WHOOSH!
Raphael, now embodying the mighty Golden Bull Thork, burst from the heart of the Fire Pool like a fiery comet. Landing heavily upon the surface of the molten liquid, he sent out ripples of fire and steam that reflected the chaotic battle that raged inside and outside him mere moments before.
"This… air…" Raphael was slowly adjusting to the changes occurring around him as if he had never felt the air before, or smelled something other than shit, blood, fire, or his own foul odor.
Just then, a soft whimper broke the momentary silence. He felt something furry rubbing against his mighty hind leg, seeking comfort and warmth, much like a cat.
"Huh..?"
He glance downwards to discover a familiar creature he had last seen getting chased into that damn cave he almost died in.
It was the Crimson Fang Hound mother, covered in singed fur, scars, and a sense of maternal instinct.
"It's that beast… the one Tajmani and the others were hunting… She must've been resting here and recovering from her injuries before I so rudely interrupted them…." Then as if those fragmented images in his head were aligning, he understood why she was trying to be friendly now. "But why here…? What does it want now?"
As those thoughts filtered through, Shao Jin's memories merged with his human sentiments, providing clarity and understanding. It felt strangely invasive but not at all displeasing because this body… it was his now! The realization made him giddy.
Shao Jin could effortlessly communicate with beasts within his territory. Raphael now possessed that ability! He could hear her thoughts, her worry, her desperation.
He could sense the potent Solar Consciousness within this hound mother, that prize Tajmani had sought. The thought of killing the beast now, claiming it as his own and preventing Tajmani from her victory, it held a certain dark appeal… revenge for years of abuse, torment and humiliation that had plagued his entire life as a "slave".
This delicious plan quickly morphed into the opposite of everything he wanted to do. He just wanted to be alive.
A snort escaped his nostrils as a powerful blast of hot steam erupted. He wasn't interested in power now, and those tempting wings and hooves… he simply wanted to escape and maybe live a normal life again, perhaps not as a servant this time, or at least be treated better. It was a foolish dream, he admitted, but there was nothing to lose at this point, was there?
Those thoughts died instantly as he remembered how messy and dangerous the humans in the outside world could be when power and ambition filled those tiny minds.
Raphael leaned down, directing those scary blood-soaked eyes that now felt strangely familiar to the hound's terrified gaze. He hoped those words carry as much conviction as they did fear, for that was all he had left.
"Little minx… it isn't safe here any longer. The humans… They will find you if you stay here. And believe me… when they decide you're a threat…" He paused. The recent memory of his own escape from a terrifying bull Calamity came flashing through with clarity as if he were reliving that very moment!
"Things get very ugly, very quickly."
As he finished saying those words, a wave of stubborn growls erupted, shaking him a bit. She didn't want to leave! The message was strong in its primal meaning and he got it.
"I cannot leave! My pups are here!" she conveyed through snarls. "They are too young and vulnerable! The world is not kind to weaklings! I cannot leave my children!"
"Hm. You have great determination…" But stupidity can be mistaken for bravery, a hard lesson that usually leads to bloodshed and destruction. And if Tajmani's underlings are leading the squad… it wouldn't end well, especially for this stubborn hound and its innocent pups, especially if the rumors he had overheard in the castle of a new technique being crafted in the labs to capture a living creature's Solar Consciousness, "but sometimes, holding onto pride could mean losing something even more important."
After a moment of silence which had more meaning than their words ever could, he shook his head in resignation and simply said, "Very well, it is your decision. As for me. I can't stay."
And without further conversation, he dashed off with a speed that resembled teleportation. It was more of a forceful shove against space itself via his monstrous strength than a burst, with black and golden energy radiating from every atom of that now-transformed form.
The earth tremored as the ground parted beneath those golden hooves and a message was written into the land as if it meant to haunt that place until it disappeared from existence:
'Death has been here, and might come knocking again!'
Raphael's guess was that the hounds children were deep in the Blood Forest because her chosen direction of escape would certainly seal their demise. It felt wrong letting her go, but in those parting words of his, he was sure the mother hound knew there was no other option. He had no time to protect weaklings, he was a runaway after all.
'That hound… I have a feeling she's just signed their death warrant.' Raphael shook his head. She'd be no match for the incoming Bloodthorne Garrison, but perhaps that was better… a quick death to a life of pain.
His past as a "slave" had taught him much about unfairness and that some creatures were simply meant to… die, so the strong could get even more power. He didn't dwell too much on this fact, his own survival was paramount.
The exit was a blaze of cold light and falling snow as those shadows receded. He exited with a powerful shove of power that sent the snow flying and cracked trees ahead, but as soon as his hooves touched the ground outside… the air shifted.
He was back, however, back wasn't home, it was simply… death's waiting room!
The ice-covered landscape was vast, extending before him like a frozen tapestry.
Looking back, the majestic snow-capped peaks loomed behind him. It was there, in the bowels of those treacherous caverns, where his life had taken this unpredictable turn… his destiny re-written against the flames of a mighty Golden Bull Thork that was now his.
Raphael's dark wings unfolded with the groan of untold power. He then flapped experimentally before shooting forward with jerky movements as the ground below felt the shockwaves, shattering ice and ripping the landscape as if he were playing with power itself, because… he was.
He had to think. Where to go? He had never been outside the Bloodthorne Empire, and it was impossible to exist in this body while still remain in their territory.
Then it hit him.
A specific memory came flashing from his years of devouring knowledge to appease those bullies. It was a whisper from drunken guards about a terrifying place, a dangerous place, but definitely outside the Bloodthorne reach.
'If I recall… It was south… a long journey south.' He quickly glanced toward the Grey Sun above those falling snowflakes. Using that…
"The South it is! A haven of beasts it is." He roared with such bravado as he hurtled across the frozen expanse with a blinding speed.
He flew at low altitude to avoid being seen. His flight path wasn't grace nor subtle. It left a trail of torn earth, splintered ice, and golden energy that told any spectator: something powerful and dangerous was coming their way, but it won't be for long…
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Suddenly, immense blood-red spikes, sharp as dragon fangs and thick as tree trunks erupted from the frozen ground ahead and around Raphael. They jutted out like a macabre forest, and was dripping with a menacing crimson energy.
He instinctively pulled up, narrowly avoiding a spike that would've skewered him through his new, beefy chest.
"They've caught up already?!" He was stunned. It had barely been a minute since he exited the ice cave! His fear multiplied by a thousand fold as those crimson death traps grew ever closer!
How was this even possible? Had they been lying in wait?
Raphael dismissed that thought because he could hear, even feel their powerful essences as they rushed through the frozen wasteland he was flying over.
"No… they were definitely chasing me. But weren't they supposed to be chasing after the mother Crimson Fang Hound…? Could it be they… split up?"
Instead of turning his head to confirm those fast approaching enemies, Raphael unconsciously utilized his newly acquired echolocation. He had mastered it, without knowing how! It was just instinct.
In a blink, he got a detailed blueprint of the imposing forces behind.
It was a squad, fifteen knights strong.
"Two Golden Blood Knights leading the charge… That's… bad. Three Silver Blood Knights and… what! Are those? Bronze? They sent ten Bronze Blood Knights after me?!"
The fear was real because during his "servitude" to that damned princess, he couldn't even fathom talking to such high ranking knights without being threatened or beaten up for interrupting their daily rituals, and now…
They were coming for his head! Or to be more specific. Shao Jin's horns, claws, flesh, bones and any other body part those researchers considered good for experiments! What fun, how chaotic!
He had to think. Escape. Evade. Annihilate. What to do?
But those decisions, they were hard to make when your balls were shrinking rapidly due to seeing a death squad of knights coming at you!
BOOM! BOOM!
Those red spikes erupted even more furiously from the earth below, intensifying their pursuit. He was their target, no doubt. They would not rest until… they either captured him or put him down. The determination in those knight's was evident from how swiftly those spikes came erupting from beneath!
A particularly bright, golden-red blur then shot forth from the formation. It wasn't a mere blood spike like before, this… This was worse!
It was a knight, radiating power.
"Damn it!"
"Beast, yield!" The voice of an elite came echoing with righteous, burning intent which resonated from that fast approaching golden-red streak.
"What the…?!"
Shao Jin's speed, Raphael was using it now, but still he couldn't shake off this imposing force that stood ahead, daring him, defying his speed!
He could easily outrun them, push himself further, faster, utilize those mighty bat claws, but those years of oppression, that voice filled with authority… It was as if his master Tajmani stood before him, no, that wasn't right.
Tajmani was a puppy with shit stained diaper compared to this majestic figure that was stopping his movement without even laying a hand on him.
That voice had him petrified… momentarily!
Raphael, in Shao Jin's colossal body, reluctantly slowed down and hovered cautiously, allowing the Bloodthorne knights to catch up and encircle him.
"This doesn't make sense. This bull… it's fast! Too damn fast, but…" The leader who was a woman in red armor adorned with gold accents commented with amazement at how quickly the beast could move, a spectacle none in their squadron has ever witness.
But now it was no longer relevant because she had to report its location for reinforcement to arrive. Then they saw the horns, those eyes, the imposing shadow wings pulsating behind its back, but before they could properly assess this situation and figure out a strategy…
Something shocking occurred!
"Hmph! Who dares stops my escape! You humans insects! Are you…" But those brave and defiant words ended before they even began as he, Raphael heard it clearly in a very familiar tone:
"Yield, beast, like the dog you are."
The familiarity of those words struck Raphael deeply, but not in a good way! His past, his humiliation came roaring back to reality. How many times had he been addressed with similar pronouncements by that annoying spoiled princess he was sworn to protect…?
He couldn't help it. He would show them.
His human resentment, a bubbling pot of angst and injustice boiled over and spilled!
"ROAR!"
The bull unleashed an earth-shattering roar, fueled by Shao Jin's might and amplified by Raphael's rage that blast those Blood Knight squadrons into those frozen, tree filled wastelands behind like insignificant pebbles.
The snow billowed wildly from that blast as the surrounding landscape fractured as if it meant to crumble to dust!
"WHAT?! HOW…"
It was unreal. The sheer power contained in a mere roar had disintegrated most of their blood essence shielding and had thrown them hundreds of meter backward like helpless infants!
Never had the knights, even Salim, the commanding Golden Blood Knight, ever encountered such ferocity.
"So this is the beast that Tien Ha and Gerald mentioned. A Calamity…" She gasped as the last word of her soldiers and comrades faded, replaced by labored groans from those that had passed out, and muffled moans of disbelief and pain. The sight shocked her because never had a bull's bellow sent such strong knights as themselves into chaos! Never!
Realizing the power of the monster they were sent to capture, she quickly gathered her strength while scanning for injured squadmates and issuing out orders: "They're right. We must be extremely careful! This beast… It's not just a Blood Beast, it's a Calamity! Fall in! Fall in! Crimson Binding Blood Formation!"
"YES! COMMANDER SALIM!"
Instantly those Blood Knights that could stand or use minimal blood essence energy to move with shaky limbs, scrambled towards each other, positioning themselves strategically around that dazed Bull whose eyes resembled the chaos that had enveloped that snowy battleground.
The glow was faint now, replaced by fear.
And for Raphael, this meant a slight sense of superiority for only moments before reality came crushing.
The Crimson Binding Blood Formation was one that utilized the individual's Astro Soul Orbital to conjure massive pillars of solidified blood. Then, a collective power resonated between the participating members to amplify each pillar's power, before sending those solidified energies, like whips towards their target and effectively trapping them. But that's not all.
As soon as those pillars pierce the ground and connect in an invisible net of energy…
"HAAA!"
"Crimson Blood Prison - Activate!"
BOOM!
Instantly, the pillars glowed vibrantly. And from each pillar, blood tendrils shot upwards and linked, forming a dome-shaped prison. Its interior glowed, shifting constantly. This technique had no time limit as long as its participants maintained the formation!
Inside, Raphael was staring at his current dilemma. Those crimson spikes that came shooting upwards from the ground, were now pulsing blood tendrils that constantly attacked his very being. He could block them, but for how long? And why were the skies turning red?
The sheer pressure was as suffocating as those golden hoofed phantoms of earlier.
His anxieties multiplied ten-fold as an undeniable question filled his mind.
"Where do I escape to now?"
And as if this nightmare couldn't be worse, those knights materialized from the ground below one by one.
They surrounded him with their weapons drawn and eyes filled with killing intent.
This was a nightmare beyond any he had ever imagined! His human instincts to flee was now screaming for a way out. What to do? He wasn't sure, but surely… that bull has a powerful technique he can use… right?
"Die, beast." The lead Golden Blood Knight entered first with a spear of radiant crimson, and it seemed there would be no other outcome this night… other than utter humiliation and the shedding of golden blood upon that crimson ground!