The Crimson Fang

“What do you mean, you know the secret?” Geoff was shaking Joseph as he asked. Joseph grabbed his hands and put them at his side. “I mean that I can teach you all how to shadow-walk. Magnaros uncovered the secret art, which I learned when I drank his blood.” The other members of the Crimson Fang looked at each other, surprised by this information. Draken grabbed Joseph’s shoulders. “What’s the secret? Tell me!” Draken had secretly been jealous of Joseph’s innate ability to use this ancient technique. Since Draken couldn’t use it, this meant that his quest to be the greatest could never be fulfilled. “Close your eyes and clear your thoughts. Forget everything but the sound of my voice. Now, envision the room next to us. Next, picture yourself in there, convincing yourself that you absolutely must be there. Keep that picture, and walk forward.” When the four of them opened their eyes, they were actually in the next room! They looked at each other, smiling, and then at Joseph, sitting in a chair across the room from them. Draken cracked his knuckles. “This is going to make things much easier.” Plus, now there’s one less thing that Joseph can do that I can’t. I’m one step closer to being the best. The group walked back to the study. “Congratulations! Unfortunately, you will only be able to travel the distance you just did, for now. With practice, however, you will be able to travel much further.” “Why is that?” The four were looking at him, demanding a reason. “Your first time, you were able to travel all the way home!” “My shadow-walk was deep down in my blood, dormant. I had to unlock the ability, but it was always there. When I awoke it, it was available for me to utilize. However, even the distance I could travel then was much shorter than I can now. You four are learning how to do it, much like learning how to fight. The more you do it, the better you will be and the more naturally it will flow. It will help when we attack the Altros, so practice as often as you can.”

Which brings me to my next question,” Geoff started. “Where is the High Lord, and when do we attack?” Everyone turned and looked at Joseph again, expectantly. “He is hiding in the sewers.” “But we’ve already searched there!” “There is a hidden area, in the deepest section of the sewer. It doesn’t show up on the blueprints of the city. It is behind there that the Altros dwell.” “When will we attack, then? Now that their magician has been destroyed, they’re going to know we are here, and they’ll be expecting us.” “We attack tonight. They are going to be expecting us to wait, while we prepare ourselves. That is, if they even know that we know their location. Besides, the strategic thing to do would be to wait, which is why the gambit will pay off. If they do know that their location is known, they will also move in the time we would wait. An attack tonight is the best option available to us, as well as the most unexpected. Are there any objections to this strategy?” Everyone shook their heads, offering their salute. “Excellent. Let’s get ready to go, then.”

As night began to fall on the city of Carten, the Crimson Fang made their way to the sewers. They used an entrance that they knew would be unguarded, based on their expeditions into the putrid undercity. They made their way through the labyrinth of tunnels with effortless ease, as Sakura had studied the maps thoroughly. Eventually, they came to a complete halt, as Joseph suddenly stopped, staring at a wall. “This is it.” He began feeling around the wall, eventually pushing a brick in, causing the wall to open.

Inside the wall was a long, dark tunnel. Along the mouldy bricks, there were countless bones. Rats and other small animals had already made the wrong choice on which way to turn, causing them to meet an untimely end. Mixed in with the animal bones, were skeletons of humans, having been picked clean long ago. The human bones confirmed that the Fang was definitely on the right path. They began to make their way down the tunnel, until they heard a clicking sound. They jumped back as a giant axe began to swing in front of them. Oh, good,” Draken said sarcastically, “traps. I was just thinking that this little adventure was missing something.” Ami picked up a bone and tossed it to the end of the tunnel. Floor spikes and other traps began to spring to life as well, and then retreated to their original states.

“Time to practice some shadow-walking,” Joseph informed the others. The five of them focussed on the end of the tunnel and, one by one, managed to shadow-walk to their destination. They were now standing by an old oak door, which they could hear voices through. “But they got Magnaros! We should relocate, while they’re regrouping!” “Even if Magnaros had revealed our location, the Crimson Nobles would want to plan their attack, instead of rushing in. They are, after all, very big on their rules and procedures.” “I agree. Besides, Magnaros would never betray us. He would take the secret of our location to the grave. We shall remain here.” “But, Lord Cypros…” “Enough! I have spoken!”

The door opened, and a smaller Altros came out. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust, just in time to see the blade strike at his throat. The voices inside the room fell completely silent, as five Crimson Nobles walked through the door. There were no more than seven Altros remaining, with one sitting on a poor excuse for a throne, built completely of bones. “Humans? How is it you made it past our traps? It matters not, as you will be dead soon. Vanthros, attack!” A large Altros lumber over to the intruders.

It almost seems a waste to kill such resourceful humans, Cypros thought, but they did find our hideout. While leaving them alive could prove to be useful to us, it could also compromise us, especially if they are in the employ of the Crimson Nobles. As soon as he thought of the Crimson Nobles, Vanthros fell, lifeless, to the floor. “What?! How could mere humans kill the hulking Vanthros?” He then realized that the humans he was looking at were really the Crimson Nobles that he had been hiding from. “You,” he hissed, practically spitting venom. “Which one of you scumbags killed Magnaros?” Rather than answer, Joseph replied by snapping his fingers, creating a vine, which sprouted from the throne, restraining Cypros. “Attack! Kill the one that snapped his fingers!”

The five free Altros charged directly for Joseph, but were intercepted by the others. He ran right past them all, right at Cypros. “Cypros, is it?” The Altros nodded, spitting at Joseph. “Altros High Lord Cypros, you have been marked for death by Albert, King of the Crimson Nobles. This mark has been approved by the High Council of Races, and will be carried out by me, Joseph, the Crimson Dragon. Do you have any last words?” “Yes. You may kill me, but others will sprout up in my place. The Altros are not merely a race, but an ideal. So long as evil exists, we will be there, waiting to exploit it. So, do your worst.” “What an inspiring load of tripe. By the authorization of the High Council of Races, die.” Joseph sliced through Cypros’ neck, allowing his head to roll along the ground, away from his body.

The others stood around the last Altros to offer any resistance. He was on his knees, begging for his life. Joseph walked over. “For what reason should we spare you, Altros? What does your life offer us?” “I can lead you to another of the High Lords.” “Why would you betray your brethren?” “It has become clear to me who will be the ones to obtain victory in this war. It is not like the last time we walk the Earth. You have strength and knowledge that was unpossessed before, and we have been reduced to hiding, waiting for you to hunt us down. You have already slain numerous High Lords, as well as countless others of our race. You have made it abundantly clear that you will continue to hunt us, no matter how long it takes, no matter the cost. This hunt has at least proven that.” “You realize that if we were to spare your life, you would be transported to the Crimson Noble capital, as a prisoner of war.” “I do. Perhaps I will eventually be accepted into your ranks, as a Crimson Noble, in return for my service.” “Where is this High Lord you speak of?” “She is here, in Carten. She showed up about a year ago.” “She? I wasn’t aware you actually had genders.” “Normally, we don’t. She is a special case. That is why she was granted a position as a High Lord.” “What is her name?” “Her name is Allison.”