[Shira]
The giant red gate opens. The ability of Cerberus activates. Dangerous, crimson eyes can be seen peering through it, in which it unleashes uncountable shadows shaped like dogs.
I unsheath my blade. "Everyone, be careful!"
[Monster name: Cerberus
Level: ?? ]
The monster is impossible to scan since it's protected by high Mind Stat. It's very likely that it is higher level than me, thus any of us.
To our surprise, the dog passes through our bodies. I don't feel any pain but when they do, they are now biting on a white ball of energy.
[-1000 Mana]
[- Stamina is decreased by 10 stats
- Strength and Agility is decreased by 30 stats]
[Corrupted Consumption Debuff!]
No way, those hound shadows are stealing our stats and mana! I can see Rendon and Kezia can no longer move. Scaven can escape but two or three has passed through him, causing him to weaken and put him on his knees.
Right now, there are five of those shadow hounds coming to my direction. I tried to slice it but it passes through my sword and my body.
I have to activate my ultimate ability!
Activating my [Deus Ex Bellator], my body shines as my ultimate Heroic Veil armor is starting to form as well as my Heroic Veil sword.
[Corrupted Consumption Debuff Inflicted!]
[Corrupted Consumption Debuff Inflicted!]
[Corrupted Consumption Debuff Inflicted!]
....
And before I knew it, I lost count on how many of them passed through me.
As I'm transforming, I attracted a lot of the shadow hounds thus I drew them to me. Every time a shadow hound passes through me, a chunk of my armor or my ultimate sword vanishes that I can't complete my transformation.
Corrupted Consumption Debuff Inflicted!]
[Corrupted Consumption Debuff Inflicted!]
[Corrupted Consumption Debuff Inflicted!]
....
And before I knew it, I returned to my base form and never completed my transformation. Before, the shadow hounds look thin and ravenous but now their bodies look thicker and their hunger are satisfied. They are no longer interested to consume our mana.
How can this be? I lost my trump card to the enemy. I made a bad move.
My friends are lying on the ground panting. As for me, I was brought to one knee. This is bad, if nothing is done we will get wiped out. We haven't even launched an attack to the Cerberus and we are already on this state.
The middle head begins to laugh as if mocking us. "Haha, these humans are weaker than I imagine. Looks like there is no need to use my gate."
His gate? Then that ability earlier was from the left head? So I assume each of the heads have different abilities?
The shadow hounds stealing our mana from earlier begins to return to the gate. When everyone is inside, it closes and vanishes. The left head burps with a breath of satisfaction. "These human mana sure are delicious. Especially, that woman with a sword."
Afterward, we begin to feel its strength surging since we can feel the air getting heavier. Cerberus laughs aloud in ecstasy probably enjoying the energy that they absorbed from us.
The left head speaks, "how about lets just step on these humans, that would be better, hehe."
The middle head responds with a chuckle, "that would be a good idea. We shouldn't waste our energy on these ants." They move close to our direction, causing the ground to rumble.
I try to stand but I quickly fall on my knees. It's useless, I'm completely sapped. Regardless, if I do nothing then me and my friends might--
No, I shouldn't thinking about it. The fate of this world lies unto me. I have to defeat Cerberus!
Afterward, my heart begins to race. I can feel another strong presence coming close. To my left, an ugly person with a mouth on the forehead and a face mask shows up. I don't even know if he has eyes but by looking at him, I feel weirded out.
What kind of creature is that? It's obviously not a human but I can guess, it's probably a demon. Not only that but a high-tier demon.
The ugly demon begins to speak, "Karza is on the house. Cerberus and heroes from another world prepare yourselves! Hahaha."
The Cerberus' attention gets taken. The three heads eye him.
The left head says, "who the hell is that ugly dude? Not even his mother would compliment his looks."
The middle head looks concerned, "that grotesque creature is not someone we should taken lightly. I can sense he is powerful."
"No way, if I had that looks, I'm not even sure if even being powerful is worthed it if I have that face."
Karza laughs. "That's pretty rude for a three-headed looking pups. But at least, I know my father."
The middle head looks enraged but the left head looks like it still has something more to say. "Shut up, with that face, even your father would disown you." The left head roars heavily, causing even the ground to crack.
I find the roar unpleasant but I find another demon entering our fight even more so.
What is he doing here and does he intend to fight the Cerberus as well?
I try to lift myself and I finally managed to stand. I then grab a Greater HP potion to recover some stamina and drink it increase my health points. Looks like I can fight better now. My friends are reaching for their pockets as well to take a drink.
We only have few more potions left so we must use it sparingly, otherwise we wouldn't last even an hour in this battle field.
Scaven stands as well, he speaks. "Class pres, I think Leon was right. It's better if we retreat."
Rendon slams the ground with his fist. "Damn it."
As for the others, they couldn't say anything since they are starting to agree with Scaven.
I breath deep before I speak. "Everyone, you must leave back to Aren safely. I will cover you!"
Kezia says, "president, we can't do that. We can't leave you behind!"
I grit my teeth.
Right now, the enemy haven't attacked yet but when they do it will be over for all of us. It's my fault why they are here and it's my responsibility to cover for them.
"If everyone of us die here. It will be a great loss for the Righteous Order which is why--"
"Blah, blah, blah. Shut up with the drama with you. Your voices are damn grating." Says the demon annoyed. He then grins menacingly as he faces towards our direction. "Even if you do cover for them, I will take all of you. Hahaha!"
The demon vanishes from where he stands and appears in front of Rendon and the group in an instant. He takes his mask off and shows what is underneath. It releases a dark energy, sending out waves of black mist. Upon reaching Rendon, Nathan, Kezia and Scaven, each of them fall down to the ground.
Slowly, starting from their eyes, their skin turns into hard rock stone. Later, it covers their entire body until they have become a statue. There are also black marks covering their body as though they are sealed.
I use [Scan] to assess their situation.
[Demonic Curse of Zarchon: Petrifies the target for eternity and suppresses any magic inside their bodies. Even the system is shutted down while the curse is activated]
"No!"
I dash towards them and try to touch them but once I do, I get zapped by the black ancient letters wrapping the statues. I give a groan from the shock and leap back.
I breath heavily after that shock. It feels like I felt what they are experiencing while they are petrified. It's as if, they are suffering while in that state.
Regardless, ever since he showed what's underneath that mask they were petrified. So I should avoid staring at it.
The demon is right behind me. He cackles menacingly. "Hahaha! Just so you know, those who are under this curse, their consciousness will experience being tortured in the world of Zarchon. You must have felt a fraction of it when you touched the statue."
I grit my teeth even more and my rage erupts. I clench on my sword and spin to slice his throat. "Damn you demon!"
The demon leaps back missing my swing. "Oops, haha, you almost got me!"
I leap at him, then use my skill on my sword, [Justice Executioneer]. A strong skill used as a finishing blow against the enemy. However, it's taxing in mana but it has the highest DPS.
Due to my rage, I no longer care as long as I erase this guy from existence. I mean how dare he do it!
My sword charges up with mana that it grows a burning thick mist around it. With a swing, a giant projection of the sword is created which can be the height of a building slicing him vertically on his direction.
The demon looks carefree at first but seeing the projection, he turns serious by bending his back and using his arms as a shield. He gets hit by the sword projection and gets swung down to the ground.
Upon slamming hard, a thick dust and debris erupts, while the ground gets sliced unto two.
I land down on the ground panting heavily. I hope I got him but it seems that isn't the case since I didn't get any EXP points and his name is still alive on my screen.
[Name:??
Level:??
Race: Demon]
When the smoke clears up, the demon stands up with his arms regenerating. He cackles but he is obviously slightly angered. "Hehe, that was a good attack but you just pissed me off, congrats."
He vanishes from where he once was and appears before me. He clenches his fist tightly and strikes me squarely on the face, causing me to get blown away and tumble on the ground.
Upon waking up from my senses, I spit some blood but I know I have to do something. I then slam on the ground after being blown.
Right now, I'm lying on the ground, as I was about to stand up he appears above me and his fingers turn into sharp blades. His unusually long fingers stabs each of my arms and legs causing me to get pinned unto the ground.
I notice I can't move but I do my best to look away from his face. I don't want to turn into stone after all.
"Hahaha, you're instincts are commendable for figuring out the curse and avoiding it. I give you that at least, but... this is the end of the line for you."
His long and sharp middle finger is free but he is about to stab my head with it. Just as it is about to slice my head off, a flaming sword appears in his chest, causing him to get confused.
"Huh? What the hell is this?"
The sword burns into flames causing him to get burnt severely as well. "Ahhh!" He screams in agony.
I notice that a fierce-looking man with long crimson hair is behind him doing it.
"Who is this person? Is he an adventurer or something?"
[Name:???
Race: Human
Note: of an unknown origin, most likely an Essential Clone.]
Essential clone? What does it mean by that? I never heard of those beings.
The demon leaps away while being burnt. The flames come off and his skin was burnt and darkened. "Who the hell are you?!" Slowly, his skin is regenerating and a little later he looks the same as he once was.
"I see, so you're a demon, huh? Interesting that you can quickly regenerate."
"I can see that you're strong but I have no time for you."
Briefly, flames of wall erupt around the demon causing me and the demon to get startled. It didn't do anything but to scare him.
"That won't be permissible with me around."
I'm amazed how this man is able to control fire so easily as if the nature of flames are under his palms.
Despite the man with red hair to dominate, the demon simply laughs. "Interesting. If you really want to fight me I'll be down to do it but now's not the right time. Besides, I already done my job."
My eyes widen when my arms are starting to turn into stone. It is slowly climbing to my face and before I knew it everything turned black.
[True Hero System is shutting down...]