Chapter 67

"Bwah, fresh air!" exclaimed Risu as they emerged from the cleaners outpost.

Their group found their ruin pocket empty with an active teleportation circle. Fearing the worst, they headed back topside.

"The other group found their site empty too," informed Coco as she held up a sending stone, "I think everyone had their sites empty. Only Oga's group hasn't sent anything."

"But we helped remove all the teleportation circles in the city," protested Moona, "How is it-"

She was interrupted by a loud roar. The trio ran down the street to find the source of the sounds. They found a group of undead getting beaten down by various people led by a bronze-scaled dragonborn.

"Sir Kazuma!" exclaimed their dragonborn bard in excitement.

He looked at them and blinked in surprise. "Coco?" he said her name in surprise as he slammed a vampire spawn's head into the road.

She squealed as she ran up to him, "You remembered me! Sir, are you helping the adventurers guild?"

"Ah," he sounded off as he nodded in confirmation, "He approached the boss about our cooperation. We have the northern part of the city secure and in our hands."

"Amazing! As expected of the legend of legends!" she exclaimed happily.

"...Why is she behaving like this?" asked the squirrel girl, pointing at the dragonborn bard as she turned to her friend.

"I have absolutely no idea," deadpanned the aasimar.

"Have you sent the message?" asked Fubuki.

"Yup," stated Rikka, "Also passed on the message about Temma's group and Aberoft's group. Temma should be leading his group towards the south while Aberoft is heading to secure the guild house."

"Alright, where do we go now, Miss Fubuki?" asked Izuru.

"We go to the healing temple. If there isn't anything assailing the temple, we lend aid to the other sites."

"Lead the way, Miss Fubuki."

"Cut them down!" shouted Aberoft, cutting a swathe through the undead to lead his group of three towards the guild house.

"Relax," chided Kira, "I'm sure after all that shouting, they'll be coming after us now."

"Ahead. There are people fighting up ahead, sir," shouted Artia, noticing someone dressed in orange fighting, "In front of Robel's"

"Forward!" the paladin urged on, "For glory!"

"That's another group down," said Temma as he wrenched his glaive out of a dead spawn.

"I am certain that we are thinning them out well enough," stated Leda, "Then again, we are pretty much picking off the outside groups."

"Still, I find it very strange that they aren't bringing the undead on a rampage," mused Civia.

"If they want to take over the capital, they will want to remove all opposition," stated Temma with a frown, "The guards, the guild, and any unaffiliated powers in the city. Most of which Lord Aruran probably knows." Turning to the warlocks, he continued, "I hope everything is alright with him."

Screams of the dying guard patrols were pleasing to the ear. The armored vampire had a grin plastered on his face under his helm as he strode through the empty streets. The spawn and the undead were obedient, just as he preferred it. He had confidence to the point of arrogance at this time as he and his numerous group made their way to the west gate.

"My lord, something is strange," said one of the spawn as she ran up to him.

"Whatever those guards have, they will have nothing that can resist us," he declared as he brushed it off.

On the approach, his ears heard something odd. Armor? Horses? Once again, he brushed it off. Just guards and horses from the stable. There was no way that the guards had enough training to use horses in a fight.

"Volley!"

What!?

He looked up and listened. The whistling became arrows that rained on the undead and the spawn. Looking behind him at his forces, the arrows fell, either pinning them to the ground or destroying them outright. His anger was rising at the sight.

"Charge!"

He spun around to the gate. The sound of horses charging. As they came under the street lights, he saw a line of knights on horseback led by a silver-haired knight charging them down. Surprised, he didn't react in time when he was knocked off his feet as they charged through. Scrambling to his feet, he clashed with a mace just in time to defend himself. The silver-haired female seemed to have picked him out while her knights seemed to be fighting the undead and spawn that weren't caught in the arrow volley.

"Why are you attacking the city?" demanded the knight as they pushed each other off.

"I am merely following orders," he replied with a sneer as he swung his longsword around, "Though, I would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy this."

"Unforgivable," she declared as she grit her teeth, "I am Noel Shirogane and I will be your executioner."

He grinned and said, "I am Viktor von Christner. Come and get me, if you dare."

With both sides yelling a warcry, they clashed again.

Francine laughed as she watched the Sireos' School of Might and Magic get besieged by the undead. She couldn't wait to get inside and play with the students. All the students. All of them will join her family.

"Oh, it makes me wet just thinking about it," she muttered alluringly as she squirmed blushingly. Then, she frowned when something seemed to be stopping the undead from breaking through the gate and the vampire spawn from climbing the walls.

"Tch," she sounded when she realized one of the old men inside had cast Wall of Force around the school, "Oh well, we just need to wait a bit."

Turning around and addressing her secondary group, she gestured and ordered, "I think it's time to boost our offense. If you would go in."

She blinked in surprise when the ghouls didn't move a rotten muscle. "I said go in and boost our offense," she repeated and grew increasingly irate when they still refused to move.

"Why aren't you moving!?" she shrieked.

"I'm afraid these aren't yours anymore."

She blinked. A pink-haired girl stepped out of the shadows. She wore an elegant whitish-pink dress with black lace. The closer she looked, she noticed that there were ethereal threads going from her fingers to her undead.

"These are my fandead now," the girl stated calmly.

"You..." the vampire growled at the sight and started preparing a spell.

"It seems you are one of the people who are responsible for this mess," she continued nonchalantly, "I recommend you to leave."

"Really… I would say the same to you," Francine growled as she formed a green globe of sickly green light.

"Hmm, you refused. Very well," she stated before snapping her fingers, "Ollie."

"Yes, mistress," stated a zombie girl in a maid uniform as she stepped near out of the shadows.

"Take out the trash."

Ollie grinned. Stepping towards the vampire, she pulled the longsword that was stuck in her head while sporting a grin that unnerved the vampire. The zombie then let out a banshee-like shriek as she leaped at the vampire swinging.

Oga yelled loudly as he charged past all the undead straight for the von Christner vampire. Shrieks and roars issued forth when the undead charged straight at the rest of the party.

"Any minute now, Lamy!" yelled out Aloe after getting bitten by a vampire spawn.

"By my goddess, I shall wash away all that is horrid!" the cleric declared as she raised her holy amulet.

"Nice!" exclaimed Yogiri as she helped her juniors with one spawn that didn't get turned.

As that was going on, two explosions of sound boomed next to them. The sound waves tore through the unaffected spawn and several ghasts which resisted the turning.

"Sir Micheal, our lord- what is going on here!?" shouted someone.

Eyes went to the balcony and the party narrowed theirs. A familiar half-elf was at the top, gaping at the scene before him.

"Reyo!" roared Polka as another ghast and the resisting spawn fell, "Get him!"

"Oi, keep your head in the game," called out Shien as he chided them, "At least help us thin this herd down before you run after him."

"But of course," Lamy agreed as they went two ways to each side; she went with Nene and Aloe to the left side while the other four went to the set of stairs on the right.

However, as she continued using her spells, a strange thing happened. Upon using her Ray of Frost spell, her ring started shining brightly. That shine suddenly spread throughout her entire body. She didn't notice it at first, but when she summoned her spirit sword, a unicorn suddenly appeared next to her.

"What!?" she exclaimed as she staggered away from the mythical creature in surprise.

It shook its vibrant blonde mane in amusement as it spoke to her telepathically, "Well, I didn't expect to be pulled here." It took a look around and snorted, "And I can see why. I shall do my utmost to help."

"Thank...you?" she replied mentally as she got over her shock, "You could help our allies in the meantime. My friends and I are after a more insidious target."

"Say no more. Your friends are my friends and your allies are mine," it stated in agreement as it teleported over to the right side.

"He's getting away!"

"After him!" she replied to Botan, caving in the vampire spawn's head before charging up the stairs with the lore bard and the succubus.

The party hurried up the stairs and ran through the upper platform, reaching the balcony area with haste. They spotted two doors leading further into the ruins.

"There's more undead there," muttered Nene as she peeked inside.

"There is not enough time for this," replied Lamy after she removed the magical shine on her body, "Allow me."

The bard pulled the door open and the cleric stepped inside, brandished her amulet, and chanted, "The power of my goddess will wash away all that is horrid!"

Several howls later, the center of the room was clear of undead, who were now hugging the walls and trying their best to stay away from her. They hurried over to the large twin doors on the other side of the room and pulled them open. The room was large and ornate with a large, resplendent stone coffin. Six braziers of blue flame were also spread around, lighting up the room very well. They also noticed two smaller coffins flanking the double doors. The left and right side of the room had single doors leading out. And it was on the right side of the room that Reyo was standing, just in front of the door.

"It seems that we meet again, adventurers," he stated haughtily, "How was the coven reception?"

"How dare you!" said Lamy through gritted teeth, "You are a black mark against the nobles of this fair city."

"Hah, those idiots do not recognize real power even if it is shoved in their faces," he retorted arrogantly, "I, however, have elevated myself above the rich rabble when I saw Lord Kruze for what he truly is."

"A stinking vampire," jeered Polka with a grin, "You're not going to win. The guild is going to win and save the city."

The half-elf just laughed as he slowly moved to the front of the coffin, "You utter fools! So delusional. You truly think that you can win?" He then raised up a hand that seemed to be holding an empty glass vial that was tinted red and crushed it, "I shall prove my worth and cement my place by Lord Kruze's side. One more step to having the world in the palm of my hand."

"What was that?" asked Botan warily as the entire party got ready for what seemed to be another fight.

"This?" he questioned as he brushed his palm on his pants, his skin seemingly unpunctured by the glass shards, "A gift from my lord. A temporary gift. A mere glance into his greatness before a more permanent means can be done later."

"...Liquid vampirism?" muttered Nene in shock.

"Oh? It seems you aren't so stupid after all," sneered Reyo. Throwing his arms into the air, he declared, "That is not the only thing I have achieved under his patronage!"

The air around him shimmered as the silhouette of a humanoid bat suddenly overlapped his body. It then rose up behind him with muscular arms and large wings sprouting from its spirit body.

"This is my Blood Memoriam!" he declared in a challenging tone, "And now, it is time to feast!"

Gunshots rang through the street. Huffing and puffing around the corner, Amelia quickly reloaded her gun while Okayu covered her with her crossbow.

"How many?" the cat girl asked.

"A few more," the blonde detective replied as she snapped her pistol shut, "How many groups was that? Two already?"

"Yup. I think Korone is taking care of another behind us," the former replied as she leaned out to peek, "They're heading this way. I got one."

She then stepped out and put several bolts in a ghoul's chest in between quick-loading.

"Yeah, let's do this!" joined in the latter as she went further out and started shooting, blasting apart another ghoul.

"You dare take apart what was given!" the remaining vampire spawn shrieked at them as she charged them down.

"Back to the grave," stated the detective as she delivered two body shots with her pistol, stopping the charge.

The cat girl bounty hunter then slashed the spawn's throat with her shortsword and gave the body a good, hard kick. After a few seconds, satisfied that the body wasn't moving, she then said, "Come on. Let's check up on Korone."

A road down the row, they found the dog girl messing around with something by the street. The bodies of the undead that were reintroduced to death were strewn around in messy piles. As the two went up to the other bounty hunter, Amelia almost lost the contents of her stomach when she spotted what the dog girl was playing with. Old, rotten fingers were lined up in several rows, with a few clean ones with red nail polish leading the rows. The cat girl was unphased and proceeded to slap her friend on the back of her head.

"Wah! Okayu?" questioned Korone with an innocent face.

"How many times have I reminded you to focus on your job first?" chided the cat girl.

"Ah! Sorry, sorry," exclaimed the dog girl as she suddenly stood up and started bowing repeatedly.

"Cute."

Everyone looked to the side to find an unfamiliar face. Dressed in black save for her head, she had dark, purplish shoulder-length hair and pointed ears.

"My name is Ina'nis and I was told to get you, Miss Korone Inugami," stated the mysterious person.

"Eh? Me?" said person repeated with a puzzled look, pointing at herself.

Miss Ina'nis just giggled and continued, "It has something to do with Lord Aruran's concerns. You see, some people are facing an opponent that will prove to be too troublesome to handle. You might be able to help with that."

"I'm sorry if you didn't know, but-"

"Do not worry about the rest of the city," she continued assuringly, interrupting the cat girl, "Everything is under control. The three groups of undead you took out were all that were in the vicinity. It is more important that your friend helps the others that I mentioned."

"No problem!" the bounty hunter declared proudly, " I, Korone, will help you!"

The mystery girl gave her a smile and stated, "I knew you would. Thank you. Now, please, follow me. Time is of the essence."

AN: Greetings, readers. Welcome back.

It seems this is a bit of a late chapter. I haven't even begun writing chap 68 yet. So, things are going slow. I'll be posting up that one as soon as I'm done.

Anyway...

Before we see what's happening during the fight, we take a glimpse of everything else in the city. Both familiar faces and cameos will be highlighted. I hope you are a little surprised by the inclusions. Anyway, back to the fight. Things... are kind of expected. Lamy has Turn Undead as one of her Channel Divinity options, so there is no way this wouldn't be effective. At the very least, the vampire spawn will be preoccupied with getting away from her while the ghasts get mopped up. Reyo also shows up temporarily, spurning the party to go through the undead at a faster pace. It is then we reveal the true power of the ring in Lamy's possession. It is not just a ring that gives charm immunity.

The Ring of Wild Magic makes you immune to the Charm condition. Additionally, this ring also follows the rules for Wild Magic Surge, a.k.a. when casting a spell of 1st level or higher, roll a d20, then roll on the Wild Magic Surge table upon a 1. However, it has an extended effect where the more spells you cast while wearing this ring, the range increases by 1. A cumulative effect. So, this is the reason Lamy's ring was triggered twice. The first time was due to the cumulative effect where the range had already increased to a 1-10 range. The second time... she just rolled a 1. And what a 1 it was. A unicorn to help with the vampire spawn. Lucky.

But, back to the party. Chasing after Reyo, Lamy used another Turn Undead. So, technically, she is fresh out of uses for Channel Divinity. The party reaches the main room where, as you might have guessed, Kruze's coffin was housed. There, Reyo revealed his dream. His newfound patron. And his Astral Self.

Then, we cut to see Miss Ina up to something. One would wonder what.

Next chapter, Holo5 gets ready for their greatest trial yet. Thank you for reading and have a good day, dear readers.

Omake: Interlopers

After Reyo leaves the reception room

He immediately ordered the undead in the next room to kill anyone else coming into the room. He then hurried on to the main room of the crypt. Just in time too, as he caught Baron Kruze who was just about to leave by the right-most side door.

"We are under attack, my lord," he called out as he went closer and bowed.

"Raise your head, Reyo," stated the vampire as he motioned towards him.

"My apologies. But there are interlopers."

"As I had expected. However, all is not lost," the latter said as he took out a vial filled with a thick red liquid from his outer coat and passed it to him, "Take this and use it well."

"What is this, my lord?" he asked in confusion.

"It is a magical potion I have brewed while infusing it with my essence," Kruze explained with a smile, "I have decided to give a glimpse of my power to you. For you to experience before you take the final step."

"My lord..." he muttered in awe.

"You ave come far, though short our time," the vampire continued to speak, "I remembered the first time we met, you reveled in your desire to take this city as your own."

"And you asked me why aim for the city when I can claim the world," the former continued to mutter as he reminisced.

"Indeed. Take this. Drink and claim your destiny, young Reyo," Kruze ended as he turned to a mist and seeped under the door, "Kill all who stand in your way to claiming true power."

"Yes, my lord!" he exclaimed as he uncorked the vial and downed its contents in one go.

As the interlopers entered the room, his mind went, "First, the city. Then, The World."