Raphael was soaring through the skies, not on his mighty wings of shadow and bronze, but rather perched upon a magnificent griffin with feathers that looking like a thousand rainbows. This wondrous beast wasn't his though. He was simply a passenger, enjoying a bird's eye view.
Beside him, Butler Long held onto the reins with a smile. "Those lands below, young master, every inch is filled with stories, treasures and creatures you'd never encounter anywhere but our blessed homeland."
He truly appreciated this bird's eye tour, or perhaps it was Butler Long's familiar warmth he enjoyed, his calming voice and patient explanations, as if recalling memories they'd both cherished.
This was happiness he'd never truly grasped before.
Below them, a breathtaking panorama of Bloodthorne cities and towns unfolded, bathed in the gentle radiance of the Grey Sun, an orb he'd once gazed upon with longing as his master screamed obscenities and berated him as being useless. Those unpleasant sentiments seemed like a distant, forgotten nightmare.
"It's breathtaking! I never truly knew what our home truly resemble before today, Butler Long!"
"Indeed. We have much to celebrate now that you're here."
"We sure do!"
Their flight path was nearing a military training ground with its banners dancing in the winds and blood red flags of his lineage, where hundreds of armored knights practiced their techniques. It was a familiar sight and his dream from a lifetime ago had come knocking once more as he pointed downwards with unrestrained boyish enthusiasm.
"Wow, look! Those Golden Blood Knights! Their movements, they are truly graceful, almost effortless." Raphael felt an old desire ignite. "I want to be just like them, even stronger! One day I want to become a Platinum Blood Saint!"
Butler Long chuckled and patted his head. "I have no doubt you'll achieve even more, my boy, even more! Such strength, you possess, and determination…"
Those words and encouragement were just what he'd craved, Raphael's heart swell with happiness and gratitude before he turned back to watch that landscape shift. He would learn everything he needed, and become the Bloodthorne warrior, or better!
Such ambition.
…
Meanwhile, back in her lair…
Kwan Yuu hovered above the cauldron, observing its cooking process with keen eyes. Inside the 'Four-Faced Blood Sapping Cauldron', Raphael's massive body simmered. He glowed faintly beneath those churning blood essences.
She noticed her impatient brood buzzing expectantly near the chamber walls.
"Foolish children. Do you think I'll share this feast? This bull's essence is mine! Mine alone!" Kwan Yuu was annoyed by their presence. "Leave! Now! Or you'll be joining him in the cauldron!"
Startled by their queen's sudden outburst, the Vampsquitoes didn't hesitate. They buzzed out of the chamber in a panicked frenzy, eager to avoid becoming the next meal.
"Such impatience. They haven't learned a thing." Kwan Yuu shook her head, amused by their predictable behavior. She turned her attention back to the cauldron.
"Hmm, such a tough bull. Its taking longer to boil down than I anticipated. Perhaps… a little more fire?" She descended and unleashed a torrent of purple flames from her proboscis. It struck the base of the cauldron, causing the Flame Crystals beneath it to glow brighter. The heat intensified.
Inside, Raphael's golden hide began to dull. Patches of scorched black appeared. The white crystal on one of the cauldron's faces became brighter. It would seem the body refining process was accelerating. His physical body breaking down on a molecular level would be pure agony if he'd been awake.
…
At the border of Yama Yaguai, two figures stood amidst the frost-covered plains.
"Those humans ran away pretty fast, didn't they?"
"Hmm, a pity." Melissa look at the pile before her, "So much to pick through, how delightful." She gathered those treasures the Blood Knights had been coaxed to relinquished before thanking the Sagewood Script that hovered diligently, dutifully listing out all their find.
"Zhu Jian, your services are truly exceptional."
She flicked her long tail around a black hilt and giggled as she pictured herself carving out new holes in the asses of those lesser Bats who dared to question her methods, how dreadful, truly a work of art.
"You were saying something Kong?"
Beside her, Bat General Kong grumbled about unnecessary risk taking and something he mention was only heard by a specific pink monocle covered eye. "…Master made no mention of stealing those treasure from the Knights…"
Melissa retort cut through that icy air which made it colder, "My, my, Kong, such a pitiful statement. Your inability to perceive nuance is baffling. I saw what master wanted from afar. Do you think we would be in this place enjoying its spoils and treasures if Master hadn't learned how to utilize, and rewarded those capable?" Her eyes narrowed as her fingers tapped those curves she adored the most, those sumptuous spheres that rested on her black scaled chest.
"Truly, your existence as commander might simply be as tool and stepping stone for my grand ascension!" Those words were not meant to intimidate, rather that was her intentions, he simply couldn't grasp her true intent, those tricks of a devious and beautiful temptress.
In retaliation, Kong scoffed. "Respect your elders! I've been with Master long before you, newcomer. Seniority matters!"
Melissa laughed, amused by his hollow retort, but she never had the chance to voice her contempt, because in that very moment, both felt it.
"HUH!"
A burning sensation erupted in their chests. Their shadows became thin and fading, as if struggling to cling onto that frozen ground they stood upon. This was a clear warning their Master was in danger.
"This? Is it Master?"
"Something is wrong with Master!"
They glanced at each other and immediately their rivalry was forgotten, "We have to get to Master!"
In a burst of dark energy they were gone.
…
Within Queen Kwan Yuu's lair.
BZZZZZZZ!
Several Vampsquitoes hovered nervously outside their queen's chamber, eager to get their share of the prize, but were held back by the memory of their queen's terrifying decree.
"The bull… Its essence…"
They took deep breaths. A savory aroma began permeating the lair. The smell alone intoxicated.
"How divine, just one taste…" Their clicking mandibles and their buzzing amplified their cravings as drool dripped and form a growing, murky pool upon the floor that reflected their bloodthirsty hunger, their insatiable desires.
Inside, Kwan Yuu observed the cauldron intently. Steam billowed forth, its aroma becoming more intense, for the meat within had begun to break down into those fundamental ingredients their kind savored. She smiled, imagining the taste of those blood-souls merging with her essence.
"Magnificent."
"Almost ready…" The white crystal embedded in one of the cauldron's faces shone brightly now. She lowered herself, about to plunge a finger into that steam to test when a jolt raced through the Hive, snapping her from the stupor.
"That… What's that energy?!"
…
Inside the cauldron, Raphael's golden form glowed. It trembled, as if fighting unseen restraints. Those images from earlier returned.
Raphael sat under a tangerine tree that was laden with succulent fruits. Butler Long and Tajmani stood beside him, looking happy, and before him sat his arch enemy – Queen Ewa Nier, her hand rested gently upon his forehead.
She looked down at him like a caring mother. "Ralphy? Are you alright? You're burning up."
"I'm… home? Such strange fruit…"
"Is this Heaven…?"
He'd eaten a tangerine moments before when Tajmani had skipped over and hugged him, it was like a scene from his fondest, most ridiculous dreams, a wish he'd never known. He could feel tears pricking at his human eyes as he remembered their laughter while his ears buzzed faintly.
And now, after Ewa Nier caressed his forehead so tenderly, a strange realization came creeping in. This wasn't love, no, far from it!
"Something's off. Since when were Tajmani and her mother this nice to me? And Tajmani's words. Weren't they always venomous, each syllable carefully crafted to humiliate, berate…?"
Those thoughts felt distant, yet true, he was certain, so certain…
Doubt crept in. The memories of Ewa Nier's Blood Star attack, the countless humiliations from his years as her slave were clashing with these acts of maternal care.
His instincts scream: DANGER!
"You aren't REAL! None of you are real!" He stumbled back, his human hands outstretched, warding them off like ghouls.
"Ralphy? What's the matter?" Tajmani asked, her words came with those tones of concern, yet so terrifying that it shook his very being. "Here let me pat you back to happiness." She skipped closer, but the very sight of her angelic smiling was enough to have his stomach rumbling!
Those were lies he knew all too well! And their façade now started cracking!
"Big Brother? You have a fever? Do you need to lie down?"
He watched as Tajmani's form flickered for a moment, a glimpse of a monstrous creature with teeth so terrifying, then in a heartbeat, it was gone.
"GET AWAY FROM ME! ALL OF YOU!"
The scene began crumbling.
He saw cracks appearing in the perfect blue sky as reality asserted itself. Ewa Nier's caring façade was replaced for a fleeting instant with a sneering, demonic visage that seemed eager to savor his fear. Those memories of hatred resurfaced once more to claim his soul!
"This… is an illusion?!"
He remember now!
Those whispers in the Dark Swamp Gorge, the Vampsquitoes's buzz. They all came roaring back! The truth was upon him. And now it was his turn to feast!
His human mind and form began shattering as Shao Jin's golden flames ignited deep within his core, those hooves were stamping. His memories returned with the echoes of battle, screams, carnage, and that unyielding desire…
"I AM a Golden Bull Thork!"
"ROAR!"
His voice, at first human, then rapidly transformed, growing deeper, resonating with an ancient power. The illusion dissolved. His human form was no more. It shattered as he opened his eyes!
And those eyes, now filled with wrath had a singular target…
"That mosquito QUEEN!"
...
Inside Kwan Yuu's lair, her initial annoyance of feeling something stirring from the inside quickly transformed into a chilling awareness of power.
"His… his essences! It's being pulled INWARD! Could he be…?"
Kwan Yuu was about to investigate those strange vibrations of her dish when that very monstrous food started to glow brighter now. This sight was something new for even the mighty Queen of the Vampsquitoe, for even after centuries of bathing in those essences, this had never been seen.
Her pupils constricted, then she screeched:
"DAMN FOOD! Trying to escape my stomach?!" She knew what that powerful glow meant. It was resistance! This bull, It wasn't done!
WHOOSH!
She didn't hesitate, she grabbed a massive golden, cauldron's cover she'd used in the past for far less resilient and smaller opponents.
She quickly placed it over the bubbling blood essence and a hiss escape those jaws.
"Not so fast, BULL! You will BE devoured!" Then with her proboscis emitting another intense gout of flames she melded the cover in place, sending more potent and fragrant scents into that monstrous chamber that would soon become a sauna, but alas, this wasn't about relaxation now, rather it was containment!
She wasn't taking any chances!