UnwillingEldritchHorrorofFortune
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Chapter 183: The Village Part 1 (Aspirant POV)
🕑 Added 2024-08-28 21:45:20 +0000 UTCCongratulations for surviving the first Blood Moon! Make sure you use the fleeting time between cycles wisely, for this world is a dangerous one when the Moon is out.
To ensure that Aspirants are motivated to improve themselves, new objectives will be given out after each full cycle of the Moon. Note that each mission must be completed before the time limit, and failure to do so will result in severe consequences.
Mission 1: Investigate the Village. Aspirants may not leave the Village’s perimeter once inside.
Time Limit: 2 hours
Victor stared at the new system message and groaned in frustration. Survive was one way to phrase it; they had thought that going in with the maximum number of Aspirants would ensure their safety after the catastrophe of the Second Trial, but even with fifty super powered people, they had still lost four members. Victor looked at the 46/50 remaining Aspirants displayed in the system and shook his head in frustration; the sick bastards who made these Trials didn’t even have the decency to give its Aspirants names, they were all just numbers to them. Everyone had initially thought this Trial would be a cakewalk since they just had to eliminate one enemy, but four people were dead and they hadn't even begun the Trial… Victor had a sinking feeling that this wouldn’t be the end of their troubles.
“You all read the notification!” Their leader, Eric, shouted, “We should be safe now that damned fucking red glow’s gone, but don’t let your guards down. Alexis, any info on where this Village is?”
The woman in question, a petite, timid girl, flinched at her name being called, but answered anyway. “I…”
“Speak up, damn it! We’re wasting time!”
“S-sorry, I’ll need a moment…”
“Oh for fucks sake!” Eric grumbled, “I swear if you weren’t the only Aspirant with a useful scouting ability I’d-”
“Just give her some time,” another Aspirant Victor didn’t recognize spoke up, that was the problem with crowds this size. “Like you said, she is the only one we have to rely on here.”
Eric grunted something unintelligible under his breath before speaking again. “Fine. Squad 1 and 2, go loot the four dead.”
“Wait, you can’t do that!” another person shouted, “That’s-”
“Shut up! While we are in this damned Trial, I am in charge!” Eric gestured for his inner circle of bootlickers to surround the dissenter, and the poor individual stopped talking immediately. “Like I said, 1 and 2, go search for anything useful those four might have.”
“Yes, sir!”
Victor sighed but didn’t speak up. It was undeniable that having a decisive leader in a situation like this was critical, and loath as he was to admit it, Eric fit that bill perfectly. If it wasn’t for his quick thinking and instructions, they probably would have lost close to a dozen members during strange transformation, but it wouldn’t kill the man to be a little nicer. Tensions were already high with this Trial right out of a horror movie, the mounting feeling of dread just wouldn’t disappear, and having someone shout at you constantly didn’t help the situation. Of course, as the strongest individual here, it wasn’t like anyone could question his attitude even if they wanted to.
Victor turned to his own group of people, assigned as Squad 5 before the start of the Trial, and made sure that his small band of Aspirants were ready to move. Fifteen minutes later and Alexis was done with her work.
She produced a beautifully made map and hurriedly gave it to Eric. All of the Aspirants huddled around him to see what information was gleaned.
“We’re not far from the Village,” she began, “It should only take us maybe 15 to 20 minutes to reach it by foot.”
Eric nodded, still studying the map. “Dangers?”
“Nothing’s in the forest, like before,” she answered, “And there’s only one lifeform in the village that I could detect… but…”
The leader frowned. “But?”
“I… Um, I don’t know…”
“Speak clearly, woman!”
“I… there was something strange about parts of the village,” she stuttered, “There was something blocking my abilities, but it’s not like what happened with the moon. It’s like… I don’t know, but I’m sure that there’s other things in there that I can’t see..”
Eric sighed. “We’re in these freaking nightmare dimensions, do you really think there won’t be situations where your abilities wouldn’t work? It’s going to be some mutated monster or another, whatever, we’ve killed two of them already, we can kill more.” He turned to address everyone. “All right, folks, we move on! If our goal is to explore this hell-settlement, then that’s what we’ll do. All Squads in formation, we’ll advance toward the only lifeform, and play it by ear.”
Victor did as he was told and went back to his own people, at least in the small group of 5, he was confident that no one would stab him in the back. He was all too relieved to see Nicole, Wayne and Vivian already packed and rearing to go. The familiar faces gave him a small semblance of comfort, although he couldn’t say the same about the last member Eric forced onto them. Vincent sat by himself, his alchemy kit still looking as it had when they got here, as if the man didn’t even begin to understand the need to leave.
Victor sighed. “Vince, we need to go, now.”
The strange man didn’t respond.
“Vince!”
Vivian came over and shook her head. “Just leave him. I’ll bet that he’ll realize what to do when he’s alone.”
“Wouldn’t that be easy…” Wayne muttered, “I don’t understand why each squad’s stuck with one of these worthless noncombatants.”
“That noncombatant’s potion saved your arm,” Victor said, “So save it.”
Wayne stared at the scar left behind when that horrible creature first attacked him and couldn’t refute the truth. The potion makers, enchanters and the like were worthless in a fight and were more than a burden in any other situation, but having a production line of useful items and gadgets to suit any situation had been an invaluable help in the last two Trials.
Even now, when the fourth Trial had just begun, the plethora of healing items had ensured that there were no lasting effects to the strength of the overall party. Those with minor injuries could be cured with a simple potion, while MP tonics ensured the clerics could spend mana without worry to treat the critically wounded. Better yet, now that everyone had understood the nature of the threat, specific weapon enchantments and charms could be crafted to better suit the situation, and Victor himself had already gotten a bundle of anti-undead and specter talismans.
All of that was great, of course, but the speed in which the group of 50 - or 46 now - moved was severely impacted. Victor sighed to himself again and all but dragged the budding alchemist up. He instructed the others to help clean up the man’s mess, and they had to run to get caught up with the rest of the Squads.
True to Alexis’ words, it only took a short walk to arrive at the village. Eric made everyone pause right before the ominous gate. “Everyone, light up one of the talismans.”
Everyone took out the item and did as instructed. They were made to help alleviate some of the worst of the psychological distress just being in the Trials would bring, but Victor thought they did fuck all here. The horrible gloom and dread was just as persistent as ever, and he couldn’t help but feel as if he was constantly watched. That feeling had only gotten stronger as he moved closer and closer to the village.
Once Eric was sure that everyone had done their due diligence, even if the effects seemed worthless, he commanded everyone to move into the village. The gathered Aspirants all went in Squad by Squad, and Victor couldn’t help but feel a chill crawl down his back as he stepped past the threshold and into the abandoned village. The one good thing about being in such a large group of people was that it lessened the fear, but the man couldn’t imagine how the lone opponent was dealing with the current situation by himself.
Victor almost pitied the poor Aspirant as he surveyed the landscape. He supposed that his opponent must have hid in a tree or something during the first Moon phase, but now that the Trials forced all of its participants to enter this desolate village, the hopes of an individual Aspirant surviving further would be greatly diminished. He could almost see a fear-stricken man shivering in absolute horror, all alone, just waiting for death to come one way or another. It was a sad, miserable way to go, but more than that, Victor wanted him to just save everyone here the time and just die. The faster he was out of this hellhole and back to the relative safety of their city, the better.
However, as much as he would love to daydream about better times, or anything really to take his mind off the reality of his current situation, the group had slowly made their way toward the lone life sign, and Victor was now tentatively waiting to see what new horrors awaited them. The figure in question, an old man sitting on a dilapidated porch, looked normal enough. He had wisps of gray hair that looked like it hadn’t been washed in decades, and his robe was so dirty and stained that Victor couldn’t tell what color it had been originally. The man’s face was slightly jaundiced and age had not been kind to him.
“Welcome, outsiders,” he croaked, “Please, make yourselves comfortable.”
All of the Aspirants looked to Eric; he nodded and gestured for everyone to move aside so he could take over. Victor wasn’t going to complain though, he doubted anyone else wanted to talk to the creepy old man in the creepy old village.
“Hello,” Eric said, his voice even, “We are here to investigate the village. What can you tell us about this place?”
“If you seek answers, then a test you must pass.” he said cryptically, “You may not pass deeper into the village without my assistance.”
Figures, Victor thought, nothing would be given for free in these stupid Trials. Chances were that they’d have to make it much deeper into the village before they could even think about the other Aspirant; that was the problem with these Trials, they were needlessly long. He had wanted to just force the weak old man to comply, but a new notification popped up and stifled that thought immediately.
Mission 1.1: Listen to the Old Man’s Request and fulfill them before the next Blood Moon
Time Limit: 1:33
Eric frowned at the new task, but quickly regulated his expression. “Speak, what do would you have us do?”
“The task is simple,” the old man replied and took out a small white orb from his dirty pocket. He held it high to show us. “You must find six pearls scattered around different districts of this northern village. They are hidden well, and your time is fleeting, so chose how you tackle this situation wisely.”
“I see…” Eric muttered, already formulating the best plan. “Anything else of note?”
The old man gave us a toothy grin. “I am glad you ask, outsiders. Yes, in this village, additional, secret treasures can be unearthed. Hidden, they are, but those of you with insight will be greatly rewarded.”
Victor normally wouldn’t care about these hidden rewards, he had known of them ever since the end of the first Trial, but only a very few individuals had ever been able to uncover them. The Aspirant figured that they were more effort than they were worth, but for some reason, Victor was unable to shake off the need to seek out this exotic treasure for himself. More than that, if he was able to monopolize such a reward, then perhaps he can finally rid himself of Eric’s pompous attitude and put him in his place. Yeah… he needed that treasure. He needed it.
“You heard the man,” Eric said, “And if anyone does find clues about this hidden treasure, report it back to me immediately. As the leader, I shall be the one who will distribute the resources found here.”
Victor almost couldn’t contain a laugh. Their dear leader’s greed was evident to even the blindest of Aspirants, and someone would have to be a true idiot to believe that he’d be fair and impartial. Maybe some of the more die-hard bootlickers would follow his instructions, but Victor sure as hell wouldn’t. No, that beautiful treasure was all his, if he could find it of course.
“Is that all, old man?” Eric continued, turning to face the gatekeeper once more.
“That is all, but be quick, outsiders, time is of the essence.”
He nodded. “Alright everyone, here’s the plan.”
