The Parade of the Damned
A few days before arriving at Gikas's Lair, Wendigo stuck to his original plan of persuading the villages to form an alliance. Though his methods differed slightly from what he'd initially envisioned...
"Th-that Spirit, sir... Won't they be terrified if we show up carrying that?"
Geron asked, pointing to the vanguard. The warriors up front marched with spears in hand, their faces twisted in disgust. Impaled on the spear tips were corpses. Needless to say, these weren't ordinary ones. Parasites and the warriors they'd infested dangled limply from the shafts.
Even Geron, who'd spent considerable time with Wendigo, found the order bewildering. Why drag those along? Their leader's monstrous appearance already put people on edge.
The warriors perked up their ears at Geron's question. They were curious too. Wendigo nodded and replied.
"They'll be shocked, sure. Seeing something that grotesque would rattle anyone."
"But why..."
"Think about it, Geron. Without those corpses, do you really believe the people we're about to meet won't freak out on first sight?"
Geron pondered for a moment, then shook his head. On reflection, shock was inevitable. Anyone meeting Wendigo for the first time couldn't help but react. If panic was unavoidable, better to hit them hard right away. That way, they'd think, Something's happening—something big, from the get-go.
"People are easier to persuade when they're excited or flustered than when they're thinking rationally. Deep thoughts breed suspicion, but a massive crisis forces focus on the here and now."
Of course, Wendigo had no real proof it would work. He'd learned the concept from a lecture, never tested it. Just some modern psychology from a professor...
"Brilliant, sir. Your wisdom is vast indeed. Is this another hidden truth of great nature?"
"Nature? Nah. Just the result of trying to understand human hearts."
Geron and the warriors gasped in admiration. How long must he have studied humanity to grasp such insights? They had no idea it was knowledge force-fed for credits in that hellish dungeon called university.
With the reason for the impaled corpses clear, the warriors shed their unease. They hoisted their spears high and marched proudly. The sight of those fearsome corpses paraded by monstrous allies was enough to sow chaos in any village.
But Wendigo didn't stop there—doubt would creep in if he did. At his signal, the warriors bellowed.
"A great crisis looms in the forest! Join us if you want to protect your families!"
"The demon hiding in the woods has revealed itself! Flee, and it'll seize your body and soul, tormenting you forever! Unite and slay the evil!"
What crisis? What demon? As Wendigo's group shouted warnings without demands or attacks, the confused villagers deferred to their chief. The palisade gate creaked open, and the village chief emerged with minimal guards. His long beard and upright posture couldn't hide the fear trembling in his eyes.
Wendigo spoke first—the chief looked too shaken for questions.
"Apologies for the commotion. If there were no reason, I'd have come more politely."
"N-no, it's fine. But... could you tell us why you've come?"
Emboldened by Wendigo's gentle tone, the chief asked. Parading corpses wasn't normal, after all. Wendigo sighed deeply—heavy enough to stir pity in the chief.
How bad must it be to make a spirit look like that?
"Look at the corpses. Do they seem ordinary? Or do you sense malice?"
The chief swallowed dryly and peered at the spears. A worm-like monstrosity—not snake or earthworm—and the ravaged body it'd claimed. A forearm-thick parasite wasn't that scary; plenty of monsters looked worse. But...
"I-is that really... a person? This..."
"That's why we're here."
The parasite's puppet was different. Wendigo's chill preserved its death throes vividly. Skin bulging with writhing bugs, limbs shrunken to reveal the infestation—it revolted any human.
As the chief stared in horror, Wendigo spun his tale. It began with meeting Ivan, built tension through infested villages, and peaked there.
"Imagine it: humans robbed of body and soul, twisted by parasites. There, this warrior begged me for death. His flesh was tainted, but his spirit craved peace."
"Ahh..."
A touch of exaggeration and lies made it all the more gripping. Soon, village warriors gathered, listening raptly. They'd come checking on the absent chief and got hooked.
A monster—no, spirit—telling the story? Of course they're curious.
"What happened to the warrior? Was he saved?"
"Yes. It was tough—his parasite-controlled body was unbelievably strong. The fight dragged on... and left him like this."
The villagers sighed, gazing at the corpse with respect. Those in the know closed their eyes, steadying themselves. Sometimes, you ignored your lord's fibs.
Wendigo scratched his chest—guilty conscience—then delivered the clincher.
"In his final moments, as the parasite crawled out begging for life in ugliness, the warrior reclaimed his body and told me: 'I grieve my lost family and friends, but I fear the demon lurking in the mountains more. Spirit, please watch over us humans.'"
"Then you—!"
"I'm no human, but his plea moved me. To honor his soul, I swore: no more such victims."
"Aah! A warrior of true honor! To think such a man existed!"
Tears flowed from villagers and chief alike. Wendigo cleared his throat awkwardly. Fabricating from a parasite husk embarrassed him.
Turned Parasite Warrior No. 1 into a noble hero overnight.
Only the "warrior" part remained true, but it worked. He read their emotions: tears real, resolve burning, awe swelling. Even the rational chief reddened, bowing to the corpse. Perfect timing.
Wendigo rose, voice grave and resonant.
"I saw a man weep as he slew kin and friends—a heartbreaking sight that touched even me. Fail to stop them, and this village could face the same tragedy."
Warriors nodded in empathy. Per Wendigo, parasites were demons mocking flesh and soul with base urges. Not entirely wrong.
As emotions ignited, Wendigo raised a hand high.
"I'll keep my promise to that warrior, but I can't guarantee victory alone. So I ask: Who will join me to avert this horror? Raise your hands!"
"I'm in! Ignorance is one thing—now that I know, I can't sit idle!"
"My family's lives and souls are at stake. I won't stand for that! Count me in!"
Hands rose one by one, momentum sweeping the rest. Wendigo's own warriors cheered the.
You guys too? Come on...
He eyed his men coolly. They knew the truth—why play along? Absurd, but he let it slide. Unity wasn't bad.
Wendigo gathered warriors and supplies from the allied village and moved on. He repeated the act until reaching Gikas's Lair, shattering the parasite's narrow knowledge with over two hundred fighters in tow. No amount of info made wisdom.
The forest depths were dry, chill air heavy with frost. Snow and rime on the mountains spoke of enduring cold.
Hiding here kept it secret from humans.
Humans endured any climate but avoided needless hardship. Milder spots lay below—no reason to venture here. The beast hid safely.
Wendigo wrinkled his nose at the stench riding the air.
"Geron, fall back and prepare for battle."
"Sir, is this the place? Shouldn't it be deeper...?"
Geron scanned barren trees and snow, sensing no presence. His concern was troop fatigue; Wendigo didn't fault it. But they could hide from sight, not his senses.
Wendigo shaped a spear of frost—twice as long and thick as usual. He aimed silently.
Geron, reading the tension, retreated and shouted.
"Battle stations! Enemies appear with the Spirit's throw!"
Smart subordinates made life easy—no explanations needed.
Frost swirled around the spear; Wendigo's muscles rippled. He hurled it with full power.
A gale roared as it streaked toward the snow-mantled hill.
Kwajijik!
A log beneath the snow exploded in a deafening crack. Wood shards and snow filled the sky, but the spear pierced on—through the dark cavity behind, thudding into flesh.
『KYAAAHHH—!!!』
A horrific shriek erupted from the cave depths. As if on cue, foes burst from the snow.
"How dare you harm the Master's sacred body! Kill them all!!"
Eyes blazing murder, they surged like a tidal wave.