The room was then silent as the Vampires await the words of the mortal men in the front rows. The German General stands up, fixing his uniform and tie.
“Hallo. I’m Generalleutnant HerrErdinger or known as Herr Ruger. I’ve come today to present our biggest thanks to the Vampire Kingdom and also, to work with your higher ups in forging a new path for us. Not like the people of this land, we’ve come from a foreign world. Your history doesn’t matter to us, but what does matter is finding a common ground to our differing cultures and traditions and species. Our goal here is make friends, not threaten or start a war. And we hope that everyone in this room will be able to understand where we're coming from and create a middle ground where we could all meet. Danke.”
Everyone claps and nods. Agreeing with the Germanic man. After a few hours of back to back talk between the two species, she heads back to her wagon. But not before seeing a man in the street selling red handkerchiefs. She exits out of the golden fences of the massive Castle and to greet the young man with roses and handkerchiefs.
“Oh my, Countess Minuit!”
“Please, do call me Lady Alana, or Alana if you will.”
“Hm! How may I be of service to you missus?”
The Vampire bows neatly in his tunic and armored leather pants. Respecting the Noble woman.
“I’d like to have one handkerchief please.”
“Of course.” He starts displaying them, to see if one catches her taste though all of them were of the same color. “What kind of man is he?”
“Eh?”
“Weren’t you doing this to wish for your man's safe return?”
“Ahhhhh…. Well. He's a bit of an oddball but very kind.”
“Hmm… what about this one with the flowery design?”
Hundreds of kilometers away, Paul is practicing his revolver tricks, spinning his gun like a cowboy while the carriage enters a rundown town with trees overgrowing its buildings full of differing species of humanoids. The snow blanketed its dirty look as strange and intimidating adventurers go on with their daily lives. Preparing for the long winter and people were outside, taking in the change of weather and scenery. Zergel goes to the Town Tavern, stopping there to get some food.
“Lady, take the man with you.”
“Would it be fine to move him around?”
“Yes and it would be better to have him with us. People here aren't really the most respectable when it comes to humans. Most of all, ones that smell as civilized as him.”
“And the carriage?”
“It's parked right outside where we can see it the entire time we’re inside.”
Bahamut proceeded to go around, looking at Paul who was blankly spinning his revolver, visibly depressed and tired, she helped him up and they entered the tavern. Setting him down on the table next to a window overlooking their carriage. She leans down to the height of his emotionless face as he holds his wound.
“Are you fine?”
“Hurting, need sleep, and I wanna just rest.”
She holds his hand, wrapping her long slender fingers around his. This immediately prompts Paul’s heart to start racing, feeling her soft and warm palm. He looks up and they’re faces are inches from one another.
“Believe me, we’ll make it. Just a few more days. Please hold out Master.”
“D-don’t worry. I will.”
He visibly blushes as he smells her flowery scent.
“Hm. Good to see you're still yourself. Don’t let this one event cloud your head Master. There’s still much to be done.”
“Mhm. Thank you Bahamut.”
“Mhm.”
She smiles, happy to see her Master reacting to her beauty. Zergel arrives, tugging Bahamut’s cape.
“Follow me. There’s a lotta’ plates.”
They return and the food looks interesting to say the least. The Meat strangely has a brownish color to it and it was very thick with an animal like smell to it than normal cooked beef and the leaves had a heart shape that came with it was wet. The rice was normal, making the Knight at least feel happy that one thing looks familiar and is happy to see it again. Meanwhile, tiny bowls full of spices were also with the dishes.
“The meat came from the Archaic Mutants that roamed the forest around here. It's very nutritious, don’t let the smell fool you.”
“It’s not the smell of Zergel but the taste…”
Meanwhile Bahamut was already digging in, trying her best to remember how to elegantly eat like a lady.
“Oh Bahamut, try this. It's one of the many spices that comes with it.”
She takes Zergel’s advice and takes the Black one with Brownish hue to it. Mixing it with a portion of her meat, she takes a bite and her face turns red. Spitting out the meat immediately.
“WATER, WATER.”
The two rush around, looking for water and the Innkeeper whose half Fox points at a small barrel on the counter. Zergel immediately runs to it, grabbing a cup and giving it to Bahamut who chugs it down. She strangely starts to feel dizzy, putting the cup up her nose, she notices its aroma is of Ale.
“YOU PIGLET! THIS IS ALE!”
She then drops onto her seat with her head on the table, drunk as one can be. Paul looks at her, sleeping peacefully while drooling from her open mouth. He notices that she has four fangs, two on the upper jaws and another two on the bottom jaw, it was sharper than that of a Vampires and more canine like. Her shiny black hair was silky smooth and was oddly calming to touch.
“First time making contact with a woman?”
“A-ABSOLUTELY NOT.”
“I can see an inexperienced man when I see one. The way you looked at her, with so much curiosity, a man will never get game that way.”
“And who are you to exactly be telling this to me?”
“Excuse you, but I married the best Pig a man like me could find. She had brown skin, long mohawk hair and is an absolute rarity.”
“Exactly how was your species born again?”
“As I said, our Ancestors were once normal humans till the first Demon King experimented, trying to make the best foot soldiers. The Half Fox you see there? They can smell farther than a Dog, the half Wolf ones are way more dangerous but rarer, they can also transform into a full wolf form. Do not let their human form fool you.”
“The guy literally looks like he's a nerd wearing those animal ear headbands.”
“And there's more dangerous species, those who show more of the animal form than their humans. Though quite rare as they are extremely unstable, with their human and animal selves fighting over one another like me. I’m a small fat pig man, I might have the intellect of a human and fingers of a human, my feet and hind legs aren’t. Making things complicated. Doesn’t help the fact that trash and gold tastes the same for me.”
“Dang, you really got fucked over huh?”
“Yea. I feel like that is a sentiment many of the Demon Races think. Why we aren’t complaining about being trapped in this hellish continent. From the day we were created, we’ve been cursed and were only meant to serve one purpose. To serve the ancient and first ever Demon King. Heck, some of us don’t even get to live for more than ten years.”
“But it seems that this was once a beautiful place. We passed through some ruins and it looked like you all had a great and magnificent civilization once. That aqueduct had some nicely engraved designs to it.”
“We don’t really have a lot of books and records but you're on point with what many think. Though I’m sure the citizens of the Kingdom of Rose know more, they’re as Ancient as the soil.”
“I might just do that when I arrive there. Actually I have-”
Suddenly, the doors of the Inn swing wide open. A tall, buff man as high as the door frame enters in leather armor with a longsword in his back. He had pointy ears of a wolf and has well kept hair with a sharp jawline. The handsome middle aged man quickly scanned the floor while his friends entered. He stops when he eyes Paul who is in his suit. Sensing his gaze, the wounded Knight slowly puts his hand into his chest. Reaching for one of his Glock 17.
“Είναι παράξενος άνθρωπος מי הם?”
Not knowing the language and seeing Bahamut who was drunk out of her mind, Zergel stepped in. Though not even reaching his hips, the pig man stood tall and his face was in serious mode.
“זה לא עניינך. Φύγε από εδώ λύκε".
Paul was ready to draw his pistol when the wolfman wavered off with his group. Heading to the back of the floor where they silently sat down. Minding their business.
“What was that about?”
“That’s Leon, one of this region's best adventurer and bounty hunter. He seemed to have taken an interest in you.”
“That’s what bothers me. Is he an outworlder like me?”
“I think so. He only became famous a few months ago.”
“I knew it. He recognized my suit. Dangit, I need to change into something less conspicuous.”
“Though why would he be interested in you?”
“I made a lot of enemies back in Dark World. He might be one of those or someone who's been sent after me. The look on that man, he knew I had a gun so he didn’t push whatever he wanted to do.
“Or you might just be paranoid. How many people are after you?”
“Ehhhhh… one to fifty or so.”
In a drunken manner, Bahamut wakes up. Her usual fierce eyes were droopy and she was drooling.
“Yah kno Mastah, I really thonk yuh shud… -blegh- try to.”
“Okay Bahamut, calm down. Zergel, get her some water please.”
Zergel quickly rushes to the carriage outside to find some water while he tries to get Bahamut to calm down.
“Thoss vampirezz they’re really hot… but I’M HOTTER RIGHT?!”
“Jesus Bahamut, are you that light of a drinker? I thought you have resistances to this kind of stuff?”
“Always doting on them. -sniff- WELL, I ALSO HAVE A HUMAN AND FORM AND AM I NOT A HOTTIE?!”
Everyone on the floor looks at the two with awkward stares. Trying not to laugh or start anything. The Innkeeper just facepalms as she goes on her tirade. Sensing the stares, Paul gets more desperate to calm her down.
“Yes Bahamut. You're very beautiful.”
“-sniff- Your onleh saying taht becuz… -sniff-”
“Oh of course not. Look at you, with beautiful straight long hair, an amazing pale skin and body. Why wouldn’t I think that you're hot? Heck, you like what? One Eighty Centimeter tall? You're basically a super supermodel! A Goddess even! So calm down, lower your voice as it tends to be a bit ear catching.”
Feeding her ego, the drunken woman finally calms down.
“Well… -sniff- you're always gawking that toz vampirez.”
“Well, it's part of their nature to be alluring and you weren’t in human form. You were in Dragon form. So chill out, and let me get you out of here.”
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
“Hmph… this iz your fault masta’.”
“What? How?”
“Becuz you and the otha’ humanz went and destroyed my human form!”
“That was part of the event, no way can I do anything… and the rewards were not bad, not gonna lie. You were basically sleeping on top of it too.”
“Hmph!”
He removes his trenchcoat and puts it on her. Giving her warmth even though she didn’t need it. She then grasps it and smells it. Paul could only blush at her as he tried to cover his flushed face. Still trying to look strong and manly.
“C’mon, I’ll get you up. You have enough… and was that really necessary?”
“Nnnn… Noh. Let me stay here.”
“Aren’t you a Dragon God? How do you even get drunk with so many Buffs and Skills?”
“Nnnnnn… my head hurtsss.”
“Yea, yea, yea. Dragon God my ass, I can’t believe the spells of the Great Mages and even Dennis didn't do anything and yet something as simple as Ale managed to get you hammered like this.”
He removes his glove and pats her head. Smiling like a dumbass as he feels her shiny silky smooth hair.
“Let’s get you up.”
Looking around and everyone still staring at the two with awkward stares, he princess carries her out of the place. Grunting as he feels his wound hurt. Zergel was about to get in when Paul burst out with a drunken beauty. While walking to the back, she sensually nibbles his ear, making him aroused. Finally he puts her in the back of the carriage with him while Pigman jumps into the driver's seat. Driving them away from the Inn.
At the back, Bahamut has rested her head on Paul’s right shoulder and sneakily holds his right hand, wrapping her fingers around his. Her face was still flushed and beet red, covering her. The Knight was speechless at how bold she is, but at the same time welcomed it. Even after everything, her hair still had a calming aroma to it. It smelled of Mountain Orchids, sweet and had a great fragrance.
“I really hate how you sometimes speak like your life doesn’t matter.”
“Woah now, where’s this coming from?”
“Don’t act stupid Master. I’ve been traveling with you for a long time. Do you think I haven’t noticed your little comments and the faces you make when facing a grave problem?”
“Okay, you got me but that’s just how I am. You don’t need to worry and weren’t you drunk just a moment ago?”
“I know your hiding something. The look in your eyes, it always looked so solemn. As if fighting reminds you of something… and the way you command. I do not believe you are a normal businessman as you speak of yourself as.”
“Heh, you got me good. Yes, let’s just say… when the Dollar crashed, and Asia rose. My nation called me. To help in the United Asian Forces, I traveled far and wide. Africa, Middle East and finally the Balkans. I did a lot of things I am not proud of, even though we were just supposed to remove Western presence in those countries… it got blurry when it spilled over and a World War started.”
“But Master, you must remember that old you. This is no longer a game, but a reality. You are here and you must prepare yourself to take as many lives as possible if it means your survival.”
“Good thing I don’t need medication. This conversation would probably make me go haywire. But don’t worry, I have you girls here.”
“Hmph. I guess having Vampire servants was all you needed.” She pouts, with jealousy plastered on her face. “My resistance kicked it and I am no longer drunk.”
“Oh c’mon, you know you're always my favorite. My companion and right hand.”
“Geez, look at you sweet talk an Ancient woman like me… And I can’t believe I’m falling for it.”
“What? I’m not lying. You’ve always been my go to partner in crime. You remember that time when I found myself sinking in quicksand? Wasn’t it you who rescued me? Or that time I was fighting Great Wolves on the Mountains of Dark World. Who was I with? From the Labyrinths, to the flying Castles and to making guns and tanks. Who was I with? Hm? Hm?”
Even though he’s wounded, he tries his best to make her smile. Raising his eyebrows up and down, making a funny expression. It works and she smiles a bit at his attempts.
“But still… If you plan to marry those two, I want to be your first wife.”
“WOAH. Okay, calm down. Bahamut, I’m not planning on staying here. I gotta go back home with you. Both of us have to return.”
“Then promise me.”
“Okay...”
“PROMISE ME.”
“ALRIGHT YES.”
“That you won’t die before then…”
“Oh, I won’t. I’ll just respawn anyway.”
“And what if they use that magic that prevents you from coming back to life?”
“I’ll… I’ll run back to you and ask you to help me out just as usual.”
“Moron... “ she smiles and tightens her grip on his hand. “If you sleep with any of the Vampires before me, I’ll never forgive you.”
“Don’t worry, if I do that. That means I fell for their trap. I’d never do it.”
“Really? Then what about me?” She looks at him right in the eyes with a pitiful face. Seeing that she’s not willing to take a stupid answer. He looks away, hiding his red cheeks.
“I don’t mind… giving you my first. Just when you're not drunk.”
Hearing this makes her smile. It was probably the biggest smile she ever had in her long long life. Making her squeeze his arm even more. “Ouch, ouch, ouch.” Unable to do anything as she drifts into sleep, he had to teleport some health potions to him. Just in case she breaks his bones.
After a while, it was already dark when she woke up. Paul was fast asleep while Zergel was outside the carriage, cooking some Rabbit that he hunted down. She tries to move her fingers but notices that her left hand is holding his. This makes her blush a bit but she stands up and heads to the campfire.
“Ah, you're finally awake.”
“Yea… my head feels dizzy.”
“You're a pretty delicate flower when it comes to drinking. Wikipedia told me you have over a hundred skills and debuffs and yet, something as simple as Ale made you go Saturday Night on me and Zergel?”
“Eh? Did I drink? Must’ve caught me off guard Master.”
“Yep. You accidentally drank Ale. Guess it was that spicy huh?”
“Ugh.” She sits down on the portable seat. Caressing her temple as she tries to remember what she did.
“Don’t worry, you didn’t do anything crazy. You just confessed your love to your Master.”
“EH?! EHHHH?!”
The next day, Paul wakes up after a long sleep. Feeling fully energized despite his wound hurting. He looked around and could see Bahamut was busy driving the carriage while Zergel was near him in the carriage. Sharpening his short sword.
“About those two Vampires…”
“Oh. Yea?”
“You truly have two Vampire Servants? Really?”
“Yep. Defeated one myself albeit in a lucky manner, and another one took the effort of me and two other max level Generals to pacify. I landed the last shot with a special round from my revolver.”
“Wow, you outworlders are truly something else.”
“Heh. What can I say? We live pretty boring lives out of these.”
“Really?! I’ve always heard a lot of stories about your kind and the crazy things you’ve all been doing.”
“I guess you believe us now ehy?”
“Meeting you and those weapons… yea.”
“Though don’t worry, we might be powerful. But the majority of the people of my world truly do not know the harsh life of the Medieval times. Though I’m sure back in the Full Dive game, we’ve been given a sanitized version of it, marketable to the masses. It's nothing compared to this life. It’s amazing how people lived through such times.”
“Medieval huh?”
“Yea, that’s what we call this age. But of course, no Magic and all these crazy creatures.”
“I get you. But life isn’t that hard. Life… is life. It’s not good or bad. Even a little pink guy like me can survive. So I’m sure it's not as bad as you make it out to be.”
“You have a point. What can I say? Ugh. Traveling from town to town, no plastered walls, no glass windows, no electric lights. An important question.”
“Hm?”
“Do you still make the Oink Oink sound?”
The carriage suddenly stopped as fire arrows flew at them. Using her command over flame, Bahamut snuffs them out and unsheathes her sword.
“Woah! Zerg!”
“I know!”
The two open the tailgate, while jolting down on a potent health potion Paul’s met with thirty to fifty well armed and armored men in cloak.
“SURRENDER YOUR ITEMS AND WE’LL LET YOU LIVE!”
He quickly unholsters his revolvers and the ambushers return by revealing their bolt action rifles and submachine guns.
“Where did you get these arms? Or are you Outworlders like me?”
“We're all Outworlders. Surrender now! You're surrounded by eighty men in total!”
“Good. I like it when they're all bunched up. Makes it easier for me.”
Without hesitating, he casts Great Speed and Foresight and starts blasting the ambushers. Zergel is taken aback by his violence, not holding back and in the front, Bahamut makes a sigh and she starts slicing through the ambushers on the front. Their guns light them up, rattling the carriage with bullet holes and damaging some of his items. But rather than being angry, he showed confidence and was even smiling as he gunned down the mid leveled players. Making them respawn at a ruined Church, far away from civilization.
The entire ordeal threw snow everywhere and disturbed the peace of the forest. Bahamut who was in front of the carriage was slowly getting back her skills with the sword. Already doing tricks with her swordsmanship. After cutting them down to a third, a man decked out in silver armor and had straps of shotgun ammo around his chest appeared.
“This is why I don’t like ambushing. Sometimes, you’ll meet a low level dipshit without anything or a Level Two Hundred Legend that even wounded, can wipe the floor with a bunch of armed men.”
“I get it, you're the leader of this circus?”
“Yes. I’m only Level One Hundred but this isn’t my first rodeo with your type.”
“I have allies here you know.”
“I know. I have one too.”
Behind him, a huge black wolf appears. It nearly reached his height with how big it is. Paul takes a step back. Seeing its red eyes and knowing that it's not a normal wolf but a Demonic one.
“Zergel, get on the carriage and prepare to go. This might get crazy.”
The little pigman didn’t question his order and ran immediately. Bahamut on the other hand felt the Wolf’s power and her usual straight black hair started turning white and divine aura started coming out of her body.
“Bahamut, you know the drill.”
“Mhm.”
“Let’s see how this’ll fare out with you in human form.”
“I might just use this opportunity to practice and test my skills.”
The Bahamut and the Wolf lunge forward at one another. Her ancient sword was effective against the beast but its speed was faster than she expected while Paul and the Ambush Leader were having a magnificent shoot out. The man in the cloak with what seems to be a shiny Knight armor underneath it knows that he still has experience and skills on the level of his enemy. The two also mutually knew not to use overpowered spells to not gain unwanted attention or disturb a potential enemy out in nowhere. His Franchi SPAS-12 shotgun was quick and the spread of his 00 Buckshots kept preventing the wounded Knight from landing a clear shot and had to constantly dodge and roll.
Inside the forest, Bahamut has used her Ancient Magical Mastery Skill to use the Snow from the top of the trees as immediate cover and distraction. She beautifully waves the snowflakes around her as she throws it at the giant wolf which started burning itself with a dark aura, the same one that appears when Paul is in his Knight armor and is using its Evil powers. The snow wasn’t able to penetrate it as it’d melt before it reached the beast. Her Sword was able to stop its claws but in doing so, it’d put its weight on her, pushing the woman back a few meters.
Wounded but still going strong, he knew that it’d be only a matter of time till the Ambush Leader makes a mistake. But knowing their experience, it’d take a while. Amidst the heat of battle, he teleports his M4A1 assault rifle to him. Even though the carriage was not even a hundred meters away, it instantly drained his Mana. Making his feet collapse, but with the adrenaline running in his veins, he stood back up again and started popping shots at the guy who was behind cover. The cloaked man knows that classic bang, his enemy now is using a better weapon than his. They were only separated by the dirt road and some few trees and his buckshot would do damage, the 5.56 of the M4 was deadly accurate at such a close range.
Paul on the other hand knows that shotguns are still deadly at medium ranges, having played MilSims, Buckshots are not to be played with. More so Slugs that could take apart a Deer at long range. Hoping that his enemy doesn’t have it, noting the red shells on the man's sling and shotgun side saddle, he storms forward. Meeting the barrel of his gun.
The two’s gunfighting was on par, and the enemy leader was more than prepared. Calling in more back up equipped with bolt action rifles with cold war era submachine guns. This made Paul back to the other side of the road. Taking cover and hiding behind a tree as the bullets slowly chip away at it. Wounded and trying not to panic, he tries to use magic. Combining Fire and Water to create steam. This gives him an opening to switch cover to a thicker tree as Mosin Nagants and Uzis fire at him without mercy.
Having so many guns and the leader using a SPAS-12, he isn’t able to even take a peek and or even think of a plan. He was pinned down without mercy. All he could think of was how this’ll be his second death in the new world and Bahamut’s surely outraged and angered reaction if she was to ever see his demise.
“OKAY! OKAY! LET’S CHILL!”
Zergel, who took advantage of the situation, smartly flanked them and was about to approach the enemy leader when he got spotted. Their guns, now facing backwards, made an opening for the Knight General. Sprinting out to quickly put one in their leader. Teleporting in, the Level One Hundred player knows this all too well and kicks him as he appears. Throwing him back where he started while the small pigman proved hard to shoot. Now more desperate than ever, he tries to muster more power to gain just enough to maybe teleport a Fragmentation Grenade.
The enemy player swiftly changes his direction and pops out of the forest and into the dirt road. Now confident of the wounded Legendary player wouldn’t be able to do much against him.
“Pretty impressive how you’ve survived long with a Magic that’s meant to kill Gods. I remember seeing the bigger player groups use ancient magic like that to debuff Global Bosses. Though I guess that’s what it means to be a Legend in Dark World. I heard even the Saint tanked a more powerful spell and walked out like it was nothing.”
“Well, My boss once got hit one too. He survived, I just need to get home and get some high level healers to get this off me, and the Saint? Geez, with her armor alone. The stacking of the Anti Curse Enchants would make it impossible to do anything.”
“Heh, what group did you come from again? Breznick? Bluewater? Libertus?”
“We aren’t that famous.” The Knight General struggles for another exit as the man in cloaked silver knight armor gets even nearer as his lackeys continue firing on Zergel who was still trying to do his best dodging their bullets. “I’m sure you’ve at least heard of our exploits. We’re the same group that went through the Three Mountains, dodging Wyverns and Dragons and sneaking an undead Knight army into a four way war.”
“Oh fuck. The Dark Knights of Eldwood? Hot damn, I never knew I’d see one of your kind here. Yea, I remember that. Surprising you guys even managed to do that without having your asses kicked. You need multiple Legendary players to even kill one Brown Wyvern.”
“Wyverns? Naw. They’re not that hard. Multiple level one hundreds like you can take them out no problem… no its the four legged ones you should watch out for. They can fly with no problem and have bigger herds than four Wyverns.”
“True, but Wyverns are still hard to kill.” The man in cloak then swiftly turns into the tree nearest to him. No one, a little bit annoyed, he continues conversing with Paul. “You should just come out, the pretty woman you’re with might be dead already.”
“Oh believe me, she’s more than capable of standing up for herself.”
“Really? Yea, she seems familiar. What’s her true name?”
“C’mon. She’s one of the most notorious global Bosses next to the Ancient King and the Unknown God. You know, the one that destroyed the Multi Guild owned Valley River Fortress?”
“Bahamut? She’s really Bahamut? Wait, then that means you're from Asia. I remember that event, it was exclusive to the SEA Servers only. How come your using an Avatar that’s basically a Nordic chad?”
“Oh yea, long ago, with the help of Eldwood, I managed to get enough, and what’s wrong if I wanna look like a heroic Knight from a Noble family?”
“Ehhhh… good for you. Having to go around with such scrawny beauty. No wonder I remember her final form. Still gives me chills remembering what she did to us, the entire player community.” The man finally spots Paul, his shiny Oxford shoe reflecting the light and with a big smile, the bandit leader comes closer to him.
“Oh, don’t worry. I still get flashbacks of the Hellish events tied to her. Oh, and also…” the wounded Knight makes a deep sigh and with the loudest scream he could muster “BAHAMUT! REMEMBER WHAT I SAID ABOUT HOLDING BACK?! WELL, FORGET ABOUT IT JUST FOR NOW AND SAVE ME!”