While Hadorix had been off to the pit again, Inky felt it was time to build a new nest. She returned to her alcove in the dark tunnels and rebuilt her nest. She had been carrying around eggs for days. They would be hatching at any moment.
The only thing Hadorix found of benefit in his robes was a few gold coins. After ensuring he had missed nothing, Hadorix threw Lord Dresdin's robe over to Zed.
Hadorix then spoke to Zed, "You have been here for 12 days now, you possess some weapons and armor, where are they?"
Zed replied, "I'm wearing them. I faced orcs and goblins. I have a small iron dagger I tuck in my boots and a few pieces of leather that I have strapped to my legs."
Hadorix considered this and replied, "Aside from the dagger what weapon can you wield?"
Zed replied, "I was a swordsman in Thronmar. With a good sword, I bet I could kill a vamp."
Hadorix removed the vampiric longsword and belt and threw it to Zed. Zed equipped it all before Hadorix could change his mind. Hadorix spoke again, "You owe me, I have to keep you alive, or you can't pay me back. Think about the sword and it will appear in your hand. Keep it equipped under your robe. That way you can surprise your enemy in the next match. I doubt they will make it another vampire for quite some time."
Zed thanked Hadorix and practiced swinging his new sword. It did not take long to adjust to the weight of the blade as it was perfectly balanced.
Hadorix began to study the tome of the spider. He needed to know where to find the spiders tomb. He suspected he would find more answers there. After several hours, Maximus brought Hadorix and Zed food. He then began to educate Hadorix on what had transpired after his winnings in the pit.
Maximus said, "Never has a vampire died in the pit. They fear you now and justly. The fangs of the spider were crafted from the purest silver from Earth and blessed with holy water from a holy priest. As such they can easily damage any undead. The next time you fight, it will be against a fearsome beast. They hope to determine if the blades truly are the fangs of the spider. If I were you, id keep them guessing. Try to use your vampiric weapons. At any rate, the entire kingdom is in an uproar. The king himself will sit in on your next battle. As will many of the ancient undead creatures. If we are lucky, more of the order of the spider will return. With their backing, we could have you removed from this place if you desire."
Hadorix replied, "I can't leave until I find the spiders tomb. Thank you for your advice Maximus."
Hadorix then began to study the tome of the spider again. Eventually he knew he would discover the spider's secrets.
Maximus returned later that evening to take Hadorix back to the pit. Hadorix was surprised to be returning to the pit so quickly. Maximus however was not. With two vampires down, he knew they would continue to try to kill Hadorix. One of those killed was the king's son. Hadorix would never be allowed to survive. Maximus simply wondered what beast Hadorix would face.
Hadorix again went down the dark hallway into the pit. He thought fangs of the spider and placed them in his hands before he moved into the pit. Once he entered, a voice began to speak over the loudspeaker.
"Good Evening living and dead. It's time to rise from your tombs and see a real spectacle. Today for your viewing delight, we have 6 convicts from the Melatonin prison facing against the slayer of Cato. As you will recall, all the convicts in Melatonin are put to sleep for the entirety of their sentence. These convicts will be well rested and ready to fight. The convicts have been armed by the royal family and promised freedom if they manage to slay this young human. The one that manages to drink his blood will also be granted the title Avenger of Cato and will be granted all the gear they currently possess as well as the spoils of the battle with the human. Now let the battle begin."
While the voice spoke, Hadorix took the time to examine his opponents, Hadorix had expected to see a great beast as Maximus had claimed. Instead, he could see 5 vampires clad in silver trimmed lords' robes. Each had a black long sword with red streaks running down the blade like blood in one hand and a black kite shaped shield in the other with the emblem of a fang in the center.
Once the voice had completed its speech the vampires raised their shields to cover everything on their faces below their eyes and began to walk forward. Hadorix threw the fangs of the spider at the vampires on the left and right sides. Before they could even move 2 feet, he summoned his vampiric daggers and threw them at the two vampires beside them. Now only the middle vampire did not have a dagger flying at his face. With Hadorix's new strength and agility, the daggers were moving far to fast for the vampires to react. Each dagger smacked straight through the forehead of the vampires and right into their brains. The force of the throw carried the bodies backwards. They were dead before they could even scream.
Hadorix summoned the fangs of the spider back into his hands for the battle with the other vampire. This time he threw one dagger at the vampire's forehead and one at the exposed wrist of the hand that held the longsword. The vampire had began lifting his shield when he saw the others fall. As such, he managed to block the dagger aimed for his forehead. Unfortunately, that means he didn't even see the one going for his wrist. It drove straight through the bone. The vampire could no longer control his actions and dropped the sword and shield. He then began to scream and writhe on the ground in pain, his flesh boiling around the dagger.
Hadorix approached slowly, not because he was being cautious. But because there was no reason to move swiftly. He wanted the audience to hear the screams. He wanted them to remember what it would be like to face him. This fear could work in his favor in the future. When he arrived at the last unliving vampire, he rolled the sleeve of the robe on the uninjured side up his arm a bit, and drove the dagger through the wrist, pinning it to the floor. Hadorix then moved to the center of the arena and sat down. He began to study the tome of the spider while the vampire continued to scream and writhe in agony. It took over an hour for the vampire to finally stop moving. As soon as it did, a white light left each vampire and moved into Hadorix. Hadorix began to convulse on the floor.
· Lifespan increased 300 years.
· Strength + 5
· Intellect + 1
· Wisdom + 3
· Dexterity + 5
· Constitution + 5
· Charisma + 5
· Luck + 2
· Lifespan increased 200 years.
· Strength + 5
· Intellect + 1
· Wisdom + 3
· Dexterity + 5
· Constitution + 5
· Charisma + 5
· Luck + 2
· Lifespan increased 250 years.
· Strength + 5
· Intellect + 1
· Wisdom + 3
· Dexterity + 5
· Constitution + 5
· Charisma + 5
· Luck + 2
· Lifespan increased 200 years.
· Strength + 5
· Intellect + 1
· Wisdom + 3
· Dexterity + 5
· Constitution + 5
· Charisma + 5
· Luck + 2
· Lifespan increased 200 years.
· Strength + 5
· Intellect + 1
· Wisdom + 3
· Dexterity + 5
· Constitution + 5
· Charisma + 5
· Luck + 2
· Dark vision has evolved into Improved Night Vision.
The bodies had disappeared just like before. Hadorix began to look through his newly acquired loot. Each pile contained a lord vampire robe, A full set of royal vampiric leather armor, A full set of royal vampiric chain mail, a royal vampiric longsword, a set of royal vampiric throwing daggers, a royal vampiric shield, and the teeth and fangs of the slain vampire. Hadorix did not hesitate to equip the royal leathers and chain mail. The royal leathers had significantly more places to put daggers. Hadorix was able to equip all 5 sets of throwing daggers, as well as 2 of the longswords. He used the spare belt to strap one of the shields to his back.
· Equipped royal vampiric leathers (Full Set) increased defense. Increased strength. Increased agility. Increased life leech.
· Equipped royal vampiric chainmail (Full Set) increased defense. Increased strength. Increased agility. Increased life leech.
· Equipped royal vampiric throwing daggers (5 sets).
· Equipped vampiric longsword (2).
· Gained vampire lords robes (5).
· Gained Fangs of convict (5)
· Gained royal vampiric kite shield (5)
· Gained vampiric longsword (3)
· Gained royal vampiric leathers (Full Set) (4)
· Gained royal vampiric chain mail (Full Set) (4)
Hadorix grabbed what loot he could and moved back towards his cell. When he arrived in the hall with the cells, he asked Maximus to grab the rest of his loot and bring it to his cell. Maximus complied. Hadorix gave a set of royal vampiric leathers and chainmail to Zed as well as one of the shields. He then returned to his cell and began to examine the tome of the spider. At this point it was an obsession, Hadorix felt he had to find the answers.