Bro, I'm not an Undead!

He now understood why these people were so scared of Clusters and this was just a low level one. What were the higher levelled ones like then?

The Discount Human pulled out the map he had been given by Elita and checked his position. The map didn’t have markers for small villages and towns, which is why he had been oblivious to the existence of these settlements which he had to verify by sight instead.

Only cities and geographical landmarks were represented.

‘It’ll take too long to reach Genhuis city. For now, I should focus on helping Red bro. I need Null Life Essence. Besides, I can get answers even from smaller cities right?’ Skullius thought as he gazed at the nearest large settlement around.

Inhone City.

Without delaying much longer, the Discount Human went on his way.

A steady path through grasses was traced, shaving away the green to create a bald spot which was created from the many feet and hooves that passed through here over the years._.

His walk was long as there were no close villages or towns near this main road that he trekked on.

On the bright side, contrasting the silence and loneliness that this journey promised, the sun was about to take a time-out behind the horizon, with a foreshadowing of the lands being bathed in a rich orange hue in the next few hours.

During the few hours before this happened, Skullius saw three images racing down the road as they approached in his direction.

They were three men riding atop three muscleful horses that raised dust as they galloped on the dusty road.

The men were dressed in colourful, shining armour, two having swords while the third held a bow.

The men came to a halt when they saw Skullius, the Discount Human wondering if his face had attracted their attention.

That was certainly one of thereasons as the men did grimace a bit upon seeing Skullius’ face but they couldn’t possibly be rude to this humble yet powerful man who had drawn their attention.

One the men gave a kind smile towards Skullius, showing off his dimples as he spoke to him.

“I had heard that there was a Cluster in need of clearing in Santhi but it looks like you dealt with it. Alone it seems. Trespassing in other Guild’s jurisdiction is a serious offense though, even if they are not helping,” the man said.

“Hmm? How did you know that I cleared the Cluster?” Skullius asked confusedly.

The three men looked at each other with puzzled faces before the men who had addressed Skullius replied to his question.

“Friend, how can you not know about a Conqueror’s Halo? You have one right now. Everyone will see it for a full day.”

Surely, around Skullius’ body was dim light that looked like a soft lens flare. It looked unnatural but that was the idea. Its brightness was indicative of the level of Cluster cleared.

Skullius raised a brow as he looked at himself, wanting to see this Halo for himself as he had only heard about it through the guidance field but his eyes just couldn’t catch a glimpse of it on his person.

“Of course, you can’t see it yourself. It’s meant to announce to the world that you’ve done a great service. Quite a useless gimmick, if you ask me,” another one of the three men said.

“Anyway, I’m personally very grateful that you managed to deal with the Cluster. One of my friends lives in this region though far from Santhi. With you dealing with the Cluster before it ruptured, I’m assured he is safe. Why don’t you come with us? We’ll leave you off wherever you want to go,” the first man to speak said with the same kind smile.

“Yeah. I would like to hear what kind of monsters you fought and what you got after. We could make a good trade with you at cheap asking prices too!” the third man said enthusiastically while already making space for Skullius on his horse.

Unfortunately, contrasting the cheery reception that the three men had portrayed, Skullius frowned.

‘Not again.’ he thought.

“ARRRRGHHHHHHHHHH!”

“EEEEEEEEEAAAAAK!”

The first and the third man plopped from their horses as they began to scream and convulse violently!

The second man’s eyes opened wide as he watched his comrades melt into human soup while their horses neighed in fright and ran away!

“Jork! Anthiny!” he screamed.

He dropped from his horse which was also spooked but he found that there was nothing he could do.

His friends were dead, only their bones remaining, while covered in bubbling flesh and dismantled armour!

They were gone!

The man turned to Skullius and drew his sword, mana bubbling from his body crazily as his eyes showed murderous intent!

“What did you do?! What did you do them you bastard?!” he roared as he rushed towards Skullius with beastial rage.

The Discount Human merely sighed.

This curse was truly a problem.

Right before the man’s sword which he swung with great fervour reached Skullius, the Discount Human flicked his finger, a plume of thick darkness that instantaneously surrounded his body and part of the man’s arm spilling from it!

…!

The man found to his shock that his arm which was inches away from ripping Skullius apart couldn’t move and it was stuck in its position as if frozen.

“What?!” the man exclaimed in shock and terror, a bucket of cold reality putting out his flames of rage!

“Unfortunately for you, my companion isn’t here to stop me from killing you,” Skullius said with a solemn glint twinkling in his eye as he then grabbed the man’s sword from his stationary hand and slashed with it…!

A head fell off as Skullius then received a notification for a successful kill. A brush with a second death had changed Skullius’ mindset a bit and his frustrations were still online.

Ending one life he didn’t care for gave a brief sense of calm to his mind.

“Alright then…Onward!”