Chapter Three, Oni
For weeks now, we've walked the path west. I can tell that even the saint is fatigued now. I've never worn them for this long. It's been over a week, give or take, time is hard to keep track of here, since the last time I took Sant Dreylla's helm off. They still have an idea of where they're going, and I trust them that much. So far we've slaughtered more undead than I expected to see in my lifetime and all I, and the saint, have to show for it is the mental fatigue of walking the same sand-colored cobblestone corridors every. Waking. Hour. Even so, the saint keeps walking so I hum to myself, a song about a rude mercenary boasting to a woman then getting his head cut off.At least during the downtime I've had, I've been able to take an inventory of all the things my grandfather's Wondrous Belt of Utility can muster- or at least, all that I've seen from it. There's always a healthy stock of flares- my theory is that the belt can tell we're in a dark place so it overstocks them. Some of the capsules contain rope, about 15 feet per. I've learned that it always has at least one smoke pellet, which has been useful numerous times to get through hallways littered with skeletons. Of course there's adhesive sticks, incredibly helpful with how reckless the saint can be sometimes. I've found lockpicks which have been helpful one single time so far, and while I'm proficient with them, I'm not particularly dextrous. Another rare one is a round white pill that I can swallow to breathe underwater for a bit- found out about that one from my grandfather. Haven't had a use for it yet. One of them has tools to stitch up a wound. Unfortunately I have had to get the saint to use a couple of those. Occasionally the belt will give me these wirey ties that I can use to hold things together. Sometimes I'll get these little paper-feeling balls that make this super bright light when they impact things. Something I've noticed but never had a use for is that I have one capsule that has a dart in it. I accidentally pricked my finger with it and got a little dizzy so I haven't touched it again.
Hey, Dreylla, I think I see a light up ahead. No, other way, up on the left! See it? I quit my humming and they get low and listen for a minute before continuing onward. As we get closer, maybe 90 feet away, they stop again and make some signal with my hand. I listen as hard as I can and I hear... Something. Talking, a deep, deep voice. It sounds like it's trying not to be overheard. I can't make out any words though. Maybe Sant Dreylla can, since they decide now is a good time to pull a rope capsule out and catch it on one of the parapet edges that line the ceiling. They climb up and hang on to the edge, overlooking the hallway- no level to sit against on this one. Suddenly there's a loud shriek and a skeleton bound to a wheel flies down the hall! It passes us by, then rounds back. Again and again, like it knows we're here. It's moving far too fast even for the saint to catch, and if it collides with us... We could try the light popper? Bottom left on the belt! If it crashes at that speed it'll- and without letting me finish thinking, Sant Dreylla flicks one directly at the oncoming wheel. And just like I thought it screamed again, made a hard turn into the wall, and exploded into boney-bits. The saint slid down the wall nimbly, and cautiously continued toward the hall we heard the voice in.
Dreylla... Whatever it is, I think it knows we're here by now. I am met with the saint pulling Dulliol and Athola from their helm and striding forward, unafraid. I, however, am shaking in my shoes. We approach the lit hallway and I can hear the thing muttering to itself in some language I can't understand, filled with gutteral sounds and hisses. Sant Dreylla calmly turns the corner and presents their blades to the creature, and I am immediately justified in my fear. Before us stands- or rather, sits, a tall humanoid with one large eye, horns, and blood red skin. The thing's head and back are covered in hair, as are the inverted legs that it squats upon, taking up the entirety of the halllway. It smiles with pointed, uneven teeth when we make eye contact with it. Dreylla points Dulliol at it and shakes the blade to the left, commanding the creature to get out of our way. I know this is a bad idea but I'm stricken with a fear that the saint just ignores. I can't even muster a sound. The monster must be 20 feet tall when it stretches out. It speaks again in its infernal language before realizing that we don't understand and switching to commontongue. "Little human threatens an oni? And thinks itself a winner?"
Sant Dreylla nods and makes their blade motion again, which gets a roaring laugh out of the- the oni. It doesn't step to the side, instead digging its claw-fingers into the stone walls at either side, gripping them with an immense strength that shakes the hall. We'd better go, I manage to shakily get out, but the saint doesn't listen. They make a dueling motion with their blade and charge and I am filled with dread. The instant my foot leaves the ground I hear the oni say "Infinite Vacuum" before inhaling and sucking all the air from the hall, and maybe beyond. The torches go out and we are left in the dark, the only light being the red glow of the oni's eye and the only sound that of its continued inhale. Dreylla stumbled, but only for a moment before catching our footing and continuing the run- they can hold my breath for an extended duration, but surely not long enough to beat this thing! Just run! Please! I felt Sant Dreylla reaching forward with Athola, ready to slash, when the oni says "10,000 Winds Exhale!" and unhinges its jaw, releasing a gust of wind with the strength of a hurricane. In an instant, we were lifted from the ground. The long exhale, catching on my flowy shirt, forces us back through hall after hall, slamming us against walls as it does so, eventually doing so hard enough that the Helm of Sant Dreylla falls from my head.
All of a sudden, my eyes are swimming. I can feel the saint nearby. But far, still. I can't reach them. I can't feel my fingertips. Just wind. And walls. I don't know where we're going. I can't see. I taste blood. Everything's fading...
Comic
