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Santa's gaze swept down the hallway behind them, it seemed for the moment, they were alone. Impatience and unease gnawed at him as he waited for Archibald to devise a way to unlock the door. Thoughts raced through his mind as he desperately sought alternatives, but the more he searched, the clearer it became that their fate rested in the hands of the little guy.

"Walterfink, do you understand yet? In this system, you can do anything you want," Mya's voice echoed down the hall.

Walterfink pondered for a moment before responding, "Anything? Can I make trees cry?"

Santa and Mya exchanged perplexed looks as a loud crash echoed from beyond the door. "You… There! Get….!" a muffled voice shouted from the other side.

Santa moved closer to the door and asked, "Archibald, are you okay, little buddy? What's going on?"

Mya pressed her ear against the wood. "Something's not right."

Santa and Mya made another attempt to open the door, but it remained steadfast. Another heavy thud echoed from the other side, and the door shimmered purple for a split second.

Mya stood back in alarm. "Did that just…?"

Santa grunted as he tried to turn the handle once more, but with no success. "Archibald, are you okay?"

The muffled voice from before echoed, "Get him!"

"Blast it. We really need to get in there now," Santa said as he continued to struggle with the handle.

"What do we do?" Mya was beginning to panic.

Santa clenched his teeth, realizing he would have to summon all his strength to break through the stubborn door. He took a few steps back, ready to charge it at full force. However, just as he was about to make his move, Walterfink stepped in front and started gnawing on the door.

"What are you doing?!" shouted Mya. "Stop wasting time and get out of the way!"

Walterfink paid no heed to Mya and continued chewing at the door, muttering, "It's too chocolatey."

"Chocolate? That's wood you ninny!" Mya shouted.

Just as Santa was about to charge over the stubborn elf, Walterfink shifted his focus to the handle. A loud crunch filled the air.

“Um, what?” Mya asked.

The once hard metallic handle cracked under Walterfink's relentless teeth.

Santa's eyebrows shot up. Before he could inquire about the effectiveness of Walterfink's jaws, a satisfying click resounded, and the handle tumbled to the floor.

“Good job, you broke it!” Mya chided the elf.

Santa's disappointment was short-lived as the door, now lacking the mechanism that kept it locked and closed, creaked open.

“Well, that’s one way to do it,” said Santa.

“Um, sorry ever doubted you,” added Mya sheepishly.

But it seemed Walterfink's attention was once again fixated on the door handle, not realizing that he had already opened the door. Santa and Mya exchanged another puzzled look as the door swung wide open, revealing a chaotic scene unfolding before them.

Three Nutcracker soldiers scrambled around the room, tearing it apart in a blur of motion as they fought among themselves, desperately trying to catch the tiny figure of Archibald.

[Nutcracker Warrior, Level 19]

[Nutcracker Warrior, Level 18]

[Nutcracker Warrior, Level 19]

These warriors were different – taller, meaner, and more agile. Their silver and black battle-ready armour was far more daunting than the fluffy white guard attire worn by the other Nutcrackers.

Cardboard boxes and a myriad of magical artifact flew around the room in pieces as supplies lay scattered and shattered. In the centre of the chaos stood a diminutive figure atop a large table, dressed in a black tunic, he directed the wooden warriors with a snarl on his face.

“Kill it!” he shouted, his dark-rimmed glasses bouncing on his nose as he snarled. His hair, a sickly green, hung in long, unruly locks over his anti-Christmas attire. When his gaze locked onto the newcomers, he nearly had a heart attack.

Squeaking in terror, he wasted no time in issuing orders and bolted in the opposite direction, screeching, “BOSS! THEY'RE HERE! THEY'RE HERE!”

Santa and Mya exchanged meaningful glances. The answers they sought, regarding both the headmaster and the sinister occurrences within the tower, awaited them just beyond the door and up the stairs, where the enigmatic black-clad elf had vanished. They knew what needed to be done.

But first, they needed to save the mouse.

Upon the dark elf's orders, the three Nutcracker’s swiftly turned their attention to the newcomers. Initially frozen for a moment, they scrambled to reach their weapons, which they had carelessly left behind in their relentless pursuit of the elusive mouse.

Before anyone, friend or foe, could react, Walterfink, having finished his work on the door handle, charged forward.

He sunk his teeth into the nearest Nutcracker's leg and began tearing at the soldier, although with little success. Nevertheless, Walterfink's move disoriented the Nutcracker and drew the full attention of all three soldiers toward the determined but seemingly ineffective elf.

Mya couldn't help but chuckle. "See, he's a tank."

Santa, not well-versed in gaming terms, grasped the idea of sending a sturdy member to distract the enemy without risking the more skilled ones. Before he could fully consider the tactic, a Nutcracker landed a powerful blow to Walterfink's head with a loud thud. Most elves would have been knocked out cold by such a hit, but Walterfink barely reacted and continued gnawing at the Nutcracker’s leg like an attack dog.

“Nuggies!”

The other two warriors quickly realized that their physical blows were ineffective, so they grabbed the frenzied elf by his green tunic and forcefully pulled him away from their comrade, leaving a noticeable bite mark on the otherwise pristine armour. They then threw him toward Santa and Mya, promptly readied their halberds, and adopted a defensive stance.

"These ones aren't messing about, Mya. Stay alert," Santa cautioned as he helped Walterfink back onto his feet.

Mya nodded, her gaze locked on the soldiers' dark armour. "You're right. Let's not underestimate them and pull out all the stops."

Walterfink, still catching his breath from the previous encounter, stared wide-eyed at the menacing Nutcracker soldiers. "Why can’t I eat these ones?"

"Their armour’s too thick, so we'll need a can opener," Santa said as he retrieved his crowbars from his sack and held them tightly. "Hope these work. You guys ready?”

The elves nodded.

Santa looked down at Walterfink who now squatted on all fours. Santa pointed towards the soldiers. “Sick 'em, boy."

Walterfink nodded enthusiastically and dashed toward the enemy like a rabid beast. With a powerful leap, he soared through the air, slipping past the startled Nutcrackers' defences and landing on the chest of the nearest warrior. Walterfink resumed his frenzied gnawing on the armoured foe, shouting, "Nom! Nom! Nom!" between each bite. His little green cap bounced as he chewed.

Without wasting a moment, Santa charged forward with a crowbar in each hand, his boots echoing with each step as he closed the distance.

Mya raised her hand, summoning her magic. "Frosty frost!" She unleashed a flurry of snowflakes toward the soldiers, aiming for their joints and vital areas, but the flakes simply bounced off their dark armour. “Blast it!”

Walterfink continued his relentless gnawing on the Nutcracker soldier, causing minimal damage but serving as a crucial distraction. The soldiers shifted their focus to the determined elf, lifting their halberds, and attempting to dislodge him from their comrade.

Santa seized the opportunity presented by the diversion, a confident grin stretching across his face. He repeated the same technique as before, propelling himself into the air with a mighty leap. A crimson blur of motion, he soared through the corridor, his crowbars gleaming as they ascended high above him. With precision, he aimed for the Nutcrackers' helmets, preparing to yank their heads downward. However, to his dismay, his crowbars simply rebounded harmlessly off their helmets, leaving him momentarily bewildered.

Santa winced as his wrists jarred upon impact, his crowbars rebounding from the Nutcrackers' helmets. He quickly regained his footing and prepared for the imminent counterattack.

The two warriors shifted their attention to the larger, red-clad threat. With a swift motion, they thrust their halberds forward, targeting Santa's throat.

In a split-second reaction, Santa raised his crowbars just in the nick of time, expertly crossing them to intercept the Halberds. The lethal weapons struck against the sturdy crowbars, creating a cacophonous clash. Santa's arms trembled under the force of the blow, but he held his ground, determined to fend off the attackers.

Without a moment's delay, the Nutcrackers pressed their advance.

Mya, her magical abilities momentarily depleted due to the cooldown on her freezing spell, scanned the area frantically for any available resources. Her eyes landed on a stray object, which she swiftly recognized as a crystal ball. With a quick, precise throw, she aimed it at one of the warriors. However, the Nutcracker reacted with surprising agility, lazily parrying the projectile mid-air.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

But Mya was undeterred. She quickly bent down, grabbing one object after another, continuing to hurl debris at the warriors, determined to keep them at bay.

"Focus on the joints of their armour!" Mya called out urgently. "Keep them immobilized!"

Santa nodded, preparing himself for the next wave of attacks.

Santa attempted to target the Nutcrackers' vulnerable points, but it proved futile. They were far too skilled with their halberds to allow him to get close enough for an effective attack.

Santa lacked the agility and diminutive size of Walterfink, who was still firmly attached to the first warrior. The little elf continued to gnaw at the unyielding metal with unwavering determination, behaving more like a frenzied beast than an elf. Unfortunately, the dark armour remained impervious to his teeth.

Suddenly, the warrior engaged with Walterfink gained the upper hand and forcefully tore him from his chest, hurling the elf to the ground. All three Nutcrackers swiftly regrouped and regained their composure, quickly closing in on Santa and Mya. They began working together, using their superior power and well-crafted weapons to their advantage. Santa and Mya found themselves quickly losing ground, struggling to hold their own against the relentless onslaught.

Santa gritted his teeth and swung his crowbars in wide arcs, desperately fending off the swinging and stabbing attacks of all three halberds. The situation was becoming increasingly grim, and their options were dwindling.

As he parried and dodged, Santa's mind raced, looking for any form of a plan. Mya, though skilled in magic, wasn't powerful enough as a spellcaster yet to take on these formidable foes. Walterfink, while ferocious, struggled to do any real damage.

It was clear that they were outmatched in every way.

Suddenly, the door swung open, revealing another group of armed warriors ready to charge into the room from where the evil elf had disappeared.

[Nutcracker Warrior, Level 17] [Nutcracker Warrior, Level 20] [Nutcracker Warrior, Level 19] [Nutcracker Warrior, Level 18] [Nutcracker Warrior, Level 21] [Nutcracker Warrior, Level 16] [Nutcracker Warrior, Level 18] [Nutcracker Warrior, Level 20] [Nutcracker Warrior, Level 17]

Santa's heart sank as he faced the overwhelming odds, knowing that their only hope rested on the powerful magic he didn't want to use. His gaze shifted to Mya and Walterfink, the two bright and joyful elves who were like family to him. He didn't want to use the spell, but it seemed their options had run out. He racked his brain for an alternative but knew there was none.

Gripping his crowbars tightly, Santa stared at the warriors, his gaze accusing them of leaving him with no choice. With a heavy heart, he finally uttered the incantation, "By yuletide's shadow and commanding breath, Ghouls, Gremlins, and Ghosts, unleash Christmas death!"

[Santa has activated: 🪄 Ghoulish Command]

Suddenly, a mysterious energy filled the room, causing the Nutcrackers to pause in their step.

Mya and Walterfink suddenly froze, then their bodies began to convulse in unison. At the same time, Santa's magical sack started wriggling and shifting of its own accord. Stepping back, Santa watched with a mixture of shock and horror as the profound changes unfolded before his eyes.

Mya's pink hair transformed into a deep shade of blood red, her skin darkening to a sickening green hue. Her teeth sharpened into menacing fangs, her nails grew into wicked claws, and her jaws drooled profusely as she hunched over, trembling with an otherworldly energy.

Likewise, Walterfink's transformation was equally grotesque, causing his muscles to expand and giving him a much beefier set of corded muscles. Despite their horrifying transformations, neither of them moved or made a sound. They stood there, fully transformed and formidable, yet eerily silent.

Santa then realized that they were awaiting his command. He pointed at the Nutcrackers and spoke with a firm voice, "Attack!"

Without hesitation, the Elves, now fully under the spell's influence, lunged at incredible speed towards the Nutcrackers. Teeth gnashed, and fingers clawed out, while two more shapes burst forth from Santa's magical sack. Four frenzied zombies in Christmas outfits attacked with wild abandon, ripping, tearing, and scratching at their victims. The room filled with the unsettling sound of metal being torn apart and the distinctive screams of Nutcracker’s powerless before the undead.

The warriors beyond hesitated, taken aback by the horror show. Within seconds, the relentless zombies had stripped the three original Nutcrackers of their armour and weapons, rendering them defenceless against the gruesome onslaught. As the zombies continued their assault, their insatiable hunger for brains drove them to search for the so-called power source hidden within their cranial compartments.

Boom! Boom! Crack!

[+ 1650 EXP]

[+ 1400 EXP]

[Level up! Walterfink is now level 2]

[Walterfink has gained the skill: Ghoulish Gumption (Passive)]

[+ 1650 EXP]

[Level up! Mya is now level 4]

[Mya has gained the skill: Ghoulish Gumption (Passive)]

In mere moments, the once-mighty Nutcrackers were reduced to scattered pieces, their wooden forms discarded like mere rag dolls. The victorious zombies, still ravenous for more action, turned their attention toward the warriors in the hallway, who, though gripping their halberds with trembling hands, were now slowly backing away in fear.

Santa's voice cut through the tension, firm and commanding, as he repeated, "Attack!"

As the zombies rushed down the hallway, the door swung back and forth wildly, stirred by the rush of wind generated by their frenzied charge. The chaotic chorus of shouts, screams, and rending metal reverberated through the air, partially muffled by the door swinging.

[+ 1650 EXP]

Santa winced at the cacophony, grateful that the door acted as a makeshift barrier to shield them from the full extent of the carnage.

[+ 1450 EXP] [+ 1500 EXP] [+ 2100 EXP]

[Level up! Walterfink is now level 3]

[Walterfink has gained the skill: Cannibalism]

[+ 2350 EXP]

[Level Up! You are now Level 14]

[Santa has gained the spell: Aura of Winter’s Past (Passive)]

[+ 1400 EXP]

[+ 1650 EXP]

[Level up! Mya is now level 5]

[Mya has gained the skill: Cannibalism]

[+ 1700 EXP]

[+ 1650 EXP]

[Level up! Walterfink is now level 4]

[Walterfink has gained the skill: Iron stomach (Passive)]

After a few moments, the door gradually came to a rest, and the echoing sounds from beyond slowly faded into silence.

Archibald, climbed up silently and perched upon Santa's bleeding shoulder, finally broke the quietude. His voice was soft and searching as he struggled to find the right words. "That was, um..."

"Necessary." Santa said, finishing the mouse’s words.

The tiny mouse responded with a solemn nod, his whiskers quivering as he absorbed the gravity of the situation. Santa took a step forward as something caught his eye. Despite the undeniable destruction surrounding them, they were in a storeroom, and Santa's keen eyes spotted the familiar piece of the darkened robe Mya had been searching for. He walked a few steps closer and picked up the discarded piece of cloth.

[Santa has looted: Tunic of Starlight]

Wondering if there was anything else of note, he scanned the room, finding nothing but wreckage. He then carefully placed both of his crowbars into his sack, along with the tunic, and hoisted the sack onto his shoulder, while Archibald found a safe perch atop Santa's red cap.

After a brief pause to catch his breath and steel his heart, a muffled voice emanated from beyond the door. "Santa?"

He swiftly approached the hallway and swung the door open, revealing the aftermath of what can only be described as a slaughter. The corridor was strewn with the lifeless forms of Nutcracker warriors, their once-proud bodies now scattered like discarded dolls. Arms and legs lay here and there with sizeable bite marks, while every head had been ripped apart by hand. Amidst the carnage, Mya and Walterfink stood, looking normal and relatively unscathed but visibly perplexed by the scene of destruction that surrounded them.

"Santa? What happened?" Mya asked, her voice filled with concern.

Santa moved to comfort the young Elf, patting her on the back and noticing that her hair had returned to its normal pink shade, along with her other features.

"Did we make the trees cry?" asked Walterfink.

Santa nodded. “Good job, bud.”

Mya's eyes widened, a mix of confusion and curiosity in her expression. "We did? How?"

Santa chuckled as he hugged the young Elf. "It's a long story, Mya. Let's just say we found a unique way to bring the holiday spirit back."

Mya nodded as her eyes landed on the other two corpses of the Elves. “Why are they out of your sack?”

Santa smiled pushing aside his guilt as he moved to scoop them up and place them back into his sack. “They helped as well. Any way we should keep going. We need to catch up to the blasted Dark elf.”

He retrieved the tunic from his sack and tossed it to Mya, whose eyes lit up despite their grim surroundings.

[Mya has gained the loot: Tunic of Starlight]

"You found it!" Mya squealed in delight.

Santa managed to crack a smile. "Sure did."

"That makes..." Mya began.

"...one piece left, little one."

Mya giggled with glee as she spun around, clutching the third piece of her quest item.

"Shall we?" Santa asked, gesturing down the hallway.

Mya nodded.

Santa and his companions gathered themselves in the corridor, their eyes briefly scanning the destruction they had left behind. They knew there was no time to dwell on it, so they continued down the hallway, leaving the Nutcracker soldier toys in their wake.

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💀 Ghoulish Gumption (Passive)

Description:

This skill enhances the players resilience and fortitude, allowing them to endure more in battle and recover more swiftly from injuries.

Effect:

Resilience Boost: +15%

Recovery Rate: +15%

This skill is particularly effective in prolonged battles, where endurance and the ability to sustain long fights are crucial.

💀 Skill Cannibalism

Description:

Cannibalism is a dark and gruesome ability that allows the character to gain strength, sustenance, or other advantages by consuming the flesh or essence of other beings. This skill is typically associated with necromancy or dark magic.

Effect:

Steal 10% of stats from consumed corpse permanent.

Heals for a great amount when fully digested.

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🪄Aura of Winter’s Past (Passive)

Description:

A passive magical aura that envelops the caster and nearby allies, harnessing the essence of winter to reduce spell cooldowns and extend the duration of beneficial effects from spells.

Effect:

Cooldown Reduction: From 20%

Duration Extension: From 20%

Cooldown: Passive (Always active)

Range: 2 feet (per level)

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💀 Iron Stomach (Passive)

Description:

Characters with an Iron Stomach possess a remarkable digestive system that allows them to consume and benefit from a wider variety of food and drink without suffering ill effects. This skill represents their resilience against food-related challenges.

Cooldown: Passive (Always active)

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