Things looked dire, quickly escalating to becoming desperate. Nilbog pushed ahead of Doyan and his assistant, Deni, to engage a Ghoul, doing it not out of bravery, but for practicality. The sooner they could get people armed, the higher their chances of survival will be.

The increased rewards were, of course, a welcome addition. Those that had the highest contribution received the best rewards, which in the end worked in his favor. Nilbog did not feel safe fighting alongside Doyan. He didn't hold anything against the vigilance of Doyan, but he never knew when he might get stabbed in the back because of it.

Nilbog with two knives in his hands, each roughly the same size, stalked for his next victim. Picking out an unsuspecting Ghoul, Nilbog darted in, making as little sound as possible while attempting to keep up with the monsters rapid movement. It was currently circling a man with a small cutting knife, his a clear indication of who was currently winning. The beast was much faster than him, slowly slashing him while constantly dodging his ill-aimed strikes.

Level 26 Young Ghoul

Nilbog's strike, however, was not ill-timed. He’d snuck to its left corner, and just as the creature went in for a slash, he did as well. It quickly gave the man a small gash on his forearm, and promptly backed-stepped right into Nilbog blade, impaling itself on his blade. Nilbog aimed for the heart, safely assuming that it was a weak spot.

Complete Penetration!

Your strike dealt critical damage!

You have dealt 39 damage!

You have dealt a Devastating Bleed Damage!

The blade went in cleanly, piercing it’s back and appearing out the front. He plunged in the other knife after slightly pushing the creature forward, allowing the knife to pierce under its rib cage.

Complete Penetration!

Your strike dealt critical damage!

You have dealt 25 damage!

You have dealt Moderate Bleed Damage!

Nilbog placed his foot on the creatures back and pushed forward, quickly pulling out both knives, his arms and chest getting soaked in the process. The creature fell, dead before it could touch the ground. 

The man was panting heavily, several shallow cuts weighing him down, but was otherwise healthy. There was no point in saving someone who would not be able to fight, making Nilbog having to be efficient. “T-Thank you, chil-”

“Not enough time to waste. Group up with the guys hacking at the Ghouls behind me,” Nilbog said, pointing to Doyan and Deni, their bellows and slashes rallying those around them. The man nodded slowly, not entirely comfortable with following the orders of a kid, but fortunately ended up following them.

Nilbog circled back, not going too far out from the group. The numbers were about even now, and that was not good. The creatures kept pouring in from the little holes in the ground. They were fragile but extremely potent. An unarmed adult attempting to fight the beasts did not avail much. Those who charged got their bodies pierced, and those who didn’t were slowly dying.

There were a few proficient ones, slashing and hacking the ghouls, but they were quickly becoming exhausted by the influx of Ghouls. In addition, the ratio between men and women was equal, and the women with their large dresses were mainly ineffective. There were some gutsy enough to rip their dresses and batter some Ghouls themselves, but most did not, which as inexplicable as it was, did not strike Nilbog strange.

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It wouldn't be the first time that culture trumped the instincts to live. 

What struck Nilbog as odd was how these Ghouls were acting. They were automatic, instinctual beasts, but the way things were escalating was abnormal. There were too many patterns throughout the skirmishes occurring, as if each Ghoul partnered up with someone for a dance. Those that were in a group met group battles, and some Ghouls even hovered around aimlessly. This was not how battles played out. Virtually no one was out-numbered.

Nilbog took a few moments to run through the crowds, giving a Ghoul a kick and a shallow cut here and occasionally a good one there, but only intervening long enough when the person might prove useful. He helped a young woman take down an already bloody Ghoul, and got lucky with three more interactions, piercing one Ghoul through the heart, leaving it to bleed out as he thrust at another one a few meters away.

All he had to do was kick the last one, tipping it off balance, and the old lady bounced on top of it, pummeling the poor beast with her cane until its skull caved in. 

He made some good progress, and increased the number of people that worked together steadily. One of them did not move fast enough and had bumped into another Ghoul. Nilbog was not there to help him this time.

He sighted another potential ally attempting to crush a Ghoul with a chair, but before he could make his way into the fest, his body jerked down and rolled to the right. Utterly confused at the sudden movement, Nilbog did not roll with the momentum, making his right shoulder take the full impact, taking a few points of damage.

Something had swiped where he previously was.

Nearly fumbling his handle on his blades, Nilbog bounced up, coming face to face with a Ghoul’s thrust. Nilbog parried it’s straight thrust to the left side, its nails taking a bit of flesh as it scraped by his upper arm. The beast’s movement carried it forward, placing Nilbog inches from its chest. Clenching his teeth, Nilbog met the Ghoul's neck with his other knife.

He yanked back the knife, the beast’s high pressured body spitting out an obscene amount of purple blood on Nilbog and a few meters beyond him. Dismissing the notifications, he quickly balanced himself as more feat scuttled towards him.

Level 34 Adult Ghoul

One Ghoul was left. Fortunately for Nilbog, the Ghoul he had just cut blocked the other one’s path, probably saving him from a fatal attack. Unfortunately, another Ghoul joined the fray, circling him as their friend oozed blood.  

Nilbog cursed. Every time he came three meters close to a Ghouls, their Level would show. The higher the Level, the quicker and more vicious they became. These two, Nilbog noticed, were the same Levels as the Ghouls he had previously harassed. One was an adult, too. This was no coincidence. Proving this was the blood dripping down the back of one of the Ghouls, the one he had cut as he ran by.

If they were truly mindless, instinctive beasts, as their fighting style proved, then they wouldn’t have chased Nilbog when there were much easier targets to hunt. There were some rules on how they acted.

It must have been one of the new additions to this Game.

Taking that Ghoul out there probably saved his life, though fighting two Ghouls simultaneously was not a much better alternative. The element of surprise was not on his side. Nilbog’s eyes darted towards Doyan, meeting his eyes as he took down another Ghoul.

Doyan, however, frowned and turned away, dodging his gaze.

No surprise there, Nilbog thought, sighing. Saving him was too much of a risk, probably. Too many obstacles in between. Nilbog would have probably done the same, though that did not stop him from increasing his deep distaste for men.

And that piano was not helping. It began like a hundred tiny inaudible whispers. Fleeting at first, but gradually accumulating in power, bluntly ignoring how the instrument originally produced its voice.

The notes came and left, their tempo seemingly matching each Ghoul strike and human counter strike. The screams continued, and the Ghoul’s assault was undeflected, yet the piano still played. Through the clutter, ripping of flesh and bone, and maniacal battle cries, it followed, with movement subtle. A higher note here, a faster note there. It blended with the scenery, slipping in with the strikes. 

Its invasive notes tried to creep into his head, louder and louder they became, vibrating through his body. Power, untamed rage, desire, and most of all, hunger. A savage, ever consuming, relentless hunger. It was endless and selfish. It reached out for him.

Nilbog kindly declined, clenching his teeth as he willed it away, his Player Killer class substantially boosting his defenses against the pianist's strange music. 

Player Killer Activated.

Status Affliction Resisted.

You resist, but for how long?

For as long as it takes, Nilbog thought as the Ghouls crept forward. He racked his brain for ill-advised solutions, the sweat running down his forehead.