NOVEL WEB Chapter 4 : Dance of the Horrors
As he ventured further into the shadows, they shifted ominously, revealing a twisting path that wound deeper into the fracture. Cale moved cautiously, every instinct honed from countless battles guiding his steps. The darkness pulsed around him, alive with a suffocating energy that clung to the air like a heavy fog, making each breath feel labored.
Suddenly, a rustling noise drew his attention, a sound that sent a jolt of adrenaline through his veins. Cale's heart raced as he turned, raising his scythe defensively. From the shadows emerged a creature unlike any he had faced before: a large, amorphous being with writhing tentacles and multiple eyes. Its form resembled a humanoid ghost, gaseous and devoid of a lower body, yet sharp claws glinted menacingly in the dim light.
"Now. What the hell is this?" Cale muttered, his scythe positioned protectively in front of him, eyes narrowed in cautious determination.
Ding!
[Hostile creature detected: Eldritch Horrors: Large, amorphous creatures with tentacles and eyes that cause madness if stared at for too long. Level: E+]
Cale grinned, a hint of madness creeping into his voice. "Be a good boy and die... please."
Without warning, the Eldritch Horror lunged at him. Cale parried its first three frenzied attacks, his reflexes sharp and focused, before counterattacking. The creature recoiled, putting distance between them.
"You didn't like that, huh?" Cale quipped, his humor holding firm despite the danger. "Putting distance between us won't be beneficial. Let's finish this." He shifted his weight, placing one leg behind him, and ducked low before launching a swift strike at the Eldritch. It attempted to block, but Cale's scythe, honed to a razor's edge, sliced through the creature’s tentacles and cut deep into its amorphous body, causing it to collapse lifelessly to the ground.
Ding!
[Hostile creature Eldritch Horror defeated: +100 EXP]
Cale breathed heavily, the adrenaline beginning to wane. "So now I have EXP. Good... at least I can make killing these monsters worth something."
Ding!
[New side quest issued: Defeat 100 Eldritch Horrors of this fracture. Reward: 5 points. Accept or reject?]
“At least let me catch my breath,” Cale shouted angrily at the System, but silence hung in the air, heavy and unyielding.
“I accept!” he shouted, frustration boiling over.
Suddenly, 10 to 20 Eldritch Horrors appeared in front of him, their tentacles writhing and eyes gleaming with madness. “Looks like I’m going to lose my mind and go mad today... HAHA…” Cale laughed nervously, a flicker of fear sparking within him. The System had sold him out to these horrors.
'I have to outsmart this sneaky system next time', Cale thought, determination solidifying in his mind.
With a surge of adrenaline, Cale charged at the creatures, managing to slay two or three before he felt the madness creeping into his consciousness. His eyes glowed crimson. What a drag. My mind is going mad, he thought angrily.
Ding!
[Would the host like to use "Battle Frenzy" skill at the cost of his mind going mad?]
“Shit! Anything will work in this situation. Bro, give me that!” Cale shouted as four Eldritch Horrors charged toward him, their bodies writhing in anticipation.
With a single, sweeping horizontal slash, he cut down all four of them in one fluid motion.
“HAHAHA! This will be enough to kill you all!” Cale shouted, a wild glee bubbling up from within. The red glow in his eyes intensified, and dark veins pulsed along his body as the thrill of battle consumed him.
Cale charged at the remaining horrors, unleashing his rage without restraint.
...
After what felt like an eternity, Cale came back to his senses, holding an Eldritch's severed head in his hand, the thrill of battle fading. The redness in his eyes and the pulsing veins receded, leaving him gasping for air.
“Argh!” Cale shouted, suddenly overwhelmed by a wave of pain radiating through his body. “What the hell? My mind—Argh! IT hurts!” He fell to his knees, clutching his head in agony, the price of his recklessness crashing down on him.