Chapter 29 – Ashera and Ferid
[Owari no Seraph, Bathory's Training Course – 8th December 1020, 13:40]
It has been a week after Sika Madu visited Bathory's mansion. The day after that one day, Shujinko suddenly started teaching Ferid martial arts.
It was now the middle of the day, Ferid was on the training course, along with Shujinko, exercising Kung Fu.
"Ha! The designs of these moves are really clever! Kung Fu is such an interesting technique!" Ferid said.
"There are many different fighting styles in Kung Fu. The current one you are exercising is called the Mantis." Shujinko said.
The two people continued training. One hour later, the training session ended, and Ferid just sat on the ground to take a rest.
"That's really fun! I feel really nice after these training." Ferid said.
Then he looked at Shujinko. Shujinko's face showed a sad emotion on it.
"What's the matter? It seems you have been sad since last week… Is something happening, Master Shujinko?"
Since Ferid's asking, Shujinko hesitated a little bit.
"Young master… Are you going to join Sika Madu?"
Then Ferid showed a thinking pose. "Hmm… I'm actually considering about it…"
"Sigh, I know it…" Shujinko said. "Your destiny has probably been decided. I really can't do anything to stop it…"
"Huh?" Ferid was confused.
Ferid looked at Shujinko. Shujinko then pointed his head upward to the sky.
"Ferid, you know, right? You're going to become a vampire."
"So Master Shujinko know their plan?"
"Not exactly…" Shujinko said. "But I know what you will be facing when you join them…"
"So… you're going to stop me?"
"No…" Shujinko said sadly. "I cannot… That's why I was teaching you martial arts this early…"
Then the two people both looked at the sky.
"Do you know that?" Ferid suddenly asked.
"Know what?" Shujinko responded.
"I found my love."
Both people stopped talking, and looked at the sky quietly.
"How does he look?" After a few seconds, Shujinko broke the quietness.
"He's a pretty boy, with beautiful blue long hair and red pupil… Wait… how did you know he's a 'he'?!"
Shujinko just ignored Ferid's question, and pulled out something from his pocket. It was a round amulet, with a blue gem on top of it.
"What's this?" Ferid asked.
"It's an amulet from an old God. It can protect you from the evil. Please don't drop it!"
"Thank you, Master Shujinko…" Ferid said. "And… you actually agree with that?!"
"There's no way I can really change anything, and you're actually seeking for my agreement, right?"
"Mhm."
"Then I wish you good luck, Ferid, and please take care of the one you love."
"Thank you very much, Master Shujinko!" Ferid took the amulet, and prepared to leave the training course. "Good bye!"
Ferid has left the training course, thus Shujinko looked at the sky again.
"The destiny… Are we really unable to break it?" Shujinko said. "Thunder God Raiden… I really don't know now…"
Shujinko sighed, and walked back into the mansion.
[Owari no Seraph, Sika Madu's Mansion – 8th December 1020, 16:01]
Ferid has arrived in front of the mansion gate of Sika Madu's.
The mansion was not too far away from the Bathory's mansion. By looking at the outlook of it, it seemed like it was even bigger than the Bathory-owned one.
Ferid walked toward the gate. There were two people guarding it. Looking at their faces, red pupils can be clearly seen on them.
"Who're you?" The guards asked.
"I am Ferid Bathory. Sika Madu invited me to join their project…"
Just by hearing the name, the guards already opened the gate for him, thus letting him enter.
Coming close to the mansion's door, there was already someone waiting for him. He was someone that Ferid knew, who was, Rigr Stafford.
"Hi, Ferid! So you've decided, huh?" Rigr said.
"Yes." Ferid answered. "Although I'm not interested with your plan, you said you can let me see Ashera…"
"Mhm. That's the promise! I'll let you meet Ashera when the thing is done."
Then the two people entered the mansion. Walking inside, there was a giant living room in front of them, and it was even bigger and more gorgeous than the one inside Ferid's own mansion.
"So then… the question will be… how do I become a vampire?"
"It's simple." Rigr opened his mouth, and showed his vampire's teeth in front of Ferid. "You only need to drink a vampire's blood, and then you can become a vampire."
"Aha, so… to become a vampire, we need to do something that a vampire does, right?"
"You can say that."
Then Ferid began to glance the room. "Emm… where's the blood I need to drink then?"
"Hehe… You can drink mine." Rigr said playfully.
Then Ferid showed a total surprise on his face. "Seriously?!"
"You know, I'm a vampire, right?"
"But… Emm… can I request to drink Ashera's blood?" Ferid showed him being resisting.
"Unfortunately, no. You have to drink mine." Rigr said. "That's the progenitor's order."
"Ugh… I guess I have no choice then…" Ferid said. "Then how do I drink your blood?"
"By this!"
After Rigr's response, he just quickly moved his body forward to face Ferid straightly. The speed was so high that it was like teleporting instantly in front of him.
"What?!" Ferid was shocked by his sudden movement.
"Hehe! This is a surprise!"
Rigr quickly bit his own tongue, and kissed Ferid afterward, blood was flowing out from the tongue toward Ferid's mouth.
Ferid tried to push Rigr away, but he could not, since Rigr was much stronger than him. He was grabbing Ferid's shoulders, making Ferid no way to struggle out from him.
After a few seconds, Rigr finally let go of Ferid, and Ferid quickly stepped backward.
"That is… you… how could you?!" Ferid's face completely blushed.
"Hehe, that's pretty nice!" Rigr said playfully. "But now, the transformation should be started."
Rigr pulled out a mirror and placed it in front of Ferid. Ferid looked at his face. Sharp vampire teeth began to grow out from his mouth, and his ears began to become pointed.
"The transformation is quite successful I would say." Rigr said.
Then Ferid looked at his eyes. "It doesn't change color…"
"There are two phases of transformation. The first one is now done, and the second one requires you to drink human blood."
"I see." Ferid then turned his head and looked at Rigr. "But is it really necessary for you to kiss me?"
"I didn't need to." Rigr said. "However, I think doing so can improve our relationship. Since you drank my blood, we are now related in term of vampire's relationship."
"What kind of relationship is that?"
"Father and son."
"Huh? What kind of father will kiss his son like that?" Ferid said while being dissatisfied.
"Haha! I guess you're right."
After Rigr finished his words, he took out something from his pocket.
"Here, take them!" They were some kind of bracelets.
"What are those?"
"They're bracelets that can prevent you from being hurt by sunlight. You know, vampires are very sensitive to the sun…"
"Well that's handy!" Ferid took the bracelets and wore them.
Then just in the same moment, someone arrived in the living room.
"Hey! I'm back!"
It was a familiar voice. This was the voice that Ferid was always dreaming of hearing of.
"Ashera! You're back!" Rigr said.
He was Ashera, the one that Ferid was really in love with.
Besides Ashera, there were two more people behind him. One was the black-haired boy that Ferid has seen before. The other one was a pink-haired girl.
"Aren't you the bad guy we met in the market on that day?" The black-haired boy said.
"I remember your name! You're Jennifer, right?" Ashera then said.
"Yes, I'm finally here for you! My little prince!" Ferid said cheerfully.
Then Ferid looked at Rigr. Rigr just gently nodded. "As promised!"
Ferid quickly walked toward Ashera, and put his hands on Ashera's shoulders.
"Ashera, since you're here, let's go on a date! I have a lot of things to talk to you!"
"Oh… that… sure?" Ashera said while being confused.
"Damn you! Don't try to kidnap Ashera again! You bastard!" The black-haired boy started shouting.
Then Ferid just went outside with Ashera, while the other two also following them.
[Owari no Seraph, Sika Madu's Garden – 8th December 1020, 16:12]
Just like the mansion, Sika Madu's own garden was almost as big as it. Its structure was even like a maze.
The four people, including Ferid, Ashera, the pink-haired girl and the black-haired boy, all sat near a fountain.
"So you two really followed us, huh?" Ferid said to the girl and the boy.
"Of course, what if you do something bad on our Ashera?!" The black-haired boy said.
"So, it seems like you're really not trusting me, huh?"
"Don't mind him. He's always like that." Ashera said.
Then Ferid began to glance on the girl and the boy.
"Hmm… I still don't know you two's names… Would you two mind to introduce yourselves to me, since I have joined this family."
"Sure, let me introduce them to you!" Ashera said. He then put his hand on the girl's shoulder. "This is Krul. She's my little sister."
"Oh, so you have a sister… Nice to meet you, Krul!"
After Ferid said that, Krul just showed an unsatisfied face.
"I think… I don't trust this guy!"
"Huh?" Ferid said in surprise.
"Oh, Krul. Don't be like that!" Ashera said.
"But brother, why did he need to lie to us then?" Krul said. "If his name is Ferid, why he called himself 'Jennifer'?"
"This… maybe he has something better left unsaid?"
Then Ferid showed a thinking gesture.
"I have to say sorry then. Lying to you wasn't something I want to do originally." Ferid said. "There are several reasons I used that name, instead of my real name…"
"First of all, since I come from a noble family, if I tell you my real name in the first place, I may end up in danger…" Ferid continued.
"Secondly, do you know what's the meaning behind the name 'Jennifer'? It originated from Norman French that contains two elements, gwen and sebara, which mean 'fair, white, blessed' and 'phantom, magical being'. Wouldn't you think that a fair phantom is quite lyrical, and romantic?"
"I guess that makes sense…" Ashera said.
"So you weren't really wanting to deceive us in the first place?" Krul asked.
"No, I promise!"
Then Krul hesitated for a little bit. "Alright then, I'll trust you for now."
"Thank you!"
Then Ashera started to stare at Ferid.
"What's the matter…?" Ferid said while in confusion.
"I was wondering what I should call you then? Jennifer or Ferid…" Ashera said. "By looking at your outlook… Those silver long hair… I guess 'Jennifer' really fits you well."
"Aha, that's also why I chose the name!"
"Then so be it! I'll keep calling you Jennifer!" Ashera said. "Jennifer, nice to meet you then!"
"Nice to meet you, my prince!"
Then Ferid looked at the black-haired boy.
"So… how about you? You're the only one who hasn't been introduced yourself yet." Ferid placed his hand on the boy's shoulder.
"No, I'm not going to introduce myself to you, since last time you've totally ignored me!" The boy just looked at the opposite direction from Ferid.
"Huh? Don't be like that…"
Ashera was trying to say the boy's name out. However, "don't say it, Ashera!" The boy stopped him.
"Alright, Ferid! If you want to be my friend, you have to guess my name correctly before you can have me as your friend!"
"That… Won't that be too difficult for Jennifer to do so?"
"Yes, but I've decided. Ferid! Do you still want to guess it?"
"Aha, that's interesting!" Ferid said. "Challenge accepted!"
Then Ferid started to think. "Is your name… John?"
"No."
"Hmm… Then how about… Ken?"
"Also no."
"Oh… Then… how about Mary?"
"NO! Are you kidding me? That's a girl name!" The boy said angrily.
"Oh! But my 'Jennifer' is also a girl name…"
"Don't compare yourself to me!"
"Alright, alright… Let's get it serious! How about…"
[Owari no Seraph, Sika Madu's Training Area – 15th December 1020, 11:13]
It has been a week after Ferid joined.
Ferid has spent most of his time with Ashera. Since last week, their relationship has become closer and closer.
And at this time being, they were at the training course outside the Sika Madu's mansion, while Ferid was showing his swordsmanship skill to Ashera.
"That's amazing, Jennifer!" Ashera said while clapping. "I don't even know you're that good at swordsmanship!"
"Aha, that's one of my talents!" Ferid said. "Although I'm saying that, I still have to thank my mentor for teaching me good!"
"I see. You sure have a good mentor then! Unlike me, there's never been anyone teaching me this kind of skills…"
"Huh? That's odd then… You don't have any mentor or teacher to teach you any knowledge or skill?"
"Well, our father did teach us some literature and philosophy, and some similar stuff, but there was really no one teaching us something like swordsmanship…"
By hearing that, Ferid was totally shocked. "That's unbelievable… I mean… how rich and powerful Sika Madu is? He should be able to hire some mentors…"
"Maybe he don't want other people to know the secret plan?"
"We could just let them join us, couldn't we?"
After Ferid asking, there was a voice coming out with an answer from behind.
"Not everyone is suitable for becoming a vampire. Only those special ones could!"
Ashera and Ferid both looked backward to the direction where the voice came out.
There was a boy walking toward them. He had a hair style that were divided into two parts. One part was seemed to be violet-red in color, and the other part was white instead.
"Who is this boy? He got some strange hair…" Ferid said.
"He's Lest Karr. He's also a vampire like us, and a friend of mine." Ashera said.
After Lest Karr came close to the two people, he reached out his hand toward Ferid.
"So you're Ferid Bathory? Nice to meet you!"
"Nice to meet you, Lest Karr!" Ferid also put out his hand to shake Lest Karr's hand.
"Lest Karr, you said only the special ones can become a vampire. What does that mean?" Ashera said.
"Hmm… I think I need to make it clear that actually everyone can become a vampire. However, like human, vampire can also be divided into different class, such as progenitor, noble and normal vampire."
"In the current phase of our plan, we don't want to have too much normal vampires, so we now only choose those talented humans, for progenitor vampire." Lest Karr continued.
"I see. That's why you chose me then." Ferid said proudly.
"However, if we're only looking for talent, we would probably end up with a lot of noble instead of progenitor. So there is also one more condition to be a progenitor vampire."
"What's that then?"
"The condition is… if you're destined."
"Huh… What kind of lame condition is this…?"
After Ashera said that, he looked at Ferid. He was surprised by Ferid's current emotion, which was, totally astounded.
"What… what happen? Jennifer?"
"Destined…? Are you sure? Lest Karr? Who told you about that?" Ferid said.
"It was told by our father." Lest Karr said. "But you seemed like you've been surprised. Did you hear that before?"
"My mentor has told me similar thing before…" Ferid said. "… Well, I just miss my mentor…"
Hearing that, Lest Karr smiled. "Oh! May I ask who's your mentor then?"
"His… his name is Shujinko."
"Ha! I see! Shujinko, such a great warrior he is!"
"You heard of him?!" Ferid was even more surprised.
"Yes, and he is one of the most famous general in this kingdom! There's no wonder how you're so good in swordsmanship!" Lest Karr said.
"Is… is he?"
Afterward, Lest Karr pulled out his sword from his waist. "How about we have a match, Ferid?"
Hearing Lest Karr's words, Ashera was surprised.
"Lest Karr… you know swordsmanship?!"
"Hehe… I actually do know swordsmanship, although I haven't been taught by any mentor."
"Aha, interesting then! Let me teach you some technique in this competition!"
Ferid and Lest Karr both posed and were ready to fight.
The competition started. Both sides started their assault.
However, surprisingly, they were almost evenly matched.
"This is… unbelievable!" Ashera said in surprise.
Then just after a second, Lest Karr's sword impaled through Ferid's shoulder. Ferid was forced to kneel down and was astounded once again.
"Jennifer!" Ashera was worried.
"Oh, I'm sorry! I should be more careful!" Lest Karr just pulled out his sword from Ferid's wound. "But don't worry! We, vampires, have very good regenerative power. Your shoulder will regenerate soon."
After Lest Karr said that, Ferid's wound just started to recover. "See? I'm right about that."
Within a few seconds, Ferid's wound disappeared, thus he stood up and looked at Lest Karr with a serious eyes.
"This… Where did you learn all of this?" Ferid said.
"Hehe… Actually, I didn't learn them. I was born with skills." Lest Karr said playfully.
"That doesn't… make any sense… No one was… born with skills!" Ferid said.
"Haha! You sure won't trust this, aren't you!" Lest Karr put his sword back to his scabbard. "But that's alright. You're going to trust that one day."
Then Lest Karr began to walk toward the exit of the training area.
"Ashera…" Lest Karr said while his back was facing the two people. "Since the first progenitor's plan is now proceeding, I have to leave this country for some side works for several days. So you are not going to see me until this month ends."
"I see. Then I wish you luck!" Ashera said.
"Thank you!" Lest Karr said. "And see you later!"
Lest Karr was about to walk out from the training area.
"Or part forever!"
A quiet sentence came out from Lest Karr's mouth. Only Ferid was able to hear that, thus making him even more shocked, and confused.
Then Ashera turned his head toward Ferid. He wanted to check Ferid's injury on his shoulder. But then what he could only see, was Ferid's shocking face.
"Jennifer… are you alright? Are you still feeling the pain?!" Ashera said worriedly.
Then Ferid looked at Ashera.
"He… he's a… monster!" Apparently, the emotion that Ferid only had now, was fear.
"Ashera…" Ferid said while trembling. "Originally… I wanted to teach you swordsmanship… Let's learn something else!"
"Su-… sure!" Ashera said.
"Let's learn Kung Fu… My mentor taught me some of them…"
After Ferid finished his words, Ferid tried to make his head clear, and then started his tutorial with Ashera.
[Owari no Seraph, Central Market – 22nd December 1020, 15:45]
One more week has been passed.
The Kung Fu training between Ashera and Ferid was successful. By borrowing some scrolls from Shujinko, both people learnt some new techniques that Ferid had not learnt before.
Today, they decided to take a rest and had a walk in the central market.
The Central Market today was as normal as before. Nothing changed and people were continuing their activities, selling and buying, discussing business, and the slaves were still being abused.
However, there was someone that has been changed. Ferid, now a vampire, finally noticed it.
His emotion was gradually losing. When he looked at the slaves, the compassion he had before was now fading away. Only the desire of blood remained.
Ferid was first worried about this change. But as long as Ashera was at his side, and his emotion to Ashera was not gone, he was okay with that.
While Ferid was thinking about this, he and Ashera were now going back to Sika Madu's mansion, along with stuffs they had bought today.
[Owari no Seraph, Sika Madu's Mansion – 22nd December 1020, 16:03]
Ferid and Ashera were back in the mansion.
While in the living room, there were several people waiting for them, including Rigr, Krul, plus a young man that had blond hair and a dark skin, who was Urd Geales, and also a man with a flowing cloak with hood.
"Wow, it seems like everyone is here!" Ferid said. "Are we going to have a party?"
"Not really, Ferid? We're actually going to have a conference for our next step." Rigr said.
"But wait, who is that guy with a cloak? I never saw him…"
Before Ashera could finish his words, "Ashera, are you really not knowing who I am?" He was interrupted by that man.
"This voice…" Ashera was shocked. "Fa-… father?!"
"So it's the progenitor, Sika Madu himself, right?" Ferid said. "But why wearing a cloak?"
"Because of some experiment problem, I now need to wear this cloak…"
"Ha, what kind of experiment will that be then?"
"Of course it's something impressive." The man with the cloak said. "But let's not digress from our today topic. Today we are discussing our next step."
"For the next step, we need one of us to be a sacrifice. More specifically, I need one of us to become an Oni."
"Oni? What is that?"
"An Oni in our language can be called a demon. Although between these two, there are a lot of differences, I guess you can just call it like that…"
"But then you may want to ask why we need an Oni. Now let me explain what we are actually doing. About our real plan, we're actually summoning several angels." The man continued.
"Angels?"
"Yes, and they're called the 'Seraph of the End'. They're the angels that can bring apocalypse to the world, but at the same time, they can also make our any wish to become true."
"We can use their destructive power as our own country's secret weapon. Our king can also use them to grant his own wish."
"That seems quite dangerous then…" Ashera said.
"It is! But I have the confidence that we can totally control them for our use, since we actually have the key to do so." The man said. "But then before we could control them, we need something for the activation, which are… the sacrifices I said before!"
"I see, so we need the Oni, which will be one of us, to be sacrifice?"
"Yes, and we actually just need their blood, plus human and vampire blood, which are easy to get, to activate an angel."
Then everyone started to think.
"What would happen if we become an Oni?" Ashera asked.
"When a vampire becomes an Oni, they will become the carrier of lust."
"Carrier of lust?"
"Yes, an Oni is something that always seeks for their own primitive desire at the most extreme way. It will also corrupt others and turn them into their kinds. Since their lust is too extreme, it's possible for them to lose every other knowledge and memory unrelated to their desire."
"That… that's horrible!"
"Yup! However, if we successfully summon the Seraph of the End, we can grant a wish to turn the Oni back to normal."
"Then… now the question is… who are going to be the sacrifices?"
After Krul asked that, the whole living room has become totally quiet.
"I actually have some choices." The man said after several seconds of quietness.
"Who are they?" Ferid asked.
Then the man placed his hand on Ashera's shoulder. "Ashera will be a good choice."
Hearing that, Ferid and Krul were totally shocked. "Wait, what?" Ferid said.
"Why… why choosing my brother?!" Krul said.
"Actually, inside Ashera's body, there's a great amount of energy. If we use him as sacrifice, the successful rate of summoning the Seraph of the End will be drastically increased."
"But… are you serious?! Turning Ashera into that kind of monster?! Are you kidding me?!" Ferid said angrily.
"Ferid, mind your manner." Rigr said.
"Rigr, you!"
"Don't be that angry yet, Ferid." Urd suddenly said. "We didn't hear what Ashera's going to say yet."
Then everyone looked toward Ashera.
"I… I don't know… I sure don't want to be that kind of monster, but…"
"Ashera, Ashera…" The man said. "Actually, if we succeed, there's going to be benefit for you, Krul and even Ferid."
"Benefit?"
"Yes, if we successfully summon the angels, we could grant a wish to revive your parents and turn all of you back to human. Then you can live happily with the ones you love again! Isn't it wonderful?"
"That…"
"That's not right!" Ferid said furiously. "I won't agree to that! I WON'T AGREE!"
"Jennifer…"
"It's up to you, Ashera." The man put his both hands on Ashera's shoulders. "Do you want a wonderful future with the ones you love? Or you want to continue to be like your current state?"
Ashera could not answer. He could not make the choice since it could make the one he loved upset. Ferid and Krul, he did not want to hurt them.
However, if he really successfully summoned the angels, they could probably live a better life. At this point, he could not make any choice.
Then he looked at Ferid and Krul. They both showed a face of upset, and distress.
"Can I have some time to consider?" Ashera asked.
"Of course you can. You have around 2 to 3 days to consider, since we're going to set out on Christmas."
"OK, thank you very much then!"
After Ashera finished his words, he left the living room, and went back to his own room to think. Ferid and Krul also followed him.
[Owari no Seraph, Ashera's room – 22nd December 1020, 16:27]
"Why don't you just refuse it, Ashera?!" Ferid said irritatingly.
"Yes! That request is totally ridiculous! We shouldn't accept such a thing!" Krul said, also irritatingly.
"Jennifer… Krul…" Ashera said. "I know your concern, but if we do succeed, wouldn't it be good if we could see our parents again. And Jennifer, I can finally introduce my real parents to you!"
"But you'll become a monster… How could that be good?!"
"Jennifer…" Ashera sighed. "I haven't told this to you before… I should tell you earlier…"
"I forget how many years ago, but I totally remember what happened. My parents were killed in the war… and Krul and I then both became slaves. Our father was the one who saved us from that." Ashera continued.
"Krul, maybe you've forgot the days in the past. But I still remember it, remember those days, how happy we were, and how joyful those days were."
"Now, here we have the opportunity. Are we really going to miss it?"
"But… but that…"
Before Krul could say anything, Ferid suddenly knelt down.
"Ashera, please, don't go! I beg you please don't go! Now is now! If we force to bring back the past, there is possibility for us to fail! And I don't really want you to become a monster!" Ferid said.
"Jennifer…"
"Ashera, you're my treasure! My gem! My everything! For now, I really can't lose you! Ashera, I love you!"
While saying that, tears were dropping from Ferid's eyes.
"Jennifer…" Ashera also cried. "I love you too!"
The current situation completely shocked Krul. How long ago has her seen a vampire crying. Although the lust for blood has made their emotion to fade, their dedication did not.
"I am sorry, Jennifer, Krul." Ashera said. "Please leave me alone! I want to clear my mind and really think about that!"
"But…"
"PLEASE LEAVE ME ALONE!" Ashera shouted.
Hearing such response, Ferid and Krul, could only helplessly leave Ashera's room.
"Brother… it can't be…" Krul could not bear the hard blow, thus ran away, leaving Ferid at the corridor.
However, Ferid could not do anything. He could only just walk away, and hope Ashera decide not to become an Oni.
[Owari no Seraph, Bathory's Mansion – 25th December 1020, 10:06]
It was the day of Christmas, a day that celebrated the birth of the Son of God.
It was a day that everyone celebrated happily, except someone.
Ferid, a vampire, has been roaming outside for a whole day.
"I decided! I will become an Oni, to be a sacrifice for summoning the Seraph of the End. It's all for the future with Krul, and you, Jennifer!"
This same line has been looping inside Ferid's mind again and again. It could not fade away.
Because of that, Ferid has not drunk any blood for almost 3 days. Now, his lust for blood has come to a point that was about to blow.
Roaming and roaming, without any consciousness. Ferid, has returned to his own mansion.
He came inside, and saw the slaves who were working for the Bathory's family. Because of the hunger, he quickly ran toward them, and slained them, thus drinking their blood to fulfill the desire.
A massacre was going on. Those ones who have been helped by Ferid, now could only be murdered by the emotionless vampire.
Everyone was gone. Ferid looked at the bodies in front of him. He finally regained his consciousness. He could not be upset for what he had done because almost all of his emotion was already faded away.
"So now… I'm also a monster, huh…"
"Ashera… why did you choose such a road?!"
Tears were coming out from his eyes. The only emotion remained, was the love between him and Ashera.
"Young master!"
A familiar voice came out from behind. Ferid turned around, and it was his mentor, Shujinko.
"Master Shujinko… I'm sorry for all I've done…"
"Young master…" Shujinko looked at the body pile. Surprisingly, he was not shocked.
"I know it will come one day…" Shujinko sighed. "Was something happened, young master?"
Then Ferid told Shujinko what was happening, since Ashera decided to become an Oni.
After hearing what Ferid said, this time, Shujinko was finally shocked.
"Sika Madu… You… What're you thinking about?!" Shujinko said.
"I am sorry… Master Shujinko… I couldn't…"
"That's not the main point!" Before Ferid could finish his words, Shujinko's shouting interrupted him.
"Mas-… Master Shujinko?"
"He is totally crazy! Why turns such an important person into Oni?! You have to be kidding!"
Then Shujinko turned his head toward Ferid. "Young master. Is it really Sika Madu's decision? Did you hear the news straightly from his mouth?"
"I guess it was." Ferid said. "When we were told about the Oni, Sika Madu was holding a conference with all of us… Although…"
"Although he was wearing a cloak? I couldn't see his face since his hood was covering it… But his voice surely was Sika Madu." Ferid continued.
Then Shujinko started to think. "It can't be…"
After some thoughts, "that's no good!" Shujinko suddenly said. "It's all a trap!"
"A… a trap?!" Ferid was shocked.
"Ferid, just find Ashera and Krul, and run away as fast as possible!"
"What…?"
Before Ferid could react, a bug suddenly appeared and landed on Shujinko's hand.
Shujinko quickly looked at his hand, and swung his another hand toward the bug. The pressure created pushed the bug away, and squashed it toward a wall.
However, what the most scary thing was, the blood coming out of the bug's body, began to melt down the wall that it was squashed on.
"What… what is that?!" Ferid said in surprise.
"It's the enemy!" Shujinko said. "Just come out! You dirty bug!"
After Shujinko shouted, a woman with yellow insect-like exoskeleton just flew toward them.
"Good for you, human! You can notice it was me!"
"Who… who is she? An insect monster?" Ferid said.
"She's D'Vorah. A Kytinn warrior, also the queen of bugs." Shujinko said.
"You sure know a lot! Shujinko!" D'Vorah said.
"Seeing you here… That means either the Netherrealm or the Outworld is responsible to all of this, right? Who are you serving, insect?"
"Since you're going to die, that'll be none of your business." D'Vorah grabbed out a giant bug from her stomach, and started to pat it. "You two will become fodder for my babies!"
After D'Vorah finished her words, Shujinko just posed and prepared for battle.
"Young master, do you still have the amulet?" Shujinko asked.
"Yes, I have." Ferid took out the amulet from his pocket.
"Go find Ashera and hand the amulet to him. It will protect him from the evil! Also, here, take this!"
Shujinko threw a scroll toward Ferid, and Ferid picked it up.
"This is…?"
"It's the scroll that recorded the true history of this world, how the incarnation happened again and again, and the history of Mortal Kombat!"
"Now go find Ashera, and protect him! It's all on you, Ferid!"
"Thank you, Master Shujinko!" Ferid took the scroll and started to run.
"Do you really think I'll let you go?" D'Vorah wanted to chase after Ferid, but was punched by Shujinko hard.
"Don't be disturbed! I'm your opponent, you little bug!" Shujinko said.
"You filthy old man!"
[Owari no Seraph, great prairie – 25th December 1020, 12:25]
The place chosen for farewell between Ashera and others was a great prairie area, not far away from the Sika Madu's mansion.
Ferid has arrived, and saw Krul kneeling down on the ground.
"Krul, you're here! Where's Ashera?" Ferid asked.
"Brother… Brother's gone!"
"What direction are they going?"
Krul pointed the direction where they left. "Thank you, Krul!" Ferid said. "It's all a trap, and I'm going to save him!"
Ferid then ran toward the direction Krul was pointing to.
"Ferid… please… save my brother!"
After several minutes of chasing, Ferid finally came close to the two people.
"ASHERA!" Ferid shouted, thus stopped them from moving.
"Ferid? Why are you…?"
Ferid stopped in front of them. "Ashera, this is a trap! The person next to you isn't Sika Madu! He's an imposter!"
"Huh?" Ashera was shocked.
"Hehe! Ferid, you finally noticed I'm not the real progenitor, right?" The man said.
"Who the hell are you?!"
The man put down his hood, and showed his face to the two people. He was…
"Rigr… Stafford?!" Ferid could not believe for what he saw.
"Yes, it's me, Ferid, your father!"
"How could this be…?" Ashera was also shocked.
"How could this be possible, right?"
"Yes! And I saw you in the conference that day with us!" Ferid said. "You even told me to behave!"
"Hehe! Actually, that's my ability!"
After Rigr said that, a clone of him rose from the ground, but it was appeared to be darker in color.
"Haven't you heard of Noob and Saibot?" Rigr said playfully.
"It can't be…" Ferid was surprised. "There're two of you?"
"Then… how about our father, the real one?" Ashera said.
"Ah, he has already left. He has proceeded to the next step of his own plan. You probably won't be able to see him for a thousand year from now. And for me, we have my own plan!"
"Rigr… you… give me back Ashera!"
"Haha, seeing you being angry and embarrassed is quite fun actually, Ferid, especially last time I kissed you! But unfortunately, I won't give your Ashera back, and the game to trick you is now over!"
When Rigr finished his saying, the clone of him sank into the ground, and suddenly appeared under Ashera, grabbing him toward the black hole under them.
"Jen-… Jennifer…!" Ashera was panicked.
"Ashera… NOOOOOOOOOO!"
While Ferid shouted, Ashera was completely sank into the hole, without any trace left.
"I won't forgive you! Rigr!"
"Hahaha! I'm your father, and I'm stronger than you! You won't be able to beat me!"
"And you know what? I'm not going to be the one to kill you. I'll let my minion do it. Come out!"
Two portals opened up, and two people came out from each of them.
Their clothing showed they were assassins. However, unlike common assassins, the color of their clothes was very bright. One was wearing yellow and the other one was wearing blue.
"Here we have, Scorpion and Sub-Zero! They will do my job for me!"
"Don't try to look down on me!"
Ferid just straightly ran toward Rigr. However, the two assassins gave Ferid an upper-cut, thus sending Ferid upward to the sky.
When Ferid's body landed on the ground, Scorpion just pulled off his head skin, and showed the flaming skull inside. The skull was then turned toward Ferid, and breathed out fire from its mouth.
At the same time, Sub-Zero charged up ice energy from his palms, and then shot out an ice beam toward Ferid.
Ferid was being burnt and frozen at the same time. Along with his scream, he was unable to counterattack.
"Hell fire and ice magic! Even a vampire's regenerative power couldn't bear!"
A few seconds later, the assault stopped. However, the fire and ice were still burning and freezing his body, which finally made him stop struggle.
"Hehe! This should do it!" Rigr said playfully. "You're going to die soon! But before that, as your father, instead of tricking you again, I will do one thing to treat you!"
"Do you know who's the mastermind of this whole thing?" Rigr continued. "Actually, it's not me! And the one behind all of this is… Lest Karr!"
"Hahaha! It's unbelievable, right? Hahaha!" Rigr opened up a portal. "Farewell, Ferid!"
After finishing his words, the three people just entered the portal and left the plain.
"Ferid! Ferid!" After Rigr left the field, Krul finally arrived.
Ferid was still burning and freezing at the same time. But then just a moment, there was a blue light emitting from Ferid's pocket, thus extinguishing out the fire and unfreezing the body.
Krul picked up Ferid, and saw his body began to regenerate.
"Krul…" Ferid said with a very weak voice. "I am sorry… I couldn't save… Ashera…"
"Brother… brother!" Krul just started crying, and could not do anything.
Then Ferid took out something from his pocket. It was the blue amulet that Shujinko gave him. It turned out that the amulet had saved him.
"Ashera, Ashera…" Ferid clenched his fist, along with tears dropping from his eyes.
[Owari no Seraph, Sika Madu's Mansion – 27th December 1020, 11:00]
Two days after the missing of Ashera, and Sika Madu himself, several vampires were also gone missing.
After discussion between vampires, they decided to organize an underground society, and give those chosen ones a title of progenitor.
Krul and Lest Karr were third progenitors. Rigr and Urd were second, and Ferid was seventh, based on who their fathers were.
And for the experiment and plan of the Seraph of the End, because of the risk, uncertainty and destructiveness, the whole plan was prohibited, and the vampires have earned the responsibility to stop any experiments to happen.
However, while the conference between the progenitors, Krul has tried to complain about Lest Karr's responsibility of Ashera's missing. But since she did not have enough evidence, the complains were decided to be ignored, and even created opposition between different groups of vampires, which resulted in the Lest Karr's faction and Krul Tepes' faction.
And for Ferid, "you're still here, huh?!"
Ferid was now meeting Rigr inside Sika Madu's mansion.
"Yeah!" Rigr said. "Just want to see my son, can't I?"
"…"
"Hehe! You're really lucky last time! I wouldn't think you could survive that, and you prove me wrong!"
"GIVE ME BACK ASHERA!" Ferid shouted angrily.
"Sorry, he's already an Oni now!" Rigr said. "It's too late. By your current strength, you're no way to save him…"
"But since you've survived, I could give you a chance!"
Rigr took out a bottle and threw it toward Ferid. Ferid picked it up.
The liquid inside the bottle was crimson in color.
"That's my blood! Go find some alliance to help you!" Rigr said. "And then look for Seraph of the End! That'll be the key to save Ashera."
"Why do you help me now?!"
"Just final treat from your father. And I want to make things more interesting!"
Then Rigr opened up a portal. "Ah, one more thing…" Rigr said. "Mikaela, that's another key!"
"And I will go to the east, a country… It's called Japan, right? And I'm going to make my own organization… Maybe a religious one? Hehe, see your next time in the next thousand years, Ferid!"
After finishing his words, Rigr just entered the portal and left, once again.
And now, the hatred was grown inside Ferid's heart, with his love and dedication to Ashera, it would never burn out. Whatever what has to be done, and what has happened, it, would not change.
That was the story, of Ashera, and Ferid.
To be continued…
