Translator: Larbre Studio
Editor: Larbre Studio
After passing through the red fog, they came close to the place where the bloody smell emanated from. Their surroundings began to become noisy too.
Yu Yi reached out and grabbed Yatok, who was leading the way. Yu Yi signaled him to take a detour before going there directly.
Yatok nodded understandingly. The three turned around and walked slowly into the forest, which was blanketed by red fog. Although they knew what was in the forest, they had no other choice. If they kept walking forward, they might disrupt someone’s ceremonies. If they blew their cover, their team was dead. Entering the forest had much better odds, as long as no one detected their presence.
[Luck check… Passed…]
The moment the three entered the forest, the KP conducted a Luck check on all three of them. Since they had high luck values, they passed the check, or it could also just be plain luck.
They let out a sigh after entering the forest and walked forward. Soon, they reached a shrub, where they realised that the fog before them had dissipated completely. From the shrub, they could observe everything ahead of them while remaining undetected.
The luck check just now might have encapsulated things like this. If the luck check hadn’t passed, they would probably be fleeing for their lives.
They entered the shrub deftly. Yu Yi carefully cracked an opening in the shrub, from which the three of them peeked into the distance.
The scene they saw probably needed to be censored.
Innumerable guards stood at the perimeter, while the Officials conducted an odd-looking rite. Some witches, in a circle around the center, danced while splashing water. The rest twirled and threw petals into the air.
The witch wearing the fox mask stood in the middle. She was still holding the Tai Sword, but the Tai Sword was unsheathed. Its blade was stained red as drops of fresh blood dripped from it, forming a small pool of blood. The witch’s naked feet stepped in the pool of blood while her other hand gripped a human head. A decapitated corpse laid before the witch. Beside her, corpses of different builds and sizes knelt on the ground. All of them were headless.
All of them were chosen by the witch. Out of the 31 tourists, less than 10 were still alive. They knelt by the witch with their heads bowed, just waiting for the blade to slice across their necks.
This was the result of choosing to stay. To become offerings, beheaded then sacrificed.
[You have seen the scene of humans being beheaded, a strange ceremony and horrifying bodies…SC]
Just as Yu Yi had thought, the SC appeared as expected.
[.rd=54. Passed]
[.rd=17. Passed]
[.rd=97. Failed]
Yu Yi and Yatok turned around and stared at Opaci, who had a confused expression on his face. His SC had failed.
“Wait, KP, is this SC about witnessing a strange ceremony and discovering human corpses?”
Yu Yi questioned just as Opaci was about to roll for a SC.
[The check this time was for the headless bodies and the strange ceremony, so the success value would be 1 while failure would be 1d5+1]
“Oh, I see. Whew, good luck to you then.”
Yu Yi shrugged and wished Opaci good luck.
A successful SC would deduct 1 point of sanity value, while a failed SC would result in a 1D5+1 punishment. Yu Yi’s SC had been successful. He had 75 points in the first place, so he had 74 left after the deduction. He was far from the dangerous 20 point limit.
[.r1d5+1=4+1, 5 points of sanity value deducted. Since he witnessed the evil and cruel ceremony, Opaci realised the darkness and truth of the world. His body had reacted in an insane manner, as though he had a phobia. His reaction will last… one hour. In this state, he will need to go through a Willpower check every 10 minutes. If failed, Opaci will shriek crazily at random intervals.]
[Willpower check… passed. 10 minutes away from the next check.]
Yu Yi and Yatok looked silently at Opaci after listening to KP’s description. New guy, what luck! He failed the first SC, got five points of sanity value deducted, and became temporarily insane. Not just that, it was a sort of phobia that might draw attention, which was unfortunate at such a key moment. At least you passed your Willpower check. Otherwise, we’d all be discovered.
“Maybe, just knock him unconscious?”
Yatok gave his suggestion. It was not bad. If they knocked Opaci after he passed his Willpower check, then there wouldn’t be screaming caused due to phobia.
“No, that’s too big of a movement. We’ll draw their attention. Opaci, do you remember the route back? 10 minutes is more than enough time for you to leave the Red Fog Zone.”
“Apologies, my phone is dead. I’ve followed you the whole way in… If I have to go back myself, I’ll definitely lose my way.”
Opaci continued to look sheepish.
That was why I reminded all of you to charge your phones! So that at key moments, you won’t drag us down!
They were between a rock and a hard place. If they continued to lay low here, they could get much more information. However, as Opaci had failed his SC, he would shriek if he failed his Willpower check. This would definitely draw attention. In this scenario, attracting attention by shrieking was no different from death. Opaci had effectively become a time bomb, the kind that left one with no other options apart from praying that it wouldn’t explode.
Even if they pushed Opaci out and gave up on him, they wouldn’t be safe. Once Opaci was discovered, someone would patrol the area thoroughly. It was only a matter of time before they were found.
“Never mind, we’ll see as it goes. Take a look at the things they’re doing.”
Finally, Yu Yi breathed out lightly. He could only bet on Opaci being able to pass all of his Willpower checks.
Looking back at the center of the ceremony, the witch held the head of a decapitated person. She walked barefoot to a strange pit and threw the head into the deep pit. The head floated in the air in a strange manner. Immediately, a strange object opened in the pit. Purple light shone from it as few shadows darted out.
“Shit… looks like we have to SC consecutively.”
The few shadows that came from the pit revealed themselves to be creatures that resemble ladybugs, albeit being 5 meters high. Their legs were segmented like that of an insect while bat-like wings grew from their backs. Tumour-like vortexes grew on their heads.
Obviously, these were Yuggoths or, in other words, Mi-Gos.
However, the SC didn’t arrive. The Mi-Gos escaped from the dark pit. Screeching, they rushed towards the witch. They seemed to be filled with enmity and hatred. However, before they could even approach the witch, a few strange shadows sprang from the forest and dived for the Mi-Gos. They closed their jaws on the Mi-Gos’ bodies.
“…”
[You have witnessed a war between two unknown creatures, you are filled with fear and confusion. SC.]
Alright, good. This plot included the war between the Byakhees and Mi-Gos. Using human heads as the medium and bait to attract the Mi-Gos into this world, and then using Byakhees hidden in the forest to kill them.
Not bad. Plot writer, you are really imaginative. I like that…
And KP, you really are waiting for us at these sort of places!!
They only needed to go through one SC after witnessing the two low-class species. However, if they failed, they would be punished with 2D6. Although it was a heavy loss, at least it would only happen once.
[.rd=75, Failed]
[.rd=47, Success]
[.rd=11, Success]
All of a sudden, everyone’s eyes focused on Yu Yi. His SC had failed.
“KP, are you kidding me?!”
Yu Yi had 75 points of sanity value. However, after the SC previously, he had lost 1 point despite passing the check. This meant to say that he now had 74 points of sanity value, but the points from his dice roll was at 75 points. This was the little monster in the legends. Just a step away, Yu Yi’s SC would have passed. Now, he had to face the punishment of 2d6.
[.r2d6=2, 1. Yu Yi loses three points of sanity value.]
In an instant, Yu Yi’s sanity value became 71. Looking at his remaining 71 points, Yu Yi heaved a sigh of relief. One point less, and he would enter a temporary crazed state.