Dabria's Wrath

The Crisanto Forest, once famed for its beauty and the golden flowers that blanketed its floor, was now a twisted shadow of its former self. The vibrant blossoms, which once dotted the forest like drops of liquid sunlight, had withered and blackened, their delicate petals curling in decay. The petals, touched by the miasma and corrupted mana suffusing the forest, were now fragile and brittle, leaving behind a faint residue that clung to the ground in ashen patches. The air was dense with a thick, purplish fog, swirling with ominous intent, moving as if it had a life of its own. It curled around the trees, climbing their darkened trunks like ghostly tendrils, twisting up into the branches and dripping acidic venom that hissed as it met the ground.

The Crimson Lions advanced carefully, each step sinking slightly into the damp, moldering earth that squelched beneath their boots. The forest around them was silent, an unnatural stillness hanging in the air, broken only by the occasional drip of venom and the faint rustle of unseen creatures lurking just beyond the fog. Every now and then, the thick fog parted just enough to reveal patches of twisted, thorn-laden underbrush and the occasional golden petal clinging stubbornly to life amidst the corruption.

They had trekked in tense silence for what felt like hours, each step bringing them deeper into the darkened heart of Crisanto. The fog thickened, the miasma settling into their lungs, filling them with a chilling sensation that was both suffocating and oddly invigorating, as though it were drawing out their worst fears and magnifying them within the foggy depths.

Finally, they came upon a wide, open clearing. The dense purple fog parted just enough to reveal a massive basilisk, coiled at the center of the glade like a sinister guardian. Its scales shimmered with a dark, iridescent sheen, the sickly glint of its armored body casting reflections off the surrounding fog. The creature's eyes were closed, its breath slow and menacing, each exhale releasing a faint, acidic vapor that mingled with the surrounding haze. Venom dripped from its jagged fangs, pooling on the ground in thick, noxious puddles that sizzled on contact with the earth.

Dabria's voice broke the tense silence as she surveyed the beast, her tone deceptively light. "I trust we all remember our little agreement?" she chimed, her voice laced with an edge that left no room for objection. "I get the skeletons, every last bone, and Wifey"—she cast a sly glance at her companion—"well, she's entitled to everything else. Blood, flesh, organs, you name it."

Kalum gave her a brief, uncertain nod, eyeing the massive basilisk with apprehension. Leah exchanged a glance with Ryker, her face betraying a mixture of resignation and unease. They'd heard the stories of Dabria's obsessive collection of bones and her near-reverent fascination with necrotic alchemy, but hearing her speak about her intentions so nonchalantly felt strange, unsettling.

Ryker grunted his acknowledgment, waving a hand to silence any further questions. "Understood. Let's stay focused. Everyone knows the plan: stay coordinated, and don't engage alone."

The team spread out, each member taking their position around the clearing, their weapons drawn, their movements measured and quiet as they prepared for the battle to come.

As the fight erupted, each Hunter moved with sharp, practiced efficiency, weaving through the fog and maneuvering around the basilisk's massive, coiling form. The ground shook as the creature reared up, its jaws snapping down with enough force to shatter bones, narrowly missing Leah as she darted to the side, using her wind magic to propel herself out of range. Her blade flicked out in swift strikes, slicing through the fog, keeping the creature disoriented while Kalum darted in, striking at the base of its scales, looking for weak points with his daggers.

Visha moved with eerie precision, her every step exuding a quiet confidence as she controlled a thick haze of toxic miasma around the basilisk, her spectral energy pressing against it like invisible chains. The miasma wrapped around the basilisk, restricting its movements, but the creature fought back fiercely, twisting and lashing out with a surprising agility. The acidic venom that dripped from its scales sizzled on contact with the miasma, a sickening smell rising from the reaction, filling the air with an even thicker, more toxic haze.

Ox, grunting with effort, hefted his ax and brought it down against the creature's side, the blow powerful enough to send a shockwave through its armored scales. Yet even his strikes barely scratched the surface, each blow seeming to anger the basilisk further, its movements growing more erratic as it thrashed in fury.

"Keep at it!" Ryker called, his sword glowing with mana as he closed in, launching a carefully timed strike at the basilisk's exposed underbelly. The blade sunk into the creature's flesh, but only just, a shallow wound barely enough to stagger it.

But then, with a roar that seemed to shake the entire clearing, one of the basilisks spun in a violent twist, its thick, armored tail whipping through the fog with blinding speed. Visha, focused on controlling her miasma and directing her spectral energy, barely had time to react. The tail struck her with the force of a battering ram, catching her off-guard and throwing her off-balance. She staggered, a thin, dark line appearing on her cheek as the razor edge of its scales grazed her face.

The thin line of blood trickled down her cheek, stark against her pale skin.

Dabria's expression froze, her eyes widening as she took in the sight of the cut. For a moment, she seemed to lose herself, the playful glint in her eyes darkening, her demeanor shifting into something feral, unhinged. A deep, almost guttural growl slipped past her lips as she reached into her spatial ring, drawing out her weapon—a twisted sword whip, its bladed segments gleaming in the dim light like the fangs of a predator.

"You filthy lizard," she hissed, her voice low and filled with a manic rage that sent a chill through the team. "How dare you touch her."

The deathly energy pouring from her intensified, her aura expanding in a wave of oppressive, malevolent power. A low, haunting snarl echoed through the clearing as a phantom shape emerged behind her—a massive, spectral hellhound, its fangs bared, eyes glowing with an infernal purple light. Its presence seemed to blend with Dabria's rage, a manifestation of her deadly aura that made the air around her vibrate with a dark, lethal energy.

The Crimson Lions staggered, each of them suddenly hit by the suffocating weight of her death aura. The thick, oppressive power pressed down on them like a physical force, wrapping around their lungs, filling them with a dread that rooted them to the ground. Kalum dropped to one knee, gasping for breath as he tried to fight the overwhelming pressure, while Leah clutched her head, gritting her teeth as the aura gnawed at her senses.

Even Ryker, with a higher level, faltered under the weight of Dabria's wrath, his knees bending as he struggled to stay upright. He gripped his sword tightly, forcing himself to focus, though his heart hammered against his ribcage, his instincts warning him against the deadly force at his back.

Dabria's gaze locked onto the basilisk, her lips pulling back into a twisted smile as she swung her sword whip with a deadly precision. The bladed segments unfurled with a metallic snap, each razor-sharp edge gleaming with a dark, black sheen as she launched herself forward, lashing the whip across the creature's hide with a force that sliced through its scales like butter.

The basilisk hissed and recoiled, venom pooling in its jaws as it prepared to strike, but Dabria only tightened her grip, a sick, delighted laugh spilling from her lips. "Oh, don't even try to fight back," she sneered, her voice dripping with mock sweetness. "You've sealed your fate the moment you laid a scale on her."

Visha, leaning against a nearby tree, watched the scene with a faint smirk, a glint of amusement in her eyes as she observed Dabria's unhinged fury. She wiped the blood from her cheek with a languid motion, her gaze drifting between Dabria's gleeful attack and the awestruck horror on the faces of the Crimson Lions. 

She was always quick to enrage when seeing me hurt. Her wrath is still just as beautiful as when we were children. Like a dancing tornado of deadly flames.

The hellhound behind Dabria snarled, its spectral fangs dripping with ghostly venom as it prowled forward, a dark guardian lending its energy to her onslaught. Dabria's whip coiled around the basilisk's neck, pulling tight as she dragged it down, her expression wild, unrestrained. She grinned, eyes locked onto the basilisk's, her voice barely above a whisper.

"This… this is my gift to you," she murmured darkly, twisting the whip tighter, cutting deep. "A reminder of what happens when you cross me… or touch what's mine."

With a final, brutal lash, the basilisk's head fell to the ground, its massive body slumping as the last of its life drained away. Dabria released her grip, her chest heaving with the thrill of the kill, a gleam of satisfaction lighting up her eyes as she cast a final, possessive glance at Visha, her voice dropping to a gentle murmur.

"All better now, darling," she cooed, her tone affectionate, her hand brushing her own face as if savoring the bloodied memory. "No one else leaves a mark on you."

Visha simply gave her an approving nod, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. "Beautiful work as always, D."

The Crimson Lions, still recovering from the suffocating pressure of Dabria's aura, could only look on in silent awe and wary respect, their bodies and minds reeling from the dark fury they'd just witnessed.

The clearing fell silent, the Crimson Lions barely daring to breathe as Dabria lowered her sword whip, her expression shifting from feral delight back to that disturbingly sweet smile. The phantom hellhound lingering behind her slowly faded, its menacing snarl dissipating into the mist, though the chilling residue of her deathly aura remained, lingering in the air like a sinister aftertaste.

Ryker, regaining his composure, cast a wary glance at Dabria, his voice cautious but firm. "Good… work," he said, carefully choosing his words. He didn't miss the possessive gleam still lingering in her eyes as she looked over at Visha, nor the faint amusement on Visha's face as she leaned against the tree, seemingly entertained by the chaos that had just unfolded.

Leah, swallowing hard, finally pushed herself to her feet, her legs shaky as she tried to shake off the overwhelming dread that had wrapped around her like chains. She exchanged a look with Kalum, who was still pale, his breathing ragged as he leaned against his dagger for support. There was a silent understanding between them—they had seen something raw, something far beyond the capabilities of ordinary Hunters.

Dabria, noticing their reactions, tilted her head, a playful smile tugging at her lips. "Oh, you poor things," she cooed, her voice dripping with mock sympathy. "Did my little display frighten you? I suppose I got a tad carried away…" She shrugged, casting a sidelong glance at Visha, her tone light but with a dark edge. "But you understand, don't you, darling? It's a matter of principle."

Visha's smirk deepened, a glint of amusement flashing in her pale-green eyes. "Naturally," she replied, her tone smooth and almost affectionate. "Principle is everything, after all."

Dabria grinned, pleased, her gaze softening as she looked at Visha, who had now moved away from the tree and was inspecting the fallen basilisk with a discerning eye. She knelt beside the massive creature, her fingers brushing over its dark scales as she began examining it with the precision of an alchemist assessing raw materials.

The rest of the Crimson Lions watched in tense silence, their eyes shifting between the two women as they methodically took over the remains of the basilisk. Ryker, still keeping his voice neutral, stepped forward cautiously. "Let's move quickly. This one down means there's still at least one more basilisk lurking nearby. We need to stay alert."

Visha, glancing up from her inspection, gave a short nod. "The blood is still fresh," she said, her voice detached but with a glint of satisfaction as she assessed the corpse. "It should yield what I need. We'll harvest it here and take what's required."

Dabria hummed in agreement, reaching out to touch one of the basilisk's skeletal ridges with reverence, her eyes glittering with a strange excitement. "Such beautiful bones… strong, resilient." She looked back at Ryker with a coy smile, as if remembering he was there. "Don't worry, Guild Master. The skeleton is coming with me, just as we agreed."

Ryker merely nodded, his expression taut but resigned. The basilisk skeleton was Dabria's prize, a part of the strange arrangement he'd brokered to secure her cooperation. Though he hadn't anticipated her particular brand of attachment, he knew better than to interfere now. "Take what you need, but let's keep this efficient. We're still in hostile territory."

Kalum watched uneasily as Visha and Dabria began their work, each woman moving with a practiced precision, a silent understanding between them as they divided the remains. Visha carefully extracted vials of the basilisk's venom, her movements calm and controlled as she handled the toxic substance with ease. She poured the viscous liquid into thick glass vials, her eyes gleaming with scientific curiosity as she observed the shifting colors and faint hiss of the venom.

Meanwhile, Dabria focused on the bones, her fingers tracing the skeletal structure with almost affectionate care. She murmured softly to herself, a dark lullaby-like tune as she assessed the structure, pulling out fragments that would suit her purposes in necrotic alchemy.

Leah, who had finally managed to steady herself, exchanged an uneasy glance with Ox, her voice barely above a whisper. "I've never seen anything like this," she admitted, her voice laced with a mix of awe and wariness. "These two… they're more like forces of nature than Hunters."

Ox grunted, his jaw set, though there was a faint glint of unease in his gaze as he watched them work. "Forces of something, that's for sure."

After several minutes, Visha straightened, tucking her filled vials carefully into a satchel at her side. She cast a quick, approving look at Dabria, who had gathered several gleaming bones, their surfaces polished and sharp as if they'd been crafted for her specific needs.

"Ready, then?" Visha asked, her tone smooth but carrying an unspoken command as she looked at the rest of the team.

Ryker, regaining his leadership stance, nodded, gesturing for the group to move back into formation. "Let's keep moving. The main den is close, and we need to be prepared."

They pressed on, the dense fog thickening as they ventured deeper into the heart of the forest. The ominous silence settled once more, the air carrying a weight that pressed down on them, every rustling leaf and drip of venom echoing louder than it should in the stillness.