The party, undeterred by the ominous aura, stood before the towering antique double doors leading to the great hall where the dungeon boss awaited. Ethereal smoke curled beneath the doors, enveloping the adventurers as if extending a spectral invitation. "Is everyone ready?" Bradford's voice cut through the tense air, a reminder of the strategy and attack patterns they had devised for the impending confrontation. He pushed the doors open, revealing a figure seated upon a formidable throne, concealed in the shadows. The true vampire acknowledged their arrival with a sinister welcome, rising from his seat and stepping into the dim light.
The vampire's visage bore an almost human-like appearance, except for the unmistakable fangs and piercing red irises that betrayed his true nature. His aura exuded an overwhelming sense of superiority, as if all others were mere insects beneath his contemptuous gaze.
The true vampire possessed meticulously combed black hair that framed his face, and his attire echoed a dark Victorian elegance. Clad in formal wear, a blend of black and red, his cape billowed theatrically in the still air, mirroring an illustration straight from the pages of one of the books that Bones had avidly read and vividly envisioned.
The system prompt announcing the quest to slay the dungeon boss, Mordred the Dreadful, appeared before Bones, prompting an involuntary snort that disrupted the building tension just before the fight. Bradford, unable to contain his amusement, chuckled and declared, "Let’s take this guy down a notch," as he swiftly moved forward to confront the vampire head-on.
The clash was a symphony of steel and magic, a chaotic dance in the dimly lit great hall. Mordred, the Dreadful, showcased unearthly speed and finesse, his movements leaving afterimages that tested the party's reflexes. Bradford parried the vampire's strikes with his enchanted blade, their every clash echoing through the hall. Edward, the battlemage, hurled bolts of arcane energy, trying to anticipate Mordred's elusive maneuvers while Cal, the earth mage, fortified the party with protective spells, creating barriers against the vampire's assaults. Katrina, the Shadow Dancer, gracefully weaved through the chaos, her every strike a deadly dance and Bones, utilizing his bone-related spells and summoned golems, distracted and harassed the vampire.
The air crackled with magical energy as spells collided, and the scent of blood hung thick. The vampire's red irises gleamed with malevolence, a stark contrast to the determined gaze of the party. Mordred, with an ethereal grace, dodged attacks and retaliated with venomous strikes.
In the ebb and flow of the intense battle, Mordred's mastery of blood magic emerged as a formidable challenge. The eerie dance of crimson energy unfolded in the great hall, as the vampire lord wielded devastating area-of-effect attacks. Blood Lance, a sinister counterpart to Bones' Bone Lance, pierced through the air, threatening the party's defense.
The encounter took a dark turn as Mordred unleashed Exsanguinate, a skill that exploited the very lifeblood of the party members. Small wounds escalated into critical injuries, the insidious draining of vitality leaving them weakened and vulnerable. The vampire reveled in the chaos, his form pulsating with stolen life force.
The party found themselves locked in a desperate race against time. Every passing moment saw Mordred's strength renewed, making their task increasingly arduous. Despite their injuries, they fought valiantly, determined to overcome the relentless assault of blood magic.
Mordred, adapting to their strategies, became an elusive wraith, dissolving into a crimson mist to evade their strikes. The party, on the brink of exhaustion, faced the peril of the battle taking a fatal turn. It was in these dire moments that Katrina, the Shadow Dancer, emerged as the saving grace.
From the concealment of the shadows, she struck with precision, delivering critical blows that disrupted Mordred's ethereal form. Her calculated strikes, coupled with the coordination of the party, proved to be the turning point. As the vampire lord staggered, weakened and vulnerable, the party seized the opportunity to deliver the final, decisive blows.
The great hall resonated with the clash of steel, the sizzling of arcane energy, and the triumphant roars of victory. Mordred, vanquished and dissolving into mist, left the party standing amidst the aftermath of their hard-fought triumph. The dungeon run, fraught with peril and blood-soaked challenges, had come to an end!
Bones, still catching his breath, couldn't hide his surprise at the intensity of the vampire encounter. Edward, sprawled on the ground from exhaustion, clarified the situation, revealing that the dungeon boss, Mordred, had been artificially empowered by the system to present a greater challenge. Edward elucidated that some of the boss's skills were typically wielded by third-tier vampires, and his overall health and physical prowess equaled that of a level sixty vampire. Relief washed over Bones as he processed this information. The prospect of facing vampires of such strength outside the dungeon was daunting.
Amidst the post-battle conversation, Bradford and Cal carefully approached the spot where Mordred met his demise, surrounded by a pile of loot. The vampire boss's defeated form yielded valuable treasures—a mysterious amulet adorned with a rune stone akin to Bradford's ring, a menacing Crimson Fang dagger, and various materials like vampire blood and fangs, sought after in diverse professions.
With meticulous care, Bradford gathered the loot, intending to distribute it among the party later. Turning to Bones, he initiated the settlement of the agreed-upon fee, expressing gratitude for Bones' versatile contributions. The party leader insisted on providing a bonus almost double the initially promised amount, acknowledging Bones not only as a resilient member enduring traps but also as a skilled mage with significant potential. Unable to refuse, Bones accepted the offered mana stones with a grateful nod.
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After collecting the loot and settling the fees, Bradford proposed a celebratory drink in the tavern, a proposition met with unanimous agreement despite their exhaustion. The portal shimmered to life, and one by one, the party members vanished behind the portal's colorful veil, leaving only Bones and Bradford.
As Bones stood amidst the remnants of the vampire-infested castle, Bradford, the last one remaining, inquired, "Are you coming, or do you wish to stay and go on a tour of the castle?"
"I think I've had enough of castles for the time being," Bones quipped and followed the party leader through the portal, leaving the haunting halls behind for the celebration in the tavern.
After passing through the portal, Bones found himself on an unfamiliar platform in an unknown part of the town. Before him, his now former party members chatted and cheered, their mood dramatically lifting. It was as if the exhaustion from clearing the dungeon had simply washed away. System notifications flashed in front of Bones, and as he opened the screen, a congratulatory message for clearing the dungeon appeared, followed by the announcement of his new title.
The system informed Bones that he wasn't eligible for the completion reward since he only cleared the fourth stage. However, he did receive an extra reward for defeating the dungeon boss – more mana stones, of higher quality. Bones gained a level in the class he anticipated, directing his attention back to the title: "Vampire Hunter (rank 1)." This title enhanced damage dealt and experience gained against vampires by a small amount. The rank beside the title indicated its upgradeable nature, and Bones looked forward to advancing its rank.
In the periphery of his vision, Bones spotted a familiar figure waiting for him. He turned to Bradford, excusing himself for not joining them for the celebratory drink, citing other business to attend to. Bradford nodded, noticing Greg waiting for Bones. He wished Bones good luck in future endeavors and extended an invitation – if Bones ever wanted to join them on another raid, he could contact him through the Goldenforge guild. Saying his farewells to the other party members, Bones headed toward Greg but halted in front of him, wearing an unfriendly expression.
“You’re…not Greg.” Without certainty on why he said that, Bones’ instincts insisted the figure before him wasn't the undead he encountered in the dungeon. The mysterious aura emanating from the figure heightened his suspicion.
“You surprise me again, Mr. Jones. Just how many more surprises do you have awaiting me?” The figure praised, leaving Bones in silence, waiting for a proper response.
“You’re right, Greg is…indisposed right now.” The figure replied cryptically, its manner of speech distinct from Greg’s. Bones noted the subtle differences.
“I’ll ask you again, who are you? If you don't answer me, I’m leaving.” Bones declared, turning to leave. However, the figure urged him to wait and suggested they move to a more private location for a discussion.
“A coffee? Or perhaps a mana potion would be more to your liking right now.”
Scrutinizing not-Greg, Bones preferred answers before drinks, though coffee could suffice.
As they strolled, Bones picked a spot to sit and order. “So what do I call you? Not-Greg?” Bones probed, fishing for a name to give to this enigmatic stranger before him.
“Greg is fine,” the figure replied, expressing gratitude to the waiter for delivering the ordered mana potion. Bones observed as Greg poured the elixir into a liquor glass, using his pinky to swirl it.
“So, does Greg have multiple personalities, and you’re just one of them? What happened to Greg? The real Greg?”
“Different personalities?” Greg found the presumption intriguing. “Interesting notion, but no. Greg is a bit unstable right now. The mana potions he’s been consuming regularly have started losing their effectiveness. I've taken over to stabilize him. As for who I am? That’s not important right now. What’s crucial is where I’m from!” Greg paused, leaving Bones puzzled, and before Bones could respond, he continued. “I’m from the Nether Realm, as is Greg. He was sent here to spy, gather information on current events, but his time here seems to be running short. You see..”
“ Wait, wait, you’re from the Nether Realm? Greg too?” Bones interjected, noticing this version of Greg had no intention of stopping to let him process the information.
“Well yes, you see, when Greg went through the portal linking the Nether Realm to this side, he was very unstable. Unforeseen events unfolded, people died, and I had to intervene, take control of him.”
Determined to finish the story before entertaining questions, Greg continued, and Bones listened attentively.
“To subdue his 'undead urges,' I fed him mana potions until he stabilized. That’s why he has to drink them regularly, or he will lose himself again. Not that it’ll matter, as the potions will soon be ineffective. Quite a shame, really…”
“Is it alright for me to talk now?” Bones asked, drawing a blank look. “That was a lot to process. Why doesn’t he just go back?”
“Back? No, I still have a use for him here. He is one in a thousand, tens of thousands. You, on the other hand, you’re one of a kind, aren’t you?” Greg said, sparking uncertainty in Bones about the direction of the conversation.
“What makes you say that?” Bones wondered.
“You remember right? You remember everything!” Greg exclaimed.
Bones' confusion passed as he remembered telling Greg he remembers everything about himself. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“It has to do with everything! If you really want to know why, if you want answers to the questions you can’t find here, come meet me in the Nether Realm.”
Bones remained silent, speechless. Greg continued while finishing off the last of the magic elixir. “I’ll tell you everything you need to know. About the world, about the system, about yourself! What it means to be undead and the things that can’t be spoken.”
“What do you-”
“I’ve already said enough.” Greg briskly replied. His message was clear.
“Alright, and what’s the catch?” Bones asked, the invitation too sudden and too convenient to be true.
“There is none. It is entirely up to you if you want to come or not. My only wish is to meet you, face to face, and have a proper discussion. Everything can be explained then and there. I have much to tell you and show you!”
Bones would be lying if he said he wasn’t tempted the moment he heard the words “Nether Realm.” However, he realized it was becoming a habit to get sidetracked on adventures unrelated to his primary goal. On more than a few occasions, he expressed having questions but no one to answer them. Now, the opportunity arose to have those questions answered.
“I suppose I'll head to the Nether Realm then.”