Psychokinetic Eyeball Pulling

Chapter 37: Liquor, and the Mysterious Entrance.

"It looks like a team's already strolled right on through."

"I see that, Tam. The littered, decaying corpses are a dead giveaway." A deep, female voice said.

The man laughed. "Dead giveaway, get it?"

"I can't believe you were assigned to this team." A sigh followed. "It begs the question just what the hell the Humanity Corps are thinking."

"Get a grip." A curt voice said. "Scavenge what's left and we'll move on. I'm not wasting time on someone's sloppy seconds."

"Aye, Captain."

"Wait, there's movement below."

Astrid could feel a swirl of mana from above.

"Alright guys, don't go blasting us down here. There ain't much room to dodge." Daniel shouted. With a leap, he landed onto the church's floor.

Astrid and the others pursued.

"Who are you lot?" the captain said.

He sported a buzz cut, a gash left a scar into his bushy eyebrows. His polearm was tightly snuggled into his armpit as it rested against the floor. He had a mean look etched onto his face as he eyed Astrid and the others up with caution.

The man named Tam had middle-parted, long hair. He displayed an amiable smile as he nodded towards them.

"Wayfarers." Daniel raised his shoulder, displaying his badge. "Looks like a jumbled crew you've got."

The only woman within the group said, “I could say the same about you, bringing a Sinwen around. Besides, not everyone has the luck to pick their own team.”

"It's not all that bad, Gwen. It's always a pleasure to see some unfamiliar faces." Tam said.

Astrid glanced at the others within the group. Many of them refused to come over, preferring to remain in their own company. Now and then, they would look over at the team of Wayfarers while they whispered amongst themselves.

Astrid frowned. If there was one thing she hated, it was people talking behind her back. It was the same with her cousin, Freya. Astrid preferred more–direct methods. Besides, this was a place where trust was paramount.

“Seems like the rest of your team is shy.” Brett sent them a wave.

“They’re my men. I've been with them a long time.” The captain said.

“And who are you? There's few faces I don't know who are at the captain level.” Rachelle crossed her arms.

“The name’s Fletcher. Me and my men are from Mount Hullbeck, while the others are from Rebirth.” Fletcher motioned toward Gwen and Tam.

“Mercenary?” Daniel said.

Fletcher nodded. “We’ll join you. Better to be a bigger group in this place.”

“And that’s where I’ll stop you, mate.” Daniel shook his head. “See, I wander on the path of caution. We’ll be going our own way.”

“Suit yourself. Don’t come crying to us when you’re in trouble.” Fetcher turned on his heels.

“I’ll say the same thing back to you. If we run into each other again, I will not be so polite.” Daniel stood with his back straight, his hand firmly pressed against his blade's hilt.

Fletcher scoffed as he left the church.

“It’s a pleasure meeting you all.” Tam smiled, “there’s a lot of groups here, isn’t there?”

“Too many.” Daniel nodded towards Tam.

Silence was the only sound that remained once they had all left.

“Are you suspicious of them?” Astrid gazed at Daniel.

“It’s not suspicion, but caution, missy.” Daniel said. “Any moment I get to reduce the chances of me having a dagger in my back, the better.”

Astrid nodded. The stories of pirates plundering were fresh in her mind. It was the gossip most common between the noble children, after all. Astrid had heard everything when it came to the Bubbled Cities, good–and bad.

A sudden clap made Astrid’s shoulders jump. She sent a scowl towards Brett.

“Well then! What’s the plan now? Venture forth and kill some more ghouls. Have a nice little rest? There needs to be some liquor around here.” Brett smiled.

“It would be called moonshine in these parts.” Rachelle corrected him.

“It would be called moonshine in these parts.” Brett repeated in a higher-pitched voice.

A fireball flickered to life as Brett swiftly stood behind Rob.

“Mmmm.” Rob frowned through his helmet.

“She started it.”

“He started it.”

“We’ll head deeper into the town. Lisa, make sure we’re not following that other team.” Daniel said as they all left.

They were met with a thick fog once more, sprawling across their vision like an endless woollen blanket. The Wayfarer team skulked their way through. They stayed next to the buildings for cover. It also allowed Astrid and Lisa to scan their surroundings. If there was something inside, they would know about it.

Astrid and the others approached a larger wooden building that had a balcony on the second floor. It had long been devoured by the swamp as vines climbed and entered the slits between the wooden planks.

Astrid and Lisa notified Daniel that there was something inside, with a nod of acknowledgement. They entered. Four small blades levitated out of the sheaths on her belt, with a command from her mind–they shot forward and pierced their dense skulls.

Once Astrid killed a few, and the ghouls noticed their existence. The other Wayfarers took action, swiftly taking care of the rest of them. With a quick scan of the matter, she couldn’t detect any of the undead monsters left. Lisa, however, spotted a few that were sleeping upstairs.

Why don’t they have red hearts, dammit.

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Astrid pouted as Brett vanished, a few striking noises later. He returned. His beady eyes locked onto the bar at the back-middle of the room. Bottles were placed and displayed behind the counter.

“Jackpot!” Brett leapt over the counter as he started shaking the bottles. All of them had spoiled, however, until his eyes landed on a single display case. The bottle had a golden piece of metal coiled around it. Brett’s fist shot through the glass as he cradled the newly gained bottle in his arms.

“Oi, before you go drinking it, let Astrid Identify it.” Rachelle stormed over as she stole it from his grasp. “Here you go.” Rachelle smiled.

With that smile, she must think it’s worth a lot. Astrid nodded.

You gained a rare Alchemy Class bottle.

Alchemy Class - Level 50 - Drunken Warrior Liquor: Brewed from knotweed and honey. The alcohol contents are so strong that it alters one’s body, unlocking its potential for two hours.

| 50 added strength.

| 50 added constitution.

| 25 minus intelligence.

| Physical attacks are 15% stronger.

“I’ll be in charge of the bottle, just in case.” Daniel took hold of it and placed it safely in his bag. Much to the dismay of Rachelle and Brett.

Astrid’s lips curled as she witnessed Brett’s face sour at losing the potent alcohol. With Brett continuing his search for a drop of liquor, Astrid entered her system, as there were a few messages to read.

You defeated a - Ghoul - level 48!

You defeated a - Ghoul - level 43!

…

Extra experience is awarded for defeating enemies many levels above!

Experience is reduced for fighting within a group!

You have levelled up!

…

Psychokinetic level 37 -> Psychokinetic level 38

Illusionist level 35 -> Illusionist level 37

Gained 15 stat points.

Astrid was close to gaining the next milestone in the constitution. However, she didn’t want to rush it. She needed the extra perception that wisdom brought. Being able to sense the matter further was essential for scouting.

You now have 80 constitution.

You now have 115 wisdom.

You gained the Title - Blade Thrower! -

Blade Thrower!: Swish, Swoosh! You are getting better at throwing different blades through the air. Well Done!

| 20% extra damage with blades.

| You can throw blades 20% further and faster with Psychokinesis.

| 15 added intelligence.

| 10 added wisdom.

Oh! Astrid’s eyes sparkled. It looked like a straight upgrade at first glance. But the Mind Scrambler title gave a straight 15% extra damage to all psychic abilities.

But using Psychokinesis on blades lowers my mana usage by a lot. It would be my main attacking method. After arguing with herself for a while, she learned the new title. If she realised that the other one was stronger, she could just wait one day and change it.

You have chosen the Title - Blade Thrower! -

“Finally!” Brett said from behind the bar.

He exited with two hands clutched around two bottles that had survived, as he was walking over, something rocked the entire floor as it transmitted to the building's walls. Astrid felt her legs tremble as an explosion rattled her ears a few seconds after the shaking had taken place. The wooden foundations of the building began crumbling as the Wayfarers darted outside.

Through the harsh fog, she could see shadows flitting about. Groans left their throats. Ghouls. They were searching for their next meal after being woken from the sudden explosion.

“What the hell was that, Daniel?” Astrid said as she kept her eyes peeled, knowing that a monster could leap at her at any time.

“Sounds like an explosion from a Skill.” Daniel said with a thoughtful expression.

“There're ghouls everywhere, Daniel.” Lisa warned.

“I can hear that.” Daniel continued. “We’re heading towards the explosion.”

“Towards it?” Astrid asked.

“Notice the ghouls? What direction are they not running to?” Daniel turned to Astrid.

“The explosion.” Astrid said.

“Exactly, so that’s where we’re going. Sometimes there’s safety in danger. We’ll have a look, if it’s too dangerous, we’ll leave.” Daniel tapped his hand on Rob’s shoulder as he moved forward.

With the fog, Astrid purely relied on her sense of hearing. Stomping appeared from her flank. Her mind latched onto the many sheaths at her belt as two blades levitated out of their home. With a twitch of her eye, they shot forward. One pierced straight through the ghoul's skull. The other, the ghoul's eyes flashed as it dodged to the side.

Astrid rapidly activated Mind Barrier and Illusionary Armour in case it neared further. She then controlled the rest of her knives as they hovered in front of her like a sharp wall. She threw one, but watched closely as the ghoul dodged once more. Even at such close distance.

Just as the ghoul stepped its foot onto solid ground. Astrid rocketed the knives forward, accelerated from the extra buffs from the newly gained Title. Three planted themselves into its chest, the last to the monster’s solid skull. Retrieving the blades, they continued. Ghouls would appear, and the same situation would occur. The Wayfarers let Astrid attack first to gain levels, once they got too close, or there were too many of them. They would agilely wipe the rest of them out.

Astrid had no time to enter her System as the ghouls were approaching repeatedly. But as they neared the area of the explosion, the ghouls thinned out. Only the odd, stronger straggler wandered into their path, which was swiftly taken care of.

Then, many flashes of red filled Astrid's vision. Hearts.

"Humans." Lisa said as her palm rested on the mud covered ground.

The red hearts then moved forward and disappeared out of vision. As if they had entirely vanished.

"Let's see what they're up to." Daniel said as he walked forward with Rob in the lead.

As they approached, Daniel and the other agility classes moved without so much as disturbing the leaves on the ground. Rob and Losef however, stomped on the ground, leaves were crushed, and twigs snapped. Astrid tried to do the same as Daniel, but it was futile. Now and then she would stand on the odd hidden twig, releasing noise.

Screw this. She levitated not even a foot off the ground. There was no noise at all.

Rob stopped. Daniel peered at a crater on the ground. Loose soil had splattered all around, and tree roots emerged. In the deepest area within the soil, a wall made its appearance. It was pitch black, matching perfectly with the entrance. Astrid stared at the void. Her blood boiled and she clenched her fists.

"Are we going in?" Astrid said in anticipation.