Scene 7B - Lord Elbirret

Seconds passed yet the end never came for Jao. Cautiously, he opened his eyes. The elven expert looming over him stood with its eyes glazed over. It was faint, but its skin seemed to be darkening. The elf suddenly staggered, and to Jao's horror seemed to melt. Within moments, the only proof that the elf had existed was a glob of black blood on the grass.

The elf before him wasn't the only one to be affected by this strange event. All over the battlefield fiend elves collapsed to the ground, melting down in droves to the point that a foul smelling swamp of red and black blood was created.

Those still alive upon the battleground shuddered in disgust when the swamp's stench reached them, an inexplicable feeling of fear shrouding their minds. Black clouds gathered above the swamp, spreading until they covered the whole battlefield and stealing away the afternoon's warmth.

***

The princess instantly went on guard, her voice cutting through the frozen silence, “All men into formation!” A foreboding feeling of imminent death grew inside of her as the surrounding world qi morphed into something unnatural that left a disgusting slimy sensation upon her skin.

Grim thoughts raced through her mind as she clutched her sword tightly, preparing for the worst, ‘These madmen actually summoned a demon... just how many of us will fall here today?’

***

Within the bloody swamp, Ecya dropped to his knees, the blood lotus petals upon his eye decaying into ash disappearing with the wind. A bitter smile appeared on his face as Ecya's will began to fade back into the depths of Jayce's mind, “Jeez, I don’t think my descendant will live through this fight. My time has already run out… If only Lord Sai was here, that damned small fry wouldn't even have the guts to show itself...”

His eyes slowly closing, Ecya fell headfirst into the bloody swamp. Startled, Jayce jumped up and frantically wiped away the filthy blood, his eyes bewildered, “Wasn’t I fight just a moment ago? Wait, what the hell is going on here?! What the hell is that disgusting thing?!”

***

Jao laid nearby, coughing and unable to rise to his feet. It was getting harder to breathe, but his body wouldn't respond and allow him to pull himself out of the rising blood waves. Alas, he could feel his life force fading away.No matter how much qi he absorbed it would never be enough to replace his lost blood.

Jao's bitter expression worsened when he felt the qi in the air change into something slimy and foul. His last lifeline cut, Jao's vision lost focus as he came to the borderline between life and death. The wind started to pick up with a wail as if a storm was about to hit. If that was all it wouldn't be worth noticing since even a commoner knew that storms happened in a flash.

Though unlike a common storm, this would be the exact opposite of a blessing. If people knew what was about to descend, they wouldn't even have time to pray as they ran for their lives. A small bubbling ripple suddenly appeared in the swamp. Then another. And another. Soon the blood swamp began to wiggle and squirm as if it were alive. Soon the blood began to squirm as if it was alive. On guard and terrified the princess’s men stared at this strange event with shock.

Wisps of blood that quickly turned into streams and rivers were sucked up into the clouds. Some unfortunate men were caught up in the flow and carried away, their helpless screams filling the tense air. Jao was one such person. Even though he had tried to dig his hands and stab his spear into the ground, he didn't even have the strength to make a dent with most of his blood outside of his body.

‘Fuck… I guess this is the end…’

Closing his eyes, Jao felt himself being pulled into the sky and spiraling away from the ground. Then a familiar voice appeared next to him, “Oh Young Hero Jao~. You can’t fly away without me!”

A hand suddenly gripped Jao’s arm and easily pulled him out of the blood river's current. Glancing at the man Jao coughed out some blood and smiled, “I told you to stop a *cough* calling me young hero, you bastard…”

Jayce laughed and shoved a pill down Jao's throat, “You misunderstood me, brother! I never once said such a thing. Now quickly break down that pill with your remaining qi. It'll bring back even someone on the brink of death... like you! Also on the count of three, I'm gonna pull out this sword. Ready?! One… Two...!”

Jao's already pale face turned even paler as he tried to yell out wait, but Jayce didn't give him the chance and instantly pulled the sword out when he reached two. Blood spilled out of the open wound, leaving Jao no time to retort as he furiously used his remaining qi to break apart and absorb the pill.

Cool streams of healing qi spread through his body, causing his blood to multiply and wounds to heal. It seemed like he wasn’t going to die today.

Jao cursed inwardly as he focused on healing himself, ‘Crazy bastard! At least give me a better warning. When we get home I’m going to--’

Standing over him with a grim face, Jayce watched the sky, “Jao, hurry up.”

Jao spat and gave Jayce a look, “Why, didn’t we win? All the elves are dead.”

Jayce pointed across the battlefield and Jao glanced over, following his finger. Jao’s eyes widened in shock as a fear stronger than when he fought against the elven expert emerged within his heart. A black and red tornado of blood descended from the skies above the enemy camp as souls of the dead appeared with vile black thunderbolts sparking across their skins. Not knowing what was happening, cries of fear appeared across the battlefield as friend and foe alike ran from the horrible force.

Jao's mouth hung open in fearful awe as he stared at the horrible sight. Jayce's voice suddenly rang in his ears, “A demon is about to appear. Fuck. I didn’t bring any Maiden Water today. Hey Jao, got any I can borrow?”

“…”

***

Lao Qu had been waiting for this moment. The blood density had finally reached the amount needed as payment for the summoning. With a grin, he removed his hood to reveal a scarred face warped by howling flames and yellow snake eyes that flickered with malice and contempt.

Raising his arms to the sky, he began to preach, “My brothers and sisters, it is time for those who have berated us to pay the price for stepping on the weak! It is time to summon Lord Elbirret to kill our foes! Let us raze the two kingdoms and begin anew!”

“Yes Master Lao, let us wish away those foolish sinners!”

“Kill the vile spawn that killed our families!”

“Kill! Kill! Kill!”

Lao smiled warmly at his pawns, ‘Ah so devoted to the cause, I raised them well.’

Lao waved his hand to silence his people, “Follow my lead, let us finish the ritual!”

Taking the lead, Lau started to chant, his followers starting soon after. The ancient words of law floated through the air, causing shocking transformations.

Lao finished the chant with a smile, having been saying his words like a devoted believer, “Let chaos reign!”

The tent ripped away to reveal the eye of the storm. All of the cultist’s skin, with the exception of Lao, began to crack away and burn away but their faces were full of zeal, unafraid of the sacrifice.

Their ashes gathered in the center of the magic formation to create a dark gem full of vile energy. Lao pulled out a small vial filled with slimy green blood and threw it to the ground to shatter the glass and release the shifting blood inside. Once free, the slime-like blood shot straight into the crystal. The blood tornado then halted in mid air as if frozen in time then suddenly surged towards the crystal, vanishing inside.

Flesh and blood began to erupt from the crystal, compacting around it form a three hundred meter snake. The coiled snake seemed to take a breath that sucked in the surrounding souls, causing lightning to flicker around it.

Nervous soldiers clutching spears gathered around, staring fearfully at the giant snake and Lao, whose smile only made his appearance more grotesque. Duke Kavor came out of his tent at this time, his face covered in fury., “What happened to my elves, assassin?! If this beast does not deliver I shall have your…y-your... N-No, it can’t be I kill-”

Lao pointed at the duke, chuckling like a madman, “Killed me? Duke Kavor if you keep walking near a river eventually your feet will get wet. It is time to pay the dues you owe to the dead!”

Duke Kavor cursed, “You should have died in that fire Minister Lao! Men, kill that traitor!”

Following their commander's, words the soldiers rushed at Lao, who stood there with a smile, not moving in the slightest. Yet the moment they came within five meters of Lao a shadow loomed above them. A gaping maw smashed down, devouring one hundred men in a flash.

*Crunch Crunch*

Ghastly sounds came from the slimy creature, its mold covered scales shining a disgusting shade of green as its large cat ears flickered, releasing waves of pressure that could crush a mortal with ease...

Lord Elbirret the Terrible had awoken.