C29: Out of Bounds Pt2, Mirror World
1/7/26
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"Is that a fucking Balrog?!!!" I exclaim in shock as I put away my monocle and rush forward in excitement flowing through my blood. Naturally this is not some sort of cross over type game but one with original content. So imagine my surprise to see such a beast and it doesnt even look like a boss but maybe some sort of elite enemy as they are fairly numerous but also spread out.
My second point of shock is when a red arrow comes flying past me from the red burning archers in the distance. "Holy cow, I'm still so far away and they are already shooting?" My second point of shock is made known as I then slow my pace and begin shooting the very, very slow barrage of arrows coming my way.
"You're serious?" i ask to no one in particular as i get the hang of the arrows. I do not exaggerate in how slow they are being fired. While the arrows themselves are shot with incredible force that might be compatible with some lower class snipers but it takes a whole 30 seconds for them to fire. Perfectly allowing even me who is greatly weakened right now to still dodge.
"Are they English riflemen during the revolution? Are they actually muskets and not bows with how long it's taking?" I mock them as I finally reach the other end of the bridge. The area is actually similar to the area I just came from. Except the flower field is filled with Wisteria and a select few red spider lilies.[1]
Very beautiful flowers, I'm actually quite fond of spider lilies since for the longest time, the original tokyo ghoul was my favorite anime. The spider lily was the flower to signify the change between the ghoul Kaneki and Rias' influence kicking in, driving him to accept Ghouldom.
While I did later read the manga and learn the exact inconsistencies, the first and second season went well, it only got bad after the new third and fourth season.
'I think I'm gonna be sick' just thinking of how much content was skipped between the third and fourth season is vomit inducing for me and it's eventually what made me turn away from it and staying content with my manga knowledge.
Returning back to the 'waking world', I find that things are indeed very similar, the path to the unopenable door is on the right side path instead of the left side (from the bridge as otherwise it's the opposite direction).
The door is not locked and I go through, finding a chest in the same spot but…its backwards… or is that supposed to be upside down? Kicking the chest over, I open it and pick up a strange black cluster.
[Warm shade glob [-3] ]
"I'm sorry, WHAT?"
"Warm shade globs? What the fuck is that?" I bring up the menu.
["goblet filled with the essence of a shade containing it's essence
Use to gain Shades Essence.
Revenants sustained by the dream gain strength from Shades' essence. They imbibe the essence with thoughts of Hatred, indeed Ridicule, for their victims.]
"... okay then"I simply shrug and pocket said essence as I go down the hall to a familiar location.
It's the exact same jar room which is primarily a one to one copy except the positions of the statues and their raised hands or whatever other minor detail that they contain. The most obvious detail is how they are Blair-Witching.
What I mean by this is that the statues not only look different but face the walls instead of towards the center of the room. Paying it no mind, I climb up the stairs and arrive in the location where I fought is a knight.
A golden knight to be specific, one that wields a halberd in it's hands. While typical knight styled, it's coloration feels distorted like a murky gold instead of pure gold. The face of the helm of this knight is also weird as it's literally just the scream mask in metal. The rest is far more normal in terms of design.
Plate armor, gauntlets, chain leggings and thick metal boots. Said knight gets up from its squatting position as it lifts its halberd to charge at me.
"Alakablam" I state as the knights swing begins and I fire my gun, stunning the knight to his knees as my fist somehow bypasses the armor entirely and still enters it's chest. Though it feels wrong. Oh so wrong.
Normally it's like entering a vacant lot with only a few obstacles like pillars in the way of my navigation but here, it's like a meat toboggan, It sounds horrid every inch I go forward until I seemingly grab at nothing and then pull.
What I pull out is in fact a heart, but not one made of meat.
[Gained 1 shade heart: crush to gain shade essence]
"What is this, mortal Kombat? Might as well as 'Finish him'. But it's good to know that this thing is a shade but why would I want or need it's essence." i store the heart away for now as I find the knight suddenly regenerate around it's chest though it looks distorted…or wormy as tendrils now replace.
"Oh shit, it's the Plagas!" I say in realization as my saw cleaver strikes at the stunned knight a few more times to take it down.
[Alternate currency discovered. New Achievement gained: Mirror Man]
[+490 S.E. (Shade Essence)]
I look in the store and find that the store has been updated with the prices of the new currencies but also a few new items appear as well.
[Mutagen Vial: Concentrated dose of Shade Essence that purges the body of pestilence. Can incur changes in the body to become better resistant to it.]
"Short and sweet, just how i like it. But that does sound a bit like some sort of witcher type potion. Oh well. Ill get a few to test out"
Holding the actual potion bottle in hand. I supposedly chug it down and am surprised by how good it actually tastes.
"Hmm, like a silky smooth fruit juice…mmm, mango pineapple id say" I lick my lips as I then feel that I actually feel lighter for some reason. Taking a deep breathe and releasing it seems to also release some sort of black toxin into the air which I wave away. With curiosity if anything changed, I checked my status.
"YOOOOO, my curse is weakened!!" I cheer uncharacteristically as I'm genuinely happy about this as it means my blood vials are no longer actually useless. I can use them, keep going until I have a seizure, pop a few of these and repeat the process anew.
My mood certainly brightens with this revelation. And only now do I realize that it is actually pretty bright here too.
'Is that the sun?' I mentally question as I see an orb in the sky which is hidden by clouds sporting a semi golden styled aura as if it was noon. I then turn around back at the knight I just took down as I choose to concentrate on one thing at a time for now.
'Since they are kind of like the Las Plagas bio virus from Resident Evil 4, does that mean they are actually zombies and the shades is just a fancy name for the virus or something?' I don't really get an answer from simply standing and poking the knight's body. The armor is also stuck on its body as all my attempts to take any piece off fails, including its helmet which should be the easiest. The visor on the helmet, the scream mask part is also stuck and can't be lifted. How strange.
Moving on, I continue forward killing 3 flaming archers that I'm able to use a light post to get them to move around as they try to get a better angle on me to shoot their arrows…1 hour per arrow at a time.
But taking them out now means I can finally confront the thing I mentioned before. The Balrog.
I can certainly feel the heat coming from it but it's actually far smaller than an actual Balrog from middle earth. Those are giants that rival the chapels of this world but this one is at most house sized. Still impressive but like the runt of the litter. It also doesnt quite have the aura of one. I'm only excited because of the similarities but really it's like the gargoyle's boss from dark souls crossbred with the old iron king or whatever that boss from the second game is called.
It really is just a flaming gargoyle now that I look at it better, but it has some real nice looking wings….'should I tame it? Could i possibly get some sort of wing trait so i too can have them?' I think of some possibilities but just like Gerald, it's unlikely for me to actually get it but I can still fantasize.
Im physically knocked out of my daydream as the demon before me has swiped out it's big flaming sword and sent me flying back. Having lost 75% of my health. I execute my plan and pull out the blood vial. Jamming it into my gut. I am healed up to more than half and then a second to max me out again.
Getting my head in the game again. I 'slowly' charge at the incoming balrog that was beginning it's next swing already. I am able to dodge roll out of this one and wail a few times on it's leg before dodging as it tried to stomp on me.
I am forced to do this for a few minutes as it's giant health pool causes me to get exhausted, especially with how every step I take is equivalent to a light attack swing on this side. Combined with the reduced stamina, it definitely took me a while to beat it down.
Other than the initial 'surprise' attack, I never got hit again. And I got a few thousand shade essences too.
Looking at the store again. I examine the pricier items.
[Collagen paste: Nutrient paste that assists in helping the consumers body to grow strong enough to resist pestilences. +.1 to random stat]
[Fervant nail: metallic nail infused with Shade essence through alchemical tinctures that when applied may mutate the skin to become greater in resistance. Upon use, gain localized active skill-stone skin]
My eyes nearly pop out of their sockets as I look at the actual effects for both items. While they're expensive for such small buffs. It doesnt look like it's temporary. So I bought one of each to test it out as well.
"Hmmm, marmalad (orange jam)" I comment on the taste as I feel my muscles actually tighten up a bit, growing a small bit denser and checking my status. My strength has indeed increased by .1. Not a major bonus but it doesnt seem like that part of the stats is reduced by the debuff on me as otherwise it might be something like .01 instead.
"Now what to do with you?" I ask as I hold a literal long black nail in my hand. This is the type of nail that would have stuck Jesus to the cross. Maybe I can find a resident nearby who can answer my questions.
Continuing on my path, I take down another gold knight but this one had a shield and sword with an oni type grinning face plate as compared to the scream knight from before.
I then take out two burning swordsmen with their heavy blades that I just walk around and beat down. Eventually, I make my 'return' to the Oedon Chapel. Strangely enough, I did not see the amygdala here at all. Maybe my insight isn't high enough or something.
Walking inside, I am surprised to find the building is designed like a proper christian church with a central altar, pews/benches lined up row after row with what looks like a deacon at the altar and multiple people at the benches, kneeling and praying. It seems to be some sort of silent prayer time right now. So my own arrival is quite noticeable.
The deacon raises his head and while one or two people in the pews also do so, they essentially miss me as if I were nothing, returning to their prayers.
The deacon approaches me while another takes his place at the altar.
"Welcome Hunter, it has been quite some time since one of your ilk has deigned to visit our humble location. Most do not fare well at crossing the bridges, even going so far to destroy one of them with explosives. But please. I'm getting ahead of myself, please follow me to our office here. I'm sure you have many questions." The deacon seems quite excited upon meeting me as he rambles a bit before collecting himself and inviting me further.
We go up the stairs where it was previously a basement area leading underground and to the place where I fought Gascoigne. Yet now it's an upstairs office that does lead back down but through an elevator. The deacon takes a seat and motions for me to do as well.
"My name is Father Norbert" the elderly man with a short beard and no mustache introduces himself. He is wearing a black outfit with a red tattered robe on top of it with a black fur coat all on top of that. Quite a few layers to him and he has quite the intense gaze on him but he certainly isn't the strangest person i've met so it's fine.
"You were indeed correct about me having some questions, I was hoping we could properly discuss this before anything else" I sneakily avoided introducing myself as my occupation seems to be already known to him as well as where I come from. The only thing I could possibly tell him, I don't know myself.
And that is my name. I don't remember it.
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Word Count = 2570
Enjoy
Continuing from where we left off, we explore the other side of the bridge which is suspiciously the exact replica of what we already know but arranged differently and introducing a few new oc items whilst fighting cut content creatures. I'll describe them in detail next time. Hope you look forward for what comes next.
[1] Fun fact: Wisteria flowers do have the meaning of welcome while spider lilies represent death. I'm sure you can figure out how the two together can mean. Wink wink nudge nudge.
Whether you like the chapter or not, drop a comment. I can't be letting myself get complacent in my writing. I still have plenty of growth in all forms.
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