Chapter 266: Shift
Leon, while swinging against a bloated, pulsating flesh construct shaped like a mass of tendrils and bone, missed his mark. His longsword came down at the wrong angle, being less precise than usual, and the monster responded.
It let out a screech unlike anything they’d heard. From its body, a single tendril shot forward, too fast for him to react.
*THWIP!*
A black leech-like growth slammed against his armor and wormed its way into the gap between his chestplate and neck guard.
"Fuck!" Sasha cried out, losing an arrow that blew apart the monster’s core. It was too late.
The warrior stumbled back while alarmedly grabbing at his neck. The parasite was already gone. Inside.
"I’m fine..." Leon muttered soon after examining his body thoroughly, but his face said otherwise. He was pale and visibly trying not to vomit.
Kaiden and the others rushed to his side. "Where is it?"
Leon shook his head. "I felt it... Something burrowed inside. I can still feel it moving. It’s not hurting me, but..."
He didn’t finish the sentence.
Diaz had a grim tone. "You need to get it checked. It might be a symbiote. Could be waiting to take control or, more fitting for this dungeon’s theme, eat you from the inside out."
For a moment, Leon hesitated. He was frustrated with his giant mistake. A momentary lapse in focus was enough to not only jeopardize the dungeon clear but also possibly cost him his life. His hand trembled over the hilt of his blade as his anger at himself grew.