Adrian finally regained the ability to move his body once again. The three acolytes are finally done with their chant as they were no longer speaking. The muscle tendril retreated back into the altar floor as if it was never there. Adrian decided that this was the perfect chance to strike as the three acolytes knelt down and prayed.
Kanlaon immediately used his breath attack and the three acolytes were caught unaware. The robes of the acolyte started burning and frozen at the same time. Whenever the fire touches a frozen part, a little explosion would ensue. The acolytes screamed in pain as they experience their flesh being burned and frozen at the same time.
The breath attack ended and the robes of the acolytes are no longer gone. When Adrian looked at them, he was shocked. The acolytes had no face and even genitals. The three acolytes' head had no eyes, nose and ears. Their face only consisted of a mouth. Adrian decided to inspect them to learn more about them.
Monster: Faceless One
Description: Humanoid monsters said to worship the dark god who has a million faces. It is said they were created to give sacrifices to their god. Using the power granted to them by their god, they would be able to assume any being as long as they have sacrificed that being to their god. They may be able to assume anyone's face but they are unable to perfectly copy their victim's personality.
Adrian was once again shocked as he thought they were NPCs but apparently are monsters with humanoid shapes. The faceless ones then started a small chant and three small muscle tendrils pierced their heads. Adrian was caught off-guard as he thought they committed suicide but he was more shocked on what happened next.
The faceless ones suddenly gained faces. The muscle tendril was absorbed by them and the three transformed into three different persons. The first faceless one became a dark elf assassin which suddenly wielded dual daggers. The second faceless one became an orc and it suddenly wielded a greatsword. The third faceless one became the old man that was absorbed before but he was now wearing wizard robes.
The first to charge at Adrian was the orc but Kanlaon intercepted it with his body. The greatsword did not even manage to break a scale from Kanlaon's body but the latter was still damaged due to blunt force. The dark elf disappeared but Adrian ordered Sirius to pounce on it if it ever strikes him.
Adrian enlarged his demi-gauntlets and pounced straight towards the mage like a rocket. Adrian saw the old mage chant after his transformation. Adrian used Assault Charge and Chrono Shift to boost his speed further. Adrian did not expect that it was so effective so he bumped into the old mage rather than strike the latter.
Adrian still disrupted the chant either way but he was stuck in an awkward position. The dark elf assassin suddenly revealed himself and pounced at Adrian. The dark elf assassin thought that its attack would be successful but was caught off-guard by a giant wolf emerging from Adrian's shadow.
Sirius immediately used the opportunity to bite the neck of the dark elf assassin. The force of Sirius' attack sent the two of them about three meters away from Adrian's location. The old mage then used some of its mana to create a force field that extended to send Adrian flying.
Adrian unfurled his wings to which the old mage noticed. The old mage started throwing profanities because they learned what Adrian was.
"Vile demon! You dare disturb our peaceful worship!" the old mage said.
Adrian was surprised but remembered that they were servants of dark gods. They only assumed the faces of these individuals so Adrian did not need to hold back. Adrian activated Quantum Cascade and chose the three transformed faceless ones.
Adrian gathered them into one location and told Kanlaon and Sirius to bombard them with their skills. Kanlaon immediately fired off his breath attack. The three faceless ones once again screamed as two different extreme temperatures were blasting them. Sirius used Phantom Rush to finish off the three since Kanlaon's attack only brought them to very low health.
The three faceless ones perished but Adrian was not happy.
"They did not even drop items or even coins at least." Adrian protested.
More importantly, Adrian did not even see a mission complete notification. A few seconds later, something was sprouting from the altar. Adrian and his soulbounds all looked towards the altar. A new faceless one was born and this one immediately transformed to the orc that they previously battled.
They once again entered in battle. But every time they kill one, another one pops out. It was like an infestation but this one was a headache. They might kill one easily but their stamina is draining with every fight.
"There must be some way to finish this quest without me getting drained." Adrian thought.
Adrian then looked towards the altar and thought about destroying it. He then thought it through and decided it was feasible. The altar was the thing that was continuously summoning the faceless ones anyway.
Adrian used his skill Summon Psyche Armament: Sword. The enlarged version came out since the demi-gauntlets were enlarged as well. Adrian then plunged the sword onto the altar and heard a shrill scream came out of it.
A shockwave then sent Adrian flying but he manage to stabilize himself using his wings.
"One attack seems to be insufficient." Adrian said as he also told Sirius and Kanlaon to attack the altar which baffled the two at first.
Every time an attack landed on the altar, it would shriek as if it was hurt. A few attacks later, the whole place would also shake as if the whole temple was its body. Adrian eventually used all three skills of the armament. With a deafening shriek as if something was dying, the whole cave structure finally started coming down.
"The whole place is coming down!" Adrian shouted.
Adrian then urged all of his soulbounds to run towards the exit. Adrian rode Sirius and Kanlaon held Saena in his arms as they dashed towards the exit. The whole place was falling apart. Rocks were falling from the ceiling hindering them from escaping.
The group was almost hit by a stalactite but Sirius managed to skillfully evade it. Kanlaon though just powered through as the rocks could barely damage him. After a few minutes, the exit showed themselves and Adrian could not be happier. He felt like he was in an action movie and adrenaline was pumping in his veins.
Adrian watched as the carving on the cliff was crumbling as if it was never there. Adrian then heard a ding and looked at the system notification. It seems he managed to successfully complete the mission but he was then surrounded by thugs. The thugs were there to witness the cave structure collapsing.
Adrian though did not see the thugs but the captives that they held. It looks like some of them were beaten up a bit before being delivered. Adrian was seething with anger that he did not even bother waiting for the thugs to recover from the incident. Adrian immediately ordered Kanlaon and Sirius to take care of them.
It did not take long for the two soulbounds to dispose of the thugs. Adrian then ordered Saena to heal the captives so that they could return by themselves as Adrian did not know where they stay. It seems that the thugs are not just from Whiterock Village but others as well because he does not recognize the faces of those who came.
There was still fear in the faces of those captive because Adrian had two great beasts beside him and one was even a dragon. Adrian then told them to get help from Whiterock Village that was nearby and report to them what has happened. The captives generously thanked Adrian and went on their way as soon as daylight began to pierce the heavens.
Adrian though was now only looking at his system notifications.
[You have successfully completed the quest Hidden Darkness.]
[You have also completed the extra quest Clean Up.]
[You have been rewarded the Faceless Mask.]
[You have been awarded 100% experience points. It was multiplied to 300% due to your experience multiplier.]
[Player Equinox has leveled up]
[Sirius has leveled up]
[Kanlaon has leveled up]
[Saena has leveled up]
Adrian immediately checked the item as he was curious on what it could do.
Effect: Transform into a target. You will perfectly mimic the physiology of the target but upon taking damage, the transformation would be cancelled.
Description: A mask that looks like it is made of muscle from a fallen faceless one. Who knows what other people will do with it. Hopefully not something indecent.
"Why does the description look like it is insinuating something?"