Hero Scout 9 Chapter 9 - Evil Souls 18

Turning slowly, Kenji strode to where the corpse of Mr Guard lay.

"I'm sorry Mr Guard, but I promise I will avenge you. So you can rest now, and thank you very much for the help. Even if I couldn't keep your boy alive," Kenji wiped away the tears as he pulled away the iron helm. The man was rugged, with a broken nose and eyes that stared into eternity.

Slowly, Kenji closed them. Clasping his hands, he whispered a prayer, before dragging himself away with the heaviest heart in all the world.

Candle in hand, he pulled the windows open. Sucking in a big breath, Kenji carefully stepped through, to walk alone slippery roofing with steel-wrapped feet. It took precious time, but eventually, he got to the point where he could jump a gap and land atop the stone walls of the quart yard.

Recalling memories from the last battle, Kenji's heart sank. From Arthur's perspective, the intruder had been deadly fast, wickedly skilled and had only gotten wounded at all due to his fear of the white fire and Kenji's suicidal tackle. How the previous guards managed to wound the a.s.sa.s.sin at all was beyond Kenji's understanding. Even wounded, the a.s.sa.s.sin was likely to be faster and more experienced.

Kenji needed a plan.

Activating his blessing of [sight], the white eye burned in his forehead, his perception becoming incredibly detailed. Ahead he made out the slightest impressions in the dirt of the invisible a.s.sa.s.sin. Behind him splattered blotches of blue, the a.s.sa.s.sin managing to fling the droplets in a haphazard manner as he staggered towards the gate.

"Come out and plaaaAAaaay," Kenji said in his best horror film voice, sc.r.a.ping the stone at his feet with his gauntlet.

The a.s.sa.s.sin turned on a dime to see Kenji crash into stone, pain flaring up and down his legs. He forced himself to ignore the damage, focusing everything on the show.

"I killed you," came a regal voice. Invisibility shuddering, the creature slowly revealed itself. "Tch, out of mana." A dark cape, two little white fangs, ashen skin and slanted eyes filled with crimson orbs that held the weight of a Lord in their depths. Rising tall, the Vampire a.s.sa.s.sin stared with a hungering bloodthirst right into Kenji's soul.

"You made a mistake. You can't kill what's already dead ooOOoo~" Kenji said in his best-haunted tone. The way the vampire stepped back, one hand clenched to one of the wounds in his side, Kenji thought it was working.

"I hate this d.a.m.ned world. My first dead hero and it was some kind of lich-"

"Liches are magic users," Kenji said against his better judgment. "I would be closer to a Deathknight."

"Did you not just use Holy magic before?" The vampire's eyebrow twitched. "And since when can those a.s.sociated with a holy power become undead anyway? This game suuuuucks."

"Ever heard of the Lich King? he was a paladin that became a Deathknight- but he had lich in the t.i.tle- bah! never mind," Kenji growled.

"So- not really a ghost then?" The Vampire a.s.sasin smirked.

"What number are you?" Kenji stalked closer. Activating his magic focus, the silver candle becoming lit with a little white flame. Drawing on its holy essence, Kenji cast [Bless-fire] on his sword, white fire erupting along its steel edge.

"Number....? 16, and you?" The Vampire leaned closer to the ground and flickered a blade from fine n.o.ble sleaves into each hand. Even worse, Kenji realised he had stopped bleeding as his eyes had started to flare red.

"What. Number?" The vampire said, licking his lips as his white fangs lengthened, and claws burst through his gloves.

"Your XP...you spent it," Kenji said as he realised. Spitting to the side, Kenji lowered his helm. "I'm 1."

That made the b.a.s.t.a.r.d's eyes go wide, Kenji already swinging his flaming sword before he could recover.

"DAARIO?" The Vampire screamed, moving like water and yet startled, proved too slow. Kenji's sword plunged into his shoulder, cutting through like b.u.t.ter, darkness and blue blood exploding outward.

"I'm sorry Daario, I didn't know this was your turf! I'll do what you ask - just don't kill me!"

Cleaving down into his belly, the Vampire screamed.
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"Kneel then, throw away your weapons and swear me your fealty," Kenji said in his best bad guy tone. From roleplaying games, he knew it was best to be emotionless, unforgiving, and absolutely cut-throat in demeanor. The Vampire knelt, head pressed into the ground, knives cras.h.i.+ng against the stone in each direction.

"Daario, it's me, Seb. We used Nocturne as an intermediary?"

Ah, so they had never met each other face to face, Kenji thought. That made him very happy indeed, worried his mannerisms would not be in line with this 'Daario' he seemed so scared of.

"Seb, tell me about your species. All of it," Kenji continued unabashed, edging closer. Wanting to be absolutely sure he could end this in the next strike.

"Vampire Elder species. Fast, can regenerate by spending blood. Blood for me is pure mana, and takes many more bodies to replenish. My special ability is invisibility, but that costs my blood to maintain as well, even if it is quite cheap."

Peering up, Seb squinted. "But Daario, I was told holy element was our weakness as morally evil- urgh!" Kenji missed, his blade sinking deep through 16's other shoulder to pierce a lung, pulling free he left the vampire with nearly a third of his body dangling. Sliding back quickly, 16 jumped to his feet, a third knife dangling in his hand, blue blood welling between the wounds and st.i.tching them back together.

"You're not Daario, are you?" 16 snarled, eyes flaring red.

"Nope," Kenji said mid-swing, gambling it everything by adjusting the arc of his swing to where the Vampire might go. Sure enough, the Vampire had moved instinctually, and Kenji swung his flaming sword right through the vampire's head. A burst of white and the Vampire was reduced to a smouldering corpse, a fuzzy feeling like static filling the back of Kenji's mind.

[Well done, Crusader. By defeating a creature of the Night you have gained my favour- wait, who are you?]

Kenji sweated through all his layers, as he felt a G.o.d peering into his soul.

[Hmm. Rest well Crusader, you seem to have been mentally affected through the fighting. Indeed I thought you had died at one point, hoho.]

Hoho?

[Now. For your reward, would you like to help the people, or fight the enemy?]

Kenji was presented with twin banners in his mind. The first was the bright Blessing of Life, a healing spell that cured the wounds of his brothers and destroyed the flesh of evil. He could even use it three times a day. The second was the golden banner of the Divine Stance, a rare spell, that enhanced his movement speed for 30 seconds a day.

The healing spell was easily the most beneficial. Kenji would no doubt encounter the morally corrupt again. Meanwhile, the healing factor alone would help prevent both his own deaths and that of would-be heroes. Easy XP then.

But that feeling of rarity taunted him. He wavered, his mind adoring the nature of the limited edition, and yet ultimately much less useful, Divine Stance.

It hurt Kenji deeply, but to honour Arthur's memory at least he would choose his build wisely. He chose to help the people and the blessing of life.

[Excellent, now deliver the corpse of this beast to the nearest Cathedral for an additional reward. And know that I am always watching over you] the G.o.d faded from Kenji's mind.

He s.h.i.+vered, having a weird G.o.d like that watching him was not an idea that he enjoyed at all. Yet with the garrison dead, the proper authorities were most likely already on their way. Kenji put the smouldered vampire under one arm and got going.

He did quickly check to see if he could replicate 16's body. Yet in such a ruined state, the missing head especially, the body was not complete enough to be replicated.

"Tch. Well, where's that Catherdral then?"

Searching through Arthur's memories he quickly found just where, and got moving.

Immediately upon entering the streets, Kenji was swept away by the crowd. The entire city seemingly on the move, although thankfully in the direction of the Cathedral - no, into the cathedral. Thousands upon thousands of warriors, crusaders, guards, knights, militiamen, vampire hunters and more.

Just what the h.e.l.l was going on here?