Part Twenty-One

Western Australia. Australian Disaster Zone……

[Alicia’s POV]

“…Gross."

“Ku.”

Alicia and Regis had stumbled upon the rotting carcass of some beast, torn apart in the messiest of manners. Whatever had gone through here was no better than a natural disaster, likely meaning that it was their target. The two checked the area around the corpse, but found no further clues. Sighing to herself, Alicia began to head back to the others. Hopefully someone else found something more useful.

Now I wish I had some kind of detection Skill. So far, the only ways we’ve found to easily learn Skills are Scrolls and enchanted items like the Cloak of Shadows. I know we’re capable of learning them otherwise, but we don’t know how. Michael wasn’t able to figure out how Accuracy worked. That makes me think it’s probably harder than we think to learn Skills on our own. Haaah, this is too confusing. Can someone make a how-to book for this?

A few minutes after that internal rant, Alicia successfully returned to the others, who’d also not found anything. They’d gotten this far, but the trail had gone cold. Either the monster was dead, or it had somehow managed to suppress its Miasmic Aura.

“Well, what now? We can’t just wander around here forever.”

“Hm, do we risk spreading out further? If one of us gets attacked like that, they’ll be on their own.”

“No way, no how. Fightin’ that thing on our own is a death sentence. Even I’m not that reckless."

This is a predicament. We managed to follow it this far, but if we can’t find it and finish it off, it could manage to recover. There’s already at least one crisis developing in the world. We don’t need a second one.

“It seems we’ve reached an impasse. Perhaps we’re simply looking at this from the wrong angle?”

“Heh? What’s this guy sayin'?”

“Haaah, I believe he’s saying that we need to take a step back and change how we’re looking at the problem. If we simply can’t find it, then maybe we can make it find us.”

“Exactly! Now, does anyone have any meat?”

***

I knew it. He really is a mad scientist. A large pile of fresh, bloody meat sat in plain sight. Alicia, as well as everyone else, was hiding behind a series of blinds and screens they’d brought. They likely wouldn’t keep extremely sensitive monsters from noticing them, but they were fine for what they were hunting. Especially when the meat was factored in.

Warren had theorized that because the monster used Grudge Magic, most of its prey rotted before it could really eat. So by putting a large amount of fresh meat out for it, they hoped the monster would be lured in. The only issue with the plan was that Regis kept giving the pile longing looks, but she’d distracted him with jerky, so it was fine for now. All that was left was to wait.

“…”

“…”

“…”

“…”

This is so awkward! Because there weren’t enough blinds for everyone to have one to themselves, several people had to share. Alicia was currently bunked with Michelle, who she had nothing in common with. Not only was the woman the oldest mercenary Alicia had met, so long as you excluded Braddock and Grant, but her rigid atmosphere made her even more timid around the woman than normal. For her, just sitting there was stressing her out.

Perhaps realizing how tense she was, Michelle tried to alieve Alicia’s nerves. Unfortunately, she completely missed the mark.

“Are you sure you’re up for this? If not, we can change the plan.”

“N-no, I’m fine. Just a little on-edge.”

“I see. Just take deep breaths, dear, and focus on the fact that we’ll be fine. The others will be the ones to block that creature in. This isn’t like when it ambushed us. It won’t even have a chance.”

I’m not worried about the monster! It’s you!! You! After being chased through the night by unkillable Abominations, it would take more than a simple monster to rattle Alicia.

The reason they were teamed up is because it just made sense. Their plan was rather simple. Once the monster appeared, Evan and Kalia would unleash spells to stun it and cleanse its Miasmic Aura, then the melee fighters would move in and pin it down. Once they did that, Alicia and Michelle were to unleash a magical barrage to bring it down. The two were put together so that it would be easier to coordinate their spells with the front-line.

It’s okay. It’ll only be for a little longer, then I can go back to other things. Just got to make sure I’m ready to cast at a moment’s notice. I’ve never actually used this spell in a battle, but it should be fine. I’ve never had a problem casting it before. Haaaah, I hate being the one at the center of our plans. It’s more pressure than I want to deal with.

***

“It’s here. Everyone, get ready.”

The walkie-talkie they’d been given squawked at that moment, alerting them to danger. Short-range communication devices like these were pretty much the only things that actually worked in the disaster zones, though they weren’t very reliable. They typically only used them at times where they needed silence. Either way, Alicia snapped to attention at the warning, focusing on the pile of meat and the monster slowly lumbering towards it.

Wha-what!? Is that really the same monster? The creature before them looked very little like it had it had few days ago. Before, it had looked like any other Baculth, aside from having an Aura of Miasma around it. Now…now it looked completely different.

Its wool had regressed into a thick layer of matted black fur, completely covering its body. Its horns were now shaped like those of a bull's, and its face was wolf-like. Even its remaining arm had swollen up to three times its previous size, leaving the monster lopsided. Luckily, Alicia was within Analyze's range, so she could easily find out what was going on.

Disaster Baculth

Rank: C

Description: A Baculth completely consumed by Dark Magic, to the point where it’s even started to affect its body and mind. In its current state, this monster is little more than a mindless beast, unable to accomplish any form of higher thought or reasoning. Care must be taken to avoid the layer of magic covering it, as it’s even more potent than normal Dark Magic spells.

This was bad. The monster had been a Cursed Baculth when it first attacked them. Somehow, over the last few days, it had managed to evolve again. And while Alicia couldn’t tell this just from Analyze, this monster was equal to the Baculth Warlord from the Siege Dungeon, though that was only when it was in perfect health. As it was now, wounded and starving, the beast would be simple prey for them. Dangerous prey, but prey nonetheless.

Just as the monster reached the bait, a mass of wind and an orb of light slammed into its back, sending it face-first into the meat. At the same time, half the melee fighters rushed to engage the monster, while the others went to protect the two casters who’d already attacked. Serena and Tiffany had already shown them that the monster was easily aggro’d.

“BAROROOOOOOO!!!!”

Of course the monster would never let them just hunt it. When it saw the mercenaries trying to disrupt its meal, the beast let loose an ear-splitting howl, causing its Miasmic Aura to flare even greater than before. Seeing that, Alicia quickly took aim, firing an arrow imbued with [Stun Strike]. Surprisingly, the monster managed to block the arrow with is grotesque arm, though the spell infused into it still shocked the beast. It gave just enough of an opening for Kalia to get off a second light orb, dispelling the Aura again.

With that done, several fighters lunged at the beast, each one thrusting with their weapons. It was a coordinated attack from three directions. Most fighters would have a hard time surviving this, but the Baculth merely swung its arm, sending all three men flying backwards. The monster then revitalized its Aura before slamming its fist against the ground, creating a small wave of Miasma. That caused the mercenaries to fall back, but it still gave them the opening they needed.

“Now, girl! [Crushing Jaw]!”

“G-Got it! [Thunder]!”

Spears of earth rose from the dirt at the same time a bolt of lighting fell from the sky. Two powerful attacks from two opposite directions. Even the Baculth wouldn’t get off easy from this one. And to make matters worse for it, Kalia and Evan cast their own spells, sending a blade of wind and an orb of light at it. If all four spells connected, the monster would have no choice but to die, but that was a big if.

“BRRAAAAAAAAGGGGGHHH!!!”

With an earth-shaking cry, the Baculth used its oversized arm to launch itself into the air, cleanly avoiding the spears of dirt and the wind blade, though the orb of light had a slight tracking function, so it swept upwards to collide with the Baculth, sending it right into Alicia’s [Thunder]. The two spells inflicted massive damage, causing all of its fur to ignite and a leg to be ripped away, but the monster still lived. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t be for long.

“[Crushing Jaw]!”

With the monster immobilized by its injuries, it was unable to avoid the second [Crushing Jaw], causing it to be…well, crushed. With its heart and brain destroyed, even this unnatural beast had to die. Everyone sighed once its Aura dispelled, though Gwyn walked over and lopped off its head, just to be sure. Considering how it managed to nearly avoid their ambush, no one was willing to take chances with this thing. It getting back up and attacking them would be horrible.

***

[Tiffany’s POV]

Tiffany watched as the flames cremated the Disaster Baculth’s body. Despite the fact that it was the one responsible for irreversibly changing her life, she felt no satisfaction at its death. Nor did she feel sorrow. She just felt blah. Apathetic might be a better word for it, but she didn’t like that particular word, so she refused to use it.

She’s watching me again. Why doesn’t she just come over here? You know what? I’m going to her. Serena had been avoiding her ever since she lost her hand, though she’d often just stand and watch her from afar like this. She knew her friend felt guilty about her losing her hand, but enough was enough. They’d known each other from infancy. It should’ve been obvious that she’d help her friend.

“O-oh, hi Tiff. I was just, uh, wondering if you were hungry?”

Tiffany didn’t respond, instead walking right up to Serena and pulling the other woman into an embrace. She resisted at first, but a few muttered words were enough to stop her resistance, and start the waterworks.

“T-Tiff, w-what are you doing? I-i-.”

“Stop it, Serena. Can’t you see that this is hurting me more than losing my hand. We’ve been best friends for forever. Why would I hesitate to save your life? Should I have just let you be killed? Is that what you wanted? For me to lose you?”

“I, I, I, sniff, waaaaa! Tiff!”

“There, there. Just let it all out.”

Jeez, she hasn’t cried like this in forever. Serena crying into her chest reminded Tiffany of the times when she’d cry after watching scary movies as a kid. No matter how many times she was told not to watch them, Serena’s curiosity had inevitably led her to do so, which also inevitably led to her bawling her eyes out. Back then, Tiffany would simply hug her and rub her back until she calmed down, so that’s what she did now.

Serena’s sobbing continued for several minutes, and while several people came by and saw them, no one was tactless enough to interrupt. Eventually Serena’s sobbing subsided, and Tiffany led the two off a ways to talk where they wouldn’t be overheard.

“Sniff, I’m so sorry, Tiff. I was just scared that you’d hate me even though I know you’d need a really good reason to do that. I, I just-. Mr, stop patting my head! We’re not five anymore!”

“There, there, calm down, silly.”

“Jeez, stop treating me like a kid!”

“Okay, okay. But really, you’ve got nothing to feel sorry about.”

“But, your hand. You can’t fight like this.”

“Well, it’s true that it’s an inconvenience, but I don’t think it’s that bad. I may not be able to fight like I used to, but I’d already realized that.”

“Wait, do you have a plan?”

“I do. I think I’m going to start really learning Magic. I’ve been putting it off because I thought I was fine without it, but now? Now I know better. And don’t blame yourself again. It’s possible this would’ve happened eventually anyway.”

As an aside, Tiffany had Awoken. In fact, everyone in the party but Leland, Gwen, and Warren had, but that was neither here nor there. Tiffany had a natural affinity for Origin Magic, perhaps the second most difficult school after Abyss Magic. Since she’d never figured out how to use any spells, and didn’t have a Grimoire, she’d given up on using it.

“I think I’ll ask Kalia and Alicia for some extra help. They’re both good mages, and Kalia seems really knowledgeable about Magic, so she should be able to help me understand what Origin Magic is. The description wasn’t too helpful. And I can always rely on Evan and Michelle to help me with Elemental Magic. So don’t look so down. I’ll be fine.”

“I see. Tiff, that’s incredible! Waaaaa!”

Ah, she’s crying again. When she gets like this, all I can really do is just hug her, and let her cry herself out. All storms pass, including this one. We’ll get through this fine, Serena. You’ll see.