Aulus turned around and looked at Gearsley, and he grinned.
Gearsley's breath was fading, he eyes were going dull, shutting slowly as his eyes drifted to the right to look off into the distance..lifeless.
Aulus thought, 'The illusions are gone, but the ancient figure of the village, an ancient spirit glowing red..I know it's from the Vampires power, necromancy of some sort. These Vampires the cult has me hunting to get them out of the way are growing stronger every time I face them. The others are busy fighting him, but he's kicking their ass. How long do they disappear after their host, the vampire, was killed?'
"Oh."
Aulus turned around at the unknown remark, seeing a woman standing there, eating on a wolf boar.
It was Niorh.
Her mouth was covered in boar blood, and she said, "Magic."
Aulus tilted his head, "Another vampire falls into my hands, today might be my lucky day."
'I've merged with two crystals, even though it's a wear and tear on my body, it'll all pay off once the cult gives me what they offered, for me and my family. I'll one shot this vampire bitch right here like the last one and be done with it-.'
Aulus threw an explosive punch at Niorh as she was eating, but Niorh caught the first with one hand, and used the other hand to still eat.
Aulus gasped, thinking, 'Tch! She's no regular vamprie! Is she a high grade one? Or higher? For her to stop a blow from the power of two merged red crystals…none of the vampires I've killed before have ever been able to stop it, it's always been one shot! Her power rivals the cult zealots! My power..it's always been on par with the vampires! Ever since they got here!'
Niorh kept eating, still holding Aulus's fist, and Aulus asked her, "Who are yo-?!"
Niorh ripped Aulus's arm clean off while still eating with one hand, and his arm flew into the air as a trail of blood left the end of it like smoke coming from a furnace.
Aulus staggered back, his arm leaking, he was beginning to sweat, his first challenge from a vampire instead of one-shotting them.
Aulus grinned, "You wanna do this then? I'll go all out."
Niorh kept eating, and she stood up, replying, "Magic. Familiar."
Aulus vanished at full speed, running circles around Niorh.
'Vampires are fast, they're known for that. But the power the red crystals give me, they enhance my physical capabilities intensely. If I channel more of my emotions within the power, I'll get stronger from it, but the downside, if I channel too much for power, I'll lose my emotions and portions from my soul. It's like these bastard crystals are sentient, feeding off emotions and willpower, while also clawing at your very being. If I'm able to kill this vampire here, then the High Priestess will surely grant me favor and give me a better chance at getting what they promsied me if I helped them raise Gorron. I can't die here..'
Aulus finally stopped running, and he performed a spinning kick from his crystallized armored leg, but Niorh barely dodged it, and she performed a backhanded punch across his face, sending Aulus flying through multiple trees, his armor cracking.
'She cracked my armor just from hitting me in the face?!'
Aulus got ahold of himself, sliding on the ground on his feet with one arm extended touching the dirt, he sat his up fast, thinking, 'I have to put more emotion into this power..I won't lose here. Risking more of my emotion…I'll lose my touch with my family..my kids..but it'll all be better for us once I complete my mission for the High Priestess, the head of the cult.'
He put more of his emotion and will into the crystals power, and his arm grew back, and his body was glistening with a darker red aura and more of his crystallized armor was coming back.
Niorh finished her boar she was eating, and she said, "That boy isn't here to stop me from killing a human."
"Oh yeah? Another one of your vampires?"
"..Fight."
Niorh, cloaked in the velveteen shadow of night, summoned blood gates from the very earth, conjuring swirling portals that oozed crimson. From them, gushed forth torrents of blood-shaped projectiles, homing towards Aulus. He responded with a surge of power from his crystal armor, discharging explosive red blasts that shook the forest floor, decimating the first wave of her bloody arsenal.
The vampire's lips curled into a sardonic grin as she manipulated the blood from fallen wildlife, sculpting grotesque guns that fired salvos over the embattled terrain. Aulus, amidst dodging and weaving, landed a bone-shattering punch imbued with crystal's might upon the earth, upheaving the ground and disarming Niorh momentarily. Niorh retaliated, her eyes ablaze, commanding the blood guns to reassemble into a formidable cannon. The cannon roared, a scarlet death knell that split and engulfed Aulus in sustaining beams of blood. With a roar, Aulus's armor emanated a red shockwave, nullifying the strike and blasting the cannon to smithereens.
The woods became a grim theater as Niorh raised blood into lashing whips, her dance of death incarnate slicing through the air. Defensively, Aulus formed crystalline barriers that sparked and shattered under her relentless assault, each blow a cacophony of clashing energies. Encircling Aulus, Niorh crafted streams of blood into razor-edged rings, hurtling them like spinning guillotines. Aulus spun, his fists trailing eruptions of crystal force, shattering the rings and peppering the woods with fragments of blood and light.
Weary but unwavering, Aulus charged, his fists a volley of explosive power aimed to decimate. Niorh brought forth a deluge, a blood tsunami to engulf him, but as they collided, the red hues erupted into a nova blaze, the shockwave leaving a charred clearing with both warriors unyielding. In this unsacred glen, Aulus raised his arms skyward, drawing power that made his armor glow incandescently. Niorh, sculpting a barrage of blood shards, launched her volley. A comet's tail of red energy met the shards, both attacks consuming one another in a blinding flash that set trees ablaze.
Niorh merged her essence with the blood beneath her, becoming a fluid specter, darting with lethal unpredictability. Aulus's armor sang with crackling energy, each strike leaving craters where he pounded, the earth suffering the wrath of their cataclysm. The twilight air vibrated as Niorh unleashed a storm of blood arrows from all directions, a relentless downpour. Aulus, his eyes aglow, detonated pulse after pulse from his chest crystal, disrupting the arrows' trajectory, causing a rainfall of disrupted energy and evaporated blood. Another gambit approached as Niorh soared high, blood wings flaring, gathering the forest's lifeblood into a single, apocalyptic sphere. Aulus, meeting the challenge, focused every facet of his armor's power into his clenched fist. As she hurled the sphere, he unleashed his mightiest blow. The resulting explosion ripped through the woods, leveling everything in sight.
In the distance, Hajun was running up a hill, saying, "Niorh! Dammit! I couldn't keep up with her, she just darted away after smelling the first animal around! Did she cause all of this just for that animal?!"
Gusts of wind and branches and rocks and grass flew his way, it was like a tornado out there. Hajun blasted forward using his speed, using his glowing red jagged edged daggers to cut through the incoming trees and boulders headed his way.
'This energy…this power..it's Niorh's! And a red crystal! What the hell is happening up there?! Did she use her full power?! That can't be, depending on how much of her memories Visceris erased, she's probably forgotten some of the magical abilities she's learned. Now that it's come to that, I know for sure she's forgotten some of them, because Niorh at full power…would decimate half the world, she's barely on par with king Kazelle at full power; Kazelle wins by an inch.'
The impact sent Ratchet, Bolt, Cassius, and Drusilla flying across the ground, and the ancient spirit they were fighting had be dissolved immediately.
Ratchet exclaimed, "AGH! What was that?!"
Bolt added, "Grab onto something! You'll get blown away!"
Cassius grabbed into a stump in the ground, yelling, "I got something!"
Drusilla grabbed onto the same stump, and Cassius said to her, "Nice to share this with you!"
Drusilla responded, "The time for happiness is not now, nor ever. Don't assess me as a friend."
"Geeeeeez."
Bolt exclaimed, "We have to get off of this mountain!"
Ratchet scoffed, "Now without Gearsley!"
Drusilla responded, "He's a dead man. His body splattered-."
"Shut up! No he's not! He's just injured is all!"
"How delusional are you?"
Ratchet thought, 'Gearsley…dead? He can't be..he could still be alive..right? He taught me everything I know, how would I outlast him? Please, Gearsley..'
Cassius added, "What about Aulus?! He was caught in the middle of all that!"
Ratchet replied, "He's a dead man."
"He's not either!"
Drusilla sighed, "I'll go back for Aulus, but Gearsley is no more. I've seen it."
Bolt said to Drusilla, "What makes you think he's alive as well?! That explosion wasn't even close to us, and everything is collapsing!"
"…." Drusilla had no answer.
But then she said, "It's best to get off of this mountain. We'll die with them if we stay."
Hajun jumped high in the air, as the entire village ground was collapsing, gliding in the air peacefully, he looked down, and saw Niorh standing over Aulus, and Aulus was laying on the ground, his crystal armor shattered, blood running from his body, and Niorh didn't have a scratch on her.
She said, "Fragile fucking human."
"Niorh!!" Hajun screamed, trying to sound louder than the destructive winds and collapsing mountain that was chaotic around him.
She turned around, and saw Hajun.
"You.."
"We gotta go! The mountains are giving in!"
"…Who are you again?"
"Hajun! I'm the servant of King Kazelle! Your husband!"
Niorh stopped, then she said, "Kazelle.."
A tear ran down her eyes, and she wiped them, saying, "Why am I crying?"
Hajun thought, 'I said the king's name! Did that have an effect on her memories?! Maybe trying to explain everything to her after we get off of this mountain will spark something!'
"What happened?!" Hajun asked.
"Got food. Human attacked. I defended myself."
"He's imbued with red crystals. Each crystal a shard of history, imbued with arcane forces, fueling the enforcers with pyromantic and telekinetic prowess. The lore of these formidable shards speaks of a larger, ancient gem of yore, one that held within it the lifeblood of the very realm of the Crimson Spire. This source, splintered through epochs, has become the vigor from which the Vermilion Order draws its strength. Technically, only vampires have access to this since they only can be opened to be ready to use and modified with rare bloodline blood. The vampiric bloodlines, the founders and godfathers of them have their souls and essence within them, those who asked to be laid to rest within them just in case the vampires who were weaker could use them to enhance their magic prowess. That means..someone must've brought them here from our realm to this world.."
Hajun grabbed Niorh, and they flew off into the air, and Aulus just watched as everything was collapsing around him.
'Did I mess up?! Was I too irresponsible with watching over Niorh?! I was reckless, I wasn't fast enough! I can't let king Kazelle down! I'm still a loyal servant, I've always been doubted by his subordinates. If I fail here, I won't be accepted, like I want. I yearn for that acceptance, and king Kazelle filled the void partially, but I wanted it from everyone, but I'm known as a screw up. I can't screw up here!'
Aulus just accepted it as he bled out, saying, "Well, I lost. My daughter..my wife..sorry I couldn't make things better for us. I tried my hardest."
"You're ready to give up already?" A female voice appeared beside him, grabbing him by the chest.
"Huh?"
He was snatched away, something in a dark sackcloth cloak was flying and dragging him through destruction.
"Who are you?!"
"Shut up."
"Eh? Drop me if you're gonna be-."
The figure slung Aulus across the ground, and he was in an open field away from the chaos.
Aulus laid there, saying, "You must be important..huh?"
"Don't say anything. Just nod your head yes or no. Do you want more power?"
Aulus thought, 'Who is she..? Should I even answer her? I can't even see her damn face. I don't want to die, but I'm not so easy to trust anyone. My family..I do everything for them. The cult promised me something, immortality. They'll be able to turn me and my family like them, so we can be together forever. We already lost our son..I don't want the same thing to happen to my daughter or wife. '
Aulus nodded yes and no.
The cloaked woman responded, "I am the High Priestess. Your loyalty is formidable. You've already merged with two crystals. A third crystal would kill you over time, so that means you will have to complete your mission fast. The fingerbone of Gorron is in the hands of the enemy. You will combine that with the crystals, the spirits of the fathers of the vampire bloodlines, to bring about Gorron's resurrection. Do you want this power, and you and your family be like us, or die here?"
'Tch. Either way I'm screwed. That woman vampire with the white hair I fought..she was way too powerful. The only way to combat against her, is if I get stronger. But that means risking my own life over time, and there's a chance I won't be able to complete my mission in time. The High Priestess and the cult ordered me to spread the crystals across the Vermilion Order and the New Babel Constabulary, and go vampire hunting. I provided them with intel I get from the zealots on vampire locations, and we kill. I'm the only one who's merged with two crystals, and it's taken a toll on me. I used to be happy, an outgoing person like Cassius, but my emotions were sacrificed to gain more out of the crystals. Her implanting me with another crystal will give me more power without having me sacrifice my emotions. For my family, I have to do it but it's a gamble. Fuck it. I have to be faster.'
Aulus nodded his head, and the High Priestess pulled out a red crystal, and she stabbed Aulus in the chest with it. Aulus screamed, his eyes glowing with a red Aura, red flames coming from his chest.
"AGHHHHHHH! FUCK!"
The High Priestess said, "That woman you fought, was the former vampire king's wife. But one is stronger than her that lurks. Right after you left the theatre, a zealot was easily killed seconds after your departure. You have another threat on your hands, way more powerful than the one you just fought. Be cautious…my child."
(New Babel)
"What's this..form of transportation?"
"A car."
"What's that?"
"A steering wheel."
"What's that?"
"A gas pedal."
"What's that?"
"Keys."
"What's that?"
"A stick. Are you this closed off from the human world?" Superintendent Beckham said as her cigarette ash was tapped out of the window of her car as she drove down the roads with Kazelle in the passenger seat.
Kazelle responded, "Oi oi..we never were allied with humans. Those beings of light protect them. Don't think I was studying this filthy realm."
"Beings of light. Who are they?"
"Don't wanna mention them, they show up when you do."
"Hmmm."
"You ride this human transportation slow, make it faster."
"You can walk."
"I don't want to."
"Oh? Why is that?"
"It's…soothing."
"Vampires can be soothed?"
"Rare occasions. I'm not the one to feel it much, only bloodlust."
"So you just kill?"
"Was raised that way. Told never to trust a human, and to kill anything that crosses me. Never show too much mercy, that invites those to run over you."
"Dealt with that all the time as a king or what?"
"Always. But never those who were close to me. Many were too scared to cross me."
"Ever thought about being nicer? Instead of being a mean ass?"
"Being nice, what does that earn you? Fear invites respect."
"But also does being nice."
"Tch. How long until we reach our destination?"
"Three minutes. We're gonna meet some kin like you."
"Kin like me?"
"Yep. In the meantime, read this newspaper."
"What is a newspaper? A paper with news on it?"
"See? You have the right idea."
"I command you to give it to me."
"Say please-nevermind. Here."
Superintendent Beckham handed him a newspaper, and Kazelle began to read it.
Beckham asked, "Can you read it?"
"Please silence that female human mouth of yours."
"Wow. You really hate humans huh?"
"I don't hate anything, vampires and humans have a history. Our alliance has shattered, everything is corrupt. I'm only using you for my own hidden goal, I'm manipulating you. You should see me as a temporary acquaintance."
"HAHAHA! You said that so serious, you're funny as hell." Beckham snickered.
Kazelle thought, 'Tch! Should I take her down here? No, I need her. And she knows that, so she uses risky human language with me. I cannot make friends with them, nor engage in deep personal conversation.'
Kazelle's eyes glowed red, and he could read the newspaper.
Beckham saw this, thinking, 'An ability to read our language? I had to teach the other vampires back at the den how to read. He must really be who he says he is.'
The newspaper read:
---
The New Babel Chronicle
---
Edition for the Evening Hours, with the Latest Tidings and Reports
Date: April 15, 1887
---
HEADLINES
Vampire Nest Uncovered: The Vermillion Order and Constabulary Join Forces
In the shadowed knit of the Umbral Quarter, a revelation most sinister came to light. Denizens of the night, long rumored to walk among us, may indeed lurk beneath our cobbled streets. The noble coalition of the Vermillion Order and New Babel's stalwart Constabulary have vowed to cleanse our city of this unholy blight. Operations to purge the vampiric infestation begin forthwith.
Steamworks Guild Announces Breakthrough in Automaton Efficiency
New Babel's Steamworks Guild, in collaboration with the esteemed engineers of the Cogwright Academy, have proclaimed an advancement that promises to reshape our industrious city. The new Mk. VII automatons boast a driving efficiency unseen prior, offering to double productivity within the manufactories and across business sectors.
Sky Rail Expansions Connect the Outer Districts
Progress wheels forward as our Sky Rail network extends its steely reach to the burgeoning outer districts. The new routes promise to tighten the bonds of trade and unity, knitting together the diverse tapestry of New Babel's industrious populace.
---
ADDITIONAL NEWS ITEMS
- AERONAUT'S MIRACLE: LADY O' THE SKIES narrowly avoids calamity as pilot navigates through aether-storm and lands dirigible with nary a scratch.
- ARTIFICE AND EXPRESSION: Masked Ball at the Luminary Opera House to Feature Mechanical Marvels in this Season's Grand Masquerade—will the Clockwork Courtesan outshine last year's wonders?
- ALLEYWAY ANOMALIES: Reports of strange, ensorceled trinkets being sold in the Night Markets—Constabulary warns against illicit magics.
---
LOCAL GOSSIP AND TRIVIALITIES
- SWEETS AND STEEL: The Straybolt Confectionary unveils clockwork servers offering samples of delectable tarts and sweets—childhood fancy meets marvels of machinery.
- LOST LORE FOUND: Antiquated volume discovered in the vault of the Grand Library contains obscure dialect—scholars scramble to decipher.
- GARDEN GALA: The Botanicarium Guild invites botanists and enthusiasts to the unveiling of a rare mechanical blossom—steampunk splendor meets natural beauty.
---
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
- The Public's Plea: Concerns rise over the burgeoning population of stray mechanical pets—citizens urge guilds to address the issue of abandoned constructs.
- A Call for Clockwork Tutors: Parents of New Babel seek the implementation of educational automatons to supplement scholastic endeavors and facilitate learning.
---
WEATHER AND APRIL'S WHIMS
- Expect a Drizzly Dusk and Foggy Morn, with a Chance of Aetheric Shimmer by twilight—carry umbrellas and goggles alike.
---
Advertisements
- VISIT GRIMSBY'S GEARS AND GADGETS for all your mechanical needs—offering new designs in portable steam-powered apparatuses.
- EXPERIENCE RELAXATION ELEVATED at Etherwell Spa—now featuring hydrothermal tubs powered by geothermal sources deep beneath New Babel.
---
© New Babel Chronicle - All Rights Reserved. Housing the News that Fuels our Future. Subscription details are available at the N.B. Chronicle Office.**
—
'So this is the paper that gives me details about this realm? Interesting…it covers a lot, including things about my kin. The Umbral Quarter, is that where we are headed?'
Kazelle crumbled the newspaper and threw it outside, and Beckham scoffed, "Hey! I spent money on that!"
Kazelle replied, "Here. Buy another one."
He pulled out red coins out of his pocket that were hundreds of years old, and tossed them at Beckham.
Beckham looked at them, and scoffed, "No one uses these! We're not vampires!"
"Then do not complain, human."
"Ya know, sometimes, I hate you, and then other times, you're hilarious."
"How dare you insult a king? You're lucky I'm manipulating you right now for my own hidden goals and agenda that I will not dispose of. Are we headed towards that Umbral Quarter?"
"Nah. They already headed out to raid that place."
"The Vermilion.."
"The Vermilion Order and the New Babel Constabulary. Kind of like your guards to your palace, they uphold the law here."
"Like my loyal knights…"
"Yep. The New Babel Constabulary are a band of annoying formidable brigade of law keepers is a structure of meticulous hierarchy, where brass insignias mark one's rank and cog-driven badges distinguish New Babel's finest from the common rabble. And the Vermilion Order…This government-affiliated organization was formed to maintain balance and order in a world teeming with occult forces like you vampires, and technological prowess, and rogue alchemists. They are enhanced humans with glowing red crystals embedded in their chests, granting them exceptional powers. The Order is tough, disciplined, but not impervious to corruption. Some people in the Constabulary have the crystals too, and the higher ups don't even bat an eye."
'The red crystals..could that be.' Kazelle thought. He had an idea that it was those ancient crystals that was involved with the Crimson Spire.
"So there is corruption within your ranks as well?"
"I wanna uncover it and expose it, my father didn't die for these bastards to be ruining things. They say I ruin justice, but they aren't loyal."
Kazelle thought, 'Like me. My own kin I've trusted..betrayed me. It led my trust to dwindle down further..and made my heart colder towards those who approach me.'
Kazelle said, "If you do not have magic, you will not be able to beat those who have the crystals. They are powers from the founding fathers of the ancient vampiric bloodlines. Give it up."
"Oh I know that very much, sir. That's why I have you and the other vampires in the den."
"I work for no one. I shall hop out of this moving transportation device now."
"Hold your horses."
"I don't have any horses with me. What are you plotting?"
"HAHA! Okay you're funny when you don't know anything. But if you help me, I can help you. I can help you find your vampire friends. There is a vampire within my group who has the ability to sniff out other vampires in an area around them. Meaning he can find that cult of vampires running around. I thought maybe you would want to find them too? Your kin I mean."
"…Hm."
'She's right. But how does this hunan know?'
Kazelle said, "I was able to track down a cult member by tasting the blood of one I killed, and looked into his memories, seeing that he saw a high ranking zealot walk into a theatre after talking to him."
"So you're familiar with this cult then?"
"Too formally. The cult of Gorron. The deceased vampire deity I've killed hundreds of years ago."