Chapter 68
- Location
- Malaysia
Chapter 68
The mist traveled down the hallway until coming to a dead end. Slowly, it coalesced and reformed back into Kruze as yet another teleportation circle appeared under him. A flash of light later, he reappeared in an empty room. A familiar room. He headed towards the study door, intending to leave the manor and make his grand entrance. As he opened the door, he was suddenly punched in the face. Surprised, the force of the punch threw him back and sent him crashing to the floor.
"I had a feeling that you were coming back here, of all places," stated Aruran as he stepped through the doorway.
"And a hello to you, brother," growled the vampire, his voice full of venom, the last word being spat out very reluctantly.
"Hmm? You still acknowledge me as your brother?" the old nobleman stated as he adjusted his attire, "I would have thought you would have cut me off already."
"You should have finished us off when you had the chance, Amos," retorted Kruze angrily as he reached inside his coat, "You know very well that our very nature cannot be changed."
"I would beg to differ," Aruran rebutted as he took out his pipe and lit it, "There are ways. One just has to be diligent. Time is something we have in abundance, after all."
"Why waste time on such frivolities when I can push for making our vampiric life much more favorable for us?" he boasted as he wrapped his crystal focus around his wrist.
"It seems we have to agree to disagree," the former replied as he got ready to fight.
"A pity. I had hoped that you would have come to your senses. Now I see it wasn't the case," stated the latter as magical energies sparked between his fingertips.
"Quite," Aruran agreed right before he dashed forward with a punch readied.
Before the punch landed, a spectral shield interposed itself between its summoner and the attacker. The fight was on.
"Back from whence you came!" chanted Lamy as she tried to cast a spell on Reyo but he flicked a pebble at her. It found its way to her throat. It barely left a mark but she stumbled on the last few words and the spell fizzled out to nothing.
"You think you can fight me!?" he gloated as his astral self grabbed an arrow that was hurtling towards him and threw it aside, "Fools!"
He sped towards them an aura flaring up around him. He sent his astral self forward, its claws swinging wide and scratching Aloe and Nene. Then, he leaped back, tossing a knife at the bard as she tried to sing with her lute, the sharp end leaving a cut on her finger as she tried to strum.
"Yo, not fair," shouted Polka as she chased after him.
She tried pummeling him but her astral self got in the way and blocked most of her attacks. She smirked as he flinched when she was able to land a blow on the spirit in the stomach.
"You dare!" he roared as he followed after her staggering form, dodging an incoming throwing knife.
The spirit was able to slice a gash in her arm in spite of her tipsy sway. However, that left him open as a spirit sword suddenly materialized and slashed his back. Forewarned, the half-elf leaned back as a ray of frost flew past him. He then gasped as arrows slammed into his chest. Ripping them out with a roar, he then grabbed the fennec girl and before their horrified eyes, buried his newly-formed fangs into her throat.
"Polka!" screamed the bard before misty stepping into range, "Let go of her!"
He grunted through his teeth as her rapier was stabbed into his side, but he kept drinking. When he relinquished his hold from her, she limply crumpled to the floor, two puncture wounds on her neck with two tracks of blood trailing out.
"Get away from her!" shouted Aloe as she suddenly flew up and tried to dive-bomb him.
"You're next!" he declared as his astral self grabbed her by the throat as she came near, plucking her out of the air like it was nothing.
"No!" shouted Nene as he fed on the succubus while Lamy hurried forward and dragged Polka away.
As he fed, he was forced down by his spirit, nearly avoiding more arrows. Taking his fangs out of the fiend's arm, his spirit then threw her into the ore bard, who caught her neatly. He then turned his gaze to the one shooting the arrows.
"I grow tired of your wooden toothpicks," he growled as he dashed towards her.
Taken aback, she could barely fight back as Reyo grabbed her and bit down on her neck, taking a long drought.
Then, he pushed her away. Blood Memoriam socked her in the stomach and then punched her in the face, sending her crashing into the wall behind her.
"You… are nothing but the cheat we met during the tournament," mocked Nene after giving some healing relief to the monk.
He roared when that vicious mocking interrupted his beatdown of the archer, "Then, I think I shall move on to you."
"Wait! Polka!" shouted their cleric as the fennec monk launched herself angrily at the pseudo-vampire
"What a hot-headed fool," he stated simply as his astral self backhanded her aside and knocked her out.
The half-snow elf then gasped when she found him standing in front of her. He had dashed under Aloe's flying knife as he blitzed toward her. She immediately swung her mace, landing a solid hit on his arm. Her eyes widened when the spirit punched away her spirit sword.
"Lamy!" roared the lion girl as she got up and continued shooting though she looked like she was in great pain.
"Valiant effort, young lady," he stated with a sneering look as his spirit then caught Botan's arrows and broke them. He then swung his leg and kicked her in the stomach. As she bent over gasping for breath, he taunted, "Can't breathe!?"
As he continued to laugh at her, he pushed her head up roughly and punched her several times in the chest. While her armor protected her from the brunt of it, she could still feel the surprising force behind the blows.
"Leave her alone!" shouted Nene as she tried to help, but the astral spirit intercepted her, parrying her rapier away and clawing at her as she tried protecting herself.
He just scoffed at her, leaving his astral spirit to cover his back while he grabbed the half-snow elf by the throat. She flailed her mace around at him but to no avail. Daggers and arrows were batted away as he sank his fangs into her neck and drank deeply.
"Most satisfactory," he stated as he stopped drinking. He then kicked her in the gut and in the head.
"Lamy!" shouted the lore bard as she finally ducked past the spirit and attempted to stab him directly.
"Useless," he told her as he moved much faster than she could and landed a punch in her gut.
Then, he flinched when a dagger finally struck him, cutting his left cheek. He turned his angry gaze at the succubus, who got ready to throw another. He moved, Blood Memoriam catching and destroying any arrows shot at him, and stopped in front of the fiend. She tried hitting him but he grabbed her by the throat and roughly tossed her in the air, punching her in the stomach as she fell down. He then introduced her head to his knee and as she reeled back in pain, he plunged his hand through her chest.
"ALOE!" screamed Nene and Botan as the succubus fell over backward, her body slowly flaking away in embers smelling of sulfur and brimstone.
"Sorry, I can't stay any longer. Thank you for having me," they heard in their heads.
"No… Aloe..." the lore bard muttered as she sank to her knees in shock, with a sense of despair hanging over her head.
Reyo chuckled and said, "Did you honestly think you could win? I am Reyo Credo and I shall rule this world! Nobody can stop me!"
An audible crack reached their ears. They turned to the door on the right wall. There seemed to be a dark aura running along the border between the door and the doorway. Without as much of a warning, the stone slab suddenly came off and flew straight at the half-elf.
"Blood Memoriam!"
The spirit moved in front of him and rapidly shredded the slab. However, all the dust and flying debris hid the attacker well and a second later, he flew out of the cloud with a bruise on his face. As the cloud settled, a familiar dog girl with her familiar spirit was revealed.
"You!" he shouted angrily.
"Miss Ina'nis told me you're a naughty boy," she said cheekily and confidently, "Time to teach you a lesson and take your fingers."
"Priestess Ina'nis?" muttered Nene in surprise.
"Well, what can I say?" asked the mysterious girl rhetorically, "I brought the cavalry."
Reyo then started laughing and said, "Fortune smiles on me! I have a chance for revenge! How can I not take it!?" He then charged straight at her while shouting, "Feast on her, Blood Memoriam!"
"Press the attack, Hound Dog!"
"So, have you given it any more thought?" asked the priestess.
"This is not the time for this!" the lore bard cried hysterically.
"Shikakakakakakakakaka-"
"Horaoraoraoraoraoraora-"
"Your succubus friend is still alive," Ina'nis stated, making her eyes go wide, "If you want, I can help you find her again… if you could join us."
"Erm," she hummed anxiously while looking around.
Botan had dragged herself over to Lamy and was pouring a healing potion down the cleric's throat. Reyo was busy fighting with Korone, their spirits matching each other blow for blow. Oga and his friends were still fighting the undead two rooms away. Nobody else can help her make this decision.
"Well?"
"I will say… "
Blades clashed and ground against each other, giving off minute sparks. Oga roared and continued wailing on his opponent, who matched him blow for blow. Off to the side, his companions were busy tangling with what remained of the vampire spawns. The ghasts were pretty much destroyed entirely.
"You think they're alright?" asked Shien as he stabbed a spawn a few times in the chest before stabbing upward through its lower jaw.
"They'll be fine," replied Yogiri as she leaned back against him, narrowly avoiding another spawn's claws, "I think they've seen just as much action as we have."
"Hope so," he muttered as the one he was attacking was suddenly gored from the side by the unicorn that was helping them.
Oga let off another roar, this time of triumph. The mazoku finally got the upper hand and had broken through the armor with a mighty attack. The chest piece had a large rent in it and blood flowed from it. The vampire Micheal roared in reply, somehow still able to move. He simply ripped the chest piece off with a single pull and tossed it aside. Then, his body gained a blood-red aura, wisps of it licking off like it was on fire.
"Oh? You can make use of your anger? Ha, this will be a battle of the ages," said the mazoku eagerly as he slowly gained the same type of aura.
Their next clash actually shook the foundation of the pillars around them.
Nene blinked. She was no longer in the ruined crypt. Instead, she was in the middle of the ocean. Again. She had a feeling that this was a running theme with the priestess' cult. Or at least, with this… being... she was following.
"What do we do now?" she asked.
"I will call him," the mysterious priestess stated as she spun to face her in fright, "But while I'm doing so, please close your eyes. I doubt you will be able to stare at him for long."
Taking her advice to heart, the bard closed her eyes. Soon after, she heard that strange language again. It felt like otherworldly, slimy things were sliding inside her head and down her neck when the mysterious words reached her ears. However, it didn't take long before a loud, rumbling voice replied to her. The slimy feeling intensified.
"So, you are the one she is interested in," the voice suddenly addressed her.
"Er, hello? Nice to meet you?" she replied hesitantly.
"Greetings, Nene Momosuzu," it said, "Do you acquiesce to coming into the fold?"
"Eh?"
"Do you agree to becoming one with knowledge?" it asked again.
"I..." she started before pausing to contemplate everything. If she joins, she could find Aloe again. Talk to her again. Maybe… she can go adventuring together with them again. But should she? Will this one provide help with their current problem? She wasn't so sure… but after being dragged here after saying 'yes', she probably had no other choice but to throw caution to the wind.
She looked to where the voice was coming from and without opening her eyes, she said resolutely, "Yes."
A pause.
"Very well. It is time to open your mind and help you to see."
She shuddered as she felt that slimy feeling slowly encompass her entire body. This was followed by a slight buzzing in her left ear and then a tingling sensation in her right ear and along her spine. Then, she felt herself rising into the air as if being lifted up by some unknown force.
"Oop, not the time to fly away now," she heard Ina'nis say.
Opening an eyelid a fraction, she saw that she wasn't in the middle of the ocean anymore. Instead, she was in a forest clearing while a large purple tentacle was coiled around her waist. Her hand was tugged on and she found the priestess looking at the back of her left hand. The symbol she saw at the prison ruins on Gekko was inked on it.
"Humu, humu, looks good," the priestess declared to the bard as she looked at her, "No need to worry though, as it won't be visible to prying eyes in the real world."
"What about the fight?" Nene asked in a hushed tone.
"No problem," she stated as she let go of the hand, "Time is frozen while we talked to 'him'. When we return, time marches on as usual. Anyway, you have a little task to do when we get back."
"What task?" she asked, anxiousness blooming in her heart as the tentacle lowered her down.
"Nothing difficult. Just make sure Reyo is defeated," she stated before adopting a thinking pose, "Hmm, am I forgetting something." Then, as if a lightbulb lit up, she exclaimed, "Oh, yeah." She then poked Nene's forehead with her finger.
For a moment, she looked at the mysterious priestess in puzzlement. What was that supposed to do? Was she-
The lore bard then screamed as information started getting forcefully stuffed into her head.
The mist traveled down the hallway until coming to a dead end. Slowly, it coalesced and reformed back into Kruze as yet another teleportation circle appeared under him. A flash of light later, he reappeared in an empty room. A familiar room. He headed towards the study door, intending to leave the manor and make his grand entrance. As he opened the door, he was suddenly punched in the face. Surprised, the force of the punch threw him back and sent him crashing to the floor.
"I had a feeling that you were coming back here, of all places," stated Aruran as he stepped through the doorway.
"And a hello to you, brother," growled the vampire, his voice full of venom, the last word being spat out very reluctantly.
"Hmm? You still acknowledge me as your brother?" the old nobleman stated as he adjusted his attire, "I would have thought you would have cut me off already."
"You should have finished us off when you had the chance, Amos," retorted Kruze angrily as he reached inside his coat, "You know very well that our very nature cannot be changed."
"I would beg to differ," Aruran rebutted as he took out his pipe and lit it, "There are ways. One just has to be diligent. Time is something we have in abundance, after all."
"Why waste time on such frivolities when I can push for making our vampiric life much more favorable for us?" he boasted as he wrapped his crystal focus around his wrist.
"It seems we have to agree to disagree," the former replied as he got ready to fight.
"A pity. I had hoped that you would have come to your senses. Now I see it wasn't the case," stated the latter as magical energies sparked between his fingertips.
"Quite," Aruran agreed right before he dashed forward with a punch readied.
Before the punch landed, a spectral shield interposed itself between its summoner and the attacker. The fight was on.
"Back from whence you came!" chanted Lamy as she tried to cast a spell on Reyo but he flicked a pebble at her. It found its way to her throat. It barely left a mark but she stumbled on the last few words and the spell fizzled out to nothing.
"You think you can fight me!?" he gloated as his astral self grabbed an arrow that was hurtling towards him and threw it aside, "Fools!"
He sped towards them an aura flaring up around him. He sent his astral self forward, its claws swinging wide and scratching Aloe and Nene. Then, he leaped back, tossing a knife at the bard as she tried to sing with her lute, the sharp end leaving a cut on her finger as she tried to strum.
"Yo, not fair," shouted Polka as she chased after him.
She tried pummeling him but her astral self got in the way and blocked most of her attacks. She smirked as he flinched when she was able to land a blow on the spirit in the stomach.
"You dare!" he roared as he followed after her staggering form, dodging an incoming throwing knife.
The spirit was able to slice a gash in her arm in spite of her tipsy sway. However, that left him open as a spirit sword suddenly materialized and slashed his back. Forewarned, the half-elf leaned back as a ray of frost flew past him. He then gasped as arrows slammed into his chest. Ripping them out with a roar, he then grabbed the fennec girl and before their horrified eyes, buried his newly-formed fangs into her throat.
"Polka!" screamed the bard before misty stepping into range, "Let go of her!"
He grunted through his teeth as her rapier was stabbed into his side, but he kept drinking. When he relinquished his hold from her, she limply crumpled to the floor, two puncture wounds on her neck with two tracks of blood trailing out.
"Get away from her!" shouted Aloe as she suddenly flew up and tried to dive-bomb him.
"You're next!" he declared as his astral self grabbed her by the throat as she came near, plucking her out of the air like it was nothing.
"No!" shouted Nene as he fed on the succubus while Lamy hurried forward and dragged Polka away.
As he fed, he was forced down by his spirit, nearly avoiding more arrows. Taking his fangs out of the fiend's arm, his spirit then threw her into the ore bard, who caught her neatly. He then turned his gaze to the one shooting the arrows.
"I grow tired of your wooden toothpicks," he growled as he dashed towards her.
Taken aback, she could barely fight back as Reyo grabbed her and bit down on her neck, taking a long drought.
Then, he pushed her away. Blood Memoriam socked her in the stomach and then punched her in the face, sending her crashing into the wall behind her.
"You… are nothing but the cheat we met during the tournament," mocked Nene after giving some healing relief to the monk.
He roared when that vicious mocking interrupted his beatdown of the archer, "Then, I think I shall move on to you."
"Wait! Polka!" shouted their cleric as the fennec monk launched herself angrily at the pseudo-vampire
"What a hot-headed fool," he stated simply as his astral self backhanded her aside and knocked her out.
The half-snow elf then gasped when she found him standing in front of her. He had dashed under Aloe's flying knife as he blitzed toward her. She immediately swung her mace, landing a solid hit on his arm. Her eyes widened when the spirit punched away her spirit sword.
"Lamy!" roared the lion girl as she got up and continued shooting though she looked like she was in great pain.
"Valiant effort, young lady," he stated with a sneering look as his spirit then caught Botan's arrows and broke them. He then swung his leg and kicked her in the stomach. As she bent over gasping for breath, he taunted, "Can't breathe!?"
As he continued to laugh at her, he pushed her head up roughly and punched her several times in the chest. While her armor protected her from the brunt of it, she could still feel the surprising force behind the blows.
"Leave her alone!" shouted Nene as she tried to help, but the astral spirit intercepted her, parrying her rapier away and clawing at her as she tried protecting herself.
He just scoffed at her, leaving his astral spirit to cover his back while he grabbed the half-snow elf by the throat. She flailed her mace around at him but to no avail. Daggers and arrows were batted away as he sank his fangs into her neck and drank deeply.
"Most satisfactory," he stated as he stopped drinking. He then kicked her in the gut and in the head.
"Lamy!" shouted the lore bard as she finally ducked past the spirit and attempted to stab him directly.
"Useless," he told her as he moved much faster than she could and landed a punch in her gut.
Then, he flinched when a dagger finally struck him, cutting his left cheek. He turned his angry gaze at the succubus, who got ready to throw another. He moved, Blood Memoriam catching and destroying any arrows shot at him, and stopped in front of the fiend. She tried hitting him but he grabbed her by the throat and roughly tossed her in the air, punching her in the stomach as she fell down. He then introduced her head to his knee and as she reeled back in pain, he plunged his hand through her chest.
"ALOE!" screamed Nene and Botan as the succubus fell over backward, her body slowly flaking away in embers smelling of sulfur and brimstone.
"Sorry, I can't stay any longer. Thank you for having me," they heard in their heads.
"No… Aloe..." the lore bard muttered as she sank to her knees in shock, with a sense of despair hanging over her head.
Reyo chuckled and said, "Did you honestly think you could win? I am Reyo Credo and I shall rule this world! Nobody can stop me!"
An audible crack reached their ears. They turned to the door on the right wall. There seemed to be a dark aura running along the border between the door and the doorway. Without as much of a warning, the stone slab suddenly came off and flew straight at the half-elf.
"Blood Memoriam!"
The spirit moved in front of him and rapidly shredded the slab. However, all the dust and flying debris hid the attacker well and a second later, he flew out of the cloud with a bruise on his face. As the cloud settled, a familiar dog girl with her familiar spirit was revealed.
"You!" he shouted angrily.
"Miss Ina'nis told me you're a naughty boy," she said cheekily and confidently, "Time to teach you a lesson and take your fingers."
"Priestess Ina'nis?" muttered Nene in surprise.
"Well, what can I say?" asked the mysterious girl rhetorically, "I brought the cavalry."
Reyo then started laughing and said, "Fortune smiles on me! I have a chance for revenge! How can I not take it!?" He then charged straight at her while shouting, "Feast on her, Blood Memoriam!"
"Press the attack, Hound Dog!"
"So, have you given it any more thought?" asked the priestess.
"This is not the time for this!" the lore bard cried hysterically.
"Shikakakakakakakakaka-"
"Horaoraoraoraoraoraora-"
"Your succubus friend is still alive," Ina'nis stated, making her eyes go wide, "If you want, I can help you find her again… if you could join us."
"Erm," she hummed anxiously while looking around.
Botan had dragged herself over to Lamy and was pouring a healing potion down the cleric's throat. Reyo was busy fighting with Korone, their spirits matching each other blow for blow. Oga and his friends were still fighting the undead two rooms away. Nobody else can help her make this decision.
"Well?"
"I will say… "
Blades clashed and ground against each other, giving off minute sparks. Oga roared and continued wailing on his opponent, who matched him blow for blow. Off to the side, his companions were busy tangling with what remained of the vampire spawns. The ghasts were pretty much destroyed entirely.
"You think they're alright?" asked Shien as he stabbed a spawn a few times in the chest before stabbing upward through its lower jaw.
"They'll be fine," replied Yogiri as she leaned back against him, narrowly avoiding another spawn's claws, "I think they've seen just as much action as we have."
"Hope so," he muttered as the one he was attacking was suddenly gored from the side by the unicorn that was helping them.
Oga let off another roar, this time of triumph. The mazoku finally got the upper hand and had broken through the armor with a mighty attack. The chest piece had a large rent in it and blood flowed from it. The vampire Micheal roared in reply, somehow still able to move. He simply ripped the chest piece off with a single pull and tossed it aside. Then, his body gained a blood-red aura, wisps of it licking off like it was on fire.
"Oh? You can make use of your anger? Ha, this will be a battle of the ages," said the mazoku eagerly as he slowly gained the same type of aura.
Their next clash actually shook the foundation of the pillars around them.
Nene blinked. She was no longer in the ruined crypt. Instead, she was in the middle of the ocean. Again. She had a feeling that this was a running theme with the priestess' cult. Or at least, with this… being... she was following.
"What do we do now?" she asked.
"I will call him," the mysterious priestess stated as she spun to face her in fright, "But while I'm doing so, please close your eyes. I doubt you will be able to stare at him for long."
Taking her advice to heart, the bard closed her eyes. Soon after, she heard that strange language again. It felt like otherworldly, slimy things were sliding inside her head and down her neck when the mysterious words reached her ears. However, it didn't take long before a loud, rumbling voice replied to her. The slimy feeling intensified.
"So, you are the one she is interested in," the voice suddenly addressed her.
"Er, hello? Nice to meet you?" she replied hesitantly.
"Greetings, Nene Momosuzu," it said, "Do you acquiesce to coming into the fold?"
"Eh?"
"Do you agree to becoming one with knowledge?" it asked again.
"I..." she started before pausing to contemplate everything. If she joins, she could find Aloe again. Talk to her again. Maybe… she can go adventuring together with them again. But should she? Will this one provide help with their current problem? She wasn't so sure… but after being dragged here after saying 'yes', she probably had no other choice but to throw caution to the wind.
She looked to where the voice was coming from and without opening her eyes, she said resolutely, "Yes."
A pause.
"Very well. It is time to open your mind and help you to see."
She shuddered as she felt that slimy feeling slowly encompass her entire body. This was followed by a slight buzzing in her left ear and then a tingling sensation in her right ear and along her spine. Then, she felt herself rising into the air as if being lifted up by some unknown force.
"Oop, not the time to fly away now," she heard Ina'nis say.
Opening an eyelid a fraction, she saw that she wasn't in the middle of the ocean anymore. Instead, she was in a forest clearing while a large purple tentacle was coiled around her waist. Her hand was tugged on and she found the priestess looking at the back of her left hand. The symbol she saw at the prison ruins on Gekko was inked on it.
"Humu, humu, looks good," the priestess declared to the bard as she looked at her, "No need to worry though, as it won't be visible to prying eyes in the real world."
"What about the fight?" Nene asked in a hushed tone.
"No problem," she stated as she let go of the hand, "Time is frozen while we talked to 'him'. When we return, time marches on as usual. Anyway, you have a little task to do when we get back."
"What task?" she asked, anxiousness blooming in her heart as the tentacle lowered her down.
"Nothing difficult. Just make sure Reyo is defeated," she stated before adopting a thinking pose, "Hmm, am I forgetting something." Then, as if a lightbulb lit up, she exclaimed, "Oh, yeah." She then poked Nene's forehead with her finger.
For a moment, she looked at the mysterious priestess in puzzlement. What was that supposed to do? Was she-
The lore bard then screamed as information started getting forcefully stuffed into her head.