The air rippled in the room, Lyssara's blood pumped as her gaze remained fixed on the Broodmother's figure. Neither side showing any signs of fatigue or weariness.
[{Echo Step}]
In a flash, her body was engulfed in black writhing flames closing the distance between the two and drove the estoc across the leather skin of the Brood mother.
*Shriek*
The air crackled with the Broodmother's roar and a message Lyssara hadn't expected to see.
[{Player is under the effect Resonant Dissonance has been applied, your perception has been scrambled}]
A click left her tongue as her glaive lit the room with sparks as her body was flung back to the entrance of the room. Her scalp began to tingle but not enough to the point that it would serve as a detriment but not faint enough for her to ignore.
Ripples of mild pain coursed through her mind, echoes that didn't exist filling her ears as her breathing increased. Her eyes began to tear as shadows began to dart at the edges of her peripheral.
'So it would seem that the mask doesn't completely nullify all effects, only enough to dampen them.' Something that made her keep her guard up. The lesser bat that had been on the sidelines this entire time took this chance for a dive with the chance of catching her off guard.
However quick on her feet she brought out her estoc and with one slash sent the lesser bat crashing to the side turning it into digital fragments. 'Did you really think that it would be that easy to kill me?!' She scoffed in her mind as her eyes drifted back to the Brood mother.
Now with the two alone, Lyssara took a pause as a faint laugh escaped her lips. "A flaw at the throat, the sound core to bring this damned beast to it's demise." Her tone cold yet playful however her face showed shock right after.
The voice wasn't hers, as if another entity was residing inside her mind. 'The mask!' She immediately reflected however rather than worry about it at the moment, she brought out her glaive with one goal in mind.
The Brood mother flashed it's fangs at her, now turning feral as it's eyes now glowed red. The two without a word made their moves, her glaive causing sparks as it clashed with it's teeth however with her other hand, she managed to cause a tear at the Broodmother's wings.
[{Warning!}]
[{Due to Blood loss Vampirism, your health will be used to heal the Brood mother.}]
[{Your health is 15 out of 20}]
'This explains what happened to Seryn back then.' She muttered as she drew back, her mind still screaming at her due to the Resonant Dissonance skill. 'Just how long does this skill last!?'
Now with her de-buff, she recalled what the voice had stated and looked at the Broodmother's throat. Narrowing her eyes, she saw it. A purple core that remained buried with the Broodmother's hair which faintly glimmered in the dark.
Rather than worry about the Blood Loss Vampirism, an idea began to formulate in her mind as to how to counter it. With a sigh, she made her move, her glaive now bathing in black and white flames.
This time the Brood mother was far more restrained, sticking to the ceiling using it's wings however rather than focus on bringing it down, she had her eyes elsewhere. 'Focusing on the wings will only waste my health pool, it would be best to first get rid of that annoying core.'
She reflected in her mind as her glaive made cuts on the Broodmother's neck however it wasn't deep enough to shatter the core. With a leap, she had her glaive aimed at the neck to which the Brood mother as expected made a dodge back with a flutter of it's wings.
'Got you!' With her tuck, she made a jab at one of the Broodmother's crimson eye that sent it into a shrieking spiral.
[{Elite has been enraged}]
[{Movement and regenerative factors have been increased by 50%}]
A faint deprecating laugh escaped Lyssara's lips as she made her land. 'Of course Solon.' The Brood mother gave it's ear piercing shriek that made her blood curl.
*Whoosh*
Unlike before, the Brood mother grew far more bolder and relentless. This time it seemed to attack without a care which bothered Lyssara. She knew that making any damage to it would serve to hurt her later on therefore she had to bring the beast to an end.
Her eyes gleamed obsidian, the glint of something far older than time as she stared at the Brood mother and with a flash closed the distance between the two. Her estoc cracking the air as she made a deep gnash into the throat of the Brood mother.
It's pitiful cries nothing more than affirmation as she went on with her attack as her glaive followed soon after plunging it deep into the Broodmother's other eye driving it deep into the beast's skull.
The room fell silent save for the spluttering of fresh blood and the faint ripples of fire that danced on Lyssara's blade.
*Whoosh*
Regaining control of her body, she was both perplexed and horrified with the sight she was met with. The death of the Brood mother came off as background noise as she glanced at her own hands.
'What was that?!' She couldn't help but wonder as the fire on her estoc finally died. A flux of information filled her eyes.
[{Congratulations on killing the Brood mother}]
[{You have received the skill Blood loss Vampirism}]
[{Compatibility of the skill has been found with Bloodmark}]
[{Would you like to merge the two skills?}]
She hesitated before clicking the confirmation button, her mind still wrapped with what had happened with the elite.
[{Skill merging…}]
The process lasting no more than five minutes before it was done.
[{The skill Bloodmark has been improved to Vampiric Mark}]
[{Vampiric Mark-Those who bear the mark now become both prey and conduit. Their vitality will serve as sustenance feeding any lost health in the heat of battle}]
The notification jolting her back to the pseudal reality of the game. In her mind questions began to form and her means of reprive was rather dodgy to give her the answers that she wanted.
With a final sigh, she kept on moving forward before coming across a small shop set up in the damp caves. Making her way closer, the vendor's eyes once vacant seemed to light up with enthusiasm.
"Welcome prestiged customer!" The vendor stated, their voice hoarse and rough. Making her way closer it was then that she got a closer look at the vendor. His frame was adorned in dark lavish robes and his trinkets glimmering faintly in the darkness.
He had a mask showing a smile that made Lyssara draw similarity with Jarren's however his was far more unnatural. The curls reached his lips, the air around him felt wrong, not hostile nor friendly either.
"It would seem that you have a coupon, would you wish to have a discount." He further added that broke Lyssara's trance of the man. A message popped right in front of her showcasing the ticket she had gotten from the dive prior with Seryn.
[{Do you wish to use this parchment?}]
The game asked to which without a second thought she confirmed. The vendor gave a low deep laugh. "Wise choice, so what is it that fancies you?" His hands gesturing at his stock of goods.
A flux of information flooded Lyssara's vision as an appraisal was available to her. It was then that she realized that she had accrued some form of currency to spend in the game.
[{You have 1,200 malcore shards}]
'Does this mean that I can use real malcore shards in this world?' She couldn't help but wonder however her thought quickly met a wall. 'But what use is it when I can't personally bring it into this world other than this mask Jarren gave me?'
After evaluating all of the options laid out for her, she finally made her decision. 'It would seem that I can improve my skill as well.' The thought of her new skill being more potent brought a faint smile to her face beneath her mask.
But still she hesitated as her eyes drifted towards a certain item on the rack.
[{Confirmation succeded}]
The game chimed as her malcore amount took a small hit from 1,200 to 900. Thanks to her parchment, her cost was halved.
[{Coagulated Heart Shard-Increases health regeneration slightly when near bloodied enemies.}]
Till now she had no other means of regeneration and thanks to the Brood mother fight, her health pool had remained the same of 10 out of 20. "Ah! I see you prefer to go for survivablity." The vendor added with a cheeky hearty chuckle.
Her eyes landed on the vendor, her mind swarmed with questions before making her second purchase.
[{Your Bloodmark limit has been increased from 3 to 5}]
With the unknown for her to face, she was sure that her current cards would serve her well for what was to come. As for her shards, it dove once more now at a meager 300 from 900.
Satiated with her choices, she was about to leave when the vendor shot up out of the blue. "I have some missions that I'm sure you would love to knock out for me. These caves have grown rather full for my liking with bats and rats running all over."
[{Do you accept this mission?}]
A notification she wasn't sure to take or decline. With a bit more thought she ended up accepting the offer. 'Maybe I could build up rapport with him and get more times for a lesser price or better items in general.' She wondered to herself as she began to draw away from the stall.
"Make sure to come back soon Lyssara." She gave a faint hum as she kept on walking. 'It would seem that everyone I meet could know my name. I wonder how the rest will be.' So far other than the vendor she hadn't met anyone else who wanted to end her life in the game.
Her estoc resting around her waist and her glaive on her back, she kept marching deeper into the floor and across her fights, she managed to recuperate some health however the amount left much to be desired.
Her health pool shot up from 10 to 13, as much as she wished that it was more, she was glad that it was better than staying stagnant. With a final sigh, she came across the final elite of the floor that was meant to serve as a boss.
The doors opened automatically and without delay she brought out her estoc, her guard up. This time her place of battle was a large damp room with drops of what she could assume was acid dripped from the ceiling.
Her eyes darted and inspected each corner of the room and surprisingly no elite or any enemy had jumped out and attacked her. The silence once foreboding was now heavy as she made it to the center of the room.
*Shiek*
The cry was unnatural that made her hair stand on ends. She wasn't sure as to what she had just heard as grip on the estoc tightened. With her breathes growing shallower with a each second, her heart began to pound with anticipation.
…
*BOOM*
[{Echo Step}]
At the very last second she managed to dodge the attack from beneath before the behemoth that she had to face showed it's face. Her stomach tightened as she looked at the abomination towering a few feet away from her.
[{Elite Boss- Parasitic Chimera,Broodgnaw Matriarch}]
[{Description- A hulking creature with a spider-like lower body and a thick, bone-armored back. Its swollen abdomen splits open into a toothed womb that spits out small larvae.}]
[{Behaviour: Spawn Cycle: Creates small Gnawlings that rush attackers and explode when killed.}]
[{Cannibal Feed: When a Gnawling dies near it, the Matriarch absorbs its life, healing slightly.}]
[{Feeding Frenzy: At half health, it begins eating its own brood sacs, becoming faster and more aggressive but easier to wound.}]
[{Blood Cry: Near death, it lets out a piercing screech that drains vitality from anything nearby to try and heal.}]
[{Drop- Matriarch's Cradle- Grants a one-time evolution option for the skill Vampiric Mark}]