Url and Lau managed to catch up earlier. The young doctor takes a quick look at Lau’s injuries. With a few bandages, some potions, the word “Bless”, and Lau’s wounds get a lot better…
Lau: For a weird bird face, you sure are a good doctor.
Url: I’ll try to take that as a compliment.
Lau: Good lord, Suiga’s not here yet…
Url: We should move out and find him. Without an armament, he’ll be in a lot more trouble if his foe is the same level as ours-
The duo hears screams. Screams of vampires writhing in pain. They trace the source to another hall. Small bursts of light sprout from the corners. A creeping feeling of heat envelops them the more they approach. They make a turn.
Url: Huh, guess we found him?
Suiga butchers running imps and vampires. Either trying to escape or attack the hunter in a last-ditch effort, they’ll either fall to his flaming blade, the fire whirlwinds, or the burning aftermath wounds painfully tearing away at their flesh.
Lau: Is that…his armament?
Url: ...
Some vampires notice the two hunters waiting. They lash at them with haste.
Lau: Let’s go help him!
Url: Lau, no!!
Url pulls Lau away and steps back. The weakened vampires burn away as violent whirlwinds of Suiga’s attack land on them. The vampires die slowly as the wounds burn away their backs.
Url: Do you feel it? The black essence in the fire. Blight.
Lau: He has ONE armament and it is dark flames?! How more edgy and stereotypical can this man get beside the topknot and get up?!
Suiga finishes them off. He notices his teammates. His sword’s cinders are now twice the size of what they were before…
Url: Suiga! It’s us! No slashes over here!
Lau: Wow, topknot. You sure hit the lottery with that thing. How can you stand the stench of a burning corpse, though?
Suiga doesn’t respond.
Url: Uuh, buddy? This isn’t one of those “corrupted sword spirit possesses owner” moments, huh?
Lau: I swear, if he’s a ghost, I’ll stick my rapier up his-
Suiga: We need to move.
The two hunters stumbled. Suiga only said four words, yet the tone, the expression, and the air he pulled out with those words showed the samurai’s killing intent, focused on the pale monsters…
Url: Are you gonna need any healing? You look like a battered rag, pal.
Suiga: No. I’m okay. Don’t worry about me. Let’s find that Ripper bastard.
Url: Alrighty!!
The two hunters avoid chatting more with the samurai. To them, his last fight must have been too much, especially for him to end up pulling out a blight weapon…
Url: (Blight, huh? That must be why he didn’t want to talk about it. Can’t say I’m not intrigued, but I should let that rest for later. We have a bat to kill.)
As they walk, more vampires try to attack them. Lau and Url push forward as their fellow samurai cuts down the vampires. The swordswoman Lau notes Suiga’s change in stance, in style: No longer using the royal techniques he was taught, he simply flails the sword around in brute, slow, and unpredictable chaotic patterns. If a vampire tries to leave, he’ll chase it and chop it until it stays down for good. Url keeps noting his changing personality. While focused and determined as always, a growing anger has engulfed him along with the flames. He screams, he gasps, and he brandishes his foes full of wounds. The smell of charred flesh fills the room…
They stumble upon a large, open doorway. From their side of the door, they notice large sewer waterfalls on the other side of the room.
Url: Well, we haven’t checked this room yet.
Suiga: Let’s go-
Url holds Suiga’s shoulder before he passes through the door…
Url: Suiga, if there’s another Ripper and he’s in there, we might not be ready to face him. We are still pretty weak. We should come up with a plan to -
Suiga: The Ripper is right there, Url! We don’t have time for tactics, let’s move!
Lau: Why are YOU in a rush? You’d be following the doc’s ass right now if it wasn’t for-
Suiga: What?!
Lau keeps her words inside as soon as Suiga firmly grips his sword at the sound of her voice…
Lau: Tss, nothing.
Url: Suiga, we aren’t going to help anyone if we just go and die! If the Ripper is still alive, he’s still toying with us…
Suiga grips his sword. He bites his lip. His gaze starts to turn away…
Url: That’s not the way down your heroic path now, isn’t it?
The hunter starts to ease up. While the flames don’t falter, his attitude does change for the better…
Suiga: Tss, I’m… sorry. You are right. But I have one condition.
Lau: Who are you to pose conditions?
Suiga: If my sword goes rampant, let me go. I’ll take the Ripper with me, I don’t need to have your deaths on my back.
Url...Heheheh...
Suiga: What is it?
Url: That was the most Aaron-like statement I’ve ever heard. He did rub off on you guys, too.
Lau: Like I’d let that brute’s poor man vibes kill my noble status!
She turns to Suiga, pressing her finger down his chest…
Lau: And you! I don’t get what’s the deal with that firecracker you are waving around, but don't take me for some weakling! I’m fighting next to you!!
Suiga brushes her hand away…
Suiga: Don’t call my armament a firecracker, shrimp!
Url: Aaand we are back to normal…Can we think of a strategy now?
Suiga: I have around 5 more minutes on my sword. More than that, it’s going to go rampant and then leave me unconscious.
Lau: I can use my Winds again, and these wounds aren’t going to be a problem…
Url: Huh…Ok, Suiga go on the front, you are the most durable anyway. Lau will guard our backline. I’ll cover you both. If we see the Ripper, we don’t engage immediately. He might have set a trap, and we can’t waste any more energy.
Suiga: Times like these make me wonder where Aaron is.
Lau: Like we need the brute! Where’s that shitty attitude from before, fangirl?
Suiga: Waiting to end this thing so it can drop you down the sewer waste, Lecourt!!
Url: You are right Suiga, time’s up, let’s move!!!
They cross the doorway. Before them lies a somber, spacious throne room. Behind the only seat in the room, a stone fence separates the floor from the precipice, where the waste waterfalls find ground and rush as a river outside the sewer. The throne looks over a small balcony, full of tables and weapons. As the hunters walk cautiously, the leader of the cult calls out to them as he munches on an apple.
Jack: You can stop with the “hunter protocol” shit, I’m right here!!
Surprised, the group turns up and notices the vampire spreading his wings and flying over to his seat. He calmly sits down, legs crossed, head rested on his fist.
Suiga: Was that entrance a smart move??
Jack: Well of course it was! Like I’d need to backstab you guys to take you out.
Suiga: Well, you are about to find out why you should have done that instead-
Lau: Topknot, hold it!!
Suiga halts at Lau’s plead. Url stays silent. He stares the bat up and down. Inside his mask, his kind face seems confused… with a pinch of distress…
Jack: So, you took out my lads. I saw it coming, but I thought you’d be here more quickly.
Suiga: So, are you the real Ripper, or do I have to kill every vampire in Landen to get him?!
Lau: Let’s hope it’s you, this arc has dragged on long enough.
The vampire finishes his apple. Once he swallows the last piece, he starts laughing…
Suiga: Hell’s so funny?
Jack: If you want an answer to that question, you better ask your doctor over there. He seems to be figuring it out!
Url: No…but why…
Lau: What’s the doc got to do with you?!
Url: This can’t be…You…You are not the Ripper.
The other two stay confused. The answering machine they depend on for everything is jammed. Url starts trembling…
Url: Danno…That vampire Aaron was talking about…
Danno: Took ya long enough! And you are supposed to be the smartass in your team.
Suiga: Url, what is he talking about?! Don’t fall for any of his tricks!
Url: I thought you died… I thought Aaron killed all of you…
Danno: We thought so too. Death would be better though. Seeing that fuck’s mug more than one day was torture enough.
Danno stands up. He slowly approaches the group, rolling up his sleeves to reveal his veiny forearms.
Danno: But the Ripper saved me. He broke me out. He gave me my cult. He promised me that if I help him with his little plan, I’ll get to kill Aaron…
Suiga: Soo…You are behind all of this…just because you want Aaron?!
Danno: Oh, so you haven’t told them about me and Aaron, huh? Well, guess it’s time before you decide to make any move…
Danno takes off his upper clothes. On his pale white body, scars and body marks cover him whole….
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Danno: You see, I knew your friend when we were still brats. He made my life miserable. He would torture and torture me every day of the week, for hours on end. Me and my pals tried to escape, we tried to fight back. But guess what happened once Aaron got the upper hand?
Url: You really are going to make Aaron a villain in your story? You were the ones torturing him!!
Danno: Shut up!! That asshole could have just let us be, but he had to play the guard on us to make his drunkard dad proud!
Lau: I have no idea what you are talking about, but the brute wouldn’t torture bats without a good reason.
Lau takes out her rapier, and casts her Winds of Pirou…
Lau: I’m sure you did something to deserve it, other than just talking and being there.
Danno puts his clothes back on…
Danno: Go on, try to protect the bastard. But I won’t kill you. You need to see Aaron dead before you go!
Suiga’s grip on the black katana hardens, and his cinders start expanding…
Suiga: I don’t care about your sob story, bat! You aren’t touching Aaron because you won’t even go through us!!
Url takes out his saw cleavers…
Url: I’ll agree with my friends here, Danno. You wanting revenge doesn’t mean shit to us.
Danno lips start forming a most creepy smile, and his eyes clench in satisfaction while he is staring at his enemies…
Danno: Well…we’ll see about that…
To our other group, Aaron and Cassandra are coursing through the old sewer catacombs, desperate to find the lair and save their comrades. Faint sounds of footsteps are heard from the other side of a corridor, startling the nightingale…
Cassie: Bossman! Hold up!!
She rushes ahead of the hunter and conjures three arrows. She rests them on the bowstring and tightly pulls, ready to shoot.
Cassie: They might be assailants aware of our arrival. I’ll shower them with arrows, you jump ahead and slay them once I shoot!
The hunters prepare for combat. To their surprise, however, the group of hostages appears, hasting towards the exit. Cassie draws her arrows.
Cassie: HALT, dependents!!! None shall pass!!!
Aaron: Wait wait, don’t shoot!!
The hostages hurdle up behind one man, who’s trying to cover them and explain the situation to the hunters.
Hostage: Please, don’t shoot!! We are human, we were hostages for the Ripper’s plans. One of your comrades let us out, a short girl with a rapier?
Aaron: Lau!? Is she ok?!
Hostage: The vampire gave her a hard time, but she managed. She let us out after she killed him and stayed in the lair. She told us to follow these white bandage strips to find the exit…
The man shows Aaron his doctor’s bandage strips. Aaron recognises Url’s tools at first glance…
Aaron: That’s Url’s, alright. He always thinks ahead. Is the lair close to here?
Hostage: Yes, two turns to the left, you’ll find a painted door with slang written in blood. In there, it’s another labyrinth, but the hunters have taken out almost every bat.
Cassie: Have they encountered the Ripper?
Hostage: No. He tricked them and sent three of his trusted guards to pose as him, so the hunters would have to kill them all to make sure he was not alive to start the ritual.
Aaron: Sounds like him. Wait… won’t he need you guys to start it? And you don’t seem that many to kickstart it, to begin with.
Hostage: We are not the only ones. This is not the only ritual site. He has set up a ritual site inside Salazar. He will send a signal to the vampires there when he wants to start.
Cassie: Aaron, the place is full of guards. They will end up as sacrifices for the spell!
Aaron rests confused… Everyone stares at him with curiosity…
Hostage: Sir Hunter. Are you alright?
Aaron: How did he manage to break in again…None of the guards have been bitten, and none of the vampires have seen anyone from outside…
Cassie: That does not matter to us now! Your comrades are in grave danger, they won’t have the strength to take him on!!
Aaron: You are right, let’s go!
Cassie: But first!!! How do we know you aren’t some elaborate trap to stall us?
Hostage: Ma’am, we are not vampires, we don’t even have the teeth to show!
Aaron: Wait, let me handle this…
Aaron grabs Cassandra’s knife from her pocket before she even reacts. He lifts his forearm and cuts it, letting blood drip on the floor.
Aaron: If the Ripper was holding them, I’m sure he wouldn’t be feeding them well. Is anyone up for grabs?
The hostages do not react, only slightly gasping at the hunter’s approach…
Aaron: Did that solve your suspicion?
Cassie: Hm, yes.
Cassie casts away her arms…
Aaron: Before you guys leave, does anyone live close to the VHC?
Some people raise their hands…
Aaron: Well, go there immediately, and give them a status report. If this holds up, Salazar won’t be able to take the hit this time.
Hostage: Before we go, this might not be important, but it might help you. As I was suffering from blood loss, I once faintly heard the Ripper shout a name across the room. Like he wanted to hurt this person with everything he had…
Cassie: Huh? A vendetta? Seems too excessive to raise a whole city for that.
Aaron: What was the name?
Hostage: I was fainting, but the Ripper’s voice was unlike anything I’ve ever heard coming out from his fouled mouth. Trembling, angry, and full of the intent to kill… he was shouting “Willheart, I’ll tear you apart!!”
Aaron’s irises shorten in size at the sound of his surname. He detaches for a short moment before relapsing to reality…
Hostage: It made my bones shiver, and this is a monster that tortured us for weeks on end. I’m afraid this might be some vendetta against Willheart.
Cassie: Is he talking about Florence Willheart? She was one hell of a hunter, but she is long gone from this world! What would the Ripper want with a dead woman?
Aaron: I…don’t know…But we’ll find out once we see him. I’ll make sure he spills everything before I take the fucker’s head.
Aaron tries to hide his distress from the crowd. Only Cassandra manages to sniff a hint of the boy’s confusion before he completely changes his expression.
Hostage: Hunters, please. This man is as nut as the tales would tell. He’ll do anything to this city without any reason at all. Our lives are at stake here! We know we can’t do anything, so please, help us!!
Aaron: Stop your crying, man. That’s why we are here, isn’t it?
Cassie: The nightingale will never turn her back to the pleas of the victim!
The 4 kids along with the hostages smile from joy. Their cracked lips open as they look up at the black-dressed saviors with awe.
Hostages: We wish you the best of luck! We’ll leave you to handle this!!
The hostages haste towards the exit. Aaron and Cassie now follow the bandage strips up to the gate. They cross the doorway and pass through the blood-stained halls. They startle at the charred slashes and burn victims from Suiga’s blighted sword, but the time frame is too short to investigate. They neglect the scene, leaving only with a sentiment of confusion and anxiety as to what the group’s fate is. Cassie stares at her anguished teammate as they run…
Cassie: Bossman…Bossman…Bossman!!
Aaron:…Hah? Why the hell are ya callin’ me bossman?!
Cassie: You have clearly taken charge during this mission, so it’s only logical I address you as such. The nightingale is nothing but humble, she recognizes the skill and potential of leadership when one possesses them, and she shan’t pointlessly fi-
Aaron: Like hell I’m your bossman!!
Cassie: But only a bossman would be that pointlessly anxious for his teammates.
Aaron: What are you talking about?!
Cassie: Your stress will tamper with your performance, bossman. You must have trust in your comrades. I’m sure they’ll be fine. We are at their rescue.
Aaron: Heh, you’re really looking at the bright side, huh?
Cassie: The huntress of Landen doesn’t worry about a thing. It’s not like there’s something to worry about. It’s just another bat.
Aaron slowly detaches again. Something seems to bother him. A rising suspicion about the Ripper’s identity, about the vampire they’re about to encounter, bugs his mind at the smallest mention.
Cassie: Bossman!!
Aaron: I’m here, I’m here!!
They stumble across the throne’s room doorway. The sounds of clashing blades, struggling grunts, and a maniacal, coughing laugh are heard from the other side. Aaron and Cassie enter quickly. They stumble upon a most unpleasant scene.
Danno: Wow, my guys really did a number on you, huh?
The team is beat. Lau and Url struggle to get off the ground. Bruised and tattered, they can only stare as Suiga desperately tries to land a hit on the vampire as fast as possible, before he hits the time limit on his sword. The vampire, taking advantage of the hunter’s fatigued, weak state and the difficulty of controlling the rampant flames, easily runs circles around him, giving him a slow and painful beatdown before ending it with a punch in the guts. As Suiga squirms and the sword dissipates along with the flames, Danno approaches his ear…
Danno: That blade won’t save you this time…
He throws Suiga forward. Not having noticed the new arrivals, he approaches the samurai, who desperately tries to stand up. He clenches his fist as hard as possible and attempts to strike him.
Danno: Let’s start making Aaron’s surprise gift!! I’ll start with his sidekick!!
Mustering all his strength, he drops his fist. But it never lands. Aaron’s hand grips the vampire’s fist. Danno doesn’t startle. He knows whose hand is stopping him from killing the samurai. Suiga, on the other hand, stares next to him. He watches in shock as his comrade is effortlessly holding back a vampire’s hand, a feat even hunters can’t achieve.
Cassie: Is Bossman…holding that bat’s hand by himself?
Lau and Url barely manage to stand up, still encumbered by the vampire’s beat-up. Their wounds from the last fights have relapsed, but they are strong enough to witness Aaron’s retaliation…
Lau: Is he really that of a brute?...Doc you have a lot of explaining to do…
Url gazes at the duo, desperately trying to hold up…
Url: Aaron…That’s Dan-
Aaron: Yeah, I noticed.
Suiga sees an opportunity, and calls out his sword once again, attempting a surprise attack with his last seconds on the time frame. Danno quickly pulls his hand away and escapes by floating backward with his wings. Suiga tries to follow, but the blade starts to erupt, engulfing his arm in painful flames. He tries to work through the pain, but the sword starts running out of control.
Aaron: Suiga…
Suiga: Everyone, run!! I’ll take him down with me!!
Danno: The sidekick got some left in him, after all, huh!?
Aaron rushes and hits Suiga in the nape with a chop. The force is strong enough to knock him out and disable the armament. The flames and the sword disappear once again. Aaron picks up Suiga and rests him on his shoulder.
Aaron: I said no suicides on my watch, dumbass. Rest up, you’re doing too good.
Danno rests immobile, smiling at his foe’s arrival. He joyfully looks as the hunter delivers his teammate to Url.
Aaron: Cassie. Take the rest of these dumbasses and drive them out. Go help VHC, we don’t know if Danno has started the assault.
Cassie: Bossman, you are clearly out of your mind if you think I’d let you alone with that vampire!
Url: Listen to him…(Cough) He’ll be more than fine…
Blood droplets come out of Url’s broken mask as he coughs throughout the sentence. He and Lau pop some last rejuvenating potions to barely struggle through the run back outside.
Lau: I don’t know why the crazy lady calls you bossman, but she’s right. We might be weakened from before, but that guy’s trouble. Look, he barely cares if we are talking right now.
Aaron: Url’s potions won’t fully heal you. You’ll be back on the ground before you know it. And Suiga’s out for the count. I’m much better alone, right now.
Lau: Who do you think you are, you-
Aaron raises his hand in front of Lau’s head. A stone comes in his way, hitting his wrist. Lau stays shocked…
Lau: When was that-
Aaron: The Lau I know would have already blocked it if you were not with one foot on the grave right now.
Danno: Sorry, I was just worried you’d have forgotten about me!!
Aaron stays stone-cold throughout the verbal exchange. The team gets the feeling that the hunter should probably take this on by himself…
Url: Aaron, me, and Lau can carry Suiga out by ourselves. Let the huntress help you…Danno’s a lot stronger than you think…
Aaron: I want to say yes…
He turns his cold gaze towards the sarcastic vampire…
Aaron: But I don’t want to make him think I’ll need help killing him. I’ll be fine, Cassie might be pissed though.
Cassie: Your recklessness brings the nightingale an ambivalent sentiment of admiration and annoyance. As agreed, though, I shall escort your comrades away from this place and complete the “rescue” part of this adventure.
She taps on Aaron’s chest with her fist and smiles…
Cassie: You better make sure you complete the “kill” part of this mission, bossman.
Aaron: You might be a weirdo, but stuff like this makes me fired up.
Lau: I’ll step back and keep watch over these guys, brute. You better not make me regret this decision!!
Aaron: Zip it shrimp. I’ll be back to throw you in a trashcan in no time.
Url: Be cautious.
He hands a needle to Aaron, filled with a greenish fluid…
Url: I snatched material from VHC and made this while you were fighting Wutsworth. Please don’t overdo it like last time (Loud cough).
Aaron: Yeah, don’t worry. Just go!!
The team leaves. The room stays quiet. One hunter and one vampire. Aaron slowly walks forward. Danno trembles from excitement at the sight of his foe.
Danno: 5 years. 5 years I’ve waited for this, Willheart.
Aaron: …
Danno: You know, I almost forgot about you when that samurai started fighting. Too bad my servant had his fill before me. But, now I’m ready for the main event.
Danno slowly approaches. The two stand at 10 meters distance from each other.
Aaron: Before I start pummelling you through the floor, how about you tell me why you are posing as a serial killer?
Danno: You’d like that, wouldn’t you. The Ripper’s left, he’s the one who’s gonna order the ritual. You are stuck with me now.
Aaron: I sure am not the luckiest of bastards…
Danno’s smile twitches, creepily staring down the hunter. As if a kid was looking at the gift he desperately cried for to his parents for days on end.
Danno: I can’t believe this day has arrived. I finally get payback, Willheart!! For Salazar’s juvenile detention center, and every poor vampire you tortured!!