Chương 18: The Man Behind the Eyes

Oscar sat down and took a sip of the potion that Bruno offered him. Everyone was finally free from their cells, but the process had taken its toll on him. It turns out that spamming skills is pretty exhausting. Or maybe it was just that [Erasure] was that heavy of a skill to spam.

"Drink up, boy. It's just a stamina potion. Not the highest of quality, but we did steal it from Ascot, so we can't complain," Bruno said.

"As you level, you'll gain more endurance for using skills and reduce the time in between uses. Probably should have given it to ya earlier, eh?"

"My other skills aren't as taxing as [Erasure], but thanks," Oscar said and accepted a hand to stand up.

"Gita and Emily… are they ready to go?" The tapping of wood on stone came in response.

"Are you finally rested? My brother needs me, so hurry up and lets go."

"If you want to rush off to your death, then go ahead," Gita replied.

"But I don't think you can take out that… thing … on your own." Emily turned around to respond back to her, but Bruno intervened.

"Save that fire for the fight ahead." With Oscar now somewhat rested, he made his way over towards the exit signaling that he was ready. Gita fastened her cestus onto her hands and Emily did a quick check over her staff, ensuring the gem on top was in good condition. He didn't know how magic staffs in this world worked, but he assumed it had to do with the gem.

"What kind of gem is that?" Oscar asked, gesturing to the rainbow colored gem. Emily glared at him and shoved past, unwilling to answer. Gita gave him a slight shrug and followed, leaving Oscar alone with Bruno.

"C'mon boy, don't waste your effort befriending her. With Calus being behind this place, I'm not expecting her or her brother to survive this. I can't believe I'm saying this, but focus up. I have a feeling I'll need you in this fight," he said and then gave Oscar a slight nudge to move. He knew Bruno was right about their survival, but still… wasn't that all the more reason to be friendly? If he were more socially adept, maybe he could explain what had happened with Dorian better and make her understand.

But he was who he was, and all he could do is be better for the future. Following after Bruno, he exited the cell room and headed for the heart of the dungeon.

Compared to the dream dungeon, the real version was more castle-like than dungeon. Proper rooms of all sorts could be seen as they marched through the hallways. Fortunately they had Dan's blood trail to follow, so getting lost wasn't a concern. As they entered what looked to be a massive dining room, Oscar spied a sign before the massive looming doors at the head of the room.

"The sign says 'The Great Chamber of the Gazer' is ahead," Oscar said to the group.

"I reckon Peeper is inside. Is everyone ready?" he asked and looked back at the anxious faces of Gita and Emily. Bruno was the only one that seemed to be calm.

"Listen up, I don't know what to expect with this freak aside from being immensely dangerous. So, Emily, I'd advise you to focus on saving your brother first and foremost because I will be making zero efforts in aiding him. My main priority is eliminating the target no matter the cost. Got it?" Emily nodded her head, determination evident in her cold gaze.

"Gita, could I ask you to help me save my brother?" Gita let out a loud sigh, but went to her side anyway and promised her aid. Bruno approached the massive looming doors and gave them a hearty push. Despite their size and weight, the doors slowly creaked open, revealing what was most definitely something true to its name: a Great Chamber. The chamber was gorgeous despite how dark everything aside from the center was.

He couldn't see much aside from the large throne in the center and marble pillars that were lined up. The ceiling was painted with a breathtaking mural of stars. It was such an amazing mural that he could almost look past what was happening by the throne.

"Dan!" Emily shouted as they made their way further in the chamber. Peeper had Dan sitting upon the throne with his hands and feet bound. His head was positioned to be looking straight up at the ceiling. It was hard to see, but Oscar was pretty sure in the spot where Dan had had his eye removed, it was now somehow back. Peeper had been pacing back and forth when they had entered and now spun around upon hearing Emily's voice.

"Emi! Emi! Welcome, welcome!" Peeper said with a little dance, causing a bunch of pus to ooze out from his body of eyes.

"Gita! Bruno! And… Oscar! Brother Oscar! You've come, you've come!"

"Brother Oscar?" Gita repeated in confusion.

"One of Father's children! That's how you awoke! Father told me! Said leave whole… but I've never had brother's eye before. Lost chance with old brother…" Peeper sadly said and cast his eyes downwards.

"Brother Oscar? Give eye? Father will understand… Give eye? I have many replacements!" Oscar had no idea how to respond, but thankfully Bruno stepped in.

"Who's Father? Is it Calus?"" Calus? Calus not Father… Calus was…" Peeper stopped speaking and began to convulse violently.

"Calus is not Father! I hate Calus! New brother Oscar, eyes. Now." The convulsing stopped, and Peeper faced towards Oscar, its eyes locked onto him.

"Fuck off! I'm not your brother and I'm not giving you my eyes!" Oscar shouted. It was clear that Peeper did not like that answer. Peeper lifted its misaligned hands, and suddenly, the edges of the room that had been dark before were illuminated. Oscar felt daggers pierce his heart and heard the gasps of everyone else, including Bruno, as they saw what Peeper had done. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

Thousands upon thousands of eyes opened up all around, all looking at them. They were embedded within the walls themselves, and how that worked, he couldn't even begin to comprehend. But the eyes were all alive, that much was sure as they were all blinking at random intervals.

"Oscar, do you understand now why Calus was the biggest calamity this world ever faced?" Bruno asked.

"How can one man do this?" Gita asked back.

"I… what is wrong with this world?" Bruno snorted air out of his nose.

"Apparently, even more than I thought. As much as I want to know who this 'Father' is, I don't think we'll be getting much from Peeper." Bruno raised his arm upwards and activated [Armory Roulette]. In his hands he brought down a rapier which featured a stupidly lavish guard. The pommel had a clear quartz in it which made the weapon look even more rich.

"What a lucky draw…" Bruno muttered and then twirled the rapier around.

"Been a minute since I've seen you Belle. We got a lot of squishy things to poke, don't let me down."

"You talk to your weapon?" Oscar asked. Bruno rolled his eyes at him.

"Of course. How else am I supposed to trust them? Summon your weapon already and—" Bruno shoved Oscar out of the way. Peeper, who despite its bulky size and mangled limbs, had pounced on them without warning. As Bruno stabbed Belle at one of Peeper's eyes, Oscar used the distraction to use [Malleable Shadow].

"[Malleable Shadow: Essence of… Claws?]" he said halfheartedly. Claw weapons had always been one of his favorite archetypes in gaming besides scythes. But he truthfully didn't know if they were real weapons, or if claws was their actual name. His fears were washed away as his shadow molded itself around his hands, creating a gauntlet featuring a wicked looking blades.

"This situation is horrible and I want to leave so badly, but… wow this is pretty sick."

"Quit talking to yourself… and… help," Bruno grunted. He was on the back foot with Peeper attacking with seemingly infinite stamina.

"How are you so damned quick?" Peeper wasn't in the mood for talking and continued its rampage. But it looked to be completely focused on Bruno, so if Oscar could get close enough with it detecting him, then he could hit it with a sneak attack. Using his [Lesser Dexterity], Oscar deftly dashed behind Peeper and unleashed a fierce swipe across its back. He hadn't yet seen Peeper's back before this, but given how its front had looked… he wasn't surprised that Peeper also had eyes on its back as well.

But did that mean it was seeing out of them at all times? Turns out that the answer was yes. Despite being mid-swing, Peeper threw itself onto the ground, dodging Oscar's attack. Peeper hit the ground with a sickening squelching noise and swept a disfigured leg at Oscar's own feet. Having been taken by surprise at its sudden dodge, he was unprepared for the sweeping leg coming his way. Oscar hit the ground hard. His head banged against the corner of a pillar's base, making his vision go blurry.

Bruno was thankfully able to draw Peeper's focus back onto him, allowing him the chance to take a very small sip of a healing potion.

"This isn't going to be like Dorian at all. This thing was purposely created by Calus. It's not some random monster. Be prepared for anything and play it safe. Look for weaknesses aside from the obvious thousand eyes. Just don't let anyone die…" Oscar thought. Glancing over towards the throne, he saw that Emily and Gita were struggling to drag Dan away. He was resisting them for some reason, his head still turned upwards towards the starry mural.

"Ah, shit," Oscar cursed as he saw the eyes on the wall focus on Emily and Gita. After a second, Peeper also looked at them as well.

"Keep your eyes on me if you can, you abomination," Bruno said.

"[Trick Room]." He didn't know what that skill did, but evidently it had failed. Peeper ramped up its attacks and finally, one nail swiped Bruno across the face.

"Ugh, too many fuckin' eyes. Should have figured it'd counter that easily…" Oscar lunged forwards with his claws, but missed as Peeper dodged once again.

"Have you managed to hit this fucker at all?" he asked as he did his best to keep the momentum by throwing out a flurry of swipes. Bruno somehow let out a hearty chuckle.

"Nah, I can't even get a sneak attack in either. It just sees everything from all angles."

"Quick! I'm quick! But that's not all! Many eyes from many patrons! Many gifts!" Peeper replied in its snotty voice.

"[A Path Towards Victory]," it said, and then every single eye on Peeper's body and wall began to glow red.

"It can use skills?" Oscar asked incredulously.

"I figured it probably could, but I'd been hoping to be wrong." Bruno replied.

"Don't do anything, let me think." Both Oscar and Bruno readied themselves in a defensive position. The skill had a pretty worrisome name. So far, it seemed that fancy skill names usually meant they were pretty good. And pair that with that fact that the skill literally said it'd find the path to victory… Well, he couldn't help but be afraid.

"I see…" Peeper said as it busted out into a fit of giggles as the eyes returned to normal.

"Tricky fight! So many possibilities, but no clear ending… hmm… which one? This one? This one."

"Oscar, I want you to destroy all of those eyes on the wall. I don't know if they're doing anything, or its just meant to be creepy, but destroy as many as you can. I'll keep Peeper occupied, now go." Bruno said and held his rapier up in front of his face and spoke a new skill.

"[The Fencer's Dance]." The rapier glowed faintly and as Bruno lowered the rapier down into a combative position. Oscar blinked and saw that Bruno was on Peeper in an instant. Each stab of the rapier was so powerful that the sound of impact could be heard from afar. For once it looked like Peeper was struggling to keep up, but even still, no real blow was being scored against the creature, aside from on the limb that it used as a shield.

Springing into action, Oscar ran towards the nearest wall and dragged his shadowy claw against the rows of eyes. He could hear Peeper cry out as he continued, but Bruno demanded his full attention. Very quickly the eyes were being culled, and as he reached the halfway mark of removing the eyes that he had easy access to within his path, Peeper let out a chilling laugh.

"[Faces of Death]," Peeper said.

"I trick with tricky eyes! Bye-bye brother Oscar!" All of the eyes on wall turned to look at him directly. They changed from glowing red, to an ugly green. Oscar felt his vision go blurry, and his head began to throb. His run came to a complete halt, and he soon crashed to his knees.

"W-What's… happening?" he asked, but noticed his hearing was now gone. Slowly, he looked up and saw he was in a new room. No, not a new room; the room their cells had been in.

"Another dream?" he asked the empty room, and then two figures spawned into existence. It was what seemed to be a younger Peeper, which had fewer eyes on its body. Oscar still couldn't see Peeper's face, but its back was barren of any eyes. What his back featured was a set of gnarly back bones that looked to almost be ready to rip through his skin. A middle-aged man was cowering in front of Peeper. With a push, the man slammed down against the back of his cell.

Peeper dazed him with a strike and hauled the man over his shoulder. Peeper deposited the man on a table that hadn't been present in Oscar's cell room. With a similar clawed hand, Oscar observed as Peeper extracted the unknown man's eyes. Peeper's hole in its palm sucked up the man's eyes and this time, Oscar could see just where the eye went. A spot of skin on Peeper's upper back began to tear, and soon after, the eye emerged, filling the hole.

Before Oscar could process the events, another scene displayed itself in his eyes. It was essentially the same scene as before but with a new person. Before he could really see more, another scene entered his mind. Then another, and another… hundreds of memories flooded his thoughts, all simultaneously playing. The sensation was overwhelming. Even when Oscar closed his eyes, he was forced to experience the trauma that Peeper put his victims through.

The experience was threatening to consume him should it continue to go on any further. Desperately he begged for Calus to do something as he was the only person he thought could free him.

"Truly? This is what you call upon myself for?" Calus said as he appeared.

"Such a stupid skill. I never believed anyone would've actually been dumb enough to fall for it! Well, you're in luck that I built this dungeon in the pocket between the Abyss and Torralgia." Calus snapped his fingers and the memories ceased appearing. Oscar found himself staring at a frozen scene of the last memory that had populated his brain. He was curious about where they were located, but that'd also require having the Abyss explained… and now just wasn't the time for a lore dump.

"Maybe if you'd offered us any help, then I wouldn't have ended up in this situation!" he yelled back.

"I suppose you dying to Peeper out of all of them isn't the most fun for me to watch," Calus admitted.

"Were this Arbiter, Sovereign, or even Commander, then I'd have been more content to watch you suffer at their hands, but Peeper? I apologize, even a peasant such as yourself deserves better than to die to that wretch." Oscar was taken aback by the seemingly genuine apology.

"You… apologize?" he asked skeptically.

"Yes, even someone such as I is capable of admitting they were wrong. I simply got excited at seeing my own creation, and forgot that… I quiet resent this one," Calus said.

"What don't you resent?" Calus looked him straight into his eyes, and deep within these cold depths… he saw true evil lurking within. Raw contempt and fury overflowed, threatening to escape the malicious man's body. It was almost as if the mere thought of Peeper was evoking enough negative emotions within him that his body wasn't enough to contain them any longer.

"For all of my creations, none were done out of malice… except for Peeper," Calus stated.

"Perhaps I went too far and should have just killed him. In the moment all those years ago... Well, I just simply couldn't bear to see how my own brother looked upon me for any longer."