144 The Rest are All the Same
A gentle breeze whispered through the mountain forest.
A tall, black-clad figure materialized, melting into the darkness.
I stood motionless on a branch. My face remained composed, yet unease stirred in my heart.
My unease had nothing to do with leaving Cascadia for the first time to slay a vampire alone after parting with Rose Hightower—I actually preferred working solo.
My gaze swept across the vast mountain forest, as though surveying my own domain.
Yet now, I sensed an intrusion into my territory—something else had entered my own personal hunting ground. This instinctive displeasure subtly darkened my mood.
One mountain cannot accommodate two tigers? I calmed my mind, finding a reason for this strange feeling.
I pushed the Turtle Aura-Suppressing Technique to its limit while fully employing the Whispering Gale Technique. My form dissolved into a breeze, melting into the forest.
Coupled with the Mountain Lord's innate ability, I moved through the Chuckanut Mountains like a ghost—completely undetectable to any living creature.
Despite concealing myself, I moved swiftly toward the hinterland Rose had indicated.
Suddenly, the silver bell in my pocket trembled faintly, and a woman's grave voice emerged from within.
"Hold position. Something's wrong. I need a moment," Rose's urgent warning echoed in my mind.
I frowned but halted instantly, melting into the shadows.
I valued my colleagues' warnings, particularly those from someone who truly understood my capabilities.
Shortly after, another message resonated from the silver bell.
"I've detected the trail of a second fully crystallized vampire!"
I arched an eyebrow, remembering my earlier unsettled mood.
"Third..."
Her message cut off mid-sentence, punctuated by the sound of rushing wind.
My heart leaped. Rose was running. Was she in danger, was she hurt? Fortunately, another message arrived.
"Retreat from Mount Strachan first. I've been spotted by a vampire. I'll explain in detail later." Despite her attempt to maintain composure, the tremor in her voice betrayed the disorder of her aura.
A grim calmness settled over my features, "Location," I said crisply.
Even with three fully crystallized vampires, I could at least rescue Rose, if not eliminate them all.
I drew my straight ceremonial blade.
Without the slightest hesitation, I activated the Vampire Devouring External Crystal, channeling its essence into the Whispering Gale Technique. My form blurred into crimson-tinged wind as I rushed back the way I had come, my speed multiplied in a heartbeat.
The silver bell remained silent for what felt like an eternity before it chimed again. Rose's voice was extremely weak, but her words left me both relieved and surprised.
"It's a trap... Hurry back... I'm safe now... mountaintop, ruined church..."
Although the woman sounded like she only had one breath left, and the message was intermittent, her tone carried an unwavering firmness that left me puzzled.
Having returned to our parting spot, I sheathed my ceremonial blade and raised an eyebrow.
How could she be safe when I haven't even arrived yet? I wondered silently.
If I weren't certain Rose would never betray me, no matter what duress she was under, I would have suspected this was a vampire's trap—forcing her to lure me in at knifepoint.
How did Rose find security when even I couldn't guarantee any "safety" in this vast vampire-infested mountain?
Rose is definitely trustworthy.
I quickly checked my aura, making sure there was no leakage. Then I readied the Vampire Devouring External Crystal for instant activation. Even if I encountered danger, I could unleash my full strength in a heartbeat.
Only then did I approach the mountaintop.
...
On the mountaintop.
The ruined church, a forgotten relic of Cascadia's reign, was slowly being consumed by the relentless embrace of nature.
Vines, thick as pythons, snaked through empty window frames and across the crumbling stone walls, their emerald tendrils a stark contrast to the gray decay.
The roof, long since surrendered to the elements, was now a patchwork of moss and wildflowers, a haven for nesting birds whose chirps echoed strangely in the cavernous interior.
Where pews once stood in orderly rows, a carpet of weeds and wildflowers now flourished, punctuated by the skeletal remains of fallen beams.
The late afternoon sun, filtering through cracks in the wall, illuminated swirling dust motes, creating an ethereal, almost sacred atmosphere within the ruins.
The half-buried altar, its cross still hanging solemnly above, watched over the scene with a silent, melancholic dignity.
A figure in black sat quietly against the altar, a vision of cool elegance, the embodiment of northern Indian beauty. Her skin, the color of freshly fallen snow, formed a canvas for her striking features. Her thick, midnight-dark hair was simply tied back. Her large, almond-shaped eyes were pools of endless depth.
Her beauty held striking contrasts – soft curves against the sharp angles of her jawline, a serene expression juxtaposed with the fierce glint in her eyes.
Her right hand rested gently on her knee, her slender, fair fingers holding a huge flask. Her other hand gently soothed Rose's forehead, smoothing her messy blonde hair.
Under her pristine touch, Rose's chaotic aura gradually settled, her expression growing peaceful. She had fallen into a deep, childlike sleep, despite being in the vampire-infested Chuckanut Mountains.
Being by this person's side seemed to offer even greater safety than the compound of H.A.R.M. Cascadia.
After Rose had settled completely, the woman in black lifted her eyes toward the ruined church's entrance. When she spoke, her voice was detached yet courteous.
"Please come in."
When her voice fell, there was only the sound of the gentle breeze outside.
After a long time, I revealed myself and slowly walked in. I sat down in the corner opposite the bonfire... I subconsciously chose the place furthest from the woman.
I disliked being near anyone who make me uneasy. Yet this person had spotted my hiding place outside the church with a mere glance—surely no coincidence. Continuing to stall wouldn't make any sense.
Silence filled the ruined church, broken only by the crackling bonfire.
We sat in mutual silence, neither inclined to speak first. I closed my eyes to regulate my breathing while the girl took quiet sips from her flask of whiskey.
The sharp aroma of whiskey was so potent it wafted beyond the ruined church walls.
She drank the liquor straight without any change in expression; only a subtle warmth crept into her pale skin.
After emptying the flask, she set it aside and turned her distant gaze toward me, her eyes briefly lingering on the black blade at my waist.
A flicker of recognition crossed her eyes. She slowly withdrew her hand from Rose's side and rose to her feet. "I'm going to kill vampires," she said with polite formality. "Would you care to join me?"
"What vampires?" I opened my eyes, finally interested in the conversation.
"Moonfeather, and the vampire lords it invited to ambush me. I don't know how many there are, but they are substantial." The girl stood with her hands clasped behind her back.
"Is that all the information you have?" I rose to my feet. At last, the source of my earlier unease near the hinterland of Mount Strachan became clear.
Though I had originally planned to hunt just the Mountain Lord of Chuckanut Mountains, I found myself drawn into a more perilous engagement instead.
Still, to me, when it came to vampires, one hunt was much like another.
The only thing I needed to know was whether I had the ability to participate.
"No need for more information." The girl shook her head and explained tersely, "Because they should be running, but they haven't."
They should have run, but they didn't, so it must be a carefully planned ambush with a formidable force. It was a simple deduction.
"You know it's an ambush, yet you're still going?" I asked, studying her with mild surprise.
"I know the location of the Blood Moon Vampire King." The girl extended her hand, and a slender silver needle materialized in her palm. She activated it. The silver needle hovered in the air, a protective ward over Rose.
As the needle appeared, the temperature across the entire mountaintop plummeted. A thin layer of frost instantly coated the altar, though Rose remained untouched beside it.
After completing this, she strode toward the ruined church's entrance, leaving behind her unfinished second half of her sentence.
"As long as Blood Moon is not there, the rest of them are all the same."
It seemed her polite invitation had been mere courtesy—she actually didn't care whether I joined her or not.