As soon as the barge landed on the opposite shoreline, Aisrin and the crew stepped off on Aisrins earth bridge/dock. Sisrin was indeed correct, the trees were thick and abundant. With his earth magic he could even sense clay, precious metals, and even gems and crystals.
Further under ground he felt the channels of underground geyser systems flowing to a spot just a bit aways towards a mountainous area, too far to travel, but it was noted down regardless.
There were even new animals, similar to horses, bears, big cats, and smaller wolves. He sensed magical beasts with solid cores that might be useful.
"This place is quite bountiful. Should provide massive quantities of resources we need to advance the city into a proper nation. I might even be able to connect these shores and add even more land to New Dawn." Aisrin commented.
"Well, it is beautiful over here. It's a whole new scenery." Dar replied.
"Its a separate biome is what you mean. The ecosystems are entirely different here. Certain species would be unable to flourish in Silver City, so we only need to hunt rather than capture." Aisrin stated.
"There's odd plants here that might have significant alchemical properties." Frinz noted as he was picking plants from the forest entrance.
This led to the crew immediately setting to cutting down trees with pre-prepared axes, and the gathering of resources. The metals, gems and crystals were moved to the surface by Aisrin and collected by the crew. Later, Aisrin and the hunters went into the forest to gather new meat and hides.
Three days passed without incident, but peace did not last. It never does.
*The fourth day*
Aisrin was searching for more rare metals that he could introduce to the economy, when he heard shouting and screaming from the shore where he had left his crew. He rushed there and arrived within the instant. There he saw creatures with wings and tails. Their skin dark shades of various colors.
There were red, purple and blue skinned creatures surrounding the crew.
"What in the fuck are you?" Aisrin exclaimed in surprise. The three creatures turned and glared at him hungrily. Their eyes red, black and slitted like snakes.
"Ah, demons. Hmm, guess these are demon lands." Aisrin commented, his whole theory blown out of the water.
"Another human. But that one is strange. I can feel mana pulsating from his body, a mana core too." The red skinned one commented. They wore leather armors and basic cloth garb under. The red one seemed to be the only female, and she was enticingly attractive.
"Are the humans evolving? But, the knowledge of mana should be lost to them now." The blue skinned one replied.
"Its possible he's only half human. I sense a strange kinship with the mortal." The purple one chipped in. Their focus no longer on the crew. They approached Aisrin and stopped a few feet before him.
"Not that you understand demon tongue, but, I'm curious about you human. The magic in your hair tells me that your hiding your real identity." Red stated.
"I understand perfectly. And honestly, I've no clue as to what I am. I was raised by the Fenris in the Western Woods." Aisrin replied in demon tongue. The three flinched in surprise.
"You can converse with us?" Blue curiously inquired.
"No, totally not me answering you because I understand your language." Aisrin sarcastically replied.
"We can take you alive. But, the others will be food." Red turned away and approached the crew. The other two approached Aisrin, intent on capturing him.
"That would be a poor decision. I suggest leaving them be. We will just move on back to our land. I apologize for trespassing." Aisrin hastily apologized and motioned for the crew to get on the barge. They unhesitatingly did so. The resources gathered weren't enough to really do much. But, they'd do for now.
"What makes you think we care boy? Humans are a tasty delicacy. I'm not keen on letting that go." Red laughed as she continued for the crew.
"I see. Well, I'm not keen on others taking what belongs to me, so unless you wish to incur quite the consequence, I'd let them be." Aisrin threatened. Red laughed and lunged at Ret, who was standing ready to fight. The other two launched at Aisrin.
Aisrin dodged one and snatched a wing right off its back with a sickening popping and tearing noise, followed by inhuman screeching.
Aisrin tossed the wing at the second, catching it off guard and then swung with his full strength, punching right through its chest. The Demon stared at Aisrin with a confused and horrified look before he went limp as his life left him.
While he was busy doing that, the Red demon had taken one of Rets arms and she was crying out in pain, her blood flowing from the gaping wound, signifying her life slowly ebbing away. Aisrin stared at the Red demon hatefully as she chewed on the now severed arm.
Aisrins eyes turned red, hatred flowed through his body like a spreading wild fire. Unbeknownst to him, there were more demons hiding in the tree lines, and they had gotten on the barge. The hunter who had warned Aisrin was attempting to protect the others, but he was soon overwhelmed and the demons dug in with relish once they had him in their clutches. His screams echoed hauntingly as blood began to splatter, and chunks of his flesh flew as they tore him to shreds. Aisrins body had stopped moving the moment he felt hatred. The darkness walked from within him.
This was enough to cause Aisrin to explode with mana, his hatred reaching its peak. Black oil began to pool from his eyes, his hair losing its illusion and purple steaks could be seen in his red hair. An obsidian horn grew on the left side of his head and malice erupted in a menacing burst as the darkness inside broke free.
The demons sensing an imminent death approach, snapped their attention towards Aisrin. The scene unfolding before them so terrifying, it made them forget they were the demons. The ground beneath Aisrin turned black, the smell of rot began to fill the air. The red Demon suddenly realized, she should have taken his warning seriously.
*Tomb Dimension*
Loki felt the change immediately and rushed inside the old palace. Dark Aisrin was slowly crumbling apart as Aisrin grew more and more hateful.
"This is why I opted to destroy the memories instead of sealing them... or did I opt to seal them instead of destroying them? Man. time sure has a way of confusing me." Loki placed his hand on Dark Aisrins head and used his power to try and stop the merge between the two.
"All because of Aisrin coming in contact with that fresh Miasma, now the two are reconnected by a thin thread... no, more like a wide channel now. I'll just stem the flow, try to pinch it off." Loki muttered as he felt the two Aisrins' connection.
"Had to go and take responsibilities again. I swear this kid likes to repeat the same dumb shit!" Loki cursed.
*Demon Shorline*
Aisrin had long since lost his rationality, his only objective was to kill. Kill those that made him suffer, those that relished his pain. All of his hatred directed itself on the demons.
"I'm sorry! I took it too far my Lord! I didn't know you were pure blood Demonkin!" The red demon dropped to her knees and bowed, her head touching the ground.
"All dared laugh at my pain. My suffering. All dared to disregard my words, living peacefully on my sacrifice! I am a God! All should head my every word as law!" Dark Aisrin spoke through Aisrin. His voice resounded with what those that witnessed would call the wails of the dead. Curses from the pits of Hell.
(Aisrin! Not again you stupid motherfucker!)
"Shut your tramp mouth whore!" Aisrin screamed. The red demon, who was about to respond, suddenly shut her mouth, thinking it was directed at her.
(Oh, so you choose death then?)
[Am I through? AISRIN! SLEEP!]
Loki found his way through the channel and commanded. In an instant, all of the menace, miasma and appearances of Dark Aisrin disappeared. His body fell to the ground like a sack of potatoes. The only remainder of what happened, was the dead black earth under Aisrin.
The Red Demon was sweating profusely, once the presence was gone, she tentively lifted her head and looked. Relief flooded her body as she sat upon her knees and then began laughing.
"You're no purebred! You must just have a massive core! Oh, for a moment, I was worried! Instead, you pushed too much mana through your core and fainted! Serves you right fool!" The red demon laughed. The others began to join her and soon their attention returned back to the snacks before them. Just as they were about to dig in, a dark shadow enveloped them.
Before any could look up, a dragon landed within a fraction of a second of the shadows arrival. It was a blue dragon, its scales shimmered like a clear sky.
"Indeed. What a fool. But, you are more foolish for bringing out that fool. Had he not fainted, this land would be reduced to a chaotic hell. All because you got greedy." Syphir growled. Her lightning like eyes staring bolts through the Red demon.
"Dragonkin?" The red demon blanched. The other demons fled swiftly away.
"I see you've taken care of my loves subjects. Let me return the favor." Syphir opened her mouth and snatched the red demon up before she could react. Syphir crunched down on the struggling demon. The sound of bones cracking sounded like a falling tree as Syphir bit down upon her mid-day meal. The blood ran thickly down her face in torrents, raining red upon the ground beneath.
Syphra was on her back, trying not to get sick, she only came along after Syphir told her something really bad was happening. She was not prepared for the scene she beheld. The wounded crew members and a dying Ret. They would all need to be gathered and placed on the barge.
*
Syphra gathered Ret and placed her on the barge. Aisrin had vanished from his spot before Syphra could grab him, but Syphir told her not to worry. Where he went, he'd be taken care of, they only needed to get the others back.
The resources were few and left aboard. Once things we're secured and all members were present,, Syphir grabbed hold of the mast and easily flew it back across the river, where hopefully the wounded could be saved.
This was a blackmark on the beginning of New Dawn. One Aisrin would never forget nor forgive himself for. Truly the worst consequence of his decisions.