203 Chapter 44.5 – Investigation [Interlude]
“Cough-!”
When she felt her consciousness returning, this was the first reaction she gave.
The strangled sound escaped her throat, echoing through the oppressive darkness that seemed to smother everything. Pain surged from every inch of her body, a relentless assault that left her gasping for breath.
‘I can’t move.’
She was ensnared, bound by unseen forces that rendered her limbs useless. Every attempt to break free was met with the harsh reality of her restrained state.
‘Disgusting .’
The air in the dimly lit space carried a thick, musty scent, wrapping around her senses like a suffocating shroud.
The only audible rhythm was the distant, haunting drip that resonated through the confines of her disoriented consciousness.
With a slow blink, her eyes opened to a world veiled in muted shadows. Stone walls, unforgiving and cold, loomed around her, their rough-hewn surfaces a testament to the bleakness of her surroundings.
“Burghk-!”
Pain, disorientation, and a profound sense of wrongness enveloped her. It was an alien experience, a stark departure from the familiar contours of her life. Each labored breath filled her lungs with the damp, stagnant air that clung to the subterranean space.
As her vision adjusted to the feeble light, a revelation unfolded—the metallic glint of unseen restraints, the dim glow of a distant candle, and the disquieting shapes of cages that hinted at the presence of others trapped in this place.
‘Others?’
Then she realized even in this darkness, she was able to see the silhouettes all around herself. If her thoughts weren’t disoriented, she would have noticed it far sooner. But, alas, this wasn’t the case right now.
However, even under such conditions, she was one of the most talented people in the group of the most talented individuals in the academy, and that was for a reason.
A logical mind kicked into gear, attempting to make sense of the situation despite the fog of pain and confusion.
Where was she? What situation had led her to this ominous place? She braced herself against the pain, endeavoring to clear her thoughts and discern the reality of her position.
Her mind, which was like a turbulent sea, gradually settled as she fought to recall the events leading to her current state.
‘That’s right. I went there because I sensed there was a demonic energy.’
As she recollected everything slowly, she remembered what she had seen when she reached there. A humanoid thing was licking the blood on the ground.
It was an utterly disgusting sight, but what was more disgusting was the aura that humanoid thing was reeking. She, who was one of the most sensitive people towards mana, immediately felt that, and the need to attack followed.
‘Then, there was a fight.’
Images of a struggle flickered, a chaotic ballet of movements and clashes. The creature, with an otherworldly speed that defied comprehension, had become a blur, attacking with a ferocity that left her defenseless.
‘That thing was so out of the world that it was the first time I had encountered something like that.’
The realization settled in her mind, a sober acknowledgment of the extraordinary threat she had faced. The creature had moved with a speed that surpassed her ability to perceive and react, leaving her vulnerable to its predatory assault.
She was always proud of her dynamic vision. Even though she was not a close combatant, others always praised her perceptivity in the fights.
But she wasn’t able to see the moments of that creature, which meant it was over her league way too much.
And, not to brag, if that creature was able to overpower someone like her this easily, that meant it was a danger to the whole world.
As she surveyed her dim surroundings, the cold reality settled in. The stone walls, the metallic restraints, and the faint glow of distant candles painted a bleak picture.
The immediate threat was not the world outside; it was the captivity she found herself in. In this confined space, she lacked the luxury to worry about the broader dangers the creature might pose. ʀᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛʀs ᴀᴛ N(o)vl(ꜰ)ire.nt
‘But, I can’t worry about the world right now.’
As she surveyed her dim surroundings, the cold reality settled in. The stone walls, the metallic restraints, and the faint glow of distant candles painted a bleak picture. The immediate threat was not the world outside; it was the captivity she found herself in.
In this confined space, she lacked the luxury to worry about the broader dangers the creature might pose.
TAK!
The sound pierced the air, a disconcerting echo in the oppressive darkness. Her senses heightened, and her gaze flickered towards the source of the noise. Out of the shadows emerged a figure, not the grotesque creature she had fought before, but something far more elegant and humane.
‘What?’
It was a vampire, something she had never seen in her life before, let alone many humans had seen.
As the vampire revealed itself, a silhouette that moved with the fluidity of a dancer. Gone were the nightmarish features; instead, an unsettling grace emanated from this being.
Crimson eyes, sharp and piercing, locked onto hers. His appearance was striking, but she knew it as a deceptive allure that masked the predatory nature beneath. After all, she herself witnessed how grotesque it looked.
“Greetings, my captive,” he spoke, his voice carrying a chilling resonance that echoed in the dim chamber. “I hope you find our accommodations to your liking.”
It was a shuddering feeling. She remembered how her friends fantasized about vampires and such creatures, but now she was in front of one. The only thing she felt was fright.
The vampire continued, “It has been a while since I was completely awake.” His words carried a weight, a sense of ages long past.
She looked at the vampire, the only thing she could discern at the moment. As her eyes traced the contours of his pale white skin, a memory stirred in her—a face she couldn’t help but remember.
Her Junior, with his similarly pale complexion, flashed in her mind. He and the vampire looked awfully familiar; the only thing differentiating them was the color of their eyes.
Well, even though suddenly, being reminded of him was weird, it strangely gave her strength.
“I was already bored with the recent food. I guess I should thank our god that he sent me something like this.”
Smooth steps brought the vampire closer, and as he mentioned “food,” a sudden realization struck her. The nauseous scent that enveloped the chamber, the source of which had eluded her until now, suddenly became clear.
“Ah…I am sorry, I forgot.” The vampire mumbled. “I guess you still don’t know what I mean by that.”
FLICK! The moment the vampire said that, he flicked his hands. The mana surged around her, and it immediately took the form of an orb. It was a spell she knew well, but the mana control itself was too smooth.
SHINE! However, the awe she felt for a second for the smooth control instantly disappeared. The dim chamber burst into an eerie glow, revealing one of the most grotesque scenes she had ever witnessed.
Countless bodies hung from the ceiling, suspended by ropes made from the crimson color of blood.
09:45
Their forms were withered, their expressions frozen in eternal agony, a silent testimony to the horrors they had endured.
Men, women, children, elderly…. countless humans were there….
Her eyes widened in horror as she comprehended the grisly reality. The stench of blood that permeated the air was not just an unpleasant odor; it was the nauseating scent of death and despair.
The victims, drained of their life force, dangled grotesquely in the dimly lit chamber, a macabre display of the vampire’s insatiable thirst.
“Burghk!”
Even for an aspiring Hunter like her, this scene was something that was hard to endure. Her already messed up body state made her pour everything she had inside herself to the ground.
The vampire, seemingly unfazed, watched her reaction with a hint of amusement. “Was that too much for you?” he remarked, his tone mocking. “Humans are weak, just as they’ve always been. Fragile, emotional creatures.”
TAP!
He took a step closer, relishing the power he wielded over her in this macabre theater of horror. The dim light cast shadows that danced across his features, highlighting the cruelty etched into his elegant countenance.
CREAK! The hanging bodies swayed gently in the chilling breeze, an eerie chorus of the lives extinguished by the vampire’s insatiable hunger.
“Now….”
He extended a hand towards her, his claws grazing her cheeks as if savoring the vulnerability etched on her features.
“You must be wondering why you’re still alive,” he mused, his voice a silky whisper that sent shivers down her spine. His touch was cold and disgusting. It sent shivers down her spine. “Well, my dear captive, you have a purpose yet to fulfill. A purpose that amuses me.”
His grin widened, revealing fangs that gleamed in the dim light. The sight of those elongated teeth, designed for draining the essence of life, sent a wave of disgust through her. The alien features she saw reminded the vampire of the monsters.
“You possess something that makes you valuable, my dear,” the vampire continued, his voice a blend of elegance and malice. “Your mana, pure and abundant, is a rare delicacy. That’s why I chose you to be my first partner in this world. Amongst the pathetic humans, you are like a gem that could never be encountered unless by luck.”
The revelation hung in the air, a heavy truth that settled upon her like a suffocating shroud. The idea of becoming a vampire, a creature that was associated with demons, her enemy, made her shudder.
The vampire licked his lips as his crimson eyes looked at her with desire. But that soon turned to disgust.
“You, in your current state, are nothing but a lowly human,” he sneered, his claws gently tracing her jawline. “It disgusts me.”
The revulsion swirled within her. The vampire’s disdain for humanity was palpable, and that also ignited the innate pride in her heart.
“But fear not,” the vampire continued with a wicked grin. “Once the transformation is complete, you will be reborn as a being worthy of standing by my side. A creature superior to these pathetic humans you now share your existence with.”
The vampire’s wicked grin widened as he spoke, and in the next instant, he revealed a small vial filled with his dark, viscous blood. “Embrace your rebirth, my dear,” he cooed, his voice a sinister melody.
Instinctively, she recoiled, pressing her lips tightly together in a desperate attempt to resist the impending transformation.
“Futile.” The vampire, however, was not to be deterred. With a swift and forceful motion, he gripped her jaw, his claws biting into her skin, and forced her mouth open.
The vampire’s eyes glowed with a dark satisfaction as the arcane properties of his blood began their macabre work. The transformation had started, and she felt the tendrils of his magic intertwining with her very essence, reshaping her into something beyond human.
Hope you liked her POV. Darkness_Enjoyer