"Damn it, this is a pointless effort." I leaned against the wall of a house, sighing in a mixture of weariness and frustration.
"You bet, and these weirdos aren't helping at all." Eupherbia sat on my shoulder, resting her head in her hands with a bored look.
"What's wrong with them anyway?" Four looked around, analyzing the people walking down the street with their faces frozen in expressions of glee.
"Who knows? They don't react to anything, not even when we call their attention." Five crossed her arms, looking at the ground with a contorted face of deep thought.
"Are you sure One was here?"
The sisters answered yes, and I returned to my silence, pondering what to do. No one responded to our words, except… I raised my head in a moment of understanding.
"The guard on the walls, he was the only one who spoke."
The others stared at me, and with that, we made our way to the main gate. A quick glance revealed that the caravan was still outside, but everyone seemed fine, eating, drinking, talking, and going about their business, so we headed towards the nearby staircase, reaching the top of the defenses and searching for the man from before.
We didn't take long; there he was, an adult with dark skin and black hair, wearing armor that was a mixture of fabric and metal plates made for the desert climate.
"Hello, how can I help you?"
To our surprise, he spoke; we knew what to expect, but after so many silent mouths, it was strange to see our presence acknowledged. There were other peculiar details, such as him barely opening his mouth to pronounce his words and, despite being the apparent leader here, he didn't seem bothered by the fact that "normal individuals" had entered an area reserved for combatants.
"Excuse our intrusion, but we'd like to ask a few questions."
"Of course, ask away."
Hm… This is too easy.
I nodded and then spoke.
"Have you noticed anything wrong with the city?"
"No, what are you talking about?"
His face and tone indicated confusion, but he still maintained a cheerful demeanor. We exchanged glances, immediately recognizing the lie.
"The citizens don't react to anything; they just smile, wave, and go on with their lives."
"Oh, that's just the way people are; travelers find them peculiar."
He laughed, waving his hand to dismiss the subject.
"Right, and where are the other travelers besides the people outside?"
"Well, we're at war; it's not like they'd be able to come here."
His arm then swung in an arc, pointing to all the bodies amidst the desert sands.
"I understand. Would you happen to know where Intoner Two and her disciple are?"
"Why, in the capital, governing and ensuring we win the war."
First, Two is in Cathedral City, then she disappears and now reappears working with Three. Something happened here.
"One more question: have you seen a young woman with blonde hair and red eyes wandering around here?"
The result was different this time; his face became serious, almost emotionless, and then he answered in a tone bordering on a threat.
"How did you get that information?"
I didn't act immediately, but tension coursed through my body, preparing me for combat.
"First of all, could you answer one more question? Could you show me your tongue?"
"What?"
The strangeness of the question caused his mood to shift, altering his hostile posture. Without wasting time, I stepped forward, grabbing him by the neck and lifting him into the air.
"Edric, what are you doing?!"
Four shouted, placing a hand on my shoulder, but I focused on the man trying futilely to escape my grip. His arms and legs dangled in the air, failing to break free; I used my other hand to force his mouth open.
He struggled, but could do nothing against my strength, and the first thing I saw, instead of a tongue, was a dark thing watching me.
"SCREEE!"
I threw the man away, and the thing that leaped from his mouth in a gush of blood ended up being thrown upwards, landing on the stone floor with a wet thud, forming a red puddle. I recognized that thing, a Leechmonger leech, larger than the normal version of the animal, pulsing like a dark heart.
I wasted no time and raised my boot, stomping that monstrosity until it was mush.
"Ew, what the hell is that thing?"
Four asked, her face contorted with disgust, as the fairy and her sister approached, observing the dead creature.
"A piece of a much larger demon. And, apparently, it wasn't the only one around."
All the other soldiers present turned in our direction in perfect synchronicity, their faces emotionless and their gazes piercing. The same was true for the population of the city below, for, looking over my shoulder, I witnessed countless heads raised where we stood.
"SCREEE!"
Simultaneously, the mouths of everyone present opened, releasing a cacophony of deafening squeals that reverberated through the city, revealing a demonic leech in place of their tongues.
I wasted no time, removing the Winged Spear and Iron Knuckles from my bottomless pouch, throwing them to Five and Four, respectively, then drawing my Rapier in my right hand and Dagger in my left, preparing for combat.
Our adversaries did something similar, removing their respective weapons from their sheaths or using those they already had in hand, slowly approaching, trying to surround us.
"Do we really have to kill these people?"
Five asked hesitantly, twirling her spear before pointing it towards the nearest soldier. I glanced at the man whose leech had been slain, noticing he lay resting in a pool of blood dripping from his mouth.
"I believe they've been dead for a long time."
The blonde Intorner grimaced, a mixture of anger and sadness, but quickly shook her head, assuming a determined expression before thrusting forward, piercing the stomach of a soldier who closed the distance in a careless dash accompanied by a clumsy swing of his sword.
The combination of enhanced weapon and superhuman strength cut through armor and flesh as if they were made of paper. Blood gushed, and a squeal escaped the leech as its host's body was lifted, keeping it away from Five's face, who writhed in disgust, gasping for breath and letting out a shrill scream.
"AAAHHH!"
The power of the song took effect; The magic surged through the air, accompanied by sigils and luminous letters, tearing the flesh from the bones of its target with an attack of pure sound. The body was hurled from the spear, and the wave continued advancing, colliding with the other soldiers who followed closely behind, transforming them into a ball of flesh and metal amidst the now-cracked ground after they landed.
The surviving leeches left the corpses, leaping towards the Intoner, but never reached their target, being blasted into thin air by a barrage of magical projectiles, courtesy of Eupherbia.
The fairy didn't bother to observe the chunks of flesh and blood that rained down, staining the ground. She flew above us, bombarding the hosts with magic, focusing on destroying their heads and, consequently, those who controlled them, leaving a trail of decapitated bodies in her wake.
Four was the most aggressive, launching into the attack with a swift step. The first punch to the stomach sent the soldier flying and bouncing like a ball upon hitting the ground.
The second received a kick to the side of his head.
CRACK!
And his neck was broken like a twig. Even with his head tilted at a disturbing angle, he managed to take a few more steps before the leech leaped towards Intoner, who grabbed it in her grip just inches from her face, crushing it between her fingers.
"BLEERG!"
A gasp of disgust escaped her lips seconds later, immediately regretting her actions. In any case, she continued fighting, turning bones to dust and hurling soldiers off the walls into a deadly fall as if they were toys.
As for me, I fulfilled my duty and brought an end to the demons. I thrust my rapier upwards, piercing the lower jaw of a soldier, passing through his head and helmet, piercing the leech as the tip of the weapon exited on the other side.
The creature struggled uselessly; I removed my weapon from its body and pushed it away, parrying with my dagger a sword slash that approached from my left.
The crack of steel and sparks filled the air before the blow was deflected, breaking my enemy's posture, allowing me to pierce its mouth, breaking some of its teeth and killing the creature behind it.
Compared to the monstrosities we faced, these flesh puppets were nothing. They continued advancing, and we continued fighting, piling bodies on the ground; It didn't matter the age or gender of those who came to meet us.
Punches, kicks, magic, and the steel of our weapons made blood fly. It seemed the horde would be endless, yet our advance was constant, for soon the armed enemies disappeared, leaving only ordinary citizens.
We formed a triangle with Eupherbia flying above, observing the lifeless people staring back at us. Each one of them lost their joy as their secret was discovered.
How long have they been like this? When did this happen? When did this demon take their lives and control their bodies? Was it immediate or gradual? Did anyone outside notice something was wrong? Each of them was once human, and I can't help but wonder how they lived in the past. Now… Hm… Perhaps the dead army outside had a good reason to attack this place.
"So, who will be next?!"
I didn't expect a vocal response to my challenge. There was a moment of silence as both sides faced each other, our weapons raised against their fists, waiting to see who would make the first move.
The leeches were the first to act, but not as expected; they retreated, each leaving its host, causing it to fall to the ground like a puppet without strings.
The synchronicity was unsettling; like dominoes, rows upon rows of people fell, their parasites forming a dark tide that swept through the city streets, painting them black, a mass of flesh converging in the same direction.
I approached the edge of the walls, removing my spyglass from my bag, trying to see where they were going: one of the city's wells. Then we watched as they disappeared, the wet sound of their bodies becoming more and more distant until all was silent.
The rest of my group stopped beside me. My mouth opened, but I quickly closed it, for I didn't know what to say in such a situation, and it seemed the sisters and the fairy felt the same.
In silence, we descended the walls and walked through the quiet streets, seeing the countless bodies scattered around. I was used to seeing mountains of corpses and demons possessing people, but nothing so cruel and ingenious.
This whole city was a trap for travelers, and each of these people… And to think that just moments ago, they acted as if they were alive. Our every move was being watched. Who knows what will come next?
Eventually, we stopped before the well, seeing that it was completely dry, the only one in that condition, if I remember correctly the condition of the others during our walk through the city.
"How deep is this thing?"
The fairy asked, and I intended to remove it. I took an Augite of Guidance from my bag, dropping the glowing stone into the well, watching it illuminate the darkness as it fell until it disappeared.
The silence was long, until we heard the sound of breaking glass, signaling that the fall would be fatal if we jumped unprepared.
"Deep enough to kill us."
"We can't let these things wander around! What if they come back or invade another city?!"
I nodded in agreement at Four's words, but we had to do something before that.
"First of all, let's inform the refugee caravan of what happened."
-XXXXXX-
We were outside, where the caravan had set up camp. I was now talking to the refugee leaders, while Four and Five remained at a distance for obvious reasons, and to say that the elf Tiberius and the fairies weren't happy would be an understatement.
"Damn it, even here we're not safe!"
The old elf turned so red with rage that, for a moment, I thought his heart would stop. The fairies, on the other hand, had the magical light of their bodies intensified, revealing their seething emotions.
"Yes, it was all a trap, but the city is empty and free for you to inhabit. There's clean water and fresh food there, but the bodies aren't a pleasant sight."
He gave me a furious look; I could hear his teeth grinding, but instead of more shouting, there was only a tired sigh. The elf's legs trembled, and I stepped forward, helping him sit on his stool.
"I-I think… I think we should accept our small luck. Thank you, but what will you do now?"
"We will hunt down the leeches. We need to kill them before they parasite more people and, if possible, find out where they came from."
"R-right, just… Just be careful."
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing; after all, this is my job."
We exchanged one last wave and farewell before I turned my back to the caravan, feeling the non-humans' gazes on my back. Were they afraid of me or concerned for my safety? Perhaps they didn't want someone as strong as me to leave them alone, but I had a goal I couldn't ignore.
With that done, we returned to the sisters and, from there, went to the well, tying a long rope around it and throwing the other end inside.
"Ready?"
The Intoners and the fairy nodded, so, without further ado, we began our descent into the darkness. The rope creaked; the air was stifling, foul, and damp, making us cough and gag.
Eupherbia and the Soul Augite at my waist illuminated the path with their light after the sun disappeared, and after an unknown amount of time, we reached the bottom.
SPLASH!
The noise reverberated off the rocky walls as my boots landed in a puddle of water. I took a few steps back, allowing the sisters to land as well, their mood changing immediately.
"DAMN IT!"
Their shouts echoed through the area, as Five was in sandals and Four in a long dress that touched the ground, both now wet, and who knows what was in that water, but considering my poison resistance didn't react, it wasn't as bad as the water in the Defilement Valley.
"Don't worry, it could be worse."
"And how could it be worse?!"
Four demanded, lifting the hem of her dress with her hands, watching the water trickle around her and down her feet.
"We could be in a sewer."
She opened her mouth, but quickly closed it, probably accepting that my words were true. With that little discussion over, we focused on analyzing our surroundings.
We found ourselves in a small, dark chamber of yellowish stone, with a low ceiling, except for the well area, and a narrow path just ahead, with puddles and trails of water adorning the wet floor of soft earth and mud.
There was only one way to go, so that's what we did. Five led with her spear, Four in the middle, with Eupherbia just above, illuminating the path with her magic, and I behind, with my rapier, creating a small flame at the tip of my Silver Catalyst to aid in lighting.
Our wet footsteps echoed through the winding path, our shoulders almost scraping against the rock as we continued walking.
"How far do you think this path goes?"
A murmur escaped my lips, pondering Five's question, but it was Four who answered.
"It's hard to say. Two would be the best to answer, but from what little I've read about the Land of Deserts, this place is full of underground passages and ruins of ancient civilizations buried in the sand, so we could stay just below the city or travel far enough to the border with the other lands."
"Then there's a chance the demon has already escaped our reach."
"Exactly."
Her tone was subdued, and the silence that followed was tense. Once again, our efforts might prove futile, but we'll never know if we don't try. I tried to stay focused, but the fear of failure still lingered in the back of my mind.
I couldn't do anything about the prisoners in the tower, or about the city above, and the Black Dragon… By the Gods, I hope he can still be saved, that I can still help him.
"Hey, I'm hearing something up ahead and feeling a breeze too!"
The blonde sister's words pulled me from my thoughts. I looked at the flame on my catalyst, seeing how it swayed against me, indicating that yes, there was an air current present.
"Be careful. We don't know what's coming."
She murmured an affirmation, and so we moved forward. The noise grew louder, and Five stopped, letting out a sigh and stepping aside as we approached, allowing us to see what surprised her.
We entered a massive underground chamber, adorned with luminous mushrooms and a shimmering river that branched off into several narrow and wide paths, disappearing into dark tunnels in the distance. Glistening insects flew aimlessly, strange lizards and spiders crawled among the rocks, and multicolored crystals sprouted from the ground.
"Beautiful, isn't it? I can't wait to get some new jewels."
Five grinned broadly, crouching before a golden crystal, breaking off a piece for herself and tucking it into her… well, generous cleavage.
I looked away respectfully, feeling Four's scorching gaze trying to pierce my head. She let out an irritated sigh, calming herself before looking around in admiration, finding a green crystal and taking a piece for herself.
"I admit, after everything we've seen, I didn't expect to find life in such a hidden place. This is… refreshing."
I approached the nearest river, seeing my reflection in the crystal-clear water, smiling slightly. Eupherbia appeared beside my face in the water, having a similar reaction to mine.
"There was a place similar to this in the Land of Forests, only it was full of annoying fairies, but we never went into the water; it was too risky. We could be swallowed by a hidden fish or monster, and with our wings wet, we wouldn't be able to fly away in time."
"Well, if we survive this war, would you like to swim to a safe place? I believe we can find one if we search hard enough."
The fairy paused for a moment before nodding, nudging my cheek.
"Yes, I would."
I looked ahead again, wondering where we should go from here, but I squinted when I saw something moving in the darkness on the other bank of the river. Then I heard the familiar sound of rope and wood being stretched.
"AMBUSH!"
My cry rang like thunder, and I threw myself to the ground, dodging the barrage of crossbow bolts that flew toward me, shattering against the wall behind me. Still on the ground, I pointed my catalyst in the general direction of the attack and cast Flame Throw, sending a flaming blast toward our enemies.
The fire pushed away the darkness in its path, revealing a group of people hiding behind the rocks. I didn't hit my target, but their frightened faces became clear to me.
I immediately stood up, ready to cast another spell with Eupherbia beside me, enveloped in magic. Four and Five were already halfway to attacking them, but our efforts ended abruptly when a female voice I knew very well assaulted our ears.
"HOLY SHIT! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!"
And there was Zero, with a surprised face and hands on her hips, accompanied by the disciples.
"I COULD ASK THE SAME! YOU DISAPPEARED! WHERE THE HELL DID YOU GO?!"
"HMPH! IT'S NOT LIKE I OWE YOU AN EXPLANATION!"
She crossed her arms and looked away, making me clench my teeth in fury.
"WE ARE A TEAM! WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO SAVE THE WORLD! WE NEED TO KNOW WHEN ONE OF US IS GOING TO TAKE A DIFFERENT PATH!"
"SPEAK FOR YOURSELF! YOU ARE THE HERO HERE!"
"YOU…"
"YOU…"
We closed the distance with heavy steps, sinking our feet into the river and coming face to face with eyes filled with hatred.
"YOU ARE UNBEARABLE!"
"AND YOU ARE ANNOYING!"
"I'm glad to see you're on good terms with my sister."
A calm but sarcastic comment interrupted our argument, and as we turned to the source of the noise, we saw One watching us with a decidedly unhappy expression.
"Edric."
"One."
"I'm glad to see you alive and well."
"I feel the same way about you, and unlike Three, you seem sane. I suppose the One fighting the war isn't you."
A grimace appeared on her face at my words.
"It's complicated, but I intend to explain. Now, if you would be so kind, follow me, and you'll have the answer you desire."
Then she turned her back on us, disappearing into the tunnel from which she came, the other men following her, leaving Zero, the disciples, my group, and me staring at her.
"Tsk, stuck-up bitch."
Zero clicked her tongue, turning away from me and rejoining her group before leaving. I glanced at the fairy and the sisters accompanying me, shrugging before doing what One asked of us.
END OF CHAPTER