Chapter 5 - The Grace of the Crimson

On the top floor of an abandoned building, Val and two friends stood still as the evening wind hit him with a chill.

Blimey ranted, "Oh, f*ck. We have been waiting for hours. I'm afraid we are gonna die in this damned spot."

He paced around, kicking a bunch of items he found on the ground.

Val, on the other hand, was patient and expressionless, which was quite unlike her.

She gazed at Blimey as she leaned on a pillar. "Behave yourself. Do you really want to get on their bad foot? I assure you, only death awaits you if you do that."

"Tsk, there are merely a bunch of idiots like us. Why are you so afraid of them? I say we kill them and take their goody-goodies as we did with every other person."

Val ignored him and continued staring at the ground as she held her breath.

Since a young age, Val always knew the dark systems of the world. She understood what her role was in this abyss, no matter how tiny it was, and she played it perfectly.

She was a bottom feeder, and that was that. So, she never tried to become more than that, for that would mark her death. It would not be different today.

"They are here." Kallum alerted her.

She straightened up and shot a warning look at Blimey before tightly gripping the box in her hand. The box constantly shook and released demonic chants, but Val controlled herself and did not dare to look at it. She didn't even know what it looked like.

After a couple of seconds, she heard the subtle steps of people coming up the stairs. The sound was almost faint, making it hard to keep it with it. Sometimes, it felt like it was an illusion or the beings were teleporting.

Blimey scoffed, "Great, oh now, they are taking their time–"

Suddenly, ten figures appeared in the same space as them. They wore red robes that reeked of blood and had demonic tattoos on their faces with wholly crimson eyes.

Val took a step forward and said, "The Crimson Creed?"

The figures ceased their steps, leaving only one of them to keep walking. He was dressed in a golden robe filled with red accents, and it seemed his journey into occultism prompted him to shave all his facial hair, going full bald.

His appearance was akin to an androgynous figure that dabbled in the occult.

The person gazed at Val. "Valen, do you have what we want?"

Val nodded preemptively, "Yes, it is right here."

She presented the box to the person. He grabbed it and instantly opened it.

Immediately, a gush of demonic air escaped, crying the tearful moans of thousands of spirits. In the center of the box was a worn-out, brittle ancient scroll. It was inscribed with various mystical symbols that bore geometric patterns.

As soon as the scroll was revealed, the atmosphere began to sizzle with the chants of an unknown being. It invaded everyone's mind, but unlike Val and the others, the Crimson Creed welcomed the chants with pleasure.

Val screamed as she went to her knee, "Close the box!"

The person sneered, "Why? We are perfectly fine. If you are having problems hearing, shouldn't you cut your ears and offer them to your demon? Isn't that what you do?"

He walked forward, grabbed Val by the head, and said, "This is a holy text. Zathunran will not help you here. He holds no dominion over this plane, yet you worship him like the maggots that you are. How pathetic!--"

The man glanced to his side. Blimey had already succumbed to the demonic chants. He slowly transformed into a monstrous being with a hunchback, five black eyes, and a tail.

"Give me the scroll. It's mine," Blimey fervently screamed.

He lunged at the person. But the person seemed almost unmoved by what he saw. He withdrew his right hand from beneath his robe, exposing the reddened protracted fingernails.

A red beam gathered at the tip of his fingernail in an instant. It fired at Blimey, who had already been blinded by the demonic chants that he lost his awareness.

The moment the beam hit Blimey, slamming him to the ground, the beam began to expand continuously until it swallowed Blimey whole, leaving nothing as it eventually dispersed.

The person then turned back to Val. "You see. Zathurnan is a mere devil. He holds no power over the Crimsons' divinity. By their grace, we are protected from the evils of the world. By their grace, we multiply this earth. By their grace, we become more than what we are."

Val muttered amidst the grip on her neck, "Why are you telling me this? We had a deal, and it does not involve killing me."

"I bear the name Novenat, the ninth shepherd of the crimsons. And so I am responding for heralding their children. I see potential in you, Valen."

"You are worth more than being a subservient human to a mere devil. When I'm done with this place, I will invite you to our midst to share in the grace of the crimsons. Think about your decision."

Novenat released Val and walked off, but not before throwing an item her way.

"Take. The amulet as we discussed." He said as his group vanished mysteriously.

Val stood deep rooted in her step. She couldn't believe what she just experienced. Even her unfazed carefree demeanour took a hit after her experience with Novenat.

All this while, she believed as long as she stuck to the code, she would survive this world. But now she was presented with an opportunity to become more than what she was.

A harbinger of the Crimson Creed.

Many wished to become part of the only cult whose nefariousness could not be stopped by New Order, but they all failed.

Val glanced at the amulet in her hand and wore it after a thought.

She turned to Kallum and wryly smiled. "It's only us left now. I warned that fool Blimey, but I guessed his true nature persevered."

Throughout her journey in this world, she met all sorts of beings; devils, elves, witches, and many more. All were potentially stronger than her, but they all died to her in the end.

Val finally realized she wasn't a bottom feeder. She was a victor.

And with that realization, she let out an eerie laugh that filled the night, "Hahahaahahaha."