Apollyon stood quietly at the side of the platform, keeping some distance from James’ working area as he carefully observed the bloodied man in front of him. He explained to the two of them of his need to drain the blood of the croclith before continuing with his autopsy.
He watched as James pulled a lever on the nearby wall causing the platform to elevate from the creatures tail side; inclining at a 45-degree angle where the croclith’s head was positioned directly facing the ground.
As the platform inclined, James swiftly retrieved two large metallic buckets, placing one strategically at the foot of the platform. Next, he wielded a rather sharp looking blade which reflected the nearby light sources on its metallic lustre before placing it right under the neck of the crocodile looking creature. With a precise and practiced motion, James sliced outwards resulting in a thin line across the croclith’s neck causing dark viscous blood to flow down the platform and into the waiting container.
The room was soon filled with the unpleasant sound of the blood splashing into the bucket, and the metallic scent of it mixed with the earthy, musky smell of the creature's scales.
‘This is a slaughter’, Apollyon inwardly remarked; he couldn’t help but picture a hunter mercilessly dangling a corpse on a drying rack like a butcher.
This whole endeavour took roughly an hour of their time as well as the periodical changing of the collecting vessel which amounted to four whole metal buckets filled to the brim with croclith blood. Apollyon could only click his tongue in wonder as he pondered just how much blood was contained in the creature to fill up four whole vessels to the brim. The buckets in mind were akin to a water trough.
James adjusted the lever once more, causing the platform to return to its horizontal position, making it easier to access the croclith's body. He turned to Apollyon, his fervent eyes reflecting years of experience and expertise.
"Young Tiro," James began, his voice serious, "skinning an animal, especially one like this, requires precision and patience. It's a valuable skill for those in our field. I wonder, do you have any experience with it?"
“No…decurion, I have none”, Apollyon shook his head, feeling a mixture of apprehension and curiosity. He had seen videos of cooking videos in his past life about the need to prepare meat; however, he wasn’t privy to the absolute details although he was very aware of what happens in butcher shops.
James nodded in acknowledgment of Apollyon's response. "Very well. I'll teach you. It's not for the faint of heart, but it's necessary."
James, with the practiced ease of someone who had done this countless times, retrieved a set of sharp, serrated knives from a nearby table. These blades glinted ominously in the dim light of the bunker. He selected one with a long, narrow blade and handed it to Apollyon.
"Take this knife," James instructed, his tone grave. "We'll start by making an incision along the underside of the croclith. This is where the scales are slightly less dense, making it easier to begin."
Apollyon held the knife and glanced at Seraphina at the side who waited patiently, the weight of the situation weighing heavily on his young shoulders. He watched as James demonstrated the first cut. The blade glided smoothly, and the croclith's tough, scaly skin parted to reveal the pale flesh beneath. A mixture of blood and fluid began to trickle from the wound. Although the creature had been drained prior to this, some traces of blood still persisted seemingly stuck in between the croclith’s innards.
"Now, your turn," James said, his gaze never leaving Apollyon's face. "Follow the natural lines of the scales. Don't rush. Precision is key, careful not to damage its hide any more than it already is; we have great use for such materials."
Apollyon nodded, his hands steady as he positioned the blade. The sensation of slicing through the creature's hide was both unsettling and strangely satisfying. He followed James's instructions carefully, mindful of the need for accuracy.
As they progressed, James explained the importance of preserving the skin as intact as possible for further study. The texture of the croclith's scales felt like a bizarre combination of rough stone and smooth marble under Apollyon's touch, and the pungent odour of blood intensified in the air.
It was a gruesome and meticulous task, one that required Apollyon's full attention. With each careful cut, he became more accustomed to the process, his initial unease gradually giving way to a grim determination to master this aspect of their work.
“Very good” he remarked solemnly; “Now carefully watch how I do the rest.”
James's hands moved with the precision and expertise of someone who had performed this grisly task countless times. His knife glided along the edges of the croclith's hide, a careful dance between flesh and scale.
With each precise cut, he meticulously freed the skin from the underlying muscle. He spared no effort in ensuring that the skin remained as intact as possible. The tough, scaly hide gave way to reveal the creature's pale, vulnerable flesh beneath.
He began by methodically working around the neck area, leaving the head intact. The head was often the most challenging part to preserve, as it required delicate maneuvering to avoid damaging the skull or facial features. James's hands, steady and experienced, navigated this treacherous terrain with ease.
Moving on, he proceeded to cut around the croclith's limbs, his movements controlled and measured. The creature's powerful appendages, which had once been a threat, were now lifeless and obedient to James's skilled hands.
Lastly, he worked his way down to the tail. The tail was a crucial part of the skinning process, and James approached it with the same meticulous care he had displayed throughout. The blade of his knife traced the contours of the tail, detaching the skin with a surgeon's precision revealing how the protrusion attached itself to the inner structure.
As James worked, Apollyon watched in awe of his mentor's skinning expertise. The sheer skill and dedication required for such a task were evident in every calculated movement. It was a macabre ballet, a dance of life and death, and James was the consummate performer. However, Apollyon seemed to feel disappointed for other reasons.
“Alright, all done” heaved James, “I’ve still got the skills it seems” he added wiping his brows. James proceeded to remove the heavy looking hide from the now pale corpse slinging it unto his shoulders as he dragged his body across the room and gently placing it straight down on the floor.
‘What is he doing placing that on the floor? Surely that goes against standard operating procedures’, Apollyon thought as he watched the odd actions of the man before him.
James stood over the skinned hide as he patted his sides as if looking for something, perplexed he then paced around the room searching for the unknown before stopping before a leather satchel on a nearby bench.
“What are you looking for James?” questioned Seraphina by the sides as she observed the lost looking decurion in amusement.
“My omnispheres, I don’t recall where I’ve put them” he replied as he patted the insides of the satchel.
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“I have a blank one here, that you can borrow.”
“No, no its fine I’ve found it.” James fished out a palm sized spherical object which was white and translucent, it was also engraved with gold intricate lines that flickered periodically.
‘Storage device…’ mumbled Apollyon in wonder, he had seen descriptions of such objects in previous books as well as the contribution store, but he had never seen them in person until now.
Apollyon searched through his mental archives for a couple of moments before stumbling unto an account depicting the origins of omnispheres. It was created by a brilliant inventor from a forgotten civilization that harnessed the power of dimensional manipulation which was an extremely rare space magic. The knowledge of crafting these devices has been passed down through generations, but only a select few possess the skills and knowledge to create and master them.
‘The Gravitus civilization’ he conjured the name of the long-lost civilization from the nooks of his Encylcopaedia. He remembered that a foreign disease wiped out their civilization some millennia ago. It was also speculated that a brutal war had taken place prior to their demise, the disease was simply the final straw in their struggles.
He watched as James tossed it onto the hide with a practiced flick of his wrist. Upon impact, the sphere came alive, emitting a brilliant, pulsating light that enveloped the hide causing it to disintegrate into streams of energy, dissipating into the omnisphere's internal dimensional space. The runes shimmered briefly before dimming to accentuate its capture.
“Now back to the topic at hand”, James said as he wore simple leather gloves motioning for Seraphina’s assistance. He retrieved a sharp scalpel from his toolkit before dissecting the unprotected carcass before him.
As James and Seraphina carefully dissected a cross-section of the croclith's upper chest, they revealed a fascinating array of organs, each adapted to the creature's unique lifestyle and needs.
The most prominent feature was the croclith's massive heart, a muscular organ designed to pump blood through its large body efficiently. Its size and strength were necessary to support the creature's formidable musculature.
Seraphina, while carefully examining the creature's massive heart, remarked, "This heart is truly remarkable. Its size alone is astonishing, a testament to the demands of its body. Did you notice the puncture wound here, near the heart?"
James nodded, his gloved hands deftly manipulating a scalpel. "Yes, that's from when I had to put it down. It's a lethal area, as it seems. This creature's vital organs are robust, almost as if they've evolved to resist injury."
Seraphina agreed, "Indeed, it's as if they've adapted to withstand both the struggles of prey and potential battles with other crocliths. The sheer strength of its cardiovascular system is astounding. And these lungs, designed for extended dives, are unlike anything I've seen in a creature of this size."
Adjacent to the heart, they discovered a pair of enormous lungs, essential for the croclith's ability to remain submerged for extended periods. These lungs were designed to extract huge amounts of oxygen from the water, allowing the creature to hold its breath for extended periods while hunting or lying in ambush.
Moving further down the chest cavity, they encountered the liver, a substantial organ that played a crucial role in metabolism and detoxification. The croclith's liver was notably robust, likely aiding in processing the unique diet of aquatic prey.
James, now working on exposing the stomach, chimed in, "The stomach's chambered structure is fascinating. It likely plays a significant role in the creature's digestion process. I wonder if there are any clues in there about its diet."
The stomach, which had multiple chambers adapted to allow the croclith to efficiently digest its meals, often large and struggling prey. It was a testament to the creature's predatory prowess.
They carefully refrained from opening the stomach for fear of releasing the poisons James had administrated to the creature as well as the strong stomach acids present within, it was truly a dangerous concoction. James noted the absence of a poison sac and remarked, "It seems this species doesn't rely on venom for hunting or defence."
Seraphina added, "Indeed, perhaps it simply relies on sheer brute force. And look at these muscles near its tail. They seem extraordinarily developed. It must play a crucial role in its signature death roll maneuver. I'd love to examine those muscles more closely."
James nodded, "Agreed. Understanding how these muscles work could provide valuable insights into its hunting techniques. Let's continue the dissection without opening the stomach for now."
As they continued the dissection, they also uncovered an intricate network of blood vessels, some of which were specialized to help regulate the croclith's body temperature. This was a fascinating adaptation for a creature that needed to maintain its activity in varying aquatic environments.
Apollyon observed as Seraphina's magic came into play during the examination. She extended her hand over the croclith's body, her fingers emitting a soft, gentle glow. It was a magical touch that Apollyon had seen before when she tended to Gorm.
As her magical energy flowed, he noticed the flesh of the croclith beneath her hand began to shift, almost like a living puzzle. It was as if her magic could perceive the creature's inner workings, guiding her to the specific areas of interest. Her manipulation of magic was precise and delicate, a stark contrast to the brutal dissection they had just performed.
He couldn't help but marvel at how seamlessly Seraphina integrated her magical abilities into their examination, enhancing their understanding of the croclith's anatomy. It was a display of her unique skills, and Apollyon couldn't deny that he was intrigued and jealous of her expertise.
Apollyon simply stood at the side observing the work of James and Seraphina. Despite admiring her magical workings, he couldn’t help but compare his past forensic experiences to the scenes he is currently observing. He had a slight feeling of disdain towards their work ethic contrary to their belief of him.
‘How crude’ he thought inwardly with a hidden frown.
His background in forensic studies couldn't help but make him critical of the procedure unfolding before him. He couldn't suppress his disappointment at their apparent lack of proper hygiene and scientific methodology in their work.
In his past life, meticulous attention to detail, cleanliness, and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) had been paramount in the field of forensics. Yet, here, he saw Seraphina and James handling the creature's body without the appropriate gloves or any form of protection. Instruments weren't sanitized, and there was a casual approach to the procedure.
He felt a growing frustration with the situation, not only because of the unprofessionalism but also because he believed such negligence could lead to contamination or inaccurate findings. His previous training had instilled in him a deep respect for the importance of methodical and sterile practices in scientific examinations. As he watched, he couldn't help but think that they could do much better in preserving the integrity of their research.
‘They’re merely scratching the surface of what’s truly profound about the creature’ he looked at the still bloodied appearance of James. ‘He is too impatient, impractical, sadistic and incompetent in the true path to pathology. He really shouldn’t have killed the croclith this early into the research. What was the purpose of administering poisons if you don’t wait for the creature to react to it? Theres no such thing as immediate responses, its gradual and slow; this also applies to the medicines. His toxicology skills are trash but he is practical, so I’ll give him that.’
His thoughts were a mix of disappointment and utter disbelief, he had expected more from their work ethic. He couldn’t help but wonder if magic was what bridged the gap in this field of work because he certainly did not find their physical work outstanding.
Despite Apollyon's critical observations, he was also keenly aware of the technological and environmental differences between his previous life and this new world. He understood that their circumstances might necessitate different approaches to their work.
In his past life, he had access to advanced tools and facilities designed specifically for forensic investigations. Sterility, precise equipment, and PPE were the norm. Here, in this world, they surely did not have such resources readily available, prompting them to adapt to the situation at hand.
Apollyon reminded himself that he needed to be understanding of these differences. This world operated with its own set of limitations and challenges. Perhaps they didn't have access to the high-tech labs and sterile environments he was used to. He realized that Seraphina and James were making the best of what they had, and he needed to respect their methods within the context of this world's capabilities.
While he couldn't help but wish for more rigor and hygiene in their procedures, he also knew that practicality and adaptability were key survival skills in this new reality. So, he silently observed, taking mental notes of the differences and similarities between the two worlds. He simply did not wish to step out of place and infer his own knowledge.
‘Its truly a waste of a specimen. If only I had Seraphina’s magical abilities’ he shook his head in contempt.
Quite frankly, he felt that he had seen enough of their ‘charade’, he was hopeful at first but now he knew that the duo in front of him wouldn’t obtain any substantial information about the creature. The only thing that interested him now was Seraphina’s magical abilities. He felt that most of their observations about the Dreadscale croclith were common sense, he even found himself face palming at some of their findings.
‘Alright Apollo, remember you’re only six years old, don’t let these things bother you; keep up with the façade damn it!’ he mentally sighed.