Extra's Descent

Chapter 81  Curse [6]

Step—

Stepping forward, Brandon stood by Oliver's side.

He then smirked.

An opportunity presented itself.

Brandon had been frustrated, due to the lack of progress.

Of course, he knew his strength wouldn't be enough to defeat the Wraith Beasts.

But Oliver was here.

If Brandon could just sneak and deal the last hit, it would be free EXP.

Raven was here as well, he must have had significant progress in the past month.

After all, unlike himself, Raven had access to the system dungeons.

"Hurrrrrr—"

The bushes rustled and the Wraith Beasts emerged. The Beasts stood tall, a little over 8 feet. Their mouths were wide open, boring sharp fangs. Thick dark gray hide served as their defense.

"Hurrrrr—"

Looking around, there were a total of five beasts. Something Oliver could work with.

Surely, Oliver should have gotten stronger after six years.

An Astrea Academy Professor was at least an A to S- Rank after all.

"Hurrrr—"

With a loud growl, the Wraith Beasts jumped them from all sides.

Immediately, everyone dispersed, setting a fixed distance behind Oliver.

With the sole exception of Brandon and Raven.

Noticing, Oliver screamed out loud.

"You two! What are you—"

Turning around, he could see Raven holding a dagger in each hand. Brandon on the other hand held an ice sword in each hand.

"...Don't tell me."

"We'll assist you."

"..."

Sighing, Oliver stepped forward.

Snap!

Snapping his fingers, cursed flames engulfed the Wraith Beast in front of them.

Smirking, he turned his head around to look at Brandon and Raven.

"Let me handle this."

Flicking his head, he met Brandon's gaze.

"I'll need your help with something else later. Save your strength."

"..."

With what?

But…

Brandon wasn't going to miss the opportunity.

"Hurr—"

Splurt—!

Brandon instantly flashed forward and finished off the burning Wraith Beast.

Everyone's eyes widened and their mouths formed an 'o' shape.

Oliver was no exception as he looked at Brandon with wide eyes.

"You."

Brandon just shrugged it off.

[You have slain a Wraith Beast!]

[+200 EXP]

At the same time, the other beasts growled and jumped on Brandon.

Snap.

As Oliver snapped his finger, all of a sudden, the beasts were engulfed in cursed flames.

They were gradually weakening and burning to death. Realizing, Brandon flashed forward and thrusted the ice sword inside the Wraith Beast's hide.

Cr… Crack! Nôv(el)B\\jnn

The hide was thick and Brandon's sword was starting to crack. He had to use up a lot of strength.

[+200 EXP]

But at the same time…

Swoosh—!

Raven followed his example. Cuts and grazes etched all over the Wraith Beast's body. This persisted until he made sure the Wraith Beast was dead.

It was a battle for EXP gain.

And they were both using Oliver to do so.

"..."

Oliver was quite taken aback. What was the point in doing that?

Raven and Brandon turned to look at each other with a smirk. The Wraith Beasts presented had all disintegrated, leaving no flesh nor bones.

Cursed flames.

The exact opposite of Reina's holy flames.

While holy flames would buff the user, even healing them in the process. Cursed flames would damage the user if caught in their own flames, in exchange for destructive power.

If burnt, the flames would slowly sap the victim's strength and energy.

Such was the [Curse] affinity. A hazard to both the user, and the assailant.

Rustle. Rustle.

The bushes suddenly rustled.

Noticing, the five immediately kept their guard up.

Squinting his eyes, Brandon thoroughly scanned the bushes, awaiting for whatever emerged from the bush.

And that was when…

Tzzzz—

A purple spark flashed and Claire emerged from the bushes. On her arms was Rachel, who appeared to have passed out.

"..."

Recognizing, Amy abruptly rushed towards Claire.

"Claire! What happened to–"

Claire motioned for her hand to stop.

"Stay back!"

"Wha—"

Rustle. Rustle.

The bushes rustled and another figure emerged. A man with disheveled gray hair and pitch black eyes.

He appeared to be walking.

Realizing, Claire's eyes widened.

"He was chasing us… Why did he—"

The man stopped and stared at everyone. His pitch black eyes stared deep into their souls with a smile that sent chills down their spines.

Threads loomed all over him. But it seemed like the threads only stopped there.

As if it couldn't reach them.

Brandon had a faint idea on who the man was.

From what Oliver told him, David placed a curse in his body. If he left the forest, his body would perish.

"David…."

Oliver stepped forward and called out to the man.

"...D-Dad?"

Sarah chimed in as well. Clasping her hands. She walked towards Oliver's side.

Claire's eyes widened, as well as everyone else.

Turning towards Sarah, Claire loudly spoke.

"...That's your Father?!"

"I'm not sure…"

Ignoring them, Oliver stepped forward to approach David.

"David, it's me. I'm sorry."

"..."

But David stayed silent, and stared at Oliver with a smile.

Of course…

David was long gone.

It was a hopeless wish.

And Oliver knew that.

But…

Drip. Drip…!

The tears wouldn't stop coming out.

A sin that Oliver carried for six years.

And now…

It was his time to repent.

Taking a step forward, Oliver looked back at Brandon.

"Brandon."

"...What?"

"Find everyone."

Brandon's eyes widened but immediately changed his expression and nodded.

Claire turned to look at Brandon.

"What does he mean, find?"

"This city… People have gone missing for the past six years. Children and adults alike."

Brandon then pointed at David who stood still, as if waiting for them to enter the forest.

"Oliver believes it was all caused by…"

He clenched his fist and sneaked a glance at Sarah who had a conflicted expression.

He then turned to look back at David.

"...That man."

"..."

Claire didn't know how to respond to that.

But that was when she realized.

"Brandon!"

"What?"

"I'm unsure about this. But inside the forest there were dolls."

"...What about it?"

But the next words that Claire said shook Brandon to the core.

"I think… I think the missing people you are looking for are inside those dolls."

Thud!

All of a sudden, Sarah's legs gave out and she slumped down on the ground.

"No, no, no, no, no."

Noticing, Brandon immediately rushed towards Sarah.

"Sarah…"

"No, no, no, no."

She ruffled her hair and continued to mutter to herself with wide eyes.

"No, no, no, no, Emma…"

"Sarah…"

Hearing his voice, she looked up at Brandon. Grabbing his arms, she pursed her lips.

"Brandon… Don't you get it? That doll I picked up…"

She didn't finish her words. She couldn't finish it. How could she?

Drip. Drip…!

But that was all Brandon needed to hear to understand the situation.

Oliver was eavesdropping as well. Before entering the forest, he paused and turned to look at Brandon.

"Fucking Wraiths."

It was a Wraith's ability.

The same way as they possess a human with a weak mind. They could transfer a weakened person's soul.

But…

"Why dolls?"

Brandon questioned himself.

It was way too specific.

All of a sudden, David—who was silent throughout the whole ordeal—finally spoke.

"Sa-rah…"

His voice was hoarse. As if he was using the last of his strength just to mutter those last words.

"Dad!"

"David!"

Sarah and Oliver immediately called out to him.

"...I ma-de …a doll …for y-ou and—Uh.... Will… Emma …like it—Ukh!"

Those last chilling words. The last of David's will before the Wraith completely took over six years ago.

That was when they realized.

The entire time…

Those people…

"The dolls…"

They were all made for Emma and Sarah.

And yet…

The Wraith had used those dolls to trap a human's soul.

And one of them…

Was Emma.