As the dim light of the torch moved alongside his steps, more of the surroundings were shown.
The poor animal had been ripped apart; its entrails were dragged out of its body, and claw marks covered its neck, pointing out the fatal wound.
Seeing that a huge mess was made out of its belly, yet nothing appeared to be missing, Michael panicked and turned around with the torch, hoping to illuminate his surroundings completely.
Since the horse had been hunted down but hadn't been eaten yet, there were only two options.
'Either hunted for sports or for food. If it were for sports, then its belly wouldn't be open. If it's for food...'
Turning around on the spot a couple of times more, Michael sighed and departed from the site after taking another look at the now-dead mare.
The carcass being mostly untouched meant that the predator was scared away by him. However, something that could kill his horse for food wouldn't necessarily be afraid of the scrawny him.
Sure enough, sounds of snow gently pressed on were heard as soon as he left the small clearing, making him think of wolves. Besides bears, he couldn't think of many other animals that could hunt prey that big while also aiming for the soft organs first.
'If it were a bear, it wouldn't have been a question of it having run and hid, but rather having a second dish for the night.'
Shaking his head at the loss of the intelligent horse, he brushed away some of the snow on his clothes and continued on the trail.
There was no need for revenge, as the wolves just wanted to eat. It was just that kind of world...
The whispering in the wind stopped, and with it, his torch was also extinguished. If he wanted to ignore the demonic mutterings initially, the abnormal way his torch went out made that impossible.
Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes for thirty seconds and reopened them right after. He stood on the spot for over ten minutes until his eyes got thoroughly used to the darkness.
"Martel was right. The human body is more amazing than we give it credit for. Especially in terms of adaptability. Then again... it might have to do with the increased attributes."
Talking to himself to keep his sanity in check, Michael continued to walk through the snowstorm. The situation was shitty as it was, and he couldn't turn back towards the camp he had left from. It was over three days on horseback, and he no longer had a horse.
Making sure he was still somewhat mentally sane by speaking his thoughts aloud also helped chase away the fear. With his mind much clearer and able to hear his thoughts, he calmly concluded that marching toward Nevesk was his best and only option.
And march he did throughout the night and through the ever-stronger snowstorm. At some point, he lost sight of the trail due to the lack of light and the abundance of snow.
Fortunately, dawn soon arrived, and the storm seemed to have calmed down somewhat.
With labored breathing and clutching his clothes shut, Michael barely dragged his feet through the tall snow. He was exhausted both physically and mentally.
The feeling of lightheadedness also scared him, making him realize that he was close to passing out. Uncertain it was due to exhaustion or lack of oxygen, he paused momentarily and calmed his breathing.
Fortunately, the visibility was much better with the morning arriving, allowing him to see a cave in the distance.
He happily dragged his tired body toward it, and once inside, he grabbed both blankets and covered himself thoroughly.
Grabbing some warm food from his inventory, he ate it and then crashed to the floor and sank into unconsciousness moments later; he thanked the previous travelers who dug this place.
He was unsure what he dreamt about but could see himself in the cave, sleeping soundly. The storm was gone, but so was daylight. Whispering echoed through the wind once more as the huge Alpha he met at the camp could be seen walking menacingly toward him.
When it stopped a short distance away, Michael focused and noticed for the first time that it was wearing a bone mask with symbols carved on it.
The demonic Alpha raised its head, and glowing red eyes pierced into his, forcing him awake with a gasp.
Looking towards the cave entrance and into the distance where the wolf was in his dreams, he was relieved to find nothing there.
"Motherfucker! That was frightening. Shit! I should find better shelter before I freeze to death."
As if prompted by his decision, the system - or rather, the Sanctuary - seemed to have agreed to his proposal.
[ Quest complete - Travel to the nearest established town
Providing reward: New Quest! ]
[ New Quest issued - Dusk on the Mountain 1
Description: Find shelter in a nearby town. ]
Slightly puzzled, Michael opened the MAP and scrutinized it. It did seem that he made it to his destination, though he still had some distance to cover.
Maybe a couple of hours at best.
"It's pretty dark, but I can see the trail properly without the snowstorm blowing up my ass."
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
He happily descended the wide road but stopped about twenty minutes later. Some creatures were eating something ahead of him.
There were two of them, and they looked like wolves without any fur. Also, unlike wolves, these creatures had a mad glint in their eyes.
"Fucking hell! Worgen!? Those look like demonic dogs to me..."
[ Worgen (Minion) - Level 6 ]
Equipping the one-handed scythe and buckler, Michael watched as the two creatures moved past their confusion and hungrily charged at him.
When the first one lunged, Michael pushed with his entire body's weight behind the buckler and slammed the first Worgen into the one behind it.
With a wave of the right hand holding the scythe, he cast Bone Splinters twice, producing two pained yelps. Without giving the creatures any chance to recover, the weapon quickly found its way into their necks with two fluid attacks, ending their lives.
"Huh!? That's it? What the fuck!? That was incredibly easy! Weren't they five levels higher!?"
Remembering how much he suffered against the dummies, Michael again realized how much he owed the trio.
"If it were before the training 'montage,' I would've still won due to my new skill, but it wouldn't have been this cleanly, and certainly not without trading some wounds."
Looking intently at the two corpses for a while, he sighed and activated Raise Skeleton, prompting the two minions with swords in hand to appear.
However, he was bummed about not gaining loot from the demonic creatures.
"Was Hoduin wrong? He said that Worgen are demonized wolves. 'Due to them being infused with the defiled energy of the Burning Hells, their fur would fall, and madness would overcome them.' So, maybe they can't be considered... Huh? *Blergh*"
Walking towards the corpse of the 'small animal' the wolves were feasting on before he rudely interrupted them, Michael fell to his knees and threw up upon noticing the disfigured face of a child. It looked like a boy, maybe 12 years old or younger.
He couldn't precisely tell since more than half of his face was eaten by those damned beasts.
More than ten minutes later, he gathered his bearings and warily eyed his surroundings. To think that all the lessons he kept replaying in his mind from the trio went to shit in such a brusque and grotesque manner pissed him off.
The fact that a child was dead at his feet also didn't help calm him down.
"What a fucking fucked up world! Shit! Hoduin said it's common courtesy to bring the corpse back to the nearest settlement, but... is that a good idea? If his family is waiting to receive him back, dead or alive, would it break them to see the poor brat in such a state?"
He hated moral dilemmas, especially now that he found himself in one. Taking a deep breath of the chilling wintry air, he touched the cleaner part of the child's left arm and stored him in his inventory.
Shockingly, in his Equipment tab, a small coffin now occupied a slot.
[ Small coffin
--------------------------
A bed for the dead to rest. ]
Seeing the 'service' the Sanctuary provided, Michael sighed and shook his head as anger and hatred threatened to overcome his senses.
Muttering 'Brain Usage' as he moved forward, he encountered another small pack of four Worgen.
After angrily disposing of them, he was drawn out of his crazed slaughter by the sound of metals hitting each other. Furthermore, he knew best what kind of metals make that sound.
"Gold coins! Holy shit! An actual fucking drop!? Two of them!? Seven gold from one and 13 from the other? Ugh... how the fuck does this work? Any mechanics behind it, or is it pure RNG?"
Realizing his anger was somewhat vented, Michael shuddered and pinched his waist in a forceful, painful, and hurried manner. Seeing the two Skeletons waiting for his command about 10 meters behind, he shook in realization.
"I actually ordered them not to interfere? Shit... something is not right about this place. There's no fucking way in hell I'd give such a dumb order and put my life in danger against four of these things. Angered or not!"
Michael didn't know what he should be more impressed and terrified about. The fact that he was somehow controlled into doing it, or that he slaughtered four demonic wolves with relative ease.
Furthermore, as opposed to the illusion magic the dummies cast during his 'training montage,' whatever affected him was closer to mental suggestion, as there was no lingering headache.
"It should be those fucking whispering voices. I can't understand shit from them, but it certainly had something to do with this mess. *Sigh* I need more answers and to quickly get to the town before I black out and go on a rampage again. I'm scared I'll lack body pieces the next time I recover my sanity."
Walking forward for another thirty minutes, he finally saw a beacon glowing in the distance.
Moving closer to it, he found burning coals hidden in a contraption that would somewhat guard against the blowing winds.
Embers would fly every now and then from its opened top as the burning coals repositioned themselves in a pile.
The beacon marked the start of a road as he walked over a low cliff and into the open gates of the presumed town.
"Yet another abandoned town. Just great... Hope I won't find everyone fucking dead. I've had just about enough traumatic experiences for this fucking week."
There was barely any light in the distance, but he could see the town clearly. Fortunately, no corpses were strewn about, sparing his ever-decreasing sanity points.
Looking around without walking further, Michael strained his eyes to take in the layout of this settlement. All he could see was the road from the gate branching into three paths and the weirdly dilapidated buildings ahead.
'What the hell is going on? The trio described the city's atmosphere as heavy and oppressive but mentioned nothing about it being in ruins. Was this the normal state of Nevesk, so they didn't bother saying anything? Or did something unnatural happen in the last week since they passed through here?'
Not daring to speak loudly anymore, Michael opened his eyes and ears wider, hoping to take in every detail that could ensure his survival.
Finally, after staying rooted on the spot for over five minutes, he swallowed hard and went further in, leaving the opened gates behind.
It's not like he didn't question why those mad Worgen didn't simply waltz in and decimate the town, but there was too much he didn't know. For example, what degree of madness did the wolves reach after being infected by the whatever energy of hell?
'If they are still somewhat conscious, they will avoid human settlements due to their previous memories. Even if they are long gone, they might instinctively avoid them for the same reason. Also, maybe this town has some powder or barrier to keep the demonic creatures out that the trio forgot to mention. There are too many variables... Plus...'
Looking at his unchanged Quest page, he sighed and carefully walked in, ensuring his grip on the scythe was proper.
[Demons... everywhere... fangs in the dark...](?)
[Argh! He bit me!](?)
Surprised by the two sudden voices breaking the stillness of the night, Michael repositioned his weapon at ready in that direction.
Unsurprisingly, the Quest changed right after.
[ Quest complete - Dusk on the Mountain 1
Providing reward: New Quest! ]
[ New Quest issued: Dusk on the Mountain 2
Description: Find the source of the voices. ]
'Find what!? Fuck your mom, system! Actually... The Sanctuary's Mother... Mhm... never mind. I don't think I'm properly equipped for a three-meter-tall lady.'
Annoyed, he walked towards the large building that also had a beacon in front of it. This beacon was dying embers at this point, though...
Standing in front of the door, he opened it and walked in. The people inside threw him a glance but focused on the more problematic man instead.
[Careful. He's a wild one.](?)
The building looked more like a warehouse than living quarters, as proven by the cured meat hanging from the bilhooks. The wooden interior was illuminated by a lamp near the feet of three people.
One of them was the lady who spoke last, making fun of the man for getting his finger bitten. However, Michael wasn't exactly amused, as he remembered the swamps of Hawezar where people could become zombies.
The second man was nursing his hand while glaring at the guy shielding his bald head with both hands. From the looks of it, if nobody else were around, some shoes would find themselves imprinted in the mentally unsound guy's face.
"What's going on here?"
Seeing as the two more cerebral people in the building turned towards him, Michael ventured a question.
[What's it to you?](?)
The man snarled more than spoke, though Michael couldn't blame the poor bloke, as his hand was bleeding. That fucker really dug in, didn't he!?
[Oswen, hush. I'm sorry, Wanderer. You've come at a difficult time. This madman just stumbled into town and started causing trouble.](?)
Michael wondered if this guy was the reason for the open gates and even briefly considered rushing out to close them but was stopped short by the 'lunatic.'
[Demons... spilling from the ruins... kill us all... kill us all...](?)
"Ruins? What is he talking about?"
[Come. I'll explain.](?)
The woman introduced herself as Vani. She led him towards the more prominent building in the middle of the village, not even deigning to throw a glance at the town doors being blown open.
'This will be tricky...'