Now with new equipment to fight against the Vampires, Vast continued his journey towards the Conqueror's Tower. He was following the best route he knew so far, however, some words from Russisch caused a change of course.
In the next big city, there is a rumor that a powerful vampire is causing disorder. So far, no one has been able to stop him. Please help those people!
Considering they were his future subjects, Vast could not simply ignore this situation.
The city in question was Ormstade, a place focused on meat trade. Vast knew a little about it due to his travels to the place, where he used to enjoy some delicacies. Despite this, he had never had the chance to actually explore it.
There must still be those great celebrations. I believe the Meat Festival day is near. Also known as vegan terror.
It wouldn't take long to reach the city, however, Vast should remember that he was already on his second day of travel.
Twenty, just twenty days would be enough for the curse to eliminate him. So far, he hadn't felt any pain that really bothered him, and he didn't expect to feel any in the clutch.
All he thought about was getting to Ormstade as quickly as possible and resolving the situation there. As rushed as he was, no subject, regardless of who they were, was unworthy enough for him to refuse to help them. While he was in the territory of his future kingdom, he would protect that person.
And so, he quickened his pace, starting to run towards his next objective.
***
Arf! Arf! Each breath was like a giant stomping on him, but not enough to kill him. Meanwhile, some ants around him must now have the strength of an elephant. Ignoring that, there was one good thing to observe in the results of such effort.
"No matter how much time passes, this place never changes."
There was just a small wall to determine the area of the great city. The main streets were wide, and the one connected to the entrance had a large mansion at its end. Even from afar, Vast felt small in relation to the house, despite having lived in a castle all his life.
Roads and houses were made with stone blocks of various sizes, and vibrant colors already decorated the main avenues. And, in conjunction with such a good atmosphere, there were smiles on people's faces.
Vast, however, had only one goal: I have to find the Vampire as quickly as possible!
Doing this wasn't exactly difficult. Being too proud, it was extremely rare, almost impossible to find a Vampire who could be discreet with their deeds, regardless of how evolved they were. In fact, the Original Vampires liked to leave apparent marks that they had been there, as if marking territory.
That said, the first thing he did was start looking for traces of destruction. However…
"Hey, by any chance are you" the soldier on the corner said as he approached "Pri-Prince Vast Los Filho!? What are you doing here without proper protection??"
Argh! You idiot!
The prince himself abhorred such an offense, though he lacked the courage to put it into real words. He expected someone would recognize him, but he didn't think it would be literally the first step he took into the city.
The crowd formed before he could flee or hide, leaving him no choice but to act naturally.
"I am just passing through. I was sent here to have a conversation with Lord Vincent."
Initially, it wouldn't be very smart to visit him due to the high chance of him being involved with vampires, but he wanted to believe that was impossible.
The prince clenched his fists at that moment. He remembered the Transformed he had faced in the castle, revealed to be one of his subjects.
The sword mark wasn't from Vincent's family, but they both have connections. If he's involved, maybe I can use him to get to the culprits behind that Transformed.
"You're here without protection?" the guard continued. "Please, allow me to accompany you to Vincent's house!"
"I kindly refuse. I was given the order to come alone. The reasons are secret."
"Urgh...! A-Alright! Then at least let me clear the way for you!" The guard gathered companions, thus dispersing the crowd that had formed around the prince.
It always works. At least for this, I can still use my titles.
With one of the problems resolved, he took advantage of the distraction of people with the spears pointed at them and leapt. The thud from the force he used drew startled looks, but no one was quick enough to see which direction he had gone. Basically, it was as if Vast had just disappeared.
He soon landed on one of the high rooftops. The elevated view allowed him to have a better analysis of the wide main street, which was clogged with preparations for the Meat Festival. The stalls were filled with large, red pieces, fresh enough that not a single fly — or vegan — could be seen anywhere. Vast feared seeing a cow or pig being slaughtered before his eyes and the meat exposed right there.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
Instead of going straight to Vincent, maybe I’ll find something suspicious if I visit the places his family controls.
The family in question was Kasbrarc. They were responsible for the administration of Ormstade, and as if such a level of responsibility wasn't enough, they also had some illicit connections, as usual. As far as Vast knew, it was nothing more than some connections to buy goods at lower prices. Something beyond the reach of his political power — but not his fist.
As far as I remember, their most valuable establishment was...
With several leaps across the rooftops, he arrived at an unassuming alley, where not even the sunlight reached, regardless of the time of day.
By a stroke of luck, some men — whose appearances Vast wouldn't remember — were at the door, apparently waiting for someone.
Hidden just above them, about four meters away, he could hear them even as he lay on the roof, keeping out of their sight.
"How many are coming this time?" asked a gruff voice. "I hope they send enough to wipe out all the competition. Last time, I lost the sales prize because of three damn pieces of meat!"
"Relax, man" another responded. "The boss was happy with last week’s feast, so I’m sure he’ll send more than enough for us… Oh! Look, there it is!"
From the darkest depths of that alley, a hunched, hooded creature emerged carrying a box much larger than itself. The aura’s emergence was instantaneous for Vast, who quickly read the figure's details.
Indulgent Vampire
Strength 20/100
Agility 7/100
Intelligence 13/100
"HeRe aRe ThE mAsTeR's ProDuCtS!!"
The creature's twisted voice made everyone's ears ring for a few seconds. Then, the large crate was placed on the ground and opened. A sea of living beings.
"Uoho! What did I say? I told you he would send a bunch this time! HAHAHA! We're set, man!!"
What the fuck is that? Vast narrowed his eyes in an attempt to see better.
It was initially impossible to understand what was going on. Something like an infinite mass of insects that, by writhing against and within each other, became something like a static-filled television screen.
However, one of the creatures slipped out of the mess, flying randomly around. None of those beside the box cared, unlike the one right above them.
It's a... mosquito?!
And a large one at that. It was the size of a Chihuahua, and its trembling indicated that the contained rage within its being was equivalent. In other words, it was a creature to be feared. Regardless, he kept listening.
"ThE Ma-MaaaaSter! HE sAId... It's GoOd to have... ReSultS thiS... TIME!"
"Right, right, same story as always, huh? Come on, you know very well that we here are the most reliable in this whole city. We would never fail the boss."
Master? If that’s an Indulgent Vampire, it means it was turned into the familiar of a higher-class vampire… That means!!
Ziiiiiiii!! The background noise interrupted his desperate thought. Instinct made him swat the air beside his ear, only to back away immediately. The mosquito that escaped the mess was right beside him.
Damn, I didn't see it approaching. How fast is this thing!?
He prepared the Crimson Shooter as quickly as he could, but it was still insufficient.
The creature advanced like lightning, piercing Vast's chest with force, capable of driving its needle, as thick as a large stick, all the way in. Before he could react to the attack, his muscles contracted as dense blood bubbles were sucked from his body, stored in the blood sack on the mosquito's rear.
Damn!! The worst part was the doubled pain. The piercing itself was large, but Vast felt as if his chest was being expanded by an iron bar the size of an arm, which gradually tried to equate to the trunk of a large tree. And, of course, each time a bubble of blood left, the wounds caused by the prince’s punches were healed.
He bombarded the creature as quickly as he could, but it wasn't until the mosquito had taken ten slow sucks that he finally understood.
"Done?" A relieved sigh. He had lost less blood than he thought, at most two liters.
After finishing its feast, the mosquito mimicked a bee, abandoning its long stinger and, finally, falling lifeless at Vast’s feet.
I get it. Just one isn’t enough to kill a person, so that’s why that crate has so many. But... do they really want to kill someone? With that quantity...
Clenching his fists sent a portion of his blood into the Crimson Shooter’s chamber.
Below, the Indulgent Vampire continued.
"CaRRY oUT the wo-ORK and the MaSter wiLL~ Re-ReWard yOU... WhaT do yoU sA-SaY...?"
The two men exchanged greedy glances between themselves and the crate full of angry mosquitoes. For them, the answer could only be one.
"Well, of course, I can only say yes..."
SPLUUUUSH!!
The Vampire was crushed before their eyes. Beneath the cloak, only a mass of rotten flesh remained. Over it, a figure clad in noble attire. The garments, the short green hair with a ponytail, everything was now stained with that dark blood. In his eyes, the same rage emanated by the most powerful creatures in the world.
"I would say no."
Both men jumped. "Wh-WHO ARE YO… Glurh!!"
As a prince, Vast never thought he would find himself in such a situation, but there he was, forcefully shoving his member into a large man's mouth.
"Listen, boy, I won't ask twice." He flexed his arm, preparing the Crimson Shooter. "Which of you is going to pay to fix my clothes?"
***
After interrogating the two men, Vast took a lighter and set fire to the box, eliminating all the mosquitoes at once.
An Indulgent Vampire could very well mean something significant, but in the end, it's not an Original Vampire here, but rather a Descendant.
Vast remembered the lessons he received from Emilia about the world of vampires. The creatures' hierarchical system was quite simple, following from the most relevant to the least, just like a typical army.
Originals are humans who were transformed into vampires by unknown means, with no new Originals emerging since the very first ones. They have always remained the same. Descendants, on the other hand, are the offspring of Originals, created through extreme blood sharing or sexual reproduction.
The Transformed would be a type of obedient beast, without any notable intelligence. They can be created by any of the classes above them.
The Wanderer would be a Vampire created from a Descendant. They possess some degree of free will, but most of their actions are still controlled by their creator. Finally, the Indulgent can be summed up as a less free version of the Wanderer. They are usually used as pawns, often compared to slaves.
A Descendant Vampire, then. Well, I can't disregard the possibility of an Original being nearby. But if these mosquitoes are creations of a Descendant, then I have no time to waste!
If those two men weren't lying, the plan of this Vampire was to use the meat festival as an attraction to gather many people in one place, consequently resulting in a large amount of blood in the same location.
I don't know what kind of connection the Descendant might have with Vincent, but whatever it is... He raised his fist in front of him. Powerful. I will crush it!