Stepping onto the surface of the crimson moon, Rhea and Zia were greeted by a surreal landscape. All around them, there was only red. A monochromatic blur that overwhelmed their eyes. There were no signs of plantlife, not even a single bush. Instead, the desolate expanse was dominated by barren rock formations and jagged crevices. Deep craters punctuated the surface, like wounds inflicted upon the moon's scarlet surface.

"I don't like this place," Zia commented, taking in the unsettling environment around her.

Rhea remained silent for a moment, her gaze scanning the barren landscape in search of any signs of Remuria or the Red Reavers. "Wait, where is everyone?"

"Maybe the deathbringer's magic got a bit wonky," Zia shrugged, trying to sound nonchalant. "But does it really matter? We're here, and we can still find that gate or the dragon, right?"

Rhea's frustration was immediately evident as she snapped, "Of course it matters! Everyone else is missing, including your brother!"

Zia's expression remained unchanged, "relax, princess, I can sense my kindred. The Red Reavers are alive somewhere on this moon."

“But do you know where they actually are?”

“No, but they are here, somewhere.”

“And that’s enough for you?” Rhea asked.

Zia shot a sharp glance towards the princess, “there’s nothing we can do for now except to keep moving, unless you can do something I’m not aware of.”

Rhea's shoulders slumped slightly, "I suppose there's not much we can do for now."

Zia was already walking ahead, “If you’re going to keep being useless and sulk, I’m leaving you behind.”

“Fine, let’s go.”

Rhea and Zia continued ahead, their footfall resonating through the crimson moon. With each step, the ground beneath them transformed into a rugged mosaic of jagged rocks, their sharp edges threatening to impede their progress at any moment. Over time, an eerie silence accompanied the two, Rhea especially was not in the mood to speak.

Yet, Zia's voice soon cut through the silence, "I have always wondered, princess, are you aware of what you have become?"

Rhea's response was sharp and defensive, "I have always been me."

Zia refused to let the matter go, “Don't play dumb with me. I can sense that you've changed since the first time I saw you."

Rhea's eyes narrowed, "Is this because of the Night Terror?"

“That's part of it, but it's far from everything. You've witnessed it in the eyes of my kindred, bowing to your every whim like obedient dogs, unable to resist your command."

"You, on the other hand, seem more than fine."

Zia scoffed, her laughter revealing a hint of bitterness "I'm just built differently, princess. Although I must admit, going directly against you is something I cannot bring myself to do."

"And why is that?" Rhea questioned.

“You are an anomaly, princess. Never before have I witnessed someone so intimately entwined with the underworld as you." Zia said.

"I've been hearing that a lot lately."

"Only because it's true. But honestly, it doesn't matter much what you know or don't know," Zia said dismissively.

An edge crept into Rhea's voice, "Have you always been this opinionated?"

Zia's response was swift and sarcastic, "I am, princess. And you're going to have to deal with it until we find a way out of this cursed place."

"By the gods, you are insufferable," Rhea said aloud.

Zia's eyes narrowed, her voice dripping with mockery. "And what will you do? Unleash the Night Terror’s power, forcing me to my knees like before?" She taunted, "oh wait, you can't do that anymore, can you?"

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"Even without the Night Terror's aid, I am more than capable of facing you," Rhea spat back with a contempt of her own.

Zia's confidence wavered for a brief moment, but then, with a dismissive wave, she regained her composure. "I'm not entirely convinced of that, but I suppose for now, I still need you around," she conceded.

“How did the Red Reavers choose you as their leader again?”

“Nobody chose me, princess, I forced my way to the top.” Zia said smugly.

Rhea rolled her eyes, “how come I’m not surprised.”

Zia shrugged her shoulders, “I mean, hey, if any of them wanted to be leader so badly, they are more than free to challenge me to a fight, not that they’ll win of course.”

Rhea couldn't help but add a final jab, "I have no idea how your brother tolerates you."

Zia's wry smile flickered across her face as she replied, "Neither do I.”

After having walked for a few hours, the pair began to notice an oddity. More and more, they saw life-sized statues of people, all in various positions: as if they had been frozen in time. The only commonality between them was the fear which was vividly etched on their faces. Rhea and Zia ignored the statues at first, but over time, they could not help but exchange glances at each other, unsure of what to expect if they continued forward.

Eventually, the pair’s exploration came to an abrupt halt when their gazes locked onto a fearsome sight. A creature of old legend, the basilisk, slithered into view. Its serpentine body coiled with powerful grace, shimmering scales reflecting the crimson moon's radiant light. The beast's piercing eyes, like shards of obsidian, glinted with a deadly gaze that promised petrification to any unfortunate soul who happened to look into them.

“Well I’ll be damned.” Zia commented.

“Have you ever fought those things before?” Rhea asked.

“Nope, heard a few stories though.” Zia replied, “usually doesn’t end well.”

“If it’s anything like the ones I heard, we can’t look it in the eyes.” Rhea said.

“Sounds about right, but anyway, I’ll be going now.” Zia said, her twin axes raised as she charged at the basilisk.

“No, wait-ah, damn it all.” Rhea cursed, before charging ahead as well.

The basilisk's deathly gaze fixed upon Rhea and Zia, its eyes glowing with a hypnotic intensity. Both of them knew the danger it possessed, and they clenched their eyes shut, relying solely on their instincts and the sounds around them.

Rhea gripped her wraithbone sword tightly, her heart pounding in her chest. Though her senses were more heightened now than when she was human, Rhea still found it difficult trying to fight blind. As she swung her blade blindly, her movements were clumsy and uncoordinated, lacking the finesse she desired.

In contrast, Zia twirled her twin wraithbone axes effortlessly, her movements graceful and precise. She anticipated the basilisk's every strike, deflecting them with calculated precision. She danced around the creature, relishing in her own combat prowess.

As the basilisk lunged forward, its tail whipped through the air with alarming speed. Rhea, still struggling to find her rhythm, failed to anticipate the attack. The tail struck her forcefully, sending her sprawling to the ground with a painful thud. She gasped for breath, momentarily stunned.

Zia's laughter cut through the chaos, a mixture of amusement and superiority. "Looks like you still have a long way to go, princess," she taunted.

As Rhea struggled to regain her footing, a surge of desperation coursed through her. She knew she needed to turn the tide of the battle. At the very least to show that she was not completely useless in this battle. Drawing upon her connection to the underworld, she began to tap into her ability to use blood magic. With a swift motion, Rhea traced intricate patterns in the air with her fingertips, channeling her essence into an incantation. Crimson energy crackled around her, imbued with the force of her will.

The basilisk recoiled, its scaly hide writhing in agony as the blood magic took hold. It let out a deafening screech, a sound filled with primal pain and torment. The creature's movements became erratic, its focus shattered.

Seizing the opportunity, Zia capitalized on the basilisk's momentary vulnerability. Her twin wraithbone axes whirled through the air with deadly precision, finding their mark on the creature's weakened form. Each strike was accompanied by Zia's triumphant laughter, even as the basilisk’s blood coated her body in red.

As the basilisk succumbed to its wounds and collapsed, Zia stood tall, her chest heaving with exertion and her eyes gleaming with self-satisfaction. She surveyed the defeated creature, a smug grin playing on her lips, "well, princess, looks like you managed to contribute something after all," she sneered.

Pushing aside her irritation, Rhea took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure. "Remember, Zia, we need to work together, if at least for now."

Zia shrugged nonchalantly, her smirk widening. "Sure, princess, whatever you say," she replied dismissively, clearly enjoying the upper hand. "Just be glad I was here to finish the job."

“Fine, at least this is done and over with, now we can-” Rhea paused, her eyes widening in surprise.

“Ha, caught your tongue princess?” Zia taunted.

Rhea did not reply, her silence hung heavy in the air as she rose to her feet. Her fingers tightened around the hilt of her sword.

Intrigued by Rhea's sudden shift in demeanor, Zia's gaze followed the line of Rhea’s stare. A nervous gulp soon caught in her throat.

Several dozen basilisks converged upon them. The ground trembled beneath the weight of their slithering approach. Rhea's grip tightened around her two-handed wraithbone sword, her knuckles turning white as she prepared for the battle ahead.

Zia, on the other hand, let out a wide smile. If there was anything she was going to be prepared for, it was killing some oversized snakes. Her muscles tensed as she felt adrenaline begin to course through her veins.