The Crimson Fang

Everyone was looking up from the basin, now. They gave a surprised gasp when they realized the Joseph was standing there. Elder Simon walked over to him. “Incredible! You have unlocked the secret of Shadow-Walking! How did you do it? I must know!” “To tell you the truth, I really have no idea how I did it. I was just thinking that I needed to find a way home, and now I stand before you.”

“I do apologize for interrupting, but there are some pressing matters that we must attend to. Alice, Jewel, the two of you follow me. I will arrange for the two of you to be turned, immediately. Elder Simon, I would like you to come with us as well. Sakura, I need you to gather my messengers. If one Altros is free, then there may be others, as well. I will need to inform the other races, so that they may ready themselves. Ami, Geoffrey, and Drakenarius, the three of you will go train. If the ancient evil has escaped, I need everybody in peak condition. Sakura, you will go join them once you have completed your task.” “What would you have me do, my King?” King Artemus turned to Joseph. “You have leave to go get some rest. After all that has happened, you certainly have earned it. I will send for you when I require your presence.” With that, Joseph was alone. He decided to go home and rest, instead of his room in the castle.

As Joseph made his way home, a siren began to sound. That isn’t good. A siren means that there are invaders. But who would possibly…The Altros! He turned back to head toward the castle, just as the siren stopped. No. That means they’ve reached the castle already! I have to hurry! Now, how did that go? He began to feel the sensation of Shadow-Walking, and closed his eyes. When he opened them, he was standing in the throne room. He stifled a gasp at the sight of the other members of the Crimson Fang, bound, standing around a lump on the floor. He recognized the lump as King Artemus.

Joseph was surveying the room, trying to plan his attack, when he felt breathing on the back of his neck. He turned his head, revealing a humungous two-headed dog. One of the heads was growling, revealing four rows of sharp teeth. The other head had its tongue out, wagging. The second head licked Joseph. “Umm, good dog?” The Altros canine leapt at him, forcing him to jump out of the way. He was now standing out in the open, having jumped from behind the pillar he had been using to hide. The Altros that had been talking to each other stopped and turned to stare at him. “Umm…Hi,” he told them. They looked at their prisoners. “If I didn’t know any better, I would say that they were smiling,” one exclaimed. “That is preposterous. We have just murdered their king, right before their very eyes. The very idea that they would be anything, besides grief stricken, is absolutely deplorable,” replied another. “Wait,” began a third, “this one finds this Crimson Noble to be familiar.” “As much as I love to be spoken of, as if I’m not here,” Joseph’s blades slid into his hands, “this is all very anticlimactic.” “I know! He’s the one what killed Zalterosand! Get him!” Immediately, he was beset by twenty Altros. He managed to quickly behead two of them, but knew that he would be needing support. He retreaded to one of the nearby windows, and leapt out. He landed in the city streets, looking around. Everyone was going about their business, as if nothing was happening. “The Altros have invaded Crimsonia! They’ve slain King Artemus!” Nobody believed him. “Don’t’ be ridiculous. The siren was a false alarm. Probably just testing to make sure it works. The Altros are sealed away.” “The siren stopped because the Altros killed the guards that were sounding it!” “Where is your proof?” The castle doors flew open.

The Crimson Nobles stared, as the Crimson Fang got led outside on leashes. Their eyes gaped wide with horror when they saw what was holding them. The Altros looked angry. “We were planning to do this in a subtle manner, without calling too much attention to us. But, of course, you’ve changed all that.” One Altros spoke loud enough for the crowd to hear it. “Those who stand against us, who do not have the good fortune of death, shall become our slaves. Just as your precious Crimson Fang have. Those of you wishing to test their skills against us are more than welcome to step forward. Know that you have been warned.” Joseph took a combat stance, not sure of what would happen next. If he had to fight alone, he would take as many Altros down with him as he could. To his surprise, he heard the sound of weapons being drawn and raised behind him! He glanced back, revealing a small army of Crimson Nobles, ready to fight for their home. He smiled and turned back to the Altros. He yelled, “Prepare for war!” and the two forces charged at each other. For hours, both sides clashed, not showing any gain for either. Joseph had attempted numerous times to rescue his friends, only to be repelled by the Altros. He needed to think, and fast.

He decided that he needed to boost the morale of the Crimson Nobles, and lower that of the Altros. He looked at the leader, an idea forming quickly. The sky turned dark, clouds circling overhead. A flash of light appeared and a beam shot down to Joseph. He lifted his hand, aiming at his target. “Dragon’s Fury Blast!” Once again, a beam of light shot out and struck the Altros leader, who was quickly reduced to dust. Cheers rang out from the Crimson Noble army, seeing that their enemies could die. The remaining Altros were completely silent, having watched a single Crimson Noble destroy their leader. Joseph’s plan seemed to have worked. The Crimson Nobles were now fighting with more energy than before, while the demoralized Altros were doing all they could to attempt to fight them back. Joseph managed to get to the other Fang members, but couldn’t release them from their bounds, no matter what he did. “They said the only way to release the bindings is to kill the ones who bound us.” “Sounds like a plan. Which ones?” Each of the prisoners pointed at a different Altros. “Well, this should be fun,” Joseph sighed as he moved to the one Ami pointed toward.

It was fairly easy to kill this target. Of course, Joseph was comparing it to Zalterosand. Judging by the way the Altros had identified him as Zalterosand’s killer; he must have been pretty powerful, even among them. This Altros had barely even put up a fight! It had made on wild swing, which was easily avoided. Joseph didn’t even break a sweat, dodging the blow, as he quickly beheaded his mark. An arrow flew past Joseph’s head, embedding itself in the Altros, signalling Ami’s freedom. “Right! Who’s next?”

Joseph was answered by two Altros. One was Sakura’s captor. The Altros resembled a praying mantis-like creature, with two razor sharp blades for arms. The other, standing fifteen feet tall, with arms the size of trees was the one who held Geoff’s binding. “Well, that’s just lovely.” The two of them charged together.

The Mantis swung both of its arms at Joseph. As Joseph focused on avoiding the blade-like appendages, Ami was shooting at the giant, keeping it distracted. As Joseph was about to deliver a killing blow to the Mantis, a humungous fist slammed right into his path. He changed his sword’s trajectory, and it stuck fast in the giant’s neck. Using this opportunity, he brought his other sword to the other side of the giant’s neck, and cut its head off. It was too late that he noticed the double strike from the Mantis, coming right for him. As he tried to defend, a huge hammer came crashing into the Mantis, knocking it over. The hammer then came down on the Mantis’ head, crushing it. “Sorry I took so long,” Geoff chuckled.

All that remained was the Altros that held Draken’s leash. The four free Fang members moved in to surround it. This Altros was extremely different from the others. He was a small, pale, weak creature, looking almost human. When he saw the Fang moving in, he dropped to his knees, begging for his life. “What is your life worth to us? We have no reason, nor desire, to allow an Altros to live. Not to mention, you kind of have our friend hostage.” As Joseph moved closer, the others cheering him on, the Altros’ eyes lit up “Ami? Is that you?

Ami took a step back at the mention of her name. “I suppose you wouldn’t remember me. You were just a baby the last time I saw you, and I doubt that your mother would have told you about me. You have her eyes, as well as her skill with a bow.” Joseph placed a blade at the Altros’ throat. “I believe you have Ami at a bit of a disadvantage. Who are you, and what does Ami mean to you?” “My name is Davinthos. Ami is my daughter.”