Chapter 12 - Monster Manual : Aboleth

Chapter 12 : Monster Manual : Aboleth

“You could start now.” Kiara repeated her words with a bright smile that compelled the others to rise on their feet 

“We definitely can’t say no, so it’s is yes.” Cheng blundered with a sharp smile. Silas on the other hand turned to Cheng with a death glare as it wasn’t in his interest to join the hunt, but he was a sheep bent to oblige to all their words since he was too embarrassed of his voice to muster a word. 

      After all, if things were to get out of hands, he had the simplest solution by abandoning the project 

“Okay, good. I think we’ll start with the Aboleth today and continue with the others tomorrow. And please note that your ability is no stranger to the illusion, so it’ll cause harm to the children meanwhile the creatures can’t hurt you.” Kiara briefly explained already making her way to the wide opened door of the room. 

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“So it all going to begin here.” Kiara invited the group into a huge dark hall which held different small pillars that were being coated with a green dye by different men who were hold buckets of bottom filled dye 

“Oh, so these pillar serve the illusion of trees.” Cheng muttered scratching his fingers across the plain pillar 

“I thought it will best for you guys to fight this beast individually, so Ying, you’ll be going first.”

Saying her words, the once dark hall turned into a sunny forest that wielded tall trees and various small animal. 

“Okay… So where’s the creature.”

“Find the nearest sea or river, remember the Aboleth only lives in water.” Kiara explained backing away from the room alongside with the three scouts who smiled at Ying 

     A faded smile appeared on Ying’s cheeks, hearing the words from the empress. She immediately began to walk her way along the hyper-realistic forest that strangely gave out creepy weird sounds 

“Never thought an illusion could be so real.” Ying instantly shook the scary thought and proceeded on her short journey. After a short distance of walking, she finally came across a big lake which vividly contained the Aboleth that swung its tentacles like a dolphin jumping in and out of the sea. 

     Ying seeing the size of the creature uncoiled her whip blade followed by a powerful swing to the creature who effortlessly caught the fifteen meter blade with its tentacles before flinging it out of Ying’s grip.

Immediately, the Aboleth jumped out of the sea brutally swinging its mucus filled tentacle at Ying who ran behind a tree that was instantly uprooted from the ground due to the force of the tentacle.

     Ying who still could not move an inch glared at the sea monster whose skin was entirely covered with green mucus, only exempting a pair of three slit-like eyes that rested upon a bony ridge along its head.

The beast, who suddenly fell back into the lake let out a loud screech which pierced into the ears of everyone in the room, especially Ying who fell back to the ground. After some seconds, the creature swarm to the shore of the lake where it could easily see Ying who still sat numb on the ground.

       With another screech, a liquid sprang out from the hole of its mouth, vividly shooting at Ying who was to frozen scared to move thereby allowing the liquid to spill on her skin before a scream erupted from her lips.

“Ying, it’s only an illusion.” Kiara and the other guards ran into the room that gradually began to loose its illusion

“No, that’s too real.” The tears which gathered in Ying’s voice irritated the crew especially Cheng who let out a scoff “What are you laughing for.”

“You just so funny and dramatic, what exactly were you going to cry for, a splash of stupid liquid on your skin. Just stop that and pick up your whip blade.” Cheng laughed visibly eyeing Ying who ignored him and crawled over to her sword which rested few meters after from her.

“Okay Cheng, you’ll go next, remember your ability affects the illusion around you.” Kiara reminded before walking away from the room alongside with Ying and the others who left Cheng alone in the room

“Okay, all set.” Cheng muttered staring at the pair of clawed gauntlet which he worn on both of him palm, while his left hand held an extra combat knife.

           Just then the room transformed into the greenery forest where Ying previously fought. After walking few meters, Cheng reached the lake where the creature patiently waited for Cheng with a weird smile

“Hum, crazy.” Cheng smiled throwing the combatant knife which stopped mid-air followed by a glitch that seemed to had pulled ten more similar knives that immediately flew wildly to the creature that somersaulted deep into the lake.

       Just then, Cheng followed after jumping deep into the lake. Not long after, Cheng abruptly emerged from the sea trying to escape the Aboleth that pursued tirelessly before disappearing into thin air along with the trees and finally the whole scenery

“That was a suicide case if you think getting wet with the Aboleth is a good idea, it will only murder you.” Kiara interrupted breaking Cheng out of his trance

“Eh, oh, so I killed it.”

“No, it would have killed you if all of these hadn’t been an illusion.” Ying laughed with a disgusted look on her face. “Thought you said, I’m so funny and dramatic, now how is being melodramatic.”

“Anyways, Silas you’re going next, followed by Ghou.” Silas simply prostrated to the empress words as he watched the surrounding transform into the sunny forest.

       Silas heaved a sigh as he stated stared at the gentle lake that seemed to be innocent of any creature. He instantly drew the large sword from its sheathe, pointing it out to the cool water.

But just then, three out of the nine tentacles of the Aboleth exploded from the lake vastly making it way to Silas who stood put. As soon as the tentacles was close enough, he gave a sharp swing of his sword, slicing through its skin and inside made a melee jump that landed him few feet away from the dead tentacles that repulsively threw out greenish black liquid.

        The Aboleth, which gave out a screech jumped off from the lake ready explode itself on Silas who lazily drew his hands to the air, briefly sending the creature mid-air before finally flinging it into dry land.

“Bravo Silas.” Kiara and the others barged into the podium as the illusion totally disappeared from sight “That was a wonderful win, hope you’ll fight like this in the real combat.”

Saying those words, Cheng scoffed arrogantly staring at Silas whose face was as blank as an empty paper

“Are you going to look like that. Just smile or something.” Cheng arrogant puffed out his words with a jealous filled face

“Ghou, time for you to demonstrate what you’ve got.”