Okay, this is a plotline part so it'll have an action scene. Don't worry, things will get more action packed from now on.
Within a few days, they landed and headed for the village. What they saw, was truly a very rotten and sad sight. They saw a sign in front of it that said Melmond Village.
"W...What happened here?" Saria said, devastated at the current condition of the town. The people were walking around tattered and nearly broken houses, the ground below them looked as if it was drained of energy and rotting. The people of the town looked like lifeless dolls that moved, their expressions always miserable or sad. Their eyes showed no sign of emotion other than sadness or blankness. The Warriors immediately went to the Inn, which wasn't very impressive, because it looked as if it was rotting.
"..." The registry woman looked at Saria and the other and got a check for a room for five. Her eyes were lifeless and dull and this made Saria frown. She looked down, frowning and sad. Leon and the others only shook their heads and looked away.
"Yes. Um, do you uh...If you don't mind me asking...What happened to this town?" Saria asked taking the check for their stay.
"..." The registration woman only kept quiet, looking down with sad eyes. Saria frowned and they went upstairs to a room that had only one window, two bathrooms, and four beds. They all sat on their beds, heads hanging low and their faces showing clear signs of sadness. Then Erick got up and looked out the window.
"What the hell happened here? It...It's such a miserable town...The people here seem so...lifeless and ugh. It's just so...drained." Erick said looking out the window with sad eyes. Shortly after a knock was heard from the door, and a woman with a cart full of trays went into the room.
"..." She said as she placed a tray full of food into each of their beds and walked away, pushing the cart and closing the door behind her.
"Geez...It's like they're just doll with blank or depressed faces..." Ailith said, taking some bread from the tray and putting honey and butter over it. The others looked at her and shook their heads.
"You can say that again...This...We have to get to the bottom of this. We'll try to question the civilians to find a lead first. Then we'll see what we can do from there." Leon said, gaining his composure. He looked out the window with Erick and sighed.
"Fine. I-I'll see what I can do. I'll begin questioning the people here. I'll see what I can find out and I'll report back to you within the hour." Claude said getting up walking out the room. Before he walked out, he stopped and looked at Ailith, who gave him a raised eyebrow. He was about to say something before he shook his head and left, closing the door behind him. The others gave Ailith a raised eyebrow and Leon and Erick began to snicker to each other.
"Hahaha. What's all that about? Guess he has something of a crush on her." Leon whispered to Erick who grinned under the shadows of his clothing. Saria just gave Ailith a pat on the shoulder and a smile.
"But seriously. If he touches her, I'll kill him." Erick suddenly said in a serious tone, surprising Leon.
"Don't worry, he can't do anything when we're here." Saria said, giving Ailith gentle encouragement. Ailith looked down and her face became a little red.
~ Out in Melmond ~
Claude went out of the inn, and looked for a person he could find information from. He followed a man to the very far corner of the village, where no one could see them. Then as the man began to pick fruits from the trees, there, Claude pushed him to the ground and held him by the head. The man struggled, not saying anything but only grunting.
"Let's see now." Claude said as he put his hand on the man head, his eyes glowing a silver light. The man was put into a trance as flashes of images and memories from the man were absorbed into Claude's mind. He saw the frequent attacks on the city, the shadow like monster that would appear and terrorize the citizens, and the fires that spread because of the monster. Claude let the man go and he fell to the floor, fast asleep.
"Okay, so now that's done. Where does this monster live?" Claude said walking away from the trees and into the town center. He looked around, looking for more people that he could absorb memories from. Then he spotted a familiar Ninja in the town, wandering around. Claude went up to her and was greeted by a sharp knife that he easily caught with his bare hand, which was now bleeding.
"Yeah, hello to you too. What are you doing here exactly?" Claude asked, throwing the knife back at her. Amilia caught the knife by the handle and flicked it, shaking the blood clean off, and then sheathed it.
"Looking for you, asshole. The one who's been terrorizing this place is a Vampire Lord working for the Fiend of Earth." Amilia said, crossing her arms.
"Hmph. How did you find that out? Did you get yourself a boyfriend?" Claude teased and laughed. Amilia only rolled her eyes and sighed.
"Whatever you say Romeo. Now back to the point. Both of them can be located in the Cavern of Earth south of here, in a part of this continent they like to call, the 'Devil's Tail'. Amilia said plainly in her stern voice, and Claude nodded.
"Stop calling me that! Why do you treat me like dirt all the time? But hey, you get what you give right?" Claude said playfully and Amilia only shook her head.
"You want me to call you asshole instead? I think that suits you better." She asked and then Claude grunted and sighed. He shook his head and flopped down on the stone chair and Amilia sat next to him. Claude laughed and then so did Amilia.
"Ahahaha. Guess that does suit me huh? Nope, I think I'd prefer Romeo instead." Claude said shaking his head.
"Fine then, asshole it is." Amilia laughed. "You should get going and please take care of them. I know that guy's got something up his sleeve..." She said before jumping off, her silhouette disappearing within a second as she jumped from roof to roof. Claude got up and walked toward the Inn.
"I got some...Where's Erick?" Claude asked looking around. Erick was nowhere in sight.
"He just went out for a walk. He likes to do that a lot. You were saying?" Ailith answered. Claude sighed and sat down next to her.
"Well that's no good. I'll have to wait for him to get back before I inform everybody. It's better if I tell everyone anyway." Claude mumbled to himself. Then, Leon and Erick snickered and began to whisper to each other, while Saria just rolled her eyes.
~ Meanwhile ~
"I...I'll just be heading out for some fresh air alright?" Erick said getting up and opening the door. The rest nodded and he left.
"Hmm. There's something about this air...it's just...so unnatural. It's heavy and thick. That's the total opposite of what air is like." Erick mumbled to himself and then sat down near the trees. He sighed and then closed his eyes. Erick began to concentrate for a while, before he opened his eyes.
"There's no wind. Everything's so still...Don't get me wrong. I love silence...but not this kind..." Erick mumbled to himself, noticing the eerie silence that surrounded the town. "That most likely means I'm correct and there is a magic surrounding the town...that could also be why this town's so glum." He pondered to himself.
"But then...Who would be doing this? What could be doing this? To drain the energy of a whole town using magic..." Erick pondered to himself and then got up, smelling the air. There was something in the air that didn't smell right; it didn't smell like fresh and natural air. "This smells like...hmm. I better get back, it's getting dark." Erick mumbled to himself and headed back to the inn.
"Hey, you're back. Alright, I have news for everyone. There's been a monster that has been terrorizing the village, and not only that. He's the one who has been rotting the earth here. This Vampire Lord lives in a cave called the Cavern of Earth, which is just south from here." Claude said as he lied down on his bed. Erick looked down and pondered.
"This work can't just be a vampire...There's just too much of a draining energy around this place..." Erick thought to himself as he lied down on his bed. Claude noticed some confusion in his eyes and smiled slightly.
"Right. Good job Claude. Alright everyone we leave first thing in noon tomorrow." Leon said, gaining his composure as a leader. They all nodded and then went to their beds. The Warriors slept soundly that night. Somewhere in the distance a shadowy figure crept back into the darkness, soundless and silent. He blended in almost as if he was part of the darkness and the only thing you could see of him, was his two golden, piercing, and gleaming eyes. He silently lifted his robe and flew away, so silent you cannot hear him at all.
~ Somewhere else ~
The figure landed in front of a cave and went inside, the creatures all backed away in fear. He had the posture of a king, regal and majestic. His face was handsome and feral, his skin was a pale complexion, and his eyes were piercing and yet beautiful. He walked up to a giant shadow in front of a giant crystal.
"My Lord, the Warriors have come. You have foreseen this have you not?" The Vampire Lord asked the giant shadow in a deep voice. The shadow turned toward him and nodded, his composure also that of a king. The vampire frowned and looked down.
"You need not worry about me Oliver. It was the will of my father and it shall be done." The giant shadow said and the vampire looked at him with sad eyes. He slowly crept up to the figure and nuzzled his master gently.
"Are you sure? Then...W-What about me? I...I am nothing without you...Even if I ran I...Please..." Oliver said as he looked at the figure with sorrowful eyes. The figure kneeled down towards him and put his hand on the vampire's head.
"You have done your duty remarkably. You deserve something more than me. Besides, you always complained about wanting to feel alive." The figure said, patting the vampire softly. The vampire gave him a frown and sad eyes.
"You know I deserve nothing less than you. Even if I was to feel alive, I care too much about you to let go. You are everything I have..." Oliver said, his voice turning monochrome. The figure looked at him with blood red and feral eyes. The vampire sighed and nodded. "Yes my Lord. If it is your wish, then it shall be done." He said and stood up, turning the other way. Before he went out the current floor they were in, he looked back at his master and sighed. Oliver exited the room they were in and went to the upper floors of the cave. Then, he sealed a stone monument that lead to the lower floors, in order to protect his master.
"This won't hold for long however...it...it's all I can do." Oliver mumbled to himself and sat in a throne next to the monument. Then, he closed his eyes and waited.
~ The Next Day ~
"Alright! Everyone set?" Leon said, packing some potions on his belt. They all nodded and went outside, where they were greeted by many sad faces. Saria only looked down and frowned. A White Mage seeing this was very hurtful. The Warriors all went out of the village and journeyed south. Within an hour's time, they got to the Devil's Tail and saw the cave.
"This must be it." Erick said, eying the cave. They all went inside and smelled a gross and horrible smell.
"Oh my...It smells like something's rotting in here...Ugh..." Erick said, putting his hand over his face.
"Put on a gas mask then." Leon laughed but was also discouraged by the smell of the cave. They travelled some floors down until they reached a cave that looked like a room. The only light in that room were stones that glowed in the dark, which were on the walls. Red, black, and white draperies lined the corners of the room and in the middle they saw a cloaked man in a throne. He was asleep and looked almost dead. His breaths were so silent that even if they were close enough, they still could not hear them. The only sign he was alive was the barely visible rise and fall of his chest.
"Is this...The Vampire the villagers were talking about?" Erick said getting closer until he was within arm's reach of the sleeping creature. All of them, except for Claude, went next to Erick to get a better look. Just then the vampire opened his eyes and they all jumped, save for Leon who gave a little yelp. Although it was not such a little yelp, as it echoed throughout the room, leaving Leon with a very red face. The others tried not to laugh.
"These are the Warriors?" The vampire thought to himself as he eyed the people giggling in front of him. Just then, they all focused their attention on the vampire again as he stood up. His gaze was menacing and his eyes were unblinking and they began to feel very uneasy. He stood up fully, his posture akin to that of an emperor, and took a deep breath from his mouth.
"Who are you to disturb my sleep? Who dares wake me up if not for feed?" The vampire said with a deep and monochrome voice. They all readied their weapons as the vampire took a defensive stance. "I will not allow you to cross this path. Face me!" He demanded, his voice powerful and strong. Oliver threw his cloak at Leon who caught it and then threw it away. However when he threw it he was met by the sight of Oliver right at his face, and he blocked a knife just in time. Saria began to put a defensive shield over each one of them and Ailith began to attack, while Erick threw fireballs at the vampire. Oliver dodged every attack with speed and grace, almost as if in a dance. He twirled and blocked Leon's attacks in an elegant manner, his movements graceful like a dancer. Leon could not keep track of his arms and before he knew it, he was grazed slightly in several places.
"Hmph. You've got skill." Leon complimented the vampire, who then proceeded to jump back and land in a graceful pose, taunting Leon. He grunted in frustration as Ailith came from behind him and began to attack the vampire, who dodged her every attack gracefully. She then swung her left foot at his face, and then stopped right before he could block. Kicking her right foot after, she hit him in the face and he flew across the room, hitting and shattering part of the wall behind him. Oliver let out a sensual cry and held his head, shaking it a little. Then he quickly regained his posture as Erick threw fireballs at him while attacking him with his knives. Attacks well coordinated so as not to let the opponent strike back. However, the vampire continued to dance his way around the attacks, irritating Erick.
"Won't you just stop with your fancy tricks and turns!? It's pissing the hell outa me!" Erick yelled as he finally slashed Oliver, causing him to stumble back and be burned by Erick's fire.
"Hahaha...So this is what he meant..." Oliver laughed to himself as he held his injured side. Then he began laughing more, his eerie laugh echoing throughout the room. "Still, I cannot allow you to reach my master!" He yelled as a red aura surrounded him. Oliver spun and threw several knives at the Warriors, who blocked and dodged them. Then, before he knew it, Oliver was within arm's reach of Erick about to slash him. Erick was fast enough to block with his own knife and a streak of cutting energy followed. This however, only bounced off Oliver's red aura as he continued to attack Erick.
"Gimme a hand!" Ailith said, running towards Erick. Erick then lifted her and she jumped on top of him. Landing behind the vampire, she and Erick attacked from both sides. Their attacks were continuous and well consecutive, and they left the vampire dodging and unable to attack. Oliver turned his attention to Ailith and slashed at her with his knife. She caught his wrist and twisted it, and then jumped on him and kicked him in an uppercut-style summersault.
"OHH..." Oliver moaned in an erotic way as he stumbled back. Then he looked at his disfigured hand and snapped it back in place, making the warriors cringe. "You first my dear." He said as he began to attack Ailith, who jumped back and countered his every attack, making him even more excited. Oliver slashed at her and she pushed his hand to the side, kicking him with her knee and sending him flying the other direction. Just then, Erick threw a blaze of fire at him and he jumped back, blinded.
"Don't you dare, you perverted asshole!" Erick yelled as he jumped from the blaze and slashed at Oliver, who was caught off guard. Leon and Ailith soon followed and they began to attack the vampire with ferocious power. Each time Oliver blocked, he stumbled because of the strength of the three warriors.
"If...If I can just maximize their power even more..." Claude panted while putting some kind of aura to Leon and Erick, increasing their strength.
"Let me help you Claude." Saria said and they both began to channel the energy to Leon, Erick, and Ailith.
"Good! GOOD! Make me feel alive Warriors! That is my last wish!" Oliver yelled out and continued to dance around their attacks, his hands elegantly moving around his body and reaching out for his knives to slash them. They attacked him relentlessly until he gave way and Leon stabbed him in the back.
"I'm sorry...f-father..." He said as he dropped dead. The warriors all looked at each other and sighed in relief.
"Hey. I found something that might be of some use." Claude said, getting an enormous ruby from the chest next to the Oliver's throne. They went out of the cave and returned to the village.