Chereads / The Hybrid Awakened / Chapter 54 - Chapter 54- Enter the vampire Porto

Chapter 54 - Chapter 54- Enter the vampire Porto

Four of Kilo's mercenary men who got lost in this huge castle, accidentally stumbled their way to the alchemy room, a place cloaked in darkness. They were obviously unaware that this room was the alchemy room. Their eyes strained to adjust to the inky blackness, but fortune smiled upon them as one of the mercenaries' probing hands chanced upon a switch. With an eager flick, the room was bathed in a soft, ethereal glow. Above them, crystals known as light crystals adorned the ceiling, emanating a gentle radiance akin to the lightbulbs from Earth. These light crystals had been meticulously placed to cast their ethereal glow throughout the chamber.

The sudden illumination ignited a spark of excitement within the hearts of the four men. Their eyes widened, and a chorus of eager voices filled the air. "We hit the jackpot, boys" said the man with the bow as he was unable to contain his excitement ""Let us seize this opportunity and plunder this place before we return to quench our blades with the blood of those accursed bloodsuckers."

With their newfound fervour, the four men went their separate ways to explore the room. Each venturing down a separate path with their weapons at the ready. Two of the mercenary men brandished gleaming swords, their blades glinting with a deadly promise. The third man carried a large knife at his side and bow that rested securely around his back. The last man had a menacing spiked mace, his grip tightening around the handle in anticipation of violence.

They all were looking around to find what is valuable, their eyes darted greedily from one corner of the room to another, each searching for valuable spoils. As they explored, their gazes fell upon towering cabinets filled with vases, jars, vials. Inside these vessels lay a trove of treasures: herbs, roots, flowers, potions and elixirs of various hues and mystical properties.

Further, driven by the allure of riches, the man with the mace walked further than the others. His footsteps echoing against the stone floor and they're amidst the shelves, his eyes fell upon a glass container. Within it, a collection of different types of books and scrolls. A grin spread across the mercenary's face as he realized the potential value of this discovery. "Wow" he murmured; his voice laden with avarice. "I can sell these artifacts for a fortune".

In their separate pursuits, each mercenary found something that they can take and sell for profit. Their eyes gleamed with a mix of avarice and ambition, their minds calculating the wealth that awaited them beyond the castle's walls.

The man with the bow entered a small storage room. As he explored the dimly lit place, his gaze fell upon a weathered wooden box. Within its confined lay an assortment of vials, containers and potions, their colours and shapes hinting at their potent contents. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he realized the value of his find. "Hey, does anyone have something I can use to carry these treasures?"

The one mercenary with the sword replied "I have a storage bag; I will bring it over in a minute". For a brief moment, the four men revelled in their good fortune, their hearts swelling with satisfaction at the prospect of robbing from one of the most prestigious clan.

But their happiness was short lived, as the crystal lights that had illuminate the room suddenly died, plunging the chamber into complete darkness. A collective gasp escaped their lips, their senses heightened as fear crept into their hearts.

All the men were startled "What the fuck happened?" one of them exclaimed, his voice trembling with unease, the words barely audible in the oppressive darkness.

But their questions went unanswered, drowned in the void that surrounded them. The room remained silent, save for the sound of their anxious breathing.

Porto who works in the alchemy and weapons room sensed the intruder's presence, he saw their greed and it filled him with fury. "You fucking cunts dare steal from the Crimsons" Porto said in an angry voice that echoed through the room.

"Who was that?" one of them muttered, his voice laced with apprehension.

"Probably a bloodsucker! Find and kill him!" another suggested, his voice tinged with a mix of fear and bravado.

"How? I can't see squat!" a third mercenary exclaimed, his frustration evident in his voice.

A desperate scramble ensued as they fumbled in the darkness, their hands searching for anything that could provide light. Panic threatened to consume them as they realized the extent of their vulnerability.

"Does any of you have a light?"

In the cover of darkness Porto first target was the man with the bow in the storage room. The man with the bow struggled to find the door that leads out if the storage room. Unfortunately, he did not know that Porto was also in the room and observing his every movement. His heart pounded in his chest, the oppressive darkness weighing upon him like a suffocating cloud.

The vampire appeared behind the man with the bow. His right-hand's nails extended like razor sharp talons as he moved closer. Before the man could react, Porto's right hand closed round the man's windpipe, his nails piercing the man's tender flesh.

Porto's left hand clutches the man's head, preventing any chance of escape. Porto whispered softly and dripping with a chilling calm, reached the mercenary's ears, soft as a serpent's hiss. "I know you spilled the blood of my brethren, but I assure you, none of you is going to leave this place alive". His eyes blood red as he rips the man throat from his neck, with blood splattering everywhere, sending the man to meet his maker.

In the aftermath of the merciless execution, Porto, his hands still stained with blood of his fallen victim, picked up the dead man's bow and arrow and he walked out of the storage room. Some of the men were stumbling over some of the tables as they were practically blind in the darkness.

However, Porto who is a vampire can see them as clear as day, effortlessly discerning the shapes and movements of his prey. His supernatural vision granted him an advantage that amplified his already formidable strength. Not long after he saw the man with the mace a distant away. The man tore a strip of cloth from his tattered garments. Skilfully, he wrapped it around the head of his weapon, fashioning a makeshift torch. He retrieved a few matches from his pouch, he stuck them against the rough surface, igniting the cloth with a flickering flame "Guys I made a fire!", he called out, the wavering light casting eerie shadows across his face.

One swordsman was relieved by the newfound illumination, responded eagerly, "Good, let us find a way out of here". His voice conveyed a sense of urgency, a desire to escape the clutches of their unseen assailant

But Porto's voice, tinged with malice and certainty, cut through their hopeful conversation. "Nobody is leaving". He declared, his tone chilling and final

Without warning, Porto, drew the stolen bow, his fingers expertly guiding the arrow to its intended target. In one swift motion, he released the projectile, the arrow did not have any trouble finding its mark, piercing the man with the torch through his skull. Even though the man with the torch was dead, his torch remained ablaze in the darkness and the two men with swords manage to find each other as a result of the fire that was coming from the torch.

"Shit, what do we do now?" one of them muttered, his voice strained with anxiety.

Let's stand back-to-back and try to escape" his companion suggested. It was a desperate plan, but they had little choice in the face of their unseen assailant.

"Good idea, I am going to pick up the torch" The one mercenary picked up the torch, his hand grasps it firmly, its wavering flame casting a feeble glow upon their surroundings.

Porto then went to one of the cabinets and looked at one particular vial. He retrieved the vial that is filled with a deceptive liquid that mirrored the clarity of water. However, the contents that was within the vial held a sinister secret. Porto inspected the vile and a cold smile curled upon his lips.

The two men with the swords walked back-to-back to the exit door, their senses heightened, with the man holding the torch taking the lead. Their footsteps quickened with a sense of urgency, their hearts pounding loudly within their chest.

"Let us walk faster", the man with the torched urged, his voice edged with fear.

"We need to stay alert, he could be attacking us at any time" his companion cautioned, his grip on his sword tightening.

"I will rip his heart out if he shows himself" The man with the torch declared, his voice filled with a vengeful resolve. His words carried a desperate conviction, a last vestige of defiance in the face of impending doom.

Sensing the opportune moment to strike, Porto seized it without hesitation. With a fluid motion, Porto hurled the vial high into the air, its trajectory aimed directly at the man in front. The mercenary reacted on instinct, he saw something coming his way. Slicing the vial in mid-air, however, his effort was in vain as the contents within the vial splattered across his face, seeping into his skin with a hiss.

"Aahhhhhh" A blood-curdling scream erupted from the man's throat as the acid within the vial began its merciless assault. face started to burn as the acid eats through his flesh. Desperate pleas for help mingled with the sickening sound of sizzling flesh, his pain unimaginable

"Help meeeeee!"

Horror etched across his face, the man with the torch could only watch in disbelief as his comrade's face became a grotesque mask of agony. You can see acid burn marks on his hands and on his clothes. The man was in extreme pain.

The man with the torch was torn between loyalty and self-preservation, he quickly made a fateful decision "I am sorry, forgive me" he said, his voice laden with guilt and fear. Turning his back on his comrade, the man with the torch decided to leave his friend behind and run for the exit door.

Behind him, the dying man's agonizing scream echoed through the darkness. Porto walked slowly with his hand behind his back, he saw the man that was burned with acid shaking on the ground. He could not help smiling coldly as he observed the man in agony.

"Let me lend you some assistance my friend" He took out a short dagger out of his coat and threw it into the man's forehead.

The last man ran with sweat dripping down his forehead and fear screaming from his face. "I have to escape". When the man finally reached the exit door, he was so happy and relieved at the same time, a glimmer of hope ignited within him "Thank god, I can finally leave this fucking room" he exclaimed, a mix of relief and determination in his voice. " I will bring back more men and kill that bloodsucker"

 When the man grabbed the handle, the fear returned as he found out that the door is locked.

"No. no, no. This can't be" The man started to panic, his heartbeat thundering in his ears. He kicked the door repeatedly but the door did not break, the sound of his futile efforts reverberating through the room. "Help! Let me out! Let me out!

Porto reveling in the man's torment, emerged from the shadows, his eyes glinting crimson. He decided to end the man's misery by using his right hand to piercing through the man leather armor with inhuman strength. With a swift motion, he ripped out the man's heart, ending his misery in a final act of cruelty. "Lowly humans need to learn their place" Porto murmured, his voice laced with chilling satisfaction as he watched the lifeless body crumpled to the floor.