Depraved Hero's Path-Chapter 53: Undying Archives Of Old: Games & Players

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

Tiredness wasn’t the only problem.

A healthy body had been suddenly affected by Famine.

As she lay on the ground, Katherine felt her limbs and growing muscles grow weaker by the second. The skin got paler and paler. The stomach cramps, nausea, and cold sweats mixed with the light-headedness and dizziness.

She wasn’t moving. The whole world was moving around her. Spinning and spinning.

Her gaze slowly moved towards the grayish ghost. The Reality Behind The Painting.

Everything was blurry.

The effects of -Famine- were so bad that the doubt that this was all a hallucination settled in, for a moment.

"Six of my children..." The grey ghost of a peasant woman muttered, pulling Katherine back to reality. "Only one of them remains by my side. His sisters... His brothers... They all... Even my husband was taken from me... How? How will we get through this...?"

Despite the blurriness, Katherine could tell that the peasant was using her shaking hands to hide her face.

Tears were running down the peasant’s face, and they hit the ground one by one.

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

It was only after the past couple of seconds passed that Katherine’s eyes allowed her to read the rest of the message.

[Defeat the Painting within the next 2 Minutes.]

[If the Painting isn’t defeated within the next 2 Minutes, you will be affected by a new Status Effect.]

Katherine’s almost lifeless eyes stared at the floating words.

[Status Effect: Black Death Infection.]

***

"Diseases are also Status Effects." Elijah noted.

"That’s right♪"

He turned towards Rifna for a moment.

"Can we get the sound?"

"Nope♪"

"How much would watching with the sound on cost?" He asked.

Rifna turned away and watched the screens with a smile.

"What is said on the other side is between the two of them... And I."

"Of course." Elijah sighed.

Meanwhile, Zarath felt that her thoughts were confirmed.

’Right now, the Game is Interesting. If Katherine clears it, then she goes back to being Useful. If she fails, then she is neither Interesting nor Useful.’ She thought, slowly letting her head rest on Elijah’s shoulder.

He did have his arm around her, and they were on a couch, so why not? She thought.

’Through their Classes, which are different than his, Marianne and Katherine are Interesting. But that’s not all there is to it. He chose them before they had their Classes, at a time when they were neither Interesting nor Useful. Léa is kinda smart, so I guess I understand her usefulness. What about Marianne and Katherine? I don’t know enough about what happened before I was Marked to tell.’ Zarath bit on her lower lip as she thought. ’From what I can tell, he never does something without getting something in return. Even if the return is delayed, that’s no problem for him. As such, I can tell...’

Her head slowly turned towards Elijah as it rested on his shoulder.

’Even if I tell him that I will die, that a Marked Succubus will die if she isn’t fed by her Master, he wouldn’t care one bit. Feeding me costs him nothing, but it’s everything to me. Because I give it so much value, I need to give something of equal value... Otherwise, he won’t feed me.’

Zarath let out a sigh seconds later.

’Why can’t he just enjoy a nice blowjob from a nice Succubus?’

***

[If the Painting isn’t defeated within the next 2 Minutes, you will be affected by a new Status Effect.]

[Status Effect: Black Death Infection.]

"The Plague... Right?" Katherine muttered. "Is that what took your children from you? Or was it the Famine?"

Despite the overwhelming weakness in her arms and legs, Katherine managed to get on her hands and knees.

"That takes me back..." She whispered. "My breasts... Feel so heavy..."

Eventually, Katherine got on her feet. She stumbled, her legs wobbling, but she stood.

"Famine is something else..." Katherine chuckled. "Still, better me than someone else..."

Inventory-

A Spear appeared in her hand.

"I used to compete after weeks of starving myself..."

[100 seconds left before Black Plague Infection.]

"So I think..." Katherine swung the Spear, holding the weapon with both hands. "I can handle this, if only for a couple of minutes."

***

GROWL!

It was only once the Smilodon was in the air, leaping straight at Léa, that it growled menacingly.

’How...? Why...? How...’ Time almost seemed to slow down as the running Léa was ambushed from the side. ’Is it here?! Appearing from there...’

[The Ghost of the Past wakes from its slumber.]

’Goes completely against...’

[Thriving on the fear it provokes, the Ghost Of The Past stands once more.]

The museum’s layout-’

***

"It’s much harder to realize it when you’re actually playing the Game, you know♪" Rifna hummed while looking away. "Don’t get too cocky, you too."

"..." Zarath frowned. ’Why am I catching strays?’

"Things always look easier from afar." Elijah muttered, staring at Léa’s screen. "These are interesting Games, Rifna."

"Why, thank you, Depraved Hero. I chose them carefully, hehe."

"Is that so?" Elijah smiled. "Well, I chose these gals carefully as well."

Rifna remained silent for a moment.

It was that same feeling. Zarath gulped.

"Oh? Did you now?" Rifna asked in a cold and low voice.

The same change in pressure and vibe. The slit pupils stared at the side of Elijah’s face.

"Come on now," He chuckled. "Don’t make this a you versus me thing."

"Isn’t that what you implied?" Rifna’s tone didn’t change. "I, as the Game Master, and you, as the one who chose the Players, are competing."

Her face was completely expressionless. Cracks were starting to appear on the ground due to the pressure created by her aura.

Even Elijah couldn’t ignore that amount of pressure. He could feel it pushing against him, as if attempting to crush him.

"You really need to decide yourself." Elijah muttered, acting like he wasn’t feeling the pressure at all. "I’m telling you that I believe in them. That I think they’re special. They won’t lose, no matter how interesting the Games are." He explained before slowly turning towards Rifna. "Unlike the System, I don’t see them as property."

"You might not be the worst slaver in the world, but you still challenged me and my Games with that."

"If that’s what it takes not to be the worst slaver in the world..." Elijah muttered with a shrug.

"Nahaha." Rifna crossed her arms and laughed; the pressure immediately disappeared. "Fine, fine." She waved her hand. "Don’t do it again though."

’Master...’ Zarath stared at Katherine’s screen silently. ’Is a liar.’