“More like trying to create something,” Farrah said. “It’s called a sanguine horror; an artificial creature made from alchemy, blood and things best left unmentioned.”
“Sounds friendly,” Gary said.
“It’s an apocalypse beast,” Farrah said. “A world ender. A hive mind made up of carrion leeches that rot your flesh as they drain you dry. It feeds on blood to multiply itself, growing in mass and power until there’s nothing strong enough to stop it. Then it spreads and spreads until there’s nothing left to consume.”
“Why would anyone create something like that?” Jason asked.
“They presumably had some way to control it,” Rufus said. “Use it as a weapon.”
“That’s a big gamble with an apocalypse beast,” Farrah said. “Maybe that’s possible before it gets too powerful. Until it feeds enough to grow strong it remains vulnerable.”
“Still seems like way too high a chance of going wrong,” Jason said.
“Speaking of which,” Rufus said, “have you noticed it’s getting hotter in here?”
“No,” Farrah said.
“Yes,” Jason said at the same time.
“It’s more noticeable closer to the pool,” Rufus said.
“The smell is stronger down there too,” Gary said.
“They should probably be tossing us into the blood pit by now,” Rufus said. “Is something going wrong because we interrupted them?”
“I think we’re overlooking something,” Jason said.
“What’s that?” Farrah asked.
“Are we sure we interrupted them? They were going to throw the four of us into the pit, right?”
“Right,” Rufus said.
“Well,” Jason said, “how many people did we throw in?”
Farrah’s pretty brown eyes went wide.
“Oh no,” she said, turning back to the altar and started madly flipping through pages of the book.
As the others waited, a screen appeared in front of Jason.
New Quest: [The Sanguine Horror]
Destroy the sanguine horror before it becomes too grave a threat.
Objective: Destroy the [Sanguine Horror] 0/1.
Reward: Essence.
“Oh crap,” Jason said.
Farrah snapped the book shut. It was a hefty tome and she tucked it under one arm.
“I’m pretty sure we just finished their job for them,” Farrah said.
“I don’t think they’ll appreciate it,” Rufus said.
“Are we the blood cult now?” Gary asked.
“We have to get down there and stop it while it’s still weak,” Farrah said.
“Will the book help?” Gary asked.
“Not at all,” Farrah said.
“If we have to do it, we have to do it,” Rufus said. “Failing that, we go find someone stronger to deal with it. A lot stronger.”
“Do you think Emir has arrived yet?” Gary asked.
“No,” Rufus said. “He’s weeks away at best.”
“Then we need to handle this ourselves,” Farrah said. “I don’t trust the competence of the locals.”
“This guy’s alright,” Gary said, dropping a hand on Jason’s shoulder that almost knocked him over.
“I’m not local,” Jason said.
“I’m concerned that we don’t have our abilities with these collars,” Rufus said. “You’re sure there’s nothing in the book about how to fight it?”
“No, I’m not,” Farrah snapped. “I’ve had it for about eight minutes and it’s written in a language that you haven’t even heard of. So maybe there’s something in there, but I’m not going to find it by randomly skimming through a few pages.”
“Did you check for an index?” Gary asked.
Farrah’s eyes landed on Gary like attack dogs.
“I guess there’s no time for research,” Gary said, heading for the stairs.
“Let’s go,” Rufus said, following after Gary.
Farrah watched them vanish down the steep staircase, then turned to the back of the book. Jason narrowed his eyes as he watched her.
“Are you checking for an index?”
13
This is the Part Where We Step Back
The three former captives pounded down the stairs as Jason followed unsteadily behind. As they went down the steep staircase, the smothering heat rose up to engulf them. The air became wetter and heavier until even breathing was a chore. The copper taste of blood felt like it was coating Jason’s tongue. The pool was churning loudly, as if something was thrashing just below the surface. The sound echoed throughout the room, especially as they neared the base of the chamber. Near the end of the stairs they stepped over the corpse of High Priest Darryl, splayed out like a discarded puppet.
Jason touched a finger to the body as they passed.
Would you like to loot [Blood Cult Leader]?
Jason gave his mental assent as they continued down the stairs.
[Recovery Potion (Bronze)] has been added to your inventory.
3 [Gold Spirit Coins] have been added to your inventory.
11 [Silver Spirit Coins] have been added to your inventory.
216 [Bronze Spirit Coins] have been added to your inventory.
341 [Iron Spirit Coins] have been added to your inventory.
471 [Lesser Spirit Coins] have been added to your inventory.
Like Landemere Vane, the high priest had been holding more than a thousand coins on his person. As to where he had them stowed away, Jason could only guess.
“Does everyone here have an inventory?”
“What?” Farrah asked loudly. It was hard to hear over the wild splashing of the blood pit as they drew closer.
“Nothing,” Jason called back.
Jason’s real interest was in the recovery potion, which he took form his inventory and tipped down his throat as soon as they reached the bottom of the chamber.
Farrah saw Jason tip back the potion and threw out a hand in a warning gesture.
“Jason, don’t—”
The potion was already making its way down Jason’s throat.
“What?” Rufus asked, as he and Gary turned around to look.
“Jason just drank a potion,” Farrah said.
“Right after using a spirit coin?” Gary asked.
“Is that bad?” Jason asked. “Actually, why didn’t the potion do anything?”
The others only answered in sympathetic wincing. Moments later, his stomach was filled with cramping pains. He doubled, felt his body desperately wanting to vomit, but unable to do so.
You have used a recovery potion while your body is flooded with residual magic.
Recovery potion has failed to take effect.
You have been afflicted with [Mana Toxin]
[Mana Toxin] (affliction, poison, magic): You cannot regain mana. Recovery items will have no effect. You will suffer damage when using mana.
Jason groaned. The initial pain passed, but now his stomach felt as awful as his head.
“I should have thought to warn you when you didn’t know how to use spirit coins,” Rufus said. “I didn’t realise you had any potions. Are you alright?”
“Honestly,” Jason croaked, “it isn’t going to affect me that much. There’s only so much worse I can get.”
Rufus nodded, and they turned to the giant pool of churning red liquid, Jason at the back. The space near the large doors leading out was the widest area around the pool, with most of the room having only a small lip between the edge of the red liquid and the wall. When they first entered the chamber, the pool had been churning in the middle. Now the whole thing was like a pot of water threatening to boil over, splashing red liquid over the sides.
“That can’t all be blood, right?” Jason shouted over noise.
“It isn’t,” Farrah called back. “Mostly it’s an alchemical mixture, although there is a lot of blood in there. At least a dozen people’s worth. Maybe twenty.”
“Are you sure we need to fight this monster?” Gary asked. “I’d feel a lot better without this collar on my neck.”