Isecant - Party based LitRPG-lite / Progression adventure

The Mandems continued to pelt the area viciously. They fired shot after shot in an attempt to attack Kiki. Trees collapsed from heavy gunfire, with a crack and thud hitting the ground. The ringing of the shots triggered screams from animals and passers-by as they fled in terror. 'HEEHAWWWW' 'SCREEE' 'AHHH'

Wardi watched intently from the side-lines. The sights he witnessed put anything he could do to shame. Kiki danced majestically as the shots flew past or were blocked by her cloak she had donned. Those that were close tried to engage with Kiki.

She showed no signs of fear as they closed in the distance. She proclaimed far and wide, "I've grown rusty in this old age, but I'll happily demolish a few out-of-control greys. And you're the one hiding. Don't worry, we'll have some fun shortly!"

What does she mean by that? Oh shit, is there someone powerful in the area? Fuck, this news isn't good. Wardi took no chances; regardless of who she was, it's been years since she was apparently active in the field. I'm not letting this day become another King Blau scenario. Barry, please answer, mate...

Dingaling Dingaling ~

"Oh, Wardi mun? I don't think you ever ~"

"Barry, where are you now?"

"I'm in Osholm city, lad. Why's that?"

'Fuck, this is so typical.'

"Barry, we have a huge problem down in the Widdlewans; there's a platoon of Mandems here. There must be 1000 of them." Wardi was surprised by Barry's response, and it didn't fill him with confidence.

"What's bad about that, mun? Easy pickings for you lot?"

static noises

"Something's not right, mate. Like [static interferences] off. I think cracking and distortion."

"Ah cannae hear you, lad. Some interference on ya end."

What the hell is going on? Why can't he hear me? Wardi began to sweat, and the hairs on his neck began to stand on end. He turned around slowly.

What appears to be a mime dressed head to toe in black and white vertical stripes. It wore no shoes; its gloves had no fingertips.

What the fuck IS THAT!?

The mime looked right at him, moving his hands as if he were climbing a wall. Its legs began to come off the ground as it climbed the invisible barrier, and as it reached the top, it looked straight at Wardi, speaking the same language Gwyn had spoken ["Oh. You sneaky types sure are fun. There's no hiding from Dylan the performer; I do not see different."]

Shit! I'll die if I stay here! Wardi did not hesitate; he made a run for it, taking advantage of using the darkness to gain ground faster. He bolted towards Kiki without any shame; this was not for him to handle alone.

The mime appeared to twist its head upside down. It's painted on a sad face, now changed to a smile. "How predictable... You Terrans sure are a cowardly lot.]

Kiki held a Mandem in her fearsome grip high in the air. Its comrades watched in horror as she squeezed the life from it quickly. I see you desperate to reach me all of a sudden, Wardi. I'll assume the one in hiding revealed themselves to you. Mandems nearby cowered in fear as their comrade's neck was crushed into pieces right before their eyes. "Oh, bruvs. This one is top dog, you get me?"

"We should like get out of here, bruv. Mans not gonna cut me up."

Kiki grabbed the throats of the pair standing next to each other, tearing them off and throwing them into the swarm. SWOOSH A shard of bone tore through the air, impaling several Mandems in succession as it passed from one to another.

The Mandems hadn't prepared to face such a devastatingly frightening foe. Kiki's overwhelming pressure triggered a mass panic among them.

True fear

Faced against a foe with unmatchable strength. Stats are reduced by 10, confidence is halved.

Kiki could smell that familiar taste she knew from her younger adventuring days. 'Inhale' Yes, that's it. The fight or flight is kicking in. The leaders demand you stay... But you know you'll die if you do. How many of you shall linger in the coming clash?

Wardi had managed to reach Kiki and stood to her back. Thought she did not react to him joining her. Willieth was unconscious, and one of the troupe had been hit during the attacks. He threw a soothing salve at the man bleeding out on the floor and quickly swiped through his status windows.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

'Come north. Dangerous enemy encountered,' he typed to his party list.

Rhua received the notification, "Lucy, go north. Get your wand out; we've got a fight ahead of us again."

Lucy took out her wand and ran northwards towards the fight.

***

Kiki wasted no time in engaging in more demolishing of foes in her path. A single leap into the ranks had so much power it snapped the bodies of Mandems cleanly in half as she landed with a CRASH. Several others were flung up in the air from the impact force. She quickly grabbed hold of a poor soul yelling 'scared' and clobbered them into others in a wide arc. The crunching noises as their bones shattered from powerful swings – *CRACK* SNAP. Mandems had lost almost 50 men in the short space of 15 seconds. And the most terrifying thing of all, she seemed to be getting stronger the more that fell by those terrifying claws.

I've got to take advantage of this, but damn, my cooldown for shadow step is up. Wardi thought as the hordes were fixated on trying not to die by this walking tank of a person slaughtering comrades like flies. Taking advantage of the remaining trees, Wardi began to zip and dart between them, swiping at the necks of Mandems as he passed through.

While his attacks were not of the same power Kiki harboured, attacking a critical spot would still kill a foe that was much weaker than he.

Blood sprayed upward, sideways and down as Mandems succumbed to the fatal blows. Spattering's of their comrades' fluids being flung in the battle was the final trigger for one of the higher-levelled Mandems.

"Fuck this bruv! i ain't dying for this shit. Do one fam!" His leaving of the fight started a chain reaction, and dozens began to run off screaming in agreement, "DIS AIN'T HOT. FUCKING FIGHT EM YOURSELF RUDEBOI"

***

Rhua and Lucy could hear the shouts of fleeing Mandems in the distance and took it as their cue to head in the general direction. Rhua had her shield at the ready as she stormed through. though she stopped in her tracks as she encountered the mysterious Dylan the performer in the distance.

She grabbed hold of Lucy and pulled her downwards. She had to cover Lucy's mouth, who nearly emitted a loud "yelp!"

Not on my watch. This one is creeping the ever-loving fuck out of me.

***

They watched Dylan from the ground. Though it seemed like maybe they had managed to avoid being noticed. Who the hell is this weirdo? Rhua felt the safest thing to do was keep a calm and level head. And most importantly, don't move a bloody muscle.

Dylan began moving northward, though their behaviour seemed questionable. Dylan snapped limbs casually as they did so. Their head spun in a circle multiple times as they grabbed it physically and rotated it around.

"Hva i helvete... This person is crazy." Rhua whispered to her; Lucy nodded in response. Rhua pointed forward, and the pair crawled along the grassy floor patches and stood low when they needed to move between crunchy leaves and crawlable spaces.

They managed to travel a considerable distance despite the slow movement. Dylan was still within viewing range from afar.

Though the appearance of two mechanical boots in their faces soon put a stop to that. Neither could react as their lights went out.

***

Sweat, blood, tears and odour. Four of the things Wardi did not enjoy the sensation of. Fuck. The Mandems are so thin. So where does all this blood come from?

While he may have managed to take a few dozen out through heavy effort. Kiki had long since stormed forward unmatched. Her once light brown face had since turned dark. Drenched in blood, and chunks of flesh riddled her body. The Mandem captain stood upon a mound, towering over the crew. He stared at the hundreds of mutilated corpses riddling the ground. And those who desperately clung to the last breaths of life.

Fuck. We iz well done ere. " BOIZ. "LET'S GO YEAH!" he shouted.

Kiki stopped in her tracks. As Dylan rotated his hands in the air around the Mandem, and seemingly blew apart the former captain.

Dylan looked at Kiki. His sad face soon became a joyful one as he snapped his head upside down and began to watch her with a horrifying smile.

Kiki grabbed the remains of two nearby Mandems, swinging them at high speeds in the direction of the mysterious foe.

["Oh, I see. Do you want to play catch? Here, catch this.]

Dylan joyfully returned the attack back at Kiki, grabbing two nearby living Mandems matching her speed and power. Kershah She dismembered them, further fuelled by her bloodlust.

Wardi had long since fallen back for safety reasons. "Wardi!" Rhua cried out.

He turned and darted over to them. His happiness would have to wait, though. Grabbing Lucy when he was able to, Wardi told Rhua to "RUN". Making their way towards the direction of their original destination, "I think they're one of those Rising Dawn. He saw me in the other plane; we're done here. Let's get the fuck outta here!"

Kiki attempted to speak with Dylan, much to his surprise; she could speak Lissic though in a broken yet intelligible form, ["I hear of you. Through winds. Rising Dawn"]

Dylan put his hands to his face from surprise. ["Oh, I see. You know Lissic? How REVOLTING. How DARE you speak our sacred tongue!"]

["You learn things. From travelling."] Kiki responded and conjured a large silver-bladed whip in her hands and lashing it at Dylan.

They quickly moved their hands to conjure an invisible barrier that crumbled upon impact.

["Oh my. Such a feisty feline you are. ShAmE"]

Dylan conjured ginormous ethereal hands that attempted to attack Kiki.

She whispered to herself.

Carpe Diem Bathing in the blood of enemies fuels your fighting desires. Absorb the essences of the fallen to empower yourself:2000 stacks stored from previous fights.

Consume 50 stacks to enhance attributes by 20 points.

Decrease physical attack damage taken by -10%.

The next stack consumed will add enhanced weapon damage, defence or a speed boost.

Consume all stacks to unlock ???

Total stacks absorbed: 100.

Kiki roared with power; shockwaves erupted from her, throwing Dylan backwards several metres, and the bodies around her disintegrated.

["Humph. This won't do!"]

Dylan waved his hands, conjuring hands in the air again.

They slammed down on the area Kiki once stood. But Dylan found himself face to face with an emotionless foe, one that had long since surpassed him.

And yet... He seemed to be grinning as if expecting it.