Zone 1 (2nd Try) (18): Apathy and Obsession
[Corrupted Terror amplifies the hero's innate fear of Apathy.]
[Mentality recovery reduced by 50%.]
[Mentality drain speed increased by 25%.]
[All buffs removed.]
[Chance to lower allies' mentality.]
[Speed -2.]
[Accuracy and evasion reduced.]
[Chance to forfeit action.]
[Entering Agony or reaching -100 mentality again results in immediate death.]
Looking at Shae's Apathy debuff made me sigh.
[Corrupted Terror amplifies the hero's innate fear of Obsession.]
[All buffs removed.]
[Chance to lower allies' mentality.]
[Speed +1.]
[Evasion reduced.]
[Damage -10%.]
[Chance to lose control of actions.]
[Entering Agony or reaching -100 mentality again results in immediate death.]
And seeing Kaya's Obsession debuff on top of that doubled the depth of my sigh.
Separate from my massive Awakening buff, these Corruption debuffs were nightmarish. To it, barely Speed -2? Barely Damage -10%? Ha. That was just the tip of the iceberg.
[Chance to forfeit action.] [Chance to lose control of actions.] The real horror was that in turn-based combat where every turn's action mattered, these probabilistic turn losses were an absurd outrage. On top of that, casually gnawing at allies' mentality, and the chain reaction where mentally frayed allies then frayed others... it could drive even a sane hero mad. At least I was awakened, so I wouldn't go mad before hitting Agony. My top priority was ensuring no ally's mentality hit -100 again. The moment it did, it was over.
"Hehe... Captain."
"Yeah, Shae."
"Can we make it to the end?"
[Yujin Mentality -3]
[Kaya Mentality -4]
"Shae, do you not trust your captain?"
"That's not it, but..."
"Then be quiet. The captain forbade chit-chat beyond necessities."
"Yeah, got it..."
[Shae Mentality -5]
[Yujin Mentality -3]
Oh fuck... already starting? To an outsider, it looked like a simple question and simple advice—a short exchange. In under 30 seconds, mentality had been chipped away. Mine dropped 6 just from one reply. Nah, my mentality dropping was fine. With three rooms left, we had to minimize non-combat drains.
"Shae. We can make it to the end. Trust me, trust yourself, trust your comrades. And Kaya. You're right, but your tone was sharp. You're struggling too, but Shae was just worried... you get it?"
"Yes, Captain. I'll trust."
"...Yes. Captain. If that's your will."
Exhausted replies, something off, but I sealed it for now. Of course, no telling when it'd blow up again. In combat, who knows how they'd throw me off. Already looking forward to it.
'Not crazy, but might as well be.' Fine. Didn't I come in resolved? I've got tons of experience and knowledge. Even though two went mad between 1-7 and 1-8...
'Funny how it's not bad enough to throw in the towel yet.'
High difficulty vs. highest. Just one step apart, but the gap was huge in practice. Win rate on longer terror was about 10%; theoretically, clearing this should be even lower. Yeah. Theoretically. With precedent of clearing a zone at 3 Corruption, it wasn't impossible here.
"Watch out!"
"Haat!"
[Shae evaded the trap.]
[A spark of courage inspires the heroes.]
[Shae Mentality +2]
[Kaya Mentality +3]
[Yujin Mentality +4]
"Nice one!"
"Heh... really?"
[Unyielding spirit moves the heroes' hearts.]
[Shae Mentality +2]
[Kaya Mentality +4]
Nice. Grasping at any excuse, I praised Shae for luckily dodging the trap. Triggered Unyielding, slight mentality recovery. But.
"Kaya...? Something to say?"
Kaya stared at me silently, glanced at Shae, then back. "That... Kaya did well too."
[Shae Mentality -3]
[Yujin Mentality -2]
No, Kaya... damn it. Shae, briefly revitalized from dodging and my praise, slumped again seeing Kaya's face. Silent Kaya sidled closer to me.
Apathy and Obsession... so intuitive, yet such a headache.
'Raella. Long time no see... What? Only call when desperate? Whatever, just get us to 1-8 quick...' Praying unheard prayers, holding unheard talks. Kuhuhu, totally losing it. Luckily, no more incidents before 1-8. No traps, ambushes, or mentality team-kills.
Before entering 1-8, reformed formation: Shae-Kaya-me.
Irreversible madness aside, stamina was decent, so position main skill users upfront.
'As long as no crits, won't collapse fast. Probably.'
But both frontliners carried massive negative variable: probabilistic turn waste.
"Shae."
"..."
"Shae."
"Ah. Yes. Yes? Captain. You called?"
Spaced-out Shae reacted late. Pre-madness, she'd have opened the door instantly.
Apathy seemed to sap both will and stamina—tragic. Recalling her brightest, most energetic self...
"Door. Open it."
"Ah... yes."
Seeing her dumbly nod, if chance came, I'd mentality-care her too. Leaving a tier-1 genius crusader broken? Captain fail. We'll smash the boss, return to Seilroom for sure.
Staring at staggering Shae's back, entered 1-8.
"Ah..."
1-8 was a normal monster room.
Sacrificial Lamb
Lay Believer
Novice Priest
Mob trio, nothing special physically. But seeing that nauseating Sacrificial Lamb and shithead Novice Priest ignited rage inside.
"Terror!"
"Revere the Terror!"
'You bastards made me cross an irreversible river...'
Pre-combat, mini-terror birds screeched welcome. Normal mobs wouldn't overwhelm sans ambush, so normal speed order now. But changes hit hard already.
Shae, who'd spew curses at monsters before, stood blankly, sword dropped.
I'm apathetic. Her whole body screamed it.
Shae: 2 | Kaya: 5 | Yujin: 7
Sacrificial Lamb: 3 | Lay Believer: 5 | Novice Priest: 3
Shae's speed 4 dropped to 2 from Apathy, dead last. Kaya's rose to 5 from Obsession +1.
Pull Novice Priest, or smash front Lamb first? Normally, pull Priest no hesitation. But Shae issue. Her speed 2 meant even pulled, she'd act after Priest. No confidence Kaya's reduced damage one-shots it.
Headache calculating cases, settled on pull. At least to idiotize the Lay Believer.
Wanted Poster
[Yujin deals 1 damage to Novice Priest.]
[Remaining HP 22/23]
[Yujin successfully pulls Novice Priest.]
[Novice Priest moves to row 1.]
[Sacrificial Lamb and Lay Believer pushed back one space each.]
"Uwaaak! Terror!"
Pull success. Lamb and Believer pushed back; Believer likely passes turn or swaps with Lamb. Now the real test.
Same speed.
Better not expect much.
Kaya: 4 | Lay Believer: 3
[Kaya's turn before Lay Believer.]
No way? Kaya! Knew you could! Losing to Shae doesn't matter—win against monsters when it counts!
Satisfied, ordered her to swing All According to God's Will mace on Believer. But...
"Haaa...!"
[Kaya loses control.]
[Kaya reaches climax.]
"Eh...?"
[Kaya's max attack +1.]
[Kaya's speed +1.]
[On hit, random ally HP +1.]
"Kaya! You...!"
"Haaa... Captain...!"
Kaya's face flushed, breath ragged, eyes unfocused. Clutching mace, she approached and forcibly hugged my retreating self. Chilling grip held me.
"Kaya! What the hell! We're in combat!"
"Captain, Captain... haa...!"
"Haha... this is insane?"
Too ridiculous, I laughed. First turn wasted was funny, but her actions hammered home she was truly gone. No recovery in dungeon sans Seilroom—scolding wouldn't fix it. To me, no.
Like telling a car that crossed centerline to focus—might return. But off-road in ditch? Useless. Had to drag out.
"Order. Kaya. Get off me now."
"C-Captain...?"
"Gonna make me say it twice?"
"..."
Kaya's face, like abandoned puppy, shocked. Seeing her sink into despair hurt, but minimizing damage to end fight mattered more. Her turn wasted meant eating monster attacks now.
"For Terror!"
"---."
[Lay Believer moves forward one space.]
[Sacrificial Lamb pushed back one space.]
Meanwhile, Believer didn't pass but pushed Lamb back, advancing to row 2.
Same speed.
Novice Priest: 3 | Sacrificial Lamb: 2
[Novice Priest's turn before Sacrificial Lamb.]
Roll winner Priest pulled out that creepy book again. Thick tentacle shot from it at Shae.
"Mortals, face Terror as destined!!!"
Great Terror - Chapter 1 Verse 2
[Novice Priest chants cultist's gospel verse, proclaiming Terror.]
"Thus shall you realize mortal ephemerality and embrace new fate!"
"Ah."
Tentacle grazed Shae's armor.
[Novice Priest deals 1 damage to Shae.]
[Shae Remaining HP 12/17]
[Shae Mentality -13]
"Aah..."
Claymore slipped from Shae's hand.