When Sol landed on the ship's deck, all eyes turned her way, and in an instant, blades were drawn, a palpable tension filling the air. Her aura of bloodlust didn't go unnoticed. Glancing around, she assessed the number of adversaries she'd be facing. Casting a quick glance at the approaching ships, she mentally tallied the seconds before they would dock. Crouching, she concluded her calculations, inhaling deeply.
Just as a group of Lycans surged forward, accompanied by a line of Humans, Sol vanished with incredible speed. She reappeared behind the Humans, positioned just in front of the captain's quarters door at the stern of the ship. The Lycans and Humans faced an abrupt standstill. In the passing moments, heads rolled from their shoulders, thudding onto the ship's deck as bodies followed suit. Sol inspected a speck of blood on her finger, lifting it to her nose and sniffing, a satisfied smile playing on her lips as she tasted it.
"Mmmm," she exclaimed. "Now, who was that? It's delicious." Advancing, she sniffed the air with focus, pinpointing one of the Humans. "Ahh, it was you." Kneeling down, she raised the lifeless form, shaking it to release blood and marrow. With a grin, she drank the flowing essence, savoring the taste.
Exhaling deeply, she lowered the drained body back onto the ship's deck. "Fuuuck, that was good."
The sound of approaching footsteps resonated from below, growing louder as Lycans and Humans ascended the stairs. Near the ship's center to the front, a small opening revealed the path to the second and third levels. The wooden steps echoed, drawing the attention of those investigating the commotion. Their ascent revealed a gruesome scene—piles of headless corpses and Sol, standing with a wicked smile.
"Ah, is you da won we spose be cummin ta deal wiff?" growled a Lycan with a fierce accent, his dark gray fur almost black in the revealing sunlight. His bright blue eyes glared at Sol as he tore off his leather vest, his stature growing. "Name's Ozymandias. Wuat's yers, cunt?"
Sol shook her head, rolling her eyes, and exhaled wearily. She shivered and gasped, then gestured dismissively. "Fine, fine, have at it." Her gown responded instantly, lunging from her body. For a brief moment, she stood exposed before her hair cascaded down, transforming into a long red gown with a scratch complexion. The gown wrapped tightly around Ozymandias, compressing him into nothing before sludging back to Sol.
"Was that tasty?" Sol asked the gown, which blinked rapidly and jumped around like an excited dog. "Do you want more?" As Lycans and Humans drew their weapons and advanced, the gown's movements intensified. Sol's gaze lifted, her smile replaced by a serious expression. "Enjoy yourself, my lovely." With those words, the gown lunged at the approaching troops, unleashing screams and cries that echoed across the ship, drawing attention from the dock where rowboats had just finished docking.
Zus stood at the base of the stairs, having descended when he noticed the four Lycans turning towards the cries. Clearing his throat, he spoke, "Excuse me." The Lycans, caught off guard by his sudden appearance, turned in unison. Their instincts ran wild, urging them to run, to fight, and yet, they found themselves frozen, unable to decide.
Slowly advancing, Zus lowered his hands, and two spears extended from his palms. They resembled blood-red gemstones, carved into the shape of spears. Gripping them tightly, he asked calmly, "Could you tell me how many are about to dock here?" The Lycans remained silent, their thoughts racing. Zus effortlessly gleaned the answer from their minds, offering a casual, "Ah, thank you." He stopped before them, their eyes reflecting a mix of fear and acceptance.
Turning his attention to the fishing shop, Zus noticed Luna approaching, a thick scroll tucked under her arms. Just as he was about to speak, a noise from the rowboats drew his focus. The headless bodies collapsed as he shifted his gaze, and the chaos on the ship still echoed in circles and screams. Ships yet to dock dropped anchor about five hundred yards from the harbor, each trying to access the situation before them.
Continuing his approach to the rowboat, Zus knelt down. He heard movement under a blanket and swiftly pulled it off, tossing it into the sea. Beneath lay Azrel, scared and confused.
“What do you have there?” Luna inquired as she reached Zus, kneeling beside him and observing Azrel. “Ah, a young one…” She paused, contemplating her words. “...well, it looks young, but who knows with the wolves. I’m over three thousand years old, but I don’t look a day over a hundred.”
Zus glanced at Luna, noticing the scroll under her arm. “Is it ready?”
Luna pulled out the scroll and nodded. “It is.” She cast a sinister smile at the boy. “Should we have him participate in the build as well?”
Zus shook his head, gripping Azrel's wrist. “No, I think we will make him watch.”
Zus rose, effortlessly lifting young Azrel and turning him to face Luna and himself. “I believe Sol has made the necessary arrangements for the sacrifice. Have you heard from Nix?”
“I’m right here, darlings.”
Nix's voice resonated across the area, her kind and calming aura a remarkable sight, only revealing itself when she was on the brink of death. The effects of her recent battle with Zero on Vol were evident, but she concealed her injuries with the smoke within her chest, maintaining a composed appearance. Floating slowly towards them, she held her jaw in place, covered the missing limbs, and created an illusion of grace despite her underlying struggle.
“How many bodies has Sol gathered, does anyone know?” Nix glanced at Azrel and then to the bodies. “I see we have five here.”
“Four,” Zus corrected. “This little one is going to watch the show.”
Nix's silver eyes glimmered as she leaned in closer to Azrel. “Well then, let’s give him a front-row seat, shall we?”
When Sol landed on the ship's deck, all eyes turned her way, and in an instant, blades were drawn, a palpable tension filling the air. Her aura of bloodlust didn't go unnoticed. Glancing around, she assessed the number of adversaries she'd be facing. Casting a quick glance at the approaching ships, she mentally tallied the seconds before they would dock. Crouching, she concluded her calculations, inhaling deeply.
Just as a group of Lycans surged forward, accompanied by a line of Humans, Sol vanished with incredible speed. She reappeared behind the Humans, positioned just in front of the captain's quarters door at the stern of the ship. The Lycans and Humans faced an abrupt standstill. In the passing moments, heads rolled from their shoulders, thudding onto the ship's deck as bodies followed suit. Sol inspected a speck of blood on her finger, lifting it to her nose and sniffing, a satisfied smile playing on her lips as she tasted it.
"Mmmm," she exclaimed. "Now, who was that? It's delicious." Advancing, she sniffed the air with focus, pinpointing one of the Humans. "Ahh, it was you." Kneeling down, she raised the lifeless form, shaking it to release blood and marrow. With a grin, she drank the flowing essence, savoring the taste.
Exhaling deeply, she lowered the drained body back onto the ship's deck. "Fuuuck, that was good."
The sound of approaching footsteps resonated from below, growing louder as Lycans and Humans ascended the stairs. Near the ship's center to the front, a small opening revealed the path to the second and third levels. The wooden steps echoed, drawing the attention of those investigating the commotion. Their ascent revealed a gruesome scene—piles of headless corpses and Sol, standing with a wicked smile.
"Ah, is you da won we spose be cummin ta deal wiff?" growled a Lycan with a fierce accent, his dark gray fur almost black in the revealing sunlight. His bright blue eyes glared at Sol as he tore off his leather vest, his stature growing. "Name's Ozymandias. Wuat's yers, cunt?"
Sol shook her head, rolling her eyes, and exhaled wearily. She shivered and gasped, then gestured dismissively. "Fine, fine, have at it." Her gown responded instantly, lunging from her body. For a brief moment, she stood exposed before her hair cascaded down, transforming into a long red gown with a scratch complexion. The gown wrapped tightly around Ozymandias, compressing him into nothing before sludging back to Sol.
"Was that tasty?" Sol asked the gown, which blinked rapidly and jumped around like an excited dog. "Do you want more?" As Lycans and Humans drew their weapons and advanced, the gown's movements intensified. Sol's gaze lifted, her smile replaced by a serious expression. "Enjoy yourself, my lovely." With those words, the gown lunged at the approaching troops, unleashing screams and cries that echoed across the ship, drawing attention from the dock where rowboats had just finished docking.
Zus stood at the base of the stairs, having descended when he noticed the four Lycans turning towards the cries. Clearing his throat, he spoke, "Excuse me." The Lycans, caught off guard by his sudden appearance, turned in unison. Their instincts ran wild, urging them to run, to fight, and yet, they found themselves frozen, unable to decide.
Slowly advancing, Zus lowered his hands, and two spears extended from his palms. They resembled blood-red gemstones, carved into the shape of spears. Gripping them tightly, he asked calmly, "Could you tell me how many are about to dock here?" The Lycans remained silent, their thoughts racing. Zus effortlessly gleaned the answer from their minds, offering a casual, "Ah, thank you." He stopped before them, their eyes reflecting a mix of fear and acceptance.
Turning his attention to the fishing shop, Zus noticed Luna approaching, a thick scroll tucked under her arms. Just as he was about to speak, a noise from the rowboats drew his focus. The headless bodies collapsed as he shifted his gaze, and the chaos on the ship still echoed in circles and screams. Ships yet to dock dropped anchor about five hundred yards from the harbor, each trying to access the situation before them.
Continuing his approach to the rowboat, Zus knelt down. He heard movement under a blanket and swiftly pulled it off, tossing it into the sea. Beneath lay Azrel, scared and confused.
“What do you have there?” Luna inquired as she reached Zus, kneeling beside him and observing Azrel. “Ah, a young one…” She paused, contemplating her words. “...well, it looks young, but who knows with the wolves. I’m over three thousand years old, but I don’t look a day over a hundred.”
Zus glanced at Luna, noticing the scroll under her arm. “Is it ready?”
Luna pulled out the scroll and nodded. “It is.” She cast a sinister smile at the boy. “Should we have him participate in the build as well?”
Zus shook his head, gripping Azrel's wrist. “No, I think we will make him watch.”
Zus rose, effortlessly lifting young Azrel and turning him to face Luna and himself. “I believe Sol has made the necessary arrangements for the sacrifice. Have you heard from Nix?”
“I’m right here, darlings.”
Nix's voice resonated across the area, her kind and calming aura a remarkable sight, only revealing itself when she was on the brink of death. The effects of her recent battle with Zero on Vol were evident, but she concealed her injuries with the smoke within her chest, maintaining a composed appearance. Floating slowly towards them, she held her jaw in place, covered the missing limbs, and created an illusion of grace despite her underlying struggle.
“How many bodies has Sol gathered, does anyone know?” Nix glanced at Azrel and then to the bodies. “I see we have five here.”
“Four,” Zus corrected. “This little one is going to watch the show.”
Nix's silver eyes glimmered as she leaned in closer to Azrel. “Well then, let’s give him a front-row seat, shall we?”
