Chapter 18: Very Dark Smelly Hole
The moment the Dark Echo Node shattered with that satisfying CRACK!, it was like someone had flipped an "off" switch on the Frenzied Anomaly murder party.
The Rage Boar, which had been mid-charge towards where Ryan had been before he blinked to the Node, stumbled to a halt, its massive head swaying.
Its glowing red eyes flickered, then dimmed to a dull, confused orange. It let out a low, bewildered snort, like it had just woken up from a very bad dream and couldn’t remember how it got into this creepy cave.
The shadowy Grove Stalker, which had been coiling for another attack, slumped to the ground, its shifting camouflage fading to a more stable, if still dark, pattern. It looked around, dazed and clearly weakened by the poison.
The Distortion Hound just wobbled. Its phasing ability went completely haywire, its form flickering in and out of reality so fast it looked like a badly animated cartoon character. It let out a confused, staticky whine.
The shadowy puppeteer was gone. Its mind-control rock was broken. The party was officially over.
Ryan didn’t give them time for a group therapy session to discuss their sudden lack of murderous intent.
They were still dangerous, even if they were confused and poisoned.
"No time for goodbyes!" he panted, and quickly, efficiently, he dispatched the three disoriented and significantly weakened Anomalies.
The Grove Stalker went down with a single, well-aimed thrust. The Distortion Hound, in a moment when it was mostly solid, met a similar fate.
The Rage Boar, even dazed, was tougher, but the poison had taken its toll, and Ryan’s enhanced stats and combat experience made the difference.