Chapter 216 - Failed Infected
Whatever the creature was that stood in front of their path, it didn't look like a beast, but it didn't look like a human either.
"What is it?" Lilly asked horrified by the sight of the thing.
"I think, but not entirely sure, it's a failed true infected." Said Lenny, "If I'm right, it rips off its own body parts and hurls it at its enemies. The problem is the blood it produces is deadly."
Ray and the others had encountered a true infected before, it was Ray's father, a person who had completely been taken over by the Shadow plague inside them. A creature wrapped in shadows and nearly impossible to kill.
Common knowledge was if the Shadow plague was unable to turn you, it would kill its host but sometimes there were people who would be in between. Their bodies not able to withstand the changed made inside them and eventually, they turned into this.
Eating any beast they found, causing it to become a part of its own body. The creature didn't look strong for it was small in size but from the tone of Lenny's voice everyone could tell he was very serious.
"No one move," Lenny said, "Only defend, and be ready for it to throw something at you. I will move first."
Lenny then guided his horse towards the beast. Immediately, the beast ripped one of its strange animal limbs and hurled it at Lenny. Lenny then wafted his hand and immense pressure of wind followed causing the limb to be batted away.
The limb landed on the ground still moving as if it was alive. Ark was the closest up front and moved over to the beast right side holding his rapier in his hand. But before Ark could even reach the beast, it tore off another part of its body, this time a face that was placed on its stomach and hurled it at Ark.
Ark prepared his sword and was about to cut the face in half.
"Don't do it!" Lenny shouted.
Ark managed to pull back but the face was still coming towards him. Just before the face could reach Ark, another strong force of wind knocked the mask away only this time it came from Lilly who had her wand held in her hand.
Lenny's face was tense, sweat was dripping from his brow. Then Lenny Dashed forward but this time he was too slow blocking the projectile. One of the beast limbs managed to hit him and landed on Lenny's face.
"Everyone stay still, all of you!" Lenny shouted. He then cast magic which surrounded his hands and pulled the limb from his face turning it into dust. As he stood up the others could see his face covered in his own blood.
"Are you badly hurt?" Lilly asked.
"I'm fine," Lenny replied, "I have special magic that can counteract the poison, but I'm afraid it won't be the same for all of you."
Just as Lenny had said, it seemed like the beast would only attack those that dared to move. But if they didn't move, they could no longer progress forward.?Ray, Gary and Jack were the furthest away from the beast and the others.
There wasn't much they could do to help. While Eve and the Little pond archers remained motionless. Not willing to move a muscle afraid that they could die at any moment.
"Why did we have to take this stupid quest." EVE cried.
Mike himself regretted his greedy decision. It seemed so easy at the time but never In his life did he think he would run into something like this.
Meanwhile, Berg continued to stand in front of Lilly wielding a large axe in his hand. His hands were shaking not from fear but because he was growing tired from holding the heavy weapon in that position but he was unwilling to move determined to protect Lilly.
"Ray, this is silly, can't we do something?" Gary asked.
Of course, Ray had ideas to deal with the beast but was unsure if he could do so without getting blood on him. Ray's fighting style wasn't exactly the best when it came to fighting something like this. If Ray was unable to tear or punch the creature, then all that left him with was magic.
But for some reason as Ray was watching Lenny fight, he realised that Lenny didn't use magic on the creature and they had to be a reason behind it. Surely a man with his magic abilities would at least know a fire spell or two.
"Ray!" Gary shouted and without realising it he had moved his hands. The beast then took off another limb of his and hurled it towards Gary.
The limb came out fast and furious and when it looked like it would hit him, somehow, Gary drew his black blade and knocked away the limb.
A piece of blood splattered across Gary's face but it seemed to have no effect. Gary had an idea of the Black sword's ability, for some reason, it could nullify effects and if this creature's effects were its poisonous blood, as soon as his blade touched it the blood, it was no longer poisonous.
Gary then continued to charge forward at the beast crying out in anger.
"No, wait you fool!" Lenny shouted but Gary ignored him continuing to charge forward.
The creature seeing someone move so much in front of him started to go into a frenzy. It started tear every part of its body and hurled it not only at Gary but the others as well.
Ray started to fire ice ball after ice ball at the projectiles doing his best to protect the Little pond members. Jace was fine using his Magic held fist and Ark was able to dodge most of the attacks with his footwork.
Lilly was able to hit away the first few with her wind magic but it took her time to cast her spells. Eventually, a limb came out to fast for Lilly to block, that was when Berg chucked himself in front of Lilly getting hit by the limb right in the throat.
The limb exploded on impact and blood splattered all over Berg. His body then collapsed on the ground laying still in the mud.