[EVENT - F01] They Like You For Your Brains, Not Your Body

[Bahr 0]

No rest for the wicked, it seemed. Before Bahr had time to recover his energy from the last batch of mobs, the next had arrived, popping up behind him and sinking their teeth into his back. He arched his back and jumped forward, shaking his entire body viciously in an attempt to get the rotting mongrels to release him. After a bit of convincing, he finally managed to loosen their grip enough to escape their clutches, turning and around and sending a charged blade through the entire pack. 

You can probably guess the story from here. One burst into blue pixels, the other three had their health bars reduced to the same point that most of the Zombies before them had gotten to. It was honestly beginning to get a little bit... boring. He felt like he was just repeating the exact same motions over and over with no end in sight. And perhaps he was right.
 

Spoiler

Bahr: HP: 660-66-66=528/840 | EN: 51+1-20=32/82 | DMG: 18 | MIT: 84 | ACC: 4 | EVA: 3 | BLEED 1
KILL COUNT: 33
CD: 3 (No extra energy recovered this turn)

Bahr used [x12 AoE] Calamity Disaster, -12 EN

Zombie 33: HP: 200-166=34/200 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 50 | ID: 125269 | BD: 3+4=7, Hit for 18x12=216-50=166 DMG | MD: 9, Crit for 150-84=66 DMG | -2 EN
Zombie 34: HP: 200-190-24=0/200 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 50 | ID: 125270 | BD: 10, Hit for 20x12=240-50=190 DMG | BLEED INFLICTED | BLEED INFLICTS 24 DMG | Zombie 34 defeated | -2 EN
Zombie 35: HP: 200-166=34/200 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 50 | ID: 125271 | BD: 3+4=7, Hit for 18x12=216-50=166 DMG | MD: 2, Miss | -2 EN
Zombie 36: HP: 200-166=34/200 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 50 | ID: 125272 | BD: 7, Hit for 18x12=216-50=166 DMG | MD: 10, Crit for 150-84=66 DMG | -2 EN
-20 ENERGY TOTAL

 

[Bahr 0]

What if there was no end in sight? What if the only way this ended was with the players eventually losing steam and falling victim to the endless horde of husks flooding the tent? Bahr didn't want to believe that such a thing could happen, but it didn't seem like anything was changing. Same as it had been hours ago, there was just an endless parade of Zombies entering left and right, and their momentum hadn't slowed down at all. Bahr, on the other hand, was beginning to feel the onset of fatigue. It didn't matter what the stats said - a person could only keep fighting for so long.

No time to think about it, though. Once again, he charged up his blade and swung it through the remaining three Zombies, all three disintegrating. Two of the Zombies took an extra moment to combust into blue mist - likely because their passive abilities had activated. No matter. Bleed was able to terminate them.
 

Spoiler

Bahr: HP: 528/840 | EN: 32+3--14=21/82 | DMG: 18 | MIT: 84 | ACC: 4 | EVA: 3 | BLEED 1
KILL COUNT: 36
CD: 12 (No extra energy recovered this turn)

Bahr used [x8 AoE Stun] Tempest, -8 EN

Zombie 33: HP: 34-94=0/200 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 50 | ID: 125273 | BD: 2+4=6, Hit for 18x8=144-50=94 DMG | Zombie 33 defeated | -2 EN
Zombie 35: HP: 34-102=1-24=0/200 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 50 | ID: 125274 | BD: 9, Hit for 19x8=152-50=102 DMG | BLEED INFLICTED | BLEED INFLICTS 24 DMG | Zombie 35 defeated | -2 EN
Zombie 36: HP: 34-110=1-24=0/200 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 50 | ID: 125275 | BD: 10, Hit for 20x8=160-50=110 DMG | BLEED INFLICTED | BLEED INFLICTS 24 DMG | Zombie 36 defeated | -2 EN
-14 ENERGY TOTAL

 

[Bahr 0]

With a sigh of relief, Bahr immediately opened up his menu and navigated to the inventory. He had been meaning to consume something to fix up his health after the first batch of Zombie, but the second batch had approached him so quickly that he hadn't had any time to get into his inventory and get anything out. Now that it seemed the coast was clear - for now, at least - it was time to replenish some of his HP so he would be ready for the next wave.

Two Diet Sodas was all it took to make him feel better. He had never really been a fan of the aftertaste that aspartame left in his mouth, but it was better than running too low on HP and getting himself into more trouble. As the liquid slid down the back of his throat, he could feel his vitality returning - and with it, the vigor to continue fighting on.

DIET SODA X2 CONSUMED (+240 HP)

Spoiler

Bahr: HP: 528+120+120+30=798/840 | EN: 21+1=22/82 | DMG: 18 | MIT: 84 | ACC: 4 | EVA: 3 | BLEED 1
KILL COUNT: 36

 

[Bahr 0]

Taking another glance around, it didn't seem like there were any more Zombies entering the tent at the moment. Bahr wasn't going to complain - he needed time to let his energy recover anyways. Having no more Energy consumables to speak of, he was forced to do things the old fashioned way; wait around until his energy replenished itself naturally. Which, as it turned out, was sort of a drag when you were in the middle of fighting a huge horde of zombies.

Oh well. It wasn't like Bahr was planning on leaving his unofficial post at this point. He had carved out a pretty nice niche for himself herre, where nobody else was around to poach his kills and he could prevent a good portion of the Zombies that were entering the tent from catching up with the players that were already busy fighting other mobs. Yeah, he was right where he needed to be.
 

Spoiler

Bahr: HP: 798+30=828/840 | EN: 82/82 | DMG: 18 | MIT: 84 | ACC: 4 | EVA: 3 | BLEED 1
KILL COUNT: 36

 

[Bahr 0]

By the time the next batch of mobs arrived, Bahr was poised and ready. The moment they peaked their revolting heads past the curtain and into the circus tent, they were met with a harrowing slash delivered by the Crimson Marauder. He had been a bit overzealous, though, and only managed to hit three of the four Zombies in his haste. It was an unfortunate turn of events, and sure to slow him down even more, but he hadn't gotten hit this time. That was a plus, at the very least.

Seeing his blunder, he took a couple steps back and allowed the mobs to enter the tent fully, that way he could take a headcount and size up his next attack in a way that would take all of them down. Or, at least the ones he had hit already. If they didn't magic themselves into staying alive for some ungodly reason. Jesus, Bahr was really starting to realize just how annoying this event was.
 

Spoiler

Bahr: HP: 828/840 | EN: 82-18=64/82 | DMG: 18 | MIT: 84 | ACC: 4 | EVA: 3 | BLEED 1
KILL COUNT: 36

Bahr used [x12 AoE] Calamity Disaster, -12 EN

Zombie 37: HP: 200-166=34/200 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 50 | ID: 125277 | BD: 8, Hit for 18x12=216-50=166 DMG | MD: 3, Miss | -2 EN
Zombie 38: HP: 200/200 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 50 | ID: 125278 | BD: 1, Miss | MD: 8-3=5, Miss
Zombie 39: HP: 200-166=34/200 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 50 | ID: 125279 | BD: 6, Hit for 18x12=216-50=166 DMG | MD: 6-3=3, Miss | -2 EN
Zombie 40: HP: 200-166=34/200 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 50 | ID: 125280 | BD: 8, Hit for 18x12=216-50=166 DMG | MD: 5, Miss | -2 EN
-18 ENERGY TOTAL

 

[Bahr 0]

That being said, when he ripped into the horde with his next Sword Art, he didn't encounter a problem of any kind. It sliced through all four mobs like a hot knife through caramelized molasses, reducing three of them into blue mist while the third managed to cling to its life by the usual amount. Bahr wasn't upset - in fact he was glad. Even though he hadn't finished them all off in two attacks like he had hoped, he had still managed to get a proper attack off without having to worry about getting hit or dealing with more mobs than necessary. A measly one wasn't going to be a problem.

Speaking of, it seemed... afraid. Like it was nervous somehow. Which was strange, because none of the other Zombies had behaved this way. They didn't seem to be afraid of death. But for some reason, this one was. How odd.
 

Spoiler

Bahr: HP: 828/840 | EN: 64+3-20=47/82 | DMG: 18 | MIT: 84 | ACC: 4 | EVA: 3 | BLEED 1
KILL COUNT: 39
CD: 9 (2 extra energy recovered this turn)

Bahr used [x12 AoE] Calamity Disaster, -12 EN

Zombie 37: HP: 34-166=0/200 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 50 | ID: 125282 | BD: 7, Hit for 18x12=216-50=166 DMG | Zombie 37 defeated | -2 EN
Zombie 38: HP: 200-166=34/200 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 50 | ID: 125283 | BD: 2+4=6, Hit for 18x12=216-50=166 DMG | MD: 5, Miss | -2 EN
Zombie 39: HP: 34-190=0/200 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 50 | ID: 125284 | BD: 10, Hit for 18x12=240-50=190 DMG | Zombie 39 defeated | -2 EN
Zombie 40: HP: 34-166=0/200 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 50 | ID: 125285 | BD: 6, Hit for 18x12=216-50=166 DMG | Zombie 40 defeated | -2 EN
-20 ENERGY TOTAL

 

[Bahr 0]

Was Bahr ruminated over what the behavior of the mob could mean, he noticed out of the corner of his eye that it was starting to circle around so that it could attack him from the rear. No problem, Bahr thought, as it would give him a little bit of time to deliberate on possible meanings for this mob's bizarre behavior. It suddenly clicked that it was likely that these Zombies were being recycled. It was possible that he had killed the same Zombie multiple times by now, and perhaps each Zombie had a number of "lives" that would allow it to respawn until its final life was taken. It was possible that it was this Zombie's final life. It brought a smile to bahr's face.

As the Zombie attacked, Bahr quickly whipped around, carving his blade through the Zombie before its claws could make contact with him. It survived for a moment, but then Bleed inevitably finished it off. Bahr hoped that, if his theory was correct, that this was the last time he would see it.
 

Spoiler

Bahr: HP: 828/840 | EN: 47+3-5=45/82 | DMG: 18 | MIT: 84 | ACC: 4 | EVA: 3 | BLEED 1
KILL COUNT: 40
CD: 11 (2 extra energy recovered this turn)

Bahr used [x5] Back Rush, -5 EN

Zombie 38: HP: 34-45=1-24=0/200 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 50 | ID: 125286 | BD: 9, Hit for 19x5=95-50=45 DMG | BLEED INFLICTED | BLEED INFLICTS 24 DMG | Zombie 38 defeated

 

[Bahr 0]

He didn't have much time to celebrate. The spawn rates of the Zombies seemed to have been picking up. Was it because Bahr and the other players were slaying them too quickly? That was a possibility. Or, maybe, the event was in fact designed to hurl Zombies their way until they all ran out of energy and gave up, succumbing to their inevitable deaths. If this were the case, it would only make sense for the spawn rates of the Zombies to speed up as more time passed. That way the players wouldn't have time to recoup their energy losses.

Whatever. Bahr wasn't afraid. When the next horde of Zombies poured into the ten, he did as he had done countless times already and tore into the lot of them with his sword. And, as usual, at least one of them managed to narrowly avoid the tip of his blade, making it away from the exchange unscathed. The Zombies didn't take kindly to this, lashing out all at once and managing to score some damage against Bahr as well.
 

Spoiler

Bahr: HP: 828-66-66=696/840 | EN: 45+3-18=30/82 | DMG: 18 | MIT: 84 | ACC: 4 | EVA: 3 | BLEED 1
KILL COUNT: 41
CD: 6 (2 extra energy recovered this turn)

Bahr used [x12 AoE] Calamity Disaster, -12 EN

Zombie 41: HP: 200-190-24=0/200 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 50 | ID: 125287 | BD: 10, Hit for 20x12=240-50=190 DMG | BLEED INFLICTED | BLEED INFLICTS 24 DMG | Zombie 41 defeated | -2 EN
Zombie 42: HP: 200-166=34/200 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 50 | ID: 125288 | BD: 5+4=9, Hit for 18x12=216-50=166 DMG | MD: 10, Crit for 150-84=66 DMG | -2 EN
Zombie 43: HP: 200-166=34/200 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 50 | ID: 125289 | BD: 5+4=9, Hit for 18x12=216-50=166 DMG | MD: 10, Crit for 150-84=66 DMG | -2 EN
Zombie 44: HP: 200/200 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 50 | ID: 125290 | BD: 1, Miss | MD: 6-3=3, Miss 
-18 ENERGY TOTAL

 

[Bahr 0]

How annoying. These pesky mobs were hardly worth the effort. How many had he defeated by now? Forty? Maybe more? It was hard to keep count during the chaos of it all. If the pace had stayed as slow as it had been at the start, he wouldn't have had an issue keeping track at all. But everything was slowly becoming a hazy, red blur as he continue to jump deeper and deeper down the rabbit hole.

A yellow glow. The crackle of electricity. A swing that carve through the horde. To Bahr's surprise, only one fell. Why? Was he really so useless that he just simply couldn't hit targets consistently anymore? He had all the accuracy buffs that were available to him at this point, and he still couldn't hit things with the consistency that he desired. It was his whole reasoning for training Swine Bajesus to be an Accuracy Familiar after his run-in with Swine Jesus.
 

Spoiler

Bahr: HP: 696/840 | EN: 30+1-12=19/82 | DMG: 18 | MIT: 84 | ACC: 4 | EVA: 3 | BLEED 1
KILL COUNT: 42
CD: 4 (No extra energy recovered this turn)

Bahr used [x8 AoE Stun] Tempest, -8 EN

Zombie 42: HP: 34-94=0/200 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 50 | ID: 125291 | BD: 6, Hit for 18x8=144-50=94 DMG | Zombie 42 defeated | -2 EN
Zombie 43: HP: 34/200 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 50 | ID: 125292 | BD: 1, Miss | MD: 4, Miss
Zombie 44: HP: 200-94=106/200 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 50 | ID: 125293 | BD: 2+4=6, Hit for 18x8=144-50=94 DMG | STUNNED | -2 EN
-12 ENERGY TOTAL

 

[Bahr 0]

That was enough. He needed to focus. Get out of his head space. Give in to the rage. Indulge in it, learn from it, and let it guide his body. So long as he allowed his energy to flow in accordance with the whims of his anger, he could clear these mobs without a second though. There was no reason to believe that he couldn't. Countless times before, when he simply gave in to his darker tendencies, he had come out on top as a result. He had been trying to avoid this grim reality, but at a time like this, could he really afford to be picky about it?

No. He needed to act.

And so he poured the energy into his blade, which illuminated with a crimson hue and vibrated hungrily in response. As though moving on its own, it carved through the remaining two zombies and reduced them to blue mist before his eyes.
 

Spoiler

Bahr: HP: 696/840 | EN: 19+3-16=6/82 | DMG: 18 | MIT: 84 | ACC: 4 | EVA: 3 | BLEED 1
KILL COUNT: 44
CD: 10 (2 extra energy recovered this turn)

Bahr used [x12 AoE] Calamity Disaster, -12 EN

Zombie 43: HP: 34-166=0/200 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 50 | ID: 125294 | BD: 5+4=9, Hit for 18x12=216-50=166 DMG | Zombie 43 defeated | -2 EN
Zombie 44: HP: 106-166=0/200 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 50 | ID: 125295 | BD: 6, Hit for 18x12=216-50=166 DMG | Zombie 44 defeated | -2 EN
-16 ENERGY TOTAL

 

[Bahr 0]

Though he wanted to continue slaying Zombies, he couldn't deny that he was utterly exhausted. It wouldn't have been as big a deal if they just went down like they were supposed to, but that just wasn't happening. With how apprehensive he had been about allowing his rage to take control of the wheel, he had missed far more than should have been statistically possible. This shift in his temperament, though he had originally viewed it as a positive thing, was slowly beginning to show itself as a liability. 

Bahr didn't want to be a liability. He wanted to be strong. He wanted power. The power to protect who he held dear, and destroy those who opposed him. To have complete control of any situation he found himself in. In the version of himself that he wished to create, there was no room for second guessing himself. He needed to be a rock.
 

Spoiler

Bahr: HP: 696+30=726/840 | EN: 6+1=7/82 | DMG: 18 | MIT: 84 | ACC: 4 | EVA: 3 | BLEED 1
KILL COUNT: 44

 

[Bahr 0]

It was all so frustrating. He was frustrated with the situations he kept landing in. Frustrated that he was still trapped in this game. Frustrated in himself for being so weak. When would it end? When would he become the man he so desperately wanted to be? He had always been lead to believe that he could seize control of his destiny at any time - forge his own path, and be whoever and whatever he wanted to be so long as he was strong and believed in himself. But the harder he tried, the further he strayed from his goals.

His leveling had slowed. His fighting prowess had gone downhill. He had almost gotten someone he hardly known killed because of his own foolishness. He couldn't believe what a turn things had taken. Was the game getting harder, or was he simply getting worse? No matter how hard he tried to find the answers, he never could.
 

Spoiler

Bahr: HP: 726+30=756/840 | EN: 82/82 | DMG: 18 | MIT: 84 | ACC: 4 | EVA: 3 | BLEED 1
KILL COUNT: 44

 

[Bahr 0]

It was around the time that Bahr's rage was reaching its breaking point that another wave of mobs rolled into the tent. Perfect. Something he could turn his attention to. Something he could pour his anger into. Useless meat puppets designed to be slaughtered. He couldn't think of a better gift for Halloween.

When he approached, blade red with violent pent up energy coursing through, he slashed into one of the Zombies. And then another. And then another. By the time he had reached the final Zombie in the horde, his rage had reached its maximum, and with a mighty yell, he put all of his anger, pain, anguish, frustration, and sorrow into one attack. It completely annihilated the walking corpse, scattering its body parts across the battlefield before they all burst into billions of tiny blue fractals. The rest of the mobs looked upon Bahr with scorn for their fallen brethren.
 

Spoiler

Bahr: HP: 756/840 | EN: 82-20=62/82 | DMG: 18 | MIT: 84 | ACC: 4 | EVA: 3 | BLEED 1
KILL COUNT: 45

Bahr used [x12 AoE] Calamity Disaster, -12 EN

Zombie 45: HP: 200-166=34/200 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 50 | ID: 125296 | BD: 5+4=9, Hit for 18x12=216-50=166 DMG | MD: 4, Miss | -2 EN
Zombie 46: HP: 200-166=34/200 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 50 | ID: 125297 | BD: 5+4=9, Hit for 18x12=216-50=166 DMG | MD: 6-3=3, Miss | -2 EN
Zombie 47: HP: 200-166=34/200 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 50 | ID: 125298 | BD: 2+4=6, Hit for 18x12=216-50=166 DMG | MD: 8-3=5, Miss | -2 EN
Zombie 48: HP: 200-178-24=0/200 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 50 | ID: 125299 | BD: 9, Crit for 19x12=228-50=178 DMG | BLEED INFLICTED | BLEED INFLICTS 24 DMG | Zombie 48 defeated | -2 EN
-20 ENERGY TOTAL

 

[Bahr 0]

Bahr literally laughed in their faces. Not that he meant to, it was just something that happened involuntarily. A completely guttural sound that bellowed from his deepest darkest depths. He laughed at them. Laughed at their fake immortality. The sadness they felt for their fallen comrade. He laughed at the fact that there was no escape from this hell. Not just the onslaught of Zombies, but the floating hell that was the caste in the sky, Aincrad. He was never going to get out. There was no getting away.

So he may as well go wild while he was stuck in there.

He tore into the horde again, his blade ripping through all three of the remaining walking corpses easily. Despite having hit all three, only one actually met its maker. The other two lingered on with a measly sliver of HP a pop, taunting Bahr with twisted laughs of their own.
 

Spoiler

Bahr: HP: 756/840 | EN: 62+1-14=49/82 | DMG: 18 | MIT: 84 | ACC: 4 | EVA: 3 | BLEED 1
KILL COUNT: 46
CD: 4 (No extra energy recovered this turn)

Bahr used [x8 AoE Stun] Tempest, -8 EN

Zombie 45: HP: 34-94=0/200 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 50 | ID: 125300 | BD: 6, Hit for 18x8=144-50=94 DMG | Zombie 45 defeated | -2 EN
Zombie 46: HP: 34-94=1/200 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 50 | ID: 125301 | BD: 6, Hit for 18x8=144-50=94 DMG | MD: 4, Miss | -2 EN
Zombie 47: HP: 34-94=1/200 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 50 | ID: 125302 | BD: 7, Hit for 18x8=144-50=94 DMG | MD: 5, Miss | -2 EN
-14 ENERGY TOTAL

 

[Bahr 0]

These infernal vermin. They refused to die, even thought they were designed to do just that. Bahr didn't understand the logic behind it. The more of them he fought, the more revved up he became. Was the plan to get everyone within the tent so angry that they couldn't think straight anymore? Start making mistakes, perhaps start attacking one another? That was the inevitable conclusion of this sort of thing.

Or maybe that was just for Bahr.

Regardless. These things needed to die. They couldn't be allowed to continue walking the earth. He would kill them as man times as it took for them to stay dead for good. No matter how many he was forced to slay, how much damage he took, and how bad things got - he would fight until he was physically unable. What was happening here could not be allowed to spill out into the rest of Aincrad. And Bahr wouldn't let it.
 

Spoiler

Bahr: HP: 756/840 | EN: 49+1-6=44/82 | DMG: 18 | MIT: 84 | ACC: 4 | EVA: 3 | BLEED 1
KILL COUNT: 48
CD: 4 (No extra energy recovered this turn)

Bahr used [x2 AoE] Blast, -2 EN

Zombie 46: HP: 1-1=0/200 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 50 | ID: 125303 | BD: 4, Hit for 18x2=36-50=1 DMG | Zombie 46 defeated | -2 EN
Zombie 47: HP: 1-1=0/200 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 50 | ID: 125304 | BD: 10, Crit for 20x2=40-50=1 DMG | Zombie 47 defeated | -2 EN
-6 ENERGY TOTAL

 

[Bahr 0]

Just as the last few times before, Bahr found that the next wave was coming in before he was prepared. He found this out because a pair of teeth unexpectedly sunk themselves into his back while he wasn't paying attention. He spun around in a crimson blur, slashing wildly in the direction from which he had taken the surprise attack. It tore into two Zombies. Two. Only two. Despite all of his buffs, all of his efforts, he only managed to hit two of them.

"What the hell!?" he abruptly shouted at the Zombies. They didn't seem to react, probably because their eardrums had rotted out of thei skulls long ago, but that didn't stop him from continuing on anyways. "I've done everything right! Exactly the way I was supposed to! And still I fail! I even let this stupid sword have its way with me in the hopes that I would finally start performing how I needed to! But no!"
 

Spoiler

Bahr: HP: 756-66=690/840 | EN: 44+1-16=28/82 | DMG: 18 | MIT: 84 | ACC: 4 | EVA: 3 | BLEED 1
KILL COUNT: 48
CD: 3 (No extra energy recovered this turn)

Bahr used [x12 AoE] Calamity Disaster, -12 EN

Zombie 49: HP: 200-166=34/200 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 50 | ID: 125305 | BD: 4+4=8, Hit for 18x12=216-50=166 DMG | MD: 10, Crit for 150-84=66 DMG | -2 EN
Zombie 50: HP: 200-166=34/200 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 50 | ID: 125306 | BD: 3+4=7, Hit for 18x12=216-50=166 DMG | MD: 8-3=5, Miss | -2 EN
Zombie 51: HP: 200/200 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 50 | ID: 125307 | BD: 1, Miss | MD: 2, Miss 
Zombie 52: HP: 200/200 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 50 | ID: 125308 | BD: 1, Miss | MD: 7-3=4, Miss 
-16 ENERGY TOTAL

 

[Bahr 0]

How embarrassing. Bahr's outburst was noticed by a few of the players in the area, stopping to gawk at him as though he had completely lost it. And, to a certain extent, he absolutely had. Who else would sit there and scream at Zombie for not letting him hit them? Of course they woud do what they could to avoid getting hit. They didn't want to die, after all. Or, at least, that was the presumption. Most things living didn't want to die.

Bahr's sword shone with a violent crimson energy once more, the aura so palpable it literally dripped from the edge of the blade as he sauntered forward. Once he had closed the distance, he ripped into the grouping once more, decimating two of the mobs, injuring one, and completely missing the fourth. Bahr's nostrils flared as he witnessed his sword zing right over its head, missing it entirely. There had to have been some other force at play here.
 

Spoiler

Bahr: HP: 690/840 | EN: 28+3-18=13/82 | DMG: 18 | MIT: 84 | ACC: 4 | EVA: 3 | BLEED 1
KILL COUNT: 50
CD: 11 (2 extra energy recovered this turn)

Bahr used [x12 AoE] Calamity Disaster, -12 EN

Zombie 49: HP: 34-166=0/200 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 50 | ID: 125309 | BD: 5+4=9, Hit for 18x12=216-50=166 DMG | Zombie 49 defeated | -2 EN
Zombie 50: HP: 34/200 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 50 | ID: 125310 | BD: 1, Miss | MD: 1, Miss 
Zombie 51: HP: 200-166=34/200 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 50 | ID: 125311 | BD: 3+4=7, Hit for 18x12=216-50=166 DMG | MD: 5, Miss | -2 EN
Zombie 52: HP: 200-178-24=0/200 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 50 | ID: 125312 | BD: 9, Crit for 19x12=228-50=178 DMG | BLEED INFLICTED | BLEED INFLICTS 24 DMG | Zombie 52 defeated | -2 EN
-18 ENERGY TOTAL

 

[Bahr 0]

There was no other reason he would be failing so... Convincingly. There had to be something else at play here. Even when he was holding back, he never missed as much as he had been during this event. And that was back when he had even less accuracy than he currently did. Mathematically, it made no sense. Thematically, it made no sense. None of it made any sense whatsoever. And that was probably what was making Bahr more angry than anything else.

And then, as he ripped into the remaining two mobs with his blade yet again, they both held on with just a sliver of HP. Could it be fate? Was whatever god that controlled fate in this world against him? Cardinal. That had to be it. It was toying with him, seeing how far it could push him to his limits. It was Cardinal that ultimately controlled everything in this world, including the very sword that had gained influence over him.
 

Spoiler

Bahr: HP: 690/840 | EN: 13+3-12=4/82 | DMG: 18 | MIT: 84 | ACC: 4 | EVA: 3 | BLEED 1
KILL COUNT: 50
CD: 9 (2 extra energy recovered this turn)

Bahr used [x8 AoE Stun] Tempest, -8 EN

Zombie 50: HP: 34-94=1/200 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 50 | ID: 125313 | BD: 4+4=8, Hit for 18x8=144-50=94 DMG | MD: 8-3=5, Miss | -2 EN
Zombie 51: HP: 34-94=1/200 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 50 | ID: 125314 | BD: 3+4=7, Hit for 18x8=144-50=94 DMG | MD: 5, Miss | -2 EN
-12 ENERGY TOTAL

 

[Bahr 0]

He was almost beginning to reach a point of desperation. How long could two mobs with only a fraction of their HP remaining hold off Bahr? How many more Zombies would flood the tent while he was preoccupied with them? He felt useless. Angry. Downtrodden. Abandoned. Every negative emotion in the book, Bahr was feeling some variation of it. He hated this. Hated the fact that this sword had so much influence over him. If only he had never picked it up - perhaps he would have never slipped down this slope. But it was too late now. It was a part of him. At least until he moved onto something different.

He charged up his blade again. Ripped it forward. Hit one, but missed the other. Of course. Such an easy target to hit, and he had missed it yet again. If he hadn't already missed these things so many times before, he wouldn't have been able to believe it. But Cardinal was against him, so it was to be expected.
 

Spoiler

Bahr: HP: 690/840 | EN: 4+3-4=3/82 | DMG: 18 | MIT: 84 | ACC: 4 | EVA: 3 | BLEED 1
KILL COUNT: 51
CD: 10 (2 extra energy recovered this turn)

Bahr used [x2 AoE] Blast, -2 EN

Zombie 50: HP: 1-1=0/200 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 50 | ID: 125315 | BD: 3+4=7, Hit for 18x2=36-50=1 DMG | MD: 8-3=5, Miss | -2 EN
Zombie 51: HP: 1/200 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 50 | ID: 125316 | BD: 1, Miss | MD: 5, Miss
-4 ENERGY TOTAL

 

[Bahr 0]

Bahr didn't have energy left. He could feel his anger beginning to wane simply because he no longer had the energy to keep up with it. As it turned out, it took quite a lot of energy to sustain such a state of rage. While it gave Bahr the vitality to press on, it also sapped it away one tick at a time until he felt like he had nothing left, running on fumes. He prided himself on being the sort of person that could press on no matter how hard it got, but he couldn't bring himself to use even some of the most basic Sword Arts.

And so he didn't. He lazily flung his gigantic blade in front of him, somehow managing to connect it with the mob that stood before him. As it shattered, he felt a huge weight lifted off of his shoulders. He could finally rest for a moment. He didn't even care if the mobs were still flooding in - he needed it.
 

Spoiler

Bahr: HP: 690/840 | EN: 3+1-1=3/82 | DMG: 18 | MIT: 84 | ACC: 4 | EVA: 3 | BLEED 1
KILL COUNT: 52
CD: 5 (No extra energy recovered this turn)

Bahr used [x1] Basic Attack, -1 EN

Zombie 51: HP: 1-1=0/200 | DMG: 100 | MIT: 50 | ID: 125317 | BD: 6, Hit for 18-50=1 DMG | Zombie 51 defeated