Prologue
Edith, Calvard, 1200
Inside the ancient chapel of the old town, a young man entered. Father Kevin, with his spiky green hair, an earring glinting against the dim light, and clad in a pristine white robe, seemed out of place in the gloomy interior. As he moved toward the center of the chapel, his eyes scanned his surroundings, taking in the oppressive atmosphere.
He paused, noticing another presence in the chapel. A small, knowing smile crossed his face.
"A new face, I see. A surprise, to be sure," he murmured.
From the shadows, a cloaked elderly man emerged, his face hidden. His voice was a gravelly whisper, "Has someone followed you?"
Kevin was taken aback by the question, his brow furrowing. "Followed? No, I'm alone," he replied, the confusion evident in his tone.
The cloaked figure nodded slowly. "Good to know the Gralsritter are still trustworthy. I need you to take something... and keep it safe."
Though puzzled, Kevin offered a reassuring nod. "Of course. What is it?"
From within the folds of his cloak, the old man produced a long, white stake, its surface rough and weathered as if carved from ancient oak. An ominous aura emanated from it, sending a chill down Kevin's spine.
"This is... quite the artifact," Kevin said, his voice tinged with unease as he felt the power radiating from the stake. "What exactly is it?"
"Our last hope," the old man replied gravely. "To seal him once more... should he ever be freed."
Kevin's grip on the stake tightened as the weight of the man's words settled over him. "Seal him? Who are we talking about?"
The old man smiled—a sad, weary smile. "As you've been briefed, I am not of this world. I hail from a land far removed from this one."
Kevin nodded, recalling the details of his briefing. "You mentioned a powerful threat from your world, didn't you?"
"Yes," the man confirmed, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "A threat so devastating, it nearly destroyed my entire country."
A cold shiver ran down Kevin's spine, but he maintained his composure. "You speak as if this being is a walking calamity."
"Perhaps," the old man mused. "One could even call it a creature from the depths of Gehenna."
At the mention of Gehenna, Kevin's grip on the stake became almost instinctively tighter, his eyes narrowing. "A creature from Gehenna... Are you saying this thing is a demon?"
The old man sighed, his voice tinged with the weight of past horrors. "I grew up in a small rural town, much like any other you'd find here. We were a simple, peaceful community. But that peace was shattered when a wealthy nobleman, Curtis Barlow, was found dead in his mansion. The elders whispered that he had been dabbling in the occult, and that his death was a sacrifice—a doorway to invite evil into our town."
Kevin listened intently, his focus locked on the old man's words. "What happened then?"
"After Barlow's death, the mansion was sold to a new owner," the old man continued, his voice heavy with foreboding. "That's when everything went to hell. People vanished without a trace, their bodies turning up days later. Disease spread like wildfire. And then... the dead began to rise."
Kevin's expression grew grim, the seriousness of the situation dawning on him. "You're saying that evil took root in Barlow's mansion?"
"Yes," the old man replied, his voice shaking slightly. "An evil that takes the form of a young man when it wishes to conceal its true nature. But at night, it reveals itself, feeding on the blood of the innocent."
Kevin's mind raced, piecing together the puzzle. "This creature... it attacks at night, feeds on blood... It's a vampire, isn't it?"
The old man nodded solemnly. "We call him Kain—a monster in human skin. In my world, such beings are known as Dead Apostles. But to you, they're simply vampires."
Kevin's realization hit him like a cold wind, his expression hardening. "A vampire... But not just any vampire. Kain is different, isn't he?"
"He was sired by one of the most ancient and powerful elder vampires in my world, known as the Serpent of Akasha," the old man revealed, his voice trembling. "Kain slaughtered my town, one by one. No matter what we tried, nothing could put him down for good. I barely escaped with my life and have spent every moment since hunting him. To that end, I forged stakes from oak, imbued with alchemical and magical rites. And just weeks ago, I finally managed to stake him through the heart. But even that only incapacitated him. I sealed his body in a coffin and, with the help of a skilled wizard, brought it to this world. Your Septian Church helped me hide the coffin in a secure place."
Kevin's mind whirled as he processed the old man's tale. The weight of responsibility pressed down on him as he realized the gravity of the situation. A powerful vampire, incapacitated but not destroyed, was now in his care.
"So, you've managed to incapacitate him, but now you need me to keep the coffin safe." Kevin looked down at the stake in his hands, the cool oak against his skin. "And this stake... it's the only thing that can stop him permanently?"
The old man shook his head slowly. "No... It can only incapacitate him again, should he ever rise. But if that happens... he would become a plague upon this world, spreading death and corruption wherever he goes."
Kevin's resolve hardened as he listened to the old man's words. The thought of such a monster being unleashed was enough to make his blood run cold.
"I understand the stakes," Kevin said, his voice firm with determination. "I swear on my life, I will protect this stake and ensure that Kain never rises again. The fate of the world may very well depend on it."
Nemeth Island, Calvard, 1207
On a remote island off the coast of Calvard, accessible only by air or sea, two Jaeger corps clashed violently, fighting on behalf of their powerful clients—rival mafia families operating in Zemuria: Almata and Heiyue. The Jaeger corps engaged in this fierce battle were the Warriors of Kruga and Nidhoggr.
Among the Kruga warriors, a young Jaeger named Feri Al-Fayed stood out on the front lines. Feri, a girl with a tanned complexion, short-cropped hair, and a petite physique, wore a long, dusty yellow jacket with detached sleeves and an open high collar. Embroidered on her jacket were the words: "Deeds are fruits." With her sword, she deftly parried every attack, her agility allowing her to outmaneuver and swiftly take down her opponents.
The battle between the two Jaeger corps was intense, with casualties mounting on both sides. Feri and her team were in a race against time, their objective clear: to find the "hidden treasure" rumored to be on the island before Nidhoggr could claim it. Their pursuit led them through tropical landscapes—beaches lined with palm forests and ancient ruins dating back to the Dark Ages.
Feri led her team through the labyrinthine ruins, their senses heightened by the ever-present threat of an ambush. The ruins, relics of a long-forgotten era, were shrouded in shadows cast by the dense palm forest. As they moved cautiously through the maze, Feri suddenly heard a faint noise. She raised her hand, signaling her team to halt. The sound, almost imperceptible, emanated from a nearby ruined building.
Something was there. Feri's instincts screamed it. She motioned for her team to stay put as she approached the ruined structure, her sword drawn and ready. Inside, the darkness was thick, but her trained eyes could pierce it. She could still hear the soft breathing—someone was definitely inside. Slowly, she edged closer to the source of the sound, her heart pounding.
Pushing open the door, Feri stepped into the building, her senses on high alert. The breathing grew louder as she neared a room at the far end. Taking a deep breath, she kicked the door open, revealing a boy about her age sitting in the corner. His ruffled red hair and the Nidhoggr emblem on his combat uniform immediately caught her eye. Shocked by the sudden intrusion, the boy jumped to his feet, pulling out a gun and aiming it at her.
"Don't try it," Feri warned, her tone cold and serious.
The boy's hands trembled, clearly inexperienced in combat. "Stay down, I beg you!" he pleaded, his voice wavering.
Feri couldn't help but chuckle at his lack of confidence. "Don't worry, I won't hurt you, as long as you don't do anything foolish."
The boy, visibly relieved, lowered his gun. He looked at Feri with a mix of curiosity and caution. "You're not going to kill me?"
Feri shook her head, lowering her sword. "No, I don't even want to fight you."
Relaxing slightly, the boy introduced himself. "I'm Roger Adol. Pleased to meet you, Warrior of Kruga."
Feri studied him carefully, recognizing his name. "Roger... You're related to Victor Adol, aren't you?"
"Yes," he replied, a hint of pride in his voice. "Victor is my older brother. He entrusted me with this mission to prove myself, but... I'm not cut out for this."
Feri nodded, sensing his unease. "You're not from a Jaeger family, are you?"
Roger shook his head. "No... I'm an outsider. Victor suggested I join the corps."
Understanding dawned on Feri. "So, this is your first mission."
Roger nodded, determination flickering in his eyes. "Yes. I want to see it through, no matter what."
Feri admired his resolve but remained cautious. "Alright, a truce then, for now. But don't try anything funny."
Roger agreed, and together they continued their search for the treasure. Their walk was silent as they made their way to the catacombs of an abandoned church, the location both of their clients believed held the treasure. The eerie isolation of the chapel only added to the tension.
"This place gives me the creeps," Feri admitted as they approached the dilapidated building.
Roger chuckled nervously. "It feels like an old tomb. I wonder what's hidden inside."
Feri pushed open the creaky door, and the pair entered the chapel. The only light came from the broken stained-glass windows, casting a dim, ghostly glow. Feri's steps echoed loudly in the silence as she approached the altar, her eyes scanning the ancient surroundings. Something about this place felt... wrong.
As she reached the altar, a small, almost indiscernible symbol etched into the stone caught her eye. She traced it with her finger, trying to remember where she had seen it before. Just then, something in the corner of the room drew her attention—a hidden stone door, partially concealed behind a dusty tapestry, bearing the same symbol.
Feri pushed the tapestry aside, revealing the door in full. The intricate engravings on its surface seemed to glow faintly in the dim light. "This must be the way to the treasure," she muttered.
Roger, narrowing his eyes, agreed. "It looks like a hidden path... but how do we open it?"
Feri tried pushing the door, but it wouldn't budge. Roger, after a moment's thought, pulled out explosives from his backpack.
"You plan to blow it up?" Feri asked, a smirk on her face.
"Unless you want to waste time finding a hidden mechanism," Roger countered. "The sooner we get the treasure, the better."
Feri nodded, stepping back as Roger set the explosives. The blast created a huge hole in the stone door, revealing a dark tunnel leading deeper into the catacombs. With a deep breath, Feri led the way, the air growing musty and stale as they ventured further into the ancient passage.
As they neared a corner, a faint light flickered on the stone walls ahead. Intrigued, Feri quickened her pace. They emerged into a small, torch-lit room, its walls covered in ancient writings. At the center of the room sat a large box, its appearance starkly contrasting with the ancient surroundings.
"This box... it's not as old as the ruins," Feri observed, running her hand along its surface. On the lid, a white 'V'-shaped emblem with three upward-pointing tips was engraved—an emblem that seemed eerily familiar.
Roger, staring at the symbol, voiced his unease. "This symbol... it's designed to strike fear into the hearts of men."
Feri agreed, though she pushed her unease aside. "Let's open it. The treasure might be inside."
The box was heavy, requiring both of them to lift the lid. When they finally managed to pry it open, they were met not with gold or jewels, but with something far more unsettling—a mummified body, its skin pale and shriveled, with a large stake driven through its chest.
"What in the world...?" Feri gasped, stepping back in shock.
Before they could process what they were seeing, the ceiling above them exploded, and armed Nidhoggr members stormed into the room, surrounding them. Roger raised his gun, his voice tinged with regret. "I'm sorry, Feri... but you know how it is. We Jaegers have a job to do."
Feri's heart sank as she realized the betrayal. "So, you're a traitor."
One of the Nidhoggr men struck her from behind, and darkness consumed her as she collapsed to the ground.
...
Feri awoke groggily, her head throbbing with pain. The room was empty, the Nidhoggr men and Roger long gone. As she pushed herself up, she noticed a note on the ground, scrawled in Roger's handwriting: "I am sorry, Roger."
Anger and disappointment surged through Feri as she crumpled the note in her hand. "He had the gall to leave me a note..."
With a heavy heart, Feri made her way back to her comrades. The failed mission and Roger's betrayal weighed heavily on her as she trudged back to camp. When she finally arrived, her disheveled appearance and somber expression caught the attention of her teammates.
"Feri, where's the treasure? And what happened to you?" one of them asked, concern evident in their voice.
Feri sighed, bracing herself for the difficult conversation. "The mission was a bust. Nidhoggr got to the treasure before us... And I was betrayed by someone I thought was an ally."
Her comrades exchanged shocked and concerned glances, the gravity of the situation sinking in. In the end, the Warriors of Kruga had no choice but to abandon the mission—Nidhoggr had taken both the boy and the mummy.
Base of the Nidhoggr Jaegers, Calvard, 1207
Roger and his comrades returned to their base after a long, fierce battle on Nemeth Island. The Warriors of Kruga had proven to be formidable opponents, but in the end, luck favored Roger and his team.
Roger Adol was a rookie among the fighters, this being his first mission. He had been persuaded by his uncle Victor to join the corps, having no clear direction in life. He had dropped out of school, wasn't a particularly gifted student, and was too young for most labor jobs. Victor Adol, a seasoned member of the Nidhoggr Jaegers, took it upon himself to train Roger. However, Roger was unsure if he was cut out for this life.
During the battle on Nemeth Island, Roger was separated from his comrades and encountered a young female Jaeger from the rival corps. Her name was Feri Al-Fayed. Though he would never admit it, Roger had a crush on her. Her dark skin, blue hair, and sky-blue eyes seemed pure despite the battlefield's hardships.
They agreed to a temporary truce to search for the treasure their corps were after. They found it in an old chapel, hidden in a secret room. To their disappointment, it wasn't gold or jewels, but a large box resembling a sarcophagus. It bore a white V-symbol, somewhat like a bird or bat.
Inside the sarcophagus was a mummy, shriveled yet with well-preserved teeth, including two sharp fangs. A stake protruded from its chest, likely the cause of its demise.
Roger betrayed Feri when his corps arrived. They beat her unconscious and escaped with the sarcophagus. Despite his guilt, Roger remembered his uncle's words: The job always comes first.
Sighing, Roger reflected on the day's events.
His uncle placed a hand on his shoulder. "You did well, kid."
Victor Adol, a middle-aged man with streaks of gray in his black hair and a stubbled beard, looked at his nephew with pride in his gray eyes.
"Thank you, Uncle," Roger replied with a smile.
Victor nodded. "See? I knew you had a talent for this. Keep up the good work, and you might become a top Jaeger in ten years."
Roger raised an eyebrow. "You have high expectations, old man."
Victor chuckled. "I just trust my nephew. Dropping out of school doesn't make you a lost cause. Everyone finds their own way in life. Not everyone is cut out for the academic path your mother wanted for you."
Roger thought about his mother, who was back home in Oración. "I still feel bad for leaving without saying anything."
Victor smirked. "She'll understand eventually. You'll see."
They turned their attention to the sarcophagus their comrades were carrying.
Victor raised an eyebrow. "So this is the treasure our client wants?"
"Seems like it. I'm as disappointed as you are," one of the Nidhoggr Jaegers replied.
Victor scratched his head. "What does our client want with a shriveled corpse?"
The other Jaegers shrugged, equally puzzled. Including Roger and Victor, there were a dozen men at the base.
"Put it down. I want a closer look," Victor ordered.
The Jaegers complied, setting the sarcophagus down and opening it to reveal the staked corpse. Victor studied it and smirked. "I have an idea..." He gripped the stake and yanked it out with brute force.
The other Jaegers looked at him, confused. "Uh, Victor... why'd you pull out the stake?"
Victor grinned mischievously. "Simple. We sell this stake as an ancient relic and make some extra money. Almata doesn't know what their 'treasure' originally looked like."
The Jaegers laughed. "You're such a money-grubber."
Victor shrugged. "We're not a charity. We take what we can get. Anyway, the client arrives tomorrow. Tonight, we celebrate my nephew's first completed mission!"
The Jaegers cheered, their voices echoing through the base. "YAAAAAY!"
A Few Hours Later
While the Nidhoggr Jaegers drank and celebrated, Roger brought two bottles to a comrade guarding the "treasure." The sarcophagus was still open, the mummy lying inside.
Roger handed his comrade a bottle, nodding.
"Can't believe we fought so hard for a damn corpse," the comrade grumbled.
Roger chuckled, shrugging. "If the client wants a mummy, then that's what they'll get."
The comrade rolled his eyes, glancing at the mummy. "Too bad this guy's dead already. He could probably use a drink after being stabbed to death and buried on this godforsaken island. You said the box was out of place, like it was put here recently, right?"
Roger nodded. The comrade continued, "Whoever hid this guy must've wanted him to stay hidden. I wonder why."
"Maybe he was infamous," Roger mused. "A criminal, perhaps, discarded as punishment."
The comrade studied the mummy again. "What bugs me is how old it looks, yet the teeth are so well-preserved and sharp. Almost like it died recently. I don't know, kiddo, but this thing gives me the creeps."
Roger watched as his comrade leaned over the mummy, running his hand over its teeth. The comrade narrowed his eyes, whispering, "These teeth... they look so vivid, so... vital..."
Before they could react, the mummy suddenly sprang to life, sinking its teeth into the comrade's hand. The man screamed in shock and horror.
"What the—?!"
Roger's eyes widened as he grabbed his bottle, intending to smash it over the mummy's head. But the creature shoved him away with terrifying strength, sending him crashing into the wall. Roger groaned in pain, sliding to the ground.
The mummy continued to bite down on the comrade's hand, gulping noisily. The Jaeger tried to fight back, but the undead creature didn't flinch. "Let go of me, you freak!" he yelled.
The mummy bit down harder, tearing the Jaeger's hand off. The man howled in agony, collapsing to the floor. The mummy, now fully upright, approached its fallen victim, baring its fangs as it leaned in.
Roger, regaining his senses, watched in horror as the mummy sank its teeth into the comrade's neck. The man's skin grew pale as his life drained away, while the mummy's body seemed to revitalize, muscles filling out and features sharpening.
The creature finally pulled back, letting the lifeless Jaeger slump to the ground. It turned to Roger, its once-dead eyes now a vivid, blood-red. Its teeth, still slick with blood, had grown even sharper, resembling those of a predator more than a human.
With a devious grin, the mummy started toward Roger, who scrambled to his feet and bolted down the hallway. He had to warn the others—this thing was far from harmless.
Roger burst into the barracks where the others were still drinking, his voice frantic. "We have a problem! The corpse in the box... it's not dead! It killed one of our men!"
The other Jaegers laughed, thinking he was joking. "Hahahahaha! Good one, kid. Come on, have a drink with us!"
Victor joined in the laughter, but before Roger could insist, the mummy dropped from the ceiling, landing squarely on the table. Its presence silenced the room instantly. The undead creature surveyed the Jaegers with a predatory grin, its red eyes gleaming with malevolent intelligence.
Victor, stunned, slowly reached for the pistol in his side pocket. But the mummy moved with blinding speed, grabbing Victor's arm before he could react. The Jaegers watched in horror as the creature lifted Victor effortlessly, sinking its fangs into his neck.
The barracks filled with the sickening sound of gulping as the mummy drained Victor's life force. The Jaegers gasped, frozen in shock as Victor thrashed in its grip, his struggles growing weaker by the second. The mummy's body continued to revitalize, its hair darkening and its flesh gaining color.
Finally snapping out of their stupor, one of the Jaegers grabbed a gun and fired at the mummy, causing it to drop Victor onto the table. Victor's body twitched and spasmed like a dying fish as the mummy let out a high-pitched scream, its eyes narrowing in rage.
The creature lunged at the Jaeger who shot it, sinking its teeth into him with savage intensity. The other Jaegers scrambled for weapons, turning tables and chairs into makeshift defenses, or grabbing anything they could use as a weapon.
Suddenly, Victor jerked upright. His eyes were bloodshot, and he groaned—no longer like a man, but like a mindless husk. Roger watched in disbelief as his uncle, once a formidable Jaeger, had become something else entirely—something monstrous.
Victor, or what was left of him, hissed and attacked his comrades with feral savagery. "Victor! What's gotten into you?! We're your friends!" they cried, but it was too late. Victor twisted his head unnaturally, biting and clawing at anyone who tried to stop him. Chaos erupted as the undead Victor and the mummy tore through the room, slaughtering every Jaeger in their path.
A few moments later, Roger slumped against a wall, trembling as if he'd been plunged into icy water. His uncle—no longer himself—was hunched over the lifeless bodies of his comrades, tearing into their flesh like a ravenous beast. Inhuman grunts and slurping sounds filled the room as he feasted on the fallen Jaegers.
In the center of the room stood the creature that had once been a mummy, now completely transformed. Aside from the black trousers it wore, it was nearly bare, resembling a young man—perhaps Roger's age, or a little older. Its pale skin was smooth and unblemished, and its body was lean and muscular, with an almost aerodynamic build. Crimson eyes glimmered menacingly in the dim light, and its short, disheveled dark brown hair added to its unsettling presence.
The creature turned toward Roger, a devious grin spreading across its face as it approached him.
Roger shivered in terror and pleaded, "Please... don't..."
The creature halted, looking at Roger with mild curiosity. "Please don't what?"
Roger's eyes widened in shock. "Y-You can speak?" he stammered.
The pale young man raised an eyebrow and chuckled darkly. "Of course I can, you idiot."
His voice was cold, laced with sinister undertones. "I assume you're the one who freed me."
The creature let out a chilling laugh before continuing, "I think I'll let you live... as long as you do my bidding."
"B-Bidding?" Roger asked, his mind reeling.
The young man's grin widened, revealing sharp, predatory teeth. "Yes... You will bring me more humans to devour. More blood to consume."
Roger gasped and cowered in fear. The figure before him loomed like an overpowering shadow of darkness—impossible to defy.
Hesitantly, Roger nodded. The creature's smile turned sickeningly sweet as it leaned closer.
"Good," it murmured soothingly.
Gathering the last remnants of his courage, Roger asked, "W-Who are you? What are you?"
The young man smirked smugly, towering over him. "I am a Dead Apostle, something you mortals would call a vampire." His eyes gleamed with sadistic delight as he leaned in further, his voice dripping with malice. "But for now, you can call me... Nosferatu."
