Sunny turned his head towards the direction of the tree
As he saw-
A crimson tree rose into the sky like a tower, its branches wide enough to cover the whole Ashen Barrow in their shade. Its bark was as black as the water of the Dark Sea, while its leaves were as red as blood. The crimson crown of this majestic tree looked incredibly vibrant and magnificent in contrast to the gray sky
This magnificent tree stands atop the Ashen Barrow with its onyx branches and vibrant scarlet leaves. It looked striking and majestic. Its fruits, hanging between the scarlet leaves, were round and appetizing.
'What the....' Sunny gulped as he looked at the towering tree, Nephis just stared into the distance, a slight frown on her face, While Raizel narrow his eyes.
Sunny turned towards Vasiliy group and asked "Don't tell me that we need to destroy that thing."
Vasiliy quickly shook his head as he said. "No not that but the creature that is below the tree."
Sunny frowned as he turn around again and looked closely, what he saw made his blood run cold.
A large bolder No!, it was not a bolder but a large creature size of a two story house with its eight segmented legs resembling tall pillars. Its form was similar to that of scavengers and centurions, comprised of a crab-like carapace and a protruding, somewhat humanoid torso but instead of chitin, the behemoth's shell was seemingly made out of polished, lustrous metal.
The steel monster resembled a giant knight but it radiated a sinister aura. The polished armor of the creature was covered with long, jagged spikes. Its humanoid torso had four mighty arms, two ending with powerful pincers, the other two with razor-sharp, terrifying scythes.
The demon's head was more pronounced than that of a scavenger and crowned with several tall, sharp horns. Its metal face was almost human-like but simultaneously repulsively monstrous and bestial.
"What the fuck is that!!" Sunny couldn't help but pointed his shake finger at the monster, he glanced at Vasiliy as if asking for answers.
"That's a Carapace Demon." said Vasiliy as he gesture Alex who explain about the Demon and it's abilities.
Hearing the explanation of it's abilities, and the part where it can commend other scavengers, it suddenly clicked on Nephis and Sunny minds that just three days ago, they also saw two Awakened monster taking soul shards and heading towards west.
'So those shards were for this monster huh.' thought Sunny grimly as he glanced at Nephis who also seems to be thinking the same thing, he was now thankful of Raizel who has warned him the danger beforehand. It also made him more amazed of how Raizel perceives things around him, like he is already thinking ten steps ahead.
He then looked at the Vasiliy group, who were also looking at them.
"So...i guess we are working now huh." said Sunny as much as he hates to, they will need allies to defeat that Demon.
Vasiliy let out a small smile as he nodded his head.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
It was now two days after they had met with Vasiliy's group. In these two days Raizel group were resting and taking breaks from the fighting, they were also making plans. A hunting plan to find a reliable way to kill the Carapace Demon.
In these times Raizel also asked a question, a question that seems to be on everyone mind's.
It was the second day and they were all sitting in a circle around the fire that Raizel made.
"You seems to know so much about this Demon, Vasiliy" said Raizel his gaze directly locking on the white knight.
Sunny also has the same question but he hold himself back from asking after all, everyone has their own secrets.
"Well it is better to prepare in advance then face the consequences later, right!" he said with a smile on his face, a smile that Sunny didn't like. He also didn't explain how he knows about all of this, it seems like his message was clear that he is not explaining anything.
'Consequences he says huh.' thought Sunny as he glanced at Raizel who didn't said anything just looking at the fire pit.
This night, Cassie also has a vison as she said, "I saw Ashen Barrow deep in the night, wrapped in a furious storm. The winds bent the branches of the great tree, as if desperate to break them. The island was illuminated by the constant barrage of thundering lightning, with rain falling from the skies like a flood."
She paused, caught her breath, and continued,
"The Shell Demon was there, standing in the midst of the storm like an unbreakable fortress made of polished steel. Arcs of electricity danced between the spikes of its armor, but the demon paid them no mind. It was exactly as Isaac described... proud, sinister, and terrifying."
"When I looked into its eyes, I felt... a sense of emptiness and corruption. It watched the storm until it began to dissipate. The winds weakened, the rain stopped. The great tree remained intact, as magnificent as before. But then, the last lightning bolt fell from the sky and struck the ground beside it."
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Vasiliy (POV)
'Finally, her vision came. Now we just need Raizel to mention the plan to lure a creature from the black ocean to hurt the demon so we can all kill it together, like a team' Vasiliy thought as he glanced at Raizel who was just listing quietly to the whole conversation.
Meanwhile, Cassie was ready to continue:
"That lightning bolt could never harm the Demon, much less the miraculous tree. However, when it struck the ground, it ignited the fallen leaves covering the surface of Ashen Barrow. Soon, a large part of the island was engulfed in flames. In the absolute darkness of the night, it shone like a beacon."
"Before the flames went out, the dark sea surged, and a... a thing emerged from it, covering almost the entire slope of Ashen Barrow with its body. It looked like a... a mass of bones and rotten flesh connected by black seaweed, with thousands of horrible eyes staring hungrily at me from below, with tentacles writhing as it pushed towards the great tree."
Her face turned slightly green, it seems like just remembering about the abomination has made Cassie feel nauseous, but she gritted her teeth and continued speaking.
"That was the most repulsive creature I have ever seen in my life. However, it seemed slow and clumsy, as if being on land, out of the black water, was weakening it. The Demon did not hesitate to pounce on the creature, ignoring the fact that it was at least ten times its size. It was like... like it had completely lost its mind, enraged by the intrusion on the island."
After that their was a few seconds of silence with was broken by Raizel.
"How did the demon survive?" asked Raizel as he hold Cassie hands, trying to calm her down from the panic attack that she might be having.
The blind girl hesitated.
"I... I don't know. I didn't see the battle itself, only its beginning and its end. At dawn, the Shell Demon crawled back to the shadow of the great tree. It was gravely injured, missing several legs, and its scythes were covered in a web of cracks. The fire had been extinguished, and there was no sign of the sea creature in sight."
She paused for a moment and then said quietly,
"The most terrible wound was on its chest. The demon's steel armor was fractured and split, revealing the heart beating inside. Rivers of blue blood flowed from the wound, mixing with the ashen sand. The demon crawled to the base of the tree and placed its shattered body among its roots."
"The last thing I saw was the passage of time. I don't know how long it took, but eventually, the Shell Demon managed to recover from its wounds. Its scythes were restored, its legs grew back. The fracture in its chest was the last to heal; however, it did not heal completely, there is still a weakness in its armor."
After the blind girl's vision, Raizel devised a plan, which other nodded expect for Sunny who retaliate but went silent after one look from Raizel, other didn't really care much about Sunny maybe expect for Maya who did however tried to cheer him up.
"Don't worry Sunny the Demon will not eat you, considering that you are way too average for it's taste." she said with a cheerfull smile, making the other's around her laugh a little.
Sunny said nothing but looked at her darkly, his thoughts unknown.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
'Yeah, i hate that girl.'
Sunny was ridding Raizel Echo and was running towards the centurion demon like a mad men.
'Damn it, why me again' cursed Sunny mentally as he was again told to become a bait to attract the monster. He remember the fucked up plan made by that Beautiful Purple Basted.
The plan was simple Sunny would ride Raizel Echo and take the attention of the centurion demon, while the other seven would run towards the top of an immense hill, towards the tree that adorned its great ashen body.
Sunny look at the centurion demon who was too charging at him with full force.
ROARRR!!! It also let out quite a roar, that seems have shaken up Sunny whole.
'Damn it!!!, if i die i swore my soul will hunt you forever, Raizel!!' Sunny angrily thought as he summoned his Azure blade, as he looked up and saw that the Demon was just inches away from him.
Just as Sunny was about to clash he felt someone holding him, then he saw a purple flash and Sunny was now standing on the tree looking at Nephis who seems to be confused too.
'What!?' Sunny startled as to what just happen, one second he was cursing Raizel and next second he was standing on one of the branches of the tree.
Then he heard Raizel cold voice.
"The demon just destroyed my echo." His voice sounded emotionless as as if the Echo death did not matter to him.
The other sleepers did not said anything else as they just nodded their head, expect for Maya.
"Are you saying that Mister Crabby is dead." Maya said with a sad look on her face, it looks like she was about to cry, Rebecca slap her back as she pull her away.
Everyone decided to ignore her, because form what Sunny group has heard from Rebeca is that Maya is a idoit, and is suffering from Down syndrome, well atleast that's what Rebeca thought.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Their first phase of the plan was the easy one, climbing the tree while Raizel echo distracted the demon. Now the second phase would begin, perhaps the most tense. Wait for the night to call a creature from the black sea to fight the demon.
"Everyone, it's better to keep quiet if you don't want that giant thing to kill us all." said Sunny, his voice had a hint of fear, tension, and nervousness.
In the hours that would pass from climbing the tree, they would have to avoid attracting the demon's attention or they would all die.
"Yes yes, no need to tell us again, cockroach."
The one who spoke was Alex, who mocked Sunny for being so small and also nicknamed him Cockroach. Sunny was very annoyed and he also seemed especially upset whenever his height was mentioned.
Maya started laughing like a child, " hahahaha....damn that was funny..."
"Keep quite, Maya." said Rebecca as she tried to silent Maya who seems to be laughing again.
Sunny having enough of Alex remarks, barked at Alex as he cursed.
"Damn it, Alex, I told you not to call me cockroach if you don't want my sword to your throat."
"Well can you even reach their Cockroach." Alex said with a mocky smiled on his face as he looked at Sunny like his words words meant nothing.
Sunny pointed his fingers at him, his pale face turning red like he was about to explode.
"Stop this childish behaver, Alex" said Raizel as he look at Alex with his cold gaze, that also seems to have silent Maya too.
"Whatever, femboy." Alex muttered the last part slowly under his breath, but it seems like he forgot that they were all standing too close with each other and his words were heard loud and clear.
GASP!
Everyone gasp of what they head, they turned their head to looked at Raizel knowing that something was about to happened, and he may spilled some blood.
Alex eyes were widden as he just remember what he has said, he was about to quickly apologize. When he felt pressure that put him on his knees, not only him but the rest of the Sleepers felt it too.
Bloodlust
Then he felt a cold blade aimed at his throat.
"Repeat that word again...." said Raizel in cold tone, his face was now more Icey cold as his purple eyes starting glowing. Alex face went deadly pale, his breath got stuck as he was having trouble breathing since the pressure was too much.
He quickly nodded his head, as he said weakly "I-i..... a-apolo...g-gize."
Raizel looked at him for a movement as he retract his swords back, But his gaze never left Alex.
Vasily helped Alex to stand up, who was having trouble staying on his legs. Vasiliy shot Raizel a dark look as he said.
"Sir Raizel you could have just warn him-" but his words were cut shot by Raizel gaze, because what looked at him were not glowing purple eyes but deep scarlet red eyes, the eyes that seems to consume him whole.
'Damn!! those eyes' Vasiliy gluped as he quickly averted his gaze, knowing that it would do him no good if he looked into them.
Everyone who saw this scene didn't said anything, after all they all know that it was Alex who started it.
'Serves him right' thought Sunny as he smirked, he wanted clap and mock Alex too but he stopped himself because for now this was enough.
Thus, the hours passed until night came, when it was Sunny's turn for the next part of the plan.
Raizel summoned two large clays vessels and gives them to Sunny. These clay vessels surrounded by several layers of soft seaweed fibers Sunny walked to a secluded spot. These jars were made by Sunny himself, and as such, they were not particularly sturdy.
After all, he was not a craftsman: all his knowledge about pottery was acquired in a single day by listening to Master Julius's words about the importance of clay in the development of human civilization.
Still, he remembered the basics at least.
Inside the jars, all the oil they had collected from centipede monsters sloshed, making Sunny's heartbeats unstable. He didn't thought that the oil Raizel told him to collect would come in use. A centipede monster had two sacs in its body, each containing a different oily substance.
When mixed, these substances produced an incredibly corrosive and deadly oil that could devour a scavenger's shell in seconds.
It was also highly flammable.
And the latter was what they were looking for. Centipede oil was the centerpiece of their plan.
Sunny placed the clay jars on the branch, Raizel then give him an improvised torch made of bone and... yes, more seaweed. Traditionally, torches were supposed to be made of wood, but on the Forbidden Coast, it was much easier to find bones than sticks.
In the darkness, he found Nephis cold hand, took it, and then placed the torch in her open palm.
Nephis nodded and then stood up. Standing, she grabbed the torch and closed her eyes, as if she were praying. Dressed in white armor, with her silver hair dancing in the wind, she looked like a beautiful but solemn angel.
Then, a white glow ignited beneath her eyelids. The next moment, a bright fire erupted from her hands, lighting the top of the torch. Changing Star opened her eyes, extinguished the light shining in them, and raised the torch above her head.
In the world without light, this small flame looked like a lonely star drowning in a sea of darkness.
Raizel told Cassie to cover her ears as he cover Nephis ears.
Sunny approached the edge of the branch, took a deep breath... and shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Hey, fuckface! COME AND CATCH ME IF YOU CAN!"
Then all hell broke loose.