Subhuman

Our path led us through lands partially tainted by the withering, just small patches of dead zone here and there. But today we reached the world's edge, it's like looking into a new biome in a videogame. It goes from green paths to ashy steps, like a knife cut through the land.

But the path still remains just more blackened and covered in dead leaves and trees, it's like walking into a horror movie. Everything's shades of black and white.

This place is just like Earth, it's sad to see this world has the same affliction.

Eryth pipes up as we cross the line from green to black.

“The Pit should be close now, we may only have a day's worth of walking ahead of us.”

“That’s good news… maybe we should hurry along then yeah?”

“Let’s not move too hastily King, things may be different back from wherever you’re from, but danger could be lurking around every shrub, we can’t be too careful.”

“Right, I won’t get ahead of myself.”

“Mhm, we should also worry about not succumbing to the withering. I don’t have a full understanding of how it works or behaves.”

Eryth seems to be taking everything very cautiously. As much as I’d like to do the same, I feel like we really can’t afford to spend too much time tiptoeing our path through this wasteland, we need to find and kill the Demon Lord before it's too late.

In attempts to drag her along quicker, I start to jog forward, heading further down the path into the witherlands.

“King! Wait, slow down!” She calls out, but I’m already past a tree, her words muffled by both nervousness and distance.

Passing those trees opens my view to a sight I didn’t really expect to see, but maybe I should have.

There’s another village on this road…

Another village already consumed by the withering.

The path runs through the small ruined village.

Crossing the roads appear to be withering monsters, zombies.

It’s strange.

They’re acting human, despite their appearance.

Though I’d say not human enough though.

Some are walking hand in hand, the smaller ones run along the side of the road. Some even appear to be selling jars of dirt…

Eryth catches up to me, as I stand watching the distant village. Her mind takes note, likely of the similarities to her own home town taken by the same destruction as this one.

“Why are they doing all that? Aren’t they just mindless beasts? King, what's your take on this? We could easily walk around the village, but it would likely take another day of travel.”

“I’m not sure, maybe they’ve held on to some humanity in death or something.”

“You think they’d be docile if we walked through, maybe if we acted like zombies we’d be able to deceive them.” Eryth begins planning.

“I don’t think that’ll work.

“Awww what, but wouldn’t it be cool if it did though.”

“Sure I guess.” I respond plainly.

“Whatever you’re no fun, but what should we do then?” She asks, as if she’s not the party leader whatever that title was supposed to mean.

“We’ll move through the village, they’re just weaklings anyways. If a fight breaks out we’ll manage I’m sure.”

And we continue onward.

Walking toward the village, infected by decay.

We walk in, the withering monsters surrounding us on all sides, however they remain undisturbed by our presence. Continuing to go about their own business, whatever that may be.

Eryth turns to me and asks:

“What do you think about how they’re letting us walk alongside them like this? To me it feels like we’re walking with normal human beings, I feel almost calmed about this.”

“Honestly, I feel nervous too, these things could turn around and attack at any moment and we’ll be surrounded. They are supposed to be dead, so they shouldn’t be walking” speaking with every rational bone in my body.

Eryth almost seems dissatisfied with that answer.

“I don’t know King, they aren’t doing any killing or anything of the sort as far as I’m aware, they’re just walking. It kind of makes you think a bit.” she ponders, but does not express her thoughts further. After a moment, speaking again.

“Say King, what do you think is the cause of the withering anyways? Almza always said it was probably some powerful magician that started it.” She asks, breaking the awkward silence she created.

“I’ve wondered for a while myself, I’m not really sure to be honest. But if I had to fathom a guess, it was probably created by the Demon Lord… and that’s why we need to stop him from destroying everything.”

“Yeah, sounds about right.” Her response is cold, her mind seemingly in another place.

I’m not really sure what’s going through her head right now. We’re in a very dangerous scenario, I need her to focus on survival.

She can’t honestly harbor connections to these soulless husks.

They aren’t human.

They aren’t alive.

And they never will be.

~         ~         ~

Our passage reaches what was likely the town center. Torn apart wooden stands lay atop mounds of ash and stone bricks piled up from the deteriorating landscape. The withered monsters roam this area in large groups. And as we step into the center of it all, they finally take notice…

The hobbling blackened figures make ways toward us, surrounding us, as I expected they would.

“Eryth… Looks like they have us surrounded… Eryth!?”

I turn to look over at Eryth… she’s collapsed to the ground, her magic failing her. Her wooden body falling apart.

“Eryth what’s gotten into you, snap out of it, I need you!”

“S–sorry King, I–I feel a little under the weather right now… I don’t think I can do it…” she muffles out, as her arms and legs buckle and clatter to the ground, her magic no longer supporting her posture.

“Damn it, Eryth!”

My withering enemies approaching closer and closer.

Looks like I’m alone in my battle… again.

Equipping my shovel, already jolting with black electricity surging through it.

My journey thus far has granted me the knowledge and power of proficiency with magic. I’ve become stronger than what Eryth believed I could achieve in such a short time.

I can easily kill a few zombies.

The hum of electricity shatters as I slam the shovel down upon the contorted ashen forms before me.

THZZZTTT!!

The electricity sparks, igniting the standing bodies in a blackened flame of lightning.

They are weaklings compared to me.

Hobbling corpses, the only thing they have is their arms.

They are nothing, shriveled up demons that must be vanquished.

The groups get closer, and closer.

As I clear past more and more waves of them, it seems something’s off.

Past the horde attacking here there are some in the back…

Fleeing from here?

Nonsense, they only aim to destroy.

Another group is approaching, these ones brandishing decaying rods of what looks like steel. Swords, taken by the withering broken down but still sharp enough to cut.

ZAP!

ZAP!

ZAAAAP!

The wave in front is quelled, leaving just the armed posse to fight.

It’s one against six, pretty unfair if you ask me. And my tank is out for the count.

But I still have my signature spells up my sleeve, the small fry weren’t worthy of a named skill.

They can wield their swords as I’ll wield mine.

Brandishing my shovel as if it were a sword, I announce.

“En Garde, fiends!”

As I charge, so does the shovel, bursting with the intense heat of lightning coursing through its form.

The monsters wind up an attack, a well coordinated bunch these ones, but I’m faster.

As they’re attack swings down, I dodge, evading into the air with a great leap!

“With a spark, and a jolt of light, a monster such as yourself will find its final fight! I CAST [THUNDER SURGE]!!!”

CRACK!!!

The shovel lightning bolt crashes into the squad of withering knights, disintegrating them to ash where they stood. Their bodies crumbling to dust and blowing along the wind of the electrical explosion.

Not many left, now that the real danger is dealt with.

The small groups huddle together, it makes it easier to defeat them.

I feel my magic growing, my powers increasing with every kill.

Sparking, slashing, ripping, tearing.

These monsters deserve to die for their actions. They’ve destroyed so many lives, they won’t be given the chance to destroy another.

Destroy, break, gouge, stomp.

I’ll keep attacking until none remain,

Until we can be safe once again.

The sounds of zaps and hurried footsteps play a concert of battling sounds over the course of give or take nine to ten minutes.

Until finally the battle is won.

With not a single withered demon in sight.

I return to Eryth’s scattered body. The wooden limbs slowly begin pulling back into place as her eyes faintly shimmer yellow with her magic.

Although the fight was long, I feel refreshed.

I had fun.

Helping Eryth to her feet, she holds her arms tightly together, embarrassed. She finally speaks.

“Di–did you kill all of them?”

“Yes”

“Mmm” she still seems deep in thought, her mind far away from the world in front of her. Maybe just embarrassed for collapsing like that.

“I maybe only sustained a scratch or two, we’ll be good to keep going… Unless you need to take a breather, Eryth?”

She seems so lost, her black dot eyes staring across the now barren village square.

Without turning her head she says…

“King, what would you do if I began to wither away?”

END CHAPTER 12