The ascent began at dawn. The Crimson Peaks towered above them, jagged and imposing, their blood-red hue a grim reminder of the mountain's deadly history. The group of six moved with purpose, their breaths visible in the thin, freezing air. Each step took them closer to answers—and the dangers that came with them.
Ryan led Team 1—himself, Elyas, and Dain—while Karael guided Team 2—Liora, Thane, and himself. Though the teams worked in unison, the tension among them was palpable, their shared unease growing with each passing hour.
The climb was brutal, the icy terrain forcing them to slow their pace. As they reached a narrow ledge, Elyas spoke up, breaking the heavy silence.
"Do you think we'll encounter Erythros here?" he asked, his voice hushed but serious.
Liora, climbing just behind him, tightened her grip on her weapon. "You seem to know a lot about it, Elyas. Why don't you tell us?"
Elyas hesitated before answering. "The stories I've heard… they say Erythros is more than just a beast. It's a force. Some say it's tied to the very essence of this mountain. Others say it's a punishment—a shadow cast by the mistakes of humanity."
Dain glanced back at him, skeptical. "You're really selling this as a monster story, huh? Sounds like something out of a horror vid."
"It's no story," Elyas said, his voice firm. "My great-grandmother saw it once, back in our homeland. She said its eyes glowed like molten lava, and its shadow stretched farther than the horizon. She was one of the few who lived to speak of it."
Jim let out a low whistle, shaking his head. "Well, here's hoping we don't end up in her story's sequel."
Ryan interrupted, his tone sharp. "Stay focused. If Erythros is here, we need to be ready for anything."
The group pressed on, the air growing thinner and colder. The wind howled through the peaks, carrying with it an eerie sound that almost resembled whispers. As they climbed higher, Karael broke the tense silence.
"There's something else you should know," he said, his voice grave. "Dr. Moreau didn't die in the Crimson Nova disaster."
Liora stopped, turning to him in shock. "What are you talking about? Everyone knows she died in the explosion."
Karael met her gaze, his expression unyielding. "That's what the history books say, but they're wrong. My great-grandmother told me the truth before she passed. Moreau was betrayed by someone she trusted—a man who sought immortality. He threw her from the mountain to protect her from Erythros, but she never forgave him. Some say her spirit lingers here, watching over her creations."
Ryan frowned, suspicion clouding his face. "How do you know this isn't just a family legend?"
Karael's jaw tightened. "Because the man who betrayed her survived. He walked away from this place, changed forever. And the Crimson Nova disaster? That was no accident. It was a consequence of his actions."
The group fell into a heavy silence, the weight of Karael's revelation pressing down on them. Finally, Liora spoke, her voice quiet. "What exactly was the Crimson Nova disaster, Ryan? You've been unusually quiet about it."
Ryan sighed, his eyes fixed on the path ahead. "It happened over 440 years ago. Dr. Moreau was a pioneer of bioengineering, her lab the epicenter of Mars' most ambitious experiments. But ambition comes at a cost. One of her experiments—Erythros—was the result of her attempt to create the perfect guardian, a creature that could protect Mars from any threat.
"But the experiment went wrong. Erythros wasn't just a guardian—it became a predator. The lab's defenses failed, and the creature escaped, triggering a catastrophic chain reaction. The explosion wiped out the lab and its surrounding settlements. Millions died, and the horrors that escaped with Erythros haunted Mars for decades."
Jim shook his head, disbelief etched on his face. "And now we're chasing after the very thing that caused it all."
"Erythros might be the key to stopping whatever's happening now," Karael said firmly. "But we won't know until we find it."
The group pressed on, their determination fueled by equal parts fear and resolve. The higher they climbed, the more oppressive the atmosphere became. The mountain seemed alive, its peaks glinting like blood-stained teeth.
As they reached a narrow plateau, a low growl echoed through the air, freezing them in their tracks.
"Did anyone else hear that?" Dain whispered, his voice barely audible.
Before anyone could answer, the ground beneath them trembled. A massive figure emerged from the mist, its form towering over them.
Erythros.
The beast was a nightmare made flesh, its body a seamless blend of rock, ice, and muscle. Its glowing eyes burned like molten lava, and its movements were both graceful and menacing. The air around it seemed to shimmer with raw energy, a palpable force that made the group instinctively take a step back.
"So, this is it," Liora whispered, her voice barely above a breath.
Erythros tilted its massive head, its glowing eyes locking onto the group. When it spoke, its voice was a deep rumble that seemed to resonate through the mountain itself.
"You tread where you should not. Why have you come?"
Karael stepped forward, his voice steady despite the fear in his eyes. "We seek answers. If you are the guardian of this place, then you know why we're here."
Erythros' eyes narrowed, its growl reverberating through the air. "Answers come at a cost. Are you prepared to pay it?"
The group exchanged uneasy glances, the enormity of the moment sinking in. Before they could respond, Erythros turned and began to climb higher, its massive form blending into the jagged terrain.
"Follow if you dare," it said, its voice fading into the wind.
The group hesitated for a moment before Karael motioned for them to move. With heavy hearts and steeled resolve, they followed the creature, knowing that the path ahead would test them in ways they could not yet imagine.