Unwilling Eldritch Horror of Fortune

It took me a few minutes to dig our way out of the tunnel, being careful with the Absolute Luck Skill to ensure that my escape didn’t cause the entire tunnel system to cave in. I had worried that the rather loud exit we made would alert someone, but I needn’t have. No one could hear anything over the screams and cacophony of the ongoing war.

Q might have used the wrong word when he described the conflict raging on in the city. Skirmishes generally didn’t involve thousands of organized soldiers battling it out with all kinds of strange beasts and savage berserkers. At least it didn’t take a genius to know which side I was supposed to be aligned with.

My dramatic exit, or entrance I guess, covered my already grimy armor in even more dust, so no one had noticed my presence just yet, although I knew that this was only a momentary reprieve. After all, I was a completely different species compared to everyone else here. That meant that I only had a few moments to survey my current situation and figure out the best course of action.

I was supposed to be the hero here, wounded or not, and the best way to ease suspicions of my actual identity would be to act like one. I’ve seen Ashwin act for a total of like, fifteen minutes, but even in that short amount of time, he seemed like the stereotypical good guy, what with his brave speeches and rallying cries. I can’t imagine that someone like him would just flee the scene even if he was half dead. No, even an idiot would realize that Ashwin would fight.

Unfortunately, the problem was how I was supposed to do that. The only weapon in my possession was the strange transforming metal handle thing that I couldn’t use, and it wasn’t like I could just start bashing cultists with my feelers like usual. Not being able to use the divine weapon could be bullshitted around, but there was no way that people wouldn’t notice a drastic change in personality if I chose to just run, which meant I needed a new weapon.

The problem wasn’t the availability of one, but more about my absolute lack of skill in using anything. I’d have to rely on using the Absolute Luck Skill in combat, but from my past experiences, the way Noe fights is rather… strange. Having Ashwin fight like an absolute imbecile, even an effective one, would raise eyebrows. Ah, screw it, it appears that my entrance has already been noticed, and I didn’t have the luxury of thinking anymore. When in doubt, just let Noe do her thing.

I closed my eyes and fumbled around blindly for the most appropriate thing to use.

Luck Charges: 1555/1557

Good, once I saw the numbers go down I opened my eyes again and saw that I was clutching onto a bow and some loose arrows. Thinking about it, Noe’s choice of weapons this time was apt. I’d had a few goes at shooting a bow during my time with Yoona, and with the high amount of variance involved, I could feasibly wreak some havoc with this thing. It was time for Ashwin to make his entrance again, and I better make an apt entrance to ensure my disguise wasn’t questioned for the time being.

I grabbed the bow, shoved as many of the arrows as I could into the quiver, and jumped up on one of the crumbling city walls. This gave me the perfect vantage point to strike, but more importantly, it was a spot where everyone, foe and friend alike, could see me. I shouted a coarse battle cry in Ashwin’s voice - I could still never get used to sounding different when I wore a guise - and proceeded to notch a handful of arrows all at once onto the bow. I pulled back as best I could, feeling the poor weapon strain under the immense pressure, and released half a dozen arrows into the air.

Luck Charges: 1501/1557

Once again, I had to admit that Noe was impressive. The shows spread out all around me, being carried off in seemingly random directions by the torrential rain and gusts. Each shot managed to find a home on poor unsuspecting cultists of one of the strange beasts that the evil gods had summoned, and every arrow was fatal. I didn’t have time to marvel at Noe’s work as I continued to load more and more arrows, firing randomly into the air all the while shouting incomprehensibly.

Even better, under Noe’s effect, the arrows seemed to catch the fleeting rays of light and shimmer as they flew in the air, getting the attention of anyone in the vicinity. Before long, all eyes were on me, and I could distinctly hear the cheers of the Paladins as they saw their hero emerge from ashes.

Luck Charges: 1440/1557

Unfortunately, having all the attention on me also meant that I was quickly the focus of the enemy as well. The amount of Luck Charges quickly went down as Noe did her best to ensure that I dodged the worst of the assault, while the things I couldn’t avoid were deflected on the strongest parts of my armor.

Luck Charges: 1332/1557

However, I was seeing a real problem. The spot that I exited was closer to the cultist’s side than the Paladins, and that meant that I was right in the middle of the entire enemy army. If these cultists were not completely braindead, they’d all pile on me, and I don’t think that any manipulation of Luck could cause a few hundred cultists to all miss their attacks on me. If I started to run for it now, then I could still outrun the majority of the forces…

I shook my head. No, that’s not what a hero or chosen or whatever would do. It was a risk, but I could see the Order god’s side just off the distance, maybe only a few hundred meters away from me. It’ll be a gamble, but let’s hedge my bets on them making it in time before I get overwhelmed by the opposition. I’d normally never take a stupid risk like that, but it was absolutely critical that I made a good first impression, there’s already too many inconsistencies between me and the real Ashwin, and I don’t think I can explain it all away without the benefit of the doubt.

“You two,” I commanded to the aliens that left with me, “Go to the paladins and get them here as soon as possible. I’ll hold them off here.”

They nodded and shambled away. Thanks to my arrows, only a few cultists got in their way, and thankfully, whatever brainwashing Q did to their brains didn’t hinder their battle abilities too much. Once I saw that the two were well on their way, I focused my attention back on my own precarious situation. I was now thoroughly surrounded.

Luck Charges: 1233/1557

Even Noe’s abilities could only do so much as the cultists started to swarm me and my two mostly useless companions. I had to ditch my bow before long and just started swinging wildly with my fists. I still had to put on a show for the Paladins and soldiers rushing to help. Initially, I thought I had to deactivate my skill so that I’d look like I was struggling, but that was quickly not a feasible approach. I think I’d actually die without Noe’s constant help, but on the bright side, I didn’t have to try very hard to appear as if I was going to die at any minute now.

I grunted in pain as a claw pierced through my defenses and gouged out a chunk of my thighs. I punched the dog thing that did it and grunted as I felt something else latch onto my back. Another sharp pain was felt on my shoulders this time, someone had managed to poke a rusty sword into the armor joints, and I had to shake the crazed cultist off me. What was taking the damn paladins so long to get here? Did they want their damned hero dead after I made such a great entrance?

More and more bodies pressed onto me, and by now I wasn’t sure if I could endure any more without having to resort to transforming into a Xollon, but I still had some HP left according to my stat screen, and I held on until I was certain that I wouldn’t make it otherwise.

Time seemed to flow at a standstill as I saw each and every cultist and beast attack me; I was moving on autopilot at this point. I brushed aside a swing of a sword but an axe smashed into my side as I did so. Noe managed to ensure that the enemy didn’t hit anything vital, but I could feel the blood loss and fatigue add up quickly. I was able to deflect a spear with my shoulder guard and another thrust bounced off my chest plate, but for each attack that I was able to negate, more made it through my defenses.

I saw my health dip down to the low hundreds and I feared the worst. Why did I choose such a dumb way of making an entrance? Too late to regret the decision now though, and I don’t think I was going to make it…

I was moments away from just forgetting about this mission and transforming when I noticed the chaotic drone of scraping metal and snarling beasts was replaced with something else. The number of crazed enemies stuck to me seemed to diminish before I saw a new sight: rows upon rows of golden figures rushing to my side. They hacked and pried my foes off me and my comrades, all the while shouting something that my fatigued mind couldn’t comprehend.

Noe, we’re safe for now, right?

“It is so, my Host,” she replied in that same comforting tone that I knew.

I smiled to myself. Think they bought my charade?

“I think your identity will be unquestionable for the time being, dear Walter. Relax for now, you are no longer in danger.”

Good… and please smack me next time I decide to play the hero. I’m not made out for these roles.

I didn’t hear Noe’s reply as my body gave out on me and I sank to the ground. I’m pretty sure that someone held me up, but I wasn’t sure as the world quickly faded to black and I passed out. Yeah… let’s leave the hero business to the actual heroes.

* * *

I woke up to the sound of Noe’s voice and pain. “Good morning, my Host, please do not be agitated. Your body has sustained a lot of injuries during that earlier stunt, and you are currently being moved to a proper healing facility.”

I tried to move despite Noe’s words, but my body felt heavy. The best I could do was open my eyes.

“You’re awake!” someone said. I turned my head to the direction of the voice and saw a girl stationed by my side. Wait, a girl? How was there another human here?

“Allow me to explain, my Host,” Noe interrupted, “Unit Noe has taken it upon myself to assist you in this infiltration. Recall how I eased your stay at the hospital by adjusting your perception?”

I nodded slightly.

“I have done something similar here; I used the time you were unconscious to alter your perception of the natives of this world to be of something familiar to your mind. I have noticed that the Host had a difficult time differentiating individuals of this species, even when you were fully awake, and this confusion may cause unneeded hindrances for your plans to work.”

Huh, now that she mentioned it, I was just telling the alien’s apart via their clothes, which I don’t think would work all too well if I were to stay in their company for long.

Oh, yeah, that makes sense. Thanks Noe.

“You are welcome, my Host.”

“Don’t move, Ash!” the woman continued, “You were on the brink of death just earlier; thank the gods you even made it.”

“W-” I tried to say, but only a rasp was vocalized. I swallowed and tried again. “What about the others?”

“Nova and Edric are getting treatment as well, they’re healing fine although…” she shook her head, “Never mind. We can talk about what happened when we get back to the Capital. Rest for now, Ashwin, you stopped the cult and their demons.”

“But…” I muttered, “There’s still-” I coughed, which caused the girl to bring me something to drink. “I couldn’t get everyone out.”

“I’m sorry…” she winced. “But, um, the life signs of all of your party members are still active, I’m sure they’re still alive. We- we can talk about it after, okay? I’m just glad you’re fine now, I was afraid our rescue mission would have failed, although I guess you did manage to get out yourself, so we didn’t help out much.”

I nodded slightly.

“We’re still a few hours away, the barrier’s still in good condition as well, so just rest for now. I won’t pry into what the cultists did to you and the others, but… just know it’s over now, you’re safe.”

She got up from my side and put a wet towel on my forehead. “I’ll wake you up once we’re back, so sleep for now.”

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