Both Lightning Dragons fades from existence very quickly, one after the other. The two Vampires within my Spell are like two polar opposites; where one is a well chiseled male who wields a dexterously demanding weapon, his hair is cut short and his clothes simple The other is a wielder of pure brute force, a loli girl wearing one gothic frilly dress whose preferred weapon is a massive axe. At the yell, I cannot help ask. "What's happening?"
The caves are silent bar the thuds of two bodies hitting the ground. Limp weakly breathing bodies. Maria dramatically whispers, "Vlacul! Tana!"
Whispers exploded amid the non-combatants behind us—I had previously learnt their language through Infused Impart Language—to summarize; those two people are the exact two leaders who went MIA. Vlacul Volkov who was in charge of screening entries. And Mistress Tana, AKA. Anastasia Bortsova who managed combatant deployments. This alone explains why their missions are borderline suicidal with about 50% chance of failure; half return and the other half gets converted. And why there are so many spies within their midst… Wonder if there are spies within Rumah's population.
"Please release the cube." Babushka commanded firmly. These people need to loosen up a little in the emotions department, I get they were your allies, but are spies allies in the first place?
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" I ask her, turning to look at Edmon. He's a guy, I would assume he is less emotional, more logical.
He pursed his lower lips and shrugs. "What she said, please."
"There are still about 3 minutes left of the Cube, I can help solve them once and for all. Okay?" I offer Edmon.
"No!" Maria answered instead, "release them!"
I shrug and do as asked. Polina quickly steps forth to stand before her two injured co-workers and us. "Aww, you almost got them, Babushka!"
"Don't you dare say those words to me, child." Maria replies passive aggressively.
"Or what, dear Babushka?" Behind Polina the two injured painstakingly took out several vials of some red-ish obvious liquid and began chugging. Visible to the naked eye, they started recovering… Very fast! To make matters worse, two giant bats came from the deeper tunnels and landed on their side of the area. Polina grins.
"Halene? Grigory?" Maria said unsure and shivering from head to toe when the two revealed themself to be another pair of non-Humans. Edmon cursed a storm. Oh, how I hate complicated situations like these.
"Sir Zane, do you think you can imprison them in another cube?" Garald wiggled closer to me sporting very badly concealed tiptoes. Making cutting motions to his neck.
I casually nod as an answer, replying softly. "They're close enough together, but your grandmother would clearly disagree with that last part."
"She's old, and very sentimental." He said as if that settled the matter. I cannot help but notice Edmon throwing glances at us, and gestured for him to come closer.
"What's up?" He asks whispery.
---
"That is why you and everyone else should join us, Babushka." Polina argues, "we can be one whole family again. Forever!"
"Forever is a long time to be alive," Maria replies, she is wise enough in that regard. Just slightly blinded by her familial love. "But that does sound very nice, dear."
Slightly might be an understatement here; it is one thing to embrace Vampirism because one wants eternal life and power, but another to accept it just because your dead and undeaded biological granddaughter is asking you to. Maria is currently among her biological families. Besides Garald who is present here; magic knight grandson, healer granddaughter—both of which I cannot remember the name of, but can remember had crushed to tears previously in some combat situation—and Polina, apparently.
"Forever with you sounds great Babushka," the granddaughter mumbled, her brother is part nodding along, part trying to look cool by maintaining an I don't care look on his face. I wonder if they'll change, are these converted still themselves or completely different people?
"Surely we can give the people a choice," Maria suggests. Something about letting the ones who choose to remain Humans, remain while those who wish to leave or convert may do so. Argued in turn by Polina that it is much better to be converted, bla bla bla.
"Babushka, that's enough!" Garald intercepts. Him, Edmon and I approaches to interrupt their melancholic reunion. "These people are no longer human beings. Rather, as they refuse any form of alternative sustenance, we're food to them!"
"Not if you join us." Tana says.
"Why are they so quiet?" Garald points at the newly converted husband and wife former hero.
"They're still adapting to the cha—improvements, and that takes time. Nothing good is instantaneous." She answers with a cheeky smile, which slowly ends up facing my direction. "Are you interested, you'll be even stronger as one of us."
"Nah, you don't know me well enough to be sure about that." I reply with a similar grin, and then, with a serious face I address Babushka Maria. "That aside, this is taking too long. Do you guys still need my help or not?"
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
"I have business to settle with you." Vlacul says menacingly, I give him a thumbs up.
"Please, no more fighting." Maria begs.
—
Skill level up, Unarmed Combat Proficiency 51 > 52
Skill level up, All-Weapons Proficiency 50 > 51
Skill level up, Artificial Infusion 24 > 27
Skill level up, Parallel Thought 4 > 5
Skill level up, Intimidate 55 > 58
Skill level up, Mana Manipulation 58 > 60
Skill level up, Teach 19 > 21
Level 20 threshold breached
Skill level up, Mental Resistance 7 > 10
Spell mastery rank up, Tetracubastionism Early > Basic
The discussion was pretty intense, but eventually, everyone agrees that those who wish to leave may migrate to Rumah while those who wish to stay are free to do so. I spent the 2 days keeping watch on our guests, fabricating Mana cores; gaining one Core-6500, one Core-7650 and 319 Core-150s. As well as practice casting Siege Spells. It is now early morning on the second day since we arrived near my Mana Tower. I had given them adequate time, several hours past the time needed for my LeyLink Gate to finish cooldown, for everyone to decide what they wish to do with their lives. Oh, I also gave Henry an update via VICOS.
So, I'd forgotten; apparently Artificial Infusion had broken past its threshold. It leveled up as usual when I experimented by trying to Infuse Siege Spells into one large object; the attempt did not bear fruit, yet, besides one. But I have a hunch that there is potential. The combat Skills making progress after a combat situation is to be expected, while Teach finally broke through its Threshold when I blend energy; in this case Mana or Ki into my voice. This in turn allows the knowledge to be more directly applied onto the minds of our target. Both Intimidate and Mental Resistance are now improved through interactions with the Vampire, Polina mostly. Besides her the rest seem to be Intimidated or exasperated of my presence. Also, their voices would automatically apply minor subtle influence on Human minds. Lastly, I have 6 Thoughts in Parallel now.
Oh, as for Tetracubastionism. The Spell was made to trap, so I figured needing to cast the Spell exactly on the enemy, when the enemy comes is slightly contradictory to the functions of a trap. Experiments, and with a bit of a cheat in how my mana is so accommodating to my wills. It is now possible to deploy the Cube in advance in its dormant state where it stays invisible and energy efficient; at 60x the original rate of decay—or to put it simply; 300 seconds becomes 300 minutes. When I have time, that feature is getting modded to consume ambient mana instead!
I Blink down from my Tower's roof the moment I feel everyone has assembled. Edmon is addressing the crowd, Garald standing beside him. "The day has come for us, for you, to choose! The choice is for you and yours alone to make, uninfluenced by either me or Babushka Maria. And…"
I tuned out and observe the other group; they are camped around the exit, at the narrower areas of our only way in or out. Unless another exit is made. Soon, over 100 survivors are divided into 2 groups, one near my Tower while the rest are near the other camp; Edmon, Garald and about 70 percent of the survivor's population are returning to Rumah with me. I wait by the Gate as people are organized. "Alright, line up in three lines before the Gate, once everyone is in place, it will be activated. Please quickly pass, but no need to panic and stay in line."
"We're ready, please proceed Zane." Garald tells me—we are familiar enough that he now calls me without honorifics—as I hover above the line before my Gate, replying with an okay, our evacuation commences. There will be people to receive them on the other side… Blink.
"There you are," I come out after Sensing Vlacul approaching together with the girl who I had heard, likes to be called Mistress Tana. "Be sure to wash your neck, I'll be back for it one day."
Tana made a show of giggling at his threat. Garald comes out from his place near the Gate while Edmon was already positioned out here, both come to stand beside me. I ask the still giggling girl, "does he speak for the both of you?"
She nods as Polina and Maria come to check out the situation. Honestly, I find the Vampire Lord granddaughter barely different from Humans. 2 days of being in such close proximity and with Babushka Maria to bridge the gap; we had been conversing quite a bit. Vampires of her caliber do not need to consume blood, as they are perfectly fine with consuming various sources of mana. Blood, for them, are merely means to empower or improve themselves; like experience is to us, not to mention they are not limited to only Human blood. Therefore, one for sustenance, the other for improvement; it's a barely noticeable but significant difference. One needs to consume Human blood to survive, the other chooses—or can choose not to—consume Human blood to improve... Yet nonetheless, she has partaken.
I shrug, "thank you for the warning."
They could have just left and suddenly come unannounced, who in the world is stupid enough to tell their enemies about their plans to come kill them. I release a newly cast Tetracubastionism; they even gave me the time to cast this by staying to talk. Both are now confined within a one meter transparent Cube that glints with the color of the rainbow. Two Minds One, the hardest part of this Spell; which is that both casters need to be in sync becomes the easiest part with Parallel Thought. All that's left is to select two viable Spells and combine them. I managed to discover a few so far; one of which is Wind Arrow and Twin Helical Yin Yang Grenade.
Every few seconds, two pairs of helical arrows—On every pair, one arrow is flaming hot while the other sparks with lighting—are released into the Cube. Each pair drills through one of the two Vampires found inside, whilst exploding with scorching currents within their bodies, before what small unexhausted part of the spell comes out their other side. Only to hit the wall and be bounced back in all its previous glory.
"You coward!" Polina criticizes my sneak attack.
"Remember, if you go inside, it is impossible to leave." I reply calmly, funny that she's insistent about fairness now, when she preciously terrorized Humans and destroyed their homes.
"NO STOP!" Maria yells, a little slow with the uptake. Unfortunately, unlike Garald and Edmon previously, I did not stop until both are mere corpses. "Zane! I considered you and the both of them my grandchildrens. How could you kill your own siblings!?"
"Let it go Babushka." Polina says, trying to convince her to leave.
"No."
"Yes, you should let it go. First of all, they threatened to kill me, you think that's some kinda sick joke? Two. You said it yourself; you consider us siblings, just you. Have you ever stopped to think about my opinion on the matter? Or theirs even?" I point at the ashen remains. "Besides, if things continue as it currently does, you might have a drastically different view of things very soon."
"Never!" Polina suddenly exclaimed while Maria was struck speechless. "I'll do everything in my power to preserve her original personality and soul."
I ignored her. Garald and Edmon have an ugly look on their faces, but at my glance, promptly become the last two to silently pass through the LeyLink Gate. Both had probably accepted the fact that anyone who stayed; their Babushka and friend, will be no more, or at the very least. Be only there in body but with a different mind... I deactivated the Gate, resold the Tower to The System Store for half its original price, and proceeded to fly away without another word.