Capítulo 4: Undying Evil
[New Contents in the Book of Night will begin to unravel.]
'Got you, Mr. Book.'
Quick-witted, he watched the Guardians fight against the group of 10 PK'ers, both focused on ensuring his safety by keeping the players at bay.
Since he had a job to do, he left his back in the capable hands of the Boss monsters. Moving toward the end of the chamber with the sinister book in hand, it looked as if he was dragging his corpse toward a coffer that was calling him from the crimson blood miasma released by the Altar.
"ATTACK THAT ASSHOLE! We can't let him complete his quest."
"Those Boss mobs are bugged as fuck! How could they protect a player? This makes no sense."
"Viper, do your magic."
"Sorry, but I am limited in this space. We can only kill the Semi-Bosses and slaughter Vecna."
"Argh, fine."
With an eye for the blonde-haired mummy, the scene grew and scale up in its horror theme.
His lower body started sinking in the river of blood gushing from the Altar, rivers of blood were enveloping Vecna like a mother's embrace, or a protective father who was missing his son, dearly. Or a malicious spirit that was impatient at freeing itself from an Immemorial Prison.
It could be all options.
Vecna moved slowly, as if underneath his feet was quicksand, and by the time he was at the altar his body was close to being submerged.
'A Ceremony requires some rites, a chant, poem, whatever you do at Ceremonies.'
'Yeah, the notification told me that I have new content in the Book. For sure is something related to the new task.'
As the chamber pulsed with the raw power of blood, Vecna finds himself standing in the precipe of an abyssal sea of crimson. The blood rises steadily, its cold embrace engulfing his body, inch by chilling inch. His heart pounds in sync with the macabre rhythm of the chamber, fueled by anticipation and the surge of dark energy emanating from the Grimoire clasped tightly in his hand.
Some of the Black Fang players gulped their saliva when they saw this menacing-looking mummy, submerged in the Sea of Blood holding his Dark Book in preparation for a Ritual.
[Black Fang Guild Chat]
#Steel: I have this feeling that we are Sacrificial Lambs.
#TwistedSnake: So I wasn't the only one with this sensation. Boss, we need to destroy those Gargoyles faster otherwise, it might be like what Steel said.
#SnikersOnTop: This is quite the Event. If that monkey Vecna managed to finish his Event, he might actually summon some Demon for all we know.
#Bloodhound: I know. Just focus on the fight at hand. Besides, have you guys ever been to a Church?
#Steel: What's with that question?
#Bloodhound: I might be from South Korea, but I've been many times to France, Spain, and Italy, and by coincidence my girlfriend wanted us to visit the Cathedrals.
#Steel: I don't get it? Aren't you guys atheists?
#Bloodhound: You fucktard, don't cut me. What I wanted to say, was that this setting is akin to being in a Church and that Vecna Rat is a Priest. It takes a shitton of time for the Ritual to be done.
#Viper: What Hound says is that we got plenty of time to kill the Gargoyles.
.
The Black Fang guild pushed their full attention on the Guardians of Blood, and with their group being enough to take on a small Raid, there was no lack of firepower from their end. This led to the Gargoyles dropping in HP each minute.
Yet back to Vecna, he was staring calmly at the Ancient Altar. This piece was continuously releasing a crimson-blood miasma that enveloped him.
'Okay. I think I am ready. Mr. Book, guide me a little bit.'
[The Book of Night is requesting you to place it down on the Altar.]
Nodding as if he was listening to a teacher's instructions, he did as he was told.
The Grimoire itself seems alive, its pages fluttering with dark intent as it releases wisps of blood energy that intertwine with the surrounding aura. Symbols of ancient power and forbidden knowledge adorn its pages, written in a language long forgotten by mortals but familiar to the dark forces that now awaken.
'Ahem, Mr. Book, I have no clue what's written on the pages...'
'It doesn't seem human to me at all.'
[The Book of Nights confirms your thought and explains what the contents of the pages represent.]
[Dragon Tongue]
'...'
Vecna's eyes were fixed on the Grimoire, dumbfounded at the reveal and also at the fact this Item could read his thoughts.
'Can you read what's on my mind?'
...
There wasn't a response from the Book, which made Vecna wonder which way to take this silent response.
'Maybe I just imagine things. How could a book read my thoughts? No way in hell.'
'Still, I can't read jackshit. It feels as if I didn't go one day to school.'
'Wrong. I even graduated Highschool even though I had to work to earn money from when I was 14.'
Staring at the Grimoire, specifically at the Crimson Eye, he waited for a reaction. How could he commence with a Ritual when he couldn't read the book?
[The Book of Night reacts to the User's inability to continue the quest.]
[You are granted a small fragment of its Authority. You have gained the power of an Apostle.]
Magically the script that looked like the drawing of a 3-year-old with its legs started making sense in his brain.
'Man, this quest is sketchy. Ahhh, what can a sad person like me do? All of this class smells of money.'
'Once I gain it. I will steamroll most of the content and with the earned gold, I'll be set on.'
'Hehehe, my escape is near.'
Vecna's lips began moving silently as he recites the words of the chant. The air becomes heavy with a sense of foreboding, the incantation vibrating through the chamber in a haunting cadence.
'What?? I am possessed by something?'
'Whatever.'
His voice, resonating with the weight of ancient sorcery, echoes off the walls and merges with the cacophony of the battle between the Gargoyles and the Black Fang Guild.
"From depths untold, a legacy untamed, By blood be bound, by darkness reclaimed. Through crimson seas, the ancient sigils ignite, Awake Dark Father, in shadows take flight.
Blood's essence, flow through veins, entwine, Grant me power, unearthly and malign. Sacrifice echoes, a chorus of despair, As darkness rises, all life stripped bare.
From the altar's heart, the wicked arise, In shadows dance, under blood-red skies. Legacy reborn, as the veil unbinds, Evil god awakened, dominion defined.
Grant me thy power, embrace the abyss, In blood we flourish, eternal darkness bliss. Through chaos and strife, we shall prevail, Caine's legacy, forever shall unveil."
As the chant reverberates through the chamber, the energy within the Grimoire intensifies, pulsating with an unholy fervor. The blood sea around Vecna churns violently, rising higher, and the surrounding walls seem to weep crimson tears.
The power of the malicious entity forgotten by time, stirs responding to the dark invocation.
Meanwhile, the clash between the gargoyles and the Black Fang guild reaches a crescendo. The gargoyles, infused with the vampiric energy of the chamber, fight with unearthly strength and relentless determination after getting their HP down to 30%.
Their stone bodies crack and crumble under the onslaught of blows, but they refuse to yield, protecting Vecna at all costs.
"Make sure to stop him at all cost!"
"Everyone use all your cooldowns! We can't afford to fail in stopping that Rat!"
The changes in the chamber were easily noticeable, turning the atmosphere eerier and gloomier by each passing second.
Vecna stopped caring about the outside world as he looked bewitched in his green eyes which slowly morphed to a crimson color. He could feel the culmination of the chant, the point where his voice echoes above the sounds of battle, infused with both desperation and determination.
The blood energy surrounding him intensifies, swirling in a cyclone of malevolent power. The Book of Night trembles in his grasp, unleashing waves of dark magic that ripple through the chamber, ensnaring the hearts and minds of all who dare witness this unholy ritual.
In this grim, dark, and bloody chamber, the convergence of ancient incantations, blood rites, and relentless combat heralds the birth of a new era.
The stage is set for the awakening of an Evil entity, with Vecna as both its vessel and harbinger. The outcome of this momentous event will shape the fate of the realm, unleashing untold chaos or paving the way for an era of darkness and malevolence.
"DON'T ALLOW HIM!"
[The Guardian of Blood has been defeated]
[The Guardian of Blood has been defeated]
Bloodhound was the first one to jump after the mummy started this Event. Murder Intetion in his eyes now that he level up after defeating the Guardians of Blood, fresh off an level up, he kicked Vecna on the back, sending him flying, crashing along with the Altar.
"Thanks for sending the mobs in my direction. I got to level 175 without even intending on that."
Stepping toward the weak mummy that lay low on the ground with the Book of Night attached to his left hand, Bloodhound had an arrogant expression all over his face.
Behind him, his guildmates flanked all of the escape paths for Vecna to take.
"It's game over, rat. All of your useless running amounts to nothing against me."
"Kek, boss look at his face. He isn't even responding. It feels quite nice."
"Right."
"Then we shall start by torturing him to death. Strip him off all of his belongings, and later on kill him."
Viper remained quiet in the face of his mate's acts, observing Vecna whose lips continued moving, murmuring in a whispering tone that give the impression of sinister whispers taken out of an Oscar Award Horror Movie.
'Got a bad feeling about this whole ordeal.'
The instincts of the High-Ranked player weren't wrong, the whispering and murmuring done by Vecna were him questioning the notifications of the system.
[You have successfully Awakened the Will of the Dark Father]
[Commencing the final stage of quest <The Core of Dark Father>]
[A final task has been assigned to the user. Deliver the final sacrifice towards the Dark Father.]
"Deliver the final sacrifice... Am I asked to ... kill those fucks?"
"No. With all of the description and hints I got from the Rites, it's something different."
"Final Sacrifice. Death."
Vecna turned his head at Bloodhound and his followers, managing to scare some of the weakhearted with his odious appearance.
"What, Rat? Are you upset that I want you dead? You shouldn't have touched my stuff if that was the case."
Hearing this bastard and watching him from the ground with his crimson eyes, he took out the Thorn of Blood holding it in his right hand.
"Ehhh, what's with that wood split? You want to hurt me with that trash?"
Vecna's expression turned akin to a malicious demon, weakened yet dangerous. His lips opened up revealing sharp canine teeth that might be an effect of him being turned into a mummy.
"You talk too much. I will take care of that mouth of yours in the future. Until then..."
"Suck on my dick, shithead."
Ending his remark, he committed Seppuku by stabbing the Thorn of Blood in his heart.
[You have completed the Quest <The Core of Dark Father>]
[The Event Awakening of the Dark Tyrant will begin.]
triggering a mixed reaction from the Black Fang members, mainly for Bloodhound who slashed Vecna's head off.
*Spit*
"Still in your death, you dare to throw such words? MOTHERFUCKER! I WILL KILL YOU!"
"EVERYONE LET'S GET OUT AND CATCH THAT FUCKS CORPSE!"
"Agreed!"
"..."
"Viper?"
"His body is still here."
"Then, we will turn it into minced meat. Steel, give me a hand."
"Kuhaha, my pleasure."
Viper felt his skin crawling up, goosebumps all over his body for no reason as he watched the corpse of Vecna whose chest was imbued with a Thorn.
'Could it be? This guy cleared his quest?'
"Ready, Steel?"
"Go!"
From nowhere on the top of the chamber's ceiling, a large crimson eye appeared, while the blood in the chamber began manifesting.
Blood Tentacles shoot out from behind Vecna wrapping around Steel's body, turning him into a mummy as his scream stopped the PK's plans.
"It BURNS!!! ARGHHH!! HELP!"
"What the fuck is going on??"
[Your Party Member 'Gropper' has been killed]
The notification of Gropper's somber death gives them chills.
Their next reaction was to stare confused around them first at Vecna's body which remained motionless, dead. What they failed to notice was that a gigantic eye, grotesque in appearance watched them silently. Fixated on upon them, acting as a merciless observer of their impending doom.
When they turned their heads up, their bodies shivered, a rare reaction from the deranged Player Killers.
Little do they know, Vecna's demise is but an illusion, and from behind Vecna all sort of monstrous blood tentacles started sprawling in the direction of the PK's.
"Block the attacks! Don't fear it." commanded Bloodhound who managed to block a charge of a tentacle, next cutting a second one.
"Viper, dice the body of that bastard."
"I'll try."
The assassin's inner thought was different, instead, he started preparing his escape route. Once Bloodhound and the rest started losing ground, he would dash out.
Each passing second was a terror for the players, constantly facing the malign blood powers of this Crimson Eye that shifted in emotion as it watched the humans with contempt.
Suddenly a chilling silence envelops the chamber, broken only by the heavy breathing of the player killers. A voice, barely a whisper emanates from the seemingly lifeless body of Vecna, carrying an eerie weight that freezes the blood in their veins.
"Behold, mortals, your feeble struggles, For in darkness, I rise, and evil juggles. The vessel awakened, the world shall fall, A new era dawns, heed the sinister call."
#Steer: Boss, we need to kill the Eye!
#TwistedSnake: Urgent! Those tentacles are taking big chunks of HP.
#SnikersOnTop: I can't see the Level of the Boss Mob. That Eye.
#Bloodhound: Got you guys. Damn, this Vecna Rat how retarded can he be to get so big into Roleplaying?
Viper defended himself, and thought to himself. 'It's not him. He should be in a comatose state for certain.'
Ignoring the distress of the players, the whispers continued flowing with an evil tone.
"Despair, for hope's illusion shall shatter, As my reign descends, in blood it will splatter. No sanctuary shall remain, no solace in sight, Embrace the chaos, in eternal night.
Lament your futile attempts to defy, For all you hold dear, now destined to die. The puppet strings cut, freedom lies stripped, In my wake, you'll find only dread, grip."
The Black Fang Guild's morale plummeted as they listened to the twisted whispers, and adding salt to injury all of their attacks against the gargantuan Crimson Eye were faced only with crazed laughs.
"Through rivers of blood, my power ascends, Conqueror of souls, your torment never ends. The world bleeds, an offering divine, As you succumb, my rule shall intertwine.
Witness my might, for I am the end, A cataclysm unleashed, your souls I rend."
"Flesh and bone, once defiant, now frail, Bow to the me, as I prevail."
As the whispers echo through the chamber, each word drips with a venomous certainty, penetrating the hearts and minds of the players. Their faces contorted with terror, despair etched upon their features. The weight of impending doom presses upon them, their collective hope fading into the abyss.
"Boss, do something!" called out Steel who couldn't escape the grip of blood tentacles, his body turning a mummy, bringing along additional pain to his mind.
"I've tried everything. That bastard's body is protected by some magic!"
"Viper, any ideas."
"Boss, save me!!" shouted Steel while crying out in pain, until there was no sound to appear.
[Your party member 'Steel' has been killed]
With everyone looking at him, Viper scoffed and used his ultimate skill to vanish from the chamber, removing his presence.
"?"
"Oy, Viper, this isn't the time to play around."
#Viper: I can't afford to die here. I warned you about this whole place, you didn't listen. Face the consequences for once.
#Bloodhound: Are you betraying me? BASTARD!! AFTER ALL THE MONEY I SPENT ON YOU?
#Viper: Nothing personal. This World is still ruled by the Rule of Strength.
The surviving players who were in shambles, all low on Health stopped dumbfounded as they saw on their mini-map the icon of Viper swiftly going out of the Chamber, and it was a total success.
This made even Viper wonder how could an 'All-Seeing' Boss let him go out. Finding himself in the passageways out of the Temple, he touched his heart that was beating at a mad level, as if he was about to have a Heart Attack.
'I am alive? Phew! Things to do next. Ignore most PK groups.'
[Your Party Member 'Yakshini' has been killed]
"EVERYONE ESCAPE FROM THE BOSS CHAMBER!"
The Assassin smirked at the shift in the tactic of his "teammates" and wished for their demise. 'Just hit the dirt for once. Especially you, Chaebol brat.'
[Your Party Member 'SnikersOnTop' has been killed]
[Your Party Member ...]
"The EXIT! It's blocked!"
"No way! They how could Viper get out?"
"IMPOSSIBLE! Viper is in cahoots with that Vecna bastard?"
"It explains why he was so reserved in acting."
Chaos continued on the Altar Chamber with the Black Fang players outclassed by the powers of the Crimson Eye.
The constant notifications hitting Viper's face about his dead party members didn't unsettle him at all as he stepped out of the Temple watching the darkness where flickers of the Mana Crystals acted as light.
'They are no longer blue ... instead it got crimson. Shit. Don't look back.'
{Guild Chat} #Bloodhound: Viper, you are done for.
[Guild Leader 'Bloodhound' has kicked you out of the guild.]
"Heh. Then I'll just let the other groups eat out of your corpse."
[You have left the Party]
Back to the Altar Chamber, it turned out to be a symphony of despair, the anguished cries and pleas for mercy falling upon uncaring ears. In their final moments, the player killers could only plead for help, begging Bloodhound to help them.
Only Bloodhound was the one struggling to stay alive, pressured into lowering his head against this power lurking in the chamber.
"You've been splashed with shit your entire life for such luck. Don't get arrogant that some Boss Mob managed to kill me."
"I will return in force and destroy this whole dungeon."
A sickening laugh was thrown back at the struggling Bloodhound, immediately getting impaled by a Blood Spear that formed out of the blood surrounding Vecna. In his suffering, akin to the tragedy of his comrades, his body was stripped out of blood.
Only after he was a mummy and cried out in pain that he receive his release, in death.
As their soul and blood got claimed by the malevolent forces new changes started appearing surrounding Vecna's body which was protected by a sphere of Blood Magic.
The chamber falls silent once more, save for the chilling laughter of a mysterious being. Despair lingers in the air, a palpable reminder of the fleeting nature of mortal resistance in the face of overwhelming evil.
From all sides of the chamber, the blood which painted a somber story started churning and rising, like torrents.
Their direction was a sole individual decapitated, but whose heart continued to pound. Swiftly, his body got enveloped in more blood, enhancing the blood sphere that turned corporeal. His lost head was wrapped by the crimson miasma and gently returned to its owner who had yet to respond to everything going on.
Vecna wasn't aware of the outside world and instead got stuck into a long Cinematic Vision playing out the life of a normal human. From his childhood to his adolescence, this human's life was in a Primitive Age where there wasn't the technology to speak of, barely at the Bronze Age.
The Movie which focused on the life of this guy, made him understand that everyone had it hard regardless of Era. Without stopping this Cinematic, not that he was capable, the life of the human Caine flashed before his eyes.
His love story, how he got betrayed by his own brother who used the powers of the Gods to bewitch his lover.
Him killing his brother with his two hands and his own power. Arduous task considering the power his brother had was akin to a Demigod.
By the end of the Cinematic, even though he didn't realize it, things started getting chaotic, with fragments of memories flashing before his eyes, culminating with a group of Divine Beings surrounding a downed Caine, each stabbing him from all directions.
'Poor guy. I feel your pain man. Having your girl taken by that scum of a brother who you raised with your own hands. Such dirty human, even using the power of the High Goddess.'
'Tch, tch. You have all my support, Caine. Unfortunately, you couldn't fuck them up enough that they turned into dogs.'
[Commencing Class Change]
'Huh?'
[You have become 'Caine's Reincarnate'.]
[Your level has dropped.]
[You are now level 1.]
[All skills and stats have been reset.]
'Huh!'
Bound to a world of blood, all his eyes could see was a sea of red, where the liquid encased him into a capsule.
What Vecna missed out from this process was that from outside, where his body once lay down, it turned out into a gigantic embryo that pulsed with crimson veins. while at the center floated his body.
Suddenly he felt a splitting headache, where his body spasmed and twitched around in this embryo.
[Commencing Race Change.]
'This pain isn't normal! Let me go! Dude, I get it you want revenge, but don't take your frustration on the one that is willing to help.'
'ARGH. Let me push that Thorn deeper maybe it pierces into the heart enough to kill me.'
Moving his hand subconsciously toward his chest, he failed to spot the Thorn. If there was a mirror for Vecna, he could see that his heart shined bright like a precious ruby, beating like a drum in his eardrums.
[You have become a 'Low-Grade Vampire']
Relieved of pain, he could feel his body far too light, and before long, the embryo enclosing Vecna started shrinking with the once mummy human devouring everything.
"I heard it right? Now I'm a Vampire?"
"No wait! This isn't important. WHY HAVE I TURNED BACK TO LEVEL 1???"
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