「WARNING!
- Plague Wave Approaching
WARNING!
- Corrosive Rain Clouds Developing
WARNING!
- Plague Creature Population doubled and Plague Disciple Strength doubled.」
"What does that mean?" Adam asked as he read the contents of the panel that just abruptly popped out of the green glitches.
"It means we are fucked." Kaizer said with a huge unsettling smile on his face.
--
"I wonder why I even try sometimes." Valeria mumbled under his breath.
"Hey, geezer, Valeria. Why do you want Moon dead so bad?" Adam asked as he dusted off soot and ash from his skin.
"The kid is a problem and has always been a problem." Valeria responded succinctly.
"If the problem kills us here, we are done." Valeria completed.
"Well, you're going to die right now anyway, so you don't have to worry about dying to Moon, so that's all fine and dany for you I guess." Vari said mocking Valeria.
"I have a safe haven." Valeria mumbled under his breath
"I find that hard to believe." Kaiser said in response as Valeria struggled to stand up and then he offered him a hand.
Valeria took the assistance, to Varis dismay and hung his arms around Kaisers shoulder to support himself up. Kaisers smile not faltering for a second.
"Your beliefs are all... Questionable. So its not a problem if you do believe me. We have plenty of space. Were trying to save the noobs, the early scenarios aren't nice to the little ones."
"What's your point?" Vari asked walking closer to Valeria, Adam off, resting against a tree lost in thought.
"I'm saying that you don't need to trust me, but give me the boy. I reckon you could survive on your own, but give me the kid." Valeria said, trying to sound sincere, but his monotone gravelly voice couldn't express that.
"No, that's fine. We'll go with you." Kaiser said as he slightly pulled on Valeria and moved him ont his wounded leg causing him to wince in pain.
"Im terribly sorry, Vaal. Point us in the way of your haven." Kaiser completed.
Valeria looked at Kaiser, as he tried to hold in his pain. He pointed down a random direction and Vari whipped his axe in the air and pointed it at Valeria.
Valeria looked down and unbeknownst to him, Kaisers spear was stealthily at his neck too, one wrong move and he would be dead three times over, counting that Adam himself was also at high alert with his hand on his sword but still quite a way from the three.
"Calm down, fledglings..." Valeria said as his finger simply emanated a soft white light that illuminated the way in front of them.
"It's over there." Valeria completed.
"I also have-" Valeria tried to say but was cut off by Kaiser.
"You have people in the trees? They don't seem too experienced. They move around too much, you start to get suspicious when the trees rustle about so carefully." Kaiser said gleefully.
"We can also take them all out in seconds." Vari bluffed as he pulled on Adams hand and dragged him in the direction Kaiser and Valeria were going.
"Hey hold on. There's people in the trees. HEY!" Adam said, oblivious to the fact that this was just being talked about because of how deep he was in thought.
He was simply ignored.
"Remember Vaal. We have no qualms with you." Kaiser said as the party kept walking forward in the direction of the haven.
Valeria then whistled and the people in the trees stopped aggressively stalking the group and started to look out for them.
"What even is a safe haven." Adam asked as he relaxed after the people in the trees stopped tracking them furiously.
Valeria simply sighed and looked the other way, ignoring Adam, but Kaiser responded.
"You know what a safe area is right. Basically that, but this time you can create one from scratch anywhere. Somehow, Vaal over here can already make one, very valuable skill." Kaiser explained.
"Never heard of that." Adam said, as he looked off into the darkness beyond all the trees that they were walking through, the only form of light coming from Valerias finger. There were 4 moons in the sky but it was like they gave no light, but managed to be perfectly visible.
"Well, Its really a new development to be fair. Came from the update that dropped before all this happened." Kaiser said, softly as what seemed to be a weathering white brick wall slowly came into view.
"What do safe havens look like. A circle on the ground that wards off demons?" Adam asked in jest, as he chuckled within himself.
"A Church." Valeria responded succinctly as usual, startling Adam.
"A Church?" Adam said as they walked out the woods into another massive clearing in the massive forest and there it was...
This massive white Gothic cathedral stood tall with four towering spires at each corner, sharp and angular with intricate stonework and pointed arches. In the center rises a fifth, larger tower, holding a
massive golden bell that gleamed brightly. The church seemed to feature two stories, with tall, narrow stained-glass windows on the lower level and smaller, delicate windows above all showing various biblically inspires still images. Its façade, adorned with finely sculpted carvings of angels and saints, while the walls are supported by flying buttresses and delicate tracery. The towering spires and elaborate details seemed to evoke awe and reverence, making it a striking example of Gothic grandeur that Valeria was incredibly proud of as he smiled confidently.
"A Church in hell. You don't see that everyday." Vari said as he walked closer to Valeria and Kaiser because the people in the trees hopped out of them and were now walking beside them.
"Wow! What the fuck, that looks so cool. The buildings back home were all so boring and square. Thats fucking amazing." Adam said in awe, referencing the ugly views of his past
"Buildings like this could only be seen in simulations anyway, but this feels real." Vari said in response.
"Ears." Valeria said quietly, as though he was forced to say something he didn't want to.
"Huh?" Vari said aggressively but Kaiser seemed to understand as he wrapped his arm around Valerias Head and covered both his ears with his fingers, Adam saw this and immediately did the same, Vari realized what was about to happen.
He stared at the massive bell he could just barely see as it swung to one side.
"BELL!!" One of the men walking around The crew screamed out and the others closed their ears immediately.
In an instant a deep, resonant, and powerful sound rang through the air, carrying a reverberating, thunderous tone that echoed like a banshees scream.
"Booooooom... Booooom... Booooom..." Each toll of the bell had a long, rolling vibration, that started with a low rumble that builded up and faded, filling the entirety of the space and the forest around it with a profound, almost haunting presence. The reverberations would linger long after the tolls, fading slowly into the distance as another followed after, almost louder than the last.
Valeria, offered up a prayer to God as this was happening, unbeknownst to the others as they surely couldnt hear him.
"O Lord, Almighty and Merciful God,
Hear the cry of Thy humble servant.
I beseech Thee, continue to protect the souls not yet destined to depart,
Shield them from the terror of death's cruel hand.
Thou hast whispered to me through the bell's loud mournful clang,
That the hour of unspeakable suffering is at hand.
The sound, O Lord, is like thunder in the heavens,
A harbinger of millions of deaths so brutal, so foul,
That only Thy grace can make their passing gentle.
I pray, let the souls of the afflicted find peace,
Let their suffering be light, though their deaths be dark.
I, who still walk in Thy mercy, thank Thee for this breath,
For the fleeting gift of life Thou hast bestowed upon me.
May Thy will be done,
And may Thy servants know the comfort of Thy eternal embrace.
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
Amen."