NOVPUBNatali grimaced as she rung out a cloth. Dripping from it was a disgusting blend of water and undead gore. Each and every floor had cast that crimson moon since the first one. Berk had promised them that it was an uncommon occurrence, but recent experiences showed otherwise.
Lucius stood watch over the group as the clouds covered the moon overhead. They finished yet another horde of undead and were taking a moment to rest under his ever-watchful gaze. The man's shining eyes glinted with ferocity as he scanned the open plains for signs of anything untoward.
"Hello? Natali? You in there?"
Mar'Eeyen's voice distracted her from her admiration, earning the large woman a murderous gaze. "What?" 𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒑𝒖𝒃.𝙘𝙤𝒎
She held up her hands in mock surrender, "Down girl, I just asked a question. Didn't mean to interrupt your fantasies. You know, with how much you're staring at him, why don't you just make a move? You're cute…in a murdery, psycho kind of way."
Ignoring the insulting ending to Mar'Eeyen's statement, Natalie simply sighed. "I cannot. It is uncouth of a maid to seduce their master. No matter how powerful, enchanting, enticing, handsome, perfect…"
"We get it already." Helena grumbled from the corner. Her hood was finally down, exposing her long, light-brown hair. She had a deceptively dainty facial structure that hid her skill in fighting. As she complained, the elf massaged tender muscles in her legs. Berk was sprawled out onto the ground next to her, taking deep breaths. He'd fallen asleep.
Natali was about to say something when she felt an uncomfortable tension rise. Something drew her gaze to the gore-filled water at her feet. For some reason, the blood was pooling together at the edge of the water, as if being separated from it by something.
"There you are." A growl escaped Lucius as he slid his weapon free from its sheath. Lightning ripped around his body before launching into the darkness.
A shrill hiss pierced the air and a mass of flesh crumpled to the ground, writhing in pain. Natali jumped to standing, snapping her fingers, using her Mark to summon her daggers from the ground where they had rested.
"Vampires." Berk muttered. They were on the final floors of the Undead Plains, but not once had they run into one. Based on her senses and plain instinct, Natali felt there were at least four other presences in the darkness aside from the twitching one.
"Gather up. Without the moon we need light. Throw burning logs into the darkness to improve your field of vision!" Lucius shouted before vanishing into the dark.
Natali held her weapons at the ready. "[Glacies: Ice Wall]" With a wave of her hand, a ring of ice formed around them. It wasn't smart to pin themselves in long-term, but they only needed a moment to prepare for the fight.
Pain lanced through her leg, breaking concentration on the spell, causing it to vanish. She fell to her knee, unable to stand. Rising from the new wound in her calf was a dull-red needle. Several more grew from the clump of zombie gore and shot at their party.
One launched toward her head, but was blocked by a quick slash from her dagger. "Blood Arts. Fight conservatively. Every wound creates more ammo for these creatures!" Berk shouted out. He was about to say something else, but the words came out as a garbled mess.
A pale, white hand wrapped around his throat, lifting him into the air. A handsome human with snow-white skin, long blonde hair and red eyes stared at them. Fangs jut from his mouth, marring his almost perfect face. "[Blood Arts…]"
His attempt to cast was interrupted by an arrow blooming out of his open mouth. Two more thudded into his chest. The creature hissed, throwing their guide at the archer. Wood cracked when the vampire chomped down onto the arrow. The damage was done, it couldn't cast anymore.
Knowing that, it bared its fangs and sharp claws, lunging at Natali who was still on the ground. Mar'Eeyen roared from the side, crashing into the vampire with a massive swing of her axe. The blow threw the beast a few feet.
"Get up! Doubt your eye candy is into the whole damsel in distress act."
***
Two sets of claws slashed just in front of where Lucius's head had just been. Just a small fraction of an inch closer and he would have lost his nose at the very least. Finishing off the charred one turned into more of a hassle than he anticipated and now that he had failed to finish it early, it was starting to recover.
Massive groups of enemies, particularly weaker ones, were not a good match for Lucius. He would usually win when making large-range attacks. One to a few powerful opponents were where things got a little harder for him. They weren't restricted in movements like large groups were and many of his large-area attacks could be dodged. Despite that, Lucius knew he would win. This was only the twentieth floor after all.
"[Abyss Break: Abyss Armor] [Celestia's Grace: Heavenly Sword]" The power of his Mark flooded his veins. As his powerful burdens had told him, this power was his now—fully and completely.
Two shadow tendrils intercepted another strike as his sword conformed to his power's modifications. With a single swing, the glowing blade slashed through the wrist of the second attacker. With an opening created, he rushed forward. Lighting swirled around his feet, massively improving his speed. Red mana swirled around his blade, imbuing the strike with his Forsaken Arts.
The red mana slightly twisted the [Heavenly Sword] curving the tip of the blade into something more menacing. The blade cut through the charred vampire's neck like a hot knife through butter. Its body was rapidly absorbed by the dungeon, turning to dust in seconds.
Angry hisses and spittle flew in his direction. They spat out their magic in unison. "[Blood Arts: Crimson Wings]" Blood was pulled from the stump of the creature who lost its hand to him a moment ago. Like a broken dam, it gushed forward with such force and pressure that the creature was blown backward.
Lucius watched as its body quickly shriveled before turning into dust; it sacrificed itself to empower its ally. Massive, angelic wings, corrupt and dripping with blood spread behind the remaining vampire. Its speed and power increased massively, matching Lucius's Lightning Magic empowered body.
Claw met steel, but neither wavered. Steam and burning flesh stung the inside of his nostrils as the Celestial energy of his weapon burned away slowly at the vampire's flesh. Their blows increased in speed and frequency.
Another creature rushed from the rear, losing its head to an instinctual swipe of Lucius's blade. The winged monster smirked. "[Blood Arts: Blood Blade]" Just as with the other creature, this new vampire shriveled into nothing. The blood from its body forming a dark, evil weapon in the hands of his primary opponent.
"Fucking hell."
