Level-Up Apocalypse: Surviving With The Assimilation System

"Sorry, guys," Finn quietly apologized, turning to face them.

Charlotte lightly shook her head, "It's not your fault anyway. I wanted to come here, too–I think we all did, really. Besides, this is one step closer, isn't it?"

"We're here now and that's what matters, mate. No regretting it–not like we would've been doing fuck all outside of the Tower anyway," Jasper added in.

There was some hesitance from the tall, blonde-haired swede who ran his hand through his rain-slick hair to move it back, looking down at the assassin with mixed feelings, "I'm not going to tell you that you made the wrong choice, Finn. All I'm going to ask is that you take a step back and think things through before diving right in–with us."

"Fair enough," Finn said. "I guess I was a bit excited about seeing what this was."

"Well, as Jasper said, there is no point in wallowing over what's happened. The reality is we're here now," Magnus accepted.

The fog had yet to clear, remaining as dense as ever as did the two-sided rain. It didn't seem as though the guide had anything left to give them, staying tucked inside the house. All that was there for any sense of direction was that faraway castle, like a cloud in the sky.

"Ought to get moving then, mates," Jasper said, beginning the march as his boots sank into moist soil with each step.

"I'm glad to see some of us still have energy," Magnus tiredly followed along.

"If you're tired, take a nap then, mate. I'm sure that lovely sheila wouldn't mind," Jasper said while looking back.

Magnus kept moving while looking at the trees that neighbored the barely-visible trail, "I'll pass on that."

With such dense fog and the sound of constant rain, Finn was extra perceptive as he walked along the path, keeping his eyes and ears open for even the smallest sense of anything.

"Do you think there's anything in this forest? Monsters, I mean," Charlotte asked, walking beside him as she kept her hand near her scabbard.

"I haven't heard anything yet, but I'd say it's a safe bet that there are," Finn answered.

"Do any of you believe even for a second that there wouldn't be monsters–" Magnus spoke up amidst stepping over a decaying log.

The remark of the swede was intercepted as a vibration rippled through the mud; a sensation felt by each that stood in the fog-laden trail.

There was not a word that needed to be exchanged as they each brought their weapons to their hands, standing back-to-back with one another. It was a small clearing in the misty forest, large enough to make it feel walled in by the trees, if not for the narrow trail.

"Do you see anything?" Magnus asked in a whisper.

"Nothing, mate," Jasper quietly answered.

Finn remained silent, choosing not to try too hard to peer through the white haze, but instead listening closely. It was faint; between the constant droplets of rain, it blended right in with that continuous.

Yet, it was distinctly different; a subtle weight pushed down on the mud; it was something that certainly emphasized stealth.

"--Huaaa!"

The scream brought him to turn around as he witnessed the silver-helmed knight being thrown back like a sack of potatoes, being slammed against the tree.

"Jasper!--" Charlotte called out.

Finn rushed over alongside the spellblade, lending a hand to their compromised companion. Fortunately, the shield absorbed most of the impact, leaving Jasper only with a slight stumble as he was brought to his feet.

Magnus remained on guard with his cannon ready to blow, only glancing back briefly, "What got you? Did you see it?!"

"I…I didn't see anything, mate. I don't know what hit me," Jasper admitted, rubbing the exterior of his helmet.

More than ever, the fog felt thicker and more suffocating; what lingered within it was surely still there, Finn knew that. Even more unsettling was the fact it didn't pursue right away.

"This isn't some normal monster," Finn remarked, keeping his daggers raised in a stance ready to defend himself.

"I could've told you that…!" Magnus responded, moving side-to-side, waving his cannon around with no discernible direction to point it.

"It's not that. It's smart–it's being careful," Finn clarified.

Charlotte stepped forward, running her fingers along the surface of her blade as trickling light followed the motion, "I'll deal with this fog!--"

["Radiant Infusion"]

The spellblade's ability caused her sword to become a beacon, pushing the glow through the mist in an attempt to part its veiling presence.

"Good thinking!" Finn complimented, looking around as the mist was pushed back.

Even so, there was nothing to be found around them; only the quiet trees amidst the heavy rain. Yet, he heard those subtle footsteps clearer than ever, closer than before, bringing him to tense up right then as he felt "something" close.

"It's!--" Finn tried to say.

As he parted his lips, he found the bottom of his jaw being knocked against as if a force had struck it, disrupting his words as he was knocked right into the air. It felt as though a hammer had struck his chin, bringing his vision to blur for a moment as his brain was given an unruly stir.

He flipped himself around before falling, landing on his feet nimbly as he found his chin bruised, though nothing standing where he was unmistakably hit.

"Finn, are you alright–?" Charlotte asked, placing a hand on his shoulder with a worried look.

Rather than lingering on the throbbing sensation that made his jaw ache, he pushed forth the thought he tried to push out before, "--It's invisible!"

"Seriously? Oh, man…I don't like that," Jasper remarked, keeping his shield up, tucking himself behind it even more so as he turned side-to-side.

"What should we do, then? If we can't see it–" Charlotte began to ask.

Once more, the invisible fiend made itself known as the spellblade raised her sword just as something slammed right against it. The force behind the unseen blow brought the young woman to slide back several meters, unprepared for it.

"Charlotte–wait!" Finn called out before coming to a realization upon feeling a ripple right behind him.

Knowing there was nobody at his back, that unmistakable sensation of an approaching step only meant one thing.

He instinctively ducked down, sliding his right foot as he spun himself around while swiping his dagger in an efficient motion. Without seeing anything, he confirmed it with his blade as it sliced across what felt like flesh.

As he performed the swift counter, the empty mist in front of him revealed a tall, lanky creature with stone-gray skin and a face of empty eye sockets and an unnaturally large mouth with buck teeth.

"—" Finn didn't flinch as the black blood hit his face.

There wasn't a scream or cry from the lanky humanoid, only a ghastly exhale.

Its stomach was sliced open completely, leaving the once unseen figure to collapse onto the mud.

["Mist Lurker defeated."] ["Anarch Coin x250 obtained."]

[Experience points: +1500] [11500/50000]

[Assimilated ability from [Mist Lurker]: "Camoflauge" 1 / 1]

"Woah, shit!" Jasper said in surprise, witnessing the quick execution.

Finn looked back, yelling out without wasting a moment, "There's more than one! Stay alert!"

The warning was confirmed as Finn turned to watch a strip of mud be flung up as a force struck the cannoneer.

"Argh…!" Magnus let out as his back knocked against a tree.

The sound of the lurking steps became more rapid, uncaring to be heard now as the fiends were now in full aggression. It was only through complete defensiveness that Charlotte and Jasper remained on their feet as unseen strikes sought to fling them back.

Finn kept moving, walking backwards as he heard those steps coming, bringing him to look towards his companions. The mud pushed in near the spellblade, being molded into the shape of a footprint right before him.

Amidst the unease and paranoia of the invisible fiends, Finn shouted out, "The mud! Look at the mud–their footprints!"

The words of advice came to Charlotte as she looked down, discovering the mud being pushed in right in front of her. Using a thrust of her sword was not as efficient, she decided, not completely sure of the fiend's physique.

Instead, she opted for a radiant slash, bringing her sword down in an arc–

"Haaaaa…"

The gray-skinned, slender stalker appeared with its body cleaved into, letting out its raspy exhale before collapsing.

"I got it!--" Charlotte shouted.

"Nice!" Finn responded.

["Mist Lurker defeated."] ["Anarch Coin x250 obtained."]

[Experience points: +1500] [13000/50000]

The collapsed corpse of the lurker landed right at the cannoneer's feet, bringing the man to step back in disgust. As Magnus moved away, his back collided with another, prompting him to spin around with his cannon already flaring up.

"It's just me, mate!" The desperate words came from the one behind him.

Magnus exhaled with a sigh of relief, "Jasper…Don't stand behind me in a situation like this, or I really will blow you away."

"Yeah, yeah, not an empty threat with a trigger happy bloke like you, mate," Jasper mumbled with a perturbed exhale.