What. The fuck. Is that!?

Quintin had seen some strange things since his arrival on Whorrl; from wolves that ran up the sides of mountains,

to an old man who was also the regal [Pineking]—or was it the other way around? Both at the same time? None of the above?

Never-the-less, the creature before him now competed to top his list of fucked up encounters.

The entity hung freely in the air between canisters where the drainage tubes ran. It bore a human likeness, in-so-far as there was a head, two arms, and legs present, however that was where the similarities ended. Appearance-wise, it was insubstantial; both fully visible in porous detail, and fading away in a desert of enervation. A pear-shaped belly made up the greater part of its otherwise emaciated form, with skin the color of mummification caramel. Two bendy frog legs straddled either side of the protruding abdomen like drawstrings.

The creature completely ignored his presence, far too fixated on the semisolid paste to care. Though what it did next felt like a targeted attack that made him want to vomit. The head and neck of the apparition uncrumpled from an idle squeezebox to a long, unwound state as it began to suckle from a leaking pipe.

God or whoever, you win. I regret coming down here. There, are you happy? Now make it stop, he managed to concede between dry heaves.

It was worth a shot. Ghost creature... The bone remains from Carlenno's transformation!? Identify.

[Mad Preta Carlenno] Lv. ??

HP: ??? MP: ??? SP: ~

-Malevolent Spirit

-Corrupted

-Thirster

Experimentation on his own body saw him transform

into a Preta. Madness drove his desires in life,

thus his thirst is unquenchable in unlife. [Quest]:

[Active]:

○[Mystery of the Amphitheater]

-Rank: Ancient

-Exploratory

-Unfulfilled

1. Investigated: The presence originated from Carlenno's Laboratory.

2. Optional: Found a use for the two keys from the [N.D.'s] journal

—○Discovery: Evidence of experiments both foul, and grim in design.

3. The paper trail of experimental evidence has led to uncovering

Carlenno's laboratory where his presence yet lingers.

—○Goal: Deliver his madness to its rightful end, and with that;

achieve justice for [Sozzelrift].

[Rewards]: EXP. & [????] item.

Besides the creepy repulsion that made him want to puke, a new emotion overcame him; anger. The fact that Carlenno was a slave to tormentous thirst didn't escape him, but to see the encapsulation of pure evil in front of him was infuriating. He brought out the [Wand of Dispersal] and pointed it at the Preta.

"Hey!" Quintin shouted a challenge, "Suck on this, you ugly bastard!"

Only now did he realize he had no clue how to activate the magic within. With a flourish of his wrist, he tried, "Go!"

But nothing happened, "Disperse!"

Not a flicker nor a snap, crackle, and pop. Carlenno was curious and regarded him now, upraising itself from a squat. The [Preta] was nonchalant and began to hover towards him, all the while Quintin fiddled with the wand in his hands. He was searching for an on-switch or a keyword. Through a momentary peek, he saw its head zoom in closer to observe him—in all its glorious ugliness, rotten fangs, and pockmarked wrinkles hovering a few inches before him.

He blurted out, "Holy piece of shit! Banish!"

Along with the activation word, a gas-like emission seeped out. A flash-bang of white light lasered out from the tip towards the [Preta] and crashed into its sizable bulk. While his spotty vision made the outcome unclear, Its ghastly shriek of pain told him of the damage done.

[Wand of Dispersal] used.

Charges: 5=>4/8

1. {Banishment} unsuccessful.

Massive {Light} Damage.

-1000HP!

*Status: {Weakness}, {Constraint}

...]

After a few more seconds his sight was back to normal. What he saw next was the damaging borehole and the insides of Carlenno's distended stomach; an abyss-like place with blackened maggots squirming around the circular wound edge. The light produced by the [Wand of Dispersal] was like a chain that shackled Carlenno to the ground. It fought against the constraint in confusion and distress.

As if sensing that, some of the preserved man-creatures began to move. Spider-web cracks in the glass cages made their imminent release apparent. One or two had even busted out from the top; they spilled onto the ground in a cascade of rim-glass and sickly yellow liquids. They came in a variety of different shapes and forms, but one thing they all had in common; skin and muscles dripped from their plasma-stained bones like candle wax.

Carlenno needs to die, was his only, and resounding thought.

"Banish!" he screamed out, even as an ape-beast with its skin sloughing off leapt at him.

[Wand of Dispersal] used.

Charges: 4=>3/8

1. {Banishment} unsuccessful.

Massive {Light} Damage.

-1250HP!

*Status: {Greater Weakness}, {Greater Constraint}

...]

Quintin rolled to the side and crouch-fired a projectile through the landing ape-beast's head. The [Preta] screeched again, he noted more and more activity from the containers. He took a moment to [Identify] one of the creatures.

[Expiramental Abomination #44] Lv. 7

HP: 200/200 MP: 0/0 SP: ~

-Test Subject

-Obsession Preserved

-Growth Capped

Man-turned-beast.

A creature tied to Carlenno's obsession even in death.

Preserved as a medium through which Carlenno keeps his

liquid desires sated.

*Obsession Preserved: chained by Carlenno's obsession.

In order to get a clean shot on Carlenno, Quintin had to put down a couple of the under-leveled beasts. What had him worried was whether he could banish the spirit before he was completely surrounded by flesh-soup and bone monsters. His third attempt was another failure. The walls that formed around him were the [Abominations], but even in their silence, they begged for release. He had one final chance before the horde overran him.

Quintin's desperate voice thundered above the numerous bodies, "Banish!"

For a few tense moments, before the report trickled through his left eye, he was unsure whether he even connected the shot with Carlenno.

[Wand of Dispersal] used.

Charges: 2=>1/8

1. {Banishment} Successful!

*Named & Titled Preta: [Carlenno] has been {Banished}.

No.

No.

No.

Yes.

{Banished} to the [Realm of Decay].

...]

There was one final shriek that cut off abruptly. Carlenno, the [Mad Preta], dissipated in mid-air. The four spikes of constraint vanished with the last particle of the foul spirit. The [Expiramental Abominations] went limp as skin and muscle sloshed off their frames, creating goopified puddles. The overbearing stench caused Quintin to retch as he fought for a clear spot to stand.

[Quest] Completed.

○[Mystery of the Amphitheater]: [√]