Eldritch Guidance
Chapter 109 – The Chase Begins

Joe’s team gathered near a parked police car. Everyone was present, except for Jafar and Dan. Jafar had stayed behind at the archives, still poring over stacks of documents, while Dan was at the police station delivering documents to Murdock.

Rell sat on a nearby bench, casually gazing off into the distance while Mike adjusted his gear, his eyes scanning their surroundings out of habit. Alan, his arm now fully healed and free from its earlier bandages, stretched his shoulders with a sense of ease, relishing the return of his full range of motion.

The drive had been long and uneventful, and the team used the brief lull to shake off the stiffness that came with hours of sitting going through documents.

Earlier, the team had picked up Crowley and dropped him off here with Joe, following Joe’s insistence. He had claimed to have stumbled upon a major lead in the investigation and made it clear that Crowley’s involvement was crucial. Though the details remained vague, Joe left no room for debate.

Now, the team stood around idly, waiting for Joe to wrap up whatever task he was handling with Crowley.

Rell glanced at his watch, his impatience thinly veiled.

Rell: "What’s taking him so long?" he muttered under his breath.

Mike: “Who knows.”

Alan: “Um, Mike. Do you think this is another ploy to sneak away?”

Mike: “I don’t think it is this time.”

Rell: “Are you sure about that? It seems like he’s been getting more creative lately.”

Mike: “If this is part of his bullshit, well, I’ll report this to Mitra. As I understand it, she is very good at getting people in line.”

At the mention of Mitra, both Alan and Rell had uneasy expressions. Having dealt with her before, they both knew exactly what she was like. Mike casually saying he was going to involve her was, to those in the know, a bigger threat than Mike understood.

Mitra’s nickname, the "Green-Haired Demon," was not entirely hyperbole. All enforcers had been first hand witnesses to her grueling, almost inhuman methods—methods that had earned her the infamous moniker. Her relentless drive, razor-sharp intuition, and iron-fisted discipline were the stuff of legend among enforcers. But for those on the receiving end of her 'training,' it was more akin to surviving hell.

The mere mention of reporting Joe to Mitra was enough to make both Rell and Alan stiffen, their memories of her methods stirring apprehension within them. Mike, blissfully unaware of the weight his comment carried, simply continued talking, oblivious to the impact his words had on his companions.

Mike: “Anyway, when Joe says he thinks he has a good lead, he’s usually not lying about that. So, I'm not too worried about him running off. Just be patient. I’m sure he’ll show up soon.”

The team lingered, ready but uncertain, as they prepared to dive into whatever revelation Joe was about to bring their way.

Mike: “Ah, speak of the devil,” he said while pointing down the street.

Joe and Crowley rounded the corner at the far end of the deserted street, their figures emerging from the shadows and coming into view of the group. Though they were too far away for anyone to clearly discern their expressions, their hurried movements spoke volumes.

Rell: “Why are they running?” he observed, his tone sharp with curiosity and a tinge of concern.

As if in response to Rell’s question, a red pursuer slime came hurtling around the corner from where Joe and Crowley had emerged. The creature let out a shrill, ear-piercing screech, its semi-translucent body undulating with unnatural malice. Tentacle-like appendages flailed wildly as it propelled itself forward, rolling and pulling itself along with an eerie, predatory hunger.

Its focus locked on Joe and Crowley, the slime closed the distance with alarming speed. Just as the monstrosity was almost upon them, Crowley skidded to a halt, spun on his heel, and extended his hand. A surge of purplish necros energy erupted from his palm, radiating outward like a thunderclap. The pulse struck the pursuer slime head-on, obliterating it in an instant. The once-threatening mass disintegrated into a fine gray dust that scattered into the wind, leaving nothing behind but silence.

The former priest then turned back to continue to run along with Joe towards the rest of the team.

Mike: “What in the burning abyss is going!?”

Alan: “Guys! There are more of those things!” he yelled while pointing.

Rell and Mike turned their attention to where Alan was pointing. Emerging from the storm drains nearby, two more red pursuer slimes writhed onto the street. The creatures squelched and rippled as they moved. Instead of approaching the group by the car, they seemed fixated on Joe and Crowley, slithering hungrily in their direction.

Seeing the slimes, Rell and Mike sprang into action. Mike stepped forward, summoning a jagged bolt of hardened earth into his hand. With a sharp chant, he infused the projectile with dark purple necros energy, the aether crackling ominously as it encased the earthen spike. With a swift motion, he hurled the bolt at the nearest slime.

The projectile hit its mark with a wet, sickening plunk, the sound reminiscent of a heavy stone splashing into a still lake. The necros energy embedded in the bolt began to pulse within the creature, spreading like an infection through its gelatinous form. The slime shuddered violently, its red hue dimming as the destructive energy tore it apart from the inside and reduced it to dust.

Rell summoned a gleaming metal chain out of thin air, the shimmering links appearing in a flash of energy. The chain floated around him as though suspended in water, its fluid movements almost serpentine as it coiled protectively near his body. Its ethereal presence radiated an unmistakable aura of necros.

Alan's eyes narrowed as he took in the sight. That magic—those chains—were unmistakable. They were identical to the magic Sorin had wielded when he’d attacked his friend Sere. This triggered Alan. A pang of anger and unease coursed through him, old memories surfacing unbidden. Alan clenched his fists, forcing himself to set aside his emotions. Now wasn’t the time to dwell on the past; the red slime creature was still advancing, its grotesque form rippling with malicious intent.

Rell, oblivious to Alan’s inner turmoil, stepped forward with determination. He snapped the chain forward like a whip, the shimmering links moving with precision and power. The metallic tendrils lashed out at the second slime, coiling around its semi-translucent body. The moment the chains made contact, the slime shuddered violently, its vibrant red hue dimming to a dull gray.

In an instant, the creature disintegrated into a cloud of fine dust, scattering on the wind. Rell pulled the chain back, its floating movements resuming their protective orbit around him before disappearing. He exhaled sharply, his focus unwavering, even as Alan stole another wary glance in his direction.

Joe and Crowley eventually caught up with the rest of the group, both of them panting heavily after the frantic sprint from Wren's shop to the parked car. Their faces glistened with sweat, and their breaths came in sharp, ragged gasps, evidence of the urgency that had driven them to push themselves so hard.

Joe bent forward, resting his hands on his knees as he tried to steady his breathing. Crowley, on the other hand, leaned against the side of the car, his chest rising and falling rapidly, a mixture of exhaustion and tension etched onto his face.

Joe: “Huff… huff… We have to go…huff…no time to explain.”

Mike: “What in the world are you talking about? What’s going—”

Mike’s words were cut short by the shrill, gut-wrenching screech of more pursuer slimes. From the same corner where Joe and Crowley had appeared moments earlier, five of the monstrous creatures suddenly burst into view. Their momentum was so uncontrollable that they slammed head first into the wall of a nearby building, their gelatinous bodies splattering across the surface and pooling on the ground below.

The grotesque slimes, undeterred by the collision, began to slowly reassemble themselves, their semi-liquid forms writhing as they pulled back together with an almost unnerving determination to continue their hunt for Joe.

Seeing this horrifying display, Mike didn’t need any further explanation.

Mike: “Everyone in, now!” he barked.

Without hesitation, the group scrambled into the vehicle, slamming doors shut as the tension mounted. Mike took the driver’s seat, gripping the wheel tightly, and the moment the last door closed, he floored the accelerator.

The car roared to life, tires screeching as it lurched forward. Everyone inside was thrust back into their seats by the sudden force of acceleration. The vehicle sped down the street, leaving behind the writhing slimes in a desperate attempt to outrun the nightmare unfolding behind them.

Joe retrieved the compass from his pocket, its needle spinning briefly before locking onto a direction. He glanced down at the device, then shifted his focus to the street ahead as they raced down the road. His mind worked quickly, matching the compass's direction to the layout of the streets and planning the best route for the group to take.

Joe: “Turn left up there!”

Mike: “What! Why!?”

Joe: “JUST DO IT!”

Mike muttered a string of curses under his breath, gripping the wheel tightly. Following Joe's directions, he pushed the car harder, the tires screeching in protest as they approached the upcoming turn.

With a sharp twist of the wheel, the vehicle swerved violently to the left. The abrupt motion threw everyone in the car to the right, seatbelts straining against the momentum. Loose items in the car slid across the floor, and the sound of rubber scraping against asphalt echoed in their ears.

Mike: “Hold on!” he barked, his knuckles white on the steering wheel as he fought to stabilize the car mid-turn.

The engine roared in response as he straightened out, the vehicle now barreling down the new street. The tension in the car was palpable, the adrenaline from the sharp maneuver coursing through everyone’s veins.

Mike: “OK! Now you want to tell me what the fuck is going on!” he demanded

Joe: “This thing is pointing towards where the slimes are being created,” he said, holding up the box with the compass he got from Wren.” But, It also attracting ever fuckin pursuer slime in the city towards us.”

Mike: “Why the fuck—SHIT!” he yelled out.

From around another corner ahead, a pursuer slime barreled out, its gelatinous body rippling as it attempted to launch itself at the speeding car. Mike’s sharp eyes caught the movement, and with a quick flick of the wheel, he veered the vehicle just enough to narrowly avoid the creature. The police car swerved past, the slime missing its mark by mere inches.

Mike growled, glancing in the rearview mirror before snapping his attention back to the road.

Ahead, another slime rolled directly toward them, blocking their path. This one was unavoidable. With a quick decision, Mike rolled down his window, bracing himself against the rush of wind that whipped into the car as he extended his arm out it. While still accelerating, Mike summoned another earthen bolt, dark tendrils of necros energy coiling around it like a living aura. Without losing momentum, he launched the bolt forward with precision.

The projectile struck the oncoming slime dead center, its necros-infused energy coursing through the creature. The slime began to solidify and turn an ashen gray, its body fracturing under the necrotic power. But before it could fully disintegrate, the speeding car collided with the graying ooze, shattering its fragile form into a cloud of fine, dusty particles.

The gray dust exploded outward, coating the windshield and the hood of the car in a thin film before dispersing into the air. Mike’s jaw tightened as he rolled the window back up, gripping the wheel firmly.

The group thought they were finally in the clear when a sudden, wet slap echoed from the roof of the car. A pursuer slime, lying in wait atop a building, had leaped down and landed squarely on the vehicle. The impact of the creature's mass caused the car to lurch violently, nearly sending it careening off course. Mike clenched the wheel, muttering a curse under his breath as he fought to steady the swerving car.

The red slime clung stubbornly to the roof, its gelatinous body gripping the sides of the car with unnerving tenacity. As it slithered and shifted, it began probing for any opening it could exploit, aiming to force its way inside and reach its prey. Tendrils of slime slid across the windows, leaving streaks of goo as it tested the seals and crevices.

Crowley, seated in the back, noticed the creature's intent immediately. Reacting swiftly, he pressed his palm firmly against the roof. With a low growl, he sent a surge of necros energy upward. The pulse shot through the roof and into the creature above.

The slime emitted a sharp, high-pitched screech before its semi-translucent red body rapidly turned opaque and gray. Its grip weakened as the necros energy spread through it, disrupting its cohesion. In seconds, it lost its hold and was flung off the car. The lifeless mass hit the ground behind them and disintegrated into dust upon impact.

Crowley: "Thank the Light," the former priest muttered, shaking off the residual tingle of the energy release.

With the immediate threat neutralized, Mike straightened the wheel, his knuckles white as he regained control. The car stabilized and he accelerated down the street.

Alan gripped the door handle tightly, his knuckles white as the car swerved and jerked, narrowly avoiding the relentless pursuer slimes. The erratic motion jostled everyone inside, but he held firm, bracing against the door as the vehicle finally stabilized.

Exhaling a shaky breath, Alan turned to glance out the back window, half-expecting to see the chaos they'd left behind. What he saw instead made his heart skip a beat and his breath catch in his throat.

Alan: “Um, guys! There’s a bunch more of those things behind us!”

Everyone turned to look behind, their collective breath catching at the sight of a dozen red pursuer slimes barreling down the street after them. The creatures moved with a terrifying, unnatural fluidity, their amorphous bodies slithering and rolling over the pavement with alarming speed. Despite the car’s roaring engine and the blur of streetlights zipping past, the slimes managed to keep pace, their malevolent cores pulsating like rhythmic heartbeats.

Mike: “How are they so fast?!” he exclaimed, his voice laced with disbelief and a tinge of panic.

Rell slipped a plain silver ring off his finger and whispered an incantation under his breath. The ring shimmered faintly, expanding in size until it became large enough to circle his forearm. Revealed as a storage ring, its inner void seemed endless. With a steady hand, he reached into the shimmering space it created, his arm vanishing up to the elbow. When he withdrew, he held two heavy sacks. The ring shrank back to its original size with a faint click, and Rell slipped it back onto his finger.

From one of the sacks, Rell retrieved a small vial of clear liquid, holding it carefully between his fingers. He uncorked it, and an acrid, chemical scent immediately filled the confined space of the car, sharp and pungent enough to make the others recoil slightly.

Rell rolled down the window, the rush of air swirling the intense smell out of the vehicle, then tossed the vial behind them with a quick motion.

The vial shattered on the pavement in a burst of glass and liquid, leaving a slick, shimmering patch of the strange substance in their wake. As the pursuing slimes hurtled over it, one of them made contact. The effect was immediate. The creature halted mid-pursuit, screeching in agony as steam rose from its gelatinous form. A hissing, sizzling sound filled the air as the clear liquid reacted violently with the slime, causing it to writhe and bubble as if boiling from within.

Joe: “What the heck did you throw back there?” he asked, half-impressed and half-confused, craning his neck to watch the chaos unfolding behind them.

Rell: “These things are primarily made of mold. So, I asked the university alchemy department to make the strongest fungicide they could. And, it seems like it’s effective. Here,” Rell replied, as he shoved a sac into Alan and Joe’s hands. “Since you two can’t use necros, you can use this fungicide to defend yourselves.”

Joe gave Rell a nod of appreciation, his expression betraying a hint of admiration. It wasn’t often he saw someone think so far ahead, and the foresight of carrying something as niche yet effective as a fungicide wasn’t lost on him. As Rell handed over a sack of the substance, Joe accepted it with a quick, “Good thinking,” before stowing it securely near his seat.

Alan, however, remained silent as Rell passed him the other sack. His grip tightened slightly as he accepted it, his jaw clenched in subtle tension. The sight of Rell using Sorin’s magic earlier still gnawed at him, stirring memories he’d rather forget. Despite knowing the current crisis demanded teamwork, the unease lingered, and Alan found himself struggling to fully trust Rell’s intentions. He avoided eye contact, focusing instead on keeping the sack steady as the car jolted and swerved.

Rell, for his part, didn’t seem bothered by Alan’s cold demeanor. His attention remained fixed ahead, already preparing for the next move as the distant screeches of the pursuing slimes grew louder.

The group watched the scene behind them for a fleeting moment, but the car’s speed soon carried them far ahead, leaving the melting, screeching slime behind. Whatever was happening to the creature, they weren’t sticking around to see the final result. Instead, the car pressed onward, the ominous presence of the remaining slimes still closing in from behind.

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