Shattered Republic ( Part 6 )
After giving everyone a brief overview of the System inside him and what it had been doing ,Jack summoned the blue screen that only he could see.
[
System Notification
Rejuvenation Bars ; 1/1
Level up Requirement ; points x 100
]
He remembered how healing his ankle had brought the number of rejuvenation bars to zero.
In the time that they had been preoccupied with the first floor , the System seemed to have replenished that number of rejuvenation bars.
It was however unfortunate that he did not have the required amount of points to level up the talent. This would have given him more of those healing bars.
[
System Information
Points;
Source : Completing System quests , defeating foes ,System maintenance rewards.
]
"So, this System is inside your body along with that girl Aiko?" Hamilton asked as the two men cautiously approached the gaping hole in the center of the room.
They were met with the horrific sight of charred bodies scattered across the ground floor, accompanied by the low growls of a nearby beast.
"And I fear I may have only one shot at healing my body if I get severely wounded," Jack replied, contemplating whether the Rejuvenation Talent consumed the rejuvenation bars for a complete heal or gradually, depending on the severity of the wound and the rate at which it needed to be healed.
He hoped for the former but braced himself for the latter.
"She called it a Dread Ghost, and now I see why," Hamilton said, shaken by the carnage below him. "So, what's your plan this time?"
"I need to see the beast first," Jack said, turning back as Hamilton followed him.
"Will it be a crap plan?"
"Probably."
"What's the plan?" Linzy asked when Jack arrived at her side.
"We have to move carefully. How's Cynthia's condition?"
"I can manage," Cynthia replied, trying to lift her body but failing. She had lost too much blood, resulting in a severe case of anemia. Her body felt too weak, perpetually fatigued.
"No, you cannot. I'll carry you on my back," Hamilton insisted.
Jack sighed but remained silent. He knew Cynthia would slow Hamilton down, but he couldn't bring himself to voice that concern. The look in Cynthia's eyes indicated she shared his worries.
"The System grants me the ability to learn the enemy's weaknesses once I have it in sight, so I'll lead the way," Jack explained. After receiving no objections, he headed for the next stairway. He cast a painful glance at Timothy's corpse lying in his path; half of his face was charred down to the bone.
"Rest in peace, sir," Jack whispered before moving on.
His resolve solidified, allowing him to refocus on the pressing matter at hand.
As the group descended the stairs, the air grew hotter. They began sweating and breathing heavily, the levels of oxygen replaced by carbon dioxide with each step they took. At the hallway's end, the walls had lost their vibrant creamy color, eaten away by the festering flames that burned sporadically along their surfaces.
Jack gripped the wooden spike he had broken from one of the desks on the first floor with renewed determination as he made the bold move toward the curve of the wall.
Out here and so close to the open, he could hear the monster's low sounds clearly. They seemed to emanate from the far end of the floor, toward the exit.
He craned his head forward, and his eyes fell upon the new beast.
It definitely lived up to its name.
The creature before him, was a grotesque amalgamation of horror. Its primary form was a hybrid mix of white humanoid figure, the skin a pallid, ghostly hue, resembling fresh and an empty black skeleton. Heavy chains, rusted and tattered, wrapped around its body like a sinister embrace, clinking softly as it moved. The most disturbing feature, however, was the flames that flickered from its skeletal frame, a malevolent crimson glow that seemed to dance with a life of its own, casting eerie shadows across the walls.
These two forms continuously interchanged, creating an unsettling spectacle. With the aid of his Perception Talent, Jack realized the strange phenomenon was tied to the moonlight streaming through the windows.
Whenever the beast stepped into the illuminated patches, the fiery skeleton vanished, replaced by the ghostly white body wrapped in chains . But once it slipped back into the shadows, the burning inferno of its skeleton body erupted into visibility, illuminating its unholy bones in a hellish glow. This confirmed what Aiko had warned about its fire—it was a creature that feared the light.
"It cannot use fire when it is in the light," Jack murmured, his gaze narrowing as he focused intently on the abomination.
The Perception Talent revealed its threat level: a chilling level five.
The realization settled heavily in his gut—a grim foreboding that this creature was far more dangerous than anything they had faced thus far.
"Careful," Linzy whispered, swiftly pulling him back into the shadows. Before he could ask why, she pointed at a flickering bulb in the far corner.
The bulb exploded just as a Wailing Hound slithered out of the darkness, its eyes locked on its master (the Dread Ghost).
"Thanks, that was a close call," Jack said, grateful for Linzy's instincts.
She nodded in acknowledgment. "The beast is called a Dread Ghost, just as Aiko warned us. Its flames are deadly, but it can only unleash them in the shadows. We could have stayed close to the windows, but we have a Wailing Hound to contend with as well."
"Lucky for us the first hound in the third floor hasn't shown itself yet," Hamilton said, tension threading through his words. "If we're going to deal with this new one, we need to act fast."
Jack glanced at the weapon in his hand. "One attack through the skull has taken down its kind before."
"Are you out of your mind? That Dread Ghost will incinerate you before you even get close to the Wailing Hound," Linzy shot back, her voice a mix of concern and disbelief.
"I agree with Linzy," Hamilton added, a scowl deepening his features. "Even if the ghost doesn't attack, that damn hound won't just sit back and let you stab it in the head."
"We need to draw the hound closer and distract the Dread Ghost long enough for me to take it out," Jack insisted, his resolve hardening. He didn't fully trust the System, but so far, it had met his expectations without fail.
"Then don't die," Cynthia chimed in, her voice weak.
Jack forced a smile. "Hamilton, once I kill the hound, get Cynthia out of here as fast as possible."
"And what about Linzy?" Hamilton asked, his brow furrowing.
"Well, the monster has to be distracted, doesn't it?" Linzy answered, her tone firm. She was stepping up in a way Jack hadn't expected.
"You're putting her life in danger," Hamilton protested, frustration lacing his voice.
"I'm putting it there myself," Linzy reassured him with a determined smile. "Now, what's the plan?" She turned to Jack, a glimmer of confidence in her eyes.
Jack hesitated, weighing the risks.
"Jack?" Linzy pressed, breaking the silence.
"The water sprinklers put out the creature's fire before," Jack finally sighed, formulating a strategy. "The Wailing Hound is probably interfering with the ground floor's fire alarm system, so we'll need to turn it on manually. That will activate the sprinklers and keep the Dread Ghost occupied while I deal with the hound."
"Another terrible plan," Hamilton scoffed, almost laughing.
"And yet here you are," Jack replied, a wry grin forming.
Linzy moved with meticulous care, each step bringing her closer to the Dread Ghost. The heat intensified, causing sweat to bead on her brow, and she winced as some of it trickled into her eyes. But she pushed past the discomfort, her focus locked on the fire alarm ahead.
It was just within reach.
Hamilton remained poised to sprint Cynthia out of the building, his eyes glued to Linzy, praying she wouldn't be exposed. Her bravery was commendable—he knew he couldn't attempt what she was doing, despite being a mage.
"Come on, almost there," Jack whispered, his heart racing.
The Wailing Hound had drifted closer, circling in a way that would keep it far from Linzy while still allowing Jack a chance to strike it before the Dread Ghost could come to defend it. He hated putting her in this position, but he also knew she would be in greater danger if she didn't do it at all.
Linzy reached the alarm, concealed within its glass case. She shot one last glance at Jack. Once this was plan was activated, there would be no turning back.
Jack nodded in encouragement.
"Hiiyah!" Linzy shouted as she smashed her fist through the glass, hitting the button inside. The Wailing Hound turned towards her, but Jack was already in motion. He went for it even before the sprinklers could even spray water onto the floor.
The Dread Ghost roared, charging through the shadows towards Linzy. The flames on its bones flared with fury.
Jack aimed the wooden spike at the hound's head, determined to end it in a single strike. His speed surged, and though the hound attempted to dodge, he still managed to pierce its delicate shoulder blade.
The hound howled in agony, a deafening wail that echoed through the room as it twisted violently, throwing Jack off balance. He stumbled backward, hitting the ground hard with a sickening thump.
Linzy breathed a sigh of relief when she saw the Dread Ghost stumble back, its flames extinguished by the drenching water. Without hesitating, she bolted past the monster, racing towards the exit. She stopped at the main door, waiting for the others to catch up. They needed to hurry before the Dread Ghost recovered and engulfed the entire place in flames.
Hamilton followed close behind, adrenaline pumping through his veins. The weight of Cynthia felt lighter, driven by the urgency of the moment.
Suddenly, the Dread Ghost swung a furious fist, catching Hamilton in the side with a brutal swerve. The impact sent him crashing into a nearby desk, the force leaving him gasping for breath.
He coughed violently after hitting the ground, shaken but grateful that his bones were still intact. One of the perks of being born with elemental powers as a mage was enhanced durability—something he'd need now more than ever.