Depraved Hero's Path-Chapter 50: Undying Archives Of Old: The Reality Behind The Painting

Chapter 50: Undying Archives Of Old: The Reality Behind The Painting

[The Forgotten Reality behind the Painting shows itself.]

Katherine frowned as her favorite painting started changing right in front of her eyes.

"What is...?"

The once bright and vibrant colors turned stern and morose.

The whole atmosphere that reigned over both the painting and the Art Gallery changed.

It instantly became eerier and gloomier.

"It’s almost like a filter was put over it."

A grayish filter.

The peasant’s clothes became filthier, stained by dirt and blood.

The once golden and vibrant wheat field started dying right in front of her eyes.

The peasant’s hair became thinner and oilier. It seemed like strands of hair had fallen off of her.

The once numerous and upright wheat stalks were now meager and bent over, having lost all of their vitality.

Katherine gulped, seeing the blonde peasant she adored so much grow thinner and thinner by the second. Her round and healthy cheeks were now hollow. Her fair skin was so pale that she appeared grayish.

The next second, sending a shiver down Katherine’s spine,

’...!’

The peasant’s head had suddenly moved. She, who used to be staring far off into the distance, was now staring at Katherine directly.

She felt her entire body freeze. The two stared at once another.

Eventually, the pale peasant started walking. She walked through he field of dead wheat stalks. She passed the field. And eventually, she extended a hand towards Katherine.

The latter immediately jumped back and almost stumbled down.

The peasant’s hand exited the painting.

[The Reality behind the Painting Materializes.]

It only took a couple of seconds before the peasant’s bare feet hit the ground, her entire body having left the painting’s confines.

[Game Difficulty: A.]

[Game Quest: Defeat the Painting.]

The peasant’s face was void of emotion, just like her eyes were void of life.

[Game Start!]

The horror of the scene caused Katherine’s body to freeze.

Thankfully, she didn’t need to move.

Five Fire Balls materialized around her.

Gulp-

’It’s just part of the Dungeon. It’s not...’ She clenched her teeth. ’It’s not a person.’

A series of explosions followed as the Fire Balls connected with the grayish ghostly creature!

***

"It’s different, isn’t it?" Elijah muttered. "It’s different from the Ghost that Léa has to defeat."

"I think so, yes." Zarath answered.

Both had their gazes glued to the screens, which pleased Rifna very much.

’He appreciates how cute I am AND how interesting the games I design are.’ She smiled. ’This is nice...’ Rifna told herself while relaxing back into the sofa.

"It wasn’t referred to once as a Ghost here."

"Right." Zarath scratched her cheek. "Maybe because it’s just a painting? For the Ghost of something to exist, that something must have existed. An imaginary thing cannot have a Ghost, since Ghost come after death."

"Or disappearance... More like extinction." Elijah whispered. "But there was something about the Reality behind the Painting, so it can’t be completely imaginary."

"You’re right, Master." Zarath muttered. "It’s likely that understanding this..." Her eyes widened, watching the smoke dissipate from Katherine’s screen. "Is the key to winning the game."

***

Katherine watched carefully for any movement through the smoke.

There was none.

But there weren’t any System Messages either, which meant that dropping one’s guard would be a grave mistake.

The smoke started to dissipate, and Katherine’s eyes narrowed upon noticing the peasant’s shoulder. Simply by seeing that shoulder, Katherine could tell that the peasant’s posture had remained exactly the same. The Fire Ball had no effect. They hadn’t burned her, nor had they pushed her back.

Katherine’s hand opened, and a gust of wind suddenly burst through.

As the wind forced the smoke to dissipate further, seven Fire Balls materialized above Katherine and were merged into one large sphere of blazing flames!

***

"She’s using Wind Magic as well." Zarath noted. "To keep the flames burning, a mix of both Fire Magic and Wind Magic is necessary."

"As a New Magus, that should be no problem for her."

"Elemental Control is always a pleasure to see in the gifted!" Rifna said with shining eyes. "Especially when they’re this cute!"

"Damn." Elijah exclaimed, watching the result of Katherine’s attack.

"The ground below the Ghost or whatever broke. It’s probably still standing."

"Who do you think is going to pay for the damages, huh? Museums aren’t made for fights, you know?" Rifna shouted while waving her fist at the screen, heckling.

Elijah’s gaze remained on the screen, doing his best not to react to Rifna’s words.

’Museums aren’t made for fights...’ He thought. ’Then there must be a way to win without fighting. But how?’

***

’What the hell is up with that?’ Katherine asked herself, a perplexed expression on her face. ’Is it immune to Magic or something? Will I have to fight with my body?’

There was only one thing left to try.

Katherine brought her hands together, and a blueish energy started forming itself between her palms.

’Elijah was having trouble with this, but it’s the key to using it offensively. To shoot it, the Mana has to be unstable.’

The sphere of pure Mana between her hands started vibrating wildly, and Katherine knew it was time to attack.

All that was left was to use a bit more Mana to direct the unstable sphere of energy!

"Tsk..." She clicked her tongue as the same result came up.

Just as she was about to pull out a weapon from her Inventory, her entire body froze.

"Why... Why..."

"...?!"

"Why... Why, why, why, whywhywhywhy?!"

Katherine almost felt light-headed.

’It’s... Talking.’ She quickly tried to shake it off. ’Zarath is a Demon and she can talk as well. This changes nothing.’

Katherine called out her Inventory and,

"Why did my children have to die like that? Six... Six of my children... All six of them died before they could take their first steps... Why?!" The peasant shouted.

Katherine’s entire being was shaken by her words.

Still, she took out her Elite Mage’s Staff as well as...

"WHY?!" The woman shouted as the Staff hit the ground.

A moment later, so did Katherine.

With a confused expression, she had suddenly fallen flat on the ground.

All of her energy was disappearing by the second.

[You have been affected...]

Her vision was blurry.

Everything was spinning around her.

’What... Is this...?’

The pain in her stomach was unbearable as it twisted and turned.

She felt like she could pass out at any moment!

"Ugh...!" Katherine clenched her teeth, doing her best to focus on her vision.

[You have been affected by the Status Effect "Famine".]

"Ughh!"

***

Zarath, from the corner of her eye, peeked at Elijah.

She wanted to see his reaction at Katherine’s fall. After all, the stakes were high.

Losing meant being absorbed by the Relic. Losing meant Death.

’Master...?’