Story Update: 10th of April2023
It's definitely been a while for those of you haven't followed the updates in my profile. And for those readers in particular: Yes, I'm still alive. Though I took a break from writing after the last chapter that lasted a few weeks, my Spring has been stupid busy, so I haven't gotten too much done. My pace still hasn't been ideal this month, though that's mostly due to Easter and the surrounding days taking a lot of my time from writing. Next update on the 20th.
Chapter 14 progress: 18000 words
Section 1: Fully complete
Section 2: Mostly complete
Section 3: Somewhat complete
Section 4: Partially complete
Section 5: Partially complete
Section 6: Somewhat complete
Section 7: Mostly complete
Section 8: Mostly complete
Section 9: Mostly complete
Section 10: Partially complete
Section 11: Halfway complete
Section 12: Halfway complete
Section 13: Halfway complete
Section 14: Partially complete
Section 15: Partially complete
Section 16: Halfway complete
Section 17: Halfway complete
Section 18: Partially complete
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"Hm? 'Where does my power stem from?' An apt question, indeed," Vlad chuckled, amusement and aggravation contesting for supremacy on his face. "Since you seem to already know of my true self, king Vlad III, who fought to protect his country, I won't go into any further details. My current self's power has nothing to do with it, after all." A confirmation that only made Lemminkäinen more confused. 'Nothing to do with it?' Then where did that kind of power come from? And yet, the answer was worse than anything he could've imagined. "At the moment of my summoning, I was shackled with Madness Enhancement, much like the other Servants, but I also received an additional burden: The distortion and degradation of my heroic legend, turned into a Noble Phantasm: Legend of Dracula. [The Succession of Blood] This abominable power is usually sealed away, yet it was activate immediately upon my summoning. Not that I don't understand why my Master desired it so. After all, this monster is far more suitable for slaughtering people than my heroic self."
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The Saber barely heard the last part, far too busy with keeping his anger under check. His hand was gripping on his sword hard enough that his knuckles looked ready to burst out of his skin. He felt like a kettle about to pop open from the heat, but kept himself together since there was still something he needed to confirm. "...Let me just get this straight. That power of yours comes from an ugly rumor that has gone way too far, to the point where it overrides your heroic acts?" He asked, voice straining. And when the Lancer nodded with a vicious grin, he almost lost it. He was mad. No. He was absolutely furious. Lemminkäinen was sure that there wasn't a time all throughout his life when he'd been this outraged. He'd been pissed off at the Dragon Rider before, but now... The grip on his sword tightening to the point where it could crush stone to dust, the Saber shook his head in an attempt to calm down, no matter how slightly. No. Before he could actually let loose, he still had one crucial question to ask. Locking his burning eyes onto the Lancer's monstrous orbs, he asked his final question. "...And you're just fine with this?"
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Silence... For several seconds, Vlad had absolutely no reaction, just standing there. And then, an enraged smile spread across his lips. "At first, I was obviously outraged, yet after spilling so much blood, I've already fallen as low as I can..." he chuckled pathetically, holding a hand on his chest. "A true devil, Dracul."
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...Yeah, that was it.
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With a burst of light and heat, the Saber's sword ignited barely below the force of his Noble Phantasm activation from earlier. His foe looked genuinely surprised by the explosive reaction, but Lemminkäinen was way too pissed to care, his eyes sparking with equal intensity as if to burn holes into the Lancer. "Then, mark my words, fallen king," he growled, pointing his blade at Vlad's heart. "Without question, I will be the one to kill you, and show you the shinin' brilliance of heroes." And then, without another word, he charged.
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[PS] Sorry this is kinda short. The first section somehow just happened to be the shortest one in the entire Chapter.