James Benif. Lvl 32
Class: Sapling. -Path Of Tree-
A corpse is lifted by a branch, which somehow grows from the red carpet. It entangles the corpse, forming a wooden cocoon around it. Tiny woody needles slowly formed across it, and they slowly grew, injecting themselves into the corpse's veins.
James could feel it; he sensed it. How where blood supposed to flow, replaced by a complex wooden maze. He will make the corpses of Circus Blader move, slowly releasing them from the wooden cocoon.
The corpses ' eyes turn into wood. Awkwardly balance itself. Movement is still way too stiff, it would be useless in battle. But still..
"It can stand, finally," James sighs. it took about nine corpses to this point. He looked at the other eight, their skin infested by wood, which kept growing, eating their body slowly.
This power disgusts him; the fact that he pretty much just took over an already dead body did not escape him.
"This remind me to much of those damn puppet" He chuckled, eyes solemn. The puppet that took the bodies of their victim, multiplying itself by death instead of birth.
You could not even call them a monster. James's hand clenched in a fist.
Mom, Dad...
He promised himself.
Someday, he will free his parent body. His parent, who by now is one of the puppets.
He will go to Stampede Zero someday..
With this power, it's possible, he did not care how disgusting it was.
' Don't be a fool child '
Blinking a tear, he smiled. His master voice has been ringing inside his head ever since he was separated. He shouldn't be alone for too long; a horrifying thought would coil around him if he did not have a distraction.
"I'm sorry, master," He muttered, "But I will be a fool."
He wonders how Oscar and Andrew are doing. Surely they would survive; they had better be. Finding them will be the priority.
He missed how Oscar geeked out about the newest Manga by Nagi Shura, the S-rank Hunter and best-selling mangaka.
He missed how Andrew groaned about his problem with Mera, he used to find it annoying. But, he misses it now
"I will have a lot of apologizing to do once we get back," He smiles, the thought of going back is a great distraction.
There's their master, they did not even tell him they would challenge the dungeon.
Mera too, Andrew, better be strong enough to take the brunt of her rage.
And lastly.
His twin sister will be angry, leaving her is the hardest thing to do. But he had thought this would be a simple Blue Portal. When it turned Red, he should have gone back. However, the thought of waiting for another portal is too much for him.
He blinked. They did not know a lot of people, did they? All those days practicing consumed them; it's almost a miracle that Andrew was able to get a girlfriend.
There's Dyland and Elend too, he almost forgot. Dyland told them about this dungeon. He needs to find him also.
"I wonder if Elend entered?"
"Nah, he is not stupid," He decided.
___________________
Elend tried to hunt for Circus Blader; he peeked over each corner, bizarrely hoping to find one. It bothered him how he came across none, not even one Lizardos.
He still remembers the map, this floor is huge. He had made sure to memorize the stairs leading up to the next floor. All he had to do was go Eastward.
But, killing the Circus Blader on this floor will cease the worries thrumming inside him.
Should he scream? Maybe that will attract some of them. He shook his head, he is not that stupid.
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As he turned a corner, he did not bother to check it, still deep in his thoughts. Until a blade flashed in front of him. His left hand blurred in a Flurry, and the short sword fell.
(Showman Flourish)
Elend recognizes it, it's a Circus Blader sword. He watched his kitchen knife lodged deep in a Circus Blader's hands.
The Blader points its one sword toward him, its body shaken in pain.
Elend drew his Thread Sword, rushing toward it. The Blader swung wildly. He focused on the blade, and his thread coiled around it, pulling it backward. Losing its balance, the Circus Blader fell face-first to the carpet. Elend stabbed down right into its brain.
(You Slain Circus Blader Lvl 12!)
His passive skill has saved him, no question about it.
(Showman Flourish CD: 120 Sec)
(Set Weapon: Steel Dagger)
He dismisses the system. Crouching down, he wrenches back his knife.
(Trickster Pocket. Lvl 1) (380/1000)
- Steel Dagger. Grade C (30 SP)
- Mask Of Sorrow. Grade B (50 SP)
- Mask Of Dread. Grade B (50 SP)
- Mask Of Exhaustion. Grade B (50 SP)
- Steel Sword. Grade B (45 SP)
- Steel Short Sword. Grade C x 3 (105 SP)
- Mask Of Terror (50 SP)
"Let's be more careful," Elend muttered to himself. As he moved forward, a door opened right in front of him. It blocked him from seeing if it was a monster or a human. Elend hugged himself to the wall, with the door an inch away from his face.
A Circus Blader walks out, looking around, zoning toward the death Blader sprawling with a gaping head.
As it's about to call out, Elend snaked his Sword.
(Guillotine)
In a flash, his sword jutted through the Circus Blader's head, crushing the mask. Its body went limp as Elend pulled back his sword.
(Level up!)
Elend Mireaux Lvl 11.
In a flicker of panic, he realised the body falling would make a noise.
"Shi-" Elend reached out, but the body was crushing down too fast. He clenches his teeth.
There's no sound. Elend let out a soft breath. His Thread coiled around the body, the Blader's head limping down. Pulling in softly, he rested the body down.
His gaze darted toward the door, and no one was coming out. If another Circus Blader is inside, they will be suspicious. He closed the door with a light push. Through the slight gap, he found out the room is very dark, there's no light in there. The projector must have been destroyed.
He heaved a huge puff of breath, looking down at the death Blader. And at the broken mask..
Elend considered an idea inside his mind, the rational side of him cried inside. But, this might work..
He opened the door, confirming the room was indeed very dark, and he stepped in, as casually as possible. The familiar red carpet brings a moment of comfort as he scans the audience seat.
(Circus Blader Lvl 8)
(Circus Blader Lvl 12)
(Circus Blader Lvl 11)
(Circus Blader Lvl 10)
(Circus Blader Lvl 12)
(Circus Blader Lvl 11)
(Circus Blader Lvl 8)
(Circus Blader Lvl 9)
(Circus Blader Lvl 8)
(Circus Blader Lvl 12)
(Circus Blader Lvl 9)
His whole body convulsed, as the sense to run away almost overtook him. Eleven of them!
He watched them, doing the same cruelty.. But on completely different scales. The entire seat filled with humans, weapons jutting through their stomachs, a pear and an apple forced into their mouths.
"Mhmmmm...." A human voice cried through.
"Aaaa.." Another did.
Elend's legs died; he should escape. But some of the humans are clearly alive. He could make out how some of them shook in resistance, as their life faded away.
A Circus Blader turned toward him, in the dark, then it just went on shoving a sword into a man's stomach. The weapon squelch, the men groaned, his voice is so weak.
They did not notice him..
His mind raced. Could he do this? He certainly couldn't let all of them turn into these monsters. No matter what.
The seating has 10 tiers. From A, the lowest, to J, the highest. Then it split into three square columns, with a stair separating them.
The seat on the bottom right is the number 1 seat. So A1, stretch to A10. Then, after being separated by stairs, continue from A11 to A20. Then the same, A 21 to A 30 for the bottom left.
There are approximately 300 people here. Only watched by 11 Circus Blader. There ought to be several survivors. He cannot wait too long; 300 Blader will be too much to deal with.
Elend felt around his pocket, 3 HP stone and 2 mana stone ready to crack.
"Just crack these stones, and it will refill your HP or Mana by 20 each. I only found these 5 stones, the others item is classic HP and Mana potion. You should keep all the stone Elend".
He had protested that, but Lera wanted to hear none of it.
Elend crouches in front of A30. He scanned the face of a grizzly man, with a ridiculous beard begging to be cut. A spear jutted through his stomach, this one is a goner.
The next is A29. She is a red-haired young woman, probably the age of his brother. Her eyes widen in fear as she sees Elend. Tear stricken down from her eyes, she convulsed. The pear in her mouth threatened to fall.
Cursing softly, Elend grasped her mouth, pushing the pear lightly, he made a shush motion with his hand. She scanned her eyes, still wide in horror. Elend pointed below his mouth, showing there's no overgrown tongue there. Her eyes jolt in realization, and she suddenly moves, making the arrow embedded in her stomach dig deeper. Elend pushed her down, steadying her, he glared at her.
She gave him a weak nod, hopefully understanding the situation, and she gestured with her head toward the dead man he had just inspected. Elend could tell what she was asking.
He shook his head slowly.
She sobbed, eyes downcast, as tears went down.
Elend crouched, trying to make out the Circus Blader, but he could see none from his position.
He sent his Thread Sword to his Trickster Pocket. Then, he summoned a Steel Short Sword
(Trickster Pocket. Lvl 1) (495/1000)
- Steel Dagger. Grade C (30 SP)
- Mask Of Sorrow. Grade B (50 SP)
- Mask Of Dread. Grade B (50 SP)
- Mask Of Exhaustion. Grade B (50 SP)
- Steel Sword. Grade B (45 SP)
- Steel Short Sword. Grade C x 2 (70 SP)
- Mask Of Terror (50 SP)
- Thread Sword. Grade A (150 SP)
- Ticket.
(Blood In Mouth)
(Complete)
(2X Short Sword. Grade C)
Just in time.
He reached toward his mouth, pulling a Grade B Steel Short Sword.
"Ughhn...." The young woman squirmed, and Elend groaned inwardly. He opened his mask and showed her his face clearly. To which she nods and sighs.
"Just wait," Elend whispered. he stood creeping slowly toward the stairs. None of the Circus Bladers in the First tier; the closest one is in the Second tier. Steadying a sword through a woman's belly. It's in B 27. Very isolated, the closest other is in D 15. This is his best chance to catch one of them unaware.
Entering the row, Elend made sure his step could be heard. The Blader threw him a glance, Elend casually steadying an apple on a man's mouth. He is sure it's too far to make out that there's no slithering tongue on him.
The Circus Blader went back to his action, moving on to B28, whom Elend was not sure what the weapon was.
As it is now busy trying to steady something, Elend step in, closing their distance.
(Guillotine)
Dark shroud coats his Short Steel Sword, he held it in two hands, leaving the other one lying on the floor.
A mere meter apart, the circus Blader threw him a look, noticing his lack of tongue.
Elend lunges in with a silent step. His sword lance through its heart.
He caught The Blader's back with his right arm, slowly laying it down.
(You Slain Circus Blader Lvl 12).
"All right.." He huffed."Ten More"
Elend Mireaux lvl 11
HP: 480/480 (3/min)
MP: 70/70. (4/min)
Strength : 45 + 10 + 20
Intelligence: 50 + 30
Dexterity : 60 + 5 + 50
Skill :
(Active)
- Guillotine (3) Lvl 2.
- Air Needle (5) Lvl 1.
- Sleight Of Hand (5) Lvl 1.
- Trickster Pocket Lvl 1.
- Fire Breath (5) Lvl 1.
- Tamer Whip (10) Lvl 1.
- Curtain Call (30) Lvl 1.
- Audiance Participation (30) Lvl 1.
(Passive)
- Inspection
- Blade In Mouth.
- Thrower Accuracy.
- Wireman's Balance.
- Showman Flourish.
Special Skill :
- Wheel Of Fortune.
Class: Novice Juggler.
Chapter 10: -Within The Shadow-
