. Not being able to hear the blast made for a strangely chaotic but tranquil scene for me. It was a new experience.
As the explosions continued to cascade, the fierceness of the blasts even started enveloping me, and it was at this point that I finally realised I was butt naked.
Straight up. It took me a full day to realise this.
After everything that has happened I didn’t even have time to think about this. It was only because of the burns caused by the flames that I finally noticed my lack of garments.
A truly embarrassing discovery…
I can’t believe I forgot something so important…
I will amend this immediately…
Regardless of my discovery, my naked body is currently being littered with burns. I continued to cast [Incarnat] despite the pain and just tried to minimise the damage with [Rubius].
After about 5 minutes of constant explosions and intense heat, things finally started to calm down.
As the smoke cleared, I could see the few remaining creatures fleeing in the distance, not willing to join their comrades in the afterlife.
“Heh”, I snorted as I watched them flee.
As I stood there, I inspected my body but thankfully, the pain and injuries weren’t too serious. If I gritted my teeth I could bear them.
Shortly after I confirmed no more creatures were coming for me I started running away as well. Those explosion without a doubt would attract attention and I wasn’t willing to meet whoever came.
I continued heading for the library without stopping. Hell, I completely let go of my previous carefulness as well. I needed to get as far away from that place as possible and if I came across more creatures, I would just blast and run.
As I run I can feel the [Soul Manifest] has updated again but I am not interested in it until I am safe and sound.
I ran all day until just before the sun was about to set for the night. Finally, I had arrived at the library.
Without further adieu I went inside and started checking the place for creatures. After I couldn’t find any, I went to every exit in the building and blocked them with something heavy. I did this for all except two of them just to make sure I had a way in and out in case of emergencies.
After I was satisfied with my work I went and found a metal bucket in the old cleaners closet and fetched some water from the fountain at the hotel nearby. Collecting some sticks on the way back I set up a fire in the old fireplace and fixed the metal bucket above it in a bit of an awkward manner.
Finally I would have drinking water. And I should also clean myself too.
As I waited for the water to boil I finally inspected my [Soul Manifest] and I was somewhat shocked.
[Soul Manifest]
[Your soul is excited]
[You have slain a Corrupt Bomb Chicken * 1382]
[The universe is pleased by your act of selflessness]
[Your soul is pleased by the universe’s recognition]
[The universe has bestowed a reward to your soul]
[Your soul has been reward]
[Soul Manifest]
[Name: Rey Stein]
[Race: Human (Awakened)]
[Constitution: Sloth]
[Soul Level: 37]>
[Physical Level: 3]>
[@###%$^()!@#!@$#$%^#!@]
[Karma]>
[Luck: ?]
[Martial Affinity: Reaper’s Harvest]
[Spells: Incarnat, Rubius, Accel, Incras]>
[Abilities: Spark, Soul Manifest]>
[Soul Level: 37]^
[Mana: 7300]
[Intelligence: 140]
[Physical Level: 3]^
[Strength: 87]
[Agility: 99]
[Stamina: 114]
[Ki: ?]
[Karma}^
[Protectors Presence]^
[Level 1]
[Exp: 382 / 10000]
[Protectors Presence: Your mere presence instils a sense of safety in your allies. Your mere presence instils a sense of danger in your enemies. When fighting for the sake of another, all allies’ stats increased by 1 %. When fighting for the sake of another, all enemies’ stats decreased by 1 %. Ability is automatic.]