I swear I'm not the kind of girl who skips to second base on the first date! It's just my Magick; it's totally messed up for some reason. My Fitness also feels stronger than I used to. Either way, no time to dwell on it. I can check my Condition Rune later. Now, to deal with this embarrassing mishap…
Deadly Silent Footwork releases from the chain, and I headbutt the Slick Glass guy. Thing is, he's a Familiar, only slightly stronger than a regular person. For some unexplainable reason, I recall the last time Frank tried to enrich the pub with Mexican culture and used a watermelon for a Piñata.
Slick Glass guy's head explodes, and I get a new, bloody hairdo, feeling lightheaded as I sit up, warm, crimson trails forming on my face. How lovely… Eh!
I snap out of the trance to catch a stake midair, similar to the one embedded in DPCPB's chest. The remaining Familiar stares with a hideous expression as he reloads the crossbow. I fling the stake back at him, bursting his right shoulder – not my intention!
"Crap, I didn't mean to!" I freak out, not because he drops to the ground bleeding faster than I can finish a pint – and I can drink fast! It's my uncontrollable strength that makes me extremely uncomfortable.
I can't let him die, not yet. I quickly dash to his side and halt myself right before I press the first pressure point. I don't want to mistakenly drill a hole in him, so I fully concentrate, ensuring my strength is measured for the task. I let out a breath and press. The bleeding stops, and he moans in pain.
"Now you," I prioritize DPCPB, even though I really want to check my state. I release the tubes from his body and pull the stake from his chest.
"I should probably..." Before activating my Condition Rune, I use a small Spell, "Sanitary Wash," to tidy up. "Now..."
Name: Noel Osion (The Hitman)
Age: 36
Race: Human
Metamorphosis: First Level
Condition: Overflow
Fitness: 27.3%
Character: 50.7%
Magick Ions: 78% (4900 – 1078 = 3822) (+1200 Excluded from analysis – Overflow's Total Value: 6100)
Insights:
Terminal Dimension (The Gray): Feel (Third Stage); Shadows Walker: In (First Stage); Gunslinger: Sight (Second Stage)
Abilities:
Deadly Silent Footwork: Increased speed and stealth
(Exclusive) Shot Through The Heart VER. 2 (99.9%): Summon Type – Giliotenza. Functions: 1. Semi Auto Shooting; 1.5. Shooter's Wormhole; 2. Half Bullet; 3. Doubles; 4. Midnight Hunter
Spells:
Sanitary Wash: Cleans all foreign substances, up to Third Metamorphosis stains
Vocals: Controls the direction of sound waves during speech
I read from the ghostly notepad, reread, and then turn it to DPCPB, but midway stop myself since he can't see it and I can't turn it, which I forget because… "HOLY FUCK!"
First of all, my Condition is at "Overflow," and I have 6100 Magick Ions! That's almost a 25% increase from the First Metamorphosis's cap of 4900! No wonder I can't hold back!
Secondly, I somehow gained a new insight, Gunslinger, and it's at the Second Stage! Is that the achievement of advancing an Exclusive Ability? Giliotenza even got "VER." now in its name and additional functions, but it's stuck on 99.9% completion… the final step, 0.1%...
"Shot Through The Heart!" A stroke of inspiration hits me, and I summon my dear Giliotenza.
"Heavy," my hand sinks as I look at her.
Giliotenza appears the same, almost. Her barrel adorned with lines of gold and the metallic grip changed to redwood with "VER. 2" inscribed, just where the broken pistol's grip had Giliotenza inscribed.
"Out with the old, in with the new," I murmur, feeling my Magick surge, most of it.
What's coming is going to be majorly reckless with less than 100% in Magick Ions, but something in me is telling me it's either now or never! My eyes open wide, and with a booming beat from my heart, I raise Giliotenza and smile. "This is the spring of our Youth!"
…
Novak awakened just in time to cover himself from the wave of red, gold, and black Magick. He had an idea of what was going on at the very back of his mind, but he was in critical condition. Too much blood was taken, and the stake was laced with the blood of a Cursed, not necessarily The Impaler's, which left remnants of Magick that were poisonous to him as a Descendant.
He reacted almost reflexively, possibly due to the proximity of his stored blood. "Come!" He called, gesturing for it. Since it was his and the wooden buckets had no lid, it flew to him as a vortex that he swallowed. Feeling much better, though still weakened and needing to treat the Cursed blood in him, he watched her again in awe.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
The bright figure of the wicked assassin shone in the very colors she spread: red, gold, and black. The light coalesced around her, forming an egg shape.
"The Egg of Youth!"
"INVADERS!" A roar shook the underground castle, and a Second Level Metamorphosis Magick that felt sickening to Novak flared everywhere.
"She killed the Familiars?!" Novak exclaimed. 'He will know where we're at!' Gritting his teeth, he pulled the two Familiars' bodies and bit to drink their blood.
The taste was foul, the worst blood he ever had, due to them being at the earliest stage of infection. Still, it was better than nothing and helped boost his immunity to the Cursed blood in him.
'Hurry!' At this point, he pinned all his hopes of escaping alive on Noel, no more thinking about a Sample from The Impaler. 'If it wasn't for my carelessness…' He lamented the moment they got caught.
Noel's Magick was rapidly drained by the piece of the firearm, and the two Familiars used the distraction to shoot him with crossbows meant to injure Nightly Creatures, courtesy of their Master's arsenal, of course.
"Hurry! The Impaler is coming!" He yelled, hoping she would hear.
The Egg of Youth trembled, and a resounding "CRACK" echoed.
"Let him," a voice followed from within.
…
I feel reborn as the Metamorphosis, my Second, culminates. I'm further ecstatic that it worked with less than a full Pool of Magick Ions. Also, cautious that it went so well.
The walls of my Egg of Youth are crumbling around me. These are precious particles of Magick I can reabsorb to add to my new Pool of Magick Ions, but I have other plans for it and, luckily, I can afford them thanks to the 1200 Magick Ions from the Overflow. Otherwise, my Pool of Magick Ions would've been spent – again!
"Jump on my back!" I urge DPCPB.
He isn't getting it, and we have no time for explanations. I can sense The Impaler approaching, and although he isn't exuding the pressure of a Third Level Metamorphosis, I can tell it is still at the high end of the Second Level, which is fifteen to twenty times more Magick Ions than I currently possess.
Hence, I lift DPCPB and hold him under my left arm. "Shot Through The Heart!" As a Second Level Metamorphosis, there's no need to call the names of my Abilities, but it's easier that way, and I'm barely fifteen seconds into this new state. In my right hand, Giliotenza manifests through red, gold, and black, and I'm feeling a bit sad. I really liked the light blue... anyway!
The inscription on the new wooden grip is no longer "VER. 2" but "VER. 2.5". This really makes me want to check my Condition Rune.
Vibrations pass through my right hand, originating from Giliotenza. She draws the Magick of my Egg of Youth without me activating her second function. It appears she's already aware of my plan, really aware! As in, having an actual infant sentience aware, rather than a responding mechanism.
A single bullet of Magick forms in the chamber, and I'm getting giddy with the increasing power it contains.
The looming danger of The Impaler is just around the corner, literally. He's not shouting or flaunting his emotions like a mad animal. I read his sort of bearing from his Magick, and I get the image in my mind of a colossal existence, worlds apart from the Descendant beneath my armpit.
I warn myself not to fall for it, as it might be part of his Vampiric allure. A bloodsucker is a bloodsucker, Cursed, Descendant, or Infected!
His movement stops a step from the doorway. I can see his dark, blood-red Magic creeping in.
"Felicitations, Huntress, or are you?" His regal voice, collected and leveled, asks me. "I feel a familiar signature in your Magick, of a long-deceased man. And yet, something else, of shadows and indiscriminating death. A Lady Assassin, then?"
He's sharp, that much is a given. DPCPB conceals his Magick for dear life. I doubt it will help in any way, but I can't blame him. The Impaler's reputation is something I can only aspire to.
"I understand your apprehension. It is all too common, and it seems that now I'll have to acquire new sets of hands. It can be yours. It is faint. Your Magick tries to hide it, as is in its nature, but my nose does not make mistakes. Lady Assassin, you are human. What would you like to be, Infected? A glorified Thrall? Perhaps a simpleton Familiar? No. Someone of your trade must remain proactive. A Cursed like myself? What say you, Lady Human Assassin, would you be my Progeny?"
This is not good. I'm low on Magick, he uses his to amplify his allure, and I can't defend with more than my Character since the little I'd have left after the first plan is essential for our continuous survival!
"Very well, strong-willed Lady Assassin. I'll not force you to join the dominion of Nightly Creatures. Instead, I'll make you two offers and give you ten seconds to pick one. The first, die by my hands. It would be slow. I'll incapacitate you, won't make the imprudent mistake of shackling with Vampiric Chains. I'll grace you with proper restraints, remove your limbs, feast on your internals, and personally drain you to an inch of your life. Then, and for the duration of your newly found Second Metamorphosis lifespan, will keep you as entertainment for all of my whims. If it is permitted, I'll be honest and say that it is this offer I wish you'd pick. The second offer is stale in comparison. I'll let you leave as you are. In return, you'll serve me for a hundred years and, of course, surrender kindly the Descendant in your care."
Thank, but no thanks – is my silent response. Yes, I'm about to really antagonize this granddaddy of all Cursed Vampires, but I don't intend to give a heads-up.
"My appreciations. This silence shall be considered a selection of the first offer."
He renews his foot steps, and I see a boot popping up from the frame of the doorway. I don't wait for the rest of him to pull forward. I time his motion with the precise instant to squeeze the trigger of my Giliotenza.
She does it for me, right on time!
The backlash snaps the bones of my right arm. Over the sound of them cracking, I hear a monstrous wail.
The Impaler is hit!
A fountain of vibrant maroon blood gushes out in a never-ending stream. I jump back, kick the empty bucket meant for my blood to catch whatever amount it can of The Impaler's, and take aim with Giliotenza.
"Whatever happens, pick the bucket and grit those fangs of yours!" I warn DPCPB and prepare myself for my craziest stunt yet.
I run at the thrashing Impaler. DPCPB catches the bucket with a mix of repulsion and elation on his pretty face.
Function 1.5: Shooter's Wormhole. I shoot at an angle, and time slows around us as red, gold, and black suck us in.
We go past The Impaler, straight into a wall, unless...
"Tell me where to turn!" I yell at DPCPB. I was passed out when we were brought to the "all you can give phlebotomy", and I'm not the one with a map of the castle in my head, so...
"Left! Take left and give me a second to figure out where we're at!"
"We don't have a tenth of a second! This Ability isn't really for couples!"
Although it massively evolved, increasing its range from 300 meters to 3 kilometers and being able to change trajectory, it is still a one-person, one-sweet-hot-pistol kind of Exclusive Ability's function.
DPCPB, plus the bloody bucket, plus too many turns – too many wrong turns of unsightly décor – destabilizes the Wormhole Dimension. This one shot won't last a third of the max range, and while it is cheaper than Half Bullet, I'm running low on running low!
"Eject us, Giliotenza!"
900 meters in, I request, and she complies.
"I have in me enough Magick for one more shot! Don't mess it up with the directions and get your legs ready to run!" I stick my face to DPCPB, forehead to forehead.
He nods. I discharge my final bullet of anything I have left for another Shooter's Wormhole. The Impaler is on our tail and struggling to intercept us. In the next several seconds, six things happen:
1. We got out from the underground castle intact.
2. We escape into The Gray.
3. The Impaler follows us.
4. Twelve presences at the peak of the Second Metamorphosis make themselves known.
5. War World Vampire commences.
6. I can proudly say that I visited Dracula's Castle and having not lost a drop of blood, frankly, I'm disappointed.