image [https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczOxOxFaoO0Dyg2c35Cfmh9IhKs306O8ScdjpqmCCQ6p6Zr1MSB7Kcx4PoUC7VvnpcJdy_SGdjqU5GWkAGoC2lSLjYPc38LCV6ORNckyI9GFCRHRj4vaB38fnUO_qjnUW3yv8CE5hdNjrjRTt4nrdbblUw=w896-h896-s-no-gm?authuser=1]Leon and his friends stood in stunned silence inside the cabin home as they surveyed the scene. Torn papers and books were strewn across the house, creating a chaotic mess. The wooden floors and walls bore the marks of scratches and tears, while the rugs lay ripped and burned. Furniture lay flipped over all over the place and the two gaping holes on opposite sides of the cabin. The fireplace held a pile of ashes.
Richard's eyes widened as his gaze shot towards Ruby, who nonchalantly slammed a closet shut. A nasty crunch came as if something had snapped off, falling on the floor.
"Oh! Whoopsey daisy!" she exclaimed, cheerfully picking up the torn finger and tossing it inside.
Leon's face twisted in disgust as he gingerly walked through the sea of garbage that littered the cabin.
"Just what is the deal? How can anyone live like this?" he voiced his frustration, his brows furrowing.
On que, Ruby stood at the center of the room and snapped her fingers twice. Leon half expected elves and dwarves to start break dancing in the center of the room. Instead, a golden mist littered the room as the book, papers, and broken parts of the house either cleaned or mended themselves.
"As you can see, cleanliness isn't exactly Relias's strong suit.... Sad to say he hasn't been home in quite some time,"she explained matter-of-factly, settling into a living room chair. With a deliberate motion, she knocked over a few books to make space for her elbow on the armrest. Yet, with another snap of her fingers, the books gracefully tiptoed back into place above the fireplace.
Richard's eyes widened with awe as he observed the magical display. "My mom would have a field day with magic like this... How the hell do you do that?" he asked.
With a satisfied smirk, Ruby said, "With a little study this and a little practice that. There's no limit in power and magic in this world, if you know who to learn it from, whether it be another person or a lovely little text. I imagine you all could use a lesson in that, though I will admit my help comes at a price."
Why am I not surprised? Leon thought, crossing his arms.
Diablos grumbled, Nothing is free in this world, boy. Not even the simplest of matters.
A pan crashed into the floor, rolling from the kitchen. "What's with the ol' bat anyhow? There ain't no din-dins in here, tha's for sure!" King said, poking his head out around the corner.
"Yeah, you said he's been gone. What happened to him?" Leon asked.
Ruby snapped her fingers, a small fire erupting from the ashes of the fireplace. They all paused as they noticed its color was a dark green. She smiled at their reaction before saying, "While my dear friend Katie was gallivanting, Tartarus decided to give our dear Relias a visit."
Everyone flinched as a bright light flashed in their eyes. A vision began to play, their sight overlooking the cabin. It was clearly a different time, as everything was black and white. A heavy storm raged on inside as the vision slowly panned through the window. An old man in a dirty lab coat and brown suit scurried back and forth, his oval glasses lopsided. This must be Relias... Leon thought.
Ruby's voice echoed in their ears as she spoke, "I was on one of my own escapades when it happened. He left in a hurry. I'm sure you are aware of why they'd want to find him, aren't you, Leon?"
The vision twisted to the outside, dark shadows huddled up on both sides of the cabin. Lightning struck, revealing the same black armor Leon saw in the forest when he first arrived on Xenova island. Tartarus troops planting some sort of device on the outer walls. Relias twisted as a rapid beeping sounded. With a stuffed bag and a look of contempt, the old man sat on the floor. It was then Leon noticed the markings drawn on it, patterns of dots and triangles. The walls exploded as a flame burst from the center.
Troops sprinted inside, rifles trained as they ravaged the house. Books thrown and torn, furniture uplifted, but the ashes on the floor went unnoticed. The markings and Relias had completely vanished. "He's gone!" one of them exclaimed.
The vision rippled like water, fading away, and the world regained its color. Leon took a step back, his mind reeling from what he had witnessed. Ed and Richard fell to their knees, overwhelmed by the revelation. "Did he just... vanish?" Ed muttered, rubbing his forehead in disbelief.
Ruby's voice brought them back to the present. "Teleported, to be more precise. As to where he is or whether he is safe, well, those are questions yet to be answered," she stated, her fingers absentmindedly rubbing her chin. The green flames subsided, leaving behind nothing but ash.
Leon's voice wavered as he addressed Ruby, his eyes fixed on her. "So... that body in the closet..." His words trailed off, a mix of suspicion and concern evident in his expression.
Ruby's smile widened, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "An assassin waiting for his return, indeed. I took the liberty of absorbing his memories, gaining insight into where Relias might have been taken had he been captured. I now know, at least, that he managed to escape."
"God damn it... now how am I supposed to find any artifacts?" Leon grumbled, his frustration mounting. His brows furrowed as he contemplated the implications of Relias's disappearance.
Ruby's eyes sparked with excitement at Leon's words. She rose to her feet, delivering a swift kick to one of Leon's ankles, causing him to stumble backward into the chair. She leaned over him, a wicked smirk playing on her lips. "Hey!" Richard exclaimed, his pistol trained on her.
In response, Ruby snapped her fingers, and the weapon transformed into a bouquet of daisies. Richard's protest turned into an indignant shout as he threw the flowers aside in disgust.
"That's not fair!" he protested.
Ruby chuckled. "Oh, calm yourself. I mean him no harm. But I do have a proposition for you," she declared, her fangs extending as she grasped Leon's chin.
Leon let out a groan, his brows furrowing in frustration. "Let me guess. My blood for information? God help me, another cliché."
A mischievous giggle erupted from Ruby, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she stood up straight, her body swaying with grace. "Katie's told you about me then, I presume?" she teased, a playful smirk playing on her lips. She straddled his lap, making him flinch.
Leon raised an eyebrow, his expression skeptical. "Uh, no, I just assumed that's the only thing a vampire could possibly want other than money..." He leaned back in the chair, crossing his arms and shifting his weight.
Richard leaned in closer to Ed, whispering under his breath. "Could she suck my blood too?" he muttered. Ed stifled a snicker, trying to maintain a composed expression.
Ruby let out a melodious sigh. "I actually don't enjoy the taste of human blood. I much prefer the taste of animals. But the hosts of Diablos and Jalaiya... not only is the taste exquisite, but their properties grant quite a good deal of power," she whispered seductively into Leon's ear, her body leaning in closer to him.
Leon's eyes widened slightly. "Is being so touchy a thing all of you monsters have in common?" he asked. The weight of Ruby's body pressing against him made him feel trapped, the chair cushion providing little relief.
Ruby's gaze intensified, her eyes drilling into Leon's. "Only when it comes to those with power... though not many know the power your blood carries, much less dear Katie's. I dream to become one more powerful than the heroes of legend ever were, and I can, with your assistance," she declared, her voice dripping with ambition.
Leon's thoughts raced. Is this worth asking for information? She's not going to rip my throat out by accident, is she, Diablos?
Diablos let out a weary sigh, his voice resonating in Leon's mind. If she can tell us where to find even one of those artifacts, it will increase our chances of survival exponentially. She may drink as she pleases, she will never be stronger than me. We regenerate quickly enough, so there should be no harm in allowing it. If she fails to meet her end of the bargain, I shall destroy her myself.
Leon nodded. "Fair enough," he sighed, his body relaxing slightly. "Tell me where I can find an artifact close by, and you can suck away."
A flush of embarrassment colored Ruby's cheeks, momentarily straightening up. "You make it sound so dirty..." she murmured, a playful glint in her eyes.
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Leon couldn't help but smirk, the tension momentarily dissipating. "You're literally all over me. Is this normally how vampires do this?" he asked, a hint of amusement lacing his tone.
"It is a sacred act amongst us, so it must be treated with care and intimacy."
Leon exchanged a knowing glance with his friends, a silent communication passing between them. They shrugged. "Don't give us that look, you lucky bastard. Ruby, you wouldn't happen to have an equally hot, single sister, would you?" Richard quipped, a mischievous smirk on his face.
Ruby's amused smile widened, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Why? Do you want a turn in the chair next?" she teased, her body leaning back slightly to look at him upside down.
Richard chuckled nervously, his face reddening. "We're taking turns now?" he stammered.
"If you go to the North of this kingdom, there will be a crossroad and ruins. Search it, and you will find one of the many artifacts that you seek," Ruby said, turning her gaze back to Leon.
Before he could even so much as thank her or prod for more information, her lips pressed against his neck. His hands grabbed her arms in reaction as two razor sharp ice picks stabbed into it.
Her arms wrapped around his waist, smiling as the blood poured down his black armor. He felt his gaze shifting to that violent crimson, rage consuming the pain, but he resisted it. It was excruciating, endless. But then she stopped and stood up. Compared to getting his arm chopped off it was nothing, yet he couldn't help but grimace.
Ruby caressed her cheeks, moaning as her veins pulsed. Her orange eyes shifted into a bright red and she let out a petrified shriek. "Ruby, are you-" Leon started, but she froze and then took a deep breath.
She turned away from them, facing the crackling fireplace. She hugged herself, her body language shifting to vulnerability. A mixture of fear and anticipation flickered in her eyes. "Oh my God... the taste... it was so... so..." she trailed off, her voice filled with a mix of wonder and ecstasy.
"Did it taste like chicken?" King interjected, his voice dripping with dark humor, as he licked his jaws.
Ruby froze for a moment, her body tense. Then, she turned back to face them, her cheeks flushed and her eyes now a bright, vibrant red. She let out a petrified shriek, her body trembling with a mixture of fear and exhilaration. "Ruby, are you-" Leon started, concern evident in his voice.
But she took a deep breath, composing herself, and turned away once again, facing the fireplace. Her body language shifted to a mixture of awe and vulnerability as she cupped her face with her hands. "Divine!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with awe and delight. "This will most certainly not be our last bargain, my dear host."
Leon winced, his hand instinctively reaching for his neck, where Ruby had bitten him. The pain was sharp and intense, causing him to grimace. "Not if I have anything to say about it. Holy fuck, that hurt," he muttered, his body language displaying discomfort and annoyance.
Diablos groaned. It was nothing more than a mosquito bite. Quit with the melodramatics and get to your feet. We should investigate the ruins immediately.
Leon silently agreed. "Hold that thought," he said, his gaze shifting to Richard. With a swift movement, he grabbed his friend by the shoulders and forcefully pushed him into the chair, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Hey Ruby, I think Richard wants his turn."
Ruby turned to exchange glances with Leon, their eyes meeting in a shared understanding. They shared a malevolent smirk, their body language conveying a sense of mischief and anticipation. Ruby walked purposefully behind the chair, her fingers gently caressing Richard's head, causing him to blush and tremble in surprise.
"Wait, just like this. I don't think I'm ready for-" But before he could finish his sentence, Ruby leaned in and sank her fangs into his neck.
The chaotic sound of flapping wings filled the air as birds outside scattered in panic, and the cabin echoed with Richard's frantic shouts. "HOLY FUCK! SHIT! JESUS FUCK! OH MY GOD! YOU SON OF A BITCH! MOMMA! MEDIC! FUCK!"
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A few hours had passed since their arrival at the ruins, and the group continued their search through the piles of rubble. The desolate surroundings kept the disturbance from any animals, miles away from the cabin. Ruby decided to pay Katie a visit in the dungeons, leaving Leon and Ed to accompany a dramatically grumbling Richard, who had lost the ability to walk and had to be carried by King.
Clinging tightly to King's neck, Richard stared blankly at the floor, muttering to himself, "Stupid blood-sucking brady bunch. 'Oh, I want a turn.' Good God, whose stupid idea was that?"
King, ever the playful companion, couldn't resist chiming in, "Ooh ooh, I know the answer to that one! It was your idea-"
Interrupting King, Richard snapped, "I KNOW! Just let me bitch to myself in peace, you stupid pet lizard."
King gasped, pretending to be offended, and then chuckled. "Well, that's not very nice..."
As they made their way through the ruins, they passed broken remnants of stone structures. Vegetation sprouted from the corners of each structure, and the sand and dirt crunched under their boots with each step. Faint cries of distant animals echoed from the nearby forest. Ed comforted Richard by patting his shoulder, causing him to flinch. "Relax, man. There's no way you could've known it would hurt that much."
At those words, Richard glared daggers at Leon, who innocently whistled in the other direction. "You knew that shit hurt, didn't you? You fuckin' son of a bitch, I'll kill you! I'll double kill you!" Richard snapped, shaking Leon by the collar of his coat repeatedly.
Leon couldn't help but chuckle. "Oh, come on. You can't say I'm not sharing anymore."
"Enough fooling around, you two. Check this out!" Ed shouted, abruptly stopping in front of a stone wall.
They gathered around the wall, noticing a symbol of a door with glowing embers upon it. A slight draft of wind passed through the gaps, and as the sun set overhead, the symbols on the door grew brighter. Leon closed his eyes, feeling sparks of embers rise in his right palm. A sense of purpose filled him, and he knew this was the key. Without hesitation, he thrust a ball of flame at the wall, causing it to crumble before them.
Bats and other furry creatures screeched as they flew out in a flurry. Inside the newly revealed space, dim lighting illuminated strange markings along the walls. Leon reignited the fire on his arms to provide light, allowing them to cautiously proceed.
Whispers seemed to follow them at every turn, and a trail of dust marked their footsteps. Ed couldn't help but wipe a bit of the dust off a wall, rubbing it between his fingers.
"Just how old do you think this place is?" Ed asked, turning to his companions.
Leon shrugged. "If it's been around as long as Diablos has been asleep, at least several centuries."
Richard leaned against the wall, sighing. "Heh. You say that like it's the most normal thing in the world."
Leon shook his head. "Can't be any crazier than anything else we've come across, can it?"
Richard pondered for a moment before replying, "I suppose. But do you really trust that vampire chick? How do we know this isn't a trap?"
Ed chuckled, recalling a previous encounter. "You weren't questioning that when you were asking for love bites."
"We don't speak of that. The past is the past," Richard retorted, trying to deflect the subject.
Suddenly, King's curiosity got the best of him. "Aye, fellas. What's this contraption do?" he asked, pointing his snout at what appeared to be a webbed-up lever.
The others' eyes widened, and they shouted in unison, "No, wait! Don't touch that!" But it was too late. The moment King attempted to let go, the ruins rumbled ominously. In a flash, the boys drew their weapons as screeches and roars echoed throughout the halls. Hands burst through the ground, mere inches from Ed's feet.
"Jesus!" Ed shouted. Glowing red eyes emerged from all directions as grotesque figures tore through the walls. Leon narrowed his eyes, feeling his friends pressed against his back as they found themselves surrounded.
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Taking a deep breath, Leon's flames intensified, covering his body. He muttered, "Fuck."
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A few moments later....
Two armored creatures stood behind giant doors, their attention abruptly shattered as the doors were blown to pieces with a resounding boom. Smoke billowed out into the hall as Leon, Ed, King, and Richard cautiously made their way into the room.
The group found themselves in a large underground chamber. The scene behind them revealed piles of torn and mutilated limbs, bodies and heads strewn about, remnants of the awakened undead warriors. Clearly, disturbing their slumber had left them in a foul mood.
Spitting out some blood and cracking his neck, Leon muttered, "Whose idea was it to come here again? It wasn't mine, right?"
Diablos, his ever-present companion, interjected sarcastically, Oh, please. That hardly qualified as a warm-up.
Leon groaned, shooting a quick retort, Quiet, you.
Ed, nursing a headache and scratches on his armor, grumbled, "Let's NOT do that again."
Richard collapsed to his knees, his face covered in cuts, dirt, and soot. "Everything... Everything hurts! Who created this godforsaken hellhole? King, this is your fault, you stupid dino piece of shit!" In a fit of agonized rage, he threw his empty pistol, which clanged off King's head.
King gasped dramatically, grinning in his unique way. Unsurprisingly, he was the least battered among them. "Why, I am shocked and appalled. How could ye' speak such terrible words so-" he began, but Leon cut him off sharply. "Quiet! There's something ahead."
In the vast chamber, a massive mural loomed before them. Above the mural, a flight of stairs led to a statue holding a shield and mace. Even in its motionless state, Leon could sense the statue's watchful gaze upon them.
As if in response to their presence, the blue flames from the torches in the room suddenly erupted, and a powerful gravitational force bore down on them, forcing them to their knees. "Ugh, what... what is this?" Ed grunted, straining against the unseen force.
A ghostly voice echoed in their minds, addressing them. "Host of Diablos. You come for the Evergoal. I have awaited the day you would arrive. If you are truly worthy of its power, you must go through me. Do you accept the challenge?"
Leon glared, determination in his eyes as he fought to rise to his feet. "I do," he declared.
Instantly, the gravitational force lightened, and the statue sprang to life. Blinking in surprise, the group witnessed dust trailing where the statue had stood just moments ago. "Wait, where did it go?" Richard exclaimed, metal wires shooting from his wrists in preparation for combat.
They flinched as the statue crashed down in the middle of the steps. The menacing guardian was a massive being sculpted from stone and metal while it wielded a devastating mace and an impenetrable shield.
Its lower body resembled a mechanical spider. It pointed its mace at Leon, letting out a blood curdling screech. Tremors rippled through the ruins, and drawing his sword, Leon charged forward to meet the formidable opponent head-on.