Chapter 31: Compatriot?

Where was he going?

After popping back into the Skeletal Plains, he scanned the area, and it was readily apparent he wasn’t back where he’d seen the ’ghost girl.’

Sadly, he only had two landmarks to determine his location: the Bone Desert and Maw of Hell, both of which were quite far away. Judging by his distance from either and the sheer number of gigantic frayed ribs jutting out of the ground...

’I’m in the middle of the Skeletal Plains.’

Perhaps even the exact center of the quadrant.

It would take at least half a day to reach another area within the zone and a full day or more to escape the zone entirely. Since the Skeletal Stalker wasn’t exactly after him, he had some time, but his mind kept wandering back to the woman he’d just left behind.

’Why was she running towards me...?’

Further into the zone, toward the Maw of Hell.

’Surely she wasn’t trying to escape the mini-boss by challenging the main boss...’

That was simply nonsensical.

Peace glanced back at the woman, who continued fending off the three Bone Ravagers. Thankfully, none of them had chased after him due to their main aggro being shared through something called a ’pack,’ which overrode individual Threat Levels.

’Perhaps she had no other choice but to run in that direction... The Stalker is probably over there.’

’...’

’Ah, damn it.’

After getting about 90 meters away, Peace slowed from his sprint and came to a halt, turning to watch the woman fight.

She was by no means graceful or strong. In fact, she seemed utterly weak and pitiful. Yet, she was holding her own against all three through sheer force of will.

Honestly, Peace felt terrible about leaving her. But he’d had his reasons. He needed to stay alive to seek his sister, after all.

’And the NPCs in this world are dicks to me...’

For the most part. The dwarf and giant were pretty cool, but that was about it.

He didn’t necessarily want to risk his life and his chances of reuniting with Serene to save one.

But as he ran and the immediate anxiety of battle faded, he’d noticed something odd in her actions.

After running into him, she hadn’t cowered or become suspicious of his appearance...

’She’d immediately asked for help.’

Her eyes hadn’t even held a flicker of doubt about what he was, only confusion as to where the hell he’d appeared from.

Meaning...

’Either she was so overcome with adrenaline and battle anxiety that she cared nothing about my appearance or my resemblance to one of the Night Parade.’

Or...

’She didn’t even recognize my attributes as a threat...’

Even if an NPC sympathizer or two toward Night Elves existed, it was beyond strange for her to have no reaction to his red eyes and white hair at all.

’Plus, she didn’t seem to possess any animosity towards Night Elves, considering she was about to entrust her side to me.’

It was a hasty conclusion drawn from far too few variables, but Peace felt confident that she...

’Is a Soul Stealer.’

Now...

Was he really going to abandon his compatriot like that? At least, someone he thought might be from Earth...

’Tch.’

Going against his survival instincts, Peace slowly began making his way back towards her.

As he did, he studied the three wolves, focusing on the nuances of their movements and attack patterns.

’I see... they can’t turn well.’

Their front legs being scythes didn’t help much when it came to dextrous movement. All of their explosiveness came from their hind legs. And when they stood up on those hind legs to swipe, they couldn’t turn.

Finally having closed the distance, Peace called to the woman fighting for her life:

"Keep distracting them!"

Too focused on her battle, she didn’t say anything back; however, she did shoot him a quick glance that said quite a lot...

Peace interpreted the glance as: ’You run away, come back... then say that? What the fuck!’

Peace sighed inwardly as he arced around to the back of the three wolves.

’If she didn’t hate Night Elves before, she probably does now...’

Still, he’d already come this far; he wasn’t going to back out on his questionable decision to assist her.

Biding his time, Peace crept toward the melee as the woman desperately ducked and weaved between their attacks, only using her mace to block.

’There!’

Kicking off the pellet-strewn ground, Peace jammed the Bone Sword forward, straight into the joint where one wolf’s hind leg met its hip. He didn’t exactly know how these skeletons moved without cartilage or muscle, but he’d perfectly shoved his sword through a spot that severed the connection between the leg and the rest of its body, causing it to fall and rattle across the ground.

The wolf toppled over soon after, collapsing beside its severed leg.

It tried to stand back up, but just as Peace had predicted, it couldn’t control its balance with only one leg and two scythe arms. It just feel straight back to the ground.

While that was good and all...

’Shit!’

The two able Bone Ravagers spun towards him, Peace having garnered enough Threat Level to aggro them.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the woman smirk as she caught her breath.

Then, she turned away.