Describing what followed is interesting. There I was, putting a fair amount of effort into each swing aimed squarely at the vitals of my opponent, and there she was only looking mildly concerned as each strike was blocked by her fingernails….fingernails. No she didn't pull out a sword or knife, or something practical. She just used her fingernails. So that put a couple of things in perspective for me real fast.
Firstly that this lady was good. Really good even. Good eyesight, better hand eye coordination, and of course sharp as shit nails that I would best avoided. Couple that with the fact that she was a vampire who still had a floating ball of blood hovering over her, I knew at almost any moment she could pull a magic spell out of her ass and I'd be toast. So I pegged my best chances to stay alive would be to stay close to her. Now if I could actually hit her, that would be some real progress. Which coincided with the second thing.
Secondly, she was smart. Each swipe she threw in my direction wasn't meant to necessarily kill. She was judging my reaction time as well as the strength of my swords. We continued on with our battle for good amount of time. Neither of us really gaining an upper hand until I made the first mistake. I ducked sidestepped a particularly slow jab and swung my arms towards her neck. My eyes widened however when I saw she didn't look panicked. Her eyes shifted to my arms and quicker than I thought she could be, she lunged straight for my hands. I started to pull back but the weight of my blades were slowing me down giving Shalltear just enough time reach my hands and more than likely remove them. With a grunt I leaped back a several feet from the vampire. She seemed more than a little impressed by the action.
"You continue to impress human. But abandoning your swords may have not been the best strategy." Shalltear said with an intrigued smile as she looked back at my grounded rapiers. With a stomp that I'm more than certain would shatter my bones, my swords were splintered under her boot.
"I liked those." I replied swearing up a storm inwardly. She looked back to me with a satisfied smile.
"I don't see why. Dull, unsharpened. A warrior like yourself could've done a lot better." She said turning back to me.
"Thanks for the compliment Shally." I said double checking myself to make sure I wasn't bleeding. I noticed when she spoke again her cordial tone shifted.
"I'd like to think I've been more than a little respectful to you human. Address me properly." She said getting annoyed once again at the name.
"Fine. Only if you stop calling me human." I replied. She seemed to find that funny having herself a little chuckle.
"Why should I care what an ant calls himself? He still gets crushed in the end." She reasoned.
"Maybe because I'm not a fucking ant." I replied getting annoyed myself. Her smile faded at my words.
"Very well. I'll humor you human. Who are you?" She asked.
"Name's Haon. Haon the Handsome." I replied smirking at her and hoping my teeth sparkled in the moonlight. She didn't seem that impressed but she did have a little laugh at the name. "And you?" I asked.
"You stand before Shalltear Bloodfallen." She said giving a little curtsy bow. "Now then Haon, where shall we go from here?"
"You took my swords." I said more angry than I should've been. She was right. Those blades weren't exactly high quality. And yet, the sight of them laying broken beside her infuriated me. I had to stay calm though. Another mistake like that and I'll be broken at her feet. " Guess now I have to give it my all." I replied sliding my hands up the sleeves my Cloak and grabbing two smaller hilts.
I was bullshitting of course. I needed to get the hell out of here.
"Intriguing." She said growing another smile. "Let's see it then."
"No problem." I said leaning forward. I looked down my neck and saw I still had my favorite amulet. Okay. I might just make it out of this.
"Fly." I whispered under the guise of taking a breath.I charged forwards at my top speed which doubled as the wind propelled me forwards. Shalltear, surprised by the uptick of speed through up her arms to block my charge. My daggers missed their mark but I managed to get more than a few fingernails chipped in the process as I flipped over her and rose maybe fifteen feet into the air. She looked down at her hands then back up to me anger flashing in her eyes.
"You ruined my nails….." She said in a hushed angry tone.
"I gave you a manicure. Come find me if you ever want the special." I replied before hightailing it further into the sky.
I'm sorry. Were you expecting me to continue the fight? Need I remind you she was just using her fingernails? Now that those were gone, god only knows what she was going to use on me. Nope. I had no intention of sticking around and seeing what she had offer. Of course then I look behind me and see that she's right there and gaining… I don't know why I try.
I immediately reversed my momentum and went charging back towards her. We collided maybe a hundred feet in the air with the moon shining through the clouds and down upon us.
"Figures you could fly." I replied trying with all my strength to force one of my knives into her chest while both my wrists were being held by Shalltear's cold hands.
"You're proving to be a better candidate than I could've imagined." She said growing a smile that somehow complimented the anger that was still present in her voice.
"Candidate for what exactly?" I asked.
"For you to serve the great Tomb of Nazarik of course." She said.
To this day, I have reason to believe that my brain physically snapped in half once she uttered that sentence. The Great Tomb of Nazarik. Ainz….. Ainz Ooal Gown. I wanted to stab myself at my own stupidity. I'm surprised my eyes didn't pop out of my head at the shear shock I went into. Even more so that I managed to work out a sentence.
"Who do you work for?" I asked hesitantly.
"You'll find out soon enough." She said applying a great deal of pressure to my wrists causing me to drop my knives.
If there was ever something to bring you back into a fight. It was that pain. Without really thinking, I slammed my forehead into her face with so much force I thought I concussed myself. Which only compounded my problems when she swiped for my neck, missing by centimeters but snagging the only thing keeping me afloat. I plummeted back to the earth quickly all the while trying to fight through the pain I had just caused myself before I finally managed to regain my wits and twisted my body to avoid landing on my neck. It worked and I instead landed on left arm which then broke as the rest of my body came down on it. Surprisingly nothing else did which considering the height I fell from, I counted myself lucky.
Still though, I let out a loud grunt of pain and looked down at my mangled arm. Yeah, it wasn't pretty. The sight of a broken arm however was nothing compared to what I heard next. A loud rage fueled demonic yell from above that immediately told me I was dead. I had barely stood back up when I felt the air shoot out of me as a powerful fist sent me hurling through and out of the forest and sending me crashing into the dirt at the feet of the mountain. I don't know how my body held up that time nor did I have time to think about it as I was immediately grabbed by the throat and lifted back off the ground. I tried to break free with my good arm but I might as well have been hitting steel her arm was so tough. She then lifted my entire body off the ground and held me there by my throat.
"You, pathetic piece of garbage." She growled in a low angry tone as a trail of blood leaked down from what used to be a pretty nose and onto her dress. Even when I was struggling to breath, I somehow felt a small bit of pride at the sight. I had head butted a master vampire and I broke her nose. How many people can say that after all? She held me there for a while just enjoying the sight of me losing breath before tossing me into the outside of the mountain. All the pain I was feeling, my head, my arm, my wrists, my throat. All of it amplified on my impact against the rock wall. I collapsed once again on the ground as tried to catch my breath and not a second later I saw a pair of Victorian shoes appear in the dirt in front of me. I could almost feel her ruby gaze staring down at me as she spoke.
"That impact should've killed you." She replied sounding strangely like a psychotic combo of annoyance and interest.
"Is that a compliment?" I coughed out not bothering to look up at her.
"Don't insult me human. I'm simply saying you're far too stubborn for your own good." She replied more calm than before but with an obvious edge in her voice. Great, so she forgot my name.
"Wow. You would've loved my ex." I said trying to laugh through the pain I was feeling. This was getting to be far worse than I had thought it would be. I'd really have to go all out if I wanted to have a chance of beating her which was pretty much impossible now that I lost an arm. I had two knifes left and Jade was still strapped to my back but I doubt I could actually really fight with them now. I needed to get away find somewhere to hide. But how was I going to do that?!
The bottom of her boot slammed onto the back of my head pushing my face into the dirt and stopping my thoughts in their tracks.
"I'll grant you this. You were better that I thought you would be." She said with what sounded like receding rage. A lightbulb went off in my head. I could still get out of this alive if I just played it right. I needed to lure her in one last time. Make her think I was done. I let my body go limp. A sight that I'm certain caused a smile.
"Thanks for that." I replied with a mouthful of dirt. "So what happens now?" I asked defeated.
" I was planning to make your body in service of Nazarik, but…" I heard a slight giggle interrupt her which sent a shiver down my spine. "I think you will serve me specifically."
The next thing I felt was the same strong boot, driving through the dirt and smashing my mouth. The impact of which lifted me off the ground and into an up right position where I was then held in place, by a forceful hand. Next she forced me down onto one knee by squeezing my mangled arm until she was looking down towards my bloodied dirt filled face and reluctantly, I smiled a defeated smile.
"So like the other vamps huh?" I said realizing that the kick she gave had actually knocked out two teeth.
"Oh no, you'll be a first. Those two were born vampires." She said caressing my cheek. Great so I definitely should've killed them.
"This just…..isn't my night is it?" I said chuckling and easing my unbroken arm down my bent leg towards a knife strapped to my leg all the while inwardly praying more than I ever have in my life that I could pull this off.
"Nope." She chuckled. Her fangs then suddenly began to extend and I could actually feel magic fluctuate around her as she began to transform into what I could guess was her true vampire state. And that's exactly what I needed. With all of my strength and speed, I tore the dagger from the strap and thrust it straight into her right eye. The resulting scream she let out was deafening but it didn't stop me from taking off towards something that had popped into my sight after she had hurled me towards the mountain. A small mining cave that led inside said mountain. I sped into the darkness as fast as I possibly could all the while praying that I wouldn't trip over something. The moonlight vanished behind me and soon enough I was running blind. After several minutes, of running blindly through a mine all the while smacking my head and face at walls I couldn't see, I stopped to catch my breath. I had got maybe three in before I heard her screeches echo off the walls around me. She had seen me run inside.
Now I was panicking. I'm not ashamed to admit it. I began sprinting away from the screams with renewed force until I finally saw a torch in the distance. I ran towards it and saw that their were several more beyond it lighting up one vast long stretch of tunnel which told me there were probably more people inside this mountain. Maybe the rest of those bastards from earlier. I coughed up some more dirt and blood as I tried to catch my breath again.
"HAOOOOOOON!"
My friend, if you've never heard your name screamed like that. Your name being yelled through the darkness by a voice dripping with so much rage and bloodlust that it was almost overwhelming. Then I would count yourself as one lucky bastard/bitch. One the plus side, she at least remembered my name.
Her wails started again this time much closer to me. I started down the lit up path when right beside one of the torches I saw a small opening inside the cave wall. It was a mining shaft that led deep down further down into the bowls of the mountain in a straight shoot. I couldn't tell how far it went due to the lack of lighting down there but I still considered it a better alternative to what was coming for me in the darkness. With one last look at the lit up hallway and silent prayer that she would follow it instead of me, I leapt into the shoot and plummeted down into the darkness below.
I honestly I don't know if the impact was what knocked me out or if I was just so tired that I passed out as soon as I hit the ground but the next thing I remember was waking up in complete darkness sore as all hell and my left arm pulsating in pain. I struggled to sit for several minutes but eventually I managed to lay up against the shaft wall. I double checked myself to make sure nothing else was broken and sighed in relief that somehow nothing else was. That sigh also let me realize that my upper lip had swollen up big time probably thanks to that kick from Shally.
"Speaking of which." I thought looking looking up at the shaft. It looked like I lost her. Great, now all I had to due was get the hell out of here. It was around here that I felt something vibrate inside my cloak. Confused, I reached inside and pulled out something I don't know how I managed to forget about. The last item I found in Yggdrasil.
A bright light accompanied the vibrations that echoed out from the watch which did me the huge favor of lighting the up the cave around me. There was a path that led straight forward into more darkness. Noting I would have to study this object more later, I took deep breath and forced myself onto my feet which caused me no small amount of pain I might add and began making my way through the mine. The walk allowed me some personal time to finally sort out the info Shally had told me.
Ainz Oowl Goan. On one hand, I was admittedly happy that there were actually others besides me who got sent here. Maybe one of the guild members would be able to explain why and how the hell it happened. Perhaps even have a way to get back home. I looked back down at my arm as it once again pulsates in pain which led me to the other hand.
Why on gods earth did Ainz Oowl Goan need the blood of bandits? I mean sure none of the guild members were human and back in Yggdrasil they acted the part of bad guys really well. But this wasn't a game anymore. People that should've NPCs could talk, laugh, bleed, eat, cry, and do pretty much anything that real people could do. So why the hell was Nazarik going around and collecting their blood? Take a job to kill them, sure I'd buy that but "making their bodies serve Nazarik"? What the the hell was that supposed to mean?! And why were they worrying about Nazarik anyway? You'd have an easier time turning yourself inside out than getting through that place. I needed some answers. And I figured my best bet would be to try and find Nazarik itself. There, I'd hopefully meet the guild members. Of course, for all I knew, that could've been a new guild member. So that was a whole new complicated mess.
One particular step made a "splat" noise as my foot hit the ground which brought me back. Dirt didn't make that sound so I looked down to see the cause. It was a puddle of blood. My guard was up once again as I looked around, I had unknowingly been walking upwards and a trail of blood had been sliding down the way I came. I followed the trail up through the mine for a few minutes until I finally saw the cause. An entire hallway littered with the broken, eviscerated bodies of what I guessed were the mine's inhabitants. Each with looks of horror on their face if they even had faces left. In a action that I might have frightened me more than Shalltear did, I just walked by them not really caring. They were bandits after all, I reasoned. They more than likely had this coming.
That single thought. The almost complete lack of remorse I felt for them, That's when I knew something was up with me personally. I don't know how, and I don't know why but I realized the longer I stayed here, the more I was taking on the same traits I had given to Haon. And even more worrisome, I was getting used to the sight of carnage. My thoughts were shut down however as I heard a grunt of pain in the darkness. It wasn't monstrous or demonic or femine, like Shally's had been. It seemed more tired and masculine as well as more panicked. Was there actually a survivor?
I continued my walk towards the sound and found the source in the form a curled up man lying against the cave wall, muttering to himself seemingly not noticing me. He was a decently built man. Tall and muscular with brown eyes and unkept dark blue hair that stretched down to his neck. He also looked like hew was beaten half to death with a broken katana by his side and further down I noticed one of his legs was about as mangled as my arm. He finally noticed me and looked towards me hesitantly.
"Hey." I said sounding far too tired for my own good. "Vampire get to you too?"
"The…..monster?" He asked back grunting. I nodded and he returned the action. "How did she even get in here?" He asked.
"Some of your buddies planned an ambush a rich girl. They got a little more than they bargained for." I replied.
"God damn it." He said sighing to himself but keeping his eyes on me. "I had told them to hold off with the ransoms for a while. Freaking figures."
So this guy was the leader. I thought back to Shally's conversation from earlier. "So you're Brain?" I asked.
"In the flesh…." He said grunting again in pain. "Though maybe not for long. And you?"
"Haon." I replied looking over him once again. This guy didn't seem like the typical bandit leader.
"So Haon. Two things. One, how the hell did you survive?" He asked suspicious.
"I got out of sight. Took a tumble down a mining shaft." I replied. "You?"
"Monster charged through maybe ten of my guys ripping them to shreds before tossing me into the wall like a rag doll. I don't think I've ever been this manhandled in my life." He said as his voice saddened. "Shows how good I am."
"Look, we can both criticize our own lack of skill later. How about we get the hell out of here in case she comes back." I said extending my hand down towards him. He didn't take it and instead narrowed his gaze.
"Second thing. Did you lead that thing in here?" He asked.
"Why?" I asked.
"She kept growling something under her breath. It sounded a little like your name." He replied glaring at me hatefully.
"Look, I told you she….." I grunted as pain ripped through my arm once again. "She already knew where you guys were. Even without me she would killed the rest of you like flies." I continued. kneeling down to face him. "And I'm not sure you know this but you weren't running a monastery here. Your guys in the city planning the kidnappings were more interested at the side activities rather than the ransom money."
Brain looked away from me clearly annoyed. I kept the light on him though and soon enough he looked back.
"That wasn't what I wanted." He admitted seemingly genuine. "But fair enough." He conceded. "So why are you helping me then?"
"I'm a bit of a sap. And I believe in second chances." I replied. "You survived her attack so how about you help me get out of here and start over. Preferably not as a kidnaper." I said once again extending my hand. He looked at the hand again and after a moment or two, he took it.
The both of us eventually made our way to an exit that didn't look that far from where I entered the mountain to begin with. It was almost dawn now with the dark sky slowly changing to a bluish tone. He pointed towards a nearby cart that was hidden behind a rock formation with two horses reigned to it. I sighed thankful for the transportation and we made our way over to it. I helped him up first with him having a broken leg and all before I ungracefully pulled myself into the cart as well. As he grabbed the reigns though, I remembered something from earlier that night. Something that was either going to get me killed or really help me plan my next move.
"Hey Brain, can you take us back a ways?" I asked.
"With that thing still out there? Are you out of your mind?!" He yelled.
"Back there, might be a way to beat it." I replied pleading with him. "Come on."
He looked back towards where I gestured and after a moment or two he growled out. "Fine."
Having never actually traveled by cart, I gotta say the damn thing was bumpy as hell. Made me really appreciate my old car back home. But that's besides the point. After several minutes of bouncing up and down on a rocky road, we finally came to the spot.
"So this is where my guys were huh?" Brain said looking over the remaining carcasses of the men who had thought it would be lucrative to kidnap that night.
"Yeah. And see those two over there." I said pointing with my good arm towards the sight of two feminine figures lying on the ground next to each other clad in white dresses.
"I need to talk to them." I said getting down from the cart and groaning as I hit the ground. Dragging these two was going to be a pain in the ass especially with one working arm. But I had to do it. I needed answers and hopefully, these two would help me with them.