Chapter 110 ‒ The Weight of Mercy
Chapter 110 ‒ The Weight of Mercy
A thin fog clung to Yandi’s silent streets as Tyler stepped out of the teleportation gate, the glow of the runes behind him fading into the dark. The lanterns lining the walkways flickered softly, casting long, wavering shadows that crawled up the quiet shop walls.
NPC villagers bustled even at this late hour — carrying crates, sweeping doorsteps, sharing quiet laughs over midnight tea. Their gentle smiles and simple chatter drifted through the cool air like floating petals.
“Welcome back, Mister [Player]!” one called, waving a paw excitedly. Another, a small rabbit girl, darted forward with a flower crown half-woven in her paws. “We missed you!”
Tyler paused, helmet hiding the rigid set of his jaw. Their warmth felt like needles against his skin. His eyes shifted from one bright face to another, each joyful greeting twisting deeper into the pit of his gut.
They don’t know. They’ll never know… And it’s better that way. I should have stayed away…
Images spiralled in his mind: Shindo’s ashes curling into a black sky; Ivory Glen’s shattered lanterns and sobbing children. Miho’s terrified eyes. Milo’s final moments.
I keep saying I’ll protect them, but all I do is ruin everything I touch.
At his mansion gates, he hesitated. Inside, empty walls echoed under moonlight. A blank spot on one wall gnawed at him — where the painting of him, Miho, and Milo used to hang. Cupcake Crab had taken it when Tyler discarded it, declaring he didn’t deserve to see those faces again.
Tyler’s fingers twitched, remembering Miho’s trembling hands clutching her sleeves, her teary promise echoing under the moon.
I can’t let anyone get close. No more distractions. No more collateral damage.
He had planned to rest, if only for a moment — but his legs moved on their own, propelling him back into the street.
Bongo Banana’s new fruit shop squatted beneath a giant mango-shaped awning. The sign swung crookedly in the breeze, “OPEN” painted in cheerful, childish strokes.
“Bongo!” Tyler called, banging on the door. “Bongo, open up!”
After a series of clatters, Bongo back in his banana disguise opened the door. “Bro, it’s the middle of the night… I was dreamin’ of caramel coconuts…”
Tyler exhaled, voice sharp. “I need you to deliver these flowers and berries to Ashborough. Now.”
Bongo scratched his chin, yawning wide enough to show all his molars. “Man, I can’t. Got restocks coming, and there’s a fruit jam contest tomorrow. Can’t leave, sorry!”
Tyler’s gauntlet creaked as his fingers curled. For a breath, red sparks threatened to flicker beneath his visor. But he exhaled.
“…Fine.”
Bongo, sensing the tension, shuffled behind the counter and fished out a wrinkled parchment. “At least take this map. Shortcut trails. Good luck, [Player].”
Tyler snatched it with a quick flick, muttered thanks under his breath, and stormed off, the door clacking shut behind him.
---
Ashborough glowed dimly under scattered lanterns. Smoke drifted lazily from chimneys, and old wooden benches creaked softly in the night breeze. Tyler went straight to Frank’s house where Anne sat alone on a worn bench. Her eyes seemed vacant, one hand fidgeting with her other arm as if she wasn’t aware of it.
Tyler slowed as he passed her, helmet tilting slightly. The sight left a cold stone lodged in his chest.
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
Even here… I can’t help but bring trouble. Frank… Anne… they all trusted me…
He pushed open the laboratory door. The sharp tang of alchemical reagents struck him instantly. Beakers bubbled on metal burners, bright liquids dancing in glass tubes. Frank hunched over a thick book, adjusting valves and scribbling in hurried loops.
“[Player]!” Frank glanced up, eyes widening. “You made it back! You… you got them?”
Tyler set the pack on the table with a dull thud. The glow of Chrysopteryxiella Umbrosynth petals and plump cloudberries spilled out. Frank’s hands trembled as he picked up a blossom.
“By the stars… this is enough for a full batch, maybe more…”
Tyler didn’t reply. He shifted to the side, slumping onto a nearby stool. His fingers hovered above his helmet’s edge but never unclasped it.
Frank’s eyes flicked up, softening. “You look… different. You okay?”
Tyler didn’t answer. His gaze drifted past Frank, unfocused. On a side table, a faint glow pulsed softly — a curved object radiating golden light.
“What… what’s that?” Tyler finally asked, voice rough.
Frank followed his line of sight. “Oh! That… that’s an [Ancient Bone]. Sylvia’s father found it decades ago when he was mapping ruins beyond the border. He gave it to me to study, said it was my ‘lucky charm’ and something to pass down… it’s both research material and, well… a family heirloom now.”
Tyler’s fingers twitched. “It looks like the bones I got from Primordial beasts. I had three of them.”
Frank leaned forward, fascinated. “Had? What did you do with the bones?”
Tyler let out a small, humourless laugh. “I had requested a blacksmith to make a weapon out if it. It turned out to be an excellent scythe… But it crumbled to dust in the middle of a fight.”
Frank smiled faintly. “I would’ve loved to offer it to you, but…”
Tyler shook his head quickly. “I’m not interested. A weapon that could betray you at any moment… I wouldn’t rely on something like that again.”
A loud crash echoed upstairs, cutting them both off.
They sprinted toward the main room.
---
Anne stood hunched, her body convulsing. Her eyes, once bright, had turned pale and empty, leaking black sap that sizzled as it hit the floor. Thin, thorny vines slithered from her ears, curling around her head. Her skin had shifted to an ashen grey, veins dark as ink cracking across her limbs.
“Anne!” Frank’s voice cracked.
Anne’s mouth split open, black ooze dribbling out. Her tendrils lashed wildly, smashing chairs, flinging broken vials and splinters into the walls.
“Frank, get back!” Tyler shouted.
Anne roared, throwing a large shelf across the room. Tyler stepped in front of Frank, armour flaring.
[Activated Skill: Absolute Defence]
Shards and debris clanged off his shimmering barrier.
Tyler dashed forward, extending his hand.
[Activated Skill: Forcepush]
A blast of energy slammed into Anne’s chest, but she staggered only slightly, the vines flaring out like grotesque wings to steady her.
“Damn it…” Tyler drew his twin swords in a reluctant, trembling motion. He sliced at the whipping tendrils, severing a few, but Anne countered with inhuman speed, grabbing a broken shovel with her vines and blocking his swing.
Frank watched, horrified. “How did you even subdue me before, if this is how a Blightspawn fights?!”
Tyler gritted his teeth. Anne punched you out cold… But you don’t need to know that.
He ducked under a lashing vine, deflecting another swing with his left blade.
“Frank! The cure — is it ready?!”
Frank hesitated, wringing his hands. “It’s… almost! But I haven’t tested it. It might not even work on a human. It could kill her!”
“We don’t have a choice! Hurry Frank!” Tyler yelled. Anne shrieked in a warped voice, “Daaw-ack-taar Fraa-ank…”
Tyler blocked another strike, blades ringing. “Just bring it, Doctor Frank! Or we could feed her the petals!”
Frank’s face twisted in agony. “No! Anything but feeding her petals! I’ll get it!”
Frank sprinted downstairs, nearly slipping. Anne lunged, pinning Tyler against the wall. He barely managed to shove her back, sending vials crashing around them.
Tyler panted heavily. “Anne… please…”
Anne only hissed, vines curling around his forearms. With a swift movement, he broke free and lunged, wrapping his arms around her from behind. They crashed to the ground, Tyler falling on his back with Anne thrashing above him.
Her tendrils lashed at his helmet and armour, scraping deep gouges.
“Fra- Doctor Frank! Hurry!” Tyler roared, holding on despite the sharp pains jolting through his ribs and arms.
Frank reappeared, clutching a syringe filled with bright pink liquid. He stumbled, nearly dropping it, then forced himself forward.
Anne bucked violently, shrieking in distorted syllables. Tyler locked his legs around hers, forcing her torso upright.
“DO IT NOW!”
Frank lunged forward, plunging the needle into Anne’s arm. Her body convulsed violently, a guttural cry tearing from her throat as pink light erupted from her eyes, mouth, and the cracks in her bark-like skin.
Anne’s limbs jerked, tendrils retracting with a sickening slither. Her mouth fell open in a final choking gasp, then her entire body sagged limply in Tyler’s arms.
Silence swallowed the room.
Frank knelt beside them, trembling, his eyes darting across her motionless form. Tyler lay frozen on the floor, arms still locked around her, breath ragged inside his helmet.
For a moment, nothing moved — then, faintly, a soft pink glow began to pulse beneath her skin, threading through the cracks like fragile veins of light.
Neither of them spoke. They could only watch, helpless, as the glow slowly spread — and wonder if it was salvation, or merely the last flicker before the end.