Twenty years ago, the world changed significantly with the emergence of cracks all over the world, beginning with the sound of a trumpet heard by all humans on Earth, signaling the end of the world.
The first blow: The Earth was struck by a massive earthquake that caused the seven continents to fragment into thousands of islands, rendering the term "continent" obsolete and relegated to history. This event is called the First Calamity.
At that time, millions of people died.
The second blow: Cracks—nightmares for all mankind—appeared all over the world. From these cracks, various unknown monsters emerged, destroying the world order. Although humans initially fought back with magic, as time went on, their struggles proved futile.
This catastrophe also claimed millions of lives, whether old or young, male or female, sick or healthy—all perished without exception. This event is called the Second Calamity.
The third blow: With the third trumpet blow, which could be considered both a blessing and a curse, humanity appeared to be given another chance. An extraordinary event occurred: the gods—once regarded as mere myths—descended from all mythologies to Earth, offering hope to humanity. However, no kindness comes without a price. To receive the gods' assistance, humans were required to serve them with unmatched loyalty.
This event is called the Third Calamity, as described by those who lived during that time. From their perspective, it was not far removed from "slavery." However, during this period, someone appeared like a comet and changed the state of "slavery" for the better.
That person appeared out of nowhere, with long black hair darker than the dark gray night and eyes glowing red, staring fearlessly at the gods. This individual came and opposed all the gods. At the time, humans thought this person was insane. But an unexpected incident occurred: that person, alone, defied the gods and emerged victorious.
He warned the gods not to mistreat humans, and, as if afraid of him, the gods agreed to his demands. They created a new system where the gods would offer contracts to humans of their choice. In return, humans would swear loyalty and not betray the gods, with rewards commensurate with their faithfulness.
Since then, humans began competing to "serve" the gods. However, the person who made all this possible disappeared and was never seen again. No one knows who he was or where he came from, but one thing is certain: the name 'D'Archy' is part of his identity.
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On a quiet night in a city called Lodestar, One of the thousands or even millions of islands on Earth, a man dressed entirely in black and wearing a plain white mask sat atop the tallest building in the city. His hair was swept by the night wind, but he remained motionless. From behind the mask, which had no openings, not even for the mouth or nose, his eyes seemed to pierce through, observing the scene below like an eagle stalking its prey from the sky.
"... When will he come out? I want to go back and see Master Alice's face, why was I assigned at a time like this and in the city I hate the most *Sigh* I hope he comes out soon so I can finish this mission as soon as possible and leave this island full of nightmares, then return to Saranjana"
Lodestar is the 'city of justice' or the 'city where all dreams come true,' or so they say. But the truth is far from that.
'... Why? Because I am the proof of it... What I saw, heard, and felt that day... That face, a face even more terrifying than the scariest monster in the world... The laughter as he did those things to my body, the pain... Perhaps death would be better than having to relive it all again...'
A few months ago, that masked man was just an ordinary teenager you could find anywhere. But in one day, just one single day, one mistake—one that wasn't even his fault—his ordinary life turned into a tale of tragedy. Tale of tragedy that made him what he is today.
In the midst of his complaints, his eyes caught sight of a man coming out of a building silently, and that man was the target he had been waiting for all this time.
"Oh~ He is here, just like what the info said; even from this far, I still can smell the reek of blood from him; how many humans has he killed? Whatever, my task is to kill him, an Unrecognized Blood Slave"
Said that masked man, and then a pair of bat wings appeared on his back. Then added.
"Blood Magic: Blood Sword"
A sword made of blood slowly formed in the masked man's hand.
"Alright, it's time to work, hmm~ what should I do after this? Should I buy some gifts for Master Alice on the way back? But what gift will make a women who literally have anything happy? *Sigh* Why do the women I like have to be the sister of King Aksara and the daughter of The Hero 'D'Archy'? Do I even deserve it? F*ck... Let's finish this and back to Saranjana Island"
Said the masked man, and then immediately jumped from the roof of the top building, and then immediately disappeared.
When he reappeared, the masked man was already behind the man who had just quietly come out of the dark alley.
*Swing*
The masked man immediately swung his blood sword and stopped when it touched the man's neck and scratched it slightly until blood came out.
"!!!"
"Blood Magic!! I-Inquisitor?!! What inquisitor is doing here? You don't have a judicial branch here, how did you get on this island?"
"One question! Why did you kill them?"
"W- What are you asking? As a Vampire yourself, you know why I do this, it's our instinct"
"Bullshit, don't compare me with you, and you're not a Vampire... You are a lowly species, you are a Blood Slave... A true Vampire didn't carve blood like you did because I've met a true Vampire... What you said is straight out of bullshit"
"..."
"What? Can say anything more?"
"... No, please spare me, I... I also didn't want to do it... But my condition forces me to do it... I can't help! I'm like this because those lunatics turn me into this creepy being... Please... Please spare me"
"..."
The man's words made the masked man silent for a moment, realizing that the situation experienced by the man in front of him was the same as him.
"...so those madmen are still continuing their crazy research... I thought they were destroyed by the Master back then... Do they have other branches that our Information Department doesn't know about?" That masked man murmured.
Realizing that he had an opportunity, the man turned towards the masked man with a pleading face, but facing the masked man, the man's expression immediately changed as he noticed the unusual 'smell' that the masked man was emitting.
"... Y- You... You're not a full vampire... what are you?"
"... Oo-oh~ You're nose I quite sensitive... That's rare... But did I ask you to move? Punishment will fall on those who disobey, that's what my master taught me, so it's time for you to receive your punishment... So... Die so I can see my master sooner"
Said the masked man, who immediately swung his sword towards the man because only then could a Blood Slave be killed instantly.
*Clang*
But something unexpected happened, the man warded off the masked man's attack using Blood Magic by creating a blood shield in his hand.
Seeing that, the masked man showed a slightly surprised expression from behind his mask, which, of course, was not seen by the man. He said.
"Ohh~ You also can use Blood Magic? That's rare... You're 'donor' probably a high-ranking Vampire... What a pity, if only you had met a good person like my master, maybe you wouldn't have ended up like this... I need to report this to my Master. Should I also bring you as a souvenir to her?"
"Master this! Master that! You always talking about your Master, but did your Master also teach you not to look down on others?"
"Why? Are you jealous? I'm sorry, but I don't swing that way, so try your best next time, in your next life of course... Hahaha~"
"Y-You... Die!!"
With a roar, the man knocked the masked man's blood sword away using his blood shield.
"Oops~ This doesn't look good"
Using the momentum when the masked man lost his balance, the man changed the shape of the Blood Shield in his hand into a sword.
"Die!!"
Said the man and immediately made a stabbing motion towards the masked man's stomach.
The savory sound of a sharp object piercing through flesh was heard.
"Ughh..."
The man fell while holding his stomach which was pouring blood after the man pulled the blood sword out of the masked man's stomach.
"It's hurt... I think I'm dying"
The masked man said; the pain could be clearly felt in his voice as his blood fell, forming a pool of blood right below him.
"Ha... Hahaha~ Feel it! That's what happens when you look down on someone, now you'll suffer the consequences!"
"No~ Please help me... It's hurt so much"
"Alright, I'll help you... I'll help you to end your suffering"
Said the man who then stepped closer to the masked man who was kneeling on the ground. Then added.
"... By chopping your Head, of course, I don't need your thanks"
"N-No... Please spare me! Hehe~ Just kidding~ Blood Thorn!"
Said the masked man with a grin, which, of course, couldn't be seen because he was wearing a mask. From the blood on the ground, several large, sharp thorns were created and shot straight toward the man who didn't anticipate this happening.
"Ughh! Y-You... "
Said the man whose body was like a beehive and only his head was still fine.
"Yes me?"
"..."
*Thud*
"... Ohh~ He died, already? *Sigh* not fun"
Said the masked man who then walked towards the man's body that had fallen on the ground.
"... Let's bring his head back"
Said the masked man, who then mercilessly cut off the head of the man who could no longer do anything and then put his head into a bag casually as if he were shopping.
He then took something from the bag; it was a glass bottle with liquid in it; the masked man dripped the liquid into the glass bottle.
*Drip*
With just one drop, the masked manthe watched the headless body disappear as if it was burning and then disappeared into dust.
Seeing this, the masked man nodded in satisfaction.
"... Alright, let's Go back"
The man said and then immediately disappeared from that place.
"..."
"..."
After the masked man left, a figure wearing a priest's attire and carrying a large cross on his back appeared at the scene. The figure seemed to be talking to someone.
"... Target confirmed, fugitive seems to have been eliminated by someone from Saranjana's side... What should we do now?"
"..."
"...command received"
After that, the figure also disappeared into the darkness of the night.
....
...
..
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