In a deep, dark underground chamber where there was barely any light except for the flicker of a lantern, the flickering lantern light revealed intricate carvings on the stone walls, depicting forgotten rituals and eerie symbols. Daemon wandered cautiously, each step echoing sounded like he was in a vast emptiness
What are we really dealing with here?
Daemon wandered around, searching for Aaliyah. After falling through a hole during their fight, he had landed on the ground about thirty feet below with minimal injuries.
'This is a good time to check how many Fear and Pain points can be traded for attribute points,' Daemon thought.
Opening the system template, Daemon saw he had three thousand Fear points. Realizing he only gained a quarter of that from inflicting pain, he decided to trade all three thousand for twenty-four attribute points. He then distributed them evenly into his attributes: five each into Strength, Agility, Endurance, and Intelligence, with the remaining four in Charisma. He felt a slight change in his body afterward.
-Daemon Corvus-
-Threat Level: C-
-Strength: 115/200-
-Agility: 110/200-
-Endurance: 110/200-
-Intelligence: 110/200-
-Charisma: 110/200-
-Death Manipulation: 150/200-
-Fear Points: 0-
-Attribute points: 0-
-Abilities: Leech, Eternal Rebirth, Infernal Recall, Death's Whisper, Phantom Chains, Death Steps-
Closing the system template, he focused on searching for Aaliyah until he heard a soft, dry cough.
"Ah...Ah!"
Aaliyah lay on the ground, slowly opening her dust-filled eyes. Her body was in pain as she tried to call out with her dry voice, "Mortis...Mortis."
"I'm here," she heard Daemon's voice.
Looking up, she saw Daemon holding out his lantern over her. She breathed a sigh of relief. "Don't move; you're stuck," he said, inspecting her body.
Daemon placed the lantern down and carefully moved the fallen stones and branches off Aaliyah's legs and body. He then helped her sit up.
"Despite nearly being crushed, you aren't too injured," Daemon commented, looking her over.
Aaliyah looked at Daemon, then glanced around. "Where are we?" she asked.
"I don't know... seems like we're underground. From what I saw, there's no way out," Daemon replied.
Suddenly, Aaliyah began to shiver. She looked pale and started breathing heavily. "We're stuck under...under..." she muttered, her breath quickening as her eyes darted around the chamber.
Daemon heard her words and thought, 'What's happening now?'
What Daemon didn't know was in her mind, Aaliyah remembered something from her past. At the age of twelve, she was banging on a door while her little sister cried behind her. She constantly shouted to be let out, her voice dry and pained. No matter how many times she banged and called out, no one answered. Until, through the light of the door, she saw someone approaching, but everything went black.
The village, so much loss, so much pain... but I survived. I must survive.
Outside her mind, Daemon noticed Aaliyah hyperventilating and started to shake her gently. "What's happening... Aaliyah, what's wrong... I don't know what to do," he said, panic creeping into his voice.
Daemon didn't know what to do he never had to deal with something like this before but also he started felt that it had to be linked to her family or the village as that was the only place she ever lived before leaving.
No matter what Daemon did, she didn't stop hyperventilating until a couple of moments later when she slowly calmed down, her breathing returning to normal, her body slumping in exhaustion.
"Are you okay..." Daemon asked, thinking, 'What was that about? First, the underground setting, now she starts panicking. Does she fear enclosed spaces? It must link back to her family... I wonder what I fear besides losing my family.'
"Yeah, so we're stuck," Aaliyah said, struggling to say the word "stuck."
"...No, we just have to get out," Daemon said, trying to sound confident.
"Sure, give me a couple of minutes to rest, then we can go," Aaliyah said, nodding before looking deeply into Daemon eyes.
He's like a Cold Phantom. His every move was precise, devoid of any hesitation or warmth.
While waiting Daemon noticed that she also had multiple claw marks on her body so he used his and her clothing to wrap them up from further bleeding at the same time Aaliyah feels weird she Understood from he practice with her master that she has been infected with something.
Daemon's mind drifted to Aaliyah, lying injured nearby. He acknowledged her presence with a stoic calm. She's a liability in this state, yet, she possesses a resilience that defies logic. Useful, perhaps.
After a few minutes, Daemon and Aaliyah were walking through the darkness. Aaliyah held the lantern while Daemon helped her walk. Her leg was in pain from the rocks landing on it—not broken but hurt, though it would heal quickly thanks to Nyx's enhanced healing.
As they walked, they noticed old papers, guns, swords, and other weapons scattered around. They picked up a sword and were surprised to see a dirty old Silver Crescent Society symbol on it. The Silver Crescent Society, an ancient order sworn to protect humanity from supernatural threat at the same time was a nearby paper, reading the little writing it had left, they saw strategies on how to deal with vampires, specifically the Blood Banker vampires.
Furthermore, The Silver Crescent Society was founded centuries ago by a coalition of warriors, mages, and scholars dedicated to protecting humanity from supernatural threats. They believed in the sanctity of life and the importance of balance between the natural and supernatural worlds.
In stark contrast, he knew the Blood Bankers were a clan of vampires with a complex hierarchy led by the Blood Sovereign, that believed in the inherent superiority of their kind and sought to dominate
"This must have been a Silver Crescent Society bunker during the great war," Aaliyah said.
"But there are no skeletons at all," Daemon commented.
Vampires in this world were known for their insidious feeding habits. Unlike many other predators, vampires didn't leave traditional corpses behind. Their feeding process was both a means of sustenance and a method of ensuring that their existence remained concealed. By draining their victims of blood, they left behind desiccated husks that would quickly decompose, turning to dust in a matter of days.
Daemon scanned the room, his eyes narrowing as he took in the lack of skeletal remains so he wondered why, given the bunker's age and the intensity of the conflicts that took place here, it was logical to assume that many had died within these walls. Yet, the telltale signs of human nor vampire remains were nowhere to be seen.
Aaliyah looked around, her expression darkening as the implications sank in. "It means they were here," she said softly. "The vampires. They fed on everyone, leaving nothing behind."
"You said the hollow belonged to the Blood Banker. I don't see the correlation." Daemon said.
"Well, remember what I said about the last war here? Valona used to be the Blood Sovereign of the Blood Banker and the wife of the current Blood Sovereign Kaelith," Aaliyah said.
As everyone know and Daemon Learned that the of title Blood Sovereign is The ultimate authority and visionary of The Blood Bankers, the Blood Sovereign holds absolute power, guiding the organization's strategic direction and maintaining its core values and traditions. Responsibilities: Making high-level decisions, forging alliances, overseeing the blood bankers expansion, and ensuring loyalty and discipline within the ranks.
"Hmm... if she's a Blood Supreme, how did he manage to marry her?" Daemon asked.
"From what I heard, back then, he was just a normal vampire until she ran away from a powerful vampire family capable of devouring everything. She was almost killed by other vampires, but he saved her and gave her half of his blood to save her. From then on, they were always together until they fell in love," Aaliyah explained.
"He wanted cold revenge, but more and more people joined the Silver Crescent Society, and it became very powerful. Then came the Iron Chain Cartel, so he disappeared for a while, and everyone thought he gave up on revenge," she continued.
"So this place is heavily protected, and if it's taken over by us, it will weaken Veral and cause anger within him. He is smart, so he will know how to counter this in the Silver Crescent Society," she concluded.
"It seems like no matter how many generations of vampires pass, the Blood Banker and the Silver Crescent Society will always be enemies," Daemon said.
Daemon grasped the complexity between the silver crescent society and the blood bankers, that the conflict was not just about power or survival; it was a clash of ideologies and legacies. The Silver Crescent Society's quest for balance and protection contrasted sharply with the Blood Bankers' hunger for control and dominance.
They walked in silence until they saw a crate in front of them with a glow inside. They both looked at each other and slowly approached it. Opening it, they found golden bronze bands with some parts glowing the color of the sun. There was also a mask made of black and blue obsidian, with only one eye hole and a swirling, molten lava-like design.
"Are these items used during the old war?" Aaliyah commented.
She discerned that this might have been a bunker from the great old war, looking around more she noticed that the walls were lined with iron brackets, once used to hold torches and now rusted with age. In the corners, she spotted ancient sigils etched into the stone, wards meant to shield against magical detection and infiltration. Scattered on the ground were remnants of old weapons and fragments of documents, their ink faded but still legible enough to hint at strategic plans and supply lists.
She felt an unknown attraction toward the band, so she slowly picked it up and placed it on. She felt extreme heat on her hand, but not enough to burn her, as if it held back the heat at the same time she cognized what is was and used for as she had a flash in a mind of light bright as the sun burning multiple people around the user.
This place holds secrets, secrets that could turn the tide.
At the same time, Daemon picked up the mask, but he didn't put it on. He felt he had to ask the system about it later. at the same time he continued to survey his surroundings, his mind traced the intricate web of connections, The Silver Crescent Society... a relic of misguided altruism, their idealism blinds them to the true nature of this world.
"It seems like this fall wasn't without rewards," Aaliyah said, a faint smile forming on her lips.
Daemon and Aaliyah then started walking again until they reached an old wooden staircase. The steps creaked and almost broke under their weight, but they managed to make it up safely.