After the battle, the group meets up at their carriage right outside the town gate. Everyone’s faces were tired except for the Vampire Queen who was smiling and humming on the way back. Paul immediately plops into his bedroll.
“My Lord, already going to sleep? The night is still young.”
“How are you not tired? Even Alana looks like she needs to rest.”
Removing his shoes which are dirtied by the rotten blood and flesh of the undead, he tucks in and gives Elizabeth some headpats. After making sure his tunic and pants weren’t dirty, he rested for the night. Sleeping like a log for an hour or two, he awakens in the middle of the night as the carriage’s rattling disturbs his peaceful rest. Looking around, Alana was still awake. Sitting by the tailgate, silently watching the Moon alone. The man silently watched her, thinking of her beauty and the solemn face she’s making, her long well kept bangs flying to the side with her long black hair, with the Moon silhouetting her.
Seeing that he can’t sleep with all the rattling while little Bahamut snores loudly next to him, blowing small fumes off hot breath on the cold night. He decides to just chat with the lady.
“Hey Alana, What’s the problem?”
“O-oh. Was… just thinking M’Lord. I can see that you’ve awakened.”
“Thinking? Of what?”
“This’ll one day end. You’ll go home, and I’ll return to my duties at the Vampire Kingdom. I am sure Lady Voltaire has taken up my Diplomatic duties as I am away for personal reasons. I am also concerned that news of the Minuit family’s pride, the purebred daughter of the family representatives has been defeated by a human would abash our reputation.”
“Well, parting is hard but the important thing here is that you’ll treasure the time you had. Enjoy the ride while you're still on it so that later… you’ll be able to look back at that memory with a smile and don’t worry, I am sure we can make a spin of the story. I am by all means, no normal human. I literally wear a bulky spiky death knight armor, I am sure we can make it so you tried your best and got defeated.”
“I guess… but I also do not want your name tarnished. As M’Lord, your reputation is also mine. As thy servant, I cannot allow your name to be dirtied for the sake of myself.”
“Oh it's fine.” He pats her shoulder, smiling proudly. “Something like this won’t affect me. I also have a duty to you, you know? I have to keep you all happy and contented, it's the least I can do for accompanying me and Bahamut to this strange world.” he then moves his hand to her head, stroking her soft hair as she leans in for more.
“M’Lord. I accepted my defeat for you have shown to be worthy of my respect.” She holds his hand, feeling its roughness with her fingers and placing it at her thigh. “And if I wanted to, I would’ve long plotted against you. But you’ve shown me a great time, fun, adventurous and entertaining. I won’t trade this rare opportunity for anything.”
“Aw shucks.” Though blushing, Paul’s eyes were still fixated on her. “Hearing you say that, it's more than I could ever ask. As long as you and Elizabeth are having a grand time, then my mission is complete. Not having fun, then I am failing at something.”
“Don’t overdo it, M'Lord. You are fine the way you are.”
“Of course, I guess my personality, even though being very different and from another world and culture, makes you talk casually.”
“Paul, if I ever knew anything, it’d be that the Lords back at the Vampire Kingdom would be very green-eyed with you nonchalantly making me open myself up. I haven’t even noticed it myself till a month into our adventure, but I’ve grown to be sympathetic to you.”
“Don’t grow too close though, I am still human and as you can see, even with this strange blessing of reincarnation after dying, we can still die if our very soul is sucked. Just be ready if it happens. I am not trying to scare you, but it will happen one day.”
“Hm… and even if you don’t die, I’ll see you age and it’ll come to when I have to continue living without you.”
Feeling her sadness, he instead changes the topic while sitting next to her. Shoulder to shoulder. He fixes his hair’s parting and tunic coming from a deep sleep.
“You know, I always wondered why lowly Vampires don’t get burned up at night.”
“Hm?”
“Is it not a good topic…? Because, you know, the Moon's light or shine is a reflection of the Sun's light. So how come they don’t burn up?”
“Oh that. It's due to us already having a level of resistance to it. It’s just that there’s a limit. As they grow powerful, the more they can resist it. To the point they can fly even on a bleak summer Morning.”
“And that flying? Do Vampires only have Bat-like wings or can you like… change it?”
“We can, Her Majesty can but it requires a higher level of magic in shapeshifting. Though I do know some level of it, I am still very novice.”
“Ohhhh… so with this, can you like… change to a Bat?”
“Yes! Exactly, that is one of our most basic training in Shapeshifting. We Vampires are stealthy creatures that don't shy away from a head to head fight. Apart from Advance Hand to Hand Combat, Shapeshifting is one of our best counters. Making us have the ability to hide or slit through things as different creatures.”
“I can do that too, if you remember. To us, we call it Transmutate.”
“Ah, this gives you the ability to become a Skeletor, yes?”
“Yep, We use it to hide our faces as many are targeting us for… having not so acceptable weaponry. Heh. Heh. Heh.”
He starts scratching his cheek while having a smirk.
“Also M’Lord, I’ll be cooking breakfast this morning. Which would you prefer? Bacon and Eggs or Sandwiches?”
“Is it toasted?”
“Hmmm… I might have to use magic to toast it properly.”
“Bacon and Eggs it is.”
The two go on with their conversation, talking about random things. Visibly enjoying each other's company as Elizabeth and Bahamut enviously drive the carriage back to the Village to submit the Quest as completed. Thousands of miles away, on the Eastern Part of the Continent of Schon, a first Battalion of the United Guilds Republic touches down. This Battalion is majority made up of players, putting skeletons to logistics and vehicle crew work. The rough and tough Lieutenant Colonel was the first to step foot into the Dock of a Port Town. The surrounding lands were barren with only dead tree trunks scattered, where all you can see is Sand. The well dressed Officer immediately puts his hand to his nose. Covering it.
“This place smells like shit Sergeant Major.”
“Never knew Half Horse Humanoids existed sir… that one is a pig hybrid… wow…”
“Don’t look at them. We’re here to establish an Eastern FoB and Airfield for the main force. C’mon.”
The two Officers are followed by hundreds of soldiers in full battle gear, the LCAC Hovercrafts that delivered them lets loose the LAV-25s and M1A2C Abrams that it has been ferrying. Scattering the curious dwellers of the Port Town. Walking through its streets, the stench was unbearable to the soldiers. Many of them chose to don their M50 Gas masks while the humans in the town could only look at them with strange eyes at the men with metal sticks on their hands and uniforms that blended with the sand.
“Man, Muhammad, you see all of these windows?”
“Shush John. You do not want to vilify ourselves. You know the instructions at the briefing, do not interact, hurt, or entertain any of them.”
“It's just, this feels so surreal… to be an occupying force in a foreign land. So this is what my Grandpa was saying when he was in Fallujah.”
“That happened a long long time ago, just follow your orders. Do not speak to any of them.”
Some of them tried to communicate with the soldiers, but many of them weren’t high enough of a level to have a translation skill, thus not understanding the local populace. Unknowingly disturbing their peace as their tanks rumbled through the badly paved roads and heavily under maintained bridges.
“Tell the Supply ships they can deploy the entire ABCT. There’s no threat here Sergeant.”
“Yes sir.”
“Also, tell the Destroyers to prepare their Cruise Missiles. I get the feeling the moment we step out into the sand, we’ll see the local fauna in all its beauty.”
Landing Craft Utility ships ram into the soft shore around the Docks, deploying even more vehicles while AH-1Z Cobras fly by, flying deeper into the region. The Battalion quickly goes through the town. Noting the various differing humanoid species they never thought existed while destroying the already unkempt stone paths with the threads of their heavy vehicles.
“Oy! Nie Leche Du Te Res!” A strange adventurer with a face of an aquatic mammal and tail but a body of a human was visibly angered and trying to get close to the Lieutenant Colonel.
“Fuck off, I don’t have time with your bullshit.”
“Uhhh, sir. Should we also clear the Ruskies?”
“Yea, alarm the Red Star, tell them the Town is cleared.”
“Roger that.”
“They’ve never invaded a dirt poor foreign land for a long long time, I’ll give them some pointers on how we good ole’ Americans do it. Wahahahha.”
“I don’t think we should joke about that sir, knowing how bad it was for our Veterans.”
“It's in the past, decades and decades ago. Right now, we gotta look forward and are there any active wars before we get teleported here?”
“Yes sir, President Martin declared war on Afghanistan after its Government had reports of war crimes.”
“R-really? Was NATO’s Article Four triggered by our President? I am in the perfect age for Military service…”
“Don’t know sir, I was planning on watching it on the news after a Full Dive session but got transported here instead.”
“This entire ordeal is not really good for us, we have to return home… or should we just stay here?”
“Sir.”
“Oh yes, call the Ruskies.”
Zubr and Ekranoplans arrived later after the American players had cleared the town, repeatedly disturbing the citizens once again. Already a few miles away, the blonde Officer leads a massive arrowhead. With its tip being formed by M1A2C Abrams while inside are the Logistics and APCs. Infantry Fighting Vehicles are on the second layer, behind the Main Battle Tanks. Making an unstoppable force of man and machine, rolling through a dead land. Cursed Tree Trunks and giant Rats tried to ambush them, hiding underneath the sand but the seventy ton tanks just plowed their way. Splattering rotten blood and dead wood around their newly painted armor.
“Call the Captain, we’ll start Phase Two now. The Russians shouldn’t be that far behind. Establish a base immediately while we’ll keep a one kilometer circle guarded.”
The Major then calls the Captain, the HEMTT and MTVRs peeled from the formation while the armored vehicles turn in all directions. Infantry Fighting Vehicles coupled with the Main Battle Tanks. Soldiers immediately lay down markers and important Cones to signify the bases entrances and exits. MTVRs with hydraulic beds loaded with empty HESCO barriers tilt their back, making the tan Container van mark the sand as a CH-53E Sea Stallion with a concrete ballast slung by ropes started filling the walls.
As the Officer takes out his map, drawing up the next plans. Bullets whizz above him, hitting the thick hide of a bipedal creature. With a snout of a bird and a lizard skin, it falls. Behind him are a column of T-72B3s, BMP-3s, and T-90As rolling above a dune.
“Привет, американец! I heard you needed some reinforcements Mister John!”
“Damn Vlad. Yes, move your units past us. We’ll continue efforts in building the FoB while you guys will defend the location of the upcoming Air Base. Also, it should be safe to start putting on tents and buildings. The outer layer is already being finished.”
“Роджер. We’ll see you there and it's Volodymyr Dimitri you moron. Or Dimitri!”
Two MTVRs and HEMTTs were driving at full speed with their container vans’ doors open, spilling the empty barriers into position while the heavy lift helicopter kept a close distance, immediately filling them and forming the Northern and Southern Walls. More trucks arrive, Russian Ural and Kamaz’s go inside the half built base. Deploying tents and important necessities to operate a large Forward Base. The entire process lasted seven hours, with the basic shape and the Entry Control Point placed. While they built this, they were constantly harassed by all sorts of creatures from all directions. Giving the Battalion a taste of the harsh land.
A few miles ahead, the Russians are creating a massive dust storm as their armor rolls through the dunes, slowly, it changes into a large patch of flat ground.
“Держи ухо востро. Be weary comrades, American planes told us they’ve spotted large movements under the sand.”
“Полковник, what is with this Operation? I thought we were supposed to go deeper?”
“Нет, Americans said that going deeper will be bad. The man commanding them back at the ship has real military experience. Said that if we ever anger population, and population takes up arms, it will be very hard to keep a supply chain.”
“А, понятно. We really have a lot to learn from them.”
“Нет. We have to make sure we don’t have to learn what they’ve learned. They’ve taken over many Middle Eastern and Balkan Nations. I can only imagine the suffering their troops have been through.”
The Russian Colonel pops out of his T-14 Armata. Proudly flying the seal of the Red Star Guild.
“Командир! Hind patrol has relayed to us that they’ve spotted a big moving object crushing the upper layer of sand at Три Четыре Ноль!”
“Что?! Что ты имеешь в виду под большим?!”
Hopping back into the T-14 and aiming its camera at 340 makes him drop his jaw.
“BIG THING! BIG THING! HUNDRED METER WIDE!”
The T-72B3s leading the charge turn their turrets, seeing the large billowing cloud as the creature gets closer and closer. Five hundred meters from the Russian charge, the unknown creature stops all of the sudden.
“Командир! What’re your orders?!”
“Stay calm! Do not open fire! Wait!”
Just as he says this, the ground rumbled like millions of houses were being dropped around them. Slowly, a massive armored worm rises from the Dunes.
“Святое гребаное дерьмо… FIRE! FIRE!”
The lead arrowhead of T-72B3s opens fire, but their 125mm shells merely dents its skin. Slowly, the giant worm was taller than a five story building, it shifted its head and revealed its tunneling mouth with thousands of sharp teeths, each being a meter high. Some of it still has skulls and skeletons of big beasts embedded.
“черт! черт! Черт!”
Just as it was about to swallow the entire frontal line of T-72s, a numerous piercing sound was heard as it echoed through the empty desert. The amount of shots fired made the giant worm turn its body, harrowingly missing the first column of Russians. The Colonel’s Radio then comes alive.
“YEEEEHAAWW! Now that’s what I’m talkin’! Now Vlad, I’ve saved your ass. That makes us even.”
“Yea yea yea, and it's not Vladimir! My name is Dimitri!”
“And I’m Uncle Fuckin’ Sam. Let’s just establish that Airbase and kill that thing!”
Battered and tired, the two Officers roll forward, going Northeast this time to establish an Airbase. CH-54 Sky cranes airlifted Dozers, Excavators, and Cranes in advance as the Russians had already taken the land needed. The American army trucks roll into the patch of land guarded by T-90As and T-80BVs with what’s supposed to be the main runway guarded by a T-14 Armata. With a big smile, its Commander pops out of the Hull and hears the Star Spangled Banner horn of a 5 Ton M939 as it grinds to a halt and Engineers appear from its back, quickly going into action.
The Russian Officer meets with the two and with a smile, they exchange handshakes.
“Look, Americans. High Command says they need this place up and running by tomorrow Morning.”
“What? They're gonna deploy bombers here already?”
“No idea, but what they say” the Slavic man shrugs his shoulders at the order “We do.”
“Ah Vlad. This is already not looking good, we need to get this over with before that worm returns.”
“Do not worry, we get Cruise Missiles yes? And its Dimitri ты трахаешься.”
“What did you just say?”
“Normal Slavic greeting.”
“Uh huh.”
The Russian tanks guarding the foundation of the airbase start opening fire, encountering Giant Scaled Earthworm a kilometer away once again, after them. The American Abrams the Lieutenant Colonel took with him joined them in formation. Attempting to kill the worm that would easily swallow their entire formation. The American Loaders were doing their best in reloading the 120mm smoothbore, some even resorting to teleportation magic while the Russian players had their feet shake violently, wishing the Autoloader of their tanks would do its job faster, after throwing both 120 and 125mm shells at it, one of the rounds penetrates it, causing an ear shattering scream as it burrows underground to protect itself.
“Jesus, those things frighten me. Just how big was that? Look, its still fucking going even though its head should be meters underground!”
“Heh, for ballsy nation, you Americans are easily frightened. Over.”
“Copy, Whatever Vlad.”
“Look, High Command at UN say they want base up so that they could threaten Vampire Kingdom into not joining with the Demon Lord, but I sense чушь. When the Government is saying things straight to you, they are lying. над.”
“Threaten Vampires? Are they truly serious with this? I don’t even trust my Government, same as you Vlad.”
“Just rumor, but I heard a man from a guild got the ancient Vampire Queen with him. They might use that as a trump card and will you look at that, we agree on one thing American. And it's DIMITRI. ”
“Ah, how mighty devious of them. But I can see it, yea I’ll try getting more equipment here. The FoB is already somewhat up, looks like it's going to be another long day. Vlad.”
“Don’t worry! Babushka back at Urals always says, a good Vodka, keeps the sadness away.”
“Yea, some good ole Jack Daniels won’t hurt. Let’s go Vlad.”
“And it's Dimitri! Гребаная задница ублюдка, сука!”
Back at Geraldia, Paul’s party is about to enter a cave on the side of a rocky mountain. His face doesn’t look happy at all. Scanning the place, he could already tell it's a trap in and out, while in the back is a giant massive silver sword is peering through the mountains and the clouds
“So, this is where the Goblins come from?”
“Yes M’Lord.”
Paul turns around to take another peek at the sword. It’s silvery shine was insane even though being older than the Vampire Queen, above its pommel is a large glowing orb. Remicient of a Mana Core but fifty times larger.
“I still can’t believe the first Hero wielded that giant ass thing and threw it at a Demon General.”
“M’Lord, look at it later. We must get through this immediately. I know you're stressed but we must get this over with before more harm is done.”
“I know, we’ll retrieve the kidnapped villagers and take out their leader.”
Knowing how small it is, he is forced to use shorter blades, something he doesn’t prefer. Thus he instead chose his guns. Slinging some ammo pouches over his tan tunic and holsters on his villager work belt. With a Beneli M4 Shotgun and his Colt Python, he looks into the dark cave.
“Ahhhhh, the good ole hole of doom. Feels like I’m a low level again.”
Elizabeth though was excited to go in and her hands were like claws, ready to pounce on any prey while Alana was in a heightened mood, scanning every nook and cranny.
“Oh M’Lord. I’m sure you’ve done this before at Dark World.”
“I have, and not one time did I enjoy it. The small traps, the ambushes, the dizzying paths and elaborate tunnels, these things are death traps.”
“Then, shall we?”
With such a pretty lady like that asking him to go, he tucks in his big boy pants and reluctantly enters first. With a flashlight mounted on his shotgun, he leads the way. Having just enough ceiling space to stand up straight, Elizabeth has to lean down a bit while Bahamut is on all four, scanning the path of any traps or ambushes.
“You know, I always thought these places would have no lighting at all.”
“Hmm? Are dangerous places that well lit in Dark World?”
“Yes Alana. Sometimes… though… the horror…”
“Shouldn’t these places be dark? Beats the purpose of an ambush when the place has good lighting, M’Lord.”
“Well, as brutal a game Dark World is, it's still a game and has to entertain. Though Caves and Dungeons without lights do exist, it's usually only done to give players some form of challenge and a chance to use the Night Vision spell, though some have it as a skill.”
As they walked through the dark cave, the light of the exit slowly disappeared and all they could hear was their steps and breathing. Paul then feels an extremely strong tug. Completely halting him. He looked behind and couldn’t see who it was.
“It’s me Alana. Keep calm, you were about to step into a pressure plate.”
“Ah sorry, I don’t have my usual Cave running set up since this world removed my ability to have a virtual inventory. Time to use some lighting spells.”
Avoiding the trap, the Knight General casts the following a bright blue orb of light that follows him around as they walk through, Paul notices a strange Purple/Violet Orchid glowing from the side of the wall.
“Woah, that looks incredibly pretty.”
“Smell it, My Lord.”
Following Elizabeth's instruction, he takes a sniff of the Orchid and though it smells amazing, after a few seconds. His nose becomes extremely runny and he starts screaming at how much his nose feels like it's burning.
“WAH-WAH-WHAT’Z ZATTT!?”
“A rare species of the Orchidaceae. Used for Poison Perfumes, one of my Royal Guards has had the bad chance of smelling it once. She never recovered from Orchids, developing a strange fear of it.”
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
“MAH NOZE, IT HURTZ!”
“Do not worry as much my Lord. You already have natural resistance to poison.”
“I ZU BUT ZAT ZOEZN’T MEAN MY NOZE WON’T FUU-”
Violently spinning on the dirty ground of the cave, Elizabeth calmly kneels. With a single hand, she stops him and with Bahamut and Alana staring at her with Knives. She amorously kisses the tip of his nose, using the point of contact to heal him of the ailment. Just like that he stops and stands up with a blushing face.
“W-well… I feel good now… Elizabeth behind you.”
“Oh I know, don’t worry.” She smiles while being completely aware Alana and Bahamut did not take kindly to her sudden action. “But I find you very amusing My Lord and fun to tease.”
Behind her, Alana with Bahamut on her shoulder are trying their best to look as if they aren’t jealous at all. With the Countess putting up a forced smile. She then materializes a rock, setting the trap which was a hidden Punji stick. Its size could easily kill an Adult Wolf with one slash. Continuing on their adventure, the cave slowly enlarges after encountering poison arrows and a large hole that already has some skeletons.
As they move through a small bridge with a hole from the ceiling and a deep drop, below them. Paul’s senses go crazy, detecting an oncoming object. He dodges and Alana, who was behind him, catches it with her hand.
“Oh my, an arrow.” Elizabeth commented, ready to slash whatever shot it at them.
But all they could hear was light splashes of water in the dark cave.
“C’mon, looks like they’re trying to temper us.”
“My Lord, I suppose we will no longer meet much resistance unless these fools wish to continue to harass us.”
“We shall see, right now. I have no idea how smart these Goblins are.”
“Oh, they’re very smart. Some even can speak, My Lord.”
“That’s not encouraging.”
“Haven’t you encountered one, My Lord?”
“I have, but never under this context. I already have enough blood on my hands, I don’t want to kill more, my sleep schedule is already as bad as it is.”
As they continue to walk through the dark, Elizabeth puts both of her hands on his shoulder from behind and leans in. Letting his back feel her plump chest.
“My Lord, this world is dangerous… you must become used to violence if you wish to go back home… As hard as it seems, become powerful and become a Knight worthy of my name.”
Hearing her deep amorous womanly voice serenades his right ear and sends shivers down his spine.
“I…I’ll try.”
As they walked through a big zigzag of tunnels, as if it was just randomly tunneled through without, Paul could feel he was stepping on random broken shards of blades and even skeletons. Though this demoralizes him, knowing the ladies have put a lot on him, he keeps a valiant face. Using the flashlight on his shotgun to light the way while his flying orb would go around him, making sure there were no secret holes for the Goblins to sneak through.
Going through a split on the tunnels, he leads the group through the treacherous path. In one instance, he accidentally triggered another trap which shot small pincered rocks. But with a small wind magic, he managed to stop them midair, after the affair and being a bit panicked, he continued onward and this time, the ceiling was leaking a bit. The water was cold and the puddles on the ground were slowly accumulating. Though the holes on the ground prevents build up.
Paul can’t imagine what it's like to live in such a cave and how the anatomy of Goblins allow them to live in such harsh conditions as even the temperature drops the deeper they go. Though the Vampires and the Bahamut were not affected, Paul with his tunic was feeling the differences and in some instances, he could even see his breath blow into the shine of the flashlight and his orb.
“How deep does these green little fu-”
Before he could finish his sentence. His arms instinctively moved and blocked an iron tipped arrow that snuffed out his flying orb of light, with adrenaline rushing through his blood, he started popping shots. The Semi Automatic Shotgun’s blast illuminates the dark tunnel and he could see on the sides of the cave were Goblins, hidden in the tunnel formation. Fooling his eyes and making it seem like there was nothing and its construct was a straight through.
Just as a spear was about to pierce the back of his head, Alana stops it with her bare hand and takes it. Staking the small Goblin and masterfully spins it around and into the otherside of the cave wall. Doubling the staked Goblin on the spear. Elizabeth on the other hand dodges a shortsword.
The Goblin wearing iron armor was able to tank her attempt to use the pommel to strike him down, just as another one was gonna come from behind, the small Dragon uses her fire breath on its face. Making the little green creature violently spaz on the ground from the pain of its face getting burned with blue fire.
“Thank you Bahamut!”
“Mhm! We must work together to survive!”
“As if I need’ith to survive! Wahahahaha~!”
Elizabeth then throws the shortsword like a knife, saving Paul from getting overwhelmed from his right while Alana cleared his front and he sweeped the walls. After a while, they managed to turn the cave into a bloody mess. The 12 Gauge shotgun was too much for the small creature, a single blast at point blank was enough to make a beefy mess out of their bodies.
“Well, that was an adventure. My Lord.”
“Yea…” panting heavily, he tries to catch his breath as adrenaline slowly falls. “But dang… we made a mess…”
“M’Lord, I guess you may say that they’re smarter than you expected.”
After some stretching and catching his breath, the party continues to move forward, the Queen uses her magic to create a fireball floating on top of her right hand as she notices something that her inherent nightvision wasn’t showing.
“You know, you could’ve done that earlier.”
“And where’s the fun in that, My Lord. I’m also curious about the writings. I have never seen Goblins have a language before. Magnificent. They usually learn language through captives and never had the capacity to make their own.”
“Just to remind the two of you Vampires, I will immediately die if anything sticks or stabs me and are you sure that’s not just some scratches on the wall? It looks like we weren’t the first ones here.”
Bahamut on the other hand flies deeper into the cave, and all they could hear was screams of Goblins and sounds of arrows pinging off the wall and swords hitting the ground. The small Dragon then appears out of the darkness with her mouth bloodied.
“More ambush?”
“Yes, Master.”
“Good work my trusty companion. C’mere and get some pats.”
The Dragon almost instantly appears on his hand, wiggling her tail as Paul caresses her spikey back. The two Vampires on the other hand are visibly pouting.
“I want a head pat too...” Elizabeth silently whispers as she closely inspects the writings on the cave wall.
“Alright, I’ll give you two pats when we finish this.”
With their hands ready, they continue their exploration into the Cave. The further they got in, the more resistance they met, but after one engagement where Elizabeth punched the heart out of an armored Goblin, some of them made a run into the tunnel. Scared for their lives as the powerful opponents chop through their traps and numbers.
This prompts him to chase after them. The Goblins further into the tunnel were not a match for the Vampires, the clear message of the powerful foes makes them retreat even deeper as all their attempts to regroup is foiled. Paul starts feeling the weight of the Quest, realizing the pain he would have felt if he walked into the traps or how much agony he would have felt if he did this alone and that his body was starting to ache from the continuous string of stressful situations.
“Well, that’s not fun at all. They’re such weaklings, My Lord. I thought they would’ve evolved much more since my defeat.”
“I’m surprised, Goblins might be weak but they tend to show their danger in numbers and traps.”
“Let’s continue forward, M’Lord. They’re more organized than expected.”
Using their hearing and smell, they could see on the upcoming split that the right turn will lead them into a large room which houses an extremely large number of Goblins, some human women and a large human sized Goblin with a sword while the Left leads to another trap that’s a thirty meter drop.
“Seems that there’s a Warlord Goblin in there on the right, My Lord.”
“Is that like a Veteran Goblin?”
“Seems.”
“Well, this is gonna be annoying.”
“Mayhaps. But you have us with you My Lord.”
“Good good, it feels weird to be the one on the attacking side. Usually, we’re the ones defending.”
She looked at his hand and could see that it was shaking a little and his legs weren’t straight any longer, feeling his heightened senses and his rapid breath. She notices he's a bit uncomfortable at the idea of being the one attacking, she proudly puts her hand on her hip while Alana and Bahamut start moving into the large room.
“What do you humans call me other than Elizabeth or Bathory? You said in your world, I have many names right?”
“The blood angel, Carmilla, a mythical Vampire Noblewoman.”
“Carmilla... I see now why you used that as my fake name. Now I can sense a group of five has been ordered to check for us. Be prepared, my Lord.”
“Alright, I got this. Phew”
Sucking in his guts as sweat appears on his skin, he follows the instructed path with the Vampire Queen right behind him, smiling in support of the man. He arrives at the path that leads to the large room, Alana and Bahamut stay silent, cheering him on.
After breathing in, and still feeling a bit awkward, he pulls out his two revolvers, slinging his shotgun to his back. In quick succession he shoots the five Goblins, an arrow then comes flying in, prompting him to dodge and shoot back into the dark. Hearing a grunt of another enemy. With adrenaline and confidence, he rolls into the room and meets the Warlord Goblin. The large green humanoid was standing, drenched in Iron armor and chain mail, he sent his remaining minions to fight him head on.
There were all types of Goblins to even ones that could use magic, forcing Paul to start dodging and weaving while shooting and occasionally slashing his enemies by materializing his Arming Sword, frantically trying to keep the horde at bay. Just as he was about to get overwhelmed, the Vampires with Bahamut appear out of the entrance, turning the tide instantly.
“Well, you three took your time.”
“It seemed that you need’ith some confidence in your skills, My Lord.”
“Heh, not gonna lie, it feels different to be doing this. Knowing how dangerous things have been. Attacking doesn’t seem as bad as I thought.”
“Look at you, smiling even like a true Knight. Keep those eyes of yours and it's beautiful shine. Become the Knight worthy of the Countess’ and Queen’s love!”
“Thanks Elizabeth. I’ll be sure to remember this.” He smirks wildly, knowing that he doesn’t feel as scared as before. Though he still had some fear and anxiety, his confidence was slowly overtaking it. No longer clouding his judgment as much as before, cementing his will to kill.
With a boost of confidence, he discards his revolvers and his shotgun. Teleporting them back to the carriage and instead using his glowing red dark enchanted Arming Sword. He goes one on one against the surviving Goblins and then goes for the Warlord who parries him. The large Sword stops him, though his dulled sword made a deep cut into its blade, it wasn’t enough to crack it.
Using his personal sword style, he rememberings practicing to keep 8 angles in front of him covered with his sword, with focused eyes, he parries but also continually attempts to displace the Warlord’s grip. But the large creature was faster than him and was inhumanely strong, if it weren’t from the buffs of his sword, he would’ve long been dead. After a while, he steps up his game and starts teleporting, but the Warlord also knows magic and can sense where he’ll next appear.
Seeing this after all his attempts was foiled and him bruised and his hands cutted and scratched, he thought of performing a snap teleportation, appearing in one area for a second and attacking, performing the attack, he is surprise that the Warlord knew where he’d appear next but was too slow to catch up. Seeing the weakness, he performs the snap teleportation but three times, the Warlord was able to catch up with the first two, but the third one where he chose to appear from the top was too much, maintaining a 45 degree angle, he slices its head off clean. Slashing his neck and completely cutting its head clean off and the Death Knight emerges victorious.
“Guess I’ll try playing Knight more.”
He kicks the Warlord's body, rolling his head on the ground, lifeless as yellow blood seeps out of the neck. Though still disturbed with the sight as so far, the smaller Goblins bled green, he stomachs it and walks out of the room with his sword hunched at his back. The Vampires free the captive women and instruct them to follow closely. Walking outside, he could hear the sound of a helicopters’ rotor. Peering from the cave, he is met with a squad of soldiers and a Blackhawk. A young lad wearing a Beret salutes to him.
“Good Afternoon General Jackson! Colonel Sandra of the Third Expeditionary Force, sorry to disturb you on your vacation sir. But you’ve not been active on your Guild chat. We know the main menu has lost most of its functions, but one of the last ways to communicate with each other is still there.”
“Oh crap, I forgot that existed! I was having way too much fun. I apologize.”
“No worries sir. I’ve come to collect you and your party. The United Nations is currently calling for all high ranking Officers with Vampire companions or traits to come to Woodstock immediately.”
“Why? I thought talks with the Kingdom of Rose won’t start till next year?”
“We’ve finally bridged a connection to the Vampire Kingdom. King Harold himself has requested for our presence. President Grahame is asking for any COs and NCOs with a relation to Vampires to come.”
“Huh, so we’re gonna start negotiations then?”
“If that’s what King Harold wishes, yes sir.”
“Why do I have to come? Don’t I have to start drafting plans for the invasion of Schon? Eldwood is gonna play a big role having a big navy and air force.”
“Negative sir. The Council knows about Her Majesty’s Elizabeth and her involvement in your adventures.”
“I see where this is going, they can’t be crazy enough to use her of all people. Dammit, I’ll talk to the others later.”
“Yes sir, but we must make haste. Many of the delegates have already been delivered to Woodstock.”
The two Vampires then appear, covering their faces and holding their long hairs, as the helicopter's downwash throws debris at them. The crew of the Blackhawk then attached ropes to their carriage, prepared to airlift it. Alana was quick to her feet, already near the Colonel who was there to collect them.
What is this?! Do you have permission to touch our carriage? Have M’Lord given you his blessing?”
“Missus Minuit, you're all being called back to Woodstock. It's urgent ma’am. Everyone must get on immediately.”
“First, it's Lady Minuit to you. Second, why weren’t we alerted first?”
“Sorry ma’am, we realized the Guild Chat isn’t that much of a good method to communicate and Phones aren’t usually in hand.”
Paul had to step in and persuade her to just go into the chopper.
“That’s enough, c’mon. This is big. But Colonel, I want you to instruct your escort helicopter to collect these kidnapped women and return them home to a Village three klicks east of here.”
“Yes sir, General Jackson.”
With a snappy salute by the lady, His words were enough to make the two Vampires board the chopper without much resistance. After unsummoning his undead horse, the party then boards the Blackhawk which takes them back to Woodstock after a few days of flight. On the entire trip, the two Vampires drilled the Colonel, asking her about everything she knows with the Operation that’s about to take place. In the end, she just tells the two to wait for the Conference that’ll happen at the UN Headquarters. With a straight face, the General exits the helicopter as it arrives at the airport and takes a glance at the modern metropolis.
The tarmac was more populated than usual, with hundreds of skeleton soldiers helping in the organizing and pooling of weaponry. Half of the giant airport was full of camouflage vehicles, with the Desert tan ones standing out in the crowd of Woodland coloured armored machines. Even as they were walking to their transport, military trucks were still flooding in. From your general M939 to M1070 HETs carrying M1A2 Abrams, T-90As, Leopard 2A7s and ZTZ-99s.
The Chevrolet Tahoes then deliver them to a hotel. They were the last to arrive and the meeting is scheduled tomorrow. Everything was paid by the UN, from the lodging to room service. To Paul, this looks all too good. Way too good. He’s perplexed by something, as he knows the inner workings of the Guild. This isn’t your usual boring Pre Operational Briefing. The lack of information given to them aside that they’ll be playing Diplomat to a foreign Nation is also not pleasing. The entire night, he was restless. Thinking about what will happen while Bahamut just watches the man run around his mind. She thought that he might need more practice with dealing in important state meetings.
Morning arrived and the two bloodsuckers had a good night’s sleep. Prepared and ready for the meeting, both having thoughts already on what’ll entail while Paul was sleeping like a Log on his bed. He had to be woken up by the two tall beauties just for him to start tending to his look and prepare his uniform. Back to his classic General look, they were then collected by men in suits and were given a Limo. The Vampires wore their luxurious dresses in light of the recommended outfit for visiting building. On their ride, the city looked to be ten times more populated than before.
“Is there a sudden boom in players?”
The UN representative with them briefly gives an answer.
“After announcing we’ve found a way home, the millions of players who usually play Dark World all came to the UN affiliated Guilds. Many of the groups are now reporting a five hundred percent increase in overall population.”
“Dang. Everyone must be dying to go home then.”
“Yes, hence we must make sure to deliver. Everyone has put their hearts into our efforts, let us not waste it.”
“Agreed. Let’s.”
“Though more are to come General. The British, Germans, Spanish, and Australians has been hellbent in rescuing players from this worlds slave market. So far, we’ve traced their main hub at Angea.”
“How many are in there?”
“Possibly millions more sir. We came from a very pampered world, where technology gave us everything. Other Generals suspect this might be the reason why so many are unable to cope or adapt to the sudden change of situation and become enslaved even with having so much power.”
“This… is not good… So only a minority is able to adapt like me?”
“Yes sir. Majority of the player base are still scattered throughout the world, though we’ve been trying our best to spread the word. Out of the hundreds of millions of concurrent players, so far. We’ve only found tens of millions.”
“Jesus, then there must be so many more people.”
“Thea, being One point five to two times larger than planet Earth has made this a great challenge General. Apart from the barren and dangerous terrain, even with aircraft. This has been an extremely hard endeavor. We’ve already been stretched thin making sure the people living in Woodstock can enjoy a modern lifestyle.”
“Also, have you fuckers been watching me? The only thing I took from you guys was a Longwave radio, you people said it was for security reasons and emergencies. The fact that your Colonel bought helicopters meant you knew exactly where I was. Did you put trackers on me?!”
“Satellites sir, we have to keep track of your exact location. Especially, having… relations with her Majesty.”
Elizabeth who was on the other side of the limo heard it all and with her arms crossed and her leg over the other swipes her blonde hair and underneath her side swept bangs was her thin eyebrows angled down, with an angry face, she defiantly asks the UN representative.
“Of course, you seethering buffoons don’t even trust your own General. Huh, such foolishness, even after evolving to create machines beyond even my imagination, your all but still dumb and untrustful humans.”
“I apologize if it made you uncomfortable your Majesty, but we have to make sure you don’t cause-”
“Havoc? Chaos? End of the World? I believe I’ve already made my point that I shall not be doing that again. But to not only overreach thou’s authority, you’ve also spied on My Lord without his explicit knowledge. If it weren’t for his human nature, I would immediately call for your execution. Such ungentlemanly move by such a humanitarian orginization that tauts itself as Slave Free. Did naming yourself such give you a tumescent genital?”
“I truly apologize, but we have to make sure, your Majesty. Your secrecy is of utmost importance and we named ourselves that so that the Kingdoms may know our position when it comes to something as Evil as slavery.”
“Tsk. Mortal, feel lucky you're on the side of my Lord. I would’ve torn down your rigid and ministerial state of procedures without lifting an army. You say your against slavery yet you use mindless skeletons to do you bidding on the field of battle? Spy on your men without their knowledge? Disgusting, you lot.”
Looking next to the UN representative, Paul is signaling her to calm down. Smiling and scratching the back of his head. Attempting to calm her nerves. Alana steps in, seeing the boiling situation.
“At least your Majesty, you’ll be able to show your Castle and that Garden you’ve been very gratifying about.”
“Oh please. If my Castle even stands, the flowers I’ve collected from the globe would’ve withered long ago.”
“Then at least, we may show him our Culture and Traditions. M’Lord, have you ever heard about Nationale Park de Elizabeth?”
Paul shrugs, not knowing anything.
“It’s one of our biggest parks in the Capital. It has the tutelage of the Ancient Queen’s flower collection.”
“By God Angus, some of my flowers still flourish?”
“Yes, your majesty. Though it's not as near as the stories foretold of your magnificent garden.”
“Hmph, of course. I’ve even hired Wood Elves to cultivate it. And as you know, those Tribals would rather busy themselves with dead Gods than mingle with us more innovative types. All that’s missing is them to copulate with the grass and barks of trees. Fufufufu…”
Arriving at the courtyard of the UN Headquarters, they’re greeted with a parking lot full of black SUVs with two main battle tanks guarding the entrance. Curious passersby were being blocked by Riot police and soldiers as the last Tahoe arrived and the gates locked. It stops by a red carpet which leads to the second floor of the General Assembly Hall. The first floor was packed with a lot of people in Gothic Dresses and Victorian outfits. Looking more of a Grand Dinner than a meeting. One of the UN soldiers opens the door and Paul first steps out, already looking out of place, wearing a very serious and well ironed black Service uniform.
“Oh crud. This is going to be fun.” He makes a deep sigh and walks to the crowd. Everyone is eyeing him as he tries not to smile, seeing the absurdity of the situation. The second to appear was the long lost Vampire Queen Elizabeth, sporting her ornate Masquerade Mask and in her frilly purple Gothic dress. Everyone was immediately entranced the moment she showed herself with her beauty spilling out even though her entire face was covered with an enchanted mask. Bahamut was on her shoulder, eyeing all the suspicious people on the floor. Many of the Vampires started talking amongst themselves of who this person might be. Even though she’s trying her best to hide her power, her aura was still there, showing her immense presence whilst catching everyone’s attention through her looks. They were all too busy apart from a few who bowed to her. Feeling a certain sensation that she’s someone way above them.
Last was Alana in her Crimson Red dress, the dress is cut down the middle of her breasts, making a narrow curve shape stopping just under her navel leaving her stomach and cleavage bare. It exposes for all to see how full and well formed her breasts are and everyone instantly recognized her. The men and women bowed apart from their companions who obviously do not know who she is nor her status in the Vampire Kingdom. As she passed through the glass door, the soldiers outside closed it and the General Secretary followed by Presidents appeared out of the Grand Staircase which leads to the second floor.
“Everyone! Welcome! I’ve been humbled by your presence and from the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for aligning with us. Us foreigners of your land, and now as we prepare our majestic exit. We would like to request a favor from you all!”
The doors for the main hall swing open, and UN soldiers lead them to their seats. Once a place for Generals and Politicians to scheme their plans now looks like a conference meeting of Gothic and Victorian clothing Enthusiasts. Players stood out, wearing more modern clothing and some in business suits. The officers chosen on the other hand were in their party dresses. The tuxedo-like military uniforms made them look like better people even though the highest ranking was a Captain. Paul was the only General there and was on the front row with Elizabeth and Alana.
Looking like his tripping balls, he looks like a kid who went to a costume party wearing the school uniform. His train of thought is then stopped as the General Secretary on the Podium drops the mallet and takes everyone’s attention. The second floor of the room was full of Guild Generals and Politicians, all closely watching the people that had filled the seats for the Asian-Pacific and Eastern European Guilds located in the middle of the division. With the large map of Dark World with an polar azimuthal equidistant projection surrounded by two olive branches. It should’ve represented the Modern Guilds of Dark World in their attempt to create peace for everyone but instead has done nothing but wage war and plan the death of countless beings. Even after going to a different world, it was still the same and the Peace the two olive branches represented was nothing but a show.
After the crowd has settled down, even the General Secretary couldn’t help but feel pressured, seeing the well dressed and extremely well mannered Vampires look at him with every attention they could give.
“Thank you. I am General Secretary Steve Rossi, a born New Yorker, and a man of Pepperoni Pizzas and Pastas. I’d like to start today’s session with smiles as with great pleasure do we announce an unearthly diplomatic mission between Mortal and Immortal. Ugly and Beautiful, Weak and Powerful. It's no secret to us humans of how powerful you are, our Scientists have even branded the Vampire species as Abhuman status. So of course in retrospect, it would never be imagined that here right now, in this very Hall. Human and Vampire alike are together-”
Looking around, Paul is perplexed to find out Loli Vampire Goths actually existed in this world, looking at one with skin as pale as a dead person, she looks back at him with intimidating eyes. Immediately making him look forward. Everyone seemed to be very intent in listening to the General Secretary but Elizabeth on the other hand has her jaw on top of her palm, silently waiting for him to finish. In whisper the two start a conversation.
“Carmilla. Why do you look like you're about to fall asleep?”
“It’s just boring sweet talk. This must be the most generic political talk I’ve heard in a while.”
“I mean, everyone seems to be very into it.”
“Tsk, the Vampires here have more training than all the humans combined in looking like they're actually interested in what that man is saying. I can’t believe you are willing to work with such a poor affectation.”
“It’s a good speech though and it's not like I am working for them purely out of loyalty, I am also doing this for personal reasons.”
“It is good… for a human that has no self autonomy. Though I find that most of the soldiers under this so-called United Nations are all fighting in self interest rather than the state. Hmph, I wonder how fragile your morale truly is. Outlier makes you all look professional and trained, but I wonder what dirt is underneath all of that.”
“Aw c’mon, at least give us some points for trying.”
Elizabeth smiles under her mask. Amused by Paul’s attempt at retaining her attention.
“I’ll give it a five. But blatant propaganda is propaganda. The fact that so many of you humans seem to be actually believing this appalls me. Don’t you have some sort of machine that can distinguish open propaganda? Real or fake?”
“Perfect? Ahahahaha, well. I live in a digital age, ever since I was little I’ve watch countries bomb and destroy multiple Middle Eastern and Balkan Nations all through the seat of my parents sofa. Fact of the matter is, there’s so much information that you can never truly know what is real and fake, many jump to conclusions, hopping into a conflict they know little about historically, just seeing the one side they’re being fed with.”
“Half of it. And this is what I was fearing with your technology, if you can make miracles seem like mundane inventions, then I can only imagine the plight of an everyday person. If what you say is true, then each one of you must be more knowledgeable than almost all Kings and Queens, and yet you seem to be more impressed by me.”
“Oh c’mon. You're giving us too much credit. Yes, we are smart. But the more smarter we become, the more dumber and lenient we are. That’s why I actually built a company. To escape the… I apologize for my words but the bullshit that I am being fed with everyday. We might not want to admit it, but World News? Just how much of it is actually true? The society I live in Elizabeth, as much as it is grand and the meals I eat everyday cannot compare to what you have, it's also polarized by those who you see on that Podium. But in the end, we can’t really do much to change the status quo.”
“You make it seem as if that’s all your society is about. I am sure you have more to enjoy with a world like that.”
“I do, but the News and the Society I live in. It made me this way, the more I researched personally, the more I found out how all of this, what I grew up with was bull. Absolute bull, if you already question the UN, just imagine NATO or Russia. Both are the same thing but taut a different trumpet. That’s why it's so amazing for me, to see players from NATO countries and Russian ones to be in one. Their Governments usually pit one against one another. Heck, I am more amazed that the Middle Easterners have managed to keep their cool after all the things NATO has done to them.”
“Then isn’t that a sign that in the end, you're all brothers? If your society is as polarized as you say, then shouldn't this give you a sign that there isn’t as much hatred as you knew?”
“Maybe…”
Elizabeth could see the pain in his eyes, he looked mature and knew that his society was built on something that is way beyond his control, something he cannot understand nor fathom. To comfort the man having an existential crisis, she just puts her hand on his shoulder and smiles at him.
“Then, How about I give you a tour of my castle and my flowers. I am sure you’ll love it. I wonder if the Grand Gazebo still stands, I used to drink Tea there as I took a gander at my Kingdom. Its luscious open fields and bountiful forests/”
“I’d like that… before coming back to my world and back at it again at living in a society that gives me all of the knowledge of man in one small device and all the stresses that comes with it.”
They both look at the General Secretary attentively, with Paul waiting for him to at least please the Vampire Queen whose trust of the organization has been shattered.
“I come here today, representing the various Guilds and Leaders that have long known of the threat the Vampire Kingdom could pose in our future operations in the Continent of Schon. Thus, after great efforts, we’ve finally opened a diplomatic bridge to them, thanks to none other than King Harold Timothy the Sixth. This is where you’ll come in. Your objective is not only to represent us, and the human side but also to show that the two species can cosign their differences and work together to achieve a greater goal at hand.”
Hearing this, Alana’s hand instinctively moved closer to Paul’s. Her right pinky was about to touch his left hand. But he’s too busy talking to Elizabeth to notice it.
“As such, I’d like to announce this day as Human-Vampire Alliance Day. In celebration of this magnificent undertaking we’re about to take. To all players here, even after being around beautiful, handsome, attractive, and alluring people. You’ve still kept your humanity, I applaud you. That shows great strength and belief in our species but at the same time, shows your boundaries to your Immortal friends. With this, I can see a bright future as our way home slowly comes into light.”