Wan might not have been the first player to die in the tower, but for those who had survived this far, it was a stark reminder of the chaos that awaited. One wrong move could lead to death.
Hundreds had already died; what was one more, I thought to myself.
When Leo snapped out of his trance.
"Alright, I need to go get the item," he said resolutely. "Stay here."
"No, we're going with you," Lia said, pulling on his undershirt.
"No, it'd be faster if I go alone. I'll be right back, I promise. Then we'll go straight for the boss," he said, running into the forest. After Leo left, Mia and Lia began to pace around the platform anxiously. As time passed, they decided to follow the path he had taken.
"He told us to stay," I said, trying to reason with them.
"Shut up," Mia yelled, not slowing her pace. "We'll be fine."
Lia spoke up, her concern evident. "Aren't you worried about Leo?"
"He told us to stay. I'm sure he's done this hundreds, if not thousands, of times in the game." I replied monotonously.
faintly in the dim, misty light that filtered through the trees.
Behind her, Lia followed, clutching a slender staff crowned with a glowing white crystal. The crystal's ethereal light rippled across the murky water, casting soft, wavering reflections that danced with the swamp's shadows.
I trailed after them, unsheathing my sword. Its hilt bore a proud lion emblem, mirroring the one embossed on Leo's armor
The swamp water was deep, reaching up to our knees, with only occasional patches of solid ground visible. The area felt unsettling, as if we were being watched from every direction. The water was thick with an earthy smell, and the occasional ripple.
As we strayed further from the path, a weathered sign caught my attention. I paused, my eyes narrowing as I read the faded letters:
"Beware of Grim."
As we moved cautiously through the water, I suddenly heard a rushing sound approaching us. From the murky depths emerged a lizard man. His form was nearly human, but his face and body bore the distinct features of a dragon—scales, sharp eyes, and a snout-like nose. He carried a green spear, weathered and worn from frequent use, and he moved through the water with surprising grace, almost as if he were a fish.
Without hesitation, I drew my sword. The lizard man charged at us, his spear aimed directly at Mia.
Slam!
His spear struck Mia's shield with such force that it cracked and shattered. The blow was so intense that Mia had to use her arm to absorb the impact, flinching as the force hit her. Despite the damage, Mia grinned deviously and pushed the lizard man back, causing him to lose his balance and stumble.
"Now!" Mia yelled.
"Light_Bind," Lia said, raising her staff
A rope of pure white light materialized from its tip. The rope, glowing with a soft white as it coiled around the lizard man, binding him tightly. It was as if the rope were woven from strands of light. The lizard man fought against the rope, but it held tight, restricting his movements and leaving him ensnared. His eyes widened.
"Just kill it and let's get going," I sighed.
"No," Mia and Lia said in unison.
"You need to kill it," Mia laughed. "Why should we?"
Reluctantly, I unsheathe my sword again and struck the lizard man. Killing a lizard man was a lot different from killing slimes; I could feel my sword twisting and contorting inside him. The pain and cries as he yelled for his life were almost palpable.
It took a while for me to finish him off. He pleaded, promising to leave and not call for backup, but I didn't listen. As he slumped to the ground motionlessly, his final scream echoed throughout the entire floor.
Mia knelt down next to the lizard men taking its scales and teeth to sell to the guild.
"You truly are an emotionless husk," Mia laughed.
I sighed, my hands shaking. I tried to hide my discomfort from them..
"We need to get moving," Lia said softly. "He called for backup."
"We didn't need to kill him, we could have let him go," I said.
"He would have called for backup regardless," Mia said plainly. "After all, they're only monsters."
We continued through the swamp for a bit longer until the water level decreased and we reached a grassland.
The grassland was dotted with a few trees and bushes, and there was a well-trodden brown path. Footprints with three claw marks could be seen, indicating lizard men frequently traveled this way.
After a few minutes of walking in silence, Lia spoke up. "I'm sensing a monster headed this way with magic."
We quickly dove into a bush, hoping to avoid the lizardman troops. However, what appeared in front of us was not a group of lizardmen but a single lizard woman dressed in a light green dress. She carried a basket of herbs and other items, with a metal sickle attached to her belt.
"Husk, go over there and draw its attention," Mia ordered, her voice sharp. I sighed and followed her command.
I stepped out of the bush, causing her to drop her basket. She began to shake uncontrollably and reached for her sickle, but her trembling hands caused her to drop it immediately.
"Listen, I only want to talk," I said. As I spoke, I noticed Mia and Lia moving stealthily through the darkness, concealed by the foliage. She seemed to notice their approach and began to cry, her tears glistening as they reflected off her scales.
"Light_Bind," Lia commanded, her voice filled with a confidence I had never heard from her before. She sounded like a true force to be reckoned with.
"Kill it," Mia's voice was cold.
She pleaded, her voice breaking through her sobs. "No, please, I have a family. Please don't—my child... I haven't seen my child since the fracture."
"Husk, kill it…" Mia's command was unwavering.
"Please," The lizard woman sobbed, falling to her knees.
"If you don't, we will," Lia said softly.
"Monsters," She whispered, barely audible, meant only for me to hear.
I unsheathe my sword, my arm heavy. I approached her, placing my sword on her shoulder. In one swift motion, I ended her life.
I fell to the ground, my heart heavy with the burden of what I had done.
"We didn't have to kill her." I said quietly.
"She looked and talked like a human," I added, trying to make sense of it.
"They're far from human," Mia snapped, her anger clear in her eyes.
"They're only monsters," Lia agreed, her voice cold. "Let's go back."