- << Hug, this is so disgusting, I just stepped on um... I don't know what.>>
- << Lock the mob and focus, Johann. We're on the right path, right?>>
After reprimanding Mob, Wales asked Johann for confirmation on the veracity of the plan he was taking. He'd been walking for about forty minutes along a steep, underground path, the smell of mold and rot coming from some unknown corpses, mushrooms. There was no light source, the only available ones coming from their torches, and he'd taken several turns until then.
- "Don't worry, Boss, we're following the right path. You know I'm the best at reading maps, after all, among us."
Since the paths all looked the same, there was reason to worry about the route, but Johann had never lost them, no matter where they were going. He was only twenty years old, but his talent was remarkable, particularly his handling of daggers and his ability to gather information.
Walking in the direction the map indicated, he followed a rather steep but manageable path. The presence of moisture suggested it came from an underground spring. The paths had a few steps and wrists when it became difficult to move forward.
"I wonder if they've taken the wrong path for the others to push their enemy into thinking they're on the right path."
- "Personally, I'd do that so he disappears and loses all hope."
- "What are you muttering about?"
It was Mob who asked this question, but just as he wanted to continue, Johann interrupted him.
- "Okay, we've arrived, Mob, concentrate like the leader told you."
- "Yeah, TSS."
In front of the modestly sized gate, which bore no engraving, the team was already ready to begin fighting. They carefully opened it, with Johann at the head.
The formation was simple: Hans at the back as support with his fireballs, Greg with him to prevent attacks against him, Mob behind the leader, ready with his short sword, a crossbow, and a quiver full of darts. He had a pistol, but since we were in the In the catacombs, the sounds of gunfire had to be avoided, otherwise they risked alerting the enemy.
Johann, in front of him, held his sword firmly in place. Unlike the leaders, who wielded a somewhat heavy sword, he used a sword slightly longer than Mob's. Anxiety gripped his body because of the surroundings, and he couldn't even imagine that if things went wrong, he could count on his team.
"With their faces, everyone would think the same."
They walked down a large gallery lit by candles along the walls. Stone pylons could be seen here and there, the humidity and...
- AARG
At this noise, everyone stiffened. Three human-sized creatures appeared in front of them. As soon as they entered their field of vision, the group was attacked. They were the undead.
The undead were animated bodies; the consciousness of these once-human beings was no longer there. Their bodies showed large signs of decomposition, even on their faces, making it difficult to tell whether they were a man or a woman. They wore no clothes, adding to the mystery.
These five monsters rushed at them just then. Hans got into position, but
"All right, I'll take care of it," said Johann.
Immediately, he used his decapitator, the first one, and pierced the heart of another. As he was about to take the third, a hiss sounded in his ear and his target collapsed. Not caring about that, he quickly followed up and slashed the head of the last undead.
When the fight was over, he checked the bodies to be sure. The one Mob had killed had a dart in its skull. To kill the undead, you had to aim for the head or the heart. Damaging them elsewhere is useless, and they don't feel pain. Even with some limbs amputated, they're still fighting.
- "We can't get anything out of this, let's move on."
According to the map, these underground passages should only serve as a holding area for prisoners. Thanks to the presence of natural caverns, they only had to build structures to support everything.
After a full day, they had made good progress. The presence of the undead was felt. It wasn't worrying. It was simple, but they had what we could call Variants who, although dead, retained some of their abilities, such as weapon mastery or the ability to cast basic magic spells.
Resting in a room, the team discusses their impressions of their progress so far.
- "Nothing too bad has happened to us so far, but the guys capable of using magic and sword techniques worry me a little," says Greg.
It could be a sign of the presence of a necromacist, but how could they live here?
- "We'll see when the time comes, as usual," says Mob with a smile.
After that, he ate their rations in silence.
- "Already a day spent downstairs, the smell of this basement reminds me of my wife's cooking," says Greg to lighten the mood.
- "Are you married, sir?" >> asked Johann.
- << Yeah, and I'll tell you, marriage is like having a ball and chain around my ankle. She's always harping on about good manners. I can't even dare contradict her, let alone cheat on her, but after a hard day, seeing her face wishing me a safe return fills me with joy. >>
While he was talking, Johann and the others couldn't tell when, looking at his face, he showed an expression he'd never seen before, showing how much he loves his wife.
- << Then I'll have to find one too, Ha Ha Ha. >>
- << With your face, it'll be difficult, but miracles do exist, you know, >> said Greg.
At this comment, everyone laughed.