C3: Be Careful
Currently up to chapter 11 on Patreon for anyone interested. Though only up to c5 is it available for free. More explanation at the end
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After a few moments of rest after killing the werewolf on the other side of the gate, I finally get up, using what I originally believed to be female praying statues to get up. What I found was that they were faceless and thus I could only make assumptions, so I will.
Getting up, I head over to the lever and open up the gates that blocked me from the burnt corpse of the beast I had the pleasure of 'fighting'.
"Hmm, roast beef. Bone apple teeth" i say to myself in irony as I soon cover my nose from the scent of burnt fur and decomposed flesh still sticking to it from it's previous victim inside the clinic.
Just to make sure I didn't miss anything, I headed back inside the clinic to find the room that I was infirmed within was blocked off.
"Oh hello Sir Hunter, I'm pleased to see that you are well now. Your family was quite worried for you. Are you... out on the hunt?" A charming voice begins to be emitted from the other side of the blocked door. Concern evident in her tone as she seems relieved that I was well. This elevates my mood by quite a bit and im willing to respond back.
"I suppose so, I am facing a great lack of gear. Speaking off, do you happen to know where my original clothes are?" I speak up in turn as I have no reason to not hunt but getting back my gear is imperative for my survival.
"I'm very sorry but me and your family had to change your clothes to reduce the chance of something getting you sick when you had been in a coma. I unfortunately am unaware of the location of your clothes but a few spares were provided just down the stairs of where you are."
"I have already checked them earlier, only clothes, would you happen to have any sort of weapon on you?" I admit to my pervious snooping as I was unsure if they were supposed to be mine or not. The beginner version of me had certainly never worn these clothes. If anything, they had been torn apart to be used alongside the paper in the molotovs I had made earlier.
"This is a clinic sir, we should not have such things here."
'These bone saws say otherwise' i think to myself but I hold back the comment as I instead give her advice.
"That is not good my lady, I would advise keeping something on your person at all times in these hectic times. To take down the beast that had appeared just down these halls I had taken a bottle of what I assumed to be medicine, soaked it in cloth and paper before setting it and the beast on fire. Just be sure to keep your distance after throwing it."
"I'm sorry sir but that is far too dangerous. Besides, my incense will keep me and the others safe." She refuses as it makes sense the fire could endanger the building and patients if she was careless.
"Will it last the entirety of the night?" I do not relent in my inquiries and she seems to pause in response.
"I am unsure" she admits after a few moments.
"Then treat the fire bottles as a last resort, at the very least carry a pair of scissors or one of your hand saws to protect yourself at all times. You and your patients"
"I..I shall bear arms, yet I wish I did not" She accepts my proposal.
"Im sure in your studies you must have known what spots are most sensitive on a human body, apply that to the beasts as well should you encounter any. If you remain uncertain, then aim for the neck. Anything greater than a simple cut will likely cause them to recoil. Make use of corners to keep your distance should it be aggressive…." I continue to grant her advice, which essentially amounts to basic self defense against beasts and others. At this time, I was unaware of her original fate as I had never come back here when I had played the game except to slay 'her' to get the cord.
"I'm sorry. Please. You have given me so much to think about, have this as a token of my appreciation. This is all that I can do." As im about to leave, she hurriedly speaks up and slides out a single vial of blood for me. I take it and stuff it in my pockets as I return my thanks once more before going back downstairs, the hell that is my current nemesis.
I muse about my agony and newfound hatred of stairs as I leave but not before grabbing a few more bottles and using the saws to cut strands of cloth to create more molotovs'.
Exiting back out the clinic, I choose to explore the side path that I unlocked. It stirs vague memories of a video I had watched before that mentioned returning to the beginning of the game by a random path like it was a loop de loop.
I scout around this graveyard and eventually find a [cold blood dew (1)] on a corpse just next to the tree besides the switch I had pulled earlier to open the way.
The ladder I found leads down and as I peer down the dark expanse that is this tunnel that could very well be the path to hades from god of war 1. I choose to not go down that path as after breathing in an infernal stench, I am completely appalled from going even near those steps.
"GAH" I gag as I take in that noxious scent. "Miyazaki really outdid himself with that smell. Wonder if he fell into a septic tank as a child to make something like this and all his poison swamps. Still probably better than blight town" I muse to myself as I instead I make my way further into the graveyard.
Walking past the benches and other chained up caskets. I see a glowing orb in the distance, beside what looks like a well. Tentatively I slow my pace and quickly around the corner I spot movement. Some figure with a squid-like face is standing beside a tree, their back turned to him.
Soft squelching noises can be heard from the creature. While the child me wouldnt know what this creature was, the gamer me certainly knows.
A brainsucker. An infernal creature with pale blue skin and dressed in rags. These monsters have an appendage that sprouts out of their mouths which can latch onto a person and quite literally extract knowledge and memories from them. In the game, they stole insight with it instead.
With a natural solution in hand, I light my molotovs and throw them all at the creature. It doesnt go down immediately but compared to the game, the fire actually leaves a lasting burn debuff if creatures are swarmed by the fire. Very useful as I play merry go rounds around the tree as the brainsucker attempts to tear me apart.
"AH" I grunt in pain as the creature's deaththroes allow it to swipe at my arm which is now in great pain but strangely there is no wound with the exception of the blood that splashes out from the claw attack.
"Damn, that sucked." I catch my breath against the tree before i spot another glowing bulb on the corpse of the brainsucker.
I found 2 quick silver bullets…for some reason. Just magically spawned on top of the corpse I just beat. With no sense found, I ignore the bullets after stuffing them in my pocket before reaching for the other item and finding it's a [madman's knowledge]. As I touch it, it crumbles and seems to flow into me.
I panic as this is my real life now and im worried im get 'brain fucked' by some otherwordly esoteric knowledge, yet as the clock tics. I find that nothing happens with the exception of my memory sharpening so I more distinctively remember the events at the monster ridden port town.
Rubbing my cheek in confusion as I'm already horrified by the events there, so seeing it more clearly doesnt really do much. Regardless I press forward and this time there is another ladder just beside the well but this one leads up onto the nearby rooftop.
Huffing a bit, I catch my breath as I immediately find 2 giant black birds lying spread eagle on the broken roof.
Click clack
I walk upon the rooftop tiles with gauged steps as the dark atmosphere certainly doesnt give me any comfort and even a sense of unease. Closing the distance a fair bit to get within range, I use the last of my trusty molotov to take down the two birds. They can't do anything about it as with a swing, the whole group is engulfed in flames as they soon die.
This time more clearly, I can see the wisps flowing out of their bodies and into my mind, yet I don't feel anything from it or see any sort of counter so I have no clue how many echoes I have, if any.
Collecting 3 pebbles from their dead bodies, one with two and the second with one pebble. I move around the pillar to find another crow perched atop the pillar which i keep a distance from even as it falls down screeching at me. I just avoid it as I no longer have any weapon except the one hand saw I kept.
Not sure how effective it is, I keep my distance and just go further down the path, quickly finding a side entrance into the clinic.
"This isn't very safe. I have to warn her about this" I state as I step inside and immediately lose my berrings as I have no clue which direction to go, left or right.
"Hmm, the place i woke up from was to my right, so i guess ill go that way since she should still be there" I step before the door and swing them open to find the same place where I just woke up from. I find the doctor who I assume is Iosefka sitting at a desk with a pair of sharp scissors in hand.
"Who?" Hearing the door open suddenly, She gets up in a hurry. She holds the scissors out, pointing them at him.
"Oh hi, you must be the angel I just spoke to. I wanted to let you know I found a side path that is pretty much a giant hole in your wall from the rooftop that has a few monstrous crows. I took care of a few but ill need to take down the last. You should try to do something to block that path off if you can." I begin to ramble as I pick and choose from the bottles and even tear up a single book in front of her eyes to show her how to make a molotov as I reclaim my portable lighter (candlestick).
As I'm about to leave, I take one last look at her as I point at her hands. "Also scissors should be used the other way around if you're trying to stab someone. Until we meet again, stay safe "I wave her off and begin to walk back out when I hear a hushed introduction, "my name is Iosefka."
Giving a short nod, I walk back out, taking care of the remaining bird with my newly fashioned fire bomb. I then retrace my steps back down the ladder and through the graveyard where I collect a dope bag filled with 10 bullets.
Not being able to help but to ask, hoping that maybe somebody will answer me, "Why is everyone in Yharnam doing cocaine?" I ask as I stuff the bag into my pocket which is looking pretty full so far.
With no response, I push the gates open to properly enter Central Yharnam, taking in the purple-red colored sky of dusk.
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Word count is average, 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
Pat.reon.com/Xanok if you wish to read up to chapter 5 for free while others will be made free ahead of time when I post the chapter before it (ie. I release chapter 5 here, chapter 6 on patreon will be free. so on, so forth while previews are available for all chapters thus far)