C13: When Monsters Collide
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[Father Gascoigne, level 25 has awakened three abilities due to being in the 20-30 level range. The three abilities are: {Shadow Mastery}, {Greater Agony}, and {Phantasmal Rage}]. I see the notice and I hesitantly peak one eye from between the tombstones I'm lying between to see the action.
"ILL KILL YOU!!!!" Father Gascoigne yells as his shortened hunter's axe is swung but the beast is not deterred by the shout as it swipes with its claws. Both sides are sent backwards as they are evenly matched but since the beast is already near the arena entrance, it simply bumps against the wall behind it while Gascoigne is sent all the way between a group of tombstones but not yet reaching the giant memorial stone in the center.
Neither side flinched from that collision and both even rush forward again to collide, once, twice, thrice. It's actually a form of art as Father Gascoigne utilizes hunter techniques to their fullest in dodging, head on collisions to stagger the beast.
CLICK
The most beautiful moment, at least to me, was seeing Gascoigne's blunderbuss be unleashed on the beast and it staggered to it's knees, seemingly losing all strength. Gascoigne extends his axe to hold with both hands as he unleashes a heavy swing at just the right moment as the beast seems to regain its strength but not quite.
This in-between when Father Gascoigne swings his axe causes the blade to cut across the chest of the beast as it is flung backwards into the wall. With the swing having extended so far, the father had his back to the beast which it notices and rushes forward only for another semi circular swing to occur as another slash lands on the beast's chest, creating an X-shaped bleeding pattern.
The fight continues as the few times he was in a pinch, Gascoigne seemed to turn into an illusion of smoke and shadow and just reappear behind the beast. Though i do notice that every time he does this, he seems to grit his teeth as if he was pained from using this technique.
Time after time, the two 'monsters' unleashed attacks at each other, Strength and speed versus technique and skill. Blood litters the arena from the Cleric Beast and I figured I'd stop hiding but not completely.
I instead began sneaking around to the top of the stairs on the right side of this graveyard. Taking a few things out of my inventory, I get to work since I'm sure I'm cheesing this boss fight like this would come with a massive debuff, I need to do something.
"Blood, so much blood, enough to make a man go crazy" Gascoigne groans out after he gets slammed away to the central pillar with the beast giving chase.
BANG
A single gunfire from a distance lands on the beasts head just as it is about to swing on the lying Gascoigne is interrupted. It falls to it's knees as i jump down, rushing over and plunging my hand into the beast's chest while my other hand is holding a rope, strung tight.
My hand feels strange as I stab it into the beasts chest, like thousands of bugs are crawling over it and biting at me, or like when your arm falls asleep and trying to do anything with it causes thousands of needles to shock you until it's right and awake.
"ARGGHHHH" I clench at whatever I can in the Visceral strike and begin to tear but it's tough and the sensation on my hand grows worse as it now feels like my hand is slowly melting under a pool of acid.
The Cleric Beast begins to regain its bearings once more while my hand is still in it's chest. It seems to smile in glee as if it's hunt has finally proved fruitful and it's prey has casually walked into it's embrace. It wraps it's claws around me like I am a doll in it's hand it is holding still.
Seeing I have no choice, I release the rope in my left hand which drops a bunch of molotov that I wrapped together in rope from the system for a cheap 200 BE, dropping me down to 552. The molotovs which I had hanging over the monument (thankfully they didn't shatter when I initially was setting up during their fight) are now dropped on the beast's head.
The beast catches fire and has to release me but im not done yet as I place both legs on the beasts chest and continue to tug at whatever I have a hold of. This causes me to catch fire as well from my own molotov but I keep pulling.
SQUELCH
"I did it," I nearly cheer as I am launched off the beast during it's thrashing from the fire. A burst of blood explodes from the tempered beasts chest where it's heart was as I now hold a solid red orb in my hand.
[Hunter Gun Proficiency has leveled up twice. Level 1->3. Visceral attack has leveled up twice: Level 2->4.]
[User has obtained a unique gemstone called: {Grand beast blood gem(1)}]
I hit my head on a gravestone when I was launched but thankfully im not completely out of it. I do try to quickly get up but I can barely feel my right hand as looking at it confirms my worst fears, it's melted into puss. I can even feel a burning sensation from where the beasts blood sprayed on my face, but thankfully it gradually stops, though the ache in my chest is a different situation. Im near death and cant heal.
Both because I'm afraid of using the vials but also because I know I can barely harm the beast outside of situational attacks like the riposte. As such, I do the only thing I can do.
Taking out the music box, I open it up and hurriedly turn the key on the bottom of it which causes it to wind up and then play when I release.
It's a gentle song but it's effect is great as Gascoigne who seemed to be unconscious awakens. It grabs his head like in agony and I choose to yell at him.
"I don't know what happened here to make you crazy like this but GET YOUR ASS UP AND BACK TO YOUR FAMILY. THEY NEED THEIR FATHER BACK." Gascoigne seems to freeze at my voice but an odd aura seems to cover him like shadows come to life.
"AWWWUUUUUUOOOOO" The shadows hand Gascoigne his axe as he stands up. He looks towards the flailing beast and the darkness turns blood red as his rage is once again made known. Rushing forward, with great strength in that single swing, he shatters the beast's leg causing it to collapse in place as it howls from pain. The fire gradually fades off the beast but that matters not as the axe comes down, again and again.
Time after time until the beast completely loses its arm, followed by its leg. Even half mutilated, the beast remains alive and thrashing with it's remaining arm and leg. Yet no matter what it does, it cannot escape as the fog gate keeps it locked and with only 1 piece of two extending limbs, it cant even climb it's way out.
Eventually the light within the beast's eyes begins to fade, growing hazy before darkness takes them.
I grow tense as while the cleric beast has died, it wasnt by my hand and Gascoigne is also considered a boss too.
"Teacher, I.." I try to talk to Gascoigne, hoping that maybe I can subvert the whole fight by reminding him of his humanity, like this family has for who knows how long.
"End me." he interrupts as he drops his axe on the floor, besides the corpse of the beast.
"What?" I ask confused.
"I killed my wife, butchered her worse than any beast could. I cant live like this anymore. I don't want this to happen to my children too" I spotted tears flowing down his face, the bandages around his face already torn from the intense fight against the Cleric Beast.
He drops to his knees, before me.
"DO IT" He yells at me as I tentatively approach, agony covering my whole body as both from the pain of my missing hand but also the sadness of what I 'must' do. My weapons are not sharp enough, I am about to reach out to grab his axe but realize again my hand is melted.
Gritting my teeth, I stab myself with a blood vial. I feel it worming through me like a plague, hell bent on making me lose myself before I find my hand is back like an illusion. I pick up the axe as my body still shakes but not as bad as the first time around.
I switch to the Vileblood title which increases my strength as I wish to grant my teacher his fair share of mercy.
CLICK. "Goodbye Teacher" I say in almost a whisper but he seems to hear me as he gives me his final words. "Goodbye, son"
My own tears begin to stream down my face as I lift the axe, extending it to hold with both hands as I swing down.
[PREY SLAUGHTERED]
"AHHHHHHH" I do not feel joy at this message as I drop to my knees and hug the beheaded body tightly.
[DING: New title obtained]
"Fuck off" I huff at hearing the ding as I keep my eyes closed, Only letting go of Gascoignes body when I feel it turn cold.
I find myself surrounded by shadows and a key in my hand.
[Host has obtained Oedon Chapel key. Host has gained Successor of Shadows title]
I barely read these titles as I go and get a shovel. I get to digging. The system at least has the tact to give me a digging skill and it levels up twice while I make a proper grave for Gascoigne.
I retrieve his body and lay him to rest, Hopping down to gently set him down, climbing up and then get his head which I wrap up in my old bandages to make it seem like he didn't get beheaded just moments ago.
I am about to start covering his body but something nags at me, like I am not done yet. I choose to look around the arena and I find something glowing on the roof of a nearby building. I trudge my way over by going up the stairs and then dropping down from the opposite side of the wall, passing by the door to Cathedral Ward.
I drop down and collect the glowing item.
[Red-gemed Brooch obtained]. A shiver flows down my spine as I read this message.
I can nearly hear a child repeat her words about her mother having a red brooch, it being big and beautiful. I close my eyes as I pocket it and then lift up the feminine corpse I got it from. I drop down to ground level with a silent grunt as I set her down besides Gascoigne.
Before I properly buried them, I made sure their hands were placed together, then and only then, did i start covering them.
Shovel after shovel, I offer them simple prayers. "I hope the next life, should there be one, be filled with proper long happiness as you are surrounded by your newfound children. I shall watch over the ones here and end this nightmare. You have my word. Goodbye Teacher, goodbye Miss Viola. I'll remember you both" My tears dry as I slap the ground down, making it even.
I then tilt one of the grave stones over from one of the multiple piles. Taking out my saw spear, I begin to chisel at the blank gravestone. "Father Gascoigne Amazing Father, Wonderful Husband. Died on the Night of the Hunt in the line of duty after failing to protect his wife. Wife Viola: Wonderful Wife, Amazing Mother. Died at the hands of a maddened beast."
I take a step back to take in my handiwork. Not a single sense of achievement is present in me even as the system informs me I gained another skill related to Carving.
I claim Gascoignes modified Hunters Axe and light the newly spawned lamp before I proceed beyond the chapel doors, the key I just obtained immediately made useless as its single usage has been fulfilled.
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Word count is low average, this time around. I wanted to purely focus on the fight here while extra details will be saved for the next chapter. Whether you like the chapter or not, drop a comment. I can't be letting myself get complacent in my writing. I still have plenty of growth in all forms.
discord channel still has the next chapter preview like usual: https://discord.gg/ rE6gtg28XH
Patreon.com/Xanok to find me.
If this chapter is read through paid services on Patreon then the P-Hunter message changes to 'kindled'. That will earn a different type of discord role where I will proactively take suggestions from you all or even create custom characters based on you/that you make. This code will change when it is released for free to create a proper distinction between a paid reader and a free reader.