"I think I'm getting used to this darkness." Arthos commented as the group walked forward slowly.
It had been an hour, and the group had managed to defeat hundreds of smaller creatures. Percy led the group occasionally instructing them to stop and wait while he handled the "guests". Despite having handled the "guests" dozens of times on his own, the team was still amazed how Percy managed to "see", fight, and defeat the invisible enemies.
"Hey Percy, I've been meaning to ask you…were you always blind? In the real world?" Arthos asked as the group moved forward.
"I wouldn't say that I'm blind…I can see, just different from you. I can see that Wain is about to step into a puddle."
THUNK!!
"Aw man! Now my boots are full of water." Wain complained as he sunk his left foot into a large puddle.
"To answer your question, no. There was once a time I could "see". It happened when I was eight years old."
Percy continued explaining, "one morning I noticed my vision blurry and watery. My single mother was too busy with work and caring for my little brother and sister to do anything about my eyes. I think she hoped it would go away on its own."
"As the days passed, my eye condition got worse. My siblings started to exhibit the same symptoms. My mother feared it was viral or contagious, so she took us to a doctor. The doctor said it was environmental…our home was located too close to a factory. The waste contaminated the water and air…and this was the result." Percy said with an emotionless voice as he pointed at his eyes.
"What about your family…what happened to them?" Arthos asked. His voice pained hearing the tragic tale.
"I left as soon as I heard the cause of our blindness. Mother would not leave. She refused to leave our home. Maybe it was disbelief. Maybe it was her way of giving up. Her symptoms and the symptoms of my siblings got worse…they developed tumors and abnormal growths on their bodies. They died sometime later."
Hearing the tragic tale, Arthos felted compelled to share some of his personal life. He said candidly, "my mother died when I was a toddler. I've been alone ever since…well, until I met them. They are my family now."
He added, "in the time we have been together I learned something…we survive alone but succeed together."
Percy said nothing for a few minutes. "I see," he later said.
[…]
"Stop. Up ahead is the dungeon boss. I can sense him. It's best if I handle him alone." Percy said as he addressed the group.
"Wait, let me buff you…just in case." Hector said as he cast buffs on the team.
!ALERT!
[Galeforce has been applied to party from Hector]
[Galeforce increased Speed and Reflexes by 25%}
[Turtle Buff has been applied to party from Hector]
[Turtle Buff increases Defense and Resistance by 25%]
[Vantage Buff has been applied to party from Hector]
[Vantage increases Attack Power by 25%]
"Selfish prick," Kristan said annoyed at Percy for refusing help from the party.
"No. Not selfish. He wishes to fight alone because he is worried about us." Hector said with an earnest voice.
!ALERT!
[DUNGEON BOSS – NIGHT STALKER]
[LEVEL 70]
"Wow…I thought this was supposed to be a C-rank dungeon. The boss is B-rank, level 70!" Arthos said in a surprised voice as he caught sight of the Night Stalker in front of them. The stalker appeared to be a shrouded reptile-vampire humanoid creature. Its skin was ash dark with streaks of black resembling tattoos on its lean and agile legs and arms.
"What level do you think Percy is?" Kristan asked the group.
"If I had to guess…probably level 75." Wain replied.
"Let's hope it's high enough." Arthos said solemnly.
Percy walked ahead of the group, his footsteps light like a cat stalking its prey. He reached a clearing and stopped…he stood standing still for a moment. Without a single whisper of sound, he vanished for a second.
CLANG, CLANG, CLASH
A violent blade-storm erupted as invisible blades collided in a whirlwind of sparks and clashes. Steel flashed sending sparks and streaks of light as the two fighters exploded toward each other. Arthos strained his vision to see the battle…with effort and concentration he could perceive the silhouette of two figures caught in a deadly dance. However, he was not sure who each silhouette belonged to.
One struck low, the other pivoted on one leg while spinning and delivering a precise roundhouse kick. The other countered by bending backwards in one fluid arc, evading the kick and launching a set of throwing knives in mid-flip.
The two fighters stopped, circled each other while calculating and measuring their opponent's rhythm. One fighter instantly disappeared only to reappear a second later behind their opponent. The second fighter was unfazed by the surprise attack, he sensed the shift in air pressure and spun around quickly blocking the surprise attack and counterattacking with a barrage of rapid surgical strikes…each aimed at vital points.
For Arthos and the rest of the team, it was hard to keep up with the fast movements. They mostly caught fragments such as the glint of steel, flickering of footsteps, and the occasional ruffle of clothing. Unable to discern who was winning, the team held their breath.
One fighter stepped on a stone while evading a horizontal strike. The stone tumbled under the weight which caused the fighter to lose their balance for a split second. The other fighter took advantage of the small opening to drive their blade straight through the other's leg.
GHHH!
Percy let out a hushed sound as the Night Stalker's blade pierced his leg.