亚洲综合中美

“Are you going to betray the Blood-King’s Faction? I’m sure Lady Serene isn’t going to be happy with the actions showed here.”

“She’s long past her time as our leader. The clan has become boresome, there’s no fun, and us immortal are only concerned with one thing, tis our entertainment, nothing more, nothing less.”

Julius stood calmly, the face showed no expression while the mind worked tirelessly. Those who took the elevator were above, fighting. The clanging of swords and firing of guns came in quiet shuffles below.

“Prince Julius, are you sure it’s fine to wait for thy companions to die? Remember, Coria doesn’t harbor me, no, there are other more fearsome creatures out there.” As he said so as if knowing what happened above; two Nagas, humanoid-snakes – torso of a man or woman attached to the scaly back of the reptile. Abilities ranged from immunity to damage and corrosive saliva.

“I’ll maintain the barrier,” cried Miya, “-Tonza, Ko, do your thing.”

“Leave the weak to me,” smirked Scarlet merging into the cavernous walls. She became one with the shadow, behind the Naga’s came demon infected beast or so-called zombies. Animal, man, plant, any living thing harboring a connection to Mana was subject to the curse. Fortunately, the demon beasts were merely overgrown rats. An average Tier-5 couldn’t handle the pest, though, she disposed of the troubles easily.

.....

One knee on the ground and physically shielding the tired Frost, ‘-come on,’ thought Ko starring down his scope. The fingers readied to pull, he tracked Tonza’s fight. The latter displayed unprecedented levels of agility. Dodging strike after strike, the spears of the Naga’s never connected. Side-step, over-stretching, it didn’t matter, he did as was needed. The arms moved so gracefully the illusion of him not having limbs dawned onto Cole. Leonard held the back and carried the unconscious Anna. Her green hair was muddled in red and brown, the exposed body showed bite and scratch marks. Blood clots formed mostly near her neck.

“They’ll be fine,” said Julius, “-Xenon isn’t weak.”

“How blinded are you,” cried the vampire dramatically, “-the poor lass has died on impact,” he pointed the wall,”-poor thing wanted to help her friends. Xenon might be strong... however,” the pitch swapped, “-fighting and protection, there’s a time where one has to choose one over the other.” The words resounded till the fight above. One of the Naga’s pushed through Tonza’s defense and ran the spear into Ko’s left arm. He jumped at the last second to save Frost.

“SCARLET!” a scream had the lady seemingly teleport, “-take care of the Naga,” he pulled out the poison-filled spear, “-Miya, heal me!”

“But?”

“Do it!” he paid no heed to the pain, “-we ought to get out. The higher we climb, the easier it will get,” stood upright, he stumbled to be caught by Tonza.

“Old pal, don’t worry. Scarlet and I got this. Take it easy and protect the kids.”

“Thanks,” he fell, the liquid devoured the injured arms upwards to the shoulder.

*Slash,* “-sorry boss,” said Scarlet, “-we don’t have antidotes. The best way to save you is...” the limb fell, “-cutting off the arm.” The downpour of blood stopped instantly by a blueish glow; “-I’ll seal it until we get to the surface.”

“Thanks,” said he pulsing with adrenaline, “-now that the arm doesn’t hurt,” he pulled out a pistol, “-we have uglies to kill.” No matter the hurdle, Xenon pushed forth confidently. The way the team rushed, leaving the student’s safety inside a protective cage, was all-inspiring. Their backs and sweat fought the coming hordes. In that instant, as vision grew blurry, Frost, Cole, and Leonard saw wings. The wings of freedom, the personification of Kniq.

The hall of ice awoke to emanate freezing mist. “The dungeon is getting hungry,” added the nightwalker coyly, “-prince Julius, are you going to leave the team to die?” *Clop, clop, clop,* he headed for Ila. “Don’t ignore me!” exclaimed he. *Clop, clop, clop,* no response until he stood peering over the unconscious Ila. She didn’t hit her head; the body sure had seen better days. ‘She must have slowed the impact using a spell.’ The icy-wall displayed signs of fire.

“Prince Julius Arnet Haggard,” lashes from a vein cracked the floor, “-do not ignore me,” the eyes burnt in full. “-Royalty or no, I’m unbound by the kingdom. I’m my own person; I shall prove to all that the Blood-king faction is obsolete.”

“Such confidence,” said he pouring liquid from a golden bottle, “-what gives you that idea?” the potency from the fumes alone had the vampire turn away. “What happened?” inquired the prince, “-are you perhaps, revolted by the presence of relic-tier healing potions?”

“Take no more steps,” the lonesome vein scarred everywhere but the prince’s location, “-I swear I’ll have to kill you then?” the lashes retreated to sprout a giant rose made of red-crystal. “My blood-art is Rose’s torn.”

“Should I be impressed?” laughed he, “-doesn’t scare me at all.”

The visible tension under the nose, the way the corner of the eyes crinkled under the unyielding bravado of the prince. “-Stop fooling yourself,” two tiny projectiles blinked to scar the prince’s face, “-I’m sorry, did I injure your pretty little face?”

“Pretty little face,” he snickered, “-where do you get all this bravado?”

“I’m allied with the demon-clan. Their leader will soon take his throne and lay waste to the world. The Blood-King faction isn’t going to last. Arda will fall, and war will break out between Iqeavea and Hidros, heed my word, prince, the oracle has foretold of the repeat of the great-magic war. The uncalm souls of the dead mages won’t be soothed by a few buildings. Dorchester will undergo change, mark my word,” he laughed, “-why not help the ruler of demons by killing the inheritor to Arda.”

“Quite the senseless ramble,” the icy floors and walls broke, the entire dungeon trembled under the pressure. Pillars gave to the aura, a portal twice the size of a man opened boldly. A strict and unshaken voice exited first. “Nightwalker, who said the demon clan accepted you?” no footsteps followed as the figure hovered into view.

“H-high d-demon K-Kul,” the knees shook, “-why have you come?” the face dropped into a panic.

“To set one thing straight,” three orbs shot for the immortal’s head, “-the demon, monster, and vampire clan are different. You were led on,” she laughed, “-poor nightwalker, getting stranded to befall the hunger of the monsters.”

“You’re a demon,” the stance broke him to laid on all fours, “-how c-can you betray Kreston’s faction?”

“Simple,” *snap,* “-I was never part of them to begin with.” Bones, flesh, nothing remained but the goo. “Prince Julius.”

“Demon,” he returned dawning an extravagant armor, “-are you going to keep my cousin imprisoned?” a star-shaped crest blinded the surrounding.

“Imprisoned?” she chuckled, “-there’s no need to bring out a relic-level armor. I do understand the fear,” said she casually, “-I didn’t come across friendly, and you should expect so. Igna Haggard is more than your cousin,” another portal opened, “-he’s the next ruler of the monsters, our founder’s inheritor.”

‘Systems activated.’ The connection reestablished, ‘-feels weird,’ thought he gawking the ring, ‘-éclairs become so powerful. Look at Julius, he’s grown into a man. Whatever,’ fixing onto the remains, ‘-he’s my cousin. I’m related to him through Courtney. I’m not Staxius anymore.’ *Blood-Arts: Bloody Mary,* the sludge crystalized into an apple. *Crunch,* “-hello cousin.”

“Cousin Igna,” frowned Julius, “-what did she say about you being a king?”

“Cousin, I honestly have no idea myself. Let’s leave the questions for another time,” rushing for Ila, “-how’s she doing?”

“Good, I healed her.”

“What of the rest?” he stood to scan the area.

“They ran. I’m afraid a few of your companions had to be left behind.”

“Cousin?” Kul sneakily pointed further in, “-don’t worry about the demon. She’s not interested in killing us. Take Ila and go, I’ll catch up real soon.”

“Sure.”

It didn’t take long to arrive at the ‘hideout’. Cold, stink, and darkness was prominent. Why did it have to come to this? The question fell short as memories of Leonard, Rena, and Jen flooded. He knew who was responsible, the lady stood at his side without empathy. Joining hands with they who forced such a tragic sight. Who in their right mind would forgo the past and forget almost mechanically.

The steps stopped at Rena’s growl. ‘-I did.’ He bent over and held out a hand. She took the arm and bit, “-you don’t look so good, do you now, Rena.”

“éclair, evaluate her mental state.”

“On it,” said he doing a few calculations, “-the madness was triggered by darkness and solitude. A heart-shattering event occurred to tip her balance. Status unknown on her being sane again.”

“Kul, don’t you have a method to reverse the situation?”

“No,” said she, “-Lord Igna, what transpired here was due to necessity. I hope you do not hold resentment towards our kind.”

“No,” he calmly pushed her cheeks into letting go, “-Leonard’s in a coma and Jen’s close to death. We need to get them to a hospital, quickly.”

“Might I offer my help?”

“No,” he paused, “-I don’t want people to know I’m the king of monsters yet. I know the mob mentality all too well. Help me carry them up fast.”

“There’s a portal returning to the top over there,” she pointed at the wall, implying the great hall. “The only requirement is completing the Dungeon.”

“Great, then I’ll complete it.”

“No need,” she smiled, “-the portal is already opened. Head on over.”

“What about you?” he asked.

“I’ll stay in Coria. Surely there’s someone strong enough to challenge me out there. I want to experience a hard battle. Once one surpasses the human’s limit, the fights become all too easy.”

“Well, good luck on that.” She cast a sleeping spell onto Rena and so, with his friends in tow, he hurled till the center.

“What will you be doing?” wondered she.

“Cooking,” said he smilingly, “-I don’t want to fight, not just yet.”

“Here’s a little tip,” said she, “-there’s a special type of fish that lives in the deepest reaches of Coria. The ice-hall here is far from the end. I’ve conveniently linked this,” she gave a bag, “-an endless supply of the beasts. They’re quite energetic. Master their taste and I’m sure the dungeon-style cooking will expand greatly.”

“Why though?”

“Consider it a gift for completing half of Coria,” a push sent him to the shadow-filled foliage before the dungeon.

‘I’m back,’ thought he, “éclair, can you control the helicopter?”

“Yes.”

“Take them to the hospital. I want the best doctors for their treatment. Use any means necessary.”

“Sure thing, master Staxius.”

“So, you knew?” he laid them inside, the rotors started, “-you knew I returned?”

“Not so much a return. I presume you’ll be staying as Igna Haggard. Doesn’t affect me one bit, I’m here to serve and obey. There’s another helicopter on way to pick-up the prince.” The great wind lifted the grey-cage upwards. The trees and grass shivered at the pressure, the warmth of above, the dampness of below. He returned, Staxius was back as Igna. The man who began from nothing to climb to the top and create a dynasty that would continue growing. The friends made in the previous life were essential in his growth and what he had become today’s was part of their reason too.

The tales of the coming adventures haven’t ended yet. The world is once more on the verge of catastrophe – first came the mage’s war, then monster’s, invasion of beings from other realms, and now, the threat of World-War. Amidst the carnage; starting from scratch and intent on staying a chef, the want to keep what he has remains ever true.

‘Hang on cousin. I’m coming.’ Imprints stamped the dirt as he dashed inside with a smile. ‘I feel pain!’