Dodging to the right again, I narrowly avoid the tail that Noodles slammed near me. It wasn’t fast, but it was extremely hard to see in this damned fog. Looking around, it’s been a few minutes since this battle started and we were on the backfoot. After appearing, this thing has been attacking us with its tail and trying to bite down on us, which would mean swallowing us whole with the size of its damned mouth. Moving to attack again, I throw out a punch on where I think its body is, but meet nothing except for the fog. Frustrated, I jump back and look for another chance, keeping an eye out for another attack from Noodles. This isn’t the first time I’ve failed to connect, it’s happened every time I’ve tried to attack, even if the tail was right next to me.
Jumping back near me, Elizabeth also looked frustrated, no one had hit Noodles yet. The strange thing however was that it seemed to be…having fun, like it was playing with us. Even though these attacks were deadly, its eyes were darting around happily. Was it just enjoying trying to kill us, or did it think we were playing with it?
Soon, Sally shouted out, no words, just a shout as I looked towards her where Noodles’ head was. Rearing up, I see it open its mouth as a strange glow comes from its horn, with symbols surrounding it. Magic! Those symbols, Teacher Lee showed them to me, this thing was about to cast magic! How do we stop it?!
With a blinding light, the magic is released. The smell of my surroundings goes from damp to a toxic smell, quickly pinching my nose as I look at the ground. Spreading out from in all directions is a light green fog, rolling on the ground as it quickly spreads through the area. “ALISHA, BLOW IT AWAY!” Reacting right away to Elizabeth’s sudden panicking shout, I focus and imagine pushing the wind around me and blowing everything away. Feeling suddenly lightheaded from losing about 70% of my mana, I feel a strong gale blow the poison and fog away from the area, revealing everything around us. The fog was slowly recovering this time, maybe it's because of how strong the wind I used was, or maybe because I used so much mana.
[New spell learnt, Wind Explosion.]
Seeing the notification, I ignore it for the time being while I open my eyes and look around. Squinting my eyes, I focus as best as I can with the light head I gave myself. Looking around, we’re standing in the middle of a very muddy area, with some sickly green trees, most were uprooted, snapped in half or only had the trunk remaining. It looked like there were frequent fights here.
Turning back to the Guardian, I could make out its body, it was massive. Ten meters long at least, coiled up with its tail ready to strike. Sally moves up and slams her shield with the pummel of her sword and once again shouts at Noodles. Eyes snapping onto Sally, staring at her in a strange playful way, it moves to attack her while Gray and I move in to attack its body while Sally keeps its attention. Elizabeth moves to back up Sally. Reaching a part of the snake's body, I slam my gauntlets into its body, claws first, and I hit…nothing. As my fist connected, its body seemed to dissipate into fog. Thinking quickly, I use my wind to blow it away but it doesn’t have any effect. The fog reforms quickly back to how it was before.
“Tsk, I can’t hit this thing. ” Remarking this, I jump back to Elizabeth while Gray swings at the tail that was trying to strike him. Hearing that Elizabeth also met just fog, I wonder how we were getting through this. Even Alice who was flying around near me had used her spells, but hadn’t been successful. At this moment, the horn on its head lit up once again, with the magic symbols surrounding it.
“Alisha, can you blow the fog away again?” Shaking my head, I hurriedly explained “The last time I nearly took out my entire mana pool, I’d pass out if I did that again, and I can’t say if it’ll be effective.” Biting her lip, Elizabeth looks back at Noodles while I quickly try to think of a solution when a smell hits me. That unique smell, the one from the campfire. Before I could look around, I heard a faint twanging sound and something struck the horn on Noodles’ head, chipping it.
Swinging its body wildly, as Noodles regenerated fast, it opened its mouth and blew out a green mist, tiny droplets flooded the area, hitting us all. Almost right away my body went numb and I felt feverish. Looking at Noodles as he looked down at us, it was…whimpering, I could hear a faint “I-I’m sssssorry” before it slithered off into the fog. As it ran off, my fever reached a new peak, my breathing was hot and I could feel the muscles in my legs stiffening, while the rest of my body was completely numb. I tried to run over to Sally who was turning green in the face, but I couldn’t move. My vision started turning green as I felt something falling from my eyes, it burnt.
Looking over at Elizabeth, she was in a worse state. Bleeding profusely from her ears, she was coughing up something black, while her face was turning a shade of dark green. Looking at Gray, I could see another figure next time him, with a hand raised to him, shining a strange light. Feeling the need to save Gray, with my mind spinning I try to move as the figure looks at me, taking a step forward as the figure walks towards me, I pass out.
***
[Gray’s PoV]
I’ve always been scared, terrified of doing anything, for as long as I could remember. Ever since I was aware, I’ve always been terrified of doing anything that could get me hit, if I smiled or talked I would be hit. Even when I was with other hybrids, I would be kicked and hit because I looked strange. I never understood why, my hair is a different colour then everyone else and for some reason I look younger, but why would they hit me. I don’t talk to people, I never wanted to be noticed. When I first met Elizabeth, she was the first person to never treat me badly, but I never trusted her. I always thought that one day she’d hit me, just like the others. Or maybe just yell at me.
When they told us to kill each other that day, I was terrified of dying. I didn’t want to die, but I was attacked by someone without even a second thought. I cried when I tried to fight back against Gol, before he stabbed his sword into my shoulder I managed to stab him in the chest. I don’t remember what happened after that, all I remember was waking up and seeing Alisha’s face right above mine, poking my cheek. I was afraid that she would hit me or strike me down. She never did, and Sally who was with her didn’t either. At first I was scared when I was with them. What if they hit me because of my hair, what if they shout at me for making a mistake, or abandon me for being useless. They never did. Even if I made a mistake cooking, or even that time when Alisha fell I always thought Sally would blame me, so I never talked, fearing she would yell at me. But she never did.
Then Elizabeth showed up, and she didn’t hit me either. I became less scared, scared of being yelled at, hit or left behind. Now, I find myself looking at those three, the three who never hurt me and were making me feel safe, dying. My body was numb, my insides roiling, and my mind was going foggy. I could feel something stirring inside of me, the monster half of my body was fighting for control. Not now, please, I need help my friends. A growl escapes my mouth, I want to eat, I must eat. Even though my body doesn’t respond, I want to move and eat the ones dying near me. Coughing up blood, I felt faint, and as I felt myself about to either pass out or lose control to the monster, I couldn’t tell, I felt a coolness coming from my side. A really cool feeling spreads through my body, healing me and ridding it of the poison. My monster side calmed down and I was able to control it again.
Looking to my left where the feeling was coming from, I see a young hooded girl, a bow on her back, holding a palm onto my arm while muttering quietly. Not able to make out what she was saying I knew she was responsible for helping me. Feeling my body recover, including the stiffness from my arm, she looks at me and hands me two bottles. “This one first.” Giving me a green vial, she then hands me a deep red one “This one after. Help her.” Pointing at Elizabeth, I nod and as I’m about to go over to Elizabeth, I hear a growling. Turning, I see Alisha, staring at me…no, the one next to me. Alice was flying around her head, crying out at Alisha, who had a sinister aura around her, eyes partly red and blue, a tail had grown out at some point. Concerned, I knew she was nearing her monster release form, and as I’m about to ask this hooded girl to not harm Alisha, the hooded girl says “I won’t harm her. I’ll hear your story later, treatment first.”
Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work!
Sighing in relief, I move towards Elizabeth, uncork the green vial and with some difficulty, I pour it into Elizabeth’s mouth. Some spilling from her mouth, Elizabeth has little clarity in her eyes as she starts drinking. Finishing the green vial, I straight away uncork the red vial and pour it in. Gulping like she had a deep thirst, Elizabeth finishes it quickly and passes out. Hoping this helped, I look towards a new sound, a deep growling. Sally, she was transforming. Two horns tear through her head, silver just like her hair, dripping with fresh blood, her pupils shrinking as her nails start to grow out, being long and sharp. Her skin turns even paler than the milky white it was before. I don’t know what to do, I’ve never seen a hybrid transform like this.
[Level 15 Vampire, Sally]
“Knock her out! Before the transformation is finished, a blow to the back of its neck or jaw will do the job!” Hearing a voice behind me, assuming it to be the hooded girl, I try to think on how to achieve that. I was scared I could hurt her if I used my hammer. I felt a tug on my pants, and looking down, I saw a barely conscious Elizabeth looking at me before passing out again. I saw the sword she was holding and knew what to do. Picking up the sword, I moved unsteadily but quickly towards Sally. Hindered by the poison, she couldn’t react as I swung the sword with uncertainty, slamming the pummel of the sword into her jaw. Head craning up from the hit, she was knocked out. Hearing footsteps behind me, I see the hooded girl crouch and that glow came from her hand again, while watching with interest as Sally reverted from her transformation. I could hear her mutterings this time.
“Monster traits, but humanoid, intelligent but shows signs of bloodthirst like a monster. Are all beings like this in Crater Hell? No, there is a human here as well. Interesting, interesting.”
Not sure what to do, I checked her System prompt.
[Level 16 Elf, Beginner Elven Archer, Olivia]
“E-excuse m-me.”
“Not now, I need to focus on healing.”
“H-healing?”
“Remember, stories later. Grab those two, we need to move, Noodles will be back.”
Nodding, I moved over to Alisha, who no longer had the tail, picked her up and put her over my shoulder while Alice landed on my head, and wondered how to carry Elizabeth. She was tall and heavy, and I could only carry one person. Before I could think of a solution, I saw Elizabeth stir, sit up slowly while coughing, see me carrying Alisha and smile. “I’ll be okay *cough*. I’ll walk *cough cough*” Coughing up blood and some black stuff, she stands on her feet trembling and starts walking towards our goal. Seeing the Elf, Olivia, scoop up Sally in her arms, we follow behind carrying the two towards the exit of the swamp.
***
Stumbling out of the swamp and onto the fields from the map, Alisha and Sally hadn’t awoken yet. The Elf, Olivia, Elizabeth and myself kept moving. Elizabeth didn’t look good, she was certainly pushing herself. I knew there was no choice, we had to reach our destination, we didn’t have much time left. I look around at the field and have to admit it was beautiful. Fresh long grass covered the ground, with flowers growing out in different colours like blue, yellow, green and so on. I can see some insects flying around the grass and flowers and the smell was rather refreshing.
“Do you know somewhere safe? All of you still need treatment and rest, I could only cure most of the poison and heal most of the damage, but there is still a lot I need to do.” Speaking, Olivia looks at me. Looking over at her now that we were out of the swamp, I could see she had blonde hair and light green eyes, a green hood was over her head and she was wearing a green and white shirt and pants with elegant design. Mustering up my courage, I slowly speak.
“W-w-we’re heading to s-somewhere…” Not sure how to describe where we’re going, I kind of point in the direction I think we were meant to be going. Nodding, the Elf, Olivia, moves again, carrying Sally over her shoulder with no problems. Stumbling, Elizabeth follows while I take up the rear. Keeping a light run, we keep going as I keep an eye on the daylight we had left. After another thirty minutes of running, I heard groaning come from Alisha.
“Mm, its too bouncy, let me down Gray.” Hearing Alisha, I stop to let her down but accidentally drop her instead. Terrified she’d be mad at me, she gets up while rubbing her butt. “A bit gentler next time Gray.” Smiling, she ruffles my hair as Alice flies up back to her head. “Thanks for looking after me. I’m better now.” Nodding and lowering my head, Alisha looks at Olivia, nods and says “I don’t know who you are, but let's just get to our destination. Elizabeth.” Turning and walking to Elizabeth, who has gone pale and was struggling for breath, Alisha punches her in the stomach area. Seeing Elizabeth buckle, she then passed out as Alisha picked her up and carried her. “Idiot, pushing yourself.” Leading the way like nothing happened, Alisha breaks into a soft run as myself and Olivia follow.
[Alisha’s PoV]
Carrying Elizabeth in my arms, I feel my body screaming at me. I’m an idiot, just like Elizabeth. I’ve barely recovered, but I didn’t want to hinder Gray anymore. Gritting my teeth, I keep up the light run as we run through the hilly grass fields. We don’t meet any monsters here, while there were some in the distance, we kept our guard up just in case. After another hour of running, I finally saw what should be our destination. A small hill, with a plateau, surrounded by a river. Breathing in, we moved through the shallow river where the water reached our knees, up the hill, and got close to the plateau. I see something that resembles a path leading to the top of it, I knew it would be a bit of a climb. It wasn’t too steep, but would cause some trouble. Moving Elizabeth to my shoulder, I start climbing up slowly, ignoring the pain from my arms and legs and swallowing the blood that I so badly wanted to cough up.
Reaching the top, it’s beautiful. Similar to the terrain from the fields, there was long ankle high grass, filled with flowers, the sound of insects, trees either in a small cluster with 3-4 of them or spread out. In the distance there was a river running through from the plateau and down, there was a lake up here where the water was coming from. Thankfully we decided to come here, it was refreshing. My nose could pick out soft smells from the flowers. Feeling refreshed from the smell wouldn’t help the pain in my body, but it would give me that second wind to do what I needed to.
“Is this the place, Demonic Fox?”
“Call me Alisha, Elf.”
“Olivia, call me Olivia.”
“We need to go about one hundred and fifty metres from here, but I’m not sure how far that is.”
Nodding, Olivia glances behind her and then ahead. Moving, I follow behind her, thinking she might know the distance. Gray followed behind, holding his hammer just in case. Running into no more monsters, Olivia suddenly stops.
“Here, exactly one hundred and fifty metres. Now, put the human down and sit down, I need to heal you all.” Putting Elizabeth down, I also collapse onto my knees. Brushing off the drowsiness, I dig through my sack and take out the orb. Hearing a gasp from my side, I see Olivia staring at the orb in shock.
“Y-you have an Orb of Salus?!” Smiling, she then says “I’m so very interested in your story now! Set it down so we can have some peace.” Confused, I nod and look at the orb. Putting the orb on the ground, it doesn’t do anything. “Tell the System to use it.” Doing as Olivia said, I mutter “System, use Lesser Blessed Orb of Salus.”
The orb lights up, at first blue, then silver, orange, yellow, going through all the colours until it turns gold. Floating off my hands, it sinks into the ground and a gold light spreads from it and continues until it goes over the edge of the plateau that we just came from. The light fades and a System note pops up.
[Lesser Blessed Orb of Salus has been set up.]
The orb then floats up and stays floating above the ground. “You can’t move it anymore, make sure to build something around it to protect it when you can.”
Taking a few breaths, I look through my sack for anything that could help with the pain. Finding nothing, I consider drinking one of the nine bottles of alcohol that Teacher Lee left me, but reject it since the trade off would mean being hungover. A few minutes later, Olivia arrives in front of me and puts her hand on my chest. “Lucky last, I’ll throw in a rejuvenation for you, free of charge.” Tilting my head in confusion, I feel a cool feeling spreading from her hand as it lights up. Closing my eyes and enjoying that feeling, I can feel my muscles slowly relaxing and the pain fades. I was still exhausted, but the pain was gone. Removing her hand, she sits down in front of me, a face full of curiosity.
“I’m bursting with questions. I've never met anyone quiet like you! A monster but you seem human, I want to know everything!"
Confused, I look at Olivia with my head tilted. She didn't know what I was? Where did she come from?
“Seems you’re bursting with questions too! How about we ask a question for a question? I’ll start! What are you exactly?”
Frowning, feeling I was unable to keep up with her liveliness, I decided to go along with her suggestion, and start talking with the excited Elf in front of me, with Gray listening next to us.