Ellie was on her side. She was breathing in quick shallow breaths. Whatever poison coursed through her veins was making quick work of her. I hoped that the vial of anti-venom would work.
It wasn't as simple as that in real life - each species of snake or spider had its own specific anti-venom. Injecting one anti-venom for the wrong species into someone's veins was catastrophic and could even be worse for the victim.
Crematoria Online was so much like the real world in so many ways, but I hoped that this wasn't. Ellie's life literally depended on it. I rolled her onto her back and uncorked the vial of anti-venom.
"Ellie, you need to drink this. Right now. It's going to make you feel better," I said as I lifted the glass vial to her lips. "I hope."
She didn't drink it straight away. She was trying to speak, but the fragments of words came out almost inaudibly.
"What? What are you saying?"
"Sa-bree"
"You need to drink this, now!"
"Sabrina."
The name came out like a prayer.
"Sabrina?" I asked. "Is that your daughter? Well, you're never going to see her again if you don't drink this anti-venom! Do it for Sabrina!"
Something focused within Ellie as I repeated her daughter's name to her. Her eyes opened and met mine. Then they glanced down to the vial in my hands, resting on her lips. She opened her mouth, leaning forward to the vial, and I upended it. The green liquid disappeared into her mouth, and she swallowed.
I glanced up at the Sanguine Monstrosity and my blood ran cold. It was mutating again. It was trying to stand on two powerful hind legs. It pushed itself up on misshapen arms. One still ended in a scorpion-like pincer, but the other had fused back together and grown to gargantuan proportions. The fist on the end of that arm was almost as big as me. The end of the tail, once gushing with blood was now fused back together and healed. The tail was growing shaggy fur, which was also sprouting from between the armored plates left over from its scorpion form.
The light had already returned to Ellie's eyes when I looked back down at her. One more potion, then she'd be back in the fight.
"Okay, one more, drink this healing potion, and quick." Ellie sat up. She was no longer afflicted by the Sanguine Monstrosity's venom. I handed the red healing potion to her, and she drained it in a couple of mouthfuls. When she moved again, all trace of weakness was gone.
"Thank you," she said. "I'm pretty sure you just saved my life."
"You're welcome. Sabrina - is that your daughter?"
Ellie looked away, as though that wasn't a question she wanted to answer.
"Yes," she said finally.
"The next thing that stands between you and Sabrina is that," I said as I pointed to the mutating Sanguine Monstrosity. Then, I decided to drop a movie quote and hoped that it would land. "If it bleeds, we can kill it."
She looked at the fresh blood dripping from the edge of my Acid-etched Sword and grinned. She turned to the Sanguine Monstrosity and cupped one hand around her mouth.
"Hey, you!" she yelled.
The Sanguine Monstrosity turned towards her. Its face, once human, then insect, was now something in between. The insect-like mouthparts hadn't quite reformed properly, giving it a strange set of jaws split into awkward quadrants. The Sanguine parasite living inside of it undulated just behind the savage teeth, surging with the power James had just fed to it.
"Yeah, I'm talking to you! You are one ugly motherfucker!" Ellie called, then shot me a knowing smile.
Another quote from Predator.
"I think I might be falling in love," I said.
"Calm down," Ellie said, but she kept smiling.
That's when I noticed that my Concentration Points were almost back up to 100%. The previously cast Expose Weakness didn't hold when the Sanguine Monstrosity changed forms. This time it would have a wholly different attack pattern, and a whole different seat of weaknesses.
The Sanguine Monstrosity turned towards us. Its new form had stabilized. It fell forward and landed on all fours. It looked like a horrific mix of man, scorpion and bear.
"We harvested that vial from a Colossal Ursus in the Erwyn Wilds," James said. "It is the apex predator of those lands, and quite deadly to any that are unlucky enough to get in its way. Unfortunately for you both, you're now in its way."
James grinned at us, then spoke a command to the Sanguine Monstrosity. It loped towards us, and things started happening very quickly.
I cast Expose Weakness on the monster, and it lit up like a Christmas tree. Despite the power it had been granted by the final vial, the monstrosity couldn't hold itself together properly. Lines between armored carapace left over from its scorpion form shone like beacons. Its mouth was also lit up, showing a massive critical hit spot. It reloaded my Antique Flintlock Pistol, then slid it back into the holster. It was locked and loaded, ready for when I needed to use it.
"We've done this all before, Ellie! Aim for the spots between the armored plates, and crack as much armor as you can! Bigger isn't necessarily better. It'll be slower now, so be more deliberate with your strikes. The thing's face is a massive weak spot! Aim for the jaws!"
Ellie loosed her hammer at the monstrous man-scorpion-bear-thing as she buffed both of us with her Courageous Shout ability. Her hammer smashed right into the bear's face. Paragon's Might returned to her hand in a round trip, but the Sanguine Monstrosity didn't even slow down.
I ran to one side and Ellie ran to the other. She wasn't as fast as I was, and the bear clipped her as it passed. It was still reeling from the head smash, and that might have just saved Ellie's life. She recovered quickly, then threw the hammer right at the monster's face again. This time, it raised the arm with the armored pincers on the end to block the strike.
It would have worked perfectly if a fury hadn't descended on Ellie like a storm cloud. Paragon's Might smashed into the side of the claws and shattered the armor. A spray of blood exploded from the wounds, as though it was under pressure. Ellie launched towards the monstrosity and caught Paragon's Might as she ran. I ran towards the boss monster from the other side. Sword in hand, I buried it right into a weak spot on the monster's back. I twisted the sword as I pulled it free.
Slash damage was what my sword was suited for, but slash damage wasn't the right type for this fight. I'd learned from James himself, all the way back during the Stagnant Hive dungeon. His needling of the roach hounds between their armor brought them down more quickly than wide, slashing arcs.
I saved the use of my Precision Strikes until I needed them. Ellie was doing a great job of keeping the monster focused while I whittled away at its weak spots from behind. Then, everything changed in an instant.
Had I done something to draw the Sanguine Monstrosity's attention? It suddenly turned towards me and seized me with its enormous paw. It wouldn't have been able to grab me like that if it was just a regular bear, but this bear had human in it somewhere, and that human had thumbs. Four enormous fingers encircled me, and I felt the skin on my back split open as the claws sunk in deep. The claw on its thumb sunk into the skin under my armpit, and even though the pain was excruciating, the thing that I was most worried about was how ruined my suit was going to be after we killed this damned thing. I'd probably have to replace it after we were done.
My health bar was draining rapidly. A message flashed up that told me I had been grievously wounded.
This was bad. Very bad.
The Sanguine Monstrosity raised me towards its maw, which was opened like a corpse flower waiting to end me.
"No!" Ellie roared from behind me. I couldn't see her, but I could almost feel the waves of fury that radiated from her. "We haven't come this far to let it end here!"
Paragon's Might was in the air again. I heard it, but I couldn't see it. An enormous pressure bloomed on my back, and for a moment I thought it was the bear squeezing the life out of me, but then the boss monster bellowed. Not in rage, nor in challenge, but in agony. Another impact, and another r
oar of pain. Its grip lessened, and I felt myself slipping out of its hand. As I slid out of the Sanguine Monstrosity's grip, the claws that had already bitten deep slid deeper. They tore at me. When it finally dropped me, I landed in a broken heap and could barely get back to my feet.
I took a deep breath and my ribs hurt with the pressure.
Ellie faced off against the Sanguine Monstrosity. One regular sized woman in plate armor with nothing but a hammer and a shield standing between her and a fifteen-foot tall human-scorpion-bear hybrid.
The fingers on the monstrosity's massive hand were all broken and swollen like overstuffed sausages. The Sanguine Monstrosity held that hand close to its chest. Ellie moved in, but with its main attack arm neutralized, it was a battle of willpower. Ellie traded blows with it, countering each thrust of its pincer-hand with her shield, or deftly dodging out of the way.
Even though she was wearing that heavy armor, she could move.
Paragon's Might flew out of her hand and slammed into the monster at every available opening until the Sanguine Monstrosity faltered. One of its back legs started to shake, then collapsed underneath it. It tried to prop itself up on its broken hand and stumbled again. It bellowed at Ellie, but this time it sounded afraid. I almost thought I heard it trying to form words.
Words like no, and I'm sorry, and please stop.
Ellie didn't stop. She continued beating the Sanguine Monstrosity down until its massive face was a bloody pulp. The Sanguinari parasite wormed out of the tenderized meat that had once been a face, and she brought Paragon's Might down, utterly destroying it. The Sanguine Monstrosity whimpered as it died. It was then, as the life faded from the monster that I remembered that only moments ago this creature was a little boy, infected by the Crimson Order to become a weapon.
Delivered by James Treborn.
Ellie stood back, covered in blood. She wore it like war paint, and I suppose in a way it was. She rushed over to me and helped keep me upright. If she hadn't done it, I might not have been able to stand for much longer.
We both gained a decent chunk of experience for felling the beast, but no loot panel appeared as I inspected the Sanguine Monstrosity's corpse. Damn. After all that, we didn't even get any loot. Just experience points.
"Are you okay?" she asked. "You look bad. Really bad."
"I don't feel good," I admitted. "According to the last message that popped up, I'm grievously wounded. My health bar isn't regenerating, even though we're out of combat, and I'm all out of health potions."
"We might not be out of combat just yet," Ellie said.
She shot a pointed look towards James Treborn, who was standing off to the side with a grin on his face.
Chapter Forty-One
The Gate of Blood and Bone
James Treborn clapped his hands together.
Ellie and I steeled ourselves for the next assault. I stumbled, exhausted and low on health.
"Wonderful! Just wonderful!" James said as he walked over to us. He deftly avoided the rapidly spreading pool of blood leaking out of the Sanguine Monstrosity's massive frame. "This is even better than I could have anticipated."
"Are you insane?" I asked. "That was a kid, and you turned him into that - that thing! You set him on us like an attack dog!"
"Ah, but I learned a very important lesson. One change works well, but two changes? Well, unless the host is remarkably strong then it can cause some instability in the new form. Very interesting."
"You're a monster," Ellie said through gritted teeth.
"No, I'm a realist," James replied levelly. "The Crimson Queen has the means and the ambition to invade Crematoria, and she will achieve her goals, which are noble. You're only new to Eldin, but I'm sure you've felt the thumb of the Empire squashing everybody's spirits. Between the Empire, the Dominion, and their war they will destroy Crematoria. But Andestra will not. She will unite us under one wondrous cause."
"That's called brainwashing!" Ellie roared.
"To the uneducated, I can see how it may appear that way. In reality, it is a joining of mind, body and a higher calling. A connection to all others that share in the boon of the Sanguinari. You will both understand once you receive the blessing yourself."
"Is that what this is?" I asked. "A test? Were you just trying to work out whether or not we were worthy recruits?"
"Yes," he said simply. "It wasn't always like that. Initially I meant to kill you both. But as I watched you both overcome trials that should have killed you, I started to think that you might have what it takes to join our ranks. I am quite pleased that I was right!"
"We will never join you," Ellie said.
"You'll have to kill us first," I said.
James reached into his coat pocket. Ellie and I braced ourselves for an attack.
"That would be a waste of resources," James said as he pulled a health potion out of his coat. "Here, take this Lucas. You're not going to last much longer if you keep bleeding like that. Oh, and don't worry about that suit. Mister Willoughby can repair it for you at no charge. His suits come with a lifetime warranty."
I took the health potion from James. We were within striking distance, but he made no move to attack us. I held the health potion aloft and looked into the swirling red liquid. It looked just the same as the health potion I had given to Ellie earlier. I inspected it closely for anything that might be an immature Sanguinari parasite or a tiny egg.
"It's just a health potion," James said. "Come now. Drink it or you'll die, and I don't want that."
I drank the health potion. My HP started rising immediately, and a message appeared in the bottom of my view proclaiming that I was no longer grievously wounded.
James motioned us to follow him. "Come now. There's something I wish to show you."
The drawbridge leading into the barracks began rising behind us. There were still Crimson Order Initiates here, then. They had probably seen us triumph over the Sanguine Monstrosity, and I didn't blame them for wanting to stay away from us.
James led us away from the barracks. It was entirely possible that he could have been leading us into a trap, but somehow, I didn't think so. He could have killed us right then and there while we were weakened, but he didn't. He also could have called on the reserve Crimson Initiates to come and capture us, but he hadn't done so. He had healed me.
He kept talking as we walked. "Right now, we can only enter Crematoria in very small groups. Two or three at a time, at most. We generally like to bring at least one or two candidates back with us into Sanguinaria when we return, so most of the time we make the journey alone. It's really not a very efficient way of launching an invasion if you ask me."
God damn, that guy liked the sound of his own voice. The arrogance dripped from every syllable. I got the feeling that James thought he would be able to plan the invasion better than whoever, or whatever, was currently in charge.
"That's your plan? Invasion?" Ellie asked.
"I thought that much would be obvious. We've been taking gifted members of the community and providing them with our blessing for some time."
"People from Eldin?" I asked.
"Yes, and from Dregswyk. Sometimes places a little further afield, though our presence is not all that widespread just yet. Once we gain a foothold in Dregswyk, then we can look at opening other gates. We're primarily interested in recruiting people in positions of influence so that when we do take over Dregswyk and Eldin, we can take control of the systems that control the people."
"What then? What happens when you enter Crematoria and launch the invasion for real? You overthrow the Emperor? What happens after that? What do you hope to achieve?" Ellie continued.
James looked at her like she was a child who couldn't possibly understand what he was about to say.
"Then, we'll spread the blessing of the Sanguinari to the strong. Those who are unworthy will be cattle. Food to fuel us. The Crimson Queen will not rest until she has her revenge."
"Revenge?" I asked. "For what?"
<
br /> "For her banishment," James said simply. "Queen Andestra and her Sanguinari once ruled the Redmarsh on the border between the Four Kingdoms and the Erwyn Wildlands, but the Four Kings could not abide her and her children. They saw them as a corruption, not as the gift they truly are. The Four Kings banded together with the Erwysh ritualists and banished her to this forsaken realm. She has waited here, in her city of Sanguinaria, for the opportunity to return and re-take what is rightfully hers."
"Your gift sounds more like a death sentence," Ellie said.
"For the unworthy, it is. Just look at what happened to the boy. He was not strong enough to withstand what his Sanguinari demanded of him. Strength will be rewarded in the new Sanguinari Empire. Would you like to see the mechanism of Crematoria's demise?"
Ellie and I looked at each other.
"That sounds like a threat," I said.
James sighed. "If I wanted to kill you, you'd both already be dead. Come on. I'm going to give you a glimpse into the future."
James led us further and further from the barracks. He led us through a winding tunnel wide enough to march four men abreast. The sides of the tunnel were not shaped by nature, and it did not feel like a coincidence that it was located so close to the barracks. This pathway was designed to allow the Sanguinari to mobilize easily and travel quickly. There was light at the end of this tunnel.
It would have been so easy to take advantage of the situation. I could cast Expose Weakness without drawing any attention, load my flintlock, and use my Precision Strike skill to land a critical hit on one of his weak spots before James had a chance to counter-attack.
I wanted to do it. Not because it was smart, or tactically sound - picking a fight in this enclosed space would have been a stupid move. I didn't care about being stupid, all I felt was anger at James lying to us this whole time. He had been the one who kidnapped John Byrne to start with, who had orchestrated this whole contrived fiction of trying to find the boy, and who had led us into danger in the hopes that we would perish.
Rise of the Crimson Order: A Crematoria Online LitRPG Novel Page 34