If I had a list for the most terrifying things I have seen in my life — the figures in front of me would be at the top.
The former Team 2 had turned into something unrecognisable.
Their bodies were made of bloody rotten flesh without any visible skin. They had 5 arms instead of 2 and the fifth arm was in their back, with each arm ending with 3 sharp claws, despite their new hands, they were still holding weapons.
Their stomachs were open wide like a mouth — filled with bloody, sharp teeth that were dripping yellow saliva.
Their lower bodies weren't humanoid anymore, instead, it was more like a spider body made of flesh. With 6 legs that looked durable and sharp enough to pierce steel.
Their heads were covered with red fungus and mushrooms, 2 red flowers were coming out of their eye sockets, leaking yellow gases that were surrounding them.
They just stood there trembling and making strange crack sounds, far away from each other just enough to surround the mansion.
Even in my worst and wildest nightmares, nothing could be compared to them.
"Parasites." Drago suddenly whispered confidentiality. As if he saw something similar before.
"What shall we do now?" I replied without raising my voice.
"We test their senses." He took a vial filled with blood and a stone from his belt. "Their hearing, seeing and smelling."
He threw the stone at first, it hit the ground instantly making a small sound. The parasite turned their heads towards it instantly — but they didn't rush towards it
"They can hear, but they don't react to it."
He then threw the blood vial and made the shadow catch it to not make noises. The shadows started opening the vial slowly, but before they even finish—
*KaKaKa!*
The parasites instantly rushed towards the vial, they crushed it and started licking the blood.
"Too sensitive for the blood."
The shadows in front of them suddenly gathered together forming a humanoid figure.
Drago manipulated it and made is stand silently in front of them.
*Kwak!*
*KiKiKi!*
Once they saw it, one of them pierced it instantly with a spear enhanced by earth while another one attacked it with wind blades.
"Not only can see, but also use weapons, mana and aura." Drago muttered under his breath.
He did more tests to confirm their abilities .
They could throw webbes, use complex spells and techniques, and had some intelligence.
Drago tried to throw another blood vial to the mansion door, but surprisingly, they only stared at it for a moment before turning back and ignoring the blood completely.
After confirming some things, he finally took me to leave and return to the camp.
In our way, we decided to kill some monsters for some recourses to prepare to the fight.
Eventually, we reached the camp
•••••
"W-what happened." I murmured, trying to understand the scene I was seeing now.
Nora, Zorath and Kaito were all enhancing themselves with aura while protecting the camp with serious expressions.
Far away, Aurelia was covered in blood and crying while Braham and Paul were speaking to her.
"Wait, where are Cecil and Ruby." I asked Drago, trying to ignore the horrifying thoughts I was having right now.
"I can't see them either." Drago replied, unease visible in his face.
Zorath suddenly noticed us and shouted: "HEY! DON'T STAND THERE LIKE A STATUE! ENTER BEFORE YOU DIE!!"
We entered the camp, and instantly, Zorath closed the door.
The next moment, he jumped to us.
"What happened?" Drago asked suddenly.
Zorath sighed, rubbing his temples he said: "Cecil is unconscious currently and... Ruby died."
"WHAT!!" I screamed from shock, unable to believe what I just heard.
"Yeah, no one expected this." Zorath said while patting my shoulder.
The news was too sudden. We just left for one day and now someone died?!
We finally found the mansion.
We finally had some hope.
Why did that happen now. Why now from all times... And what did it.
"Come with me to the walls. I will explain it." Zorath said, his voice quite.
We climbed the wall and started listening to him.
"According to Aurelia, they were just killing some monsters casually like all times. But…" he stopped for a moment before continuing.
"She suddenly heard something and left them to check it out, but when she returned, she didn't find them whole."
"W-what that mean?" I asked with a shaking voice, even though I didn't really want to hear the answer.
Zorath expression turned into anger. "She found a pool, a pool of blood! And floating on it were Cecil's half body and… Ruby's head…"
He sighed. "She entered the pool and brought them out of it. Cecil was still alive even without his lower body — maybe because of his trait, but Ruby… wasn't lucky enough."
We stared at him silently, until Drago opened his mouth.
"What did that?"
Zorath shook his head. "We don't know. Only Cecil know the answer. All what we can do now is protecting the camp in case he, she, they or it is still around. Go find a place to stand for now."
We nodded and started leaving, but then I turned around and looked at him. "What will happen to attacking the mansion now?"
Zorath shrugged. "Nothing. We will meet the other teams tomorrow and go fight that boss after 2 days when we take our gifts. We aren't the first team to lose members."
I thanked him and headed towards master Kai while thinking about our new reality.
Today, Team 9 had its first loss.
Only 9 members remained.