"If this one does anything at all to any of us, you can rape, kill and eat her, in the order of your choosing." I said as I smiled wickedly at the dryad, gesturing my hand between her and Bob in case she couldn't understand my meaning.
Bob exhaled a thick puff of fog as he spoke. "Thank you Boss! And you girly, please oh please do something stupid."
The dryad shrieked as her nails dug into my skin. Yep, from her current reactions. She can understand us alright. Okay, it's night night time for her.
I exhaled a small amount of sleeping fog into her face. Her body relaxed as she went limp in my arms.
I got up and walked back to the alter that I first woke up on. I laid her down there. This'll be a nice surprise for her in the morning. I laughed an evil laugh as I rejoined my girls.
I didn't feel like the dryad was evil necessarily, but actions speak louder than words, and she had deceived me with the intention to kill me multiple times now.
She also had a high and mighty personality like the pretty girls from my world. Nothing pisses me off more than an unearned sense of entitlement. Just because she was born prettier than the rest of us she thinks we all owe her something. Her personality was shit and in this world I won't tolerate it.
"Did you actually mean that Boss?" Bob asked, obviously excited.
"Yeah, but only if she does something to harm one of us." I replied.
Chapter 25: Source One Investigation - John
I woke up in the usual way. Leera with her head on my left arm and her body pressed close, Lina on my chest and this damn dryad on my right arm. No, this was not normal. I swiftly ripped my arm out from under the dryad's head, letting it hit the ground. I gently rolled Lina onto Leera, then softly and carefully moved my arm out from under Leera's head insuring I did not to wake her.
The dryad somehow seemed to stay asleep even though her head had made an audible thunk. She simply cuddled up to Leera.
I would leave the three of them together today as I was finally going to go investigate the source in the human camp. It was quite a distance and I had a terribly embarrassing idea on how to cut down travel time.
I walked out of the cave. Bob was cuddling the dismembered monstrous bear corpse and periodically laughed in his sleep.
"Bob, oh Bob." I called.
He arose with a start and looked around until his eyes focused on me. "Boss! I wouldn't eat that if I were you." He said while pointing at the bear.
"Knowing you, I wasn't planning on it." I said with a chuckle.
We both laughed for a few moments.
"I have an odd request for you." I said hesitantly while thinking on the next words I would use. "Could I ride you?" I said nervously.
Bob broke out in laughter before responding. "Gee Boss, I didn't know you felt that way. What'll the girls say? I don't want them to think I'm a slut."
Dammit, I knew it would end up like this, but it's still better than saying can I use you as a mount.
I sighed and rubbed my face with my hand as I responded. "You know what I mean, like a horse."
"I didn't know you did that with horses too! Maybe you're the slut." Bob said still laughing.
"Come on Bob." I said.
"Isn't that what you're trying to do?" He responded now practically cackling.
"Okay, okay, I admit it. You're just too damn pretty. I can't wait to get on top of you and pull your hair as I ride you in front of everyone." I said also laughing.
Bob abruptly stopped laughing an replied. "Too far Boss, too far. You should show some class when dealin' with the ladies."
"You're not a. Oh, oh yeah. Sorry man." I replied.
"I'm just joshin' ya. Throw that bouncy booty up here, we'll go for a run." He said smiling his beastly smile.
Bob laid down in front of me and I climbed on top of him. I grabbed his fur to keep steady as he stood. With our combined height it probably put us at around eleven feet tall. Hopefully Bob would be conscious of low hanging branches.
"So, where to?" He asked.
"It's quite some distance to the northeast. I can feel a pull from it so we shouldn't have much trouble finding it once I'm closer. Judging by what the crow showed me. If I was on foot I would say it would be a day and a half's walk without stopping." I responded.
"Just to warn you, I can't keep up a maddening sprint forever. I'm going to have to pace myself." Bob warned.
"Still a lot quicker than me." I responded.
I pointed the direction and Bob took off. I could hardly keep track of the trees we were passing and weaving through. If this was his idea of pacing himself I would hate to see what it looked like if he went full speed.
We stopped once or twice so Bob could eat something small and fluffy to regain his energy. We lost allot of time trying to find a way around the river while still avoiding the goblin camp.
We reached to the spot in the forest from the crow's vision just before nightfall. I dismounted Bob and had him lie down, I didn't want to spook or incite anyone. We looked at the camp in front of us.
Most of the tents were gone and the remaining men were taking down the rest. It still made me uncomfortable that they were all armed as I couldn't honestly tell if they would be friendly or not.
I noticed now just where that pulling was coming from and it seemed to hint hint at my suspecions. I was being pulled to the foul smelling pit. I also felt a much weaker one from a far away tent.
"I'm going in there, but I would like you to keep an eye on me. If I call out for you by name, or if you see me fall then kill them all, the bloodier the better." I said in a hushed voice.
"I've got your back Boss. Besides I've been waiting for a chance to go on a rampage for a while now." Bob replied in a low growl.
I was human enough looking to fool the necromancers, so I was sure I could accomplish the same here. Let's see what this place is all about.
I used the calming effect and stood to my feet.
I walked slowly into the open.
One of the guys who was taking apart the closest tent looked my direction, doing a double take before running off towards the far tent.
A few of the other men stopped their work and simply stared at me.
"Who is he?" A voice said.
"He looks like a barbarian, maybe a half-orc." Another voice responded.
"Yeah, get a look at that weapon, what is it even made of?" A third voice chimed in.
A young man wearing heavy leather armor and a metal half helm walked up to me.
"Stop right there! Our leader will want to see someone as unique as you." He said it in a serious tone, but his brows were knitted and his eyes looked murderous.
I stopped walking and spoke in a polite tone. "I was just in the neighborhood and thought I'd say hello. There's no reason for alarm."
The man's hands rested on his sword nervously. It seemed like he was expecting to use it soon.
Nothing about this place seems right. Everyone is a little too high strung for my tastes. I looked around to the growing crowd of gawkers. Half of them had sneers on their faces while the rest looked on with hate in their eyes. I could feel their bloodlust in the air.
The youth in front of me was now looking down at me with a sadistic grin. Ah, they think they've caught easy prey, but are still to unsure of their chances to attack. They were undisciplined cowards. Maybe this leader will have more sense.
I heard screaming from a far tent. Was that female? I was starting to get antsy. These guys were definitely up to something. I used life sense. The man in front of me jumped back and drew his sword. Never mind this idiot. I ignored him as I looked for the source of the scream.
I saw two blobs in the far tent. It was obvious what they were doing by the motion.
I deactivated Life sense.
I heard voices from the peanut gallery.
"What is he?"
"Where his eyes just glowing?"
"No I don't feel right about this at all."
"Who would just walk into
our camp like this?"
The man in front of me pointed the tip of his sword at my neck, but stood there motionless sweat dripping down his face. He kept glancing behind him as if waiting for something.
The flap opened on the far tent, and a skinny blonde guy with a scraggly beard came sauntering out.
A man ran over to him and seemed to be saying something to him. The man handed him a belt with two blades on it. One dagger and one cleaver looking knife.
The blond man looked over in my direction as he tied on his belt.
He swaggered his way up to the swordsman in front of me. Placing his hand on his shoulder.
"It's okay Lenny, back down." He ordered
Lenny sheathed his blade and moved to join the spectators.
"Well well, It's not everyday we get a guest." The man said as he moved closer to me with a crooked grin on his face. He continued. "Relax, everyone here is just a little tense because we're a little vulnerable right now. As you can see we're about to move camps so not everyone is present to greet you." He propped his hands on his blades.
"You may call me Thads." He said in a lordly tone as he held out one hand.
I took it and shook it, but he didn't let go as he spoke again. "And you are?"
"Call me John." I told him as I eyed him suspiciously.
Something about this guy sends chills up my spine. His smile lacks all sincerity, It's like this is all a show for him, something he has done numerous times.
"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Say, do you happen to have any coin on you?" He said inquisitively.
"No I haven't needed any yet." I honestly replied.
He pulled me in as if to embrace me. A moment later I felt the sharp tip of his dagger tearing into my chest piercing my heart and scraping against the thick bone shell surrounding my core.
I crushed his girlish hand. His face contorted into a look of shock and pain. I punched him in the face feeling his sharp cheekbone cave in as his jaw went sideways. As he fell back I twisted his wrist feeling the bones grinding together. I released him letting him fall in a shocked slump on the ground.
My elder god half seemed to be smiling.
I ripped the dagger free and held it in my left hand. I immediately fleshcrafted myself and healed my wounds.
"Well Thads, I have to say you're a pretty shitty host." I said as the men all drew their weapons and Lenny jumped out of the crowd at me.
I cast weakness on all of them as I activated Dark shroud, life sense and soul steal.
Darkness coated me as green flames poured from my eyes.
A few of them fell on their asses as the rest looked on in horror. But it seemed like many more formed up behind them out of the range of weakness.
Lenny seemed to be able to shake out of weaknesses effect. He leveled his sword at me and glared into my eyes.
That was a mistake.
I used petriying gaze. Lenny's jaw dropped open as his head tilted backwards in a frozen scream. Blood began to flow from his eyes as his stiff body hit the ground.
Oh, right. I can probably channel the abyss a little better than most.
Thads was now madly backpedaling. He winced each time he used his wrist. I saw him glow for a moment and it looked like his jaw had returned to normal. I threw his dagger at him, pinning his leg to the ground as he cried out in shock.
I moved forward drawing my weapon. I swung it in a downward arc hitting Thad's ankle. I saw the bones give in to the force of my weapon the teeth digging deeply into his flesh. I sawed back and forth for a moment starting the slow process of severing his foot.
"Where are you going oh gracious host. You haven't even met Bob yet." I said as he wailed in pain.
"Oh Bob! Why don't you introduce yourself to our new friends here?" I yelled.
Right on cue a thick fog began covering the area at a frightening speed. It was so thick that I myself couldn't have made out anything more than five feet in front of me without life sense.
Then the screaming started.
I heard terrible crunching noises as things rained down around me in wet plops. There was a powerful screech coming towards me from the sky, gradually getting louder as it approached.
A man landed about two feet away from Thads. The man looked at Thads in hopeless desperation as he reached his hand out to him. Thads looked back at him, the man was gone from the waist down. I saw the two glowing orbs of Bob's eyes appear for a split second before the man was gone again and I was coated in a mist of blood.
I wiped my eyes before looking down to resume work on my host but found that my weapon was sank into a thin severed leg.
Had Bob done that or had he? I used lifesense but there were too many blobs all moving in different directions. I had no clue which could be his.
I guess it's time to reduce the number of blobs.
I stepped into the fog and began swinging my weapon.
I felt something soft give in as my blade met flesh. I saw the body shoot off hitting a few more and knocking them over.
I leaped over to the pile of screaming men hacking downward, when I noticed a man come charging from my left. I shot out a bone spike parrying his blade as I brought my weapon around with my other hand soundly decapitating him.
My head shot to the right as I heard more screams. I saw Bob mauling someone. Another man was running at Bob with a spear. I picked up the head laying at my feet and threw it hitting the would be ambusher. I felt a sharp pain in my back. I turned to see a slender man in black holding a set of bloody daggers.
"Sorry, but those just won't do the trick." I said as my weapon swung around to meet him.
He feebly held his daggers as if to block but the force went right through them pinning his arms to his body as he went flying. He toppled end over end until he came to rest in a jumble of broken limbs. I'll let Bob finish that one off.
I ripped an arm off of one of the men in the minced pile in front of me. I ate without waiting to chew as I felt the wounds closing on my back.
The whole time I've been fighting souls have been regularly flying into me. I opted to use the rodent souls I had been saving to restore some of my mana, not that it was low, but because sorting through all this later would be a pain.
I saw a large group of blobs in a circle formation about twenty feet away. Smart, they couldn't see so they formed a circle.
I made my way there cautiously. The fog in addition to dark shroud would drastically reduce my visibility, but if they were looking right at me I could still be easily seen.
As I covered around half the distance sure enough a man called. "Here comes one! On me!"
They shifted to form a sort of improvised phalanx using self crafted wooden shields. These men were different. Did they have military training. I got within swinging distance and they started to advance on me.
I used dark tendrils rooting them all in place.
I casually strolled around their shield wall to their exposed backs and began hacking away. They screamed and pleaded as I went down the well organized line striking the backs of their necks. Some were decapitated but all were dead. The last one in line screamed the loudest as I'm sure he knew what was coming.
I looked around, scanning for my next opponent. Most of the blobs were now laying on the ground motionless. I could make out two or three in the trees at the far side of the clearing.
"Bob, fog the trees." I commanded
I saw the massive blob that was Bob appear suddenly in the clump of trees as fog overtook the forest.
Then as soon as he appeared there he was gone and the screaming resumed from another direction.
I thought about what sort of soldier hangs out in trees. I leaned down and picked one of the larger improvised shields. This one would cover me shoulder to shin.
I ran towards the treeline. When I wasn't too far away I heard something whistle by me. I held up my shield and continued my charge as a few more arrows thunked into it. The fog apparently did the trick here. Their accuracy
is terrible. I raised my shield up higher as I got close.
I rammed into the closest one as his body flew back into the tree making a sickening crunch. The other two were up in the trees. I didn't know what to do. If only I had brought Lina.
I looked to the one I had just killed, he still held his bow. I remembered I had obtained the archery skill from the goblins. I rushed over towards him keeping my shield between me and the archers. I planted it in the ground letting it lean over my head as I crouched by the fallen archer and retrieved his bow and quiver. I heard another thunk to my shield and one from the tree above my head.
I moved quickly behind the tree leaving my shield there. I knocked an arrow and peered at the human shaped blobs through the tree.
I leaned out quickly releasing my arrow at the closest blob. It sailed over his head hitting a tree behind his.
Well, goblin accuracy probably isn't that impressive. I knocked another arrow and leaned out from the other side this time, letting it fly at the same target. An arrow hit my forehead, but only broke the skin, unable to penetrate my skull. The archer wasn't as lucky as my shot caused him to fall from his tree. I dodged back into cover and saw his blob do the same behind his tree.
I drew my bow again and stepped out from my tree squarely hitting the last treed archer in the chest. He fell from his tree and lay there unmoving.
I darted to the front of my tree and retrieved my shield. I ran to the front of the last archer's tree using stalk to move silently.
I heard labored breathing. I released my sleeping fog in large thick gouts. I heard his breathing slow as a scraping noise indicated he was sliding down the tree he was slumped against.
I moved to the other side and put my bone spike through his skull.
I ran my fingers along the sore place on my head. My forehead wound had already disappeared.
I collected his arrows adding them to mine. I slung my bow across my back and gripped my shield. I looked back at the main camp.
The fog was starting to clear. There were no longer any moving blobs except for a few in some of the tents.
I made my way back. I didn't want to just barge into the tents killing everyone. That female scream from earlier seemed to hint that not everyone here was a soldier.
Deathcreator Book One Page 18