I fell back to the ground after the rat exploded.
My ears ringing once more from how close I was to the explosion. Always ringing.
It feels like my chest is still rattling.
What is his power? What kind of thread could make this happen?
Clearly he can turn things into bombs. But why use a rat?
I force myself up to my feet. Grabbing my sword and reattaching it to my hip.
Aric was close to me. Somewhere to my right. I could faintly hear his shouting. Though it came through a wall I couldn't cross.
The smoke was far too thick. Fire is far too fierce. latching onto debris that fell from a higher floor and made a wall.
I turn the other way. Seeing what might as well be a hallway or corridor of flames. Fire running up both walls and covering the ceiling.
Laughter ran through the building. The same cackle from before.
Rhovan's voice cut through the noise.,
Rhovan: "He's still inside! Everyone watch out!"
I drew my sword. Peering down the burning hall.
It's him. Standing a few meters in front of me.
I had no time to think. Only time to move.
I rush forward. Sword drawn on my right, tip facing straight forward.
I thrust the sword forward at him. Though he manages to dodge just barely. Sucking in his stomach and moving back to narrowly avoid the attack.
???: "Well well! What do we have here?"
He pulled a knife from somewhere on his right side. Swiping at my sword to push it away.
Pull back out to the right. Around, down and back up.
I force the blade up as fast as I can.
Despite my efforts he pulls back. Narrowly avoiding my sword once again.
He's digging into his pocket again. How many rats does he have there?
I jump back nearly instinctively. Barely having to think about my movements.
Just as I thought he pulled out another rat.
Time to test something.
I drive my foot down into the floor, forward under a fallen ceiling panel and kick it up in front of me.
The rat hits the panel and explodes on contact.
So all it needs is one hit.
I rush forward again. The panel covering my movements. My blade drawn at my left hip.
Swing. This time he doesn't have any room to dodge.
*BOOM*
The force of the explosion sends me flying back.
I drive my blade into the ground before I get sent too far.
What? How?
I steady myself. Head rising to see a group of people. Pale skinned, clothes torn.
They look. Mindless.
???: "They were so eager and desperate to survive. I just gave them purpose!"
Behind them stood the man.
That's it. That's why he used rats.
That's why the rats didn't move.
He can only turn living things into bombs. And when he turns things he can control them.
If these are the same as the rats they only take one hit to explode. He set up a moving minefield in this hallway.
I need a plan. Quickly
My eyes dart around the room. Settling below me on a spot of broken and loose rocks. Probably used to be the floor of this place.
I drive my sword straight down into the ground. Getting half the blade in the floor.
With both hands I push the hilt down in the opposite direction as the crowd of bombs.
With enough tension. The blade swings up towards the people. Launching a wall of rocks and pebbles at them.
A symphony of explosions erupted in the hall. Every single zombie person exploding after coming into contact with the makeshift shrapnel.
Aric: "What the hell are these things!?"
Kareth: "People. Used to be at least."
I can hear Thyra and Rhovan fighting together. So now we are in two groups of two.
Aric: "People! Why are they doing anything for him then? And why do they explode?"
Kareth: "Remember Thyra telling us about threads?"
Aric nods.
Kareth: "This guy's 'thread' allows him to control any living thing and turn it into a bomb. I don't know how he does it or if there's any conditions though."
He's had multiple chances to touch me and hasn't. So either it's more complicated than just touching somebody or he's stupid
I couldn't get any information from the people-bombs because I just had to get rid of them as quickly as possible. I still need to be cautious.
The laughter echoed through the hall again. Rising just as the fire from the combined explosions died down slightly.
???: "You survived all that. I'm impressed. And now you have a friend?"
Kareth: "Shut it you insane bastard."
He makes a mockful sad face. Taunting us once more.
???: "You're very mean. Yet so very interesting."
I raise my sword.
More zombie people raised up from the flames. Around 9 from what I can tell.
Kareth: "Aric. Handle the people. I'll get him."
Aric: "W-what! That's insane. We need to wait for Thyra and Rhovan."
Kareth: "We don't have time to wait. Be careful. They explode under any significant amount of force."
Aric nods. Though clearly he's unhappy.
I run down the burning hall. Dodging falling debris as I run.
His laughter picks up.
???: "The dance can begin!"