One of many, part 3: Blair, the living nightmare

Uggozan let out a few clicks that almost sounded like laughter to Blair and company before she lifted a clawed hand. "We-e believe aid when you require it will suffice, yes~s? My swarm can provide ways~s both in and out of almost any place. We also offer emergency supplies~s once a day should you require it. Once your mission is complete t-hat is~s." This gave Blair an naughty idea. "Yes, that is simply beautiful, Uggozan." She bowed her head slightly to Uggozan. "If you would be so kind. I would like your assistance to make this easier for both Zryzor and myself."

Uggozan tilted her head as a few more clicks were heard. "We-e are listening." Blair smiled as she started to unveil her plan to Uggozan. After thirty minutes or so of explanation, Uggozan let out a few rapid clicks in laughter. "We-e will assist you. T-his~s will be-e a beautiful partnership. Everyt-hing will be-e done before you leave. We-e will have a scout watching for when your enter Scrik's holdout from a safe distance." Blair, Izohra, and Caesar followed the insectoid back out of the tunnels. Izohra let out a sigh. "Do you really think it'll work? It sounds awfully cruel."

Blair shook her head. "It's far more merciful than you would care to believe. Would you rather I **** the ratfolk with a drawn out fight?" Izohra groaned. "That would feel more honorable at least." She chuckled. "Trust me, if I just put on my normal gear. They would only last a hit or two at best. At least this way we don't have to worry so much about fighting, right?" He looked to Caesar. "Possibly, but what are we supposed to do?" Caesar was sniffing the ground, but found nothing of real interest. Once they were out of the tunnel, she looked at her mini-map in the hopes that it would point out where they should begin. She smiled upon noticing an arrow pointing with the words, "Scrik, Scrik's mate, and Zryzor." highlighted in different colors.

On their way to Scrik's encampment, they saw a few stragglers of his forces. However, those forces either hid from them or simply ran away. Upon their arrival, they saw something that made Izohra rather upset. His score dropped down to 50. "Are we really going to attack their village?" That's right, what they saw before them was a small village with a few dozen ratfolk moving about, a few women, but mostly soldiers. Blair let out a sigh. "Look, you can stay here if you'd like, but I think it would be safer if you came with me, Izohra." Izohra shook his head lightly. "No, no, you are right. It, it's just I've never seen a creature made within a barrier with a complex mind like Uggozan. She has made me question if these creatures are real or not."

Blair lifted a hand to Izohra's cheek and caressed it. "It's fine to have doubts. The ability to sympathize with others is part of what makes us human. From what I can tell some of these creatures are real while others aren't. Sadly, just like in the real world, sacrifices must be made in order to live and move forward. We aren't monsters. We are doing what we need to survive. Got it?" Izohra looked down, thinking for a moment. His score ticked up to 60. "Right, but how can you tell some of the creatures are real while others aren't?"

Blair's hand ran down to Izohra's chin. "One of the abilities I obtained early on allows me to observe a target to obtain more information about it. If I use it on most of the ratfolk and insectoids I get generic information. However, when I use it on a creature like Scrik and Uggozan. I receive a readout like I do with you, Caesar, or any other being in the real world." He nodded while in deep thought. His score ticked up to 70. "It would seem I have underestimated your understanding and resolve, Blair. I have no more doubts about our mission and this plan. Please, lead the way."

Blair gestured for Izohra and Caesar to be quiet as they walked carefully into the village from the side. Upon getting close enough to the village, three different colored dots appeared on her mini-map showing the location of Scrik, his mate, and Zryzor. While they were within the village, they saw several guards walking around the different buildings. She used Observe on one of the ratfolk that was on patrol.

Observe:

Class: Soldier, Lvl: 9, Height: 5' 5", Weight: 100, Name: Ratfolk

Age: 23, Body type: Normal, Nature: Hostile, Mood: Focused yet Worried

Hp: 254/254, Mp: 136/136

Izohra stepped forward and turned his right hand's wrist upward, revealing a detailed bow, quiver, and arrows tattoo there. He lightly tapped his tattoo, but when he hit it, it vanished and a bow appeared in his right hand, a quiver upon his back, and roughly fifty arrows within that quiver. "I am a little rusty, but I got this one." He whispered while pulling out two arrows from his quiver. He pulled back on his bowstring and after a couple of seconds of carefully aiming. He let them loose, striking the ratfolk's cervical spine, twice. Once at the base of the head and the second at the base of his neck, killing him instantly. 10 + 10% = 11 xp

As expected, it wasn't long before an alarm went off, inspiring fear within the surrounding ratfolk, starting at 15. However, a couple of older ratfolk weren't ready for this, causing their fear to spike, resulting in their lives being extinguished. 17 + 10% = 19 (18.7), 19 x 2 = 38 xp Blair giggled softly while being unable to keep herself from smirking. "That was cute, Izohra. You are quite the marksman." Izohra's ears reddened as she walked toward the next building. His score ticked up to 75. "I'm not cute."

Blair simply smiled as they made their way to Scrik's mate's home, nestled against the biggest building in the village. Upon their arrival tensions had risen, increasing the fear of the populous to 25. There were two guards outside of the building entrance. Sadly, before she could attack the guards, roughly 13 guards ran up the path toward the main building. As expected, upon seeing them, they changed course to charge at them. She let out a heavy sigh as she cast Rhythm of Continuity and Defense, creating an invisible shield worth triple the health consumed. - 200 Hp While this shield held, her health and mana regen was increased by 100%, increasing it from 14.16 and 11.5 per minute to 28.32 and 23 per minute respectively.

"Caesar, Izohra, get behind the building. I've got this." Once Caesar and Izohra had gotten to safety, Blair cast Flames of Passion, igniting the air around her, starting an aoe of 53 damage per second to all within 5 yd of her for 5 seconds. - 250 Shield Hp, - 250 Mp, 50 + 5% = 53 (52.5) damage The smell of burning flesh and fur filled the air as the ratfolk tried to fight her. Their fear was high enough to cause their damaged to be reduced by 50%, but they tried anyway. 21 - 50% = 11 (10.5), 11 x 15 = - 165 Shield Hp Blood curdling screams of pain filled the air causing several more ratfolk's fear in the distance to spike, causing them to pass away. 19 x 5 = 95 xp

Blair's Hp: 449/647

Shield Hp: 285/600

Mp: 252/500

Ratfolks Hp: 201/ 254

Ratfolks Mp: 116/136

The fear of the ratfolk was starting to soar, causing yet more ratfolk in the distance to die from terror. 19 x 4 = 76 xp Blair calmly smiled, as the ratfolk fighting her were trembling in fear. Their fear had risen to 65 by this time. "Oh my. You poor little ratfolk. Have I become your nightmare?" Over the next few seconds, she avoided most of their attacks while giggling, but while doing so, her Flames of Passion had set the buildings around her on fire. 53 x 4 = 212 damage, (15 Overkill), 19 x 15 = 285 xp She was having far more fun than she had expected, but this was the moment that those Flames of Passion faded.

Blair's Hp: 453/647

Shield Hp: 285/600

Mp: 256/500

This reminded Blair of many gaming sessions both at home and in tournaments when she would crush her opponents with ease. It was like they wanted to be crushed underneath her boot. Was this because she had become one with herself again? While this thought went through her mind, she turned around and saw Scrik's mate. A cutie with white fur, wearing a frilly pink dress. She was trembling while holding a dagger with both of her hands. "Leave! I, I don't want to fight you." A new exclamation flashed that she allowed to pop up.

Achievement Unlocked!

Living Nightmare!

Cause 10 or more to die within 30 seconds of one another while at 50 fear or more.

Reward: 200 xp + 10% (20 xp) and Nightmare lvl 1

New skill gained!

Nightmare lvl 1 - Range 2 yd

Cost: 50 Fear from the target and 10 Mp

Deals 25% of the target's health in damage instantly, causing them to flee in fear for 5 seconds.

Special note: Any damage taken while fleeing will break this effect early. If left alone, target's fear will reset to 25.

After Blair read all that, she turned her attention back to Scrik's mate and smiled playfully. "I don't expect you do, but don't worry." Scrik's mate started to relax before hearing the following words. "I'll make this painless." Blair rushed in, a squeak was heard just before she hit the side of Scrik's mate's neck, snapping it, killing her instantly. 1 + 10% = 1 (1.1) xp By this time, Caesar and Izohra had come out from behind the building. "Was that really necessary, Blair?" She looked to him and cocked an eyebrow. "Yes, I didn't want her suffer. Did you want her to suffer, Izohra?"

Izohra grumbled. Blair looked to the fires as they were slowly engulfing the buildings. "We need to get in there. Scrik has a date with ****." She grabbed the back of Scrik's mate's neck and dragged her toward the entrance of the building. He lifted a brow. "What are you doing?" She looked back to the body while dragging it closer to the entrance. "Setting up a grand entrance, that's what. If I am going to make this an easy kill. Her lifeless corpse is necessary." He shook his head before helping her drag the corpse with them. Caesar tried to help too.

Blair walked into the room first, tossing the lifeless corpse toward the center of the room. Izohra and Caesar moved to her sides, Izohra to her left and Caesar to her right. They could see five guards within this room, but upon seeing the corpse, their fear skyrocketed, killing one of them instantly. 19 xp Scrik stepped forward with a squeak before running to her side. At that moment, each of the remaining guards fell through the ground. These were holes provided by Uggozan's swarm. This caused their fear to skyrocket, killing them instantly. 19 x 4 = 76 xp Leaving Scrik all alone with his dead mate in his arms.

As Scrik held his mate in his arms, his body trembled in fear and grief. Blair could clearly see this painted upon his face. While watching him carefully, she asked with a calm and expressionless voice. "Do you wish this nightmare to end, Scrik?" As tears began to well around his eyes, he simply nodded. She walked slowly behind him and wrapped her right arm around his neck, her other hand moved to the side of his face, caressing it a moment before she whispered. "I'll make this quick then." Izohra looked away and cringed while she pressed her hand hard against Scrik's chin, twisting his neck quickly until it snapped, killing him instantly. 300 + 10% = 330 xp, Scrik's Gloves, $300, Cell Key

Scrik's Gloves. Uncommon Quality. Adds 5 Agility and Strength. Increases health and mana regen by 2 per minute. Material: Weathered Leather, Metal Shards, and Weathered Stitching. 45/45 Durability.

After Blair let go of Scrik's head, she heard a creaking sound from above. She didn't need to look up to realize what was happening. The flames had risen high enough to weaken this structures integrity. She needed to get to Zryzor and free him, fast. Caesar let out a bark, drawing her attention. He was standing in front of a cage with a small red insectoid inside. She was certain it was Zryzor, but she used Observe on him anyway while opening up her inventory to take out the Cell Key.

Observe:

Title: Uggozan's Spiner, Guild: N/A, Class: Biomancer, Name: Zryzor, lvl: 10, Height: 3' 6"

Weight: 42, Age: 18, Sexual Organ: N/A, Body type: Normal. Race: Insectoid, Relationship: 50,

Mood: Hungry, Focused, and Very Curious, Current thoughts: Odd, simply illogical. Uggozan deems her an ally. Most curious..

Blair unlocked then opened the cage, freeing Zryzor. He gestured for them to follow him down one of the holes. Everyone except for Izohra jumped in immediately. He let out a breath before jumping in after them. Shortly after he did, the building collapsed behind them. When light had been fully cut off, Zryzor's body began glowing dimly in the darkness. "Follow to Uggozan." Izohra sighed. "Like we have a choice." Zryzor didn't even turn his head. "Yes~s, can stay here. Burn and rot with the buildings collapse. Most unwise." As he spoke, her quest turned itself in.

Quest complete: Infiltrate and ****

Reward: 30 Rp with Uggozan, leader of the insectoids and 500 xp + 10% (50 xp)

Optional Bonus: 60 Rp with Uggozan, leader of the insectoids and 1,000 xp + 10% (100 xp)

Rp with Uggozan has increased from 30 to 120.

Ding!

Blair chuckled, Zryzor reminded her of Abathur from Starcraft 2. While they walked, she opened her character sheet to add her Scrik's Gloves to her Equipment Set Slots. She also decided to spend her 5 new skill points in Endurance, increasing it from 36 to 41. She began to think back to what she had done to Scrik and his mate. She had enjoyed that far more than she expected to. Was she was a bad person? Or did simply she love to win?

Name: Blair Mitchell

Title: The Fearless Gamer

Lvl: 20 XP 256/4,000

Hp: 657/657

Hp regen: 14.46 per min

Mp: 500/500

Mp regen: 11.5 per min

Money: $6,368,019.27

Bust size: D cup

Inventory slots 4/30 (Zane's Angst, Lusserina's Soaked Red Silk Panties, Hearthstone, and Demon Leather Boots)

Unspent skill points: 0

Str: 50 + (0) + (25) End: 41 + (0) + (25)

Int: 50 + (0) + (0) Wis: 50 + (0) + (0)

Agi: 40 + (0) + (25) Cha: 40 + (0) + (0)

Lib: 20 + (0) + (25)