After seeing how the skeletons were reduced to fragnts and finally scattered around , I found myself once again imrsed in the thick fog. Doubt invaded : was this a threat or just another phenonon?
At first I thought it was a trap, maybe like in novels the fog contained sothing toxic, that’s what I thought, but after a few minutes I was able to discover that it seed to be just a barrier that obstructed my senses, incapable of causing direct harm. With that conclusion, I was able to relax a little. I took a deep breath and, as I did so, I looked at my left bracelet, rembering the master’s explanation.
"This is an E-rank undead dungeon, regulated by Nova. It is designed to train cadets. All of you shall enter. Now then, allow to explain: each skeleton soldier monster is worth 10 points, ghouls are worth 20, specters are worth 50, and finally, for the boss, the Skeleton Knight, it will be 1000 points. The points will be recorded on your bracelets, which have been modified for this occasion. I wish you luck."
His words still rang true in my mind, this event also appeared in the original novel, too bad it was cancelled by 1. As ti passed, I was getting used to it, without realizing it, I touched the bracelet and the device projected my na along with a number at the bottom of the holographic window: 30 points.
My eyes scanned each of the scattered fragnts of the fallen skeletons. The fear of not knowing what would happen had begun to set in again. As the fog slowly began to clear, I made a decision: I couldn’t just stand here waiting for the next monster to erge from the darkness. I had to move.
I scanned my surroundings, making sure I was prepared for whatever was coming. Deep in the fog, a low, rumbling sound reached my ears. I could feel it... sothing was coming. Was it a ghoul, a spectre, or sothing even more fearso? Only ti would tell.
Bo asked to stay here and do nothing, the wait was consuming . Moving quickly around, I looked for a better position, one that would give an advantage, still and await its arrival. I quickly moved around, looking for a better position, when I finally did, a grotesque figure appeared out of nowhere, like the ghouls, it had gray and rotten skin, but its size was incredible, perhaps a few ters
The air of the place was thick, the darkness beca more intense with the passage of ti, the shadows of the trees extended towards the horizon. Finally, when I managed to find the perfect place, a figure materialized out of nowhere, gliding fluidly through the fog. It was quite grotesque, much more imposing than any creature I had seen before. Its skin, a putrid gray, seed to be slowly disintegrating, its dead but worn eyes held a trace of desire in them, a kind of insatiable hunger. But what was presented now was different. Its size far exceeded any ghoul I had ever t. Standing, the creature was over two ters tall, a monstrous shadow that seed to consu the little light that filtered in from the surroundings.
Looking at the grotesque figure, I was not intimidated or rushed into making a move for fear of alerting it. Every muscle in my body tensed, but I knew I shouldn’t give it a chance. This creature was not sothing common, and sothing in this place pushed to fight, but I knew I shouldn’t let myself be carried away by instincts. The monstrosity was there, imposing, in the stillness, showing its hideous figure majestically, its presence devouring the very air. I analyzed each of its movents, watching how the putrefaction of its skin slipped like a cursed layer that seed to want to drag everything in its path.
Then, sothing in my mind woke up, I cut out the ancient tactic that could allow to face a large number of enemies, if I had that guy would be nothing. He who strikes first wins by applying the tactic; Hit and run. An exceptional combat art that I have seen in many novels. I had to find a way to hurt him, to make him feel the impact of my attack without putting my position at risk, without directly facing that monstrosity.
My mind began to trace paths, thinking, looking for the perfect mont. I could not afford to rush, I had to be more prudent and wait for the opportunity to present itself, and then as if the heavens had finally illuminated , the mont arrived.
The creature turned around, exposing its completely vulnerable back, and I felt it was a sign as if fate had given hope. My heart pounded, but I didn’t let myself be overco by emotion. It was ti to act. With a quick movent, I transford my bracelet again, thinking of it in the form of a modern pistol. The chanism worked perfectly, as always, and in the blink of an eye, the energy that connected to mana flowed through my veins, feeding the barrel of the gun. I gathered a quarter of my power, feeling my strength concentrate and pulse within the weapon.
I took a deep breath, lining up my target, my eyes fixed on its head. I couldn’t miss. The ghoul hadn’t noticed anything yet, imrsed in its own existence. And then, without a single hesitation, I pulled the trigger.
"Bang!"
The shot rang out, disturbing the stillness of the night, a dry explosion, followed by a flash of blue energy that briefly illuminated the surroundings. The bullet, charged with my mana, flew straight with a deadly pressure, cutting through the air with a sound like a knife through butter, nothing could stop it. The ghoul, without even having ti to react, was pierced directly in the head, destroying it in a controlled explosion that spread green mucus around the surroundings, finally falling inert to the ground.
***
I walked around slowly looking at my surroundings, heading directly towards the old mansion located on the side of the mountain. The terrain was not the best, it was rugged and the fog grew thicker and thicker, almost seeming to envelop everything, making the trees rise like ghostly shadows. The air beca colder as I approached, the mountain seed to reject all creatures.
Along the way, I ca across a group of students, two n and four won. They were fighting what I could only describe as ghosts and I realized; these translucent beings floating in the air were specters. Their shape was not completely defined, but their presence was unmistakable. They seed to be animated shadows, with bodies that twisted in a frightening way, but at the sa ti they emitted a weak and sickly glow; from their necks a translucent chain soaked in hectoplasm could be seen.
Their faces were the most frightening. They had no eyes or nose, only a large mouth that occupied almost the entire lower part of their faces, full of sharp teeth and a horrible yellowish glow. From those mouths escaped cries of lantation, as if they were trying to communicate through torn sounds, but the horror of their expressions was enough to keep the students on constant alert. Their fingers sharp as daggers extended towards their enemies.
The students were surrounded, fighting in formation, the warriors in front fighting with energy, their swords clashing against the specters, the mages in the center covered in fireballs. Still, the fight was difficult. The flash created by their attacks faded almost imdiately. The specters dematerialized at tis, only to reappear in new positions, as if space itself had no limits for them. Each ti one of the students managed to land a blow, the specter did not disappear, but deford montarily before recomposing itself and attacking again with more fury.
As I watched the battle from the shadows, I couldn’t help but feel a chill run down my spine. It would be a pain to have to deal with them, besides I didn’t have ti, wasting my energy here was impossible, with silent movents I left undetected, I knew I could be dragged into that fight if I wasn’t careful.
I continued on my way, feeling the echoes of the persistent fight, yet every scream and clash of weapons still resonated in the distance but I forced myself not to let it disturb . My gaze remained fixed on the ancient mansion that stood before , like a shadow forgotten by ti. The crumbling structure, covered in moss and moisture, seed to absorb the fog that surrounded it, giving the impression that the mansion itself was alive and was an extension of this place that was lost in the horizon. As I got closer, my breathing began to beco heavier. The air was charged with a dense energy, as if space itself was crushing . Every step I took, the weight on my body increased, almost as if gravity had increased its force three tis. My movents beca slower, as if an invisible hand was slowing down. I tried to move forward, but it was as if the mansion was extracting all my energy, draining little by little.
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