I picked up the gleaming sword.
Compared to the police-issued dagger, its blade was narrower and straighter, as thin as a sheet of paper, yet significantly longer and heavier.
Once a warrior ascended to the First Realm, they no longer relied solely on silver to kill vampires; their internal essence became a far deadlier weapon. Still, curiosity gnawed at me about the composition of this black sword.
I tested it on Lucius Simian's corpse, and it sliced through with uncanny ease, leaving a wound that showed no signs of healing. A silver blade, likely forged from a superior alloy and coated with a black oxide finish. Clearly, this was no ordinary weapon.
Why would a vampire wield a vampire slaying sword? It baffled me for a moment. But what surprised me even more was that even this sword couldn't pierce my flesh. The Body of Golden Sun continued to amaze me.
Butcher Garcia had mentioned it was something he'd devised by referencing a First Realm technique from the Kongo Shintai Securities. If a mere adaptation yielded such results, how powerful would a complete Wave Realm technique from that school be?
Shaking my head, I extracted the vampiric core from Lucius Simian, then moved to the younger ape vampire and repeated the process. Finally, I retrieved the black scabbard and sheathed the blade.
It was a shame I hadn't let the old ape finish revealing the sword's name. After a moment's thought, considering the black blade and ink-like scabbard, I decided to call it the Black Silver.
I raised my eyes and called out the panel.
[Apevamp (Perfection of First Realm), total lifespan 774 years, 197 years remaining - absorbed]
[Apevamp (Late Stage of First Realm), total lifespan 631 years, 270 years remaining - absorbed]
[Remaining Absorbed Lifespan: 651 Years]
First a treasured sword, then such a windfall of lifespan. It should have been cause for celebration.
Yet, as my gaze fell upon the neatly arranged skulls on the table, a chill crept down my spine, dampening my initial elation. A troubling question echoed in my mind: What has changed within me? Why didn't this disturb me before?
With a heavy heart, I turned and walked towards the waiting crowd.
... ...
Wade silently rose to his feet and followed behind me. The Wright brothers and Babar Khan scrambled up from the ground at this sight, faces paled with fear.
Sergeant Kane had never been known for his gentle demeanor. However, compared to the savage display they had just witnessed, his treatment of them seemed almost merciful.
Watching a vampire being beaten to a pulp in cold blood was a jarring experience for these ordinary officers. They would likely need days, if not weeks, to recover from the shock.
"What are you all standing around for? Get out of here!" Butcher Garcia barked, kicking the stunned soldiers and officers who remained rooted to the spot.
Garcia breathed a silent sigh of relief. Compared to Sheriff Williams and the other corrupt officials who deserved their fate, these men were mere pawns, following orders. They had wisely remained passive after the sheriff's execution.
He had genuinely feared that Sergeant Kane might succumb to bloodlust and slaughter these ordinary men.
Raised in the Kongo Shintai Securities, with its emphasis on Zen and forgiveness, Garcia didn't believe in the karma nonsense, but he knew excessive killing could cloud one's judgment and even lead to martial fanaticism.
It was simply unnecessary.
Once the corrupt officials were dealt with, someone would naturally take care of these soldiers and officers. With a little tidying up, they could still serve as the backbone of the county's defense.
"Thank you, Sergeant Kane, for sparing us!" A few officers finally found their voices, the reality of the situation sinking in.
The thought of what they had planned to do to Kane that night, and what he could have done to them in return, sent shivers down their spines.
Butcher Garcia's eyes flicked towards the spot where the skinny fellow had fled, then back to the mangled corpse in uniform.
"The sheriff was killed by a vampire," Garcia declared. "We all saw it. Remember that."
"Yes, that's exactly what we saw," the men echoed eagerly.
These young men weren't fools. They might lack the courage to fight vampires, but they knew how to read the situation.
The county officials were doomed. With Sergeant Kane's relentless pursuit of the vampiric fauna, there was no way to keep the lid on this situation.
For three years, they had reported peace and tranquility, denying any external vampiric threats or internal civil unrest. Once the truth came out, the county executive wouldn't have enough heads to roll for his crimes.
Even though the vampire attacks spanned mere days, the county executive had clearly sensed something amiss, dispatching the security expert to bolster the sheriff's efforts.
The Wiry Samurai's desperate escape served as a stark reminder of where the true power now resided.
With a grunt, Garcia waved his massive hand, dismissing the soldiers. Then, with a mix of annoyance and admiration, he hurried after Sergeant Kane.
The man had effortlessly dispatched two First Realm vampires without a scratch, while Garcia himself had struggled to even land a blow on the skinny guy.
That morning's sparring session...
Kane hadn't just gone easy on him; he'd practically been playing.
And he kept calling me 'sensei', Garcia thought with a grimace. He's downright embarrassing the old butcher!
… …
Thomas Watkins, the county executive, paced the grand room of his residence in his silk pajamas, the fabric hanging loosely on his aging frame. His once-sharp features, softened by time, still held the shrewdness of a seasoned judge. A shock of silver hair, usually meticulously styled, now stood in disarray, reflecting his inner turmoil.
The clock on the wall chimed past midnight. If everything had gone according to plan, the matter should have been resolved by now.
Patel and Williams, those incompetent fools, had indeed possessed a keen eye for talent. One selected, the other nurtured, and together they had raised nothing but a menace for him.
They had boasted that with that petty officer around, the vampire lords were all appeased, without a single complaint. Of course, it was difficult to complain from the morgue.
If Kane had been a true prodigy, capable of eradicating all the vampires in the vicinity, that would have been a different story. There were plenty of coins and beauties to reward him.
The worst of those do-gooders were the mediocre ones who lacked any sense of diplomacy and restraint. Such individuals were not just useless; they were a liability. And they deserve to die!
His train of thought was interrupted by a man stumbling through the door. "Why are you back so late?" Watkins demanded, his brow furrowed in concern.
"Quick! Pay me! Pay me everything I'm owed. I'm returning to Seattle, leaving immediately!"
The Wiry Samurai panted heavily, striding forward with urgency. Under Watkins' astonished gaze, he reached out and seized the county executive's collar.
"You... What is the meaning of this? Your master sent you to protect me, and now, after only a few months, you want to leave?"
"Protect my ass! That fool Williams colluded with some idiotic vamps and provoked the wrong guy. He is the real monster. If I don't leave now, he'll probably break down the door and take my head!"
The Wiry Samurai's eyes were bloodshot. He had come to Pinewood County simply to earn some money, not to lose his life.
How could such a remote, insignificant place produce such a formidable martial artist?
"Let go of me first... What's the rush... He's just a lowly officer, a nobody. What nonsense are you spouting?"
Watkins grew increasingly agitated, reaching out to pry the samurai's fingers loose.
To his surprise, with a twist, he actually managed to break free.
The executive raised his head, stunned to see a towering figure effortlessly grip the back of the samurai's neck, lifting him clear off the floor.
Behind him, as if stepping out of the shadows themselves, a dozen figures materialized. Their attire was a motley assortment: clerks, merchants, a banker, a plumber, a electrician, and even a beggar.
One moved forward, efficiently gathering the scattered reports from the coffee table, while the others fanned out, searching the room with practiced ease. Some even venturing upstairs.
Despite their varied guises, they shared a common demeanor - aloof and cold, as if looking down at everyone present.
And the target of this collective disdain was none other than the county executive himself.
"You... Who are you? How dare you trespass into the executive residence!" he sputtered.
Silence met his outburst. All eyes turned towards the doorway as footsteps approached.
A tall figure entered, dressed in a black uniform adorned with a gold star on the shoulder, the letters H.A.R.M. emblazoned across it. Three smaller gold stars decorated his sleeves.
The man strode into the hall, his gaze sweeping over the scene. "Colluding with vampires," he stated coldly. "Identify them."
"Yes, sir," came the immediate response.
"I'm innocent! I'm just a bodyguard, I know nothing about any collusion!" The Wiry Samurai cried out.
"A body temperer. Trained by Kongo Shintai Securities," the man holding him reported to the newcomer, who had now settled onto the main sofa.
"Send a message to Kongo Shintai. Inform them to come to H.A.R.M. Seattle to receive their punishment," he ordered casually.
The Wiry Samurai's face paled, his head drooping in defeat.
Watkins had recognized the man's uniform the moment he saw it, his face draining of color. The man wore the uniform of H.A.R.M., and the three stars signified his rank as a major, a level above captain.
"May I have your name, sir?" he asked, mustering his courage. In truth, he wanted to know why the man had arrived in Pinewood County ahead of schedule.
"You're too kind, your honor. My name is Ethan Atzmon," the man replied with a sideways glance and a thin smile. "Would you be so kind as to cuff yourself? We have important matters to discuss."