As the clock struck 8:00 PM, the party led by Melinda prepared to venture deeper into the ominous forest. This marked Melinda's first time as a leader, and though nervous, she found reassurance in her brother Don's unwavering support.
Their journey took them into the heart of the dead forest, where they stumbled upon a disturbing scene: two individuals, an Alchemist and a Necromancer, in the midst of a heated altercation with a knocked-out Orc.
The Alchemist displayed a sinister amusement, expressing an intention to use the Orc for experimentation. Conversely, the Necromancer harbored a grim philosophy, believing life to be fragile due to free will and justifying the killing of the Orc.
An arrow disrupted the Necromancer's monologue, but he managed to evade it. His anger and curiosity were evident as he demanded to see the assailant's face.
Blizz, Silver, Vaqui, Don, and Melinda remained concealed, preparing to intervene.
Silver took the initiative, rushing forward and engaging the undead minions summoned by the Necromancer.
Blizz stealthily moved to the rear, striking swiftly and fatally wounding the Necromancer with a slash to the neck. He then unleashed a fireball, further disrupting the enemy's ranks.
Vaqui transformed into her Green Wolf form, preparing for her part in the battle.
Don unleashed a fire arrow, reducing one of the undead to ash.
Melinda, with grace and precision, cut through multiple undead, thinning their numbers.
However, the party soon found themselves outnumbered and overpowered, with the Necromancer summoning an Undead Treant to block their retreat.
Blizz, now drained of mana, urged a tactical withdrawal. But before they could escape, the Treant took a swipe at Vaqui, who managed to dodge its attack.
Realizing their perilous situation, the party decided to flee, with Blizz casting one final fireball, engulfing the Undead Treant in flames.
As they ran back towards the city, the Elite Mage Guard appeared, casting a firewall to deal with the Treant. Their attention was then directed to the exhausted and defeated adventurers.
Blizz explained the nature of their mission—a C Rank quest to defeat the Necromancer. The Elite Mage Guard ordered them to the health department and assured them that they would deal with the Treant.
Back at the guild house, Sophia acknowledged the receipt of their quest and provided a modest reward of 50 copper and 5 XP. She encouraged them to rest, assuring them they could watch the Promotional test the following day.
Melinda, communicating telepathically, apologized for the mission's failure and informed Jack that Blizz and Vaqui were now in the health department.
Silver requested some water, and Don expressed his gratitude to his sister for her leadership.
Meanwhile, in EndHaven, the Necromancer, Nikki, arrived late, lamenting the theft of her pet by the Alchemist and the pursuit by an adventurer. Nikki, a necromancer known for her eccentricity, conversed with Baator, an unusual creature with an undead-like mindset.
Baator had apparently kidnapped ten children, which seemed to amuse Nikki. She asked for just one child, which Baator promptly delivered.
The child hesitated but eventually agreed to accompany Baator, who treated her kindly.
Baator and another child eagerly volunteered to participate in a magic trick performed by Nikki. She chose the girl and, in a shocking twist, stabbed her, causing the child immense pain.
Afterward, Viper, another associate, instructed Baator to give the girl her "reward," which turned out to be a pendant. The pendant proved lethal, choking the child, whose vengeful soul was captured for nefarious purposes.
In the aftermath of the grim and sinister spectacle in EndHaven, Nikki and Baator stood among the scattered remnants of their twisted ritual, with the lifeless body of the child at their feet.
Nikki's eyes gleamed with satisfaction as she gloated, "Baator, you've done splendidly. The soul of this child will serve us well."
Baator, wearing a contented smile on his grotesque, undead-like visage, responded, "Baator is pleased to serve, Nikki."
Viper, their enigmatic leader, observed the proceedings with a hint of approval in his cold, calculating gaze. He stepped forward, his serpent-like presence adding to the eerie ambiance.
"Good job," he acknowledged, his tone devoid of emotion. "Now, let's get to work."
As the trio of dark beings continued their malevolent machinations, a sense of foreboding hung heavily over the forsaken town of EndHaven, shrouded in secrets and steeped in malevolence.
In the shadowy depths of EndHaven, the nefarious trio of Nikki, Baator, and Viper proceeded with their grim agenda, hidden from the prying eyes of the world.
Nikki, her eyes reflecting the eerie light of the room, donned an expression of wicked satisfaction. She began to chant in an ancient and ominous tongue, invoking dark forces that resonated with the very essence of the child's stolen soul. Unseen to the world, the child's essence spiraled into an otherworldly vortex, merging with the sinister energies Nikki had harnessed.
Baator, ever the loyal and enigmatic companion, observed the ritual with an eerie, unblinking gaze. His undead mind was a repository of secrets and arcane knowledge, and he stood ready to assist in any way he could.
Viper, their enigmatic leader and mastermind, remained silent as he meticulously supervised the proceedings. His inscrutable demeanor hinted at a deeper, darker purpose behind their actions.
As the ritual reached its crescendo, the room filled with an oppressive aura, and the very air seemed to tremble with malevolence. The child's soul, now bound to their sinister cause, pulsed with a maleficent energy, ready to be unleashed upon the unsuspecting world.
The trio's dark machinations continued in the hidden corners of EndHaven, a festering cauldron of malevolence and secrets, poised to sow discord and chaos in their wake.