Case 206: Goatman.
I've been wanting to do this ever since the serpent incident.
Which is summoning another horror.
Although arbitrary, I can feel that the skill's limit has increased, and the system's display also reflects it. I've just been occupied with other matters for a while.
And... I only decided what I want to call just now.
So, for starters, since we're still short on manpower right now, I need a powerful entity—as powerful as possible. The list is seemingly endless, and it's not like I don't have a few options already in mind.
But not long ago, I experienced a strange phenonon. It felt as though sothing was drawing to it. Like... sothing was calling from the void's depths, wishing to be brought into reality.
Void's depths.
Void.
Yeah, it's definitely that Aurora's soul that was speaking to . Sothing in her void wants to 'be alive.' I haven't asked the person herself, but from her smile... I'd figured she would leave it to —whether I choose her horror or mine.
Well, I have my decision now.
Without the other , I certainly wouldn't be here, after all, and her horror is also my horror. Since... we're the sa person.
But before that...
''Why are you guys still here?''
I narrow my eyes at the girls flocking this way. It has been a few minutes since their supposed training session ended, but none of them has left yet.
''We're curious, of course,'' Sierra replies, grinning slightly. ''At least, I am. Your summons are always so... beautiful.''
''...''
Curiosity, huh.
Indeed, even the scaredy cats, naly Claire, Chloe, and Nydia, are hiding behind Sierra, but with their heads poked out.
''Hey, can't you call sothing more... cute this ti...?'' Chloe furrows her brows.
''Cute? Isn't this guy cute enough?''
Following my signal, Blob, who's in its deer form, snuggly steps forward, eyes round and sparkling. Yet, despite Blob's undeniable charms, the girl recoils, shoulders trembling.
''Not in the slightest!'' She yelps. ''M-Make it go away!''
...Right. Chloe's always been scared of the uncanny stuff.
In any case, after instructing everybody to stand sowhat far away from , I start the process. This ti around, even I don't know what's going to descend, so there's a rather peculiar excitent.
''Phew...''
Slowly, I let the void, which has been dormant until now, take over from the inside out. Feeling the countless creatures crawl out of it, the murky, ravenous arms creeping ceaselessly, like a wall of worms.
Sowhere in that scene, one entity exerts the strongest will.
One creature, the embodint of darkness—
''Goatman.''
I unknowingly mutter.
Goatman has many variations, as it is an urban legend, not a fictional creation with known stories attached to it. Needless to say, its form varies.
But the Goatman in front of stands nearly three ters tall—no, 'float' might be a better word to describe his appearance. Two bright red, gleaming eyes inside a goat skull's eye sockets, with horns proudly flaring to the sides. Most strikingly, his body is a sh of black, sowhat transparent smoke drifting in the air.
At least, that's what his outer appearance is.
Under that veil of dark magic, he looks like... a goat man. Again, a tall, fur-covered, muscular body with a prominent chest, but a human head instead. He looks like one of those handso middle-aged hunters in dramas. Stern. Of course, the horns remain, too.
I like this one a lot.
''Hm... as expected.''
Ignoring the girls' screams behind , I stare into Goatman's blood-red eyes. I'd felt the similarity when he ca into existence, but now that I really scrutinize his appearance...
''...You were the one who killed the Witch of Calamity of Skely's era, weren't you?'' I softly ask, expecting so sort of affirmation.
In the undead siblings' mories that I saw so ti ago, the two were defeated by a powerful Witch of Calamity. Yet, at so point, I also saw an entity that bore an extre resemblance to this Goatman tearing apart that woman.
Goatman nods unceremoniously.
If it were the old , I would have had lots of questions. Now, I know it was probably Aurora's shenanigans again. For reasons unknown, she decided to send Goatman back in ti to help the undead siblings, regardless of whether they realize it or not.
Still, if it results in our eting and eventual friendship, then I won't complain.
Now, there is so exciting stuff I want to check out.
First of all, as a horror summon, Goatman feels rather distinct compared to the other. Perhaps he seems more 'independent,' which isn't to say that our connection lacks depth. He'd just been called and manifested before by the other void in .
It's like I resurrected Goatman, not birthed him.
''Goatman...''
He probably won't need a new na. Not really my place to na my future self's creation.
''Goatman, what can you do?''
Coolness aside, I also care about performance. It seems that as I progressively get stronger, my summons' lower bar also rises. Evidently, Blob, the Not Deer, is quite powerful despite having a lower level on paper.
Goatman's case is vague.
It is said that he is responsible for many deaths and missing cases, and accounts of his abilities vary, so I can't exactly guess what he is made of. Right now, Goatman's specialty seems to be dark magic—not the kind that demons use, but more similar to fictional dark magic.
As he weaves his shadow fingers along the air, manifesting so sort of wobbly, ink-like spears, I lightly erect an ice wall nearby. Even if I say that, its properties are so pure and powerful that hardly anything can scratch it.
''Oh?''
Despite that, when Goatman hurls those things at the ice block, it readily corrodes away.
''Dark magic encompasses the chasm of human desires. So long as sacrifices are made, it can accomplish anything.''
Or so Goatman explains with a ringing, deep voice.
''What kind of sacrifices?'' I ask.
''Humans.''
Straightforward, huh?
I'll probably have to feed him so of those cultists later. It's been a while since I have encountered them, actually.
In any case, after so ticulous testing, I've grasped Goatman's power sowhat. Dark magic seems really versatile as it allows him to do almost anything. It has attacking capabilities, defensive properties, and powerful utilities like tracking, sensing, camouflaging, and even teleportation to a reasonable extent.
Overall, even at level 1, Goatman is formidable.
''I guess you can greet the others now. You guys get along, alright?''
Without saying a word, Goatman gazes at the horror squad, who sit behind so trees not far away, observing us. Thankfully, the noisy girls are now gone, each having so sort of work to attend to. In short, they got dragged away. A rry Zircon is also good, but nothing beats the grim, tranquil Zircon.
While watching Goatman awkwardly exchanges greetings with his seniors, another important question arises in my mind.
''...Are you there, Aurora?''
Silence.
I guess she's not.
Anyway, I was just wondering if her void, which seems endlessly deep, might just devour mine later. By then... I wouldn't be myself anymore, right?
I can only wait.
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