System of the Beast Slayer [litrpg Adventure]
Copyright© 1999 by CaffeinatedTales
Chapter 309: The Broken Ghost
Outside the laboratory door.
The braziers on both sides burned fiercely, lighting several figures standing tall.
“Everyone, before we open this door, I need to say a few things ... According to the images I foresaw, the Witcher friend inside the laboratory is in a very wrong state. He’s full of killing intent, and his pupils look like, red lightning. In them, I couldn’t see the slightest trace of calm or reason.”
Roy looked at Griffin’s slightly tense face and sighed. “I think he has lost his self-awareness. He can’t tell friend from foe. Once he sees us, he’ll likely attack, and won’t stop until one side is dead.”
“You mean the fellow behind that door has turned into a madman?” The rusted iron key paused before the keyhole. Orin thought for a moment.
“Can’t we restore him to normal? What does your premonition say?”
“Sorry. I can’t be sure, but the chance of recovery isn’t high...” Roy looked troubled. In his memory, the one behind that door, after enduring torment, had become some strange and dreadful creature.
Compared with humans, he seemed to belong to another species entirely.
His dark-gold pupils turned right. “Griffin, any suggestions?”
The Cat School Witcher, who had pressed the side of his face against the door and closed his eyes to listen, drew a deep breath and abruptly clenched both fists.
“The image you mentioned actually sounds very much like the aftereffects of the Decoctions of the Grasses flaring up. Loss of emotional control, temporary madness ... There is a possibility of recovery...”
“And there are five of us, while he’s alone. Five against one. It should be easy to restrain him. Then we can decide what to do.”
“Mm. Then we try.” Bald Letho looked at his companions. Everyone nodded. “But I’ll say the ugly part first. If things go wrong, we’ll protect ourselves first. Hope you understand.”
“Of course!”
“Then once we’re inside, we’ll first use Signs to restrict his movement, then bind him with rope and examine him!”
Roy took several cables as thick as a forearm from his Loot Satchel, tied the knots carefully, and handed one to each person.
“Click.”
The door opened.
The five rushed into a fairly spacious hall. At a glance, the whole hall was divided clearly into two areas.
The right side belonged to living and experimental space.
It held oddly shaped alchemy kits, distillation vessels, and a metal tank taller than a man, gourd-shaped and of unknown use.
There were also all sorts of daily necessities, furniture, and bookshelves.
Someone had clearly worked and lived here for a long time.
And the area straight ahead.
Steps paved in dark-green patterns and rotten stone slabs led downward. Dense stalactites enclosed a long, narrow passage.
At the end of the passage, more than a hundred white candles burned silently. Their bright light illuminated the entire area until it was clear as day.
A hexagram magic circle had been drawn on the ground with pure-white ash.
Five pairs of vertical pupils froze at once.
In the center of the magic circle knelt a long, thin humanoid.
His back was to the crowd, his face toward an animal stone statue shaped like a cheetah. He himself maintained a quiet meditative posture.
And his gaunt back was appalling to behold.
Large patches of skin had been burned black by flame and lightning, covered in dark-red, twisted scars and botched flesh.
In some places, there was no skin at all, revealing muscle tissue, tendons, blood vessels, and pale splinters of bone.
Yet not a drop of blood could be seen.
Roy stared at that horrifying back, his gaze deepening.
Kaen
Age: 93
Gender: Male
Identity: School of the Cat Witcher, Experimental Subject. After undergoing a series of extreme experiments and further alteration by unknown energy, both mind and body have been severely distorted, with a foreign presence lurking within.
HP: 200
Mana: 160
Attributes:
Strength:?
Agility:?
Constitution: 20
Perception: 16
Willpower: 3
Charisma: 2
Spirit: 16
Skills:
Witcher Signs LV6: Advanced mastery of combat Signs, enhancing versatility and effectiveness.
Meditation LV9: Exceptional meditative control, allowing rapid recovery and superior regulation of body and energy.
School of the Cat Longsword Swordsmanship LV10: Peak mastery of Cat School techniques, emphasizing speed, precision, and lethal efficiency.
Witcher Senses LV10: Maximum sensory enhancement, granting extreme awareness and tracking capability.
Alchemy LV7: High-level proficiency in potions, decoctions, and alchemical enhancement.
Mysterious Augmentation, Passive Trait: The body has been altered by unknown energy, enhancing vitality and magic. Constitution +5, Spirit +5, Willpower −5; all sense of pain is lost.
No need for food. Passively absorbs elemental energy from the air to sustain itself.
Gains powerful regeneration.
...
The four big men all showed disbelief.
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