Thrown Into Madness - Lord of the Mysteries

A Good Plan

Gen sighed, waving around with a document.

"Okay, let me get this straight. This clan called Creed of Dread has been around for centuries and the only reason they survived is a mask?"

Kalim tilted his head before slowly nodding.

"Well, yes? But not just any mask, it's a sealed artifact which, I'm pretty sure, belongs to the Error Pathway."

"Sure, but you said they can't use it?"

Gen, who couldn't read too good in such a bad light placed the papers down.

Kalim shook his head.

"No, anyone who puts in on will die, that's a fact."

Gen's eyes narrowed, but he stayed silent.

Seeing this, Kalim continued his explanation.

"It's a mask which steals physical strength and the vitality of the wearer. So, naturally, the person will die if he wears it. But it doesn't just steal the strength, it actually stores it. Meaning when one 'breaks' the mask, all the strength which was taken up until that point will be returned and possess the closest person."

"Well, we only found records featuring two such instances, and the strength of the one who broke the thing could be compared to, um... an Angel? But without any special abilities, just strength and durability. Of course, that's because thousands of lives went into this thing."

Gen clicked his tongue.

"I get that much, but why were they in such a hurry. I mean, kidnapping around hundred people a month is not normal."

Kalim nodded in agreement.

"It's not, their usual way was one to two people a week. It's strange that it would jump so fast for seemingly no reason. And to even try to..."

Gen leaned back into his seat, unsure of what Kalim was trying to say.

"Okay, so- They already tested that putting the mask on a Beyonder will not take away their Beyonder abilities and will still only take their physical strength. So, they thought if they turned someone into a monster... Goddess that's a bad idea."

Seeing the strange reaction, Gen blinked.

"Well? And did it work?"

Kalim looked up from the papers.

"I can't tell."

Seeing Gen raise his eyebrows, Kalim continued.

"The first experimentation was meant to take place two days ago. But there are no reports."

Gen looked at the ground filled with corpses.

"These have been here for about two days..."

He then sighed.

"Seems like it failed."

Kalim nodded.

"Yes, but that means that right now, there is a crazy Beyonder creature running around."

Gen stood up, his eyes scanning the bloody trails.

"Then we should get to it. Go make a report, I know how to trail. And I don't think a crazy monster will hide its tracks."

Kalim was silent for a while before jumping off the seat.

Since the Scout Patrol parted into two, Juny made an artifact for Kalim as well, so he'd have a way to attend the Troop Meeting.

"I can do that. But you should also use that to report to Juny."

Gen looked at the brooch and nodded.