Case 6: Peculiar skeleton.

Case 6: Peculiar skeleton.

rustle

Hmm... I've been thinking about this since coming here, but this forest looks very gloomy. Not just the grey leaves, but even the soil and dirt seem lifeless.

I guess it does match the atmosphere since I've only seen monsters and monsters appearing, not a single 'normal' animal. Except for the five or six mister Fishes back then, probably.

''!!''

My ears are picking up something in the distance.

''Wait, there's something near us.'' I say to Ariel, who's flying ahead of me. ''Let's hide first.''

After receiving a nod from Ariel, I pull out the old sword from the goblin earlier and we both hide behind a tree. Then, she and I turn in the direction where the faint rustling noises are coming from.

GRRRR

Eventually, I can see familiar faces come out of the bushes.

[Zircon Wolf Lv.6]

[Zircon Wolf Lv.5]

[Zircon Commander Wolf Lv.7]

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Name: --

Race: Zircon Commander Wolf Title: --

Level: 7

HP: 14/14 MP: 11/11

STR: 2.0 INT: 3.2

AGI: 3.7 STA: 3.4

Skill: [Protection Lv.2], [Acceleration Lv.1].

State: Hungry.

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[Protection: Create a shield around the user for a brief period of time. Cost: 2 MP, last for 2 seconds] [Normal]

That guy with the horn... It gave me quite a struggle back then. I got played by its [Protection] skill. As expected, having [Inspect] is really convenient, thanks a lot, Chloe.

Either way, I'm pretty confident now, based on the status screen alone, they don't stand a chance against that bear earlier.

''Ariel, you use your [Banshee's wail] and I use my [Domination] at the same time, we take them out all at once, alright?'' I whisper.

''Hu.'' She nods lightly.

''Go.''

We both run out toward the wolves.

[Domination]!

GYÄȲÆÑÅÇ

Seizing the opportunity when they are all stunned, I immediately swing the old sword at the leader wolf.

Surprisingly, even under both [Domination] and [Banshee's wail], it is still able to raise its shield, trembling and growling in fear. I guess they don't call it a commander for nothing.

keng

The rusty and fragile sword snaps in half when it hits the wolf's shield.

Okay, one, two... [Sharp claw].

Throwing the remains of the old sword to the side, I form my hands into knives with the help of my skill and slash at the now defenseless wolf with all my might.

My razor-sharp blades cut through the wolf's neck like tofu under the confused eyes of its kin, instantly decapitating it.

thud

Its body and head fall to the ground with a dull noise.

[You have defeated a Lv.7 Zircon Commander Wolf]

Now for these cowering two, let's take care of them one by one. Actually, I've been thinking since earlier, am I really that weak physically? I mean, there's an STR stat, after all, it has to have increased my power, right?

So I pull my right leg back and rotate my body to the left, then kick one of the wolves with all my strength.

THUD

Continuing down the path, we eventually reach a room with some rather interesting details. There are two blue, dimly lit lamps in the corners of the room, a few old bookshelves here and there, and a desk in the middle of the room. The most notable thing, though, is the bleached white skeleton in an old robe sitting at the desk.

''Where are the people living with you?''

''Hu?'' She tilts her head.

What? Is there something-

''Ariel. I told you not to wander out of here, it's dangerous outside.''

Suddenly a deep voice, so deep that it seems to come from the abyss itself, echoes through the room.

''Who's there?!'' I immediately assume a fighting stance.

I can't see anything around... Wait, don't tell me.

[Inspect].

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Name: --

Race: Skeleton Title: Glory of the Past

Level: 15

HP: 40/40 MP: 54/54

STR: 3.2 INT: 6.3

AGI: 3.6 STA: 3.4

Skill: [Inspect Lv.4], [Language Lv.3],

[Light Magic Lv.3], [Teleportation Lv.2],

[Blink Lv.2], [Pain Immunity Lv.1],...>

State: Bound.

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''...Someone else is here?!''

The skeleton nearly jumps up, its eye sockets flashing with golden-white light.

[Domination], [Sharp claw].

''!!''

''Wait, wait! I have no intention of fighting you!'' The skeleton waves its arms around profusely, head shaking.

''Hu! Hu!!'' Ariel flies in front of me and spreads her arms out as if not wanting me to go further.

''...Who are you?'' I ask.

''I'm... I'm nobody now.''

It might be my imagination, but it looks kind of depressed right now.

''What is your intention?''

''I want to get out of here. And for that, I need your help.'' It lowers its head lightly. ''Please.''

''Why are you lying? You have [Teleportation].''

''I can't get out. There's a barrier trapping me in this room.''

''...''

Do I trust it or not...

''How about this, my lady.'' It continues. ''Why don't we form a party? I won't be able to hurt you that way, and then you can listen to my story.''

''...What? Party members can't hurt each other?''

''You didn't know that...?'' It seems genuinely flustered, or at least that's what I'm able to see from the flickering light in its sockets. ''There should be a [Help] function in every panel of the system...''

''What does that look like?'' I narrow my eyes, opening the status panel.

''A simple question mark, my lady. Did you see it yet?''

No? There's no question mark anywhere. Am I hallucinating?

Okay, now that I think about it, the reason why Ariel's wailing didn't affect me much, if at all, could really mean that party members can't hurt each other. So this guy might be telling the truth...

''What's in it for me?''

''Of course, there would be a reward worthy of your effort, my lady.'' It steps out of the desk. ''But why don't we introduce ourselves first?''

[ -- has sent you a join party request. Accept?] [Yes] [No]