Never Take a Pirate for Grant'd! 6 - or 'So, I guess I have to fill up for Grant, heh?' (Castlevania Netflix Grant Danasty!SI, Lite Gamer)
I had been so close to Dracula's throne room.
I know that I had been repeating that in my thoughts as something of a self-hypnotic suggestion, just to keep pushing forward, but I had actually been very close to it. In fact, the walk that took me there through Isaac's guidance was brief and… it made me extremely uncomfortable.
I was barely ready to fight Dracula.
At least, that's what I thought before entering the throne room. I had set myself within a certain expectation: that this Dracula was meant to be as strong as the one in Symphony of the Night in terms of Stats.
The monster I was looking at was…
Dracula
The Prince of Darkness
HP: 2000/?
A concerning sight.
I forgot. How could I have forgotten!? Dracula is meant to have, in all its versions, different forms. The one that Trevor, Sypha and Alucard fought was just a fraction of what the Count was really capable of doing.
And I had to kill him without relying on bullshit plot armor.
It wasn't going to be easy at all…
"I brought him as you ordered," Isaac bowed slightly as we finally stood before him, the vampire staring right at me and recognized Isaac's presence with a nod. "And I shall take my leave now."
There was a silent but intense clash of staring, one that lasted until Isaac was out of the way. Then… Dracula slumped on his throne, not outright but it was visible as a change and enough to morph my facial expression from battle-hardened to confused.
"Isaac told you why I asked for your presence, despite the fact you have been killing subordinates of mine."
I slowly nodded. "You want me to join your forces. Why?"
"I can recognize someone that seeks something in their lives and is driven by good morals," He half-answered as he withheld something relevant to that response. "You are a man driven by ambition, yet I doubt that you seek to really fight me."
"I will take that chance if I have to. And my ambition is one that is born by just faith in those that can't stand against tyranny and destruction," I replied flatly, and Dracula frowned.
"I seek not to impose tyranny."
"Yet you push destruction upon them."
"They deserved this," Vlad rebuked harshly. "Their stupidity- they could have regretted killing an innocent woman."
"How?" I remarked dryly. "You were a man of God too, and yet you seem to have forgotten how the Church has for so long poisoned the minds of many to bow to any command of high religious figures. Gone are the days that God was a mythical figure to not replace, as the present has many charlatans wearing pretty tunics and preaching their own agenda as the bible."
"Then you recognize that Humanity is corrupt."
"Not all of them. Which is why I would have not bothered had you gone for those really responsible for your wife's death. She was not killed by the people, she wasn't subjected to judgment by a bunch of corrupt and fat bastards- those that have been killing fellow good-willed people because they may cut into their own popularity."
"...The public- they could have stopped it," He reasoned but, even then, the truth is harsher and less generalistic as he was putting it.
"Why? They were given part of a story, they were told what they had to be told. Why would they feel sympathy for someone that was portrayed negatively? You think they judged her by her own deeds? That they hadn't been fed lies to bow their heads like sheeps to a shepherd when it's time to accept an undefiable order?"
Dracula was annoyed, but had no solid counter to what I was telling him. So, I just decided to stab back.
"Was your wife misguided?" I inquired calmly, sounding relatively serious on the matter. "She worked for little reward if not for the happiness and restored wellbeing of the many people she healed. Was she in the wrong to trust them?"
"She should have known they would have betrayed her."
"A betrayal would entail she trusted someone and they sold her out. But was she betrayed? Or perhaps those that shunned her were told that she had betrayed them first?"
"Does it matter?!" Dracula snapped, standing up from his throne as the vile glare he hurled at me shook me to the core. "They had her die! They left her to be murdered by fire for crimes she didn't commit."
"Just like your monsters are tearing into cribs and children for crimes they hadn't committed?" I asked back, causing his rage to freeze for a moment. "You have been calling this a war for what they did to her, but I feel upset to even imagine the pain she is feeling wherever she is to see what you are doing in her name."
"She-"
"You love her, don't you? Even now, your heart aches for her departure."
"...Yes."
I frowned at the confession, almost too quiet to hear it. "You and I know this is not what she would have wanted. And I know you have been asking for someone to tell you that you were wrong so many times now- I can tell it on your face. You regret it, but, at the same time, you know there's no coming back from what you've done."
His head lowered as he stared to the ground. "You… are quite the interesting human, but I can tell you wish not to join my army. For seemingly good reasons…"
There was no warning, but I felt it in my guts. I double-jumped just in time as three fireballs tried to hit where I once was, the time of talking now over as Dracula had made his decision.
"Then you shall be an obstacle that I will personally move out of the way."
I could already hear Illusionary Dance play in the background, Dracula's theme drilling in my head as the pace we were going at was a pure testament of what the Prince of Darkness could do.
One would expect him to just teleport and be sluggish, but as a powerful vampire and former crusader, Dracula's honed physical skills were nothing to scoff at. He bolted towards me, a large shadow bullet that clawed in an effort to kill me swiftly.
I was faster than he was prepared for, but that advantage didn't prove to be as extensive as I would have wanted. This is where the real difference between Dracula and a common vampire truly showed, with Godbrand's own abilities were nothing before a man that was known to raze cities and was able to counter the Ottoman influence in Wallachia.
This monster was not one that can be defeated with ease and I was also slowly realizing I couldn't do it. I was getting my shit pushed in by the vampire, his clawing and punching shearing at my HPs and forcing me to be more and more on the defensive.
I was dealing damage, but it wasn't enough to really make him hesitate or remain stunned for long enough for me to capitalize on these moments of weakness. I tried everything in the book: the Magic Axes failed to do much damage but they presented some opportunity to throw surprise attacks.
These attacks couldn't be blocked, but Dracula was quickly dodging them, his pace inhuman and overwhelming my already above-human speed. He started to rely more on magic, unleashing even more fire spells and even unleashing two large spheres of hellish fire.
I dodged them the best I could, with some of the smaller projectiles still reaching me and landing some damage. The overall brawl was ruining the throne room, and before not too long I was being yeeted at onto a wall and pushed through it and into one of the small rooftops of the castle.
-78!
HP: 212/605
"S-Shit."
Dracula emerged from the hole I made and he looked intrigued but overall bored.
"I suppose this is the best you can muster, Grant Danasty."
1454/?
I-I need to find a way to deal proper damage.
Sparing a quick glance around but finding nothing- until I saw a small gargoyle statue stand right over his head. I stabbed my sword on the ground, mustering two Axes and throwing them.
One was aimed at Dracula, the other was aimed at the pedestal holding the Gargoyle. The first attack worked as a distraction, and it gave just the time for the gargoyle to fall onto the vampire.
He still recovered fast and broke the statues into pieces with a single punch, but he was quite open as I rushed back at him with my flaming sword positioned for some stabbing.
He tried to push me away, but I put all my strength in that assault, plunging the sword deep into his chest but-
Failing to get his heart.
Crit! -494!
960/?
I tried to pull the sword out and try my luck in the stabbing, but Dracula shocked me by punching me in the chin and slamming me on the ground. He yanked the sword out, snarling as he threw it towards me but failing to get to me and… letting the sword fall away for reach.
Lost equipment! Weakened Laevatain is no longer in your inventory!
THAT'S A THING!?
Before I could have tried to equip my cutlass, he rushed me, his claws stabbing into the breastplate and tearing it up much to my growing horror.
Lost equipment! Iron Breastplate is no longer in your inventory!
Another punch, then a kick.
-75!
-72!
65/605
This was not how I envisioned this to go. I felt my ribs either broken or bruised and… both options were quite bad to me. I tried to focus but I was suddenly pulled by the neck and lifted up.
He was holding me over… something that gleamed under the moonlight. Water. A lake? No, it was a… river? I was too disoriented to understand where we were and I couldn't do much as Dracula stared at me flatly, trying to judge me or something- in this position, not even a proper double jump would get me in a safe spot and I knew I was as good as dead.
No. One last… thing.
If I couldn't beat him, then I would at least try to get out of this nasty situation.
I may not have much of HPs left to handle another hit, but I had enough MPs for a little stunt. I manifested an Ax and then stabbed it onto his arm, almost cutting the limb in a single move but failing due to my lacking strength. I still succeeded in my intent as he flinched and let go of me by instinct.
I was soon falling and I manifested more Axes in preparation for a chase but… Dracula didn't follow my fall, merely staring at me as I descended into the water body the Castle was now hovering over.
A loud splash, I felt my body hit by pure cold and it forced me to push back up for air. I was shivering, upset and… disheartened as something was now missing in the sky- the castle had relocated.
"Fucking bastard…" I muttered, allowing for the river's flow to carry me to somewhere safe. I wasn't sure where it was going to take me, but now I knew that I couldn't beat him on my own.
I needed… to get with the only ones that can, I suppose.
Next stop, Gresit.
AN
That was awkward...
Name: Grant Danasty
LVL. 17
Status: Good
HP: 65/605
SP: 120/260
ATK: 84
DEF: 85
CON: 123
INT: 126
LCK: 135
-Equipment-
-Hand: Nothing
-Accessory 1: Bandana (DEF + 2 - CON + 2)
-Accessory 2: Nothing
-Abilities-
(The Most Agile Man in Transylvania - Incomplete) - Your body has been sharpened by years of running around, plot ambushes, and evade attacks. You receive knowledge on Advanced Parkour and you are 50% Faster than normal.
(Landfaring Pirate - Unique) - Once a pirate, always a Nobleman. You may have experience in sea-related topics, but you are a paladin at heart when your homeland is attacked. Receive 10% boost to ATK and DEF while protecting fellow Transylvanians.
(Magical Sense - Unique) - The Giant Bat's prided sight! You can now perceive secret passages with incredible ease.
(Double Jump - Unique) - An Infernal Ability not meant for a Mortal! You can now jump twice to increase your vertical reach.
(A Maiden's Blessing - Unique) - The last sacrifice of a forgotten soul, warmed by the hope of seeing her death given purpose. Your presence is now concealed to all beasts of chaos and darkness, may you find victory in your ambitious deed, John.
(Battle Ax - Projectile) - Use Magic to create an Ax construct to throw at your enemies. Attack Power: ATK *0,75; Cost: 5 MP per Ax.