The shadows deepened unnaturally, pooling across the clearing as though summoned by an ancient, malevolent force. The slavers, once arrogant and cruel, now quivered in uneasy silence. Everyone there recognized the form that rose from the heart of the darkness.
The Vampire King.
Aeryn’s father emerged as if conjured from the very essence of night, his tall frame clad in armor as dark as the void. His glowing crimson eyes swept over the slavers, freezing them in place like a predator assessing its prey. The very air seemed to shudder under his presence, a palpable malice rolling off him in waves.
“You have taken what does not belong to you,” his voice rang out, smooth and charismatic, yet edged with cold authority. It wasn’t a threat. It was a sentence.
Lorelai’s heart seized in her chest. She recognized the sheer magnitude of his power immediately, her instincts screaming at her to flee. But she couldn’t. Chains bound her, and fear rooted her in place. Thrax’s golden eyes narrowed as he squared his shoulders, though even he seemed to recognize the futility of resistance.
The slaver leader stepped forward, attempting to mask his fear with bravado. “Who the hell do you think you are?” he barked, raising his blade. “You think we—”
The Vampire King moved.
In an instant, he was before the leader, his hand wrapped around the man’s throat, his feet dangling a foot of the ground. The blade clattered to the ground as the slaver choked, clawing uselessly at the hand that held him. Aeryn’s father smiled, a chilling baring of fangs, before he casually twisted his wrist. The snap of the slaver’s neck echoed through the clearing as his lifeless body crumpled to the ground.
Panic erupted among the remaining slavers. They scrambled for weapons, shouting orders, but it was already too late. Shadows erupted from the ground, tendrils coiling like serpents around the fleeing men. Some screamed as they were dragged into the abyss, other skewered like pin cushions, their cries abruptly silenced. Others were flung against trees with such bone-shattering force that their bodies became pulped. The blood from the pulped slavers began to form into blood weapons that attacked without impunity.
Blood magic followed the shadows, an eerie crimson mist that seeped into the air. It moved with a will of its own, slicing through flesh like a thousand invisible blades. Limbs were severed, bodies drained of life, and the earth drank deeply of the carnage.
Lorelai watched in stunned horror, her mind struggling to comprehend the brutality before her. This wasn’t a battle, it was a one-sided massacre. A single man slayed nearly a hundred people in an instant.
“Father,” Aeryn called out, stepping from the shadows where she had been hiding. Her voice was steady, but there was an edge of urgency to it. “I'm going to free my friends now.”
The Vampire King turned to her, his expression softening ever so slightly. He lowered his hand, and the shadows receded reluctantly, their hunger sated. The remaining slavers, few and trembling, dropped their weapons and fell to their knees, begging for mercy.
“Mercy?” the Vampire King mused, his tone dripping with disdain. “Did you show mercy to those you enslaved?”
With a wave of his hand, the blood mist surged forward, silencing the pleas of the survivors. When the mist dissipated, not a single slaver remained alive.
Aeryn rushed to her friends, her hands fumbling as she unlocked their collars with a key she had taken from one of the fallen slavers. Lorelai sagged in relief as the oppressive weight around her neck vanished, her body collapsing into Aeryn’s arms.
“Holding you naked like this would be much more enticing if it were under different circumstances,” Aeryn whispered, her voice thick with emotion. Lorelai could only muster a snort, but it was enough for some of the accumulated stress to seep out of her.
Thrax rubbed his neck, his golden eyes fixed warily on the Vampire King. “That… is your father?” he asked, disbelief evident in his tone.
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
Aeryn hesitated before nodding. “Yes, and before you ask why, I… I made a deal with him.”
Lorelai’s gaze snapped to her, shock and betrayal flickering in her eyes. “Aeryn, what did you do?”
Taking a deep breath, Aeryn began to explain. “When I left home, I vowed to never return, refusing to acknowledge him. When you two were captured, and I realized I couldn’t save you, I went to him without hesitation. However, in exchange for his help, I promised…” Her voice faltered. “I promised to return to his court. To create my own family and rule as the leader of the tenth vampire family. Once I get stronger and follow through with the arranged marriage I'll be officially recognized”
Lorelai’s expression softened as understanding dawned. “You sacrificed your freedom to save us.”
Aeryn nodded. “That man does not know the word restraint. He'll probably wipe out the entire slave trade on this side of the continent,” she said, gesturing to the carnage around them. “My father… he won’t stop here. Tonight is just the beginning.”
“Damn,” Thrax muttered, crossing his arms. “That’s a hell of a price to pay.”
Lorelai’s eyes darted toward the Vampire King, who stood at the edge of the clearing, surveying his handiwork. Summoning her courage, she stepped forward. “Your Majesty,” she called, her voice trembling slightly. “Please, let me help.”
The Vampire King turned his gaze to her, his crimson eyes narrowing. “Help?” he repeated, his tone laced with skepticism.
“I’m strong,” Lorelai said, her voice firm despite her fear. “I may not have your power, but I can fight. Let Aeryn fight alongside me, I can help her get stronger. But even more than that, she's important to me, let Aeryn stay.”
The Vampire King studied her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Finally, he inclined his head. “You are bold,” he said. “Perhaps foolishly so. But I see the fire in your soul. Prove yourself worthy, and I will consider your offer, but until then the bargain must be upheld.”
Lorelai nodded, determination blazing in her eyes. “I will.”
Aeryn kneeled in front of her father as per the custom, "Raziel Vladimir Cadis, I Aeryn Enma Cadis humbly honor thy struck agreement."
Raziel nodded and placed a hand on his daughter's shoulder, Lorelai watched her friend Aeryn sink into the shadows with her father, a single tear falling down her cheek. Aeryn did not wave goodbye.
************************************************************************************
By morning, the news spread like wildfire. The papers were ablaze with headlines:
SLAVE TRADE MYSTERIOUSLY ABOLISHED OVERNIGHT!
WESTERN COAST SLAVERY RING ENDS IN MASSACRE!
The articles described the obliteration of slaver strongholds along the western coast. Survivors whispered tales of an unstoppable force cloaked in shadow and crimson that annihilated their ranks. The accounts were chilling, filled with details of how the slave trade had been eradicated almost overnight, but none dared name the entity responsible.
“The chains that bound us have been broken,” one piece read. “The western coast wakes free of the shadow of slavery, though the cost remains shrouded in mystery.”
Aeryn read the papers silently, her face unreadable . The world didn’t know the Vampire King’s name, but she did. She understood the gravity of his actions. He hadn’t just freed the captives; he had sent a message to those who dared profit from the suffering of others.
Lorelai stands up from a chair, pacing after reading the current news headline, "I can't believe this is happening. Aeryn's gone, and how the hell are we supposed to get her back?"
Thrax was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, a calm but intense look on his face, "Seems like we're always fighting the odds, but we get through it. Aeryn’s not out of reach, we’ll find her and fight for her freedom."
Lorelai exhales sharply while folding her arms across her chest, "Yeah, I just can't believe we are actively going to try to infiltrate the castle of the vampire king! " She said excitedly but with trepedation. There's a glint in her eyes, a hint of determination.
Thrax nods slowly, acknowledging the truth in her words, "Yeah. She's definitely irreplaceable, its just not the same without her, doesn’t feel right."
Lorelai stops pacing and faces him, a smirk tugging at her lips, "Exactly. She’s the one who can make even the worst days feel like a twisted adventure, you know? Don’t even get me started on her teasing that I just can't help but laugh at, even when I am on the edge of losing it."
Thrax chuckled softly, "Yeah, she’s got that... special way. It's hard to be grim when she's around."
Lorelai eyes narrow, a shift from playful to serious, "That’s why we need to bring her back."
Thrax ,his tone deepens, resolute, "We’re not letting that happen. We go after her, and we don’t stop, not until she’s back where she belongs."
Lorelai grins with a hint of mischief, "That’s what I like to hear. I swear, Thrax, sometimes you sound like the tough guy, but you’ve got a heart in there somewhere."
Thrax raises an eyebrow, "Don’t get used to it."
Lorelai mock salutes, "Yeah, yeah, tough guy. Listen, no matter how rough the road gets, we do it for Aeryn. She’s the one who always has our backs, even when things get crazy. Now, it’s our turn."
"Right. Let’s get her back."
Lorelai nods firmly, her determination bolstering, "Agreed. Aeryn’s family and you are my family, and I don't give up on family."
class: Martial Force
Agi - 22
Will - 22
End - 18
Int- 16
Lightning Animus: Scarlet Thunderbird
Aura of Purity - emanate a protective aura that radiates from you granting allies protection and curing against poison, charm effects, and status ailments such as paralysis and petrification. Cures minor curses.
Bolt Slash/Piercer: A slash(sword)/Punch (Spear) that sends out lightning/radiant magic attack from a weapon. Small chance of paralysis effect, duration 1.5 s
Gravity Slash/Piercer: The slash presses down, the punch presses to a wall or other object. Str of gravity effect coordinates with WILL stat.
Daylight(light magic)- illuminates dark areas, weakens undead, and dispels magical darkness below a certain level/tier
Zakir- large bolt of lightning shot with two fingers, high piercing effect
Oppression- greatly increase the gravitational force in an aoe
Gravity Centrifuge-you create a focal point to create your gravitational pull point. Any enemy within a fifteen meter radius is pulled towards the center. The closer to the center, the stronger the pull. The ball of gravity explodes at the end of the spell dealing damage proportional to proximity to the center
Repulse- can repel or pull any metal object under the effects of lightning clad
Weight Manipulation (upgrade pending)- Alter the weight of yourself or target, concentration required. Drastic changes are available at a higher tier
Spatial Storage: Provides a pocket dimension to store non-living things in, the size of the space is dependent upon your INT stat.
Rapid thrusts - Give numerous quick thrusts, number of thrusts dependent upon AGI stat power of thrust dependent upon STR stat
Dash(Rank II)- rapidly increase movement speed for up to 2 meters cd 15 seconds. Speed of dash is dependent upon AGI stat, distance is dependent upon STR stat. At a small mana cost create an after-image to confuse enemies
Counterstrike- Parry and counter strike with a higher chance to critical. crit chance dependent upon WILL stat, damage dependent upon STR
Smite- Coats armaments in divine energy to augment weapon damage
Affinities: holy, radiant, light, lightning, gravity, spacetime, electromagnetism
basic skills- dash unarmed combat
Swordsmanship: Diamond Cutter: Dragonslaying Sword (second form)
Spearmanship: Spear of the Divine: Precision and Punishing (second form)
unique talent - shapeshifting (human only)
