Things looked dire, quickly escalating to becoming desperate. Lucious pushed ahead of the Chef and his assistant, Deni, to engage a Ghoul. Doing it not out of bravery, but for practicality. The sooner they could get people armed, the higher their chances of survival will be.

Lucious with two knives in his hands, each roughly the same size, stalked for his next victim. Picking out an unsuspecting Ghoul, Lucious darted in, making as little sound as possible while attempting to keep up with the beast’s rapid movement. It was currently circling a man with a small cutting knife, and the haggard figure of the man was a clear indication of who was currently winning. The beast was much faster than the man, slowly slashing him full of holes while constantly dodging his ill-aimed strikes.

Level 6 Ghoul

Lucious strike, however, was anything but ill-aimed. He’d snuck to its left corner, and just as the creature went in for a slash, Lucious did as well. It quickly gave the man a quick gash on his chest, promptly backed-stepping right into Lucious blade, impaling itself on the 9-inch blade. Lucious aimed for the heart, safely assuming that it was a weak spot.

MAJOR CRITICAL HIT 150% DAMAGE INCREASE!

Damaged Central system, Major Crippled Status dealt. -50% mobility and strength.

Damaged Blood Circulation. Major Bleeding Status dealt. -20% MAX HP/SECOND until healed.

ASSASSINATION 100% DAMAGE INCREASE!

The blade went in clearly, piercing it’s back and appearing out the front. Such an attack would have completely crippled a human, but since Ghouls are some type of undead, Lucious figured that they could probably fight even without their limbs. He plunged in the other knife after slightly pushing the creature forward, allowing the knife to pierce through the gap of its neck and shoulders.

CRITICAL HIT 100% DAMAGE INCREASE!

Damaged Additional Blood Circulation. Devastating Bleeding status dealt. -40% MAX HP/SECOND

Lucious placed his foot on the creatures back and pushed forward, quickly pulling out both knives, his arms and chest getting soaked in the process. The creature fell, dead before it could touch the ground.

Level 6 Ghoul killed. 80% Experience gained.

2 Battle Points gained.

5+ Achievement points for First Flawless Assassination.

Leveled Up!

Utilizing Speed, Technique, Strength, Tactics, and Will, you have gained +2 Agility, +2 Dexterity, +1 intelligence, 1+ Will.

You have pleased the gods with your progression, rewarding you with additional Attribute points. +2 Dexterity.

Lucious did not know what most of these status screens meant, but he safely assumed that they were good.

The Haggard Man was panting heavily, several shallow cuts weighing him down, but was otherwise healthy. There was no point in saving someone who would not be able to fight, making Lucious having to be efficient with the people who he saved.“T-Thank you, Chil-” Lucious quickly cut him off, handing him one of the knifes.

“Not enough time to speak. Group up with the guys hacking at the Ghouls behind me” Lucious pointed to the Chef and Deni, their bellows and slashes rallying those around them. The Haggard Man nodded slowly, apparently not entirely comfortable with being ordered by a five-foot adolescent, but thankfully followed them correctly.

Lucious circled back, not going too far out from the group. The numbers were about even now, and that was not good. These creatures were extremely fragile and are very easily Bled, but an untrained adult male attempting to fight the beasts did not avail much. Those who charged got their bodies pierced, and those who didn’t are slowly dying. Few seemed to have battle experience and were getting by with small plate knifes, but they were quickly exhausted through by the influx of Ghouls. In addition, the ratio between the men and women was equal, and the women with their large dresses were mainly useless. There were some gutsy enough to rip their dresses and batter some Ghouls themselves, but most did not. It a sad slaughter. While the Bloodlust running in his vein allowed him not to flinch upon the gore and the decreasing amount of screams, Lucious could only wonder what impact that had on these high-borns.

There was something odd about how these Ghouls were acting. They were automatic, instinctual beasts, but the way things were escalating was abnormal. There were too many patterns throughout the skirmishes occurring. This was not how battles played out.

Lucious took a few moments to run through the crowds, giving a Ghoul a kick there and a shallow cut over here and occasionally a good one there, but only intervening long enough when the person might prove useful. Lucious helped a young woman take down an already bloody Ghoul, and got lucky with three more interactions, piercing one Ghoul through the Heart, leaving it to bleed out as he thrusted at another one a few meters away. All he had to do was kick the last one, tipping it off balance, and the Middle Aged Man bounced on top of it, pummeling the poor beast with his fists until its skull caved in.

Things were looking better, as the woman and two of the men he had assisted made their way into the Chef’s group. Sadly, one of them did not move fast enough and had bumped into another Ghoul. Lucious was not there to help him this time.

Lucious sighted another potential ally attempting to crush a Ghoul with a chair, but before he could make his way into the fest, his body jerked down and rolled to the right. Utterly confused at the sudden movement, Lucious did not roll with the momentum, making his right shoulder take the full impact, taking a few points of damage.

Something had swiped where his body previously was.

Nearly fumbling his handle on the small blade, Lucious bounced up, coming face to face with a Ghoul’s thrust. With the beast not expecting such quick recovery, probably thanks to his high agility and small body, Lucious parried it’s straight thrust to the left side, its nails slightly cutting into his shoulder as it scraped by. The beast’s movement carried it forward, placing Lucious inches from it’s chest. Clenching his teeth, Lucious met the Ghoul head on with his right chest, throwing both it and him a few inches back.

With enough room to swing his knife, and it’s left arm out of position from the lunge, while it’s right as off balance, Lucious twisted his already angled body, both hands swinging the knife across. Big, slow, and wide movements usually got you killed in a duel, but this time the knife cleanly cut through half the creature’s neck, its high pressured body spitting out an obscene amount of purple blood. Dismissing the notifications, Lucious quickly balanced himself.

Level 8 Ghoul

One Ghoul was left. Fortunately for Lucious, the Ghoul he had just cut blocked the other one’s path, probably saving him from a fatal attack. Unfortunately, another Ghoul joined the fray, circling him as their friend slowly bled to death. Shorty after, Lucious received a notification of its death.

Level 6 Ghoul

Lucious cursed. Every time he came three meters close to a Ghouls, their Level would show. The higher the Level, the quicker and more vicious they became. These two, Lucious noticed, were the same Levels as the Ghouls he had previously harassed. This was no coincidence. Proving this was the blood dripping down the back of one of the Ghouls, the one he had cut as he ran by.

If they were truly mindless, instinctive beasts, as their fighting style proved, then they wouldn’t have chased Lucious when there were much easier targets to hunt. There was something wrong with these creatures.

Once again, things looked dire. Taking that Ghoul out there probably saved his life, though fighting two Ghouls simultaneously was not a much better alternative. In addition to that, the element of surprise was not on his side.

Lucious’s eyes darted towards the Chef, meeting his eyes as he took down another Ghoul. The Chef, however, frowned and turned away, his eyes lowered to the ground.

Saving him was too much of a risk, probably. Typical. Lucious would probably have done the same, though that sure did not stop him from hating the guts out of that bald man.

And that fucking piano was not helping. Its invasive notes tried to creep into his head, louder and louder they got, vibrating through his body. Power, untamed rage, desire, love, hate, and most of all, hunger. A savage, ever consuming, relentless hunger. It was endless and selfish. That was her song. It reached out for Lucious, offering him power, probably in exchange for a something of him.

Lucious kindly declined, clenching his teeth as he Willed it away.

Status Affliction Resisted

You resist, but for how long?

The Ghouls crept forward as Lucious racked his brain for ill-advised solutions.