CHAPTER 32: Why Can’t We Be Friends...
“That’s ‘bout it.” I finished telling the tale of our journey, leaving out the many gory details and close calls for my mothers sake. I removed the picture of the Whitmore family and passed the photo around the table. Ava asked why I had the image and I stalled, taking a moment to ask myself the same question and search for a coherent answer.
“It’s a reminder of what was stolen and who I’m fighting for. I have pictures of my family in my wallet as well, but this family represents every family that was destroyed too soon, every name ripped from existence...” I choked the words out through anger.
“You’re a strong boy, Rick.” My mothers soft voice broke the awkward silence, her eyes full of tears from hearing about the tortured souls and close calls during our travels.
“I’m nothing without these guys.” I motioned to Arthur and Brenden.
“Yes, about that. Thank you so much for taking care of my boy.” She walked to Arthur first, hugging him tightly, then she moved toward an awkward Brenden, “Come on in, you helped take care of him too and helped bring him to his mama.” She hugged Brenden tightly, tears covering her face as she whispered, “Thank you, Sir.”
“How are all of you here? And how did you survive the Event?” I finally asked, my luck never being so great.
“We were already up here, we were sitting at the table for dinner when it happened. No phone’s at the table remember?” Ava answered.
“Wow, perfect timing.”
I guess early bird is the way to go...
“Your brother was standing by the car when it happened. He rose into the air above the car and it looked like his body was stretching somehow. Your Father fought through the barrier surrounding him and pulled him away. He was hurt badly but he survived. It took a few days for him to fully heal and left him with a few scars. We didn’t have any potions or spells for a while.” Mom explained, still visibly shook from the ordeal.
“It’s a miracle that you’re all here, and alive. I would thank god if it wasn’t the rapture.” I laughed while receiving a scolding look from Mom for my blasphemy.
“Shit, I need to see Cole. I promised Arthur we would figure out a way for him to communicate with us easier, if anyone has any decent ideas, it would be Cole.” I said explaining one of our predicaments.
“True, maybe he can craft something to make it easier. His Sage profession gives him more knowledge of the system and magic.” Ava answered.
“He’s a Sage? Perfect. I need one to identify a ring for me. Check that off the list.” With the stars in full bloom I added, “It’s getting late. When did you say dad left?”
“He left this morning, 5:30-ish.” Ava answered.
“I’m gonna look for him if he doesn’t show soon.” My idea was rejected wholly by my mother.
“Nuh-uh, no way. You just got here, you are not going back out. Your father will be fine.” She reassured.
“Ugh, okay but if I wake up and he still isn’t here I’m definitely looking for him and Cole.” I said looking to Ava.
“Cole has been gone much too long and I don’t like where he went but we can’t have both of you gone at once.” My mother was always a worrier, so this was nothing new.
“One of us will stay here to watch over you guys.” I turned my attention to Arthur and Brenden who were playing with the kiddos in the middle of the small camp, “Who’s it gonna be boys? You make the decision between yourselves. Whoever is going, be ready to roll when at dawn.”
Brenden was great around the kids. I wasn’t sure how he would handle them since he is still pretty young but he fit right in. He was rolling around play wrestling with Arthur and the boys on the floor, it looked like they had a very dramatic tag team match going on. The sights and sounds breathed life back into this horrific, dying world.
“Yes sir! Me and Arthur shall have a tussle. Whoever wins goes to the dungeon!” Brenden said with excitement.
“Woof!” Arthur accepted the challenge.
On my way to the door I tossed one of my mothers go-to’s over my shoulder, “Don’t break anything!”
They laughed, recognizing the highly used phrase that she still uses with my nephews.
Alright, swamp first or last? Mmm, Laa—First...
I walked around the pond before crossing into the swampy area, using my brothers muck boots to keep dry. I moved slowly keeping noise to a minimum, combining Scout Gaze with Manasight often to check my surroundings.
Once reaching the far end of the swamp I cut back toward dry land. My movements grew heavy and I slowed. I suddenly felt exhausted, like I could take a nap right there in the dirty swamp water. I looked down, realizing my brother’s boot slipped off at some point. I couldn’t see into the water where the missing boot was, but I did see a small black leech hanging off my other knee.
I pulled my pants up and flicked it away, “Bugger off Colin,” I said in my best, but the worst Australian accent.
As the leech sailed through the air, plopping back into the water harmlessly, I noticed in horror that my lower leg was completely covered in the little monsters. I started picking them and tossing them off but more swam in taking their place. Every time I reached into the water to pluck or swipe, my hand was covered again.
“Gross... Little... Bastards!” I yelled, on the brink of passing out.
I tried to get my adrenaline pumping to keep me awake or give me a boost. I looked at my health bar to see it was already down to 35%, and still falling. I cast Retaliating Wind for the regen buff and tore through the swamp to reach dry land as fast as I possibly without falling over.
As I approached land a giant leech stood from underneath the water, blocking my passage.
The slimy midnight black abomination stood 4 feet tall. Not the biggest creature I’ve dealt with but definitely the most growth compared to original size and surely the gooiest. Plus, I’m just not a fan of the little suckers.
[Queen Anne of Lids—Level 23]
[Corrupted-Evolved Mutation]
I leapfrogged over the leech queen toward dry land. As soon as I landed, I removed my one remaining boot and vigorously slapped leeches off my legs. However, with both legs clean I still felt, sluggish.
I’m not excited about this fight.
I called for my sword as I dashed at the overgrown leech. I struck as we met, gouging a chunk off the queen. She leaned over, showing off rows of sharp teeth inside her horrifying lamprey mouth. Each tooth dangerously sharp like a large paring knife blade. A thick viscous spit shot from the center of the death ring toward my face and I was barely able to dodge. Two Step did its part to help avoid the vile liquid with a quick shuffle.
I swung out with Arcing Thorn Whip, my glowing razor-whip wrapped the bulbous leech, shocking her as it dug into her squishy skin locking her up. With a short tug of the handle my blade responded, tightening the noose to cut the queen in half as it returned to its natural form.
Queen Anne of Lids lay dead, “Well... Thank uh, someone that wasn’t a huge deal.”
As I turned to leave the area, rustling and a wet squishy sound met my ears so I pivoted.
A gaggle of leeches squirmed out of the swamp, entering the Queen’s wounds to join her massive body. Her body rippled and swelled as the two halves reached out, each side meeting in the middle to grasp the other before snapping into one whole.
She grew more than three feet in the seconds it took to reconstitute her body and she was also too thick for my noose trick to work again.
She spit and I ran, narrowly avoiding the acidic shower she sent sent my way. Hazarding a glance over my shoulder, I spotted her newly formed face right above the death spiral from Hell.
Yuchh, I hate looking at these type of creatures. The intimidation factor is cranked to eleven. How the fuck does it look crushed but also bulbous at the same time? That shouldn’t be possible!
I ran for all my worth, but the effect I was under had my top speed back to what it was pre-system. So, not fast. I managed to dodge most of the nasty flying wads hissing my way.
I ran toward a wide tree hoping to use it as cover, but the Queen saw through my plan and slowed to line up her shot. A roiling wad of acid smacked the side of my face as I fell behind the thick trunk screaming. I foolishly reached my hands up to clean the acid from my face. All I could do was scream as the skin of my face peeled away with my hands, the acid already eating through my fingers.
The quick decisive damage from the acid lingered as I was forced to drink my remaining potions. As my health ticked up I saw the status effects on my HUD.
The first debuff showed three Z’s cascading in size, the sign for Sleep.
Huh, I’m definitely not sleeping. Still wish there was a strategy guide for this shit. Maybe they had to charge it more? Ehh, Small wins... The sleep icon is almost gone, I just have to make it a little longer.
The second icon was a single droplet above a bar with a half circle melted in the center. It was fairly close to the actual caution signs used for acid, just missing the finger and test tube.
My attention was brought back to my health as it leveled out just above 50%. The acid still burned like hell and I couldn’t see through my right eye but I stopped screaming at some point as my mind wandered.
I removed my Assegai, stepping from cover to meet the Queen who was attempting to sneak up on me. I jabbed two Gale Charged strikes. The first in a cone to defend myself and force the spit back in her face, and the second was a sharp spike aimed at her chest. The acid did nothing to her oily skin, but the second gust carved a hole in her abyssal mass like 12-gauge buck shot at point blank range.
Black ichor splashed the water behind the Queen as dead leeches fell from her new hole.
I swung in an arc, switching to my sword while casting Arcing Thorn Whip. I was hoping to cause shock to slow her a bit, but I wasn’t so lucky. The chopping attack removed a hunk of meat and more leeches fell from the Queen’s body. I was on defense, trying to keep distance and run the clock while using Gale Charge to negate her acidic projectiles.
She pounced suddenly, catching me off guard. Staring into the horror that is her maw, I attempted to dodge. Thanks to my intelligence stat, I knew I wasn’t fast enough. Just before she landed, something in the corner of my vision winked out of existence.
My stats returned.
I flashed to the side, narrowly avoiding the Queen’s giant gullet of death and becoming her midnight snack.
I spoke out loud, butchering something I heard on the internet, “It was at this point she realized she fucked up.”
Yep, pretty sure I got that horribly wrong.
A few exchanges later and the ground was littered with black ichor and dead leeches. I quickly deduced that not all of the leeches were dead. The darkened dirt of the forest quivered as they crawled from the swamp to join their Queen.
“Ah, I got it!” My mace appeared in my hands.
I pounded the side of the giant leech, one bludgeoning strike after another.
A gang of the little bastards jumped from the ground in an attempt to slow me again. At the same time the Queen released another wide acid blast focused on my left side. I released Retaliating Wind, triggering a bubble that cleared the battlefield of leeches and the acid that wanted to deform me further.
I danced around the Leech Queen, Miss Anne of Lids. I two-stepped, pop-locked and did the robot while blasting chunks of leeches off of her rippling body and stacking the necrotic poison that was to be her downfall.
“I hope I get a hat from you. Ya know, because the Lids thing... But not a gross leech hat.” I taunted my opponent as she slowed. Her body reeking of rot.
Acting out and taunting her, really? And right after she nearly killed me… Why do I feel, untouchable? No. Cheeky and defiant, maybe. It has to end, this is wrong and straight cringey...
The Queen was lying on the ground in a heap, unable to move. Her health was dropping fast from the necrotic damage built up throughout the fight.
I stood over the Queen and delivered the last blow with my mace, ending her life.
I fell to the ground to catch my breath and watched the leeches wiggle from the swamp to her body. They crawled inside her wounds in an attempt to save their Queen, but they too decayed as they reunited with their Queen.
She glimmered and I spoke, “Loot All.”
Cool, level up... Let’s see what royalties I’m rewarded with.
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Spell Tome: “Blood Cycle”—Consumable—Epic—Dark Magic—Consume knowledge to Learn the spell Blood Cycle.
I pulled up the spell info.
Blood Cycle / Epic
Level 1—Dark Magic
Cost: Varies
Cycle your Health Points for Mana Points or Mana Points for Health Points
Life is more than Blood, but Blood is Life
“What in the fuck does that even mean? It’s exactly what I thought it was and a great skill, disregarding the strange vampire-bullshit description at the end.” I spoke aloud to myself while reading over the next item.
Queen Anne’s Hide Leggings
Legendary
2 Sockets
47 Armor
+10 Vitality
+10 Will
+25% Dark Resistance
+25% Earth Resistance
Makes wearer Immune to Charm Effects.
Automatically regulates temperature for comfort in hot and cold climates.
I immediately set the legs on both armor presets.
I really hope they aren’t all slimy and shit.
With fingers crossed, I equipped the leggings.
“These. Are. Awesome!” I yelled while looking down at the leggings.
They were pitch black, seeming to swallow the light within their black smoky aura.
Sweet, they match my sword. Kinda.
Disregarding my love for the aesthetics, they were also super comfortable.
They felt thick yet firm, with a texture like silk. The armor rating is decent as well so it must be strong stuff, despite it not feeling that way. The higher armor rating made me worry that they would hamper my movements but it was actually quite the opposite.
They were more comfortable than any pants I’d ever owned and they let me move freely, almost like loose sweat pants or the birthday suit.
I set off through the woods in my new fancy pants, allocating my 8 new stat points. I was almost finished with my rounds when I heard another noise off in the woods.
“Shit. I was almost done.” I whispered as I moved through the forest toward the rustling leaves, exhausted from the previous encounter.
I searched my immediate surroundings. No use casting Scout Gaze, it’s too dense here, feels like I’m back in that fucking cave—I swear I’m in the right place. I didn’t see or hear anything on my walk in so maybe it was a regular animal? I hadn’t seen any non-mutated animals since the change, but apparently they’re around. The whitetail strung up in the tree next to the driveway proved it.
I whirled around without a care and started walking back to camp.
Thoot!
“Dah, fucker!” I turned back and looked up for the squirrel.
There was nothing there.
The leaves rustled again behind me.
Thoot Thoot!
“Got Dammit!” I said as I was struck twice in the back of the head.
I spun around finding... Nothing?
I cast Manasight and focused while slowly spinning in circles, stretching my perception to lend attention to all of my surroundings.
Thoot!
“Gaah!” I twisted, finally getting a peek of something through Manasight.
One of the trees let off a small burst of Earth Mana that moved away as fast as it appeared. The Mana moved through the tree and into the ground. I looked around again, unsure of what I was seeing.
Thoot Thoot Th—!
“Gotcha!” I said gripping the, “Bush?” by the branches. I pulled the shrub from the ground.
“EEEEK EEEEK!” The weird little creature screamed in outrage.
“You shot me! Now, you want a free pass?!” I asked its tiny face located at the base of the above ground portion of brush.
[Sprout]
[Evolved Native Wildlife]
The roots that made up it’s body attempted to run in mid air, making me laugh at the little guy. Or girl.
“Well, it says you’re Evolved Native Wildlife, and there’s no level. I’m assuming you were just a bush that somehow evolved into... A walking bush?”
The creature paused then looked up to me with big eyes. Eyes that legitimately looked like two blueberries, a bit too close together, set a bit too far back into the branch that made up its face.
It screamed again, “EEK, EEEEEK!”
“Alright! Jeez... I’ll let you go but you need to do me a favor, protect these woods from the aliens, monsters, or whatever. Right, and stop shooting people with whatever those are, they sting like hell.” I told the bush, unsure if it understood me but I got my answer soon after.
“Eek eek!” It clarified as it reached a branch with three little twig fingers into its leafy hair.
It plucked one of the small nuts that hung from it’s head as it chirped and nodded in agreement.
The little bushling handed me the nut.
“Okay. Deal.” I said, setting Sprout down easily, “Good night little dude, or dudette?”
“BRRREEK!” It screeched as it climbed up the trees to depart, the little bush swam through solid bark as if it were water.
The top of the bush head drifted up the tree then freely passed from one tree to another, jumping between them as if they were stepping stones.
With no more run ins, I made it back. I approached camp to see Arthur sitting on the porch keeping watch. I heard his tail slapping back and forth before I even walked around the corner to lock eyes with him.
I walked up the stoop to look through the window. My mother was asleep on one bed, Ava on the other with the youngest Jayce, who was only 5 years old. My brain went on a side quest and I wondered how much of this he’d remember as he ages, how much is leaving lasting effects, and what will be left when he’s my age?
I looked to the floor to see Brenden crashed out and sweating puddles next to the roaring wood stove with my other nephew, Lucas lying perpendicular with his head rested on Brenden’s chest. Lucas reminded me of Oliver, or I suppose Oliver reminded me so much of Lucas when I was there. Lucas was only a year older than Oli, and shared the same goofy and fun personality.
I hope we can all get together someday. I feel like they would become best buds.
I shut the door quietly and took a seat at the table and pulled up the page for Conviction on my HUD to read through notifications. It looked like Zack was going out with every party still and Taylor was also going every time her mother went.
I’m glad they took my idea seriously and that Zack seems to be growing, at least based on what little info I have.
The page of notifications doesn’t show levels or anything truly useful, other than who enters and exits the zone. They sent out four parties a day. One morning, two midday, then one in the evening.
As I scrolled, I noticed two new names pop up, they entered a couple days prior and haven’t left once. The first was Armand Collins who seemed to return with a party. The other, Nathan Collins, entered alone. I wasn’t happy just having names, but I had to trust everyone there could handle it.
“Well?” I asked Arthur.
He walked over to me, tail knocking as he sat on the deck beside me. I gave him some slappy pets as we had a one-sided chat.
“Did you guys decide who’s staying?” I received an affirmative via head nod.
“Who is it? Never mind that, you’d figure I’d be use to this by now. Are you going?” He wagged his tail and started panting with a smile. He shook his head, no.
“You lost the match huh?” I asked, and he shook his head yes with a grin.
“You let him win did ya?”
“Barowr” He quietly answered with a noise and a yes-no sort of head bob.
“Oh stop it. You let him win.” I said laughing at my big goofy puppy.
“Ruff ruff,” He whisper barked somehow while shaking his head yes and giving me big eyes that said, don’t tell.
“You’re too much sometimes bug.” I said laughing with my dog and pulling him in for a hug, “Jesus, you really are huge now. I’m just realizing how much you’ve actually grown. Good thing we don’t need to buy you new shoes every time you grow. The advantage of having a puppy as a child.” He shook his head and leaned into me, “Brenden needs this anyways, I’ll make sure to protect him and you take care of them. Fair?”
“Ruff.” He did the whisper bark thing again.
“I honestly didn’t think it was possible for dogs to whisper.” I laughed at the new ability, “We were really lucky. I’m sure there are more out there who were as lucky as us, I just hope they all have a safe area to lay low and that someone more capable than myself is handling things. I want to find more people and let them know about the safe zones, then send some to Conviction. Only two people have arrived since we left. After seeing Linda and now Josh, I’m worried more people have lost their humanity. Josh was always crazy and a bit crass, or a lot, but he was a good kid... Something was missing in his eyes. I should have viewed his tag. I hate that it doesn’t show a tag unless they’re in your party or make a hostile move. I bet there’s a skill or spell to help with that.”
“Ruff.”
“Yeah, I’m rambling, my bad Puck. Well, why don’t you get some sleep, bo-ah.”