Chapter 454: A test? (1/2)

Ilea had really thought the day to day life of adventurers was more exciting. Maybe she and the Shadow’s Hand really were outliers as much as she was made to believe.

They were literally protecting Edgar, the man collecting herbs in the various caves they had explored.

The group knew their way around, checked for hidden monsters at every corner. It certainly was efficient, if the goal was to collect herbs and not fight a single creature for the whole duration of their delve.

Could just Monster Hunter me some creatures out of the depths… no Ilea, don’t risk the lives of some honest and hard working herb collectors.

_______________________

She’s bored, Sohpia thought. This is not the time to be bored… it’s the time to be vigilant.

A muffled scream resounded from one of the tunnels.

Everyone turned towards the direction. Sophia checked in the opposite direction, in case of an ambush. Nothing was there.

“I’ll go check it out,” Ilea said and started walking.

“No… what, wait!” Sean called out as he dashed close to her, bow out and an arrow nocked.

“That didn’t sound pleasant, I will go. Stay if you like,” the healer said and vanished.

Sophia opened her eyes wide and looked for her, finding herself unable to locate the woman. How far did she go?

She looked around frantically.

“What do we do boss?” Colt asked, axe at the ready.

Sean was unsure, the ranger glancing towards Sophia.

“You want to go after her?” she asked and sighed. A thin layer of ice formed on top of her skin, below her duster and clothes.

She could feel the magic from her companions, skills activating.

“We vote, in favor?” Sean asked.

Edgar was the only one against but that didn’t matter. He nodded and prepared, stone armor forming on his body as bits and pieces of rock joined from the ground below.

Sean motioned them towards the scream and sped up, forming a couple of gestures with his hands.

Quiet, leave space, potential trap, Sophia interpreted. There were many reasons the ranger was their leader. She agreed with the assessment and followed behind, leaving Edgar to protect her back.

They have worked together for so many years, no further words needed to be said.

The tunnel lead downwards, few mushrooms remaining that would provide light. The guild’s warning was on her mind, and likely on those of her companions. They were risking their lives for a stranger. Sean just can’t help it.

And yet she was still here, ready to help. We will all die for this at one point or the other. Maybe today is the day.

She felt her mana flow through her body, the air cooling around her.

A distant light source illuminated a small cavern. Fire, a torch.

Burnt flesh, she thought and sniffed the air. It was getting warmer, despite her ice.

Her eyes widened as their group came into the open space. Blood, limbs and guts littered the ground, most of it partially burnt. Bones looked out from various sections.

It took everything she had not to puke out her dinner. Sean couldn’t handle it.

She saw movement behind a large bulge of scorched meat and focused on it, blades of ice forming on her arms as she crouched lightly.

“It’s me,” a voice resounded.

“Ilea?” Sophia asked.

“Yep… found a group of adventurers. Only one survived,” she said and suddenly turned her head. “More coming, prepare to fight.”

They were all prepared. “Colt, get the survivor and let’s-”

A gurgling sound washed through the area.

Fuck

‘ding’ ‘You have heard the call of a powerful beast. You are paralyzed for two seconds’

A creature shuffled into the light, various limbs scratching and moving over the ground.

[Rotten Abomination – lvl ??]

Sophia counted eight eyes in various places, just as many limbs of differing size, some ending in hands while other still in bone. She tried taking a step back but found herself unable to move.

Someone appeared in front of them. Ilea?

The healer looked back and grinned. “Do you think you can handle this one?”

Pieces of bone lashed out from the creature, intercepted by ashen tendrils that sprouted out of the healer’s back.

The two seconds had passed, all four of them jumping or teleporting back to make distance between themselves and the creature.

“What are you-” Sean said as he looked at the woman.

“Get away from that monster!” Colt shouted.

Which one? Sophia thought as she watched, lances of ice forming around her as she calmed her mind.

Ilea wasn’t there anymore. Instead there stood a being made entirely of ash, more than a dozen tendrils moving behind her back, like arms.

Elemental armor wasn’t rare. Sophia had ice armor herself, currently active under her clothes. What made this sight different was the sheer casual air coming from the woman.

She gulped, unsure who she should attack with her magic. She tricks and kills adventurers, eats them, she heard a voice in her mind but ignored it. She would have killed them already, why wait?

“You don’t want to? They’re pretty slow and it would definitely be good experience for you,” Ilea said and looked back.

The creature lashed out, attacking with a storm of limbs and bone, blood and flesh splattering around as it moved.

It could have just as well tried to attack a solid block of steel.

The healer whistled. “Stop it.”

‘ding’ ‘You have heard the call of a powerful healer. You are paralyzed for two seconds’

“Ah, that’s not what I wanted. Sorry,” Ilea said and lashed out with her limbs.

The Abomination was left without arms, squealing in rage as it recoiled in surprise.

“Kill it,” Sean said as soon as he could speak again.

“Sure?” Ilea asked.

“Wait,” Sophia called out. Give her what she wants. Otherwise we are dead. She glanced over to Sean and signaled him one thing. Danger.

“Well go on, I think it’s regenerating,” Ilea said, a series of bone spikes smashing into her armor without visible damage.

Sophia released her ice spears, the blades digging into the creature’s flesh. Rocks and arrows followed until it stopped moving.

‘ding’ ‘You have defeated [Rotten Abomination – lvl 312] – For defeating an enemy on hundred and eighty levels above your own, bonus experience is granted’

She ignored the messages ringing within her mind. The fight wasn’t done. Everyone was aware of it, waiting in silence.

Did we do the right thing? Why did she choose us? What are we? Something to play with? Something to eat? Is it a test?

A plethora of questions ran through her mind as she prepared her most powerful spells. Escape would be difficult. The woman could teleport, had medium range and in a closed space like this, she had an advantage. And the worst of all, she stood between them and the exit.

“Oh, four levels for that? Hmm,” the healer said and stepped closer.

What does she want?

“Oh my god, relax guys. It’s still me,” Ilea said and walked to the side, grabbing an unconscious adventurer that she lifted onto a small bed of ash.

“What do you want?” Sean asked.

_______________________

Ilea couldn’t believe it. One monstrous abomination dead and a lightly paralyzing ability and boom, you are the villain apparently.

She rolled her eyes. “What do you mean what do I want?”

Sean signed something to Sophia.

“Stop that signing shit. I’m not a monster. You can talk to me with words… seriously. What is it with you people?” she asked.

“How would you feel…,” Sophia said but stopped herself.

“What?” Ilea said.

“If it turned out your healer friend is a fucking monster,” she added. “You just stood there while it attacked!”

“I need to get resistances, I told you!” Ilea replied.

Colt started chuckling before he laughed out loud.

Nobody else seemed to think it funny.

At least I have him, Ilea thought and crossed her arms.