Chapter 15 – The Dark mask of leader
The cold wind of the north bit into the skin of the adventurers as they clashed with the wolves. The ground was stained with blood, mud, and snow.
"What!? We're getting attacked by wolves!?" one adventurer shouted in panic, swinging his sword and cutting one down.
The vice leader of the adventurers raised his voice, "Keep moving forward! Don't back off from this fight!" He raised his hand, muttering an incantation. A blast of magic exploded, killing several wolves at once.
Some adventurers who saw this were filled with excitement.
"That's expected from our vice leader!"
"We can defeat all these wolves with our vice leader!" they shouted, their voices like a war cry.
"Yeah!" the rest echoed.
One adventurer grinned while fighting, "You should be the new leader!"
The others nearby heard this and, while clashing swords and spears against the wolves, they agreed loudly.
The vice leader stayed silent… until something strange happened.
From the shadows, a ghostly wolf emerged — its body faint and pale, eyes glowing like dying embers.
One adventurer noticed it. "Huh!? Those wolves are ordina—" Before he could finish, the ghost wolf of Velcous slashed him with its claw.
Another adventurer laughed, thinking it was just a normal hit. "Why'd you get knocked down by a wolf!? Haha!"
But the man who had been slashed was on his knees, trembling like he had seen death itself. His voice shook. "D-Don't come near me!!!"
The laughter around him faded. The others began to exchange uneasy looks.
"Why is he terrified of that wolf?" one asked.
"Yeah… it's just a wolf, right?" another replied.
[Kneeling Man POV]
DING— Notification:
You have been inflicted with Ghost Parasite.
You have been inflicted with Fear.
You have been inflicted with Nightmare.
You have been inflicted with Hallucinations.
Ghost Parasite – Description: You have been infected by a ghost entity. Damage over time: 0.5%. When HP reaches 0%, you will become a puppet of the Ancient Ghost.
But he didn't care about the text. His heart pounded.
In front of him stood not a wolf — but a massive white-cloaked creature, grotesque and towering. Its long tongue dripped saliva. Its razor teeth gleamed. In its hands was a scythe bigger than any man.
"D-Don't come near me!" he screamed.
The adventurers nearby frowned in confusion.
"Why is he scared of a wolf?"
"Something's wrong with him."
One of them shouted, "He's gonna get killed by that wolf! Let's help him!" and they rushed forward.
The terrified man's eyes locked on the scythe — it was about to swing down on him.
"HELP!!" he shouted.
But in reality, it was only a wolf lunging for the kill.
A voice cut through the chaos:
"Spell: Boundless Chain!"
Chains shot out from the ground, wrapping around the ghost wolf and the other wolves around them.
"Vice leader!" the adventurers cheered.
"You saved him again!"
"You're the best!"
But one adventurer beside him grinned, "He's not the vice leader anymore… he's our new leader!"
The man gave a humble smile. "It's better if you call me Pyrtho."
"New leader Pyrtho! You're the best!" the group shouted in unison.
But inside Pyrtho's mind… darkness stirred.
Don't call me your leader, you insects. I only became your leader because I have a greater plan.
Out loud, Pyrtho raised his voice, "We will change the world and save the innocent!"
The crowd erupted with cheers.
"Our leader is a hero!"
"With him, no one will fall!"
"We'll win this fight!"
But Pyrtho's thoughts were cold. Weak, pathetic humans…
While the battle raged on, the terrified man from earlier was now unconscious.
"Tch… why is he knocked out? He only got hit by a wolf's claw. He's level 36 — his defense should've handled it," one adventurer muttered.
Another asked, "Where's the wolf that our new leader chained?"
The group looked around. "Now that you mention it… it's gone."
Suddenly, the man's eyes opened.
"Hey, are you alright?" someone asked.
But the man's expression was empty — unnatural.
The adventurers exchanged whispers.
"He's… different."
"Yeah… he's acting weird."
The man stood slowly. "…Let's… follow… the leader…"
"Are you okay? Do you need to rest?" one asked, but the murmurs continued.
"He's weird right now…"
[Current Status]
Name: Ron (Velcous)
Level: 70 (+34)
Class: Ghost Mystic Mage
Title: Dead Puppet
Skills: Ghost Ritual, Ghost Flame, Ghost Frost, Ghost Departure, Ghost Teleport Gate
Passive: Ancient Shared Buff, Dead Puppet Perks, Physical Immune, Ghost Parasite
Velcous's voice echoed in the man's mind — dark and cruel.
You are now my puppet. You will serve the Ghost King.
Elsewhere in the forest, wolves were being cut down in brutal succession. Roy froze mid-strike.
"What was that, Velcous?"
Velcous replied casually, "Oh, I got a new puppet — a human."
"A human? So it's not a monster?" Roy was surprised.
"Yes. His mind was weak. The debuffs broke him, and he died from it," Velcous said with pride.
Roy stabbed another wolf, still speaking. "You already know what I'm thinking, right?"
"I do. My puppet hid in the forest, then teleported, and now it's already in the town," Velcous said.
"Good. Make that puppet guard the blacksmith," Roy ordered.
"Yes," Velcous replied. Then he added, "The other adventurers infected by my Ghost Parasite will soon be puppets as well."
Roy smirked. "They're evil anyway, so it's fine."
Velcous's tone darkened. "Not because of that… but my Ghost Parasite cannot infect the adventurers' leader."
"I forgot the leader's name—was it Rath?" Roy asked.
"No. The vice leader who just became the new leader — according to my parasite spy," Velcous said.
Roy's grip tightened on his dagger. "He might be high level."
"He could be level 140 or more. He's just hiding it," Velcous said seriously.
Roy stopped for a second. "Level 140+!? In my past, no one could reach that right now!"
"Yes. But it's only my speculation," Velcous replied.
Roy shook his head. "Tch… This isn't good. Let's focus on one problem at a time."
"We are almost at the bandit hideout," Velcous reminded him.
Roy's voice dropped, dark and sharp. "I will kill you all, bandits. None of you will live. You'll all die in vain."
[Current Status]
Name: Roy
Level: 58 (↑ from 31)
Class: Ghost Summoner
Title: Bloodline of the First Blood King Exolus
Souls: 27