"So, the Blight King killed everyone… How? I don't see any signs of struggle. Even the city walls are still intact."
True. There's no signs of an army having been here already. Kings march with their armies when intent on destroying a nation. Siege weapons are used to break apart buildings and also to obliterate walls which will wear down the opposing nation's defenses. Once defenses are down then the commander sends in the army to take over the hold or city.
Could it be possible that the Blight King committed genocide all on his own?
"He, who controls curses, does not need to resort to physical force as his mind alone allows him to vanquish his foes. The power over curses is the physical force of the mind, one could say."
"You're saying this Blight King's curses killed everyone?"
"Indeed, travelers. While he is no more in this world or any other, his curses and Blight Things remain. Beware what you run into."
"What are these Blight Things you speak of?"
"Creatures and entities born from his body when he perished—two of which must be avoided at all costs."
"Elaborate."
"Very well, traveler. All of you are either humans or have the anatomy and body parts of one. Every part of your body serves a purpose, as it is necessary for your survival. Once you die they lose their purpose, which was to keep you alive. In death it will benefit others—if it is your will to play philanthropist with your organs. The Blight King sat on his throne before he died. He cast a curse on himself. This curse used his body as a catalyst to create an army—Blight Things as this one calls them. Every body part of his body serves him even in death—they seek to spread his curses throughout the Nine Realms. But to that they must overcome the curse brought onto these worlds and try to kill the monsters that could kill a god."
"Hmm… Am I correct to assume you are one of them? You talk about them as if you know them."
"It seems this one cannot keep quiet any longer. Yes, this one was once inside of Him."
Everyone's faces twisted in disgust. Some even had their weapons ready to attack. Are they looking to kill it because it might be an enemy or just because it was once someone's body part?
'Eugh, which body part was that—No, no I don't want to know.'
"Ah, allow me to make a correction to what I said earlier," the insectiman spoke again, "I meant to say that you must avoid three of the Blight Things in particularly, not two. They will pose the most danger to you."
"Lower your weapons, everyone," Daraia said, "Okay, then tell me who they are. We are only here to find artifacts. This is a relic tomb, after all."
"Indeed, indeed. It is as you say. And yes, there are indeed many items that may come in handy to you, travelers. However, if you want the greatest treasures there is to offer then you must go there." The insectiman pointed towards a cathedral with his long slender finger.
How did they know where he was pointing to? Well, the cathedral was the largest structure in the city, almost reaching the ceiling of this massive cave. No other structure matched its might or half its height.
If seen from afar, it could be mistaken for a castle.
"Let me guess: One of the three you mentioned is inside guarding the cathedral."
"Hmm, this one wouldn't say 'guarding' the cathedral as it is merely wandering its home aimlessly, killing anything that breaches its territory. That is also where the Blight King perished. But let me make a correction yet again, two of them are within that cathedral, one of whom looks after the other like a caretaker."
Daraia looked at Arthur.
Arthur spoke this time:
"I'll go there on my own. If there's anything that is immune to curses of all forms, it's divine power."
"And where—pray tell—will thine acquire the power of the gods to fight a demigod?"
Arthur closed his eyes.
His body surrounded in white energy that was so heavy that it flowed downwards. The light emanating from him didn't lose out to the crystals overhead.
"Oho. A champion of the gods. To think this one would see one in this one's lifetime in the flesh. However, you are just a Bow. Where is your Arrow?" the insectiman Arthur up and down.
"What do you mean by that?" Arthur deactivated his White Aura.
"The weapon that can cut the divine flesh of a Timeline God—where is it?"
"You mean the 'Holy Sword of Song and Light'? I don't have it yet…"
"A champion's chances of defeating the Blight's Skin is slim if the Bow is without its Arrow. Only true divine power can eradicate the curse of the Blight King from his grave."
"I'll… I'll find a way to defeat it," Arthur didn't sound confident despite saying that.
"I'll go with you, big brother!" Anais shouted.
"I will also go with you…" Shirley held Arthur's hand with a blush on her face.
"The power of friendship will get you all killed," remarked Flora, "I'm in."
Hofir then approached Arthur.
"…Me too." He said with his deep voice.
"Thank you, you four. I'm glad to have you by my side."
Arthur turned to Daraia.
"Will you join us?"
"My job is to bring all of you home. Alive. By force if necessary. But…" she sighed, "Our only chance of surviving in this dungeon is within arm's reach. It would be stupid not to take it. Fighting with the Hero might increase our chances of winning."
Daraia looked at the insectiman and went "Right?"
"All this one will say is that if the champion won't encounter any of the other two which will increase his survival rate greatly. Take care not to dwindle on your path, even if unintentionally—it will cost you all."
No one responded to what it said.
"Your numbers will play a big role in your fight with the Blight's Skin. But if relied upon too much then it will be your downfall, Champion. The city is calm because most of the Blight Things are scattered in groups. Now is the best time to go."
"…Is that so? Then we'll head straight to the cathedral then."
"Remember, Champion," the insectiman spoke to Arthur just as he was about to walk away, "Your light is not enough to vanquish the great darkness that awaits you. Now and in the future. Rely on your comrades. That is what the weak must do if they are not strong."
Arthur's face twisted for a moment when the insectiman called him "weak".
"Big brother has me by his side! I'll fight with him even if it costs me my life!" Anais linked her arms with Arthur.
"Huk huk huk, this one understands," the insectiman bowed his head, "Thine comrades are thine strength whether weak or strong."
"Let's go. We've heard enough from this thing." Daraia pulled Arthur roughly.
"R-Right."
The others began walking away as well. They walked down the path leading to the bridge.
Madilith was just about to catch up to them but she heard the insectiman say something under his breath.
"Thine art no champion; thine actions will make these words true. Forfeit thine crown to the one who deserveth it more. While this one would like to warn thee, this one would like to refrain from meddling with god's plan. Ah, [Foresight]—what a troublesome ability this one has been blessed with. A curse will soon spread and you will be left with two choices—trust or death."
'Eh?' Madilith turned her head to look at the insectiman when she heard mumbling.
However, it was gone.
'What did he just say?'
She heard something along the lines of "forfeiting a crown". What crown? Who was it even talking about?
"Come on, Madi! We have to go!" Anais ran back to Madilith and began pulling her forward.
"S-Sorry." Madilith kept glancing back.
◇◇◇
"Something feels off, Guild Master."
Shirley spoke to Daraia. Her ears were standing up and her tail was tucked between her legs.
Hofir also seemed to be acting strange. The fur on his neck was standing up as if he had been electrocuted. His claws—which Madilith rarely sees outside of combat—were retracted.
He was looking at the bridge with unblinking eyes.
"I can feel something too. The bridge doesn't feel empty." Daraia turned back to everyone, "Mages and healers stay behind. Those with shields move in front of them and protect them. The rest of the vanguards follow me across the bridge."
Daraia pointed at Hofir, "You stay here."
Hofir grunted roughly but nodded.
"Why should we stay behind?" one adventurer asked.
"I'll ask you a question: Don't you think this bridge is the perfect terrain to snipe intruders or am I just being paranoid?"
"W-Well…"
"Given the scale of the bridge, I'd assume the elves used artillery weapons to ward off enemies. There are also many high places with platforms to stand on. There is no cover to hide behind on this bridge, making people crossing it easy targets."
"Miss Daraia is right," Arthur turned to the others, "I'm sorry, Anais but you'll have to stay here with the others. You too, Madilith."
"Uhm, okay." Madilith nodded.
Anais pouted and harrumphed.
Arthur smiled wryly before facing the bridge again.
"Weapons ready. Follow my lead." Daraia bent her knees. The ground beneath her feet caved in.
Daraia suddenly vanished with only a trail of wind left where she was earlier.
By the time Madilith had noticed, Daraia was already speeding across the bridge.
Soon the others ran across the bridge as well.
'So this is why she told the tanks to stay.'
The tanks were heavily armored so they wouldn't be able to dodge as nimbly as the fighters on the ground. The swordsmen and spearmen are way faster than the shield bearers.
Hofir was also left behind since he's more muscle than agile. He's like a tank, much faster than one but slower than the other vanguards.
About 11 of them—including Arthur and Daraia—crossed the bridge with incredible speed. 17 of them were left at the beginning of the bridge. Besides Madilith and Anais who were from Class A and B respectively, there was Bradwyn Justeth from Class D and Sabrina from Class B currently in the party.
Sabrina and Bradwyn are healer magicians so they are important assets in the party, along with two other priests. The shield bearers prioritized protecting them. Madilith and the other magicians were at the back.
"Ah! Look!"
It wasn't even a few seconds after they crossed that a gigantic bolt was sent flying at them.
It almost hit Shirley but she managed to dodge just in time.
'A bolt?'
"Where are they shooting from!? I can't see any artillery weapons!" one of the adventurers started panicking.
Another bolt flew at them. This time aiming for Daraia.
Daraia's fists was surrounded in red aura. She punched the air just before the bolt could hit her.
The bolt disintegrated once it made contact with her raging aura.
"We'll handle the attackers!" she shouted, "We'll signal you when it's safe to cross!"
After saying so the group continued running across the bridge. They were then shot with another bolt immediately after.
This time Flora jumped and unsheathed her sword.
With extreme precision she sent the bolt flying in another direction using the flat end of her sword. A chunk of the hillside was destroyed by the large bolt.
While mid-air another bolt was shot at her.
"Miss Flora!" Arthur was about to jump to stop the bolt but Flora managed to split it in half with a single strike of her sword.
She swiftly landed back on the bridge and said something to Arthur after pushing him away.
Madilith could somehow guess what she said: "I don't need your help."
Arthur just scratched his head awkwardly.
Daraia said something to all of them but they were now too far for Madilith to hear properly unless they shouted.
Madilith looked over to Anais. Some kind of weird energy was surrounding Anais's ears.
'Is that mana?'
"The Guild Master said that the attackers have limited range so we won't get sniped unless we're fifty meters away from them." Anais suddenly spoke.
"How can you tell that all the way over here?" asked one of the magicians in astonishment.
"I'm using wind magic to direct sound towards me. The sound would be far too low for me to hear properly so I'm also using a spell that increases my hearing frequency beyond a level possible for humans. The words are somewhat coherent."
"Hearing frequency? What? Is that spell something similar to a dog whistle?"
"Yup! It's like the human version of ultrasonic range! It's a 1st rank spell. Have any of you heard it before?"
"…."
The three main magicians looked at each other in silence.
'It seems their egos have been crushed by a 1st rank spell.'
It probably wasn't just the spells but how Anais was using it. One of those spells is often only used for stealth missions or used in ambushes to listen to enemy footsteps. The other is used to create cool air on a sunny day. Students often it this wind spell on summer days.
Now why would magicians in the adventuring occupation need a wind spell as useless as that when their job is to fight monsters?
The fact that Anais can use two spells meant for different purposes is amazing itself.
"There are skeleton knights with greatbows hiding in the buildings near the bridge. I can hear the sound of bone hitting metal armor," Anais spoke again, "Skeleton Knights are never alone so we should keep an eye out for the necromancer. It should be near the bridge as well. The priests should get ready to seal the necromancer away. There's no way it's a human so we should assume it's also undead."
'Right. The insectiman didn't specify what kind of creatures can be found amongst the Blight Things.'
It's unlikely for a human to be among them. The Blight King was probably not even human himself. Otherwise how can that abomination from earlier be born?
Unless the curse itself was that powerful that it could not only create creatures born from organs but to mutate them as well.
The two priest adventurers looked at each other.
One of the main magicians spoke up, "Prepare a divine spell. We need to seal the undead away since they'll keep spawning even if we kill them. There night even be more of them nearby so the sealing spell can also be used as an AOE attack if need be."
"Roger!"
"Yes!" the two priests gave the affirmative.
The magician who said the above looked at one of the other magicians.
"You can be one of the backups. Anais will fill your place."
"What!? Why should I have to do that!?"
"I need not explain the obvious. Remember that you're from our adventurer party. I will ask the leader to demote you to Porter for not listening to orders."
"Tch…" the guy backed off begrudged. He glared at Anais. Said person wasn't even paying attention to their conversation.
"Anais." The magician called out to Anais.
"Hm?"
"I want you to relay everything that the guild master is saying to me. We'll act based on what their discussions are about."
"Ah, okay." Anais walked towards the magician.
'Things have gone quiet and there's no sign of the others anymore.'
Madilith tapped Anais' shoulder.
"Can you still hear them?"
"A fight broke out," said Anais, "They found the attackers."
"Then let's move!" the magician from earlier shouted, "We can't let this opportunity go now by waiting for a signal!"
Besides that, there was also a chance that the insectiman from earlier planned an ambush for the group by hiding other Blight Things until it was time to pincer the group.
The insectiman wasn't their friend so it could've been sent out alone to let down their guard.
'Shouldn't we wait for the guild master's signal…? I suppose it's fine to move on our own.'
The group quickly began moving across the bridge. The tanks were taking care not to run too far from the magicians , healers and archers. There might be a stray sniper who is still hiding in one of those towers.
The three main magicians(now with Anais included) cast a barrier around the group. A single one of those bolts would shatter the barrier just like that but it will stop the power of the projectile which will make it easier for the shield bearers to resist.
"They're looking for the necromancer," Anais relayed what was going on.
"Same as us then. Don't split up and don't stray further than three buildings from the path we have to take. My spell won't be able to detect you if you're further than that."
They carefully walked through the street of the elven city. They could hear sounds of battle from nearby.
'I guess we'll have to meet up at the Cathedral if the others don't finish up first.'
They could even run into the necromancer before this group does.
"Hm? There aren't any signs of life at all." The magician in the lead spoke in confusion.
They had been searching for quite a while now. The group was now standing in the middle of the street. It was fairly dark since the crystals' light couldn't penetrate the high buildings on this street.
There's no need to enter the buildings since the magicians have detection magic active. They would've alerted the group if they sensed something.
Something feels off, thought Madilith.
She had been using her Life Detection magic item ever since they entered the relic tomb.
Madilith doesn't have any magic spells that can detect lifeforms so she relies on magic items that she bought. It's a fairly expensive magic item but she could afford it due to her family being so well-off.
Thankfully, the item is still working even after two months. The good thing is that it doesn't use that much mana so she can keep it active for hours on end before switching it off to recover her mana.
The magic item is just as capable of detecting lifeforms as any other spell. Until now Madilith was only able to detect the group. She didn't pick up any other lifeforms ever since they came into this relic tomb.
'Earlier when we encountered that insectiman…' Madilith's eyes widened, 'The magic item couldn't pick up its lifeforce. Doesn't that mean…'
"Oh, no…"
"Hm? What's wrong, Madi?" Anais seemed to have heard Madilith.
"We need to run! Head straight for the cathedral!" Madilith grabbed one of the main magicians and shouted, "It's not safe here!"
"What the hell has gotten into you? Get off me." The man shoved Madilith aside, "If you're getting cold feet then you can leave on your own. The rest of us aren't leaving until we find that necromancer."
"You don't understand!"
They found us.
She tried to say that but froze. She could make out a pair of eyes in one of the alleys. It was looking straight at them.
Madilith was paralyzed for a second.
After snapping out of her dazed state, she got to the front of the party and cast a spell.
"[Saint's Eternal Light]!" a bright ball manifested in her hand, lighting up the surroundings.
"What the fuck…"
"E-Eh…?"
"No way…"
"…Hahahaha…."
Turns out the darkness wasn't as empty as they thought.
"So… These are Blight Things…"
Hundreds of different creatures appeared in the light. There were big and small, tall and short. All of which were creeping between the buildings, as still as mannequins.
The necromancer that summoned those Undead Knights was the least of their worries.
'There's no way we can beat all of them…' Madilith stepped back.
She bumped into someone. She looked up. Hofir was standing there, menacingly glaring at the Blight Things.
Hofir growled, his golden eyes glowed and his fangs grew bigger as he glared at the Blight Things.
The female magician who had led them here said softly under her breath:
"Run."
Everyone except Hofir ran. Madilith looked back just before she followed after them.
"Come on, Hofir! Don't fight them!"
"….." Hofir looked back at Madilith.
His eyes turned bloodshot and fur began growing all over his body. His nose and mouth transformed into that of a tiger and his body grew twice as large and taller by three heads.
He was now in his [Beast] form—the true form of his people.
"Madilith, run! Hofir won't see you as an ally in that form anymore!" Madilith could hear Anais' voice from afar, "The lunkhead wants to fight so let him fight! Big brother will know something's wrong if he senses Hofir's bloodlust!"
Meaning Arthur might come over here to see what was going on.
"…." Madilith stepped back.
Hofir's growl sounded much deeper.
His long metallic-like claws retracted, ready to attack. Anything in his sight is his enemy now.
He was now a mere beast.
Madilith ran. She ran the fastest she had ever run in her life. She could hear Hofir's roar as he decimated the buildings and ripped the monsters to shreds.
There was no way he'll survive against that horde even if he's strong.
After some time, Madilith came to a stop, realizing that she couldn't sense the others anymore.
"Eh… I'm sure I was right behind them."
Instead of the street that she was running on, she was now standing in a spiral of buildings, surrounding her as if in a circle.
Madilith quickly realized that something strange was going on. Her ending up here wasn't the result of her clumsiness. It was the result of outside forces.
Something approached her in the darkness. Its footsteps sounded as if it were stepping on wet clothes.
"Eek!?"
A blob of flesh, with long skinny arms and short skinny legs appeared within the darkness.
It had a tiny but horrific face with rows of teeth but no eyes. Its flesh moved as if it were hundreds of worms surrounding its true body.
From another perspective, say in dim light or complete darkness with its silhouette barely visible, this thing might look like a child wearing a fat suit.
However, upon closer inspection, it was no mere child. It was a monstrosity. It had two blobs of wormy flesh attached to its body.
"Ah, my dear. You need not be afraid. I merely wish to feed on your lifeforce. In return you will experience sweet lucid dreams. Isn't that what humans desire? They seek pleasure, thinking they deserve it. But, but, but not every human deserves to experience the dreams that I can provide. There is a price, just like with buying your favorite dish. Just like eating that succulent piece of meat that brings pleasure to your taste buds, so will you experience the same kind of pleasure when you accept me inside you. Think, think of me as the chef who prepares your, your meals and wants monetary compensation. Yes, yes. Monetary compensation," It spoke with a throaty voice as it sniffed the air like a wild animal, "A-Ah, I smell love. A burning love… S-Such innocence… Such a b-big heart i-in such a tiny b-body… But this innocence, innocence is defiled by a bestial sexual desire to be taken by the one this burning love is meant for. This one's heart has also been tainted by many who she did not love yet she still possesses such innocence. How curious!"
The thing approached her with its arms outstretched.
"Eek!" Madilith hurriedly cast a barrier around herself.
She wanted to cast an attack spell but the area they were in was too small to cast something big. She'll need to take some time to decide which spell had enough firepower to kill this thing but won't hurt her in turn.
"S-Stay away!"
The thing licked the barrier's film with its long spiky tongue. Its tongue had small tentacles that suckled on the barrier, making Madilith feel sick to the stomach.
"Come now, let [Brain of Cursama] feast on your lifeforce. I shall promise you bliss every night when you sleep till the day the fire within you burns out~"
Something fell out between the monster's legs.
"Ungaaah!"
Madilith vomited on the spot, unable to contain her disgust.
It was a baby. Probably. There was a cord connected to its stomach so it was most definitely some kind of infant creature.
The baby tried moving but the blob creature stepped on its head, crushing its skull and pulling out the cord of flesh. Blood sprayed everywhere.
Madilith had never seen a more disturbing sight.
"OPEN UP OPEN OPEN UP OPEN UP OPEN UP!!! IF YOU DON'T GIB IT TO ME THEN OTHERS WILL PAY THE PRICE!!! GIB ME YOUR LIFEFORCE!!!" The blob banged on the barrier as it vigorously moved its hand back and forth on its crotch.
Its gentle voice was nowhere to be found now. It sounded impatient.
Liquid burst out of its lower body onto the concrete below. The concrete melted with a hissing sound.
Madilith shrieked.
The monster turned it back against the barrier and bent down. It spread its "lower body" and put it up against the barrier.
Madilith could see "everything" inside. There were worm-like creatures deep inside the monster's gaping hole. They sounded like human children crying.
Madilith vomited into her hands, barfing up the lunch she had just a few hours earlier.
"Lifeforce! Gib me yer lifeforce!!!"
The monster rubbed its crotch again. This time even more vigorously.
This time the liquid burst against Madilith's barrier.
"No, no, no… Stay away!"
Its juices burned a hole in Madilith's barrier.
She tried casting the 2nd rank [Arcane Storm] spell. She could use a vortex of mana, small enough to only engulf the creature, to kill it.
However, she noticed that her arms weren't there anymore.
Not just that but her legs were also missing.
"Ah… Ahhh… AHHHHHHH!!!"
"Nihihihihi…." The blob stood over the trembling Madilith.
Its long tongue dug into its own insides as it moaned.
"N-No… No, no, no, no—"
◇◇◇
"—Madi!"
"!?" Madilith's eyes shot open at that sudden exclaim.
"E-Eh…?"
She looked around.
They were standing in some graveyard.
She could see several gravestones nearby.
Wait, everyone is here?
Then…
"…Where is the blob creature…?"
"What are you talking about? You passed out when we entered the graveyard," Sabrina was sitting in front of her with a concerned expression, "You're sweating like crazy. You don't seem to have mana exhaustion so why did you pass out?"
"…." Madilith looked around.
Everyone else was vigilantly watching their surroundings. It appears that Arthur and the others weren't here yet.
Madilith looked down at her hands this time.
Phew, she sighed in relief, they were there again. She pinched her supple thighs which left behind a red mark on her white skin. Yet again, she sighed in relief.
"Uhm… I don't know why I passed out… Did I run all the way here on my own?"
"Yup. What's gotten into you? You should speak me or Anais if there's anything wrong."
"N-Nothing's wrong." Madilith smiled, "Sorry for worrying you."
"Just don't pass out again. I'm afraid we won't be able to protect you if we're separated from each other."
"Y-Yes…I know…" Madilith stood up, "Uhm, sorry to ask this of you but can you cast a calming chime on me?"
"Did you have a nightmare?"
"…." Madilith nodded silently.
She could still vividly remember that monstrosity that was trying to get into her barrier. If she doesn't find a way to calm down then she won't be able to stay focused and cast her magic.
"Of course." Sabrina took out a bell from her back. She held it next to Madilith's ear and rang it.
The calming chime resonated in Madilith's body, releasing the tension in her muscles and soothing her mind.
"Phew… Thanks a lot. Are the others not here yet?"
"We made it to the cathedral before the others could." Sabrina looked up at the building, "Standing this close to the building makes it look like a palace, don't you think?"
Towering spires, adorned with intricate filigree and with ivy and ethereal blooms, reaching skyward, almost touching the mega crystals hanging overhead.
The cathedral's exterior walls appear to be constructed from a luminous stone that seems to shimmer with an otherworldly radiance.
Gargoyles perch along the parapets, watching over the sacred grounds. They were so expertly crafted that one would think they're alive.
As the crystal artificial light waned, the cathedral's exterior came to life, changing from a blueish glow to a shiny silver. Countless enchanted lanterns hanging from its eaves and spires begin to softly glow, casting a warm, inviting illumination, to replace the now absent crystal light.
One might wonder what lies beyond the front doors with its elaborate, intricate patterns and symbols that were expertly etched into the dyed gold. These engravings are so finely detailed that they seem to come to life as the lantern light dances upon them.
This was no handiwork of humans.
Madilith replied after a few seconds of admiring the beautiful cathedral that can even make the unholy appreciate its grandeur.
"Yes, it sure does…"
◇
[Heart of Cause] is under effect.