The First Vampire of YGGDRASIL

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Oriana POV

I looked at the zombie in surprise as he began to shuffle towards me again with heavy steps. He stumbled forward like a broken machine. Regardless of the surrounding environment, the feather-light movements I had seen earlier were no longer visible. I let him stumble towards me again and wasn't the least bit surprised when he walked past me instead of attacking me. As expected from a normal zombie, he ignored me and tried to get behind me and to the old woman who was still crouching on the ground.

Why was that?

I thought as I grabbed the zombie by the shoulder. Even though he started to squirm in my grip and tried with all his strength to get to the old woman, he didn't seem to have enough intelligence to understand that I was holding him. I tightened my grip on his shoulder and dragged the sack of rotting flesh with me to get to the object of my desire. The zombie's beautiful sword was lying on the ground exactly as it had fallen a few minutes ago. I bent down and carefully picked it up to examine it.

Carefully, almost fearfully, I let my hand slide over the perfectly shaped blade. I had seen a lot of weapons before, but this sword could even keep up with the elegance of my weapons. In order to finally get clarity about the origin of the sword, I cast an analysis spell and...

My eyes widened, and I froze as a stone as I received the information in my head about the sword.

Totsuka-no-Tsurugi that was its name

The sword of the mythical God Susanoo and...

A world Item

A world item from YGGDRASIL was actually in my hand. Of course, I had already known about the existence of world items in this world and the influence of YGGDRASIL since my trip to the Slane Theocracy, but that I would just come across one...

I shook off my surprise and focused on the sword again. Similar to Albedo's "Ginungagap", this sword could also be used as a weapon for direct physical attacks even if, like Albedo's world item, the damage was less than that of a divine class item. Since it was a world item, the sword was also indestructible and therefore immune to wear and tear. So far so good, the effect of the world item was far more interesting. Similar to Aura's world item "Depiction of Nature and Society", "Totsuka-no-Tsurugi" was also able to seal a target in another dimension.

However, there were some subtle differences. The sword was only able to seal a single person, unlike Aura's world item which could seal entire armies into another dimension. But even if that meant the sword was more limited, it was by no means weaker. "Depiction of Nature and Society" had the weak point that while you could pull numerous targets into the dimension in return you also had to create some exits. If one target managed to reach the exit, the owner of the world item would instantly change hands. The sword did not have this weak point, once sealed it was impossible for the target to escape until the owner of the sword broke the seal.

It seems that the village leader's story contained at least a grain of truth. After all, she had told me about the guardian god who had protected her ancestors and, after his death, had passed the task on to his son. Most likely the Shōgun's ancestor was a player from YGGDRASIL who had acquired the world item in the game.

As a test, I lifted the sword to make a simple swing and...

Clang

The sword fell to the ground for the second time that day...

Strange

Normally I should be able to swing a simple sword since I had a few levels in warrior classes, unlike Ainz, but since this was a world item... 

Some items were special, like Ainz's red orb or my scythe, they had conditions that had to be met in order to be able to use them. Maybe it was similar here. I thought about it and my gaze inevitably fell on the zombie that was still writhing in my grasp. My gaze slowly slid to his cut arm and finally to the sword lying on the ground.

That could work

I thought, and a sly smile began to play around my mouth. Instinctively I raised my hand to my mouth to cover it. Two dark red tentacles shot out of my body and I began to knead a red bloody mass between them, soon something formed from it that one could only vaguely recognize as a heart, and after I placed it in my free hand I raised my arm and...

Splooch

My hand penetrated the undead zombie's body and caused rotten flesh to squirt out. As expected, the zombie began to transform immediately after the heart I inserted began to beat. This proved that the former zombie was actually just an egoless shell, as I would never have been able to change a high-level undead like that, especially since I could clearly feel the connection to my newly created [Vampire Servant].

However, that didn't mean what I planned to do next was safe. I bent down again to pick up the sword and took a step towards my [Vampire Servant] to hand him the weapon. Hopefully my previous opponent was more willing to talk, now that his body was up to it. In addition, the improved body was not only stronger and able to speak, I also planned to rely on my connection to be able to terminate him if necessary.

IF my guess was correct...

Red steam rose around my vampire the moment the sword touched his hand. He pushed his head back and opened his mouth to let out a mighty scream, staggering and falling to his knees in exhaustion, using his sword as support. I looked down at the warrior kneeling in front of me and smiled evilly.

So I was right

"The guardian god I assume? We haven't had the pleasure of talking to each other yet. I hope that has changed now." I asked cheekily.

"We have talked O anomaly. In great detail." the possessed vampire replied in a gravely voice.

"Really? I think I would have noticed if you had talked. You have been a real quiet one up until now." I asked.

"Not in words, our battle has said enough. I know what kind of person you are O anomaly." replied my possessed servant

"And what kind of person am I? 'O Guardian god'" I mocked him.

"You are strong and yet you don't know how to swing your weapon. You are arrogant and yet cautious when it comes to it. But above all, you are cruel. No matter what goals you set for yourself, whether you achieve them or not, it makes no difference. Pain is your constant companion, no, not companion, servant, slave, wherever you go you sow suffering. With or without a meaning." spoke the vampire and finished his analysis.

"What an interesting analysis. It's true I'm really cruel when I have to... or when I want to." I said and looked at the unconscious village leader on the ground

"...but still you are the one to talk, if I'm not mistaken, you are responsible for the downfall of this city" I giggled and pointed to the ruins surrounding us

"You are mistaken."he said in a sharp tone

"What did happen then? Were the other countries that took your wife responsible for the destruction of the city?" I asked.

"Other countries? It was my subordinates who kidnapped my wife because they feared me. And it was they who were responsible for the arrow that ended her live" he spoke with anger in his voice.

"Some of these traitors survived and began breeding not far from here. They built a village, one far smaller and weaker than the one we had before. But that is just how humans are, never are they happy with what they have. They feared me and were jealous of my power, and they paid the price for betraying me the same as I paid the price for trusting their loyalty." he said bitterly.

"Does this mean you were also responsible for the small plague outbreak in the village? I was there, some seemed to be very sick" I asked.

"So it finally reached them?" he asked with glee in his voice "...I have been trying to poison their water for decades with dead animal corpses but haven't had any luck until now"

"Hoo, didn't you just complain about my limitless cruelty? You are pretty cruel yourself?" I tried to tease him.

"The right of the strong is the only thing that counts. We may have ideals, pride, or rules but in the face of pure power everything is worthless. I am a warrior at heart but even that will not help me against someone like you, true I would still die by my ideals, but it would not matter to you, only to me" he explained to me.

"You are no fun. Still why did you not kill them yourself, you are not bound to this place are you?"

"I am not and still I am. Even if I was betrayed, it is still my task to defend this place. Such is the duty of the Akai Shōgun. A duty passed down from my forefathers. And until I have a new duty it will remain as such."

That would make sense, the only thing missing is...I thought.

"The only thing left to figure out is how you survived. I have a guess, but I'm not sure. How did you do it?" I asked curiously.

"I'm sure you've already found out about the special nature of my sword. But I will explain again, 'Totsuka-no-Tsurugi' the divine sword of my ancestor Susanoo is able to seal any person. Once sealed, it is impossible to escape, but only the true owner of the sword can wield its power. A right of ownership that can only be transferred to you if you kill the previous owner or die a natural death. In such a case, ownership goes to whoever touches the sword first." The fake undead explained.

"I've already thought that much but why did you not lose ownership over the sword after you died" I commented

"Because I wasn't killed in battle, but I tried to end my own life with honor after I realized that I had failed. With that very sword..."

"Ahhh, now I get it you sealed your own soul in the sword..." I exclaimed in enlightenment.

"That is correct. But since I still was the owner of the sword I wasn't really sealed. My soul could have left at any time..."

"Why did you not do it?" I asked.

"Transmigration of the soul is impossible for us mortals. After my body bleed out it was impossible for me to leave or my soul would have passed on. It was just a stroke of luck that one of my former dead comrades came back as an undead and picked up my sword by accident..."

"And since it didn't have a consciousness..." I realized

"...I was able to possess it" he finished.

"Ha, Ha-ahHahahahahaha" I started to laugh, it was a nostalgic warm laughter completely different from the one I felt when I tortured someone

"What irony? I suppose that also means you can't truly be killed, can you?"

"..."

"Ahhh, of course. The option of self harm was not possible in YGGDRASIL, figured that these shitty devs would not think about a possibility like that" I laughed.

"Forgive me, but you have me at a disadvantage" exclaimed the Shōgun

"Haaaaah, forget it, its getting late, and since I am not able to kill you and become the new owner of the sword there is nothing left for me to do. I originally did not come here for you, but you did pike my interest, and now I am willing to leave." I explained and turned around.

"Wait O Anomaly, I have a proposal" said the possessed undead halting me in my tracks

"You have done me a great favor, not only have you killed the spawn of these traitors, No, you have also created a body much stronger and capable of speech for me. I am in your dept, and I am willing to repay it." offered the 'guardian god'

"And how do you imagine that?" I asked interested.

"Let me serve you, my city is lost, my followers have betrayed me and as of today even their heirs are dead. I have nothing to protect and no one to serve." He exclaimed.

Lost in thought, I looked at the Shōgun, who had fallen to his knees in front of me and presented me with his sword. Theoretically he was probably a god kin even if he was not a successor of the big six. Another player, probably the one with the name tag Susanoo, the village leader told me about must have been responsible for his bloodline. He was also in possession of a world item that could only be used by him, but still...

"I will accept your proposal, from this day onward you will serve me: Oriana arvish Di Valentine.

Its a pleasure, still..."

"...be warned, treason will be severely punished"

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