"Hiyah!"

Chester let out a high-pitched battle cry and swung at the test dummy. His iridescent chain flew towards the target, hitting it directly in the chest. The prone object was enveloped in an explosion.

The illusionist whistled at the sight, retracting the chain at will. He had gotten adjusted to his new deposit of Attainium and began straying from using it like a flail. He began training to use it similar to a whip. He adjusted accordingly to his needs; the chain links were lengthened for greater maneuverability and control. Thanks to Arber's foresight, the enchantment on the Vorpal Striking Head could reduce its size to better accommodate his techniques and skills.

Once more, he began building up momentum with his chain whip, His mind and body connection were on another level, and Chester learned how to wrap and unwrap the Attainium around his legs, elbows, and even neck before flicking it into his desired direction. To immerse himself in the atmosphere of weapons training, he placed inspirational music from one of his most beloved childhood movies.

"You're the best! Around! Nothing's ever gonna keep you down!" The thief sang in falsetto, utilizing perfect English as he practiced attacks from almost two meters away. He wasn't even able to use the maximum length of his weapon, as the longer it got the harder it became to control and he risked hitting himself. He was completely shirtless, roaming around with his tattoos on full display. Battle scars lined his skin, reminders of the harrowing events he had gone through in his life. Chester looked like a gangster, but his threatening aura was hampered by his silly-looking dance moves.

You have learned a new skill. Chain Whip Mastery Level 1.

You are eligible for skill synthesis. Chain Whip Mastery (Level 1) and Advanced Flail Mastery (Level 2) will be lost in the process of skill synthesis. The experience gained from them will be transferred to the newly created skill.

Confirm?

Intrigued by the notification, Chester didn't think it through and confirmed the action.

Skill synthesis is now complete.

You have learned a new skill. Chain Weapon Mastery Level 3.

Chain Weapon Mastery Level 3 - Proficiency with chain-type weapons. Upon equipping chain-based equipment, 5% increase to damage dealt.

The illusionist shrugged at the marginal loss in damage bonus. He didn't feel any different. Chester supposed that the skill synthesis was a good investment in the long run; if he branched out to other chain-based weapons, he would have the bonus that came from his new skill. The man hoped to read up on the topic more before he left Welton. He wondered if there were any other mechanics he didn't know of yet.

"Can you turn it down? I'm trying to focus."

Damien was sitting on the other side of the training room, wearing his set of armor and sparring with a fellow soldier. The purpose of the spar wasn't a victory, but technique adjustment. His equipment forced him into a true warrior's fighting style, enduring blows instead of avoiding them, and learning how to balance attack and defense with the armaments in his hands. One of the things he tried to incorporate was using his shield to pin his opponent down. It wasn't perfect, but the vampire's sharp eyes were more than enough to spot an opening while his sparring partner tried to fend off his shield.

"Doesn't the music make you feel focused? This is from my homeland, it's a cultural treasure." Chester turned away from the blue boxes and looked offendedly at his friend.

"I don't mind the music, but your voice is grating on my ears." The boy paused upon seeing his sparring partner collapse in exhaustion. He helped the dwarf up, getting him situated before asking for another partner to resume sparring. Major General Brigatin decided to step in, wearing everything but his helmet.

"You're just jealous of my singing voice."

After several minutes of music on loop, General Drake came forward and noticed the two working hard to hone their skills. Her arm still hadn't been reattached. She approached Chester. Their relationship had improved slightly and she was now amicable to the human. As long as he kept his eyes and hands to himself, of course. Chester had more than enough self-preservation instincts to realize he would die painfully if he made any more moves on the alluring vampire.

"Have you learned martial arts?"

Chester paused, retracting the Attainium and catching the other end with ease. Due to his toughened skin and high END, he experienced no pain or damage from catching the high-velocity weapon.

"No? That exists here?"

"There's a martial arts village that teaches various styles of combat, unarmed and armed. Chain-based weapons are pretty rare, so I assumed you were from there."

Chester's curiosity was piqued. He made that another place of interest to visit and began asking the woman for some additional details. After some time Damien came forward and greeted his aunt. Remembering why she was here, she immediately handed over an envelope with a red wax seal in the shape of a rose.

"Damien, here's a letter. It's from your great-grandfather."

The vampire's face became one of pleasant surprise, and he opened it to see the contents of the letter.

Dear Damien,

I hope this letter finds you well. I've received tales of your exploits, and I can't help but be impressed. Your mother has been quite hellbent on sending your father to come by and help, but he's been adamant about keeping tradition and avoiding you until your travels are complete. Despite putting up a strong front, he was very determined to find the appropriate support you and the fellows at Welton would need. Pernatia should be deploying some of their own as well.

Regarding your request to turn your companion into a vampire, I'm afraid I cannot complete it. The process must be done in person, and my presence in Wisperium acts as a deterrent. I cannot leave my post, and for that, I apologize. Joseph Devon is on his way to supplement Welton's forces and should be arriving in due time along with supporters from the Drake and Valentine clans. He will bring you some items to aid your journey. Keep this a secret from your father, as he is unaware of the secret package I had given to Joseph. There are items for both you and your companion.

I am proud to see you come so far. I know this journey isn't easy, and you may be longing for home. But experience cannot be taught. It will make you into a stronger person, and a more complete one. You will not be able to grow confined in our homeland. I hope you see the necessity of this journey.

Try to write letters more often! Although I can't guarantee a reply, I will always find time to read them.

Best regards,

Dracule Rose

P.S. Alyssa is asking for souvenirs

The vampire prince couldn't help but crack a smile. Chester read the contents of the letter from behind him and hissed in pain when the boy struck him in the shins with his gravite shield.

"Don't you know manners?!"

"You cunt! I was just curious! What did your grandpa give me?"

"You're getting nothing. And he's my great-grandfather, know the difference!"

Amid the ensuing tussle, Damien wondered how the older man was doing. He tried not to dwell on it, but he missed his family and hoped they were doing their best. The vampire knew that they were giving him tough love and kept his head forward, focusing on strangling the annoying thief that tried to kick him in the balls.

In a faraway land, there was an enormous palace that once belonged to a kingdom dominated by giants. Scattered and fallen after the events of the Great Draconic Invasion, the entire city had eroded with the sands of time. The land was a barren wasteland, with a heavy and eerie atmosphere like a graveyard. Thousands upon thousands of square kilometers without any sign of life.

At least, that's what it looked like on the surface.

Footsteps echoed throughout the silent palace of the fallen Giants. Everything was enormous, designed to contain beings upwards of seven meters in height. Ancient statues were erected, depicting the visage of the mighty race in their full glory. It was hard to imagine such large beings roaming the continent at one point in time. The man continued, stepping past them and into the great hall.

"ARK! WHERE ARE YOU?!" He shouted at the top of his lungs, letting his boisterous voice resonate throughout the building. Nobody responded. "If you don't come out, I'm going to start breaking things!"

Almost instantly, a ghastly, emaciated skeleton walked toward him. It clattered and shook with every step, waving its thin arms in an attempt to say, 'Follow me.'

They traversed the massive corridors of the palace. It was kept clean, but there was an undercurrent of desiccation. The aura everything gave off in the man's surroundings tried to drain at his life force, trying to rot everything away until there was nothing left. It was necrotic energy. Enough to dampen the environment and give it a listless, dull, vibe and the stench of death. A priest would've been driven insane by the amount of dark energy at work.

But the man continued, wholly unaffected by the mysterious energies at play. It only seemed to grow stronger and stronger as he passed by another corridor.

"Ark! How long has it been? Two decades? Never really get the chance to see you ever since you holed yourself away in this empty palace."

A throne and table could be seen facing away from the entryway. It was interesting to see regular-sized objects placed in a palace that was suited for giants. The man couldn't even tell if anybody was there, but the tightly-repressed mana couldn't be hidden from his senses. His sharpened, obsidian eyes gleamed and he continued to talk despite the lack of response.

"I've been doing fine if that's what you were wondering. We've managed to establish a trade route without that Warbear hiding away in the forest. We found its corpse on the wayside, a pretty brutal affair, all things considered. But I digress; have you heard about the invasion at Welton?"

Silence greeted his answer, but the man knew whoever was behind the throne was listening. He smiled, showing far too much of his teeth and revealing sharpened canines as he leisurely monologued away.

"It's a terrible event. So many lives were lost, and even my dear great-grandson was dragged into it. They couldn't even find out who the culprits were; no symbol, no logo, and no soldiers could be captured for interrogation. General Drake did mention something interesting. The leaders of the invading force were contracted with Solomon's demons."

The skeleton that had led the man had no soul. It was essentially a puppet given the ability to move. It began to shake and tremble, taking a step back upon seeing the apoplectic expression on the older man's face. His long, greying hair began to whip around wildly as the floor gave way to his power. The eyes, which held an unsatiable lust for vengeance, turned completely black.

"Keep your mutt on a leash, Arkosa. If I hear they touch a hair on my family's head, I will carve your throat out." His tone and pitch remained the same, but the threat in those words was anything but neutral.

Billowing robes, sharpened claws, and a dark-red aura coated the vampire who protected Wisperium for generations. Dracule Rose's power was so great that the skeleton collapsed into a lifeless pile on the floor.

"...You do realize I have little control over the situation?" A quiet voice, soft-spoken and dull after being unused for so long. It was eerily calm despite having the Gilded Lord's killing intent being directed solely on themselves. Despite the outpour of mana coming from the vampire like a torrential flood, it didn't reach the entity sitting quietly on the throne. The papers on the desk weren't disturbed by the display of power.

"That is wrong. I already saw the darkness lurking a long time ago, and I warned you about it. You were the one who deemed it a groundless fear and ignored it. Wars will be waged, countless lives will be lost. The person responsible for what is happening now is no one but YOU."

A shift in the atmosphere could be detected. Dracule's words were harsh, and despite knowing the potential consequences, he didn't hesitate to speak his mind.

"Yor greatest mistake was sparing HIM!" His voice was sharp and severe, filled with burning accusations and terrible anger.

"Watch your words, Dracule. I won't stand for this disrespect. Even if it's from you."

Tensions rose and something began to subdue the vampire's killing intent, reducing the effects it had on the nearby surroundings. Dracule didn't resist, but he didn't withdraw willingly either. He kept his focus despite the darkening atmosphere around the person who hadn't bothered to move from their seated position.

"I don't give a damn about disrespect. You can't hide away like this and pretend you're not involved. Right your wrongs, Arkosa. Before I am forced to do it myself."

"That is what I have been doing for the last millennia. I am no stranger to atonement, Dracule."

Dracule withdrew the dark-red aura that threatened everything in the vicinity. His oppressive aura never reached the being on the throne, who hadn't moved since their entire encounter. The darkness in his eyes faded away, and his expression returned to neutral. With their short talk done, he turned on his heel to leave before pausing. He scratched the back of his head, giving a slightly sheepish grin. The jarring shift in emotions would make a bystander believe the aged patriarch was bipolar.

"...Do you have any more of those teleport rocks? I used up my last one to get here."

Arkosa sighed. "You have some nerve, asking for that right after threatening me. And they do not teleport rocks, they're rift crystals."

The skeleton that had been destroyed was revived but seemingly empowered by mysterious forces that made it much more durable. Even the amount of bones on its body had seemingly tripled. The skeletal face was shaped closer to a monster's, affected by the powers of the legendary necromancer.

"Follow it, they'll lead you to my rift crystal stash."

"Is it alright if I take two?"

"I believe you'll take them regardless of whether I say yes or no, so go ahead."

"Thanks. By the way, I came to drop off some wine. It's a Wisperium and Pernatia collaboration. I'll just leave it over here."

Withdrawing a casket of wine seemingly from out of nowhere, the elderly vampire placed the human-sized barrel by the exit and followed the ghoul to where he needed to be.

Arkosa, the legendary necromancer that controlled the Godless Lands. A transcendent figure who changed history despite their lack of activity in recent years. Due to their reclusive nature, few truly realized the scope of the Arkosa's abilities and knowledge. The legendary necromancer summoned the barrel of alcohol right beside them, opening it up and controlling the flow of red liquid into a chalice. It was done entirely through magical means; an impressive display of precise, wordless magic.

A sipping sound could be heard, and the mysterious entity commented quietly to themselves as they ingested the premium wine.

"...I suppose I should begin moving."