As Krucose, Seria, Gulpy, and Pablo gathered in the lively hall of the guild, the buzz of anticipation filled the air. The announcement of their quest had drawn murmurs from the other adventurers, some shaking their heads in disbelief while others whispered tales of dread. It was an elderly folk storyteller who finally silenced the room. His voice carried an air of reverence as he began recounting the legend of their target.
"This Titan you seek,"
the old man began, his gaze falling upon the party,
"is no ordinary creature. Calypsor, the Crimson Warden, is a name whispered in fear, a shadow that loomed over Castoria centuries ago. It is said he was born of the blood spilled by men in endless wars, a creature cursed to remember humanity's sins. Calypsor rose to exact vengeance on mortals, wielding the very essence of their folly blood. His wrath knew no bounds, his cunning unmatched."
Krucose's heart pounded in his chest as the words sank in. He tried to keep his composure, but the enormity of what lay ahead began to weigh on him. His hands instinctively gripped the neck of his lute as if searching for comfort in its familiar strings.
The elder continued,
"Calypsor walks with wisdom, a Titan not only of brute force but of intellect. He is no beast to be subdued but a being who sees the flaws of our world more clearly than any of us. They say his blood will energy can tear through even the mightiest defenses, and his mastery of ancient relics makes him a foe unlike any other."
Pablo leaned forward in his seat, his face lit up with excitement. "Now that's what I'm talking about! A real challenge!"
he said, grinning from ear to ear. Then, with a sly glance at Gulpy, he added, "But hold on a second Gulpy, you're always bragging about being the 'Titan Subjugator.' Care to explain how you got that title if you've never fought a Titan before?"
All eyes turned to Gulpy, who burst into a hearty laugh, clutching his stomach. "Ah, Pablo, you caught me!" he said between chuckles.
"Well, let me set the record straight. I didn't exactly fight a Titan more like outwitted one. It was years ago, back when I was just a curious toadfolk traveling the seas. I stumbled upon a sleeping Titan, a massive thing covered in moss and coral. Instead of running for my life, I decided to, uh… borrow a few treasures it was guarding. When the Titan woke up, let's just say my fishing skills came in handy for more than just catching fish!"
The hall erupted into laughter, but Krucose and Seria were left wide-eyed in amazement. "You outwitted a Titan?" Seria asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.
"Call it what you want, lass," Gulpy said, leaning back with a smug grin. "But when the folks back home heard about it, they started calling me 'Titan Subjugator.' The name stuck, and I wasn't about to correct them!"
Pablo shook his head, smirking.
"You sly old toad. I should've known it wasn't a proper fight."
Despite Gulpy's lighthearted tone, Krucose couldn't shake the weight of the legend. The thought of facing something as powerful as Calypsor sent a shiver down his spine. Still, he forced himself to stay calm, telling himself that fear wouldn't help him now.
Seria, however, was just as amazed as she was concerned. "So this isn't your first run-in with a Titan, Gulpy?" she asked.
"First, last, and only," Gulpy replied with a wink.
"And let me tell you, if this Calypsor is anything like the one I met, we're in for the adventure of a lifetime. But don't you worry between me, Pablo, and you two, we've got what it takes to handle him!"
"Do we, though?" Krucose muttered under his breath, earning a laugh from Seria.
As the elder storyteller finished his tale, the room returned to its usual chatter. But the weight of the quest lingered in the minds of the four adventurers. Pablo and Gulpy's excitement was infectious, but Krucose and Seria couldn't ignore the gravity of what lay ahead.
With a pat on Krucose's shoulder, Gulpy said, "Don't let the legend scare you, lad. The key to any battle Titan or not is to stay sharp and never lose your rhythm. Trust me, we'll come out of this stronger than ever."
Krucose nodded, his resolve slowly building. As much as the thought of facing Calypsor terrified him, he couldn't deny the spark of adventure igniting in his heart.
THE NIGHT BEFORE THE FIGHT
The night was calm but filled with an underlying tension. The stars above shimmered faintly, casting a dim glow over the guild's backyard. Krucose stood alone, gripping his lute tightly as he practiced a high note move, his fingers moving with precision, his voice trembling but determined.
"I got this," he muttered to himself, over and over like a mantra.
"We'll come back victorious."
He wasn't sure if he was trying to convince himself or affirm his belief, but he poured his heart into every note. He didn't notice Seria approaching until her soft voice broke the silence.
"Krucose?" she asked, her tone curious yet gentle. She stood in her sleeping robe, her lantern faintly glowing beside her.
"Why are you still awake?"
Krucose flinched, startled. He quickly turned, clutching his lute awkwardly. "Oh, nothing! I was just… uh…"
Seria crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. "You're obviously not doing nothing. What's going on?"
He hesitated, then sighed. "I just… I want to be strong," he admitted, his voice quieter now.
"I want to protect you guys. I want to protect everyone in this Archipelago." He looked at her and smiled, his expression calm and confident.
"That's why I'm still out here. I need to get better, for all of us."
Seria froze, her cheeks turning a deep shade of red. In her mind, she replayed his words, struck by how mature and manly Krucose sounded. He's always surprising me… she thought, flustered. Her mind raced with embarrassment, but outwardly, she could only stand there, stunned.
"You're… amazing," she whispered under her breath, so softly that even she wasn't sure if she had spoken.
"What was that?" Krucose asked, tilting his head in confusion.
"N-Nothing!" Seria stammered, her face heating up further. She quickly turned away, clutching her lantern.
"You should get some rest, Krucose. Big day tomorrow."
"Yeah," he said, watching her retreat back into the guild.
"Good night, Seria."
As she disappeared inside, Krucose looked down at his lute, a new sense of determination filling him. "I'll protect everyone," he whispered to himself once more.
THE DAY OF THE HUNT
The rising sun bathed the land in a warm golden light, signaling the start of the group's long-awaited quest. The air buzzed with anticipation as Krucose, Seria, Gulpy, and Pablo prepared for their journey. Their banter and excitement masked the tension that lingered beneath.
"We're finally going after Calypsor," Pablo said, grinning as he secured The Desperado across his back.
"This is gonna be one hell of a hunt!"
"I hope it's not too exciting," Seria muttered, clutching her lantern nervously.
"Come on, lass," Gulpy said, slinging his fishing pole over his shoulder.
"We've got the strongest team around. What could possibly go wrong?"
Krucose didn't say much, but his quiet confidence was evident as he adjusted the strings of his lute. He felt the weight of his promise from the night before, and he wasn't about to back down now.
THE JOURNEY
Their journey spanned seven days, each one filled with challenges and discoveries. They traveled through bustling towns and quiet villages, gathering every scrap of information they could about Calypsor.
"Every survivor describes the same thing,"
Seria said one evening as they sat by a campfire.
"A crimson aura, sharp enough to make the air feel heavy. His blood will energy isn't just strong it's suffocating."
"I heard he can summon weapons out of blood itself," Pablo added, his tone uncharacteristically serious.
"If we're not careful, he could tear us apart before we even get close."
"Let him try," Gulpy said with a grin. "We'll show him what a proper team can do."
Krucose stayed quiet during most of these conversations, his nerves bubbling under the surface. He knew they were strong, but the stories they'd heard painted a terrifying picture of Calypsor. Still, he reminded himself of his promise to be strong, to protect his friends
THE FINAL DAY
On the seventh day, they arrived at their destination a desolate canyon shrouded in mist. The air felt different here, heavy and oppressive. As they ventured deeper, they began to sense it a powerful, pulsating aura.
"That's it," Pablo said, his voice tinged with excitement.
"That's Calypsor's will energy."
Krucose's heart pounded in his chest, the sensation almost unbearable. He clutched his lute tightly, taking a deep breath to steady himself. Stay calm. Stay focused, he told himself.
"You okay, lad?" Gulpy asked, noticing the tension in Krucose's face.
"I'm fine," Krucose said, his voice firm despite the tremor in his hands. He straightened his back and looked ahead, determination burning in his eyes.
"LETS DO THIS!"
Seria glanced at him, her own nerves momentarily forgotten as she saw the resolve in his expression. She couldn't help but smile, feeling a spark of confidence herself.
As the four of them stepped forward, the crimson aura grew stronger, wrapping around them like a living entity. They knew that the fight of their lives was just ahead and none of them planned to back down.