Perry gripped his magic book tightly, his eyes locked nervously on the creature circling through the grass. The creature didn't rush to approach but kept spinning around him, almost as if it was toying with its prey. Just then, the moonlight started to break through the clouds, casting a silver glow over the grass around him. The creature's shadow hesitated, pausing in its movement.
Perry took a deep breath and whispered, "Water Sword." A blade formed of clear, flowing water appeared in his hand, its faint glow merging with the moonlight, bolstering his confidence. Step by cautious step, he advanced, scanning his surroundings with tense vigilance, ready to confront any unknown threat.
At that moment, a familiar voice called from the grass ahead. "Henry?"
Perry's heart skipped a beat, the voice was unmistakably Fido's. He held his guard, but he couldn't help feeling a bit of relief. "Is that you, Fido?" he asked cautiously, hope filling his voice.
But rather than revealing Fido, the grass remained eerily still, growing even more ominous. Perry's brow furrowed, doubt creeping in. Carefully, he pushed aside the grass, trying to get a better view. However, the sight that met his eyes made his blood run cold.
A tall figure stood hidden among the grass, his face covered by a ghastly black-and-white mask. The mask looked like some ancient tribal carving, its lines rugged and strange, exuding an ominous expression. Its size was slightly exaggerated, covering nearly his entire face. The figure's torso was bare and deathly pale, his skin marked by bizarre tattoos, as if cursed runes burned upon his flesh.
"Hehehe, you answered me… hehehe!" The masked figure cackled unnervingly. Perry's face turned pale, the voice started as Fido's but had shifted into a shrill, twisted laugh, chilling to the bone.
"You answered me! You answered me, so now I can finally leave!" The figure let out a sharp, high-pitched laugh, his tone twisting with a near-frenzied excitement. His hands shook as he slowly raised them, reaching for the eerie black-and-white mask. Under the moonlight, his bony, pale fingers appeared drained of life, as though the mask itself had leeched away his vitality.
Then, he began to tear at the mask, his movements filled with savage, distorted obsession. As he tugged, the mask emitted a piercing, tearing sound, as if it was not merely an object but deeply fused with his skin and bones. Perry's pulse quickened, beads of cold sweat forming on his brow, instinct warning him of something deeply sinister.
The man let out a hissing groan of pain with each tug, as if every rip tore at his nerves. His fingernails dug into the edges of the mask, scraping along his face, trying to pry it off, but the mask clung as if it had become part of his flesh. His fingers slid through trails of blood, the bright red staining the mask's edges and seeping down his face, as though the curse of the mask was devouring him bit by bit.
Bit by bit, the mask peeled away, exposing a small, bloodied section of his face. But rather than freeing him, it seemed only to drive him deeper into madness. Perry involuntarily took a step back, icy dread prickling along his spine. His eyes widened as he stared at the man's blood-smeared face, barely recognizable, but the eyes beneath were unmistakable——white streaked with crimson veins, pupils burning with a sinister insanity, as if he'd found some twisted pleasure in his torment.
"Ah… finally… free…" the man gasped, his eyes locked unblinking on Perry, his lips twisting into a grin, equal parts fanatical and sinister. His face, streaked in blood, was mottled with fragments of the mask, embedding like the remnants of a torn curse branding his flesh. His breaths were heavy and uneven, each accompanied by a raspy chuckle that sent chills racing down Perry's spine.
Perry held his breath, feeling a frigid chill surge through him from within, his watery sword trembling slightly in his hand. He realized now that this person was no longer his friend Fido, but rather a being consumed by dark energy. Even the mask seemed to exude an ominous aura, as though it bore an ancient curse. Perry instinctively took a step back, every fiber of his being sounding the alarm.
"Run away...Hehehehe, you can't escape..." The man approached Perry, a twisted smile on his face, fragments of the mask dropping to the ground with each step, sinking into the dirt as if reminding Perry of the horror he couldn't escape. His steps were distorted and erratic, swaying as if without bones, yet with an unsettling determination, his gaze locked onto Perry.
Perry felt his heart racing, cold sweat trickling down his forehead. He realized he was in serious danger. The curse on the mask didn't just affect the man; it seemed to be seeping into the air, lowering the temperature, and casting a deadening shadow over the plants around them. He dared not linger any longer and turned, running to escape this monstrous figure consumed by the mask.
Perry sped up, pushing his legs to the limit as he tore through the underbrush, sweat running down his forehead. As he ran, he called out to the system, "What… what exactly is that thing?"
[Unknown, but it radiates powerful dark energy. The mask seems to be cursed. Host, do not let that thing place the mask on you!] The system's voice was calm but urgent.
"Why is he so fast? He's barely skin and bones!" Perry panted, his energy draining, his pace slowing slightly. Meanwhile, the maniac kept closing in, almost upon him, lifting the mask, preparing to press it onto Perry's face.
"If the mask is the source of the curse, then I can just destroy it!" Perry's eyes flashed with determination, realizing he couldn't keep running. His stamina was nearly exhausted, and the cursed monster showed no signs of slowing. He knew that escape alone wouldn't save him; his only chance was to eliminate the source of this curse.
He tightened his grip on his water sword, scanning his surroundings for any resource he could use. His gaze fell on a patch of dense black grass swaying in the night. The grass appeared unusually lush and resilient, exuding a strange energy under the dim moonlight. Perry sensed that this grass could be the key to his counterattack.
Taking a deep breath, he quickly reached out to touch the black grass beside him. The fine texture prickled against his fingertips, and he could feel the magical energy pulsing within the plants, like coiled serpents waiting for his command. He whispered the incantation for "Plant Control," channeling his magic into the grass, taking command of its growth, tangling, and strength. The grass trembled as if in response to his will, producing a faint rustling as its leaves brushed together.
"Now!" Perry focused his energy, directing all his attention to controlling the plants. He commanded the black grass to surge toward the cursed man, and instantly, the grass sprang to life, growing wildly, like eerie arms stretching out to surround their target.
"Heheheheh—" The man's laugh suddenly shifted, turning into a cry of shock and anger. He hadn't anticipated the ambush. The dark grass snaked around his legs, anchoring him to the spot. He twisted and writhed, trying to break free from the plants' rapidly thickening grasp, but the more he struggled, the tighter the vines grew, as if they had a life of their own, refusing to let go.
Perry didn't relent. He knew that immobilizing his opponent alone wouldn't be enough. This cursed creature was unnaturally powerful and could break free at any moment. He poured more magic into the grass, commanding it to coil further around the maniac's body, binding his arms and neck as well. The vines grew in layers, wrapping around him like a living cage.
The man let out an enraged, crazed scream, but as the vines tightened, his movements slowed, and even his breathing became labored. Perry glanced at the mask, noticing a faint dark glow still emanating from it, he knew the curse had not yet been dispelled. He had to destroy it immediately.
He raised his water sword and stepped toward the spot where the maniac had dropped the mask. Under his control, the sword emitted a faint blue glow as he channeled all his strength into it, striking down on the mask. The moment the blade touched it, the black curse energy erupted like a dark cloud, attempting to fight back. But the pure water element magic from the sword enveloped the dark aura, instantly neutralizing the curse.
With a sharp cracking sound, the mask shattered under Perry's sword, its fragments turning to fine dust that scattered into the air, disappearing without a trace.
"Ahhhh—!" The man screamed, a heart-wrenching cry, his body twisting violently as black smoke and blisters appeared on his skin, as though he were burning. The surrounding silence was shattered by his agonized screams, chilling the air. Perry's eyes widened as he gripped his water sword tightly, staring in shock at the scene before him.
"What's happening?" he murmured, instinctively taking a step back.
[It appears to be the backlash effect of the curse, Host.] System's blue orb explained, a hint of surprise in its voice.
Moments later, the cursed man seemed to dissolve into a pool of black liquid, which slowly seeped into the ground, vanishing completely. Only then did Perry let out a breath of relief, but at that moment, he faintly heard a distant voice calling out.
"Henry, where are you?" The voice echoed again, this time sounding unmistakably like Fido.
The blue orb flew into the air, quickly scanning the area. [There are signs of movement ahead,] it reported calmly.
Perry's heart sank. He gripped the water sword tighter, a sense of unease creeping over him. "Could it be that strange thing again…?" he muttered, recalling the terrifying scene of the cursed mask. He was torn, worried about missing the real Fido, and hesitated as he looked ahead, thinking, "Whatever happens, if that mask shows up again, I'll just cut it down right away!"