Chapter #5A Swift Exit from Malady Swamp by: Shadow18   Kirito flipped open his inventory. Other than the upgraded poison spikes, everything was as he had left it. Changing the sneakers back for combat boots, he hoisted Amelia back onto his upper back.
He started onto the trail of boulders leading out of the swamp. Amelia Grace wrapped her arms around his neck and he carried her piggy back.
The sunset cast their shadows behind them and that was quite convenient. It allowed for Kirito to see the four ghouls patrolling Malady Swamp’s only exit before they noticed him.
Kirito squatted down and asked Amelia, “Do you think you can stay here while I beat those ghouls away? I can’t fight them and protect you at the same time.”
“Well, don’t. Protect me, and I’ll fight them.” Amelia pushed herself free of Kirito and looked at the ghouls. A small needle blade appeared from her sleeve and she threw it through the air. When the needle pierced one of the ghoul’s neck, Amelia crumpled, falling towards the swamp algae.
Kirito grabbed her. Pulling her towards relative safety, he looked over his shoulder towards the patrol. One of the ghouls put a thumbs-up into the air. Kirito looked down at Amelia; her body was unconscious and paralyzed. He looked up again just as Amelia the ghoul struck.
The other ghouls never stood a chance; their programming prevented them from attacking one of their own. Ordinarily slow and ignorant, Amelia the ghoul was swift and calculating. She tore the arms off the first monster. Using one dismembered arm as a baseball bat, Amelia attacked the head of the second ghoul. The two broken ghoul bodies burst into blue shards, and the missing body parts burst into blue fireworks. She grabbed the third enemy ghoul and spun the creature to face her. When the creature fell away, Kirito noticed a cavity in the chest just before it disintegrated into data shards.
Amelia the ghoul waved him over. Picking up Amelia’s unconscious human body, Kirito closed the distance from their hiding spot to where the entrance to the swamp was. The only obstacle left was Amelia’s ghoul body.
When he came in striking distance, Amelia raised her arms in surrender. Amelia growled at Kirito, and moved a finger in a slashing motion across her ghoulish throat. Kirito asked, “What, you want me to attack you?” The ghoul nodded, and made a self-stabbing gesture to the heart.
Kirito pulled out his white sword and held it out. He wasn’t sure how this would work. Amelia the ghoul just rushed him and impaled her false body. As the ghoul disintegrated, Amelia’s body woke up and watched the fallen monster.
Amelia wheezed, “Don’t dawdle. Let’s get out of here before more generate.”
Kirito exclaimed, “Hold on! Are you ok? My sword just stabbed the body you inhabited, but you just sound exhausted, not wounded.”
Amelia heaved a sigh and answered, “Yes, there is just exhaustion from the possession process. If a body suffers fatal damage, my spirit returns to my body.”
Kirito nodded, and started to carry Amelia out of the swamp. Crossing the boundary lines, he was struck by a horrifying thought. “Wait one minute, girl. That means if you had failed in the bog crossing to the island, I would have drowned, and you would revert to your body! Of all the lowlife dirty—” Kirito screamed at Amelia and dropped her to the safe dirt path.
Amelia Grace landed hard on the path. She exclaimed, “Ow! Alright, you could have died, but I have roamed that swamp all my life. If you want, I can reward you for your extra troubles. You did accept my father’s quest after all.”
Kirito glared at the little girl. He knelt down, and answered, “Ok, fine. I’ll accept your reward.”
Amelia Grace pointed at the pendant hanging from Kirito’s neck. “First, I need my pendant back.”
Kirito activated the inventory sale menu, and pushed the ‘Goul Syrup Pendant’ into the sale column. In Amelia Grace’s side of the menu, three lines of stars appeared. Curious, Kirito accepted the sale.
Amelia grasped the pendant in her hands. “Thank you, Sir Kirito.” She leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. “I have to get home now; Daddy should be cooking dinner. Bye!” In a blur of flowers, she was gone, a shrinking speck heading to the false safety of her home—with her father gone since the quest started.
Kirito started to go after her, but a notification flashed in his face. The announcement box read, ‘Quest Complete! +XP 10,000 +Gold 500 New skill Received!’ Intrigued, he read the new skill.
&*&
Possessive Lunge
• Can only be used in dungeons or city limits
• When activated, USER becomes paralyzed and Immortal Object. When deactivated, USER remains paralyzed for 15 seconds.
• If used on AI character-monster or human-USER gains access to body movement and any weapons or inventory. Inventory can be dropped or exchanged to others.
• If used on Humans-green, orange or red players-USER gains access to body movement, all unlocked skills, and all inventory. Inventory can be adjusted, but NOT sold or discarded. Upon leaving body, original player will gain control, with complete awareness of all events.
• During possession, original player can communicate via type messages. USER vocal responses are altered to their voice.
• There are two upgrades with hidden requirements to unlock: ‘Dark Takeover’ and ‘Split Spirits’.
• To activate:
1. Enter town or dungeon.
2. Equip sword, dagger or throwing knives.
3. Tap skill to enchant weapon.
4. Attack target and hit with neck/ head-shot.
Kirito mulled over what to do next…  indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
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