The Final Desperation

Hans led the group outside of the town to a remote location. Finding vampires near populated areas was very rare due to the measures taken by hunters. They continued marching until they reached a disturbed area in the ground. Crouching down, Hans and his team observed the marks in the mulch before changing their direction.

It seemed like they had found something, but Genji couldn't tell what due to his lack of proficiency in the area. This is why his Fox badge, with its tracking abilities, was indispensable to him.

"The depth and shape of this indentation indicate that only a hunter or vampire could have made it. While it doesn't matter if it was a fellow hunter, we will treat it as if it were a vampire trace. Be prepared for any potential attacks," Hans explained to the group, augmenting the tension among the teens.

The realm members, though, remained unfazed. After so many worlds, they've grown used to the danger and are regularly vigilant, especially in such an unknown terrain.

After following the tracks some more, they came across a cow husk with a claw wound on its side. Its skin sunk deep into the body as bones and shriveled muscles supported the structure. The only reason they can tell it was a cow was by the utters on its stomach.

"Take note," Hans said. "These wounds indicate vampire activity. All the blood has been drained from the body, meaning a vampire had a meal here."

"Sir if vampires can feed off animals, why do they hunt humans?" One of the realm members asked.

"What do you know? To vampires, animal blood tastes foul. Unless they have no choice, they will never opt for this. It's like the difference between spoiled food and a gourmet meal. Naturally, they will choose the better option. In fact, the only weaker vampires settle for animal blood because hunting humans is dangerous."

Hans shared this information for one specific reason: to emphasize that the two groups were irreconcilable. Anyone attempting it would be considered a fool. They were in a predator-prey relationship. Tigers don't negotiate with rabbits; they simply eat them. To vampires, humans were more enticing than rabbits, making the only interaction between them one of death.

"I understand," the realm member replied, finally getting an answer to the vampire movies he saw in the past.

They continued tracking their target while the Veterans explained everything they should keep in mind. Genji sensed that their teachings were genuine, but held little hope for their survival. Nonetheless, they pressed on, hoping that those who did survive could carry on the legacy that had been built over many years.

That's how they were taught so they wished that people could learn from their experiences and not repeat the same mistakes.

Soon, they spotted three vampires with their backs turned to them. Hans ensured they maintained a safe distance and followed them cautiously, searching for the right moment to strike.

Seemingly unaware of their pursuers, the three vampires killed more animals, ripping out their hearts and crushing them above their mouths. Blood drenched their faces, yet they remained indifferent to the mess, licking it away with relish like wild animals.

On one occasion, they came across a wandering villager, whom the three vampires eagerly tore apart, limb from limb, to feast upon. The loud, agonized screams shook the novice hunters observing the scene.

"Sir, are we just going to watch like this?" one of the novices asked.

Hans gave him a sidelong glance but shook his head.

"We don't have a choice. If we interfere, we won't be saving anyone, but putting our lives in danger. By the time we reach them, the person would be dead and we would have given up our ambush. Is it worth risking your lives like this if you can live to avenge them? You have to understand, there's a difference between bravery and stupidity."

Hans's words caused the teens to clench their fists in indignation, but there was nothing they could do. This was the life of a vampire hunter. If they want to save more people, they need to kill more vampires. In the grand scheme of things, the lives of civilians were less valuable than killing a vampire. The faster they learn this, the faster they become a hunter.

After some time, the vampires entered a cave, causing Hans's eyes to light up.

"The perfect ambush spot! Prepare to seal off the exit and bombard them with cross bolts!"

They sped up and trapped the vampires inward. Now the vampires have no way to escape. A torch was lit as Hans led the group to conduct a sweep of the cave.

'This place is very deep,' Genji thought to himself. 'But why would they enter such a place? To sleep or something else? Do vampires even need to sleep in this world?'

They continued deeper until they reached the end of the cave and cornering the group of three. Their red eyes squinted at the unaccustomed light but didn't react otherwise.

"This is the end, filthy leaches." Then Hans waved his hand, gesturing for the group to shoot.

"End? Hahahaha yes, it is the end. The end for you, that is. Keith, when are you going to make your move?"

The vampire's words caused Hans's heart to skip a beat, but nothing happened. Not even a sound, which made him believe the vampires were bluffing.

"Shoot. End them," he ordered decisively.

"Bastard! You broke your agreement!" They shouted as the hail of bolts skewed them.

"Quick. Let's get out of here," Hans ordered, uneased by their last words and making a dash for the entrance.

A cornered rat might try to get out of his situation with a bluff, but it wouldn't make sense to continue the bluff in death. When they do, it means that it's likely to be true, implying they are in a trap. To be safe, they need to get out of here before the trap is fully set.

Yet his fears came true when they encountered a group of vampires blocking the exit. At the front, a lavishly dressed vampire sat with a wine glass of blood.

"I guess those morons gave away the ambush. It's a good thing you disposed of them," Keith said standing up and dropping the glass.

'Shit! They got us. No wonder they lured us into this enclosed space.' Alarm bells rang in Hans's head as he gave an urgent order. "Attack! Our survival depends on us fighting out!"

 

[Baron Keith]

Health: 9,500/9,500

Blood energy: 737/460

Con: 25

Str: 24

Dex: 21

Int: 23

Spc: 13

Skills:

 - Miniboss (passive): +7,000 hp

 - Blood Energy (passive): All energy is converted to blood energy. The vampire can accumulate up to 2x blood energy for his stats.

 - Blood arts (passive): All vampires above elite level possess their own blood arts

 - Blood Regeneration (active): Consume blood energy to obtain high-speed regeneration

No further skills can be read

 

The stats weren't too intimidating, but that was only relative to Genji. For the others, this Baron-ranked vampire was a formidable foe, especially considering Keith's unique abilities. 

Crossbolts flew through the air as the vampires pounced on them, tearing through the inexperienced fighters and splattering blood everywhere. Their formation quickly disintegrated as panic set in. Hans and his team did their best to fend off the incoming onslaught, but they were outnumbered.

Fortunately, just as they were pushed back, the realm members revealed themselves. They burst out with decent teamwork and the courage to fight, helping stabilize the situation and giving everyone some breathing room.

"Draw your swords! Don't attempt to shoot them when they get close," Hans's orders calmed the minds of the newbies, guiding them back into formation.

Now they were able to hold their ground, but it didn't improve their overall situation. To survive, they needed to fight their way out of this predicament, but with Keith watching from the side, it was a formidable task.

"Arrrhhhh," a realm member grunted in pain as a vampire with blood-coated claws carved out a large chunk of his flesh.

This was a painful wound that allowed the vampire to strike down with a fatal attack. But before the attack could land, a flash of light sprang up around the person, causing the claw to bounce off the newly formed shield. Then a white, milky light washed over the wound, slowly closing it. This miraculous scene, however, only drew the vampires' attention.

Pairing their innate dislike for light and the problematic support the healers posed, they quickly arrived at one conclusion: the healers must die!

Several elites jumped over the melee fighters and dashed at the backline, causing the healer to let out a high-pitched scream.

"Ahhhhhhhhh, quick, stop them!"

At her outcry, several bulwark people in heavy armor stepped forward with tower shields. But before they could stop the vampires, a stream of blood flew near them, transforming into a sharp blade and cutting them down. This was Keith's attack, creating the perfect opening for his group.

Then another round of casualties began as the vampires tore through the backlines. To make matters worse, the vampires consumed the blood of the fallen to regenerate and endure the hesitant attacks of the others. It was very hard to attack when their teammates were in the way.

This hesitation, however, only increased their casualties. Chaos reigned as the elite vampires utilized their blood arts to push back the melee fighters. Soon they were locked in a desperate battle.

Their main problem was that none of the members could keep up with these vampires. If they had the speed, they didn't have the attack power. If they had the power, they lacked the speed. Vampires were very balanced creatures, so lacking in a single area meant they were prey.

Unlike Genji, these realm members hadn't developed all their attributes. Unless they could earn as many points as Genji, that was an unfeasible idea, as they would be killed before they balanced their stats. That's why many of them relied on party members to cover their weaknesses.

"It seems they're struggling. How about I step in now?" Genji thought as he stepped out of the shadows, swinging to decapitate Keith.

Sensing a sudden cold wind behind him, Keith tried to shift his body, but to his dismay, a black crystal chain wrapped around his arm as Genji yanked him back into position. Keith's expression twisted in misery as his head flew through the air, but Genji didn't relax.

Pivoting, Genji twirled [Jaguar] and bisected the head again. Only then did he receive the kill prompt. It appeared that certain vampires had abilities that allowed them to survive beheading, making this world even more perilous. To avoid being caught off guard in the future, Genji would need to ensure the head was completely destroyed.

[You have defeated Baron Keith]

[You have gained: 9 maximum energy, 12,210 coins, and Blood Greaves]

[Blood Greaves]

Rating: Rare

Durability: 120/120

Requirements: 12 str, 10 con

Effect: Lifesteal 1% of all damage dealt, capped at 50% of max health per day

 

Genji stored the item away and slipped back into the shadows, ready to ambush some elites. Right now, he wanted to focus on rebuilding his energy, as that chain had depleted about two-thirds of his current pool. It was a nifty trick, but it came at a high cost.

With Genji's addition, the group was able to slowly push back the vampires. Things became significantly easier when they no longer had to contend with elite vampires unleashing blood arts upon them.

As their numbers dwindled, the vampires began to realize that something was amiss. Where was the support from the Baron? Why were they suffering so many casualties? And where were the elite vampires with their blood arts?

Soon, they discovered a lavishly dressed body lying on the side of the cave. Upon seeing the familiar outfit and position of the body, the vampires understood what had happened: the Baron had been assassinated!

"Retreat!" they yelled, unwilling to continue this losing battle.

*Huff huff*

The remaining survivors gasped for air as the intense battle finally ended. While everyone celebrated their victory, Hans was focused on something else.

"Why did they retreat?"

Upon reviewing the situation, he also noticed the discrepancy in the use of blood arts. It seemed like, after the first few minutes, elite vampires experienced a drastic reduction in numbers. Just what had happened during that time frame? Whatever the case, he knows someone had saved them.

"May I know who you are, mysterious helper?" Hans called out, receiving countless puzzled stares in return.

"Sir, I don't mean any harm. I simply wish to express my gratitude for your assistance," Hans called out again, leaving others to wonder if he had lost his mind.

Yet all these doubts soon faded as Genji walked into view behind Hans.

"You're quite perceptive," Genji's voice made Hans jolt around. His hand instinctively reached for his sword before he managed to restrain himself.

"Do all vampire hunters react this way, or is it just you and Claus?" Genji asked.

"To be honest, appearing behind anyone tends to evoke such reactions," Hans replied.

"That makes sense."

Genji then rejoined the group, leaving Hans both surprised and intrigued. Was he part of the trial group? How come he doesn't remember such a person? Hans gave Genji a deep look before deciding to tend to his own injuries.

"He's dangerous," someone remarked, noticing Genji's proficiency with stealth.

The others quickly snapped out of their daze and tended to their wounds. Bandages and consumables were brought out while the teenagers struggled to deal with their injuries. They had a basic knowledge of first aid, but the chaos of the battle had caused them to neglect it. Now, everyone was lying on the ground, with injuries and no desire to do anything.

Among the injured was Connor, the blue-haired teen who had caught Genji's attention. He was currently leaning against the cave wall with a large wound in his stomach. Muscles were torn severely, and his body was struggling to hold itself together.

His face was pale, his teeth clenched, and veins bulged on his forehead. It was clear that Connor was in a great deal of agony, which struck Genji as unusual. While the wound might be painful, it should not have been as crippling as Connor made it seem.

"Can anyone tell me what happened to him?"

The surrounding people exchanged glances but offered no response. They were too preoccupied with their own battles to pay much attention to someone else.

"His wound doesn't look normal," murmurs began to circulate after Genji drew their attention to it.

"No, it doesn't. Is that necrosis I see?"

"Now that you mention it, the blood does have a foul odor."

Everyone backed away from Connor as a veteran approached Genji.

"His blood got mixed with vampire blood. I assume he was stabbed but managed to wound the assailant, and their blood got into his wound," the veteran explained.

"Is vampire blood really that dangerous?"

"Yes. To humans, vampire blood is like a toxin. Your body either adapts to it, and you take on vampire traits, or it corrodes you from the inside out. Many hunters have died from this."

The veteran walked over to Connor, took out a waterskin, and held it to Connor's mouth

"Drink. It'll help you fight off the conversion," the veteran said, uncorking it.

Connor greedily gulped down the contents, ignoring the sour taste and spilling half of it. After a few seconds, his expression eased, but the pain was still evident. The veteran stood up and performed a peculiar gesture above Connor's head before walking back to Genji.

"What was that about?" Genji inquired about the gesture.

"It's a send-off prayer among hunters. We usually do that when a fellow hunter is on their deathbed, as a sign of respect and to bid them farewell."

"Send off? But he doesn't look like he's going to die. Isn't whatever you made him drink supposed to help?"

"Oh, that?" The veteran let out a sad smile as he took a swig of it. "It's just silver shade water. The idea is that it helps repel vampires, convincing people it will help. In truth, it's just a better water source that vampires detest going near. It doesn't actually do anything against vampire blood."

"Then why did you tell him that?"

"To give him hope. People who are injected with vampire blood rarely survive. Many of those who did have an iron will or a strong desire for life. By giving him hope, he has a better chance of surviving. If not, at least he won't die in despair. Now, his life or death is in his own hands."

The veteran shared the grim truth in a hushed tone, away from Connor's ears. Hearing this, Genji realized the severity of the hunter's situation. How long had this struggle been going on for them to develop these traditions for their fallen comrades? Many generations must have come and gone, although he doubted each generation lived for long.

"There are stronger vampires out there, right?" Genji changed the topic.

"Yes. What we witnessed today isn't even the tip of the iceberg. If I had to guess, that vampire was only a Baron, among the lowest ranks of vampire nobility. Above that, there are Counts and Marquees. Counts aren't so bad, but Marquees are on a different level."

The veteran shivered as he recalled his encounter with a Marquee. Even from a distance, he would have died if it hadn't been for the interference of the gold-ranked hunter.

'A noble ranking system where they skipped Viscount? But if that's true, won't there be a Duke rank above Marquees? And where does prince fit in?'

The gravity of the mission was starting to sink in, but Genji wasn't going to give up.

After answering Genji's questions, the veteran returned to Hans and reported the situation. Hans glanced at the ailing Connor before rising to his feet.

"Let's head back. This trial is considered complete," Hans announced, beckoning a sigh of relief from everyone.