Chapter 24: Face the Music…
San'Halo and Grada were searching for ways into BlackBlood's Domain. San would have an answer and maybe a trump card to Blood Prison...
(San'Halo) Grada. I have a power that works as an infiltration Rift, it'll get us into this massive dome. We can transparently travel between a Rift of reality and be there yet unseen...
(Grada) You truly are gifted as a Hero... San you are no ordinary foot soldier, does the Guild know about this?? I'm sure it would be unsettling to the leaders that one of their own could very well know their weaknesses... You have a gift, and after this I want you to be my right hand...
(San) Grada, I'm just thankful you're able to bear witness to my powers... This is why some of the Guild looks down upon me, they don't understand exactly what I can do. On the surface to them I just handle the dirty work and broker deals with shady individuals, but my work goes much deeper than that...
I scout out my targets and pick my opportunities very carefully. I've become very accustomed to playing the role of an unloved hero. I actually embraced it and because of that acceptance I am now thriving on it...
I've had attempts on my life before and I've known it was my very own leaders, but each time I killed the assassin hunting me. I have been tearing them down from the shadows... So yeah they'd kill me if they knew the powers I have...
The two had a very lengthy conversation while traveling inside the rift through back channels of San's Powers. It seems all has been forgiven on both fronts...
(San'Halo) Grada we are here, now remember from this Rift you can't interact with the Oasis, they can't sense us nor affect us.
(Grada) Yes, yes, I know.
The sight was not what either expected. They arrived to see their Circle being suppressed and downright trampled over by BlackBlood, Aet, & Gargy...
(Grada) What the hell has happened here??? (His face now twisted and cinched. Hatred flowing from his pores...
Zzzzmmm... zzzzmmmm.. zzzzmmmm...
Blood Prison is activating in an area where nobody is positioned?? The Druids inside gazed upon the blood constructs piercing the air at nothing...
The aura of hatred given off by Grada must've triggered the domain, it was sleeping through the back channels and pouring out traces into the domain, but BlackBlood ignored it and kept to business as if she didn't give a care...
(BlackBlood) You all tried to kill me on three different occasions. And I just came here for my Gargoyle to even the score with that damn Hyena. Now who is it that I need to speak with about it? I don't see your leader, I don't see the Hyena, so tell me who is calling the shots...
(Rigor) I am in charge and that Hyena is mine. We have no quarrel with you. You killed our scouts upon that cliff, what'd you expect? We hadn't seen that craft before and it didn't matter who came down from up there, our goal would've been the same either way...
My Hyena is in a stasis chamber underground, rehabbing the injuries from the Labyrinth, but why would you come all the way here knowing we figured out who you are? Knowing we were prepared for anything you still came here seeking out trouble... What if I don't want you to fight my Hyena?? What will happen to us?? Grada will be back at some point to deal with you...
BlackBlood donned a hellish smirk...
(BlackBlood) Bring up that putrid creature and let's settle this the proper way, or else I kill everyone...
Aet would make his presence felt and intervene...
(Aet) What a disastrous situation you've all put yourselves into... You left us with that creature back on the Labyrinth, then we show up to continue the Carnage and again you attempt to kill us...
BlackBlood we may need some of these very people here, do you have to kill all of them?? You said we were gonna come here for your Gargoyle to fight, so let's have them fight and leave...
(San) Grada she's there just to match her Gargoyle against Rigor and his creature. She's not here to exact total revenge...
(Grada) It seems you may be right, so let's continue to monitor the situation...
(Circle Members) Rigor get your Hyena up here so we can be released and if you lose, we will all find you another creature...
(Rigor) Cerq!!! Bring up Fiend... You all don't ever think my Hyena can't answer the bell... He is the Durnge of the Underground, there is no other creature who beat him head to head. BlackBlood, in order to end this Oppression, I will offer my Hyena for battle...
(BlackBlood) Good choice. All the suffering will end once the fight is over. You have my word...
The ground shook, the Oasis opened up its floor, there was a staircase leading downward into darkness. Out came Cerq, followed by Fiend, but he too was different...
The sightless Hyena had gained a massive amount of girth, his fangs were now more in line with that of a Saber cat instead of a hyena, and they dropped purple colored saliva. Its legs were plumped with strands of muscles now, its shoulders had widened and its back was now razored up. The vertebrae was huge and thick as a miniature tree trunk...
Just as Gargy had his evolution, so did Fiend. And the driving forces behind both would be the technology of these two Scientists from the outside of the Oasis. So again, not only would it be a match of two creatures, but also a match between Cerq & Aet again...
The two men had never crossed paths before but Grada had pulled both of them into this world of bloodshed and carnage. Not saying they weren't involved in mischievous deeds themselves, but this was on a different playing field neither was familiar with. And yet both have been and continue to be instruments in this game of Chess...
To be continued...
Next Chapter 25...
~Blood Oasis~