The sun illuminating the carnage I had left— the warm rays against my broken body. My eyes slowly fluttered open. I could barely move— my back was still bruised — my left arm maimed, practically useless— sore muscles and cuts all over. I strenuously sat up and glanced at my surroundings. The abhorrent's remains still festered beside me. The visceral sight made me nauseous. It made me remember its snarl— its sadistic smile— it reminded me of Richard. He didn't scare me anymore but— the memories still hurt. But now I can say I killed him twice.
'I did that…'
I still couldn't believe that I killed it— in that brutal fashion. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I didn't know how to look at myself. A monster. A survivor. A cockroach. Maybe I'm all of them. I don't even know any more. Then I remembered what I heard right before I passed out. It was from the system. If I remembered correctly I gained XP along with something called an 'Adaptation'.
"System" I raspily wheezed out.
Ping!
────────────────────────────────────────────
⟢ SYSTEM INTERFACE ⟣
[ VEILBREAKER STATUS ]
────────────────────────────────────────────
» NAME: Kerrigan
» BLESSED TITLE: Veilbreaker
» RANK: Neo (9,850 XP to Rising Rank)
» AFFINITY: None
═════════ STATS ═════════
▪ Strength: 3 [+2]
▪ Agility: 18
▪ Intelligence: 7
▪ Mana: 15,000 MP
▪ Sense: 15 [+3]
▪ Vitality: 20 [+5]
═════════ SKILLS ═════════
[ Slot 1 ]: Hyperdrive — 100 MP/use
[ Slot 2 ]: Locked (Rising Rank)
[ Slot 3 ]: Locked (Eminence Rank)
[ Slot 4 ]: Find Skillbook
[ Slot 5 ]: Find Skillbook
═════════ EQUIPPED ITEMS ═════════
Whisper of Rot — [+2 Strength]
> When injected with mana, coats the blade in a toxic sheen.
> Inflicted wounds decay over time.
Veil of the Fading Whisper — [+5 Vitality, +3 Sense]
> When injected with mana, nullifies all sound produced by the wearer.
═════════ ADAPTATIONS ═════════
» Flow (Level 1): In moments of mortal danger, the mind empties.
Emotion fades. Only the fight remains.
────────────────────────────────────────────
I raised my eyebrow as I stared at my status screen. 150 XP— not much, but it meant something. Progress. And then there was the new addition. An adaptation called Flow. As I read its description, a wry smile twisted my lips. It made sense now. That eerie calm during the fight. That stillness in the chaos. I wasn't calm— I was empty. Detached. Flow had taken over.
'So that was what happened when I fought it— that's why I didn't have a single thought in my mind… It'll help me fight more of these in the future'
I shuddered at the thought of coming across more of those abhorrents. It was single-handedly the most terrifying experience of my life. My hands were still shaking from the brutal encounter. I quietly chuckled to myself.
"I survived— maybe I am a cockroach cough cough tactical escape artist…"
The laughter faded quickly. Pain reminded me I was still very much mortal. I glanced at my mangled left forearm— the fucker left gashes so deep I could see bone. At least they weren't broken. The part of the Veil of Fading Whisper was torn— understandably— so I fully tore it off. With it I then made a makeshift arm-sling for my fucked up arm. I have to go full 'one-armed swordsman' for the rest of the journey.
It just got that much harder. I still had to get down this goddamn mountain… with one arm. I glanced back at the onyx tablet— I noticed that my 'Flow' adaptation had levels to it. I mused quietly.
'If it has levels that means I can make it more stronger and killing these beasts will be more easier'
"Close system"
The tablet disintegrated and I stood up. I knew what I needed to know. I looked at the path I would be taking. Now illuminated in daylight. In the far off distance— the blood red forest stood. Waiting for me. Its branches— still writhing. But behind it— salvation. A stretch of black plains and then— the source of the lights. From here, it was just a grey dot. But I knew—I had to reach it.
Dragging my legs over to the abhorrent's corpse, I yanked my blade free from its rotting mug. The Whisper of Rot. Its blade— stained in black blood. I then cleaned the blade with the fabric of the Veil of the Fading whisper. Returning it to its damascus beauty— then sheathing it in my scabbard.
Vuam!
From my storage ring— I took out my spatial water bottle and drank heartily. I could drink as much as I wanted to— it had 500 litres! Haha! I was enjoying this way too much. I then put the bottle back in the storage ring— now feeling more refreshed; more energetic. I looked down the ledge I was on.
"Oh boy… That's a long way down…"
I had a VERY long way to go. I filled my lungs with the cool air; proceeded to begin my descent once again.
***
Descend.
Rest.
Eat.
Drink.
Repeat.
This was my strict routine for the next 2 weeks. I didn't allow myself to rest. I wasn't safe not yet. Throughout the descent I hadn't encountered any other abhorrents— I was probably lucky. But I won't jinx it. My body slowly healed— the bruises on my back faded away faster than I thought— the gashes on my forearm started to close up; allowing me to use it once again. My body was under constant strain. Yet it never wavered. I assumed that it was due to the mana in my system— it most likely sped up my healing factor allowing me to descend for up to 15 hours in a day. I was being serious when I said I didn't want to rest.
Food wasn't an issue. The nutrient cubes in the storage ring were more than enough to keep me satiated. So was water— the 500 litres wasn't running out anytime soon. Although there weren't any dangers— I wasn't going to let my guard down considering how lucky I can be. I was most wary of entering the blood forest. I wasn't far— only a day's descent remained.
Throughout those 2 weeks— I grew stronger— faster — my body felt lighter. The constant descent was practically my daily workout. The muscles on my arms were now coiled with a bit more power— not much but it was progress. I was happy with what I'd accomplished so far.
I stood up from the onyx black ledge which I was resting on— I was near to the base of the monstrous peak. The air wasn't as thin anymore— that brought more problems than benefits. With my sense stat being higher— the clarity and range of my senses improved; from where I was I could hear two creatures roaming around the mountain's base. They were approximately 200 meters below. Their croaks reverberated in my eardrums faintly. Abhorrents. Somehow for the past two weeks I managed to avoid them— I got lucky but that streak has now ended.
I took a deep breath— filling my lungs with the cold air; mentally preparing myself for the future confrontation. I could avoid them— it would be at the cost of an extra day to my already weeks-long journey. I wasn't willing to delay any more. I took out my spatial water bottle and a nutrient cube from my storage ring and had my meal for the day. Delicious, am I right? I stored them back in the ring and commenced my descent.
My body was still in a state of recovery from my encounter with the abhorrent 2 weeks prior— so movement was quite painful but manageable. I made my way down— climbing down every protruding ledge of onyx rock. In some places I was only a single slip from meeting my maker— in others you could call it a down hill stroll.
The one thing that stood out to me was how truly massive the next segment of my journey would be. The Blood Forest. I was much closer now— terrifyingly so. The twisted red amalgamations they called trees stood writhing— imitating the real thing. It couldn't fool me— from the very beginning I knew there was something wrong with it.
The croaking of the two abhorrents grew louder— more prominent— I was just above them at this point. Only a few meters above them. I walked over to the edge of the ledge I stood upon— I looked down; my gaze befalling the decrepit jet black creatures. They had a similar build to the abhorrent of ordeal I fought— but they were significantly weaker. They were distinctly smaller— only 5 to 6 ft in height; the abhorrent of ordeal was taller than 7ft. Along with a smaller stature— their builds were also smaller.
'These are lower ranked than the one I fought; I could beat the two of them together'
These were crawling all fours— the sight was unnerving to put it lightly. Flashbacks flooded my mind— how I was so close to death. How I survived out of pure luck— out of the creature's arrogance. Yet— the creatures below me weren't even a fraction of what that was. They looked— pitiful… I was still terrified but not as much.
I steeled my mind as I unsheathed the Whisper of Rot. Injecting my mana into it— the beauty of the damascus steel transmuted into a black blight. Coated in the poison of decay. I masked my scent and sound by simultaneously injecting mana into the Veil of the Fading Whisper— or what's left of it.
When the two abhorrents were separated— one went to the left whereas the other stayed in its place— I took the opportunity. My plan was to jump onto the one that didn't move and drive the Whisper of Rot into it— after that I would go and sneak-attack the other. It sounded simple— so it should work…
Right?
I leaped from the ledge above onto the abhorrent that wasn't joining its friend. As I fell in the air— the creature noticing something was wrong jerked its mug up.
It only saw an onyx black blade piercing its left eye before it all went black. As I landed with a muffled thump on the rock— I drove the Whisper of Rot through its skull with every fibre of my being. It had to die. The decay effect had initiated— its crimson red flesh degraded into a lifeless grey.
The abhorrent convulsed violently— trying to scream in agony. I didn't let it— only driving my blade deeper in its cranium; so much that it exited from the back of its head. Its movements became sluggish and silence befalls. Its struggle was over. I panted heavily— eyes shot open in shock at what I just did.
'I did it— it actually fucking worked!'
I was genuinely over the moon with my accomplishment— I killed it without getting hurt. I gripped onto the Whisper of Rot and unsheathed it from the abhorrent's skull. As I did— a familial harmonious voice played in my head.
[ YOU HAVE FELLED AN ABHORRENT OF MISFORTUNE ]
[ YOU HAVE GAINED 50 XP ]
I was right— they were much weaker. It gave less XP and it went down without much of a struggle. I refocused my mind once again.
'One down, one more to go'
I walked trepidatiously to the other abhorrent— crouching slowly as I did. My heart was racing— from the shock of success and from the fear of death. I drew closer and closer. My knuckles— going white from the vice grip on the Whisper of Rot. I was right behind it.
'Here goes nothing'
I take a deep breath. Without skipping a beat— I dash to its side and drive the Whisper of Rot into it. The oblivious creature wailed in agony and shock— the poison blade corrupting its insides.
KHHHARRRR
It roared in agony— I just kept driving the blade deeper and deeper. I thought I could overpower the abhorrent of misfortune. I was proven wrong when it sweeped its arm in an arc— hitting me square in the abdomen; launching me to the edge of the ledge we stood upon.
I was barely standing— I had to use the Whisper of Rot as a leverage to stand up. That one attack ripped the very air out from my lungs— I felt nauseous. It was weaker— yet overwhelmingly stronger than me. I fucked up. The creature charged at me. My breath hitched— I had no clue what to do. Thankfully its movements were groggy— the Whisper of Rot had done its damage. It stood up on its hind legs to slash at my torso— I ducked and countered with a visceral stab to its neck. My blade impaling all the way through.
The creature's roars regressed into shrills and groans— its movements sloppier and more sluggish. But as a way to spite me in its last moments it lunged at me— causing me to lose balance. Its weight pushed against my body— my eyes widened in horror as my feet slipped on the very edge.
I was falling.
Both me and the dead abhorrent were falling along the side of the mountain. Out of pure instinct I let go of the Whisper of Rot— leaving it lodged in the creature's throat— and I bear-hugged the corpse. Trying to limit the pain— the damage that was going to befall me.
Crash!
Our bodies crashed along the side of the mountain— the corpse taking the full brunt of it. The impact was so violent I almost let go— I gritted my teeth and held on tighter. We rebounded off the side and were falling once again.
Crash!
Crack!
We collided once again— this time I could feel the bones of the dead abhorrent snapping and breaking with the impact. I curled up against my meat shield but I wasn't unharmed— cuts began to accumulate on my arms and legs. Each one— worse than the last.
'FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK!'
My mind was in shambles— I fucked up big time. I was too overconfident in my abilities. I had underestimated the strength of the abhorrent due to its lower rank— it was leagues stronger than me. If I had only planned better.
Crash!
Crash!
We kept falling and rebounding— my body was in agony. My wounds were opening up— my back now bruised once again. The gashes on my forearm— bleeding. I truly thought that I was going to die.
'NO! NO! NO! Not now! I NEED TO FIND THEM! I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO ME! I CAN'T DIE HERE!'
A whirlwind of thoughts roared in my mind— I didn't want to die. I wasn't going to. The abhorrents corpse was mangled beyond recognition— bones were snapped and protruding from its corpse— its blood soiling my attire and body. I didn't care.
I wanted to live— to survive.
CRASH!
SMASH!
The world went black— I thought I was actually dead. After who knows how long— pain enveloped my body and my eyes shot open. The sun bore upon my pathetic figure. I laid on the ground— something was different though. It wasn't rock. It was softer— like soil.
My eyes widened— I instinctively sat up. I regretted this action dearly— pain electrocuted my nerves. I pushed past the agonising pain and stood up— taking the Whisper of Rot out of the abhorrent's jugular. My legs trembled violently as I stood up— the fabric of the Veil of the Fading Whisper torn in multiple areas– cuts and bruises marred my legs and body.
'How am I alive…'
I then looked around. What I saw was both the source of my joy and my nightmares. I made it. I finally reached the very bottom of the monstrous peak. After 2 arduous weeks— I fucking did it. But…. I was now face to face with the thing that made me tremble in fear— made my skin crawl. I was face to face with a large forest. Its trees— amalgamations of red mass. Its branches twisted— writhing. The stems marred in black vein-like tendrils.
It was the Blood Forest.