"Are you saying this water is poisoned?" Klein asked.
Hito nodded earnestly and explained that he had no concrete evidence to prove it. However, he was so sure of his claim that he would risk betting on it, asserting that the water tasted different.
In reality, the water tasted exactly the same. Only Hito had noticed it because of the alert the system had shown him. Something he couldn't reveal to the others.
Leo had already wet his hand before the warning, so he decided to bring it up to his nose to smell it and then said, "It doesn't have any funny smell."
"Try licking your hand and then tell us if it's safe." Sebas whispered.
Nina's face looked thoughtful and concerned. Klein approached her, and asked, "You know what this could mean, right?".
Hito didn't understand what they were referring to, so he decided to ask, "Do you know anything about this?"
Nina explained that she did not know the cause. However, if the water really was poisoned, the river could be the source of the poisoning in the shelter.
"But then, we should all be poisoned?" Emily asked.
Sebas quickly clarified that not everyone would necessarily be affected, since the water stored in the shelter came from different rivers.
To Hito, that was logical reasoning, as that river could stretch for miles. The poison that the water carried was possibly killing the other survivors little by little.
"It is decided."Nina exclaimed, then brandished the sword Emily had previously given her and continued, "I'm going to eliminate anyone who is polluting this river."
Sebas replied cheerfully, "I think we're starting to think alike."
"Isn't this a little suicidal?" Leo asked, and after a short pause, continued, "Klein, aren't you going to tell them anything?"
"Truth be told, I've had enough of looking for flowers. If we have a chance to eliminate the problem at the root, I won't waste it." Klein replied.
Then, a silence invaded the conversation and Nina's words began to echo. "Emily, I know you are capable of coming with us. However, we don't know what we are up against in this forest. Please, Hito, could you go back with Emily?"
Nina's voice rang with the full weight of responsibility and affection for her companions.
"I'm sorry, but I refuse."
Hito replied, then looked at her seriously and continued, "My sister might be in this place."
At that moment, Hito knew perfectly well that his sister was not in that place, his real goal was to find Persephlora and eliminate her, so he had no reason to abandon them.
After most had answered, it only remained to hear Emily's answer.
"Don't ask me to do something so selfish. I'm going to accompany them, even if you think the same as Sebas." She answered while smiling.
Sebas looked at her seriously, while Nina approached her and then hugged her. Next, she told him in a worried voice, "You are the youngest, please don't expose yourself too much."
At that moment, Hito experienced a strange and touching feeling. The image of Nina and Emily together seemed to reflect the care and protection he had had for his own sister.
"All right, all right. Just don't talk like we're going to die." Leo said resignedly, but his tone revealed that he didn't really object and would be willing to accompany them without much thought.
At the moment, they all started walking in the opposite direction of the river. All the flowers with bushes following it started to come out the little skeletons.
It was obvious that the change of decision had not pleased the little ones. However, since they were not as dangerous. It was the perfect scenario for Hito to discover the combat skills of his new companions.
At that instant, Emily asked, "Don't you have any weapon?"
Hito shook his head from side to side in denial. At that moment, Leo approached him and handed him a medium dagger, offering him one to defend himself.
When the skeletons began to attack, Nina and her companions took up a defensive position.
As the skeletons approached, Nina swung her sword to cut each of them down.
Leo used two spears to support Klein who, with his shield, contained the sides where more skeletons were approaching.
Sebas used small daggers, which were used to support Nina.
Although the skeletons did not pose a danger at that moment, more continued to arrive. At that moment, Hito remembered what had happened with the spiders.
The problem with them was not their characteristics, but the effects they could apply at any moment.
Hito did not want to risk the same thing happening, so he quickly began to attack the approaching skeletons offensively.
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Leo and the others, watched in amazement at Hito's speed and agility.
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'Do they give less experience than spiders?' Hito wondered as he continued slashing at the skeletons with the dagger.
« +1 XP»
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The minutes passed and the combat continued, it was as if there were an infinite number of skeletons. It was then when a peculiar sound caught everyone's attention: the sound of falling trees.
Suddenly, a big skeleton appeared among the trees.
"It has the shape of a minotaur!" Klein exclaimed.
The skeleton without holding back began to attack Hito. However, Hito was more agile, he could quickly dodge its blows.
Besides, the small skeletons kept coming. As he dodged the big skeleton's blows, with difficulty he also managed to kill the small skeletons little by little.
At this point, Hito was already starting to get tired, it was a matter of time before they all gradually ran out of strength.
Without hesitation, Hito decided to use «Stealth». However, before that, Hito's eyes widened slightly as a sign of surprise when he saw Emily appear behind the large skeleton to cut with her great sword, the spine and the roots it contained inside.
The large skeleton fell in two and the roots it contained began to wither.
Hito was amazed by Emily's skill. When he tried to look for her again with his eyes, he realized that she had already moved away from him to continue killing skeletons.
At that moment, Hito remembered the words Nina had said to her, 'Please don't expose yourself too much.'
Finally, Hito understood that Nina's words did not mean that Emily was weak, but that she said so because she was the one leading the attacks on the front line.