The figure who stepped into the room was none other than Browny, a familiar face from Zephyr's time as a prisoner at Paragox.
"Yo, Browny," Zephyr greeted, recognizing his visitor.
"Are you feeling okay?" Browny inquired, but upon closer inspection of Zephyr's condition, he amended, "Oh, nevermind, you're looking alright enough."
Zephyr grinned at Browny's characteristic banter, reflecting on how the once-powerful vampire king now found solace in humor, despite his diminished status.
"So, Browny, where are we? And what happened to me?" Zephyr inquired, though he already had a hunch about their whereabouts and his own predicament. Nonetheless, he sought Browny's perspective, hoping to initiate a meaningful conversation.
"Hey, we're in one of those trucks on our way to the academy, and you just passed out," Browny said, his voice tinged with concern. "I'm not sure what happened, but those black veins... they're not a good sign," he added, his gaze flickering over Zephyr's unconscious form. "Could be some infection or the pollution from that dead body back there," he speculated.
Zephyr brushed off the concern about his collapse; he already knew the cause. As for the black veins, he attributed them to the system absorbing the dark crystal. However, Browny's mention of an academy piqued his interest.
"Wait, what academy?" he asked, his curiosity suddenly piqued.
Before Browny could utter a word, a loud voice reverberated through the truck as it ground to a halt.
"Attention, everyone! We've reached our destination. I need all of you to step out of the truck for an important announcement!"
"What announcement?" Zephyr inquired over the din of the loud voice.
"I'm not sure, but let's go find out," Browny replied, rising from his seat and making his way to the door. "You coming? They said everyone," he added, gesturing for Zephyr to follow.
Reluctant but sensing the urgency in the situation, Zephyr rose from the bed and trailed after Browny. If they were resorting to screaming, whatever awaited them outside must indeed be significant.
They emerged from the room and found themselves in the cargo container of the truck, designed to serve as a makeshift corridor. Ahead, they could see people disembarking through the shuttle door at the opposite end. These were the rescued slaves from Paragox, all instructed to exit the truck for an announcement upon reaching their destination.
Zephyr followed Browny as they descended from the truck along with the others, joining the group gathered about two meters away from the parked vehicles. Surveying their surroundings, Zephyr noted that they seemed to be in the middle of a road. However, a glance ahead revealed that the path led only into a dense forest, effectively culminating in a dead end.
Right in front of the assembled group of slaves, three individuals stood with an air of pride and elegance that left Zephyr with a bitter taste of jealousy.
"Yeah, I'm aware I've got a bit of an ego, especially back when I was the vampire king" Zephyr muttered to himself, feeling a surge of resentment towards the individuals standing proudly before him. "But these fools, I can't stand them, even if they did rescue me from Paragox. People, whether vampires or humans, they're all the same—just trying to survive at any cost," he reflected bitterly. As a former vampire king, Zephyr held high standards, and seeing others boast without achieving what he deemed worthy only fueled his disdain. After all, defeating the vampire leader of Paragox had been easy, as Zephyr knew the leader was weak, rendering the humans' accomplishment insignificant in his eyes.
Among the trio standing before the gathered group, one was a man with jet-black hair and piercing brown eyes. Adorning his right hand was a distinctive, advanced-looking watch, marking him as James—the individual who had possessed the map of Paragox prior to their attack. Beside him stood Rock, a towering figure with bulging muscles and a rugged countenance, exuding an aura of strength. And at the center of the trio stood Captain Jared, his wild mane of hair seemingly tamed by an unseen force, his eyes flickering with a fiery red hue like smoldering flames. Gripped in his hand was a formidable katana adorned with fiery designs, its blade gleaming with a sharpness capable of effortlessly slicing through flesh.
Zephyr's keen senses didn't fail to pick up on the strength emanating from the trio before him, particularly Captain Jared in the center. "I see they're not to be underestimated," Zephyr remarked with a smirk, already envisioning the challenge of facing off against them. "Well, I might not last long, but it'll certainly be entertaining," he chuckled to himself, relishing the prospect of the impending confrontation.
"What are you yapping about, Zephyr? You're talking to yourself like a madman," Browny remarked, having been beside Zephyr and overhearing his mumblings with a bemused expression.
"It's nothing," Zephyr replied dismissively, noticing that the announcement was about to commence.
Captain Jared stepped forward, casting a glance back at the imposing figure of Rock, who nodded in understanding. With a firm stomp of his feet and a raised hand, Rock's earth manipulation abilities came into play. The ground beneath Captain Jared shifted, raising a small pillar that lifted him nearly a meter off the ground, allowing everyone to behold his towering presence.
Zephyr observed Rock's display and muttered, "Seems like he's some kind of earth ability user."
"Hello, everyone!" Captain Jared's voice resonated across the gathered crowd, not overly loud but clear enough for all to hear. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Jared, a skilled fighter and adventurer from one of the academies, Orchid Academy."
'An adventurer, huh?'Zephyr thought to himself, recalling what he knew about those individuals from his memories.
Adventurers were renowned champions who devoted their lives to hunting down supernaturals. Tasked with perilous missions involving paranormal activity, they faced constant danger and were required to fight to the bitter end. Thanks to their champion status, they possessed heightened strength and resilience, increasing their odds of survival in the face of formidable adversaries.
"Why I've gathered all of you here is to seek your opinions," Captain Jared addressed the crowd, his voice firm but not imposing. "For those who wish to seek revenge against vampires and other supernaturals posing a threat to humanity, you're welcome to join us at the academy and fight to ensure your families never endure what you've suffered. However, I won't force anyone. If you choose not to participate, you may leave and live in fear, knowing you won't be able to protect your loved ones. The choice is yours."
As the slaves from Paragox pondered their options, a myriad of emotions swirled within them. For some, the thought of reuniting with their families, whom they hadn't seen in months or even years, weighed heavily on their minds. The uncertainty of their loved ones' fates gnawed at them, driving them to seek vengeance against the supernaturals responsible for their suffering. However, for those who harbored no such sentimental attachments and were fueled solely by hatred for the supernaturals, the decision came more easily.
Among them, Zephyr grappled with the existential question of his purpose in this new human existence, having arrived via transmigration and finding himself initially weakened. However, a glimmer of hope emerged as he stumbled upon a remarkable opportunity for growth: the system.
Ding!
[19h: 20m : 00s]
'Looks like I've still got nineteen hours before the system fully integrates with my body,' Zephyr pondered, his mind swirling with anticipation and uncertainty.
Behind Captain Jared, James and Rock meticulously positioned two identical devices on each side of him. With precise care, they secured the devices to the ground before simultaneously pressing a button. Instantly, two swirling whirlpools, one red and one blue, materialized above the devices.
The spiraling vortexes exerted a gentle tug, attempting to draw everyone toward their respective centers. Despite the gravitational pull, everyone stood firm, determined to withstand the forces at play.
"You see these portals," Captain Jared announced, gesturing towards the swirling vortexes. "They both lead to your chosen destinations. The red one will take you to the academy, while the blue one will transport you to a station that will reunite you with your families. Choose wisely."
Obeying Captain Jared's instructions, the group of slaves divided into two distinct clusters, each gravitating towards their desired portal. Nineteen individuals clustered around the blue vortex, yearning for the embrace of their loved ones after enduring untold hardships. Meanwhile, sixteen others, along with Zephyr and Browny, positioned themselves by the red portal, ready to embark on the journey to the academy and whatever challenges awaited them there.
"Why are you here?" Zephyr inquired of Browny, curiosity lacing his voice. "Don't you have loved ones to return to?"
"I have my reasons," Browny replied, his expression resolute, masking whatever emotions lay beneath.
As Zephyr contemplated Browny's cryptic response, excitement bubbled within him. The prospect of journeying to a place where he could hunt supernaturals and grow in power along the way felt akin to entering paradise.
"Well, everyone, you've made your choices. It's time to go," Captain Jared declared, his authoritative tone signaling the commencement of their departures. With that, one by one, the members of the group began to step into their respective portals until none remained.
As the last of them vanished into the shimmering vortexes, a lingering sense of apprehension gripped Captain Jared.
"I just hope those who chose the red portal survive the test," he murmured, his thoughts tinged with uncertainty.
******