179~Babysitting
Something had emerged from a tight crevice in the wall, a slippery thing that stood on four legs but curiously inched towards them. Yvlena gasped at the sight of it’s face, the thing had a human face but washed of all features save for two black little eyes which stared the party down.
It moved forward slowly, its attention primarily on the little girl.
“What the hell is that?” Yvlena said under her breath but by now had prepared herself to see some weird things since she had heard of the Miasmic sickness. It was something straight out of a horror movie and she had to defend her party against the being.
[You have encountered Miasmic Wraith]
“Miasmic Wraith.” Yvlena said, but the game’s information only told her it was time to fight. “Marla stay close to Risel.”
Yvlena ran forward, slashing her Moon Sickle in the air for her first attack.
[Yvlena Cast Crescent Slash (15MP)]
The arc swept over the narrow path, pushing the creature back, its smooth face cracked as if it was a porcelain mask but the creature gave no response, only a slow blink in her direction. She stepped back, letting Sprite and Rabbit Knight do their thing.
[Battle Skill: Rabbit Sting Combo]
Her two summons moved to attack the Wraith’s body and face, Rabbit Knight jabbed at it with his blade, raking it across the Wraith’s side as Sprite continued to pelt him with her magic. Yvlena could see more cracks forming in the being’s face.
‘Maybe I’ve got to break the mask?’ Yvlena thought, brandishing her Sickle.
[Yvlena Cast Harvest Skill: Wide Sweep]
The arc bashed against the Wraith’s face, shattering it once and for all but instead of vanishing like Yvlena thought, the creature crumbled and began to inflate.
“What is it doing?” Risel asked, backing up toward the space they had come from. The Wraith continued to grow, filling with air until it popped. Yvlena pushed Marla and Risel into a corner then recalled her summons and wedged herself between the beams to avoid the spray of black goo that ate through everything it touched.
“Disgusting!” Yvlena wailed, stepping out from the tight crack in the wall she had squeezed herself into. The area stunk of rot, the black liquid stained the walls as well as the path they were heading to. Marla began to panic.
“How am I going to get home?! I should have listened to Nana and never gone out.” The little girl released panicked sobs as she looked frantically at Yvlena and Risel’s faces.
Yvlena in turn looked from the sobbing girl to Risel who didn’t know what to do. Either they had to clear the original path or they would need to find some other way to get to Marla’s family.
“Don’t worry Marla, we’ll find another way to get through this.” Yvlena said while making a mental note to avoid the Miasmic Wraiths any time she saw them. Until she found a way to get rid of them without blocking her path, she and her party had to stay away from them.
Marla clung to Yvlena but nodded, she believed her. The elf gave the girl a bright smile then turned back to survey the mess presented to her. The sight of the long wooden beams gave her an idea.
If she could knock some of those wooden beams down then they could walk over the liquid as it ate slowly through the wood. Yvlena nodded to herself and set out to execute the plan.
Taking the axe out of her inventory, she began chopping the bigger one up. The long piece of wood fell into Yvlena’s arms. The girl grunted as it hit her, making her work for every point in her STR stat. Eventually she was able to lay two large planks down.
“Marla, you and Risel have to go across first okay?” Yvlena said gently, she didn’t know if any more of the infected creatures were still hanging around but she had to get the little girl home.
Marla nodded and Risel was able to lead her across to the area untouched by the enemy. Marla jumped for joy and focused her attention on Yvlena.
“Behind you!” the girl said.
Yvlena heard movement behind her, and lifted her Moon Sickle to block the attack.
The person attacking her was clearly infected like the man she had fought previously, she pushed the man, giving her a split second to slash across the creature’s abdomen.
This time the infected person was a woman, her dress was shredded and worn from the harsh life she lived after the Miasmic sickness took over. Yvlena felt bad for her but if she didn’t fight, she was risking both Risel and Marla’s lives.
“I’m sorry.” Yvlena said, the being paused and for a moment it seemed like the woman understood her but that changed when she lunged at Yvlena with the intent to kill.
[Yvlena Cast Crescent Slash (15MP)]
She slashed at the woman again, ripping her sickle away to attack again and again. To her surprise the woman was slow, moving with lethargy one would expect from someone who was too tired to move. Yvlena didn’t complain as it gave her enough time to attack furiously.
The Miasma stricken woman attacked with her nails now sharpened to claws, Yvlena dodged worried she might contact something if she got so much as a scratch from the woman. She had seen movies where people had gotten infected from something as little as a blood stain.
The woman fell, panting hard, she reached for Yvlena’s leg still trying to attack her, Yvlena jumped back, landing on the wooden beam she had knocked down to carve a path, the woman crawled forward.
“Stop!” Yvlena pleaded but the woman didn’t listen, and Yvlena was forced to watch her make contact with the tarry, black liquid that ate away at her skin until she was nothing more than flakes in the sunlight.
“Finally, peace.” The woman whispered.
[Yvlena Acquired
Exp 2200/3500
***
Miasmic Resin x2
Shadow Essence x1
***
Moon Points x200]
“Why are you so sad? That was a monster.” Marla said, the little girl looked towards the area where the woman had disappeared with confusion.
“That woman used to be a person like you or me, they just got very sick that’s all.” Yvlena said sadly. She knew it was just a game but it felt so real to her.
“Just like the tree got sick?” Marla asked. Yvlena nodded.
“Alright, Marla, let’s get moving now. We have to take you home.”