Free Web NovelChapter 104: Chapter 103 - Dracula
Point-of-View: Anarchy/???
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"Uh, are you sure this is a good idea?" Inquired Glenn nervously.
"Nope. But, hey, if it goes wrong, I’m counting on you to get us out of here," I responded with a smirk.
"That’s just way too reckless."
"So, hey, is Dracula really gonna show up here!?" Inquired Afro with an excited grin.
He’d begged me to take him along since he wanted to see Dracula in the flesh, and I initially refused, but he kept bugging me, so I gave in because he was starting to annoy me.
But I told Glenn to portal him back if he shows any signs of trying to pick a fight with Dracula. I may enjoy a bit of recklessness, but taking on the King of Vampires, a being with an Aura comparable to a Deity, is just plain suicidal.
"He probably will...looking at the churches that have been devastated so far, this is probably his next target. He’s been attacking any and all churches, not just the extremist ones, and based on the pattern he’s been following, this one’s probably next," I replied quietly.
Still, Romania has thousands of churches, does he really plan to destroy them all and then do the same in every other country? Well, given how long he’s lived, he probably experiences time differently to how we do.
Today’s the 15th of June, ten days since that video he uploaded on social media...and he’s already destroyed over fifty churches in that time. Still a long way to go, but he’s making some relatively steady progress.
From the news reports, it seemed that several churches over the last few days had been bolstered with police protection, but of course, guns aren’t gonna be enough to stop a Vampire, especially not the strongest one ever.
After multiple failures to stop him, it looks like they’ve just given up and abandoned the churches...or at least, that seems to be the case with this one. It’s definitely empty, there’s absolutely no one inside.
We were currently perched atop a tree with thick branches and plenty of leaves, to obscure ourselves from anyone below.
"Hey, look, someone’s coming this way!" Whispered Afro, shaking my shoulder and pointing, as two figured approached the church from the shadows, wearing hooded cloaks.
"Damn it, what’s with the disguises, I can’t see their faces!" I frowned in annoyance.
"That’s kinda rich, coming from you," Chuckled Afro in response.
The two figures then stopped in front of the church, and the taller one raised their hand towards it...and in an instant, several spikes burst out from inside the building, breaking through the walls and windows, the structure rapidly crumbling.
That’s the same kind of damage that all the previously destroyed churches have suffered, it’s definitely him!
"W-woah, what an Aura...," Mumbled Glenn wide-eyed, probably using Appraisal.
I let out a quiet laugh of disbelief as I did the same...holy crap, that’s intense. Hm? The other person also has an Aura, though much, much smaller, and not fully in control.
Is that the person who had been recording the video that Dracula posted online? The Aura looks a bit different to Meta-Human’s Aura, but not quite the same as the Vampire’s Aura either...ohh, I see, it must be the Clan Skill: Create Kin, a technique exclusive to Vampires.
When they bite someone, they can choose to either turn them into a mindless puppet for them to control, or they can go a different route and grant the target some powers instead. It’s supposed to be extremely rare though, Vampires are a proud race, and don’t easily grant power to humans, whom they often consider to be inferior.
"Okay, Glenn, open a portal in front of them. I’ll approach them alone," I instructed quietly.
"Y-yeah, okay, I just hope you know what you’re-..."
"I do not appreciate being spied on. Who are you people?" Suddenly came a voice from behind us.
And down by the church, the taller figure had vanished, while the shorter one was looking around in confusion.
I glanced back nervously, meeting the gaze of a glowing pair of red eyes, my blood running cold as I made eye contact...
"Uh, hi. It’s nice to meet you, Mr Tepes, I’m-...," I began.
"Hm? I recognize that mask...you are Anarchy, the one from the internet video, yes?" He responded with narrowed eyes.
Huh? Sweet, Dracula knows who I am.
"This is all a misunderstanding, sir...we came here because we suspected that this place would be your next target, and we’re hiding for two reasons...first, we didn’t want to interrupt you, and second, because naturally, we’re afraid of you. We had hoped to talk to you once you were done with your business here, in fact, I was just about to come down there and approach you before you showed up behind us," I remarked in a friendly, non-threatening tone.
"Hm...you do not appear to be lying, although your disguised voice is rather grating on the ears. Very well, I am a reasonable man, I shall at least hear you out. I trust that this will not be a waste of my time, come down there and speak your business," He responded, before vanishing again, reappearing back down next to the other figure.
"W-was that...teleportation?" Inquired Afro, breaking the silence.
"No, there were no powers involved...it was a blur, but I just about barely saw him move. All he did was jump down...," I replied in bemusement, before turning to Glenn, "Let’s get down there right away, better not keep him waiting.
Glenn nodded in response, a bead of sweat running down the side of his face as he opened a portal, which we jumped through and emerged a few feet in front of where Dracula and his partner were standing...
"Who are these people? Wait, isn’t that that Anarchy person from the UN conference?" Remarked the shorter figure in surprise.
That voice...yeah, I’m pretty sure it’s the same as the person who was recording the video that Dracula uploaded. I couldn’t see her face, but her eyes were glowing red. Her Aura is too weak for a Vampire, so she’s definitely his Kin...
"If you know who I am, that makes things easier. I’ll get straight to the point...would you be interested in joining us? There are a countless number of churches and other places of worship all over the world, it’d take years, maybe decades, to destroy them all. We can help you with that...as you can see, we’ve got a portal user with us, meaning that we can instantly travel to any place in the world. In return, join Chaos and lend us your assistance from time to time...of course, if we ask you to do something you don’t want to, you’re free to refuse," I remarked, as I made the offer.
"Hm...your objective is to destroy the other two Meta-Human factions and establish a world where Meta-Humans no longer have to live in secrecy, yes? I am neither in support of nor against that goal, it does not concern me. However, a portal user is a rare and tantalizing prospect," Surmised Dracula, before turning to the young woman, "What do you think, Camelia?" freewebnσvel.cøm
"Me? I...I just want every last church in the world destroyed. And people like the ones who killed my parents and our employees...I want them all dead. If joining these people will help us achieve that faster...then I think we should accept their offer," She responded, after mulling it over.
Wow. What a vague and unrealistic goal that is. After all, while I have no interest in religion, not every church or every worshiper is going to be evil or a bad person. And even if they do destroy every church in the world, how do they plan to kill every evil person? There’s absolutely no way to pull that off.
But it’s fine, I don’t care about how unrealistic their goal is, it doesn’t matter to me. If that’s what they wanna do, by all means, they’re free to pursue that. I’m just interested in Dracula’s power...
"Great, then we’re happy to have you! Welcome aboard, and-...!" I began.
"Not so fast. I still need to determine whether you can be trusted or not...clearly, you desire and intend to use my powers for your purposes, and I am not particularly opposed to that, as it could help me accomplish my objective of abolishing religion from this world. I also understand that you will be busy with your own objectives, and therefore may not be always available to assist me in mine. Therefore...before I accept your offer, I would like a show of good faith," Stated Dracula firmly.
"Oh, uh...okay, sure, that’s fine. What exactly did you have in mind?" I inquired nervously.
"For the rest of tonight, you will transport us to every single church in Romania so that I can destroy them. Once there are no more churches left in this country...I will join Chaos."
Eh?
Every single church? Tonight?
"Wow, that sounds super boring...hey, Glenn, send me back to the hideout, will ya?" Requested Afro in bemusement.
"Well? Do you refuse?" Inquired Dracula, narrowing his eyes at me.
"...no, I accept. But I doubt we can complete the whole process by the end of tonight."
"That is fine. If we do not finish, we can continue tomorrow. And the next day. And the next. If you want me to join your side, then no matter how many nights it takes, you will have to assist me with this. Is that acceptable?" He proposed inquiringly.
Wowww, that sounds like a huge drag. But...if it means we get him on our side by the end of it, then it’s worth it.
"Fine...I accept. Glenn, it’s all upto you. Let me know when you’re done!" I grinned as I slapped his back, "Okay, now send Afro and I back. I’m counting on you!"
"W-wait, you want me to do this alone!?" He stuttered in alarm.
"Huh? What are you talking about? You won’t be alone...you’ll have Dracula to keep you company!"
I know, I know, dick move on my part...but hey, he didn’t say that I myself have to be present for this, so there’s no way I’m spending what could be several nights teleporting all over Romania if I don’t have to...
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