The two continued walking through the streets, without being hindered or stalled or even attacked, which was quite strange to Ludwig. After all this was a dungeon, and all monsters should have attacked them. But these guys looked rather ‘busy.’
Ludwig did a quick inspection to see what’s different.
***
Name: Nameless
Type: Hollowed Attendant.
Level: 30
HP: 3000
Status Effect:
[Pseudo-Chimerism]- Currently suffering from a malicious curse that would cause growths to appear on its body.
[Gluttonous Curse] Cursed with Eternal Hunger, sourced by the Gluttonous Death.
[Hollowed] A curse that would consume their mind and body. Devoid of will, existing only to consume, not truly alive, but not quite dead either. A boundary between life and death.
[Appearance Fanaticism]: Completely neutral and harmless unless one comes to the Dwelling of Hunger with corruption on them.
Abilities:
[Frenzied Rage]: Can only be activated if a specific condition has been met. Once activated the Hollowed Attendant will go into a range that will consume its own vitality rapidly for an increase in reaction time, damage dealt, bodily strength and speed.
Addendum:
Hollowed Attendants of the Dwelling of Hunger Citadel. They live to work and work to clean, the least semblance of their so-called humanity is all that is left to them. They know only to do their delegated tasks unless provokes. Former citizen of Tibari, the capital city of the Tibarian Empire.
They did not think.
They did not feel.
They only existed to serve.
***
Ludwig’s unease only deepened as he absorbed this information.
He realized that this creature had been afflicted with the same curse as the Hollowed Wretches. Only those guys were more… sane? If that was even the proper way of saying it. But these guys, they’re nothing but puppets, far too gone even more than the wretches in the village. These guys don’t even have the ability to think for themselves.
And somehow, Ludwig found that even more horrifying.
“Let’s keep moving,” his teacher said as they continued on heading forward.
Their destination was the next layer of the citadel.
The first district had been an area for commoners, filled with smaller houses, marketplaces, and public squares that should have once bustled with life. The deeper they went, the larger and more elaborate the buildings became.
It followed a pattern Ludwig recognized—layered city planning meant that power, wealth, and influence increased the higher one lived.
That also meant one thing.
The deeper they ventured, the more dangerous this place would become.
They soon reached an area that separated the first circle city to the second. Another massive open gate with walls surrounds the second city. And just as they were about to reach the entrance…
[You are in a hostile environment!]
“Incoming!” Ludwig barked, stepping back.
But Van Dijk was already in motion. Both his hands were burning black. “Burn!” he shouted as he flung two black fireballs at a shadowy figure that seemed to be falling down from the sky.
The black flames roared out as they came in contact with the shadowy figure and the thing simply burst outward, flinging grime and slime everywhere that had caught on fire, finally revealing what remained beneath the grime as a humanoid figure.
This entity was at least two and a half meters tall, quite taller than Ludwig, it was armored up to the teeth with heavy runic carved silver armor and had what looked to be an ultra great sword carried with one hand. At the same time, his other hand held a tower shield that was too fractured and corroded to even call a proper shield.
The sword was chained to his right arm, its surface dripping with remnants of a taint, corruption and rust, but it still looked incredibly lethal. Thick and long enough to be as tall as a person. With a wide guard, thick base and a beefy tip. This weapon was more for crushing foes than cutting them.
Tendrils of slime moved and squirmed in between the cracks and the openings of the armor this knight-like entity wore. Seemingly it was what kept it together instead of flesh and bones.
A twisted and dark organic plating reinforced his armor, while the veins on it pulsated with a green light that ran through the cracks of his armor like corruption made manifest.
His face was obscured by a black iron help, but in its depths hits of what looked like a skeletal visage and hollowed eyes gleamed with fragmented recognition.
The armored thing simply stood watching as both Ludwig and Van Dijk were standing before it.
Then, slowly—deliberately—it lifted its greatsword, raised its shield, and slammed the two together.
BOOM.
The impact sent a shockwave through the streets, echoing against the pristine white walls.
A challenge.
***
Ludwig’s eyes lit up as he inspected it.
Name: The Fallen Knight of Tibari
Danger Level: ☠
Level: N/A
HP: 10,000
Status Effect:
[Pseudo-Chimerism]- Currently suffering from a malicious curse that would cause growths to appear on its body.
[Gluttonous Curse] Cursed with Eternal Hunger, sourced by the Gluttonous Death.
[Mind Bound] Currently Under a puppeteering curse.
Abilities:
[Call of Duty] The Corrupted Knight does not abandon his duty in guarding his lord. He will materialize periodically through the Dwelling of Hunger to hunt, peruse, and kill the trespassers.
[Glory in Death] Whenever the Corrupted Knight of Tibari is defeated, the next encounter will reveal less of its grotesque form, and more of its truer form, gaining him enhanced abilities stronger prowess, and easier access to his mind.
[The Breaker] Enchants the sword to gain a penetrative force that will ignore a portion of the enemy’s defenses. Be is physical or magical.
[Shadow Walk] moves through the shadows and periodically teleports.
Sword-[First form: Hunger Brand] The sword of the Corrupted Knight will apply Hunger upon its target. Sapping away at stamina, strength, and mana over time.
Shield- [First Form: Abolish] Completely negates all the damage below a certain threshold that the shield blocks.
Addendum:
An unknown knight, cursed with eternal servitude to the Gluttonous Death.
***
“Get behind me Ludwig, this thing is giving me the creeps…” said the vampire.
Ludwig was not about to go against his master, especially after seeing the wide grin on his face.
Van Dijk was enjoying this.