Spirit Taming

Having taken the time to see Maria and Lit, the elves now had a lot to think about. That didn’t change the fact that the first prisoner had gotten there though. The guards that had brought him in were clearly worried. They had been told that they needed to take the utmost care bringing this prisoner.

Not because they were dangerous, but because they could become a monster if they were treated poorly. They guards were shocked to hear this since some of the crazed antics when these prisoners had been running head first in to the walls of the city, had definitely put them at risk. But this also made them realize that those odd behaviors might have had a reason.

There was also a group of the elven healers that had begun to believe that this was too risky. They could be right in the line of attack for a monster forming if they were to go through with this. Noticing this, the matriarch looked at those healers.

"These are humans taken from two cities that were destroyed by the blood moon cult.. You may see them as potential monsters that should just be killed, however, the humans see them as great victims in this war."

That was the phrase that made things all that much heavier. This was not just a battle against a cult. This was a war against a cult trying to cause immense damage to every single sentient race on the planet and more.

To call this anything other than a war, would be insulting all the victims. While the races in this world had managed to deal with the blood moon cult once before, they had not eradicated them. Even the elves and the dwarves were known to have members of the cult somewhere in their own ranks.

Even if this was to be finished here with no more cultist bases around, there was a high chance that the cult might spark up elsewhere. Not even in this world. But that would be lesser of a chance than now. Where the cutlists had dug in roots which allowed them to grow to this point. To this level of problem.

"Clark, are you sure you want to do this? I don’t know if you should." Maria wasn’t just saying this because she wanted to let the elves take the risk. She was saying this because she knew that Clark did not have the same level of healing skills as she did.

"I promise you, that we will succeed. With your healing and care, these victims will be right as rain. They will need time for their minds to recover though." Clark worried a little about this. Mental damage could take many years to heal. At the very least, they could remove the major issue here right now.

’Major quest: tortured victims

Requirement: remove the vial and beast egg from every prisoner to save their lives.

Reward: Ten healing gacha, one alchemy formula gacha, one technique book gacha, one large spiritual energy crystal, one large death energy crystal.’

The rewards that Clark had seen pop up were immense in terms of what he had gained from other quests. But what really stood out, was that these rewards would not be gained until every single prisoner was saved. Therefore, he had a lot of work to do.

What no one knew though, was that the analysis was already helping him with this task. He could see the best way to remove the egg and the vial without harming the prisoner. That was just a portion of it though. He could also see their general physical state.

Whether this had came from the changes in the system as a whole the last time that there had been a reward that improved it, or not, Clark was glad. The high intelligence that the system had might have been showing itself here rather than responding to his questions which he had long been wishing for.

’Tortured human- damaged

This is a human tortured by the blood moon cult to force their mind to be malleable. This caused them to become hypnotized by a monster called a waking nightmare. This causes the one hypnotized to follow orders even if they cause the body extreme pain or worse.

Due to being used as an experiment, this human has been forced to swallow a beast egg that can potentially hatch within them. However, there is also a vial of tainted demonic blood potion within their stomach.

The weak glass is being dissolved by the stomach acid which will cause an instant fusion with the beast egg within the stomach. The monster will be a rampaging creature of death and violence. This is due to the forceful nature of this experimental horror.

The best way to remove these two threats at the same time is simpler than what many would expect.

Cutting with extremely sharp tool, follow the muscles and cut between the abdominal muscles. Open the body and slowly...’

Clark was surprised that the term damaged was used rather than future monster or average human or something. The fact that the system was calling this human damaged was a clear example of how the intelligence of the analysis was allowing Clark to see the thing he wanted to, not a phrase like suffering human, or disposable victim.

Seeing Clark pick up a tool and direct Maria to begin numbing the prisoner even though he was unconscious. She was sure that she could prevent any possibility of them feeling pain. There had to be some part of their mind still aware of what was happening. Even if they had been experimented on to the point where they had been harmed so much

The elven tools were all finely crafted blades. Their details basic but also elegant. They ranged from small blades that could easily cut through skin to serrated blades that could carve bone. Every single glance gave Clark more knowledge about them with the analysis. He was learning their uses and the best methods to use them with.

This level of learning was using his entire mentality. However, he had lives to safe. The thought of quests beginning to fade from his mind as he lost his focus on it entirely. "You with the blue rabbit, have it use purifying light on the tools and the space right here between the first and second set of abdominal muscles. That’s where I will cut."

Clark began giving orders. This surprised some of the elves, but his attitude being so strict reminded them of when they had been learning these important healing skill originally. The elves that taught them had spoken as if there was not a single bit of emotion left. All energy focused on the task. That was the true essence of becoming this sort of healer.

When they saw the delicate touch of Clark’s hand slicing through the first layer of skin while avoiding the blood vessels, they realized that he was finally trained. While Clark didn’t tell anyone, he had realized that as he had trained his body while absorbing more energy from his partners, that his dexterity had increased greatly.

As he had trained in his spear techniques, he had gained even more. He had gained a more fine version of muscle control. That combined with meditation, allowed Clark to learn how to better influence his body as a whole.

This was why he was easily able to cut layer after layer without causing great damage. Mari Was also there, healing smaller blood vessels while allowing Lit’s numbing poison and paralyzing poisons to numb and stop the muscles from moving. This would prevent them from causing damage involuntarily.

By the time Clark got to the stomach, things were oddly calm in the room. The matriarch watching over every step with a straight face and sharp eyes. Some of the elves looking as if they were watching someone with fame within their own lands. A healer that had not shown themselves for a long time but was admired by all.

In a single deft slice, the stomach was opened. The stomach acid was a risk that Clark had been prepared for. Two elves held the wound safely so that the acid from the stomach did not move anywhere it should not.

As he reached in with a set of clamps made from silver to prevent certain illnesses, Clark removed a small egg that could easily be swallowed. Some damage was done to the outside because of the stomach acid, but it was clearly still alive and close to hatching.

The vial was clearly seen. Hallways dissolved glass making it all too clear of what dangers had been closer than before. As another elf began helping Maria heal the stomach closed, two more supplied a nutrient potion to assist in that process.

"Maria, have them find the prisoners that came in first. They must have been made to do this sooner. The vials are already halfway dissolved." Clark’s almost flat and numb expression made Maria realize that he was using every small bit of energy to do this. That he had copied the intensity of Brad’s hyper focus to do something well outside his normal wheelhouse of skills. But something that he could do, and should do.