The Trick to Falling in Style

Fire

Vermillion's nose scrunched up when the bogging smell of swamps and dumpster fires struck him like an arrow to the heart. He placed one hand against his lips, clamping the orifice shut to keep the puke from spilling out. His other hand went to his stomach, holding his torso like that would have any effect on his rolling organ. His eyes began to squint as the smell assaulted his other senses. He could feel the scent crawling against his skin like an oozing slime, and he was certain that he could hear bubbles popping across the moss-green waters and the flickering of flames surrounded by metal. It was a truly horrendous attack, and it was something the Corrupted Cauldron simply did without being conscious of it.

As far as Vermillion knew, a long time ago, there had been a scientist who devoted his entire life to uncovering the secrets of the universe. When his powers manifested, he was caught up in an unfavorable situation. For one reason or another, his consciousness transferred into a huge cauldron in his laboratory, imbuing it was partial sentience. The scientist's memories had faded, but his will remained. The Corrupted Cauldron continued to create chemicals in the pursuit of what the scientist could never find. Arch-Illager weaponized this, and it seemed that Clara was following in the former leader's footsteps. Too bad neither of the Apex leaders could find some way to get rid of the nasty smell that permeated so thickly in the air it was a second enemy on par with the cauldron itself.

Vermillion pulls out his daggers as he comes to the bottom of the staircase. He presses into the cement walls, the broken railing of the stairs pressing uncomfortably into his backside. He peers over the corner. He can see the Corrupted Cauldron sitting plainly in the back corner of the room. It seems that the heroes' intel wasn't inaccurate. The Corrupted Cauldron really was stationed underneath the Rose Petal's brothel in the Ravine. It wasn't a horrible spot to be, all things considered. It was near the center of the whole Ravine, and the brothel was semi-famous. It catered to a lot of customers, and this would enable the spread of the drug Impulse. Vermillion wouldn't have guessed this place in particular, but he could see the value of the basement area.

Vermillion wondered if he was going to be getting back-up. The heroes were planning on coming, but he wasn't sure when that would be since he came earlier. Unfound couldn't come, and someone would have to stay with him. Vermillion wondered which three heroes would come by later. Beau was in the area per his directions, but she wouldn't know what location to come to specifically. He was, for the moment, on his own, and that thought startled him.

He had rarely been alone in his life. His youth was spent with Arch. His escape was led by a new friend. He was guided by Alyssa and H. Bomb while in the Ravine. The people of the streets in Logstedshire took care of him. Beau worked as his partner for the longest time. The heroes spent their precious free time with him. Sam, Mamacita, MD, and Nook supported him after the end of his career. He enlisted the help of so many other people since that moment. Even though he decided to isolate himself, he was astounded by how many times he was helped by the people he was running from. The painful thought struck a chord in his heart, and tears started to rise in his eyes. The last time he had been alone, truly and well alone, Clara was walking away from his revived body, leaving him with uncontrollable impulses and death anxiety.

Vermillion shook his head, snapping out of it. His emotions were running a little wild because of the events that had occurred earlier that evening. Unfound was fine, he assured himself, and it was better for everyone if the heroes had yet another reason to never forgive him. Dream coming after him was a fluke. He simply wanted answers, and Vermillion knew that they were more than owed. He would give them answers eventually. For now, he had a mission to complete.

Vermillion rolled into the room, keeping himself down on his knees. He hid behind a metal table, crawling underneath it. The undead Mobs working to collect and distribute Impulse from the Corrupted Cauldron's opening didn't notice him. The dark room, putrid smell, and Vermillion's wind muffling his movements ensured that he was hidden as long as he didn't make a whole lot of senseless noise. He continued beneath the tables, crawling from one side to another before skidding across one of the alleys between two tables. One of the Mobs curiously stared at the spot where he was with glowing, empty eyes, but they quickly went back to the task given to them. Vermillion turned his attention away from that specific guard to look at the Corrupted Cauldron.