Rise of the Devourer

Chapter 37: I like to call myself a risk taker

Noah heard a ping from his notifications and looked at the folder. There were multiple unchecked notifications within and he opened them to look at what he’d gained.

[Astralwalker] has reached level 25.

[Astral Resistance] has reached level 15.

[Dimensional Pocket] has reached level 6.

[Blink] has reached level 14.

Agility increased to 77.

Mystic increased to 90.

+6 free Attribute Points.

[Lifeblood] has reached level 6.

[Abyssal Symbiote] has reached level 10.

[Abyssal Symbiote (Basic → Intermediate)]

[Summon Ability: Metamorphosis] obtained!

Noah eyed the changes, surprised by the massive jump for Astral Walker, and all its related skills. It made sense in some ways, he’d just traveled across realms through an Astral rift, which was bound to give him some experience.

His attention moved to the summon ability, as he wondered what that meant. Perhaps Tony’s transformation had triggered something?

Noah glanced down at the sleeping Tony resting on his finger. Moving back to his previous task, he pulled another book out from the pile, as he began to read on the Crimson.

There was a lot of information on the Crimson cult, the Crimson Heart, and the primordial gods themselves. But a lot of it also referred to the Scarlet Valkyries.

Noah flipped another book open, discussing the Scarlet Liberation, and the War to kill a Primordial God.

There have been many wars on Erandir. Most fought by mortals, but some were fought by gods. Perhaps the most famous of any of these, outside the Eternal War with the Abyss, was the Bloody War. Led by the Scarlet Goddess of War, Raelinah, named for her hair, and the trail of blood she left in her wake, the Scarlet Valkyries had fought the greatest travesty to have ever arrived on our realm, with the arrival of the Primordial Outer God, the Crimson Heart on Erandir.

It is not often that a Primordial God manifests within a realm. The Astral rifts are witness to such events, where worlds have shattered under these wars. It was here, where the Scarlet Valkyries had risen, rebelling against the Crimson Heart, with the battle that formed the Crimson Valley that persists today as the only mark of this war, and the many revenants of this cruel century-long battle that has left a permanent scar upon this world. The skies are forever red there, the ground tainted crimson with blood, as rot and decay subsume life in all forms and nature.

Though the war was won, it was not without cost.

The goddess left this realm upon the war’s end, and the world fought over the scraps of the Bloody Heart’s pieces, leading to decades of stagnation.

Even today, this Rot still persists, waiting for a chance to return upon our realm.

Noah closed the book, breathing out. He returned it to his pile, picking another one when a gust of wind blew in his face, as a high and squeaky voice screamed in his ears.

“Stinky man!”

Noah gave an unamused look to the wind elemental, who in reply bared his sharp teeth at him. “Met mother. Mother likes stinky man. Less stinky now!” The elemental exclaimed.

“Yes, I met your mother. Who had a lot more manners than you,” Noah replied, and the wind elemental twirled happily.

“That was not praise…”

“Want to show stinky man something,” the elemental said.

Noah looked at the creature in surprise as it twirled and spun around, before flying out of the library. He took a look at all the books remaining around him and the little progress he’d made in actually finding a way to use the spear.

I guess a walk wouldn’t hurt.

Noah followed behind the elemental, as it made its way out of the library. A gate of light appeared from the ground near the walls, cutting into reality itself as the elemental flew through and Noah followed behind.

Walking through the blinding light, Noah found himself standing in a corridor carved from the green and white stones he’d seen within the church. But these stones contained far more potent mana in them, brimming with energy.

“Here!” the elemental exclaimed.

Noah followed, watching the elemental fly into a circular chamber, with an odd fountain at its center. Multiple wind elementals swirled around the fountain, laughing and whistling as they chased each other, creating gusts of wind.

Moving closer, Noah sensed what the fountain was.

Pure wind mana moved through the water, oozing outwards. From within it, he could see the little orbs of light rising and swirling around the area, as the wind elementals chased them around.

The elemental he’d been following flew into the fountain, sinking into the surface of the mana-water. Noah walked closer, peering through into the water’s surface as his eyes widened. An entirely different world was visible beneath the water; gusts of wind flew freely, as mana storms swirled and circled around in giant cyclones.

There was a beauty to the place, of pure primal energy roiling without restraint, forming a beautiful, yet terrifying, sight.

Noah reached out with his hand, trying to touch the surface of the water.

“I would not recommend doing that. You will die,” a voice spoke in his ears, stopping him.

Noah turned back, and saw a giant peacock lounging in front of him. It was big, taller than Noah even while sitting down. Its skin was a deep azure color, each of its feathers brimming with brilliance. The sight was mesmerising, so much so that it took Noah a minute to realize he was no longer standing in front of the fountain.

“What’re you doing here, mortal?” the peacock asked, looking at him with its brilliant and vibrant eyes.

The question snapped Noah out of his daze. “I found my way here through the Astral rift, and was given access to the Library by the goddess Avera. I assume you are Vati?”

“That I am,” Vati replied. “That Avera, pulling in mortals yet again. Her fascination with your kind perplexes me.”

The peacock turned to look at Noah, squinting its eyes. “Not to mention you reek so much of the Void and Crimson… just what kind of mortal has she picked this time?”

Rising from his place, the massive peacock moved in closer, bringing its head near Noah. “Ah, you’re fate bound. Perhaps it wasn’t Avera’s fault that you’re here, then.”

“I’ve heard that a few times now. What does that even mean? Is there literal fate guiding me?” Noah asked.

“No, foolish mortal. Fate does not guide anybody. It simply dictates the possibilities. Infinite realms of possibilities exist within this world, but the realms upon which fate guides you are more likely to occur than others. You have strong fate with this place, so your path would’ve most likely led you here one way or another.”

“Huh,” Noah murmured. “That is… interesting.”

“I am glad you are amused, but I wish to sleep. You have already imposed upon my slumber. Do not raise my ire any further and leave. And do not try to enter the Astral realm of wind again. I will not save you the next time you try,” Vati said with a quiet snort.

“Thank you,” Noah replied, with a light bow. “Just, before I go, can I ask you one small thing?”

“What is it?”

“The reason I’m in the library is to try and figure out how to use this spear,” Noah said, bringing out his new weapon. “But so far I haven’t found any mention of how to prevent Crimson Rot, aside from just being strong enough to resist it.”

“Your spear inflicts Crimson Rot - V on its wielder. There is no cure for this level of the Rot. No antidote, no balm. Healing magic only makes the Rot worse, potions only make the Rot worse. There is no method to resist the Rot in existence, besides sacrificing the inflicted limb to preserve your life,” Vati replied.

“Surely… there has to be something right? From what I’ve read, Void is the antithesis of Life. And Crimson is abundance. What if you mix the two?”

“You would need a life-force potent enough to balance both ailments at once. Only a fool would attempt something such as that,” Vati replied, before looking at Noah again. “You do look like a fool though.”

“I like to call myself a risk taker,” Noah replied. “So, if I have a large enough life—pool it’s possible?” Noah asked.

“You don’t, not as of now,” Vati replied. “But. If you can subsume the spirit within your spear before the Rot kills you, there is a chance you will survive.”

“Subsume the spirit?” Noah asked.

“Read what the Astral Script tells you of your weapon. There is a spirit living within your spear, it is the source of the Crimson, and the reason this weapon hungers so for growth.”

Noah used identify on his weapon again.

[Spear of Crimson End (Common/Growth)]

A spear infused with the Crimson Rot, and the remnant spirit of a dying warrior of the Scarlet Valkyries. The spear bonds with its owner, and grows along with it.

Noah read the description, before looking back up at Vati. “So what do I do?”

“Bond with the spear, accept the Crimson Rot and let it run wild. If you can win over the spear, and have it recognise you as its master, the Rot will no longer inflict you when you use this spear. But you will have to do so before the Rot kills your body.”

Noah frowned, looking at the spear in his hand. He did not have a weapon, and given the growth nature of this one, he’d appreciate it if he could unlock it sooner than later.

“Do you think I can do it?” Noah asked Vati.

“You have fate with this weapon. But those who rely on fate are fools. Ultimately, the choice will depend on you,” Vati replied.

Noah frowned, looking at the spear, before he spun it around and planted the butt of it on the ground. “Well, I did say I was a risk taker.”

“Mortals. Foolish as ever. But this is entertaining. Very well, I shall watch over you. Your death, or your victory, both shall live eternally here within my mind.”

“Thanks,” Noah replied to Vati, as he pulled away the cloth covering the spear.

Taking a deep breath, Noah grabbed the spear with his hands, feeling the red color seep into him.

You’ve been inflicted with [Crimson Rot - V].

[Lifeblood] resists [Crimson Rot - V].

[Crimson Rot - V → III].

[Abyssal Symbiote] resists [Crimson Rot - III].

[Crimson Rot - III → II].

[Crimson Rot] has applied [Cancer].

[Devourer] negates [Cancer].

[Crimson Rot] has applied [Mutation - III].

[Lifeblood] negates [Mutation - III].

Max health will be reduced by 5% every minute.

Noah ignored the myriad of notifications, feeling the Rot start to flow through him. Lifeblood began to work in a frenzy, his own body changing as the Rot began to warp him. Quickly taking a seat, Noah closed his eyes. Setting the spear in his palm, he reached out with a pulse of mana, and a new prompt appeared in front of him.

Do you wish to bond with [Spear of Crimson End]?

Yes/No?

Noah selected the yes option, as he felt himself being pulled into the spear itself.

With a sudden pull, he was standing in a vast battlefield. Bodies upon Bodies littered the ground, which had turned red from the seeping blood.

The sky burned a bright scarlet, the setting sun standing still as if watching over the battle from its place.

Noah grasped the spear in his hand, looking around at the area before his eyes locked onto a figure, standing in the distance. Wearing golden armor that had turned a deep rusted shade of red from the blood soaking it, a woman stood, holding a spear in her hand.

The same spear that Noah held in his.

The woman looked lost, her eyes distant and uncomprehending. Slowly, she looked up, and Noah saw the dark crimson eyes looking at him with unrestrained madness.

Using identify, Noah watched the woman in the distance, feeling a shiver run up his spine at what he saw.

[Scarlet Valkyrie Remnant - ??]