Broken

Chapter 59

As I lay on the ground in a mostly unconscious state, the others desperately closed ranks. Just because the Mid-boss had appeared, didn't mean that all the irritating snakes and phantasms vanished. Now the two strike teams were under attack from the inside and outside of their circle.

Aiden bent over my prone form, blood soaking into my down jacket and staining the ice beneath, my eyes partially open- but unfocused.

"Aoife? Can you hear me?" Aiden asked, scanning me over for more wounds. I made no answer. "Damn it. <Diagnostic>." he intoned. It was a costly spell that he rarely used due to most healing spells not needing to know the root cause of the problem. However, Aiden had seen me take bigger hits and get up, even if I weren't completely fine. Under the assumption that this was not a simple wound, it was best to get information before treatment, less he make matters worse.

An information window popped up before Aiden's eyes as he checked my sluggish pulse, and the battle raged noisily around him; Mages were casting spells left and right, while the twins had scrapped the bottom of their metaphorical mana-barrel to take on their beast-like cowlings, and were actively engaging the haunted boss that had appeared.

[Health: 80%

Afflictions: stunned (3:13 remaining), frozen (3:13 remaining)

<The target is under a curse. Death in 6:23:49:47>

Recommended treatment: <Lesser heal>, dispel the curse via <Holly Light> or similar relevant skills (Secondary option: fulfill the dispel conditions. Current conditions met: 0/4)

<WARNING! Death imminent!>]

"Shit!" Aiden cursed, causing Carson to look down on him in surprise. Aiden rarely cursed, even when he was angry. He would typically stare you down with an unnerving grin (likely planning several tortures) rather then to lash out in anger.

"Is it bad?" Carson asked. He, Argus, and Nick- as well as several of the B-team- were left feeling rather useless, relegated to taking out the Ice Snake mobs. 

It seemed that- though 'special' physical skills were able to do the mid-boss damage- pure physical damage wasn't able to deal any damage at all. At best, they simply stunned the eerie creature for a second or two. With Alex and Greg stuck keeping the the Phantasms at bay, and the regular damage dealers all but useless, it fell to Kuro, the crazy twins, and a handful of the Secondary strike force to face the Banshee. Our group was basically working at less then half-power against this monster.

Aiden nodded, his face grim. "My <Diagnostic> skill doesn't give me the specifics, but she's been cursed."

"Cursed?!" Snapped Greyson, before he was forced to focus back on the banshee, who was currently trying to claw out Eric's eyes.

"Everyone be careful!" Carson called out to the group. "It can curse you!" He turned back to Aiden, faced etched in worry. "What kind of curse?"

Aiden frowned. "Its a damn death curse... She has a week."

Carson- though often seen as soft spoken- had zero reservations in firing off a litany of choice curse words. His aggravation was understandable. Dispelling curses was actually an incredibly rare skill, held by the select few holly attribute users. Aiden only knew of two people personally, and both were based in other countries, as well as currently with their guild climbing towers.

"It has clear-conditions." Aiden informed his guild master, setting a hand over my still oozing wound. non-verbally, Aiden cast his <Lesser Heal> skill, designating himself to take on the cost. Just as how being contracted to Misfortune changed my innate ability, contracting with Misery had changed Aiden's. For the most part it didn't bother him any, as the change amused him more than anything.