Chapter 112 - Dadik's Heart

The updates from that last battle were absolutely enormous, both in volume and in the gravity of what they’d done. Trey’d finally gotten around to it, spending all night figuring out what new ability upgrades to give his minions after the absolute trouncing of that small army of bounty hunters.

Long story short, the following happened:

Rivia had grown not 1, not 2, but 8 levels. 8 levels from one battle. Her Pestilence miracle had grown by 12 levels, putting it at level 46 and giving it another upgrade where the miracle now ate away flesh twice as fast as it had previously. The absolute destruction she’d caused, in large part due to that infernal halo granted to her by the dark goddess Alkir, was immense… and even now Trey was still trying to wrap his head around just how powerful his minions were becoming.

Piggy was another great example of exactly that. She’d gone from a deprived, helpless slave - and become a carnal, masochistic, heavily tattooed version of wrath incarnated. The power radiating out from her was immense during that fight, and he’d only gotten her up to an Unholy Script of Abuse bonus of 677% before he’d activated her Carnage ability for another 700%. She could theoretically go far, far higher than that… and it made him wonder just how strong that untapped potential really was. He’d certainly have to begin torturing her more, but regardless… she’d come out of the battle with an astounding 10 levels straight off. Carnage couldn’t be leveled up itself, but she got a good 19 levels in hand to hand combat.

Trey knew that going from such low levels and killing so many others all at once would result in an abnormally high level gain, but it was a little absurd how fast they were growing.

Juila was the same. She’d gained an additional 4 combat levels and 3 hand to hand combat levels, along with gaining an add-on trait called ‘Blood Bringer’ that allowed her to control her aura’s output.

Sithis leveled up by 5 combat levels, a couple levels for each of chaos ball, breath of hellfire, chaos chains, and shadowstep as well. Atharost had gone up by 3 combat levels and his elemental boxamoth had grown by 4, gaining a new ability called ‘Fire Whip’ where it could extend its body and lash out with its tail at long range. Grimy had died, though no one really seemed to care much. Telipe had just hid the entire time, as was expected - but the downside to that was the attack had interrupted her enchanting and she’d been unable to complete any real progress towards getting Ashe’s weapons imbued. Napoleon had leveled up twice, gaining a hand to hand combat level, a curse of burden level, and two levels for his cursed firebolts.

Ezdeath… had hardly broken a sweat, so she hadn’t grown at all even despite the carnage she’d dished out.

Trey rubbed his eyes and yawned, dismissing the notifications after hours of reading a textbook Taen had given him on the arts of necromancy. It was far too late into the night for him to be up, but he’d gotten excited about the idea of controlling new undead-class minions… or the possibilities of bringing back the ones who died.

Yeah, he wasn’t supposed to be able to raise demons from the dead as ghouls, but if anyone could figure out a way - it would be the Vatosis Inferna. Surely, he had at least a small chance.

The firelight flickered off the walls, with only the mumbling conversation of Bann, Izumi and Coriana - who were speaking in hushed tones at the stairwell to keep watch to Trey’s right. No doubt they’d have an early heads up with the hulking monstrosity of a flesh golem downstairs on the bottom floor guarding the way up - but it was still a precaution they’d all agreed on after that ridiculous encounter they’d had the day prior. Even now, Taen’s zombies were posted at every level - and some of them were stationed at the skywalks leading in from other skyscrapers… the ones Trey’s party had overlooked the first time.

A cold breeze rushed past from the open balcony, chilling Trey’s skin and causing him to shiver slightly - but thankfully he had a couple bodies to warm him. He was literally laying on top of Juila, who’d become extra clingy over the past day and was curled up into a C-shape under his neck and head. Piggy was curled up on his left, Ezdeath on his right, and Rivia was casually riding him while he read.

“How’s the reading going?” Rivia asked, smiling with her red eyes locked onto his as she slowly worked her beautiful hips back and forth to pleasure him. “Any progress?”

He shrugged and yawned again. “Unfortunately it’s a lot harder to learn spells this way. Usually I’m just given the god damn powers. I’ve been spoiled, haven’t I?”

Rivia let out a feminine chuckle, brushed her hair back behind her shoulders and groaned for a second while biting her lip. Closing her eyes, she slowly nodded while trying not to climax. “Mhmmm.”

Trey raised an eyebrow her direction, feeling her insides abruptly tighten as her brow creased and her fingers around her clit worked furiously. “You’re not listening to a word I’m saying, are you?”

Beginning to tremble with pleasure and then letting out a high pitched yelp, Rivia squirted violently while digging into Trey’s right arm with her free hand.

He gave her an amused eyeroll and went back to reading as she started panting, trying to reclaim her composure as Izumi glanced over from the stairwell.

“Having fun!?” Izumi called out with a sweet, innocent smile unbecoming of the time and place.

Rivia simply returned the warm gaze and then cleared her throat, turning her attention back to Trey. “I’m sorry. What were you saying?”

“Nothing important.” Trey noted with a dismissive wave of his hand. “Nothing at all.”

At that very moment, an abrupt feeling of icy cold lit up Trey’s nerve endings. He didn’t betray the feeling other than his eyes shooting wide open, but it certainly made him catch his breath.

‘Summoner…’ Eleknar’s voice called out to him from within the depths of his mind. ‘I have been asked by Alkir to inform you of the arrival of her messenger… Please proceed to the balcony… he waits for you there.’

Then, just as abruptly as it’d come, Eleknar’s icy presence faded away into nothingness.

Rivia was using a rag to clean Trey up, and gave him a confused look as he pushed her off of him. He simply shook his head and put a finger to his lips so she wouldn’t wake up the others, removed Ezdeath’s arm that was wrapped around his right bicep, and glanced down at Piggy’s rear end with a smirk.

He could get used to this life.

Without any explanation, he walked over to where he’d set his clothes down earlier that night and began to dress himself in the ebony form-fitting synthesizer battle suit he’d gotten from Xil’s games. Immediately after beginning to put it on, it started the process itself - climbing up his skin and molding to the grooves and creases of his muscles as metallic plates rearranged themselves under the silky metal threads underneath. Enclosing everything from his nose down with the exception of his fingertips, Trey then casually walked through the room - stretching his arms as he went.

He stepped over Telipe and Napoleon who’d huddled up under a blanket for the night, passed by Sithis and Atharost who were leaning against the wall in slumber - both of their bodies mitigating the cold subconsciously with flickers of cinder and chaos regulating the temperature.

There was rubble and dried blood from where some of the battle had poured into the room earlier that day, but it’d been cleaned up for the mostpart so wasn’t too bad.

Coming out to the balcony, Trey’s attention was first drawn to the crouching figure on his right. Its crouching was slightly taller than he was standing, and the winged creature was looking down onto the street below while curiously cocking its head to its right side - large, glowing green eyes remaining fixed on whatever it was staring at.

It was more of a bat than anything else. It had large spikes across its back as well, and humanoid talons for arms in the front - but for a face: it had a long vertical slit down the middle with rows of teeth next to flaps of thick, dark skin.

Trey casually came over to stand beside it, looking down and seeing what the creature was staring at. Far below them on the street, a small pack of ghouls were pulling the corpses that Trey and his band had left into the broken buildings of the opposite side. Trails of blood were left in their wake under the star-lit heavens, but the ghouls were very careful not to come too close to where Butcher - the hulking flesh golem, sat chomping on a corpse himself.

[Ancient Demon] “Alkir has been very pleased with your progress… Vatosis Inferna.” The creature gave him a sideways glance, its vertical lips peeling back in a sickening display of a smile. “Or should I say, Heir of Eleknar? Which is a greater title to hold? I am unsure… but it is an honor to stand in your presence in either regard.”

Trey’s glowing red eyes, crowns encircling his pupils, returned the glance. [Ancient Demon] “I’m unsure of which holds greater value to demonkind, but don’t trouble yourself with trying to figure it out. What news does Alkir send me? This is the first time she’s sent a messenger. However, I’m all ears… she’s done a lot to help, and I will answer whatever question or request she has of me.”

The creature made a slight bow with its head, though was already hunching so could do little more than that. [Ancient Demon] “So polite. I did not expect that from one of your position, and it is appreciated… fledgling summoner. The goddess has need of your abilities… Do you know of the name ‘Aktovan’?”

Aktovan? He certainly did not, and Trey shook his head no. “Never heard of it.”

Alkir’s messenger chuckled dryly, its chest caving in every time it did in a weird show of sinewy muscle. “Aktovan is an obscure goddess… the one who created vampires. Though vampires are a breed of undead, it was Aktovan who experimented with making the originals… and she is not on good terms with our patron deity.”

A vision appeared between them as the demon lifted its hand, displaying an ovoid mirror-like picture of a mountain. Another circular picture followed, displaying a map. The map had a glowing red dot that was labled ‘current location’... and a green glowing dot across the lawless lands, over the western sea, and on the continent thereafter.

The demon then pointed to the green spot on the map labeled Zekul amongst a mountain range; this mountain range bordered the countries of Neirtho, Veis, Kag’Dul and Lumenorei in a line from north to south. [Ancient Demon] “This spot is probably not listed on any other map that you will find in this world, even ones you will find in the possession of its inhabitants. Zekul is a guarded secret and very hard to gain access to, this is where Alkir wants you - preferably within the next couple weeks.”

Trey folded his arms as he looked at the map. “That’s a very long ways south from here, judging on the distance that Ornthas is measured by. Why does she want me to go? And what does this have to do with Zekul or Aktovan?”

The demon smiled widely. ”This place, Zekul, is a hidden, underground city inhabited by vampires. The most sacred of vampire cities on Nagochus. A beacon for their kind and their practices. You will infiltrate it, find the artifact Alkir requires, steal that artifact, and get out by any means necessary. This will mean you will have to act as if you are actually a vampire to fit in with the locals there, otherwise you’ll probably be killed… or eaten. In which case you would also be killed while being eaten…”

Trey deeply scowled. He didn’t like the idea of entering a vampire city of all god damn things, sounded like a death trap to him. “And… how exactly am I supposed to act like a vampire? You do realize that I have fucking horns growing out of my head, right? It’s not like I wouldn’t do it if I had a means, but that seems pretty unrealistic.”

The demon messenger ruffled its wings and held up one clawed finger. “Ah! But you are the Vatosis Inferna! You are able to acquire undead traits just as easily as you can acquire demonic traits. For this task, Alkir has prepared for you a new ascension… you will acquire the abilities to suppress and withdraw you demonic traits, while expressing vampiric traits that Alkir blesses you with. You will also gain the ability to cover your status page to hide your identity. She also offers you many other things to complete this task. Here, take a look.”

From above its outstretched hand, the demon conjured a contract eerily similar to the one Trey’d first seen when he’d taken Alkir’s ‘Horror Crusader’ subclass. It was a white scroll that glowed with power, words written in blood illuminating the night as the scroll unfurled to reveal the words of the ancient demon tongue etched into the parchment.

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My dear Vatosis Inferna, Heir of Eleknar, I - Alkir, Mistress of darkness - am pleased with your progress. I hope you are enjoying the subclass I have presented you with… the sword I led you to… and the culn woman you indulge yourself with so regularly.

She is certainly falling for you, by the way.

Regardless… that is not why I have sent my messenger to you. I am of the opinion that in-person interactions are a sign of respect, and I wanted to do so through my servants here as the closest thing to presenting myself as possible without endangering myself to attacks from other gods.

I also didn’t want to alert the other gods to your presence.

That said, I have run into some trouble with the goddess Aktovan. No doubt my messenger filled you in on some of the details… but know this: Aktovan has claimed an amulet that is very dear to me. Something that was lost long ago… and is now found. She cannot be allowed to have it, and she has bestowed it upon one of her most loyal high priests in the city of Zekul.

Zekul is a highly guarded secret, with most mortals not having any inkling of an idea that it exists. Deep within a dormant volcano, it has thrived for thousands of years in relative solitude… a breeding ground for those fanged rats to prosper in. Previously… I did not have a means of infiltrating their walls.

But you, my dear Trey, are able to present yourself as one of them. With the power of the Vatosis Inferna at your disposal, you are able to mask yourself under any guise of the infernal arts… this includes necromancy and undeath.

I have spent the last month dissecting vampiric specimens that my minions have brought to me, and have finally come to understand how they work. Divulging the secrets of their breed has granted me the ability to bless you with their traits… should you decide to accept my offer… and I promise you, the rewards will be fulfilling.

Sail to the western continent. There is a human city there in the kingdom of Neirtho near the base of the mountains called Mobobe. There you will be able to find other vampires by the way they smell. Vampirescan detect one another through a very pleasant and attracting scent, it is how they distinguish one another while disguising themselves as regular humans, elves, dwarves, and so on. You should smell the same to them as if you were one of their own after you take my blessing. Make contact and have them guide you to Zekul. Then obtain the amulet I seek… it goes by the name of ‘Dadik’s Heart’... and leave before you are found out. Do all of this within the next three months… because the forces of Agnude, a numen that resides over those lands, has also set his sights on the amulet. Legions of elves and men will assault the vampiric city, and they will prepare for their assault after the fall of the dwarven kingdom Kag’Dul... unbeknownst to Aktovan or her followers.

Dadik’s Heart is a demonic artifact of great importance. It cannot be allowed to fall into the hands of men and elves, and it certainly cannot be allowed to remain with the vampires. Take it back, secure it for yourself… for me… and take another step towards becoming the champion I so desire.

Be warned, this will not be easily done… and the enemies you meet there will not be easily killed. There is a chance you may die, but I have faith in your abilities and those of your minions as long as you are not… reckless...

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A mechanical voice from deep within trey’s brain echoed: “You have been offered an EPIC unholy quest from the goddess Alkir: Dadik’s Heart - Infiltrate the holy city of the vampires and steal an artifact for Alkir. Accepting this quest will result in the following: Vampiric Bloodlines ascension skill tree - immediately allows you to acquire the traits of a vampire, Obscuring Mask (Alkir’s Trait) - allows you to rearrange your traits and external status page, hiding or displaying any of them in any combination at will. Completing this quest will result in 50 combat levels for you, your minions, and your entire party. You will also be able to retain Dadik’s Heart, the demonic artifact Alkir wishes you to claim from the vampires. Lastly, completing this quest will expedite the ‘Arachnid’ evolution tree and complete the evolution. Do you accept or decline?”

Trey’s eyes boggled at the rewards, and the synthesizer suit’s mask portion receded to reveal his intense expression. An epic quest? Just how intense was this going to be? However hard it was going to be though… it was worth it. 50 levels per member of his crew alone would have been enough, not to mention the other perks. Scratching his chin and letting his jaw drop slightly, he internally acknowledged his acceptance.

“You have accepted the EPIC unholy quest: Dadik’s Heart."

"You will now acquire the Vampiric Bloodlines ascension skill tree, as well as Alkir’s Trait: Obscuring Mask.”

The scroll that the demon was holding flared and burned with hellfire, vanishing in the blink of an eye as Trey gasped and fell to his knees. Pain radiated through his face, and the red eyes he usually had vanished to be replaced by a pale blue. His horns vanished, his tail receded into his spine, and with a spray of blood - two fangs erupted from his mouth.

“You have gained Vampiric Speed, Vampiric Strength, Vampiric Reflexes, Vampiric Fangs, and Eyes of the Bat.”

The demon stared at him as blood dripped down his chin from the areas where Trey’s new vampire fangs flexed in length before returning to their original state.

Trey picked himself up, wiped his face off, and tried to change out his traits again. His eyes flickered from blue to red with the encircling crowns, then back to blue when he willed it. The tail and horns came back, then receded upon will… and upon trying to change his status page by willing the new trait to activate - he saw a new 2x2 screen pop up much like his original status page… only this time, it had a keyboard that he could type into and blank spots that he could fill in.

Well god damn. Trey could already tell… this was going to be a very interesting set of events to play out.