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897. A 1st Generation Vampire of The Nexus
897. A 1st Generation Vampire of The Nexus
897. A 1st Generation Vampire of The Nexus
Then, to the other side of Mary was the Chlam Empire.
They did not bring banners, and their numbers were only in the dozens. But where they lacked numbers, they excelled in strength. For reference, only one Crystal Paladin equaled the strength of 50 Red Guards.
12 Crystal Paladins surrounded their armored princess, all of whom wore pale, heavy plate armor, a claymore and an oval magical shield. The flowing, blonde hair of the princess alluded to her hidden beauty.
It was only a shame that she was a devoted follower of Justica Arm’s decree. If she were not, then she would have made for the greatest conqueror to ever live in Emvita.
As for her name?
“You.”
A hardy voice commanded at the Princess of the Chlam Empire. Mary didn’t notice it at first, but a woman with completely black hair was standing in front of the radiant-armored Princess.
How was she able to conceal her presence? I didn’t notice her until she spoke.
Vampires were hypersensitive to the true nature of the living. Blood did not lie, after all. Assassins seeking to claim her life were sniffed out of hiding through her immensely keen instincts.
Yet she was not able to detect this woman.
Could this be the Amalgam? No. She’s human as far as I can tell. Beautiful too. My maids would tremble in envy if they were to see speaking to a beauty like her. The way her flesh glistens… she must have access to a Healer.
The woman in question wore a formal attire that was designed to also excel in combat scenarios. Embellished on their coat were exactly 7 golden feathers. Furthermore, she adorned a peaked cap and wielded a dark bulky, two-handed weapon that was reminiscent of Scarlet Logic’s Mana Repeaters.
“Don’t you think it’s rude to wear a helmet here?” The black-haired woman sneered, motioning her head in a way that said: “Get it off.”
The blonde-haired princes did as she was told. The moment her gauntlets clasped around her helmet, she apologized sincerely with:
“I was not aware of a dress code. I should have assumed, since this is Inflow Direct’s territory… My apologies for being unprepared –”
“Wait.”
The black-haired woman interrupted.
“Bend a knee down for me. I wanna take a closer look at you.”
Mary grinned.
How humiliating for the warrior princess. To bend a knee to who isn’t even Justica Arms or her own father must be excruciating.
The Warrior Princess was an alias of the Chlam Empire’s Princess. Her aspiration for adventure beyond the walls of her palace led her into becoming an Adventurer. But this was not all.
Few knew that the Warrior Princess was a Blessed.
Political marriages were necessary for a Kingdom to survive. Having a Blessed Princess was like stumbling across a Gift in one’s backyard. It was a shortcut to gaining the favor of the strongest Kingdoms, but the Chlam Empire was far too prideful to sell their daughter off.
Such a waste. I for one would have purchased her. Then, she would have made for excellent blackmail material to further control the Chlam Empire. Our jurisdictions are honored by Justica Arms. They would have been powerless to intervene.
“I can’t see your stats, but I feel like we’ve seen each other before. Hmm…”
“I believe we have, Sana. Your hair’s completely different from how I remember it.”
The Warrior Princess claimed, causing the black-haired woman’s cold demenour to shatter. She wore a pleasant attitude in front of the Warrior Princess as if they were good friends.
“If it was just my hair, then I wouldn’t be able to talk to you like this. You’re a princess after all. Go figure. At least there’s one face here that she’ll be happy to see again.”
Is she affiliated with the Nexus? Since when?
“I’m glad to hear that. I was sure I’d be forgotten. Imagine my surprise when I heard that we were being summoned. As you can see, my Crystal Paladins are afflicted with Silicon Rot.”
Impossible…
“Please show Sana your arm.”
One of her trusted Paladins removed their gauntlets, revealing a hand that was fused with a crystal chunk. It was a miracle that they were even able to remain calm despite the agony. Silicon Rot was a near incurable disease that required a Healer with the same abilities of a Perched at the minimum.
They are still able to move that hand? Just what sort of training do they undertake? Or, is it the result of the Chlam Empire’s Gift?
Gifts were capable of such a feat. For instance, the Solace Empire’s Gift allowed them to create and control flames at will without the use of magic, or how the Stormweaver Continuity’s Gift prevented one from feeling pain whilst using magic, meaning they were able to overexert their bodies without collapsing – often at the cost of their lifeforce.
Therefore, it was possible that the Chlam Empire’s Gift was pain mitigation.
“It’s not just us. We came looking for a Healer who can help us. The one that came to mind was ‘Her’ again. How is she now, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“You’ll see soon enough. Silicon Rot’s tricky. I can do it for you if you want. I have that authority. Take this for now. Think of it as a token of our partnership, and – as far as I foresee it – our continued friendship. You have my guarantee as a Raven of the Head’s Black Wings.”
Sana, the Raven – passed several tinctures of a green liquid. It was a Painkiller Elixer; the type that was not publicly available. It wouldn’t help much, but it would at least help alleviate some of their pain.
Hah… That’s a Black Wing? That small, insignificant human?
The Black Wings were not a name that had reached the furthest parts of the world, so Mary did not know of their significance aside from them being a body of the Head. She wore a smug look as she openly scrutinized the sole Raven, judging her scrawny body that was more fitting for a Healer.
And speaking of a Healer – a white-haired woman eventually came up to greet Mary and her entourage. She strangely had black strands of hair and wore a black coat rather than white like Healers were supposed to.
“Ahh. The Amalgam must have taken notice of our importance to appoint a Healer as beautiful as yourself to us.”
They sent a non-Healer to the Warrior Princess knowing she was useless. The Amalgam must be watching us.
However, the Healer did not blink. Mary was used to seeing people blush to fiddle after being complemented by a woman as beautiful as herself. Healers were no exception. Small compliments were enough to make them overjoyed, but this Healer’s expression did not change.
Her heart remained unmoved, like she put business first. But Mary doubted that this Healer would even consider pleasure given the scorn she could sense behind those sky-blue eyes.
This is supposed to be a Healer, no?
“We were randomized to perform our duties. The Amalgam’s intentions that you so happen to believe in are all in your head – Oh, I’m sorry. Did I say that out loud?”
“Surely, I… I am mishearing you.”
“What is there to mishear? I’m here to guide you, not listen to your delusions. Are you going to be ok during the Assembly?”
The Black Wing couldn’t care less about these people. She knew that they did not respect her, so there was no reason for her to respect them in return. In fact, she sensed the lust in their eyes and had already deemed them enemies.
“… Is this how the Amalgam greets their guests?” Mary’s blood flash boiled to the point where she was tempted to sink her fangs into the nape of this foul-mouthed woman. “We travelled for weeks! How can you subject your own invited guests to this nonsenses!?”
Her hostility was as clear as day, but the Black Wing did not flinch the slightest. Suddenly, a loud explosion rang in the distance. Silence instantly befell the station. Soon, they could see various ‘Healers’ dragging a headless body away.
Their head had been blown up.
*Ka-Chunk*
The Black Wing before Mary cocked her weapon.
“I’d like to remind you that not all of you are here as guests. If you came here believing you were safe because these are neutral grounds, then you are mistaken. You are in our territory now as criminals of the Nexus. Guilty until proven innocent. That’s why you’re here.”
“A… Measly little girl like you… dare to –!?”
An incredible amount of pressure suddenly caused her mouth to seal shut. The presence she felt was akin to the Star that visited her Empire just weeks ago. But this did not belong to a star.
“Oh, 6,341 people. Have they brought an army to oppose us? Interesting. 59 countries, but they all share a collective sin. How saddening, that this is the state of the world beyond these walls.”
A 1st Generation Vampire. This was what Mary’s blood screamed at her. Standing before them in the same white, brilliant robes of the Star they met weeks ago was a Vampire with the highest Blood Purity she had ever seen outside of an Honored One.
It was a Star, whose long, straight hair was black with several red stripes to indicate that they were indeed a pure-blooded Vampire.
“Vampyria, a Star of the Nexus. Please, do enter the waiting hall. You arrived exactly 1 hour and 32 minutes, 53 seconds early. You may enjoy your refreshments while you wait. However, you may only bring 12 of your trusted personnel inside. The rest will wait here basking in the light of the sun. But don’t worry. The Black Wings will be watching over them. In case you have other ideas~”
Why was it that the other nations trembled before the sight of this Star? They were not like Mary who could not help but be driven to fear because of her Blood Purity. But what of them?
“… Nosferatu…?”
Someone managed to utter.
Mary could not tell from which direction this came from.
Nosferatu was a legendary Vampire that once terrorized Emvita hundreds of years ago. That name was even recorded back before 0 PA in ancient texts. There was even a Corrupted with the same name that haunted Emvita.
What do they mean by Nosferatu? Is this person… supposed to be that Vampire? Impossible. They’re a Star, are they not?
“Such a name does not exist, does it, Elf?” Vampyria flashed a smile in the direction of the Elf. Immediately, that Elf frothed at the mouth in terror. “As I was saying – I’m sure there are a few of you who expected to arrive here on foot from the walls. Capturing equipment? Tsk. How shameless.”
A thousand sanguine eyes suddenly appeared behind her like the wings of an angel. At the end of those 50-meter wings were hands that clasped at the ground as if struggling to contain her fury.
“Did the Stars not warn you that the weight of your sins will soon be catching up to you?”
Her sclera became bloodshot, and her eyes morphed into slits as she brought a bloody hand to her face to calm herself down.
“This unpleasant stench of impure blood… is only just salvaged by the favorable flavors amongst your kind.”
“Remember this – It was the Amalgam that saved you today.”
Mary shuddered.
She had expected the Amalgam to be powerful.
But more powerful than a 1st Generation Vampire? One who was also a Star? If the Stars were as strong as legends said they were, then that meant the Amalgam commanded beings as powerful as the Progenitors.
And this was only a Star.
Only now did Mary begin to worry.
The wings of the Star opened, revealing a passageway into the building behind her.
“Bathory… was not this powerful. Weren’t Stars supposed to be the messengers of the Nexus? Why are they this powerful?”
“… Take a look at the Black Wings too” Yarina gulped. “They are not as weak as we think.”
Now that Mary was aware of their situation, she noticed that they were indeed being watched. It was not by the Amalgam, but by many Black Wings who took positions in distant buildings.
Aimed at them from hundreds of meters away were elongated versions of the firearm these Black Wings carried. If they happened to make a wrong move, then they were dead.
“What shall we do?” The Bleeding Petal asked.
“We do as they say. We… Tell me, if you were to go up against that – then what are your chances of winning?”
The Bleeding Petal did not even have to think about it.
“Even if we sent everyone here to fight her at once… then we’d all be killed in an instant.”
“Impossible. Isn’t that power reserved for a Moon?” Mary sweated bullets.
“I think we underestimated what a Star entails. It’d be best to obey them for now. It’s no longer about getting what we want.” Yerina gravely warned. “It’ll be for survival from here on out.”