The Crimson Fang
Chapter 17 - The Altros

Ami, Freya and Joseph exited the Mirror of Shadow-Walking, and entered a dark room. The only light was the dim glow of the Mirror. Nothing could be heard outside the door, either. They walked over to the door, their night-sight activating to allow them to see. The door creaked open, and Joseph had to struggle to open it. He peered out into the hallway, seeing nothing. They hurried to the throne room, replaceing nothing but rubble. They ran to the outside of the castle, only to replace more destruction. Crimsonia had been reduced to decrepit ruins! “Get back to the Mirror. Now!” Joseph ordered, looking into the sky. He launched a blast of light into the sky, as the others ran back inside. They heard a horrendous screech, and turned to see Joseph following them. They ran to the Mirror Room, not looking back until Joseph slammed the door behind them. “Where are we going, my lord?” Joseph turned to Freya. “We’re going to Carten. It is the only place we have really known for the longest time. If there are any answers to what happened here, we should start there.” An image showed in the Mirror, and they walked through.

They exited the Conduit into a dark, destroyed room, which they recognized as their old cellar. Cautiously, they walked outside, into a world they did not recognize. They looked at their old home, seeing it reduced to practically nothing. Several yellow lights flashed, displaying the words “Caution: Condemned” across the perimeter of the property. Joseph reached out to grab on, only to have his hand pass right through it. “What kind of technology is this? It creates an illusionary warning. Let’s go replace somebody and replace out what has happened.” Vehicles were travelling everywhere, at incredible speeds, without horses. Some even travelled through the air! What in the Hells is going on here? They walked to the main road, where humans hurried around. Several stared at them as they walked by. Looking at each other, they realized that their clothing really didn’t fit in. They walked as casually as they could, which was not a real problem, considering how many of the humans were walking. Some walked with a limp; as if their legs were injured, and they wore their pants so low, that there was no way it could be comfortable. “Remember, Freya. We do not interfere with the lives of the humans, no matter how bizarre the way they walk or dress appears to us.” “Why not, my lord?” “It is one of the laws set forth by the Ancients.” “But, you are an Ancient. Can you not change the laws?” “I can, that is true. I just choose not to.” “Why not?” “The laws have been in place for millennia. They serve to protect the balance of life and death, and good and evil. Just as we strive to do. Just don’t interfere, and only talk to them if they initiate contact.” As they were discussing the matter, a small group of humans approached them. “Whoa! Nice cosplays!” One of the humans was excited, while the others were touching their clothes. “Um, thank you. What are you doing, if you do not mind my asking?” “Sorry, it just looks so real. It even feels real! We don’t see many people use such authentic materials. They usually just go as cheap as possible. Where did you get the material?” “We have had these garments for a very long time,” Joseph responded, attempting to pick up on how the human spoke. “That’s totally awesome! It must have taken forever to make those costumes. You have to be pretty skilled to make yourselves look like real live Crimson Nobles!” “I’m sorry to ask, but what are cosplay and costumes?” The trio looked at the humans, confusion on their faces. The human seemed to ignore the question and continued talking. “It’s a pretty ballsy move, though. If the lords found out you were dressed like that, it’s mean big trouble for you. They might even have you publicly executed, after the torture.” “What lords would that be?” How does this human know about us? “Where have you been? The dark lords! The Altros!” He immediately clamped his hand over his mouth. A grotesque figure appeared beside them. “Who summoned me?” “It was an accident, my lord! I was just telling these cosplayers that they shouldn’t have dressed up as Crimson Nobles! Please don’t punish me for my mistake!” The Altros moved closer, inspecting the trio. “Cosplayers, huh? Wait a second,” Joseph prepared to silence the Altros. “These are actually pretty good! The material you used, and the style is impeccable. I guess you must have studied those bodies we strung up.” Joseph narrowed his eyes. They strung up some of us? I guess I’ll get my answers sooner than I thought. “You even got the eye colour! If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were actually…” His eyes went wide as he realized the truth. Joseph smiled and nodded at him, confirming his replaceings. “You’re not a cosplayer! You really are a Crimson Noble! This is great; I’ll get a promotion for bringing you in! Now come along, quietly, and you may even live on as a slave!” “I will not just go with you. I intend to put up a fight, that you will not live through.” The sky grew darker as Joseph spoke. Humans stopped and looked up as shadows crossed over them. “You may wish to summon assistance, and I will allow you time to do so. However, know that I am no mere Crimson Noble. I will not be defeated easily, especially by one such as you.” He pointed toward the sky, where several dragons flew. The Altros looked up, seeing the dragons. He lowered his gaze back to Joseph, a look of fear across his face. “You know who I am, don’t you? I am the Crimson Dragon. I have personally slain six of your High Lords. I have gained the title of ‘Hunter’ among your kind. I have cut my way through more of you than most of you can even count. You will be a pushover, hardly worth breaking a sweat over. This is your last chance,” he began to take his shirt off. “Call for reinforcements.” The Altros stepped back, shaking, and shot a red stream into the air.

“High Lord Brawnthos!” A messenger entered, out of breath, into the High Lord’s room. “Yes, what is it?” Brawnthos replied, as if he was in a different room entirely. He was torturing a human, enjoying the screams of pain. “It’s the Crimson Nobles, my lord. There has been an appearance, here in Carten!” He turned his attention to the messenger, as the human collapsed. “Don’t be absurd. The last Crimson Noble appearance was over twenty years ago. The bodies are still strung up in the town square, as a warning. Why would they reappear now?” He saw the sincerity on the messenger’s disgusting face. “Are you absolutely certain? I would hate to go to the trouble to deal with them, if it’s just another human.” The messenger turned on the television. “This is the scene in the town square, as a standoff has occurred between a large number of Altros and, apparently, a Crimson Noble. Both sides seem to be waiting for the other to act first. For those of you who weren’t around during the ‘Great Hunt’ that occurred over twenty years ago, this is the largest Altros force that has ever gathered for one Crimson noble. Those of you who bore witness to the carnage, you most likely remember the ferocity with which our lords killed their prey. This reporter still remembers the bodies being torn apart, without any chance of fighting back. Surely, this foolish Crimson Noble is in for a world of pain, especially if our lords are hungry. There were, reportedly, two others with him, but they are nowhere to be seen. They most likely realized how futile the fight for their lives would be, and went back into hiding. For those just joining us, I repeat; we are live at the town square…” The television turned off. “Why did you turn it off? I want to watch this. It has been so long since I’ve witnessed a Crimson Noble, fighting for his life, as the exquisite pain of their flame of life being snuffed out flows through their body.” The messenger turned the television back on.

“Who’s first? Who among you is brave enough to play?” The Altros were laughing at Joseph’s question. “What, pray tell, are we playing, Noble? How long with a Noble survive?” “Kind of. I call this game ‘Who’s the Better Killer?’ Obviously, I’ve never lost.” The laughing ceased. “The Crimson Nobles do not know how to play that game. We have slaughtered many, and the ones who have survived went into hiding. What makes you think you possibly stand a chance against us?” Joseph was the one laughing now. “You don’t know? I really expected him to tell you.” He pointed at the lifeless mass beside him, which used to be an Altros. “You’re playing with the Crimson Dragon!” His eyes lit up, as flames blazed into existence, forming a ring around him. “So, who’s first?”

Ten Altros charged toward him. In an attempt to keep things interesting, he chose not to draw his blades. He instead used his bare hands. This really changed nothing, as the Altros collapsed, dead, in no time.

“Hey! Wake up!” A voice rang out through the darkness. A light could be seen, coming from a television. “Come over here and take a look at this. Isn’t that…” A pair of eyes went wide. “Yeah, let’s go.”

The number of enemies didn’t dwindle. Instead it seemed to be growing. Every Altros Joseph killed, seemed to have 2 more in its place. Word was clearly spreading that the Crimson Dragon had appeared. Altros after Altros was showing up, hoping to destroy him, allowing them to advance through their ranks. This didn’t matter to Joseph, though. The Altros were being dispatched almost as quickly as they showed up. A large Altros appeared in the crowd, causing the fighting to cease almost entirely. “Hunter, I must say I am impressed! It appears that the years have not eaten away at your skills! I am Brawnthos, the High Lord of punishment! I am curious about something! Stop attacking him, you fools!” The Altros that had continued the assault stopped in their tracks, and Joseph turned to face Brawnthos. “It isn’t as if you are gaining any ground, anyway! Hunter, where have you been the last few centuries?” Joseph looked deep in thought. “Is that all it has been? I’ve only been gone mere centuries. That is really odd. It seemed like millennia. Well, to answer your question, I have been perfecting a technique. I hope you do not mind if I test it out on you.” “Ha! Very well, Hunter! I shall enjoy torturing you! We shall see how long your spirit holds out! I expect that someone with your reputation will not disappoint me!” Brawnthos charged at Joseph, his whip-like arms flailing toward his target. But, where was his target? He stopped, looking around. He couldn’t replace the Crimson Noble. That’s odd. I am positive he was just standing there, smiling. Where could he… Brawnthos’ thoughts were interrupted, as two blades cut into the High Lord’s torso, bringing him to his knees. He turned his head to see the Dragon’s hands creating an orb of light. An Altros moved to assist his lord, but fell lifeless when a pair of arrows pierced his eyes. Where had the arrows come from? Time seemed to stand almost still, as Brawnthos looked from Joseph to attempt to replace the hidden archer. Everything sped back up when he heard “Now to try this out. Brawnthos, for your crimes against the world, its inhabitants, and the Crimson Nobles, I banish you for all eternity. You are being sent to the Void of Souls! It is a plane of existence, of my own creation, from which there is no escape!” Another Altros moved, but was stopped by a rush of water. The orb of light began to envelope Brawnthos. A fissure prevented more Altros from aiding their lord. He watched in horror, as his body began to deteriorate. Twin blades soared into the eyes of another of his minions. Brawnthos vanished completely, as Joseph’s hands closed upon each other.

“Need some help?” A familiar voice rang out as Draken, Geoff and Sakura emerged from the shadows. Ami leapt from the tree that she was hiding in, and sprinted to hug Sakura. “It’ good to see you guys are back. I see your training proved fruitful. How the hell did you do that?” “I learned how to create different planes of existence from the Ancients’ blood. We will have to finish catching up later, though. There seems to be an impatient army that we need to erase.” The Fang laughed as they took up arms. For the first time in centuries, the Fang had been reunited, and was fighting together once more. Simply knowing this fact elated them.

The Altros army charged, as the Crimson Fang prepared for a full defensive. “Just like the battle with the Goblins!” Draken said, through grinning teeth. The Altros met a resistance unlike any that they had faced in hundreds of years. After an hour of attacking the warriors, over half of their number had been vanquished. This, along with the fact that their enemy was still fighting at their full strength, damaged the Altros’ morale. This was no longer a battle for supremacy. This was now a battle for survival. For the first time in centuries, the Altros felt fear. For the first time in centuries, the Altros felt endangered.

Amidst the chaos, a crashing sound was heard. The battle stopped, and the two forces looked over, seeing a pair of Altros standing nearby. “We are Gemithos, the Twin High Lords! We challenge the Crimson Dragon! You have killed seven of our eight brothers, and we thirst for vengeance!” They were speaking in unison. Eight and nine in one strike, Joseph thought. I could not ask for better. “Very well, I accept your challenge. Although to be fair, one of your brothers was a woman.” A roar was heard from the human crowd, as well as the Altros army.

The twins struck together. They were missing something vital, Joseph noticed. They had no defense. Joseph quickly beheaded one of them. Turning back to look, he saw the twin get back up, as if nothing had happened. “You cannot defeat us, you fool! We cannot be defeated individually! You have lost!” “We shall see about that. Draken, let’s go!” Draken struck one of the twins, as Joseph’s blades brought the other to the ground. Once more, they both rose, laughing. “If that’s how you want to play, then so be it.” Joseph formed the orb of light in his hands again, which moved to envelope his target. “Brother! We shall be together again!” The twin screamed as the light enveloped him, causing him to blink out of existence. “He is correct. You will be together again, very shortly.” The orb formed again, taking the remaining twin into itself. He screamed, as his body vanished into the Void of Souls.

The scream ended, as the remaining twin completely disappeared. Silence filled the square, as the Altros watched in horror. One Crimson Noble had managed to dispatch three of the High Lords, in no more time than it took to tie a shoe. Joseph turned to the remnants of the Altros army and smiled. “Any of you have any questions? Perhaps there are some last requests?