Starry Red River, Glowing in the Night
Strange screams the likes of which Ikieafuma had never heard of echoed from within the great jungle. Ikeafuma stood at the edge of the light, protecting the only place he had ever cared for within this wretched world. The great village of Okonklo. From the moment he was birthed by the great village core he had sworn his life to protecting the great village of his family, and the great heritage of his Kakazumi ancestors. This desire to protect had given Okonkwo the ability to protect his brethren and to ready the warriors for battle, or so said the almighty mother system.
-- Kakazumi Guard --
unranked level 11
Name - Ikeafuma
Age - 14
Race - Lesser Kakazumi
- Status - Healthy , Minor Fear
-Job - Kakazumi Village guard
Abilities -
Kakazumi Spearmanship - 25 % increased spear handling and power
Ancestral Blood - 25 % increased effectiveness of all totem bonuses
But. Even with all of his strength, and all of his experience, treading between the light dark, life and death, defending the village periphery, and bringing honor to his ancestors names, he had never seen a night as strange as this. Although many creatures roamed the great jungle once Le Solaris fell and La Luna rose spreading her guiding light, their screams were not a strange as the ones he was hearing right now. There was something more vicious in the air. Something predatory. Something unnatural.
As the night continued to pass a sinister feeling continued to build. An uncontrollable wave of emotion, began to build within Ikeafuma's second heart. His hands began to clench his spear instinctively. His breath began to quicken, and his eyes darted at the slightest movement. Yet no matter hard Ikeafuma attempted to push the feeling down it resurfaced even stronger, continuously building.
Ikeafuma wasn't the only one to feel this way. The entire village began to shift within their sleep. Some waking up directly. Lighting their lanterns and hoping the sinister air could decide to bother some other primitive village. Some of the small bearlike creatures stumbled directly to the small temple at the center of the village, they began to pray piously, for no other reason than a feeling of dread.
The entire Kakazumi village with its meager population of 551 was on full alert. Every warrior had long ago dressed in full battle regalia. Beads, a armor adorned these brave little creatures as they stood guard against the night. Attempting to hold back the presence that spooked them so. As the torchlight began to flicker and the shadows grew longer the ruler of village, the grand priest, began to act. His slightly torn garbs dragged against the ground as he pulled himself to the front of the alter. His graying splotchy fur had yet to fully heal after he was brutal jumped by a strange hairless creature. A chant rang out throughout the night empowering every Kakazumi, drawing power from the power of belief .
-- La Lunas Blessing --
- All Kakazumi recive a 15% boost in attack power
- All Kakazumi recive a 20 % boost to energy recovery.
Ikeazuma was empowered. And so were his brethren at his sides. together they formed a wall of claw, fur, and spears. Their eyes struggling to find the hidden enemy hiding within the night. Ikeafuma felt a short of kinship, and comfort. A feeling of true belonging as he stood together with his brothers and sisters.
Well. That was until his brother on his right Lettva one of the tribes best hunters shouted out in surprise.
" Oh My GODS..... WHAT IS THAT "
The tips of his claws shaking as he began to point into the distance. The attention of the entire tribe was directed to a crimson glow that was slowly snaking through the distance.
Ikeafuma began to hear a rippling. It was the sound of flowing water floating into the village.
" Back up ! ALL OF YOU !! "
A shout rang out as the perimeter began to tighten. A blood red river began to emerge into everyone's eyes. Ikeafuma scuffled backwards as a thick crimson liquid began to flow twords his feat. It had reminded him of the sacrificial pool that surrounded the Kakazumi temple.
A gasp of surprise resounded throughout the village as a river of blood flowed into everyone's sight. The ruby red river began to lap at the feet of the warriors as it began to divert itself around the village, completely circling it.
Shaking himself out of his shocked stupor he held his spear firm. His back straight, and his head held high. growling Ikeafuma muttered to himself.
" What unholy magic is this...."
Suspiciously eyeing the red water that circled their village the Kakazumi passed the time. By the time the moon was directly overhead Ikeafuma began to relax his sore muscles. After standing in a defending pose for what seemed like forever he had long given up scanning the red waters. Plain and simply he was tired, and so was the entire village. After a busy day they all had to wake up as night fell and defend against what seemed to be a new river.
Thinking he saw motion out the corner of his eyes Ikeafuma thought his brain was playing tricks on him. It was only when another shout of surprise resounded that he himself took a double take.
There was a raft on the glowing river. It was slowly floating towards the village. And upon it was that same damn hairless monkey that messed with them the day before.
-----------------
15 had finished speaking to Heins long ago. The raft continued to float leisurely down the crimson river. Both 15 and Heins were in no rush to decimate the Kakazumi river anytime soon. 15 wanted to wait for nightfall, and 15 said he needed a little more time to prepare a little surprise.
Quite the beautiful spectacle occurred as the sun dipped beyond the horizon. As Orange light faded a red glow replaced it. This red light was not from the sun, but instead the crimson river itself. As night descended, so did a blood red glow. Along the banks of the new river, was lush red corrupted grass. A ruby red light soon started emitting from each and every stalk and root. Further behind the grass was blood red underbrush, and towering trees with leaves entirely red. Although it was all due to blood corruption, anyone would admit it was a wondrous sight as it all began to glow.
After the plants came the animals. Beautiful floating red patterns emerged from every corrupted beast. From flowers to tribal markings, every beast was unique. Although they had turned from something savage to beautiful as night fell, their newly created savage natures had not changed one bit.
As 15 layed upon the raft, he felt if he was floating in a sea of stars.... Well a sea of red stars.
" Heins "
As he lied his head down and closed his eyes 15 called out to the co-creator of the sea of red. A grizzled male voice replied in return.
" Yes ?"
"Wake me up when were close."
" Not going to enjoy the light show ?"
With a chuckle 15 turned on his side curling his legs up to his chest, placing his arm under his head and swiftly falling asleep.
Although 15 may have fallen asleep many beasts did not have this luxury tonight. The jungle was never a quiet place, even during the night bestial roars were not rare. But tonight something was different. Tonight the sounds of violence and tearing flesh were louder than ever.
Gingerly stepping through crimson grass a black silhouette stood out. With the rustling of grass every movement of a deep black panther could be seen clear as day. Intrigued by the shining red lights the panther was lured deep within the red underbrush. Its black fur, previously an advantage made it stick out like a sore thumb amongst the neon red.
-- Desolate Black Jungle Panther --
Unranked lvl 14
Name - None
Age - 9 Years
Lifespan - 40 years
Status - Normal, exposed
Abilities -
Shadow Pounce - If pouncing on prey from a shadow deals 2 times damage
Shadow Meld - When In a Shadows makes it 50% less likely to be detected through sight
The panther arrogantly prowled throughout the grass. It believed itself to be the ultimate hunter of the night, impossible to spot. Although its arrogance was justified within the dark, while it was prowling through the corrupted grass it stood out like ink spilled upon a page
A yellow pair of eyes was trained on the black panther. The panther never suspecting that its every single movement was traced ever since it had entered the neon red foliage. A blood red shadow jumped at the panthers neck. A sickening scream of desperation, and the crunch of broken bone signified the end of its life. It had never expected karma to catch up to it. After years of pouncing upon poor helpless souls within the night, it itself became victim to its own medicine. Its killer yowled in delight as it excitedly pounced upon its first successful kill.
-- Blood red juvenile patterned panther --
Name - None
Unranked level 5
Age - 1 year
Lifespan 30 years
Status- Normal, Blood Corruption Curse Buff
Affiliation - Blood
Abilities -
None
The juvenile panther was just one of the many beasts already corrupted by the blood corruption curse. It had stumbled across the blood river earlier in the day after it was abandon by its parents. Its fur was always a slight shade of red, making it unable to blend into the environment. After drinking from the blood river it had completely diverted into a deep rose red.
As the small panther was feasting upon the flesh of its distant relative, its stomach was hard at work digesting the blood, muscle, bone and fat. After leaving nothing but bones the little panther sighed in satisfaction as it waddled over to the underbrush blending in perfectly.
After fully digesting its prey the little panther had not grown. And yet its strength had more than tripled. Although It was almost impossible to see from the outside, as the only outer change was the addition to a strange black flower pattern on its head.
As it finished eating its meal it had evolved into something greater.
--Bloodied Flower Panther --
Name - None
Unranked level 11
Age - 1 year
Lifespan 100 years
Status- Normal, Blood Corruption Curse Buff
Affiliation - Blood
Abilities -
Patterned light absorption - The patterns on this panther absorb and reflect light allowing it to melt into the background. + 65 % chance not to be detected by sight
Blood Pounce - Pounces dealing + 15 % increased damage. For 5 seconds claws become sharper, reflexes improve, and injures heal twice as fast.
Similar scenes had happened all throughout the glowing crimson surrounding the river of blood.
Although after their first hunt many animals began to race in the direction the river was flowing. Their blood had commanded them to. So ignoring everything else, a small horde of mutated blood animals rushed in 15's direction crushing any uncorrupted beasts within their way.
-----------------
15 was standing knife in hand. Heins had woken him up long ago. To Hiens's displeasure and to 15's delight a system notification had ruined his supprise.
-- As Creatures have died within your blood corruption curse their souls have been drawn into your sacrificial blood river --
And drawn they were
-- Blood Sacrifice Lake ( River ) --
- Souls 11,432
- Demonic Possession - Heins
- Owner - 15
- Abilities -
Blood Corruption Curse - 50 meters from the banks of the Lake ( River ) will be effected
Demonic Possession - This blood river is controlled by the demon Heins. This allows the Lake ( River ) to become a river and or move/ change shape.
Demonic Curse Control - All creatures cursed by Blood Corruption Curse can be controlled by " Heins "
- Current Curse area coverage = 20 Kilometres squared
Over 1,432 creatures had died fighting within the blood corruption curse. Corrupted or not their souls were mercilessly taken by Heins. Personaly 15 had no problem with this. It benefited both of them anyway.
While 15 was busy digesting the gains he had earned over a short nap, the sound of splashing distracted 15. A gigantic wall of water had rose in front of the raft protecting 15 from an onslaught of primitive spears.
" Awww looks like the their impatient..... seems like we cant wait for our friends to arrive. Right Hiens . "
As the water began to fall and the Kakazumi village filled 15's sights a gruff voice resounded throughout the surroundings.
" Were here "