119 Triumphant Return
Atop the hill, a figure in black stood silhouetted against the moonlit sky. I rose, tucking the Bloodsteed Gallop manual into my silver bell. This mid-grade Wave Realm movement technique was the finest H.A.R.M. Cascadia Mission Control could offer, ideal for traversing vast distances.
[Wave Realm - Bloodsteed Gallop: (Grandmaster)]
[Remaining Absorbed Lifespan: 1362 years]
It was an awkward amount. Enough to generate another Mind Shard, but the remaining three hundred years... it would be a waste to exhaust my lifespan before those vampire remnants awakened.
I could use it to fuel the third transformation of Nine Cycles Sanguine Resurrection, if I could acquire a few cores from more powerful vampires.
With focused mind, I began my descent. As I walked, a sense of unease settled over me. The silence was unnatural, oppressive. Not even the chirping of insects could be heard, only the whisper of the wind through the trees.
"I almost forgot," I muttered, withdrawing my aura. The hidden creatures of the mountain, released from the oppressive pressure, stirred. They trembled, cowering in their hiding places, afraid to even breathe. Only a few startled birds dared to take flight, fleeing the terrifying presence.
I was the Mountain Lord now, my very essence infused with the tiger vampire's power. My presence commanded the mountains, inspiring fear in even the spirits and vampires. To these creatures, I was a human-shaped tiger, a predator stalking its domain. Fortunately, I soon departed, leaving the mountain to its uneasy peace.
I moved with a newfound grace, my steps light and silent.
… …
A chill hung over Bellingham downtown. Ordinary folk, huddled fearfully behind locked doors, knew little of the previous night's events, only that several prominent citizens had perished.
The city gates stood deserted. No merchants or travelers dared enter. Even those without any martial arts training could sense the lingering demonic aura, a chilling reminder of the previous night's terror.
A handful of police officers patrolled the streets, faces pale and daggers clutched nervously. They whispered among themselves about rumors of devastation in the nearby hills.
Suddenly, one of the officer stiffened, his gaze fixed on the city gates. His companions followed his gaze.
A lone figure approached. Beneath his tousled hair, his face was pale, etched with exhaustion. His black outfit were stained with blood, and a chilling, metallic scent clung to him. He carried a black scabbard, its golden inscription glinting in the morning light.
The blade remained sheathed, yet an aura of danger radiated from him, keeping others at bay.
And most unsettling of all... he was approaching from the very hills they'd been discussing, the site of the previous night's carnage.
Who would dare venture into Bellingham now? There was something undeniably eerie about this lone traveler.
The officer watched him pass, their eyes glued to his retreating figure. Only when he was gone did they realize they'd been holding their breath, their lungs burning.
"What kind of blood is that?" one whispered, his voice barely audible.
"Don't be stupid!" another hissed. "With all the killing last night, do you think he need to leave town, if he wanted to kill humans?"
The tall policeman swallowed, his throat dry. They'd been discussing the vampires' sudden disappearance, and the terrifying power that had shaken the very foundations of the city. What had happened out there?
… …
Back at the Delgado residence, Aveline Hightower finally realized the depth of their misunderstanding.
She rolled her eyes and slapped Claro Delgado, sending him stumbling backward. She grabbed a letter opener and pressed it against his throat.
"A tiger vampire, at least Wave Realm Perfection," she hissed. "He did this"—she mimed a slashing motion—"and then poof! Get it?"
Arnold and Rose exchanged a surprised glance.
"Didn't get it? Good! Neither did I!" Aveline threw the letter opener onto the table.
Alonso Delgado was equally bewildered, but he noticed the expressions of his family members. Those who were usually so arrogant, so dismissive... their faces were now etched with awe. It seemed the young man's actions had been even more impressive than he could imagine.
He hadn't expected much, really. He'd simply felt that, with no Crystal Realm expert to protect them, this young man seemed more reliable than the others. And they'd shared a drink, after all.
He'd kept Kane home, hoping to prevent another needless death. He hadn't expected the young man to actually protect his family.
"You're saying... Kane killed a tiger vampire? And then he left?"
Arnold's eyes widened. His face, already pale from his exertions, drained of what little color remained.
"Why?!" he exclaimed, his voice sharp. "Why didn't you stop him?"
Aveline stared at him, dumbfounded.
"Boss," she said, gesturing vaguely, "that tiger vampire... it was huge! He... he just... killed it! What was I supposed to do to him?"
"You..." Arnold threw up his hands in exasperation. He couldn't blame Aveline. He knew what Kane was capable of. But last night had been different. If Kane had encountered a true Crystal Realm tiger vampire... it wouldn't have been a simple matter like dealing with the Kongo Shintai jushoku.
He'd explicitly told Kane the purpose of the trip for him is simply to familiarize himself with the process, to observe. And yet, the moment his back was turned, the boy had gone and done something reckless.
He thought back to Kane's nonchalant acceptance of the silver bell, and cursed himself for his blindness. He should have seen this coming. He should have kept Kane close.
Rose listened to their exchange, she was both happy and worried. Even though she knew John was a faster learner, she didn't expect he could kill Wave Realm Perfection vampires after little more than a month.
And Arnold... he seemed almost... protective of John. It was unsettling. Arnold was notoriously arrogant. He looked down on those older than him, and most of those younger were beneath his notice. He seemed to respect no one.
"Let's go look for him," Rose suggested. She clutched her abdomen and moved towards the door.
Suddenly, a wave of fetid air washed over her. She looked up, her eyes widening. She hadn't sensed his approach, yet her instincts screamed at her, warning her of danger.
She stumbled back as the figure came into focus, so familiar yet so different, her gaze falling on the bloodstains splattered across his outfit. A familiar sight indeed. Yet the aura emanating from him was profound beyond measure. How could someone change so dramatically in just a single month?
Vampire blood seemed a constant adornment to his outfit. But this time, the Mountain Lord had been a truly terrifying creature—even the lingering scent of its offspring's blood was enough to trigger her fear response.
… …
As Rose looked at me with her caring yet surprised gaze, I couldn't help but smile. Her presence was a soothing balm amidst the chaos, a reminder of the simple joys that life had to offer.
For a moment, I was lost in her beauty—her fiery red dress contrasting sharply with her pale skin, her blonde hair forming a golden halo in the dim light. My smile faded as I noticed the dark crimson stain spreading beneath her red dress. A surge of protective instinct rushed through me. I pulled her close and embraced her gently. "Don't worry, I'm here now. No one will harm you."
"The Mountain Lord will surely come after you," she whispered in my ear, her face flushed, yet she remained in my embrace.
Surprise appeared on Arnold and Aveline's faces. Isn't Rose dating General Laurent? Arnold knew about Rose's letter, but she hadn't disclosed any romantic feelings toward Kane in it. What happened in Pinewood County?
Vampire Hunters weren't exactly known for their fidelity. The life demanded it. The coppery tang of blood, the sickening crunch of bone beneath their boots, the chilling silence of a village emptied by the night's slaughter, the gnawing fear that each hunt could be their last—it was in these moments of shared vulnerability, that they sought solace in each other's arms. A shared flask of whiskey, a tender kiss in the flickering light, a desperate attempt to find warmth against the encroaching cold. But Rose was different. Hardly any gossip circulated about her—she was dating a H.A.R.M. general, for heaven's sake.
Meanwhile, I gave Rose a confident and soothing smile. "I don't mind kill one more cat."
True, I'd slain three of the Mountain Lord's offspring, and retribution was inevitable. But my strength had grown exponentially. Once I mastered the journeyman level of Nine Cycles Sanguine Resurrection, combined with the power of Vampire Devouring External Crystal... I wouldn't fear the Mountain Lord. If it didn't seek me out, I might even hunt it down myself.
Feeling the weight of everyone's stares and unspoken questions, Rose finally pushed herself away.
"Aren't you going to explain yourself?" Arnold exhaled, his eyes wide with disbelief. My blood-drenched appearance painted a far more violent picture than the casual scene Aveline had described.
"What happened in these four hours?"