Together they slowly walked further through the fog.

The undead slew any leeches that popped up from the earth before their spiny teeth could grasp anything.

They came to the bottom of the mountain as the walk became flat, and various murky puddles appeared. Clumps of moss had climbed higher and took refuge on rocks and dead trees from the dark, muddy earth below.

Thicker patches of swamp grasses appeared and were reaching higher, up to the skeletons knees, along with an occasional puddle, pond or boulder. A warm, rotting smell became stronger as they moved deeper.

The skeletons footsteps began to periodically squelch into watery moss mud at they continued. Thankfully, the mud had not become too deep, but Jay and Asra moved closer to the middle of the bone platform in the event of the skeletal carriers mis-stepping.

More of the ashen-gray dead trees passed them by, but Jay could still hear none of the whispering childrens voices.

Asra, do you still hear them?

No. She whispered back, glanced around, squinting into the fog.

Asra had taken out her slender silver sword, and seemed much more tense than usual. Jay wasnt sure if she sense danger or feared the fog.

[-5] [-5]

What the?... oh. Asra must have fed on me when she got closer before. Jay thought, remembering she could do delayed damage when feeding on him. But just to be safe he checked over his body and made sure there were no other blood suckers.

Asra, please tell me when you feed. I just thought something was attacking. Dont you usually ask for permission?

Asra still seemed tense, but a slight smile appeared on her face.

I just wanted to see if you would notice.

Jay shook his head, sitting cross-legged again, Well I didnt, so congratulations on being sneaky. Now, will you hold me up for a moment? Make sure I dont fall off.

Asra looked a little curious as she crouched by Jays side and held his shoulder. Before Jay closed his eyes he glanced around one last time, trying to see anything through the fog, though all he could see were dead trees.

He planned to use the [Host] skill on Red, but tried one of Reds guardian skeletons. However, as the world turned black and white, Jay found himself seeing through Reds eyes.

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Damn, I guess it wont work with sub-constructs. Its like we dont have a direct connection... At least I can give them minds. Jay thought.

He didnt look around himself, but willed for Red to turn its head around. This way, Jay didnt take direct control, and Red would keep marching forward and focused on carrying the platform, not letting Jays physical body fall.

Now that they were much deeper into the fog, Jay could see they were moving into a swampland, and all around them were ashen-gray trees; all of them dead, and most having burned, black-charred trunks.

Further into the fog, just outside of Reds shade vision, were some odd floating lights. They looked almost like luminous orbs, except they were floating and moving around.

(Red, keep looking around.)

Red slowly turned its head, and Jay saw more of these strange wisps of light, and as Red glanced behind the party, it seemed there were many of them gathered there.

Fuck. Jay thought, they know were here.

Ill assume theyre unfriendly, but I wont let them know I know theyre here.

He wasnt sure what these lights were, and neither did he know how they could sense him and Asra. He assumed it was the sounds of clinking bones and the skeletons squelching their bone feet through the mud, but it couldve been anything.

(Blue, send one of your underlings after one of those lights. But dont attack them.)

Jay assumed that most sentient creatures would attack the undead, even if they meant Jay no harm. He would attack most monsters, so that is probably what other things would assume of his monstrous skeletons, so he would not let the skeletons attack these mysterious wisps of light even if they did attack first. He just wanted to see what they would do.

Jay exited the host skill, returning to his body as he sensed Blues smaller skeleton moving towards them.

*Vrrrr woosh!*

Suddenly a bright burst of orange light illuminated the nearby fog. A giant ball of flame coated Blues sub-skeleton.

Asra ducked behind Jay, who had already taken out his shield. His necrotic gauntlet also glowed, ready to release his own mana in the hopes it would disrupt the enemys attack. He didnt realize it while in shade vision as every was black and white, but the lights he saw through the fog were orange.

Jay still sensed Blues small skeleton moving, and despite being level one, it had survived the scorching attack.

The other skeletons had paused their march and lowered Jay and Asras platform, dispersing around them in a defensive circle, but after waiting for a few moments, there was no other attack.

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(Bring your skeleton back.) Jay ordered to Blue.

Blue nodded, and in a few seconds the little skeleton was sprinting back.

Asra was silent and waited for Jay to make a move, trusting his decision. At Jays side, Red was on his left and Blue was on his right, and at the side of each of them were Reds guardian skeletons.

Asra suddenly sensed something sprinting through the fog at high speed... Yet none of them were ready for whatever; Jay didnt raise his guard, neither did any of the skeletons.

Come on, Bob... Asra frowned and stepped forward, in front of Jay readying her slender silver sword.

Huh? Jay raised a brow, seeing her stand at his side.

The skeleton suddenly appeared from the fog, a black char covering its bones. Although it was injured, it looked more deadly than any of Jays other bone-gray skeletons, even the ones with animal skulls.

Asra was already swinging downwards at it, but at the last moment saw it was a skeleton.

Oops. She thought and quickly stashed her sword away.

Yet before her sword connected with the skeleton, or could disappear into her inventory, something else deflected it.

Reds ossein sword had appeared out of nowhere and parried her sword away.

What the? Asra opened her mouth in shock, yet she was speechless at the skeletons quick movement.

Shit. Jay thought, (Dammit Blue and Red, I thought I told you all to run and attack slowly around Asra, make her think youre weaker than she realizes.) Jay frowned.

Bob, how...

Shh. Jay raised a hand.

He dare to shush me? Asra started at Jay in disbelief, ignoring all threats in the fog. For a moment she even forgot about how fast the skeletons could truly move. This husk had just shushed her, it was unbelievable.

The burned skeleton stood before Jay and kneeled before its masters master.

h ltt nd mt ulr nvl t lghtnvlubm

Jay analyzed its body and checked its health first, seeing that it lost 3 health from the flame attack.

< [Feeble Creature - Level 1] >

(Sub-construct of Blue)

[Type - Undead]

HP - 7/10

<[Skills]>

[Undeath] (Passive)

[Shade Vision] (Passive)

<[Description]>

[An abomination, its existence spits in the face of life and death. Execute with extreme prejudice.]

Hmm. The attack must not have been too hot, and it didnt last for longer either. It was just a weak, large attack, probably meant to sear the enemys flesh to cause pain and shock, or perhaps merely a distraction to escape... seems like Ive found out why all the trees are charred.

Yet before Jay could analyze and plan, Asra stepped between Jay and the small skeleton, pushing it aside.

She seemed angry, but there was also something else. Perhaps concern in her eyes.

Bob... if you were to shush me in front of other vampires, they would kill you on the spot. And I wouldnt protect you.

Ah? Jay raised a brow, confused by her sudden change in behavior. Killed on the spot for a shush? She wouldnt protect me? he thought.

Im sorry I shushed you, but the situation called for it. And I hate to make excuses, but its usually just me and my skeletons, and other than giving orders I rarely have to talk with others at all so things like that may slip out.

Just remember it, and be careful. Especially when we are around other vampires.

h ltt nd mt ulr nvl t lghtnvlubm

Ill try to. Jay nodded, though he couldnt help but wonder why she didnt command him not to. She had him under her vampiric control after all, or at least she thought she did, yet she chose not to use her powers.

Shes a vampire, but she doesnt act human... or like a cunning beast either.

Asra stepped back to the side, but Jay let his eyes linger on her alluring dark hair for a few moments longer.