[Triple: Brilliant Radiance] The soft voice was all they heard before the approaching army was washed away in a bright wall of light. Once the shining light vanished, she saw the cloaked woman from earlier sprinting through them, cutting down the cloaked humans and demi-humans alike like wheat.

“You really should be more careful, or you might end up like the others.” Lady Tearus mocked, pointing to three other adventuring teams mutilated almost hidden among the bodies of cultists.

Arche was horrified at the sight of adventurers she knew lying dead. Turning to lady Tearus, she couldn’t see her magical power well. That spell had just wiped out a force that almost overwhelmed them.

“Arche! Imina, you guys, ok?” With a weary smile, Arche turned to her friends coming up.

She had little time to thank lady Tearus though focusing back on the crumbling fort around them. Seeing lightning rain from above in the shape of huge hammers, spears, and dragons. Shattering parts of the fort and superheating all who tried to get closer.

Seeing Kathrin flying overhead channeling the lightning down on the enemies. She couldn’t hear the name of the spells from so far below with loud winds. Even though she couldn't see Kyuketsuki, she was glad his team was around. Still, all the bent and broken men and women lying around them dead, Some by being crushed by the strange ogres, others by accurately aimed daggers, arrows, and magic, which marked the weak points in the armor. Fear no terror ran through, not just Arche; she could see the other knights and adventures present shaking. Mithril rank teams were crushed or dead along with thousands of soldiers. Only three members of the vulture’s team were holding the line at this point. She felt weak even the highest third tier magic she could cast did little to no visible damage.

The emperor’s army was shaking only brave enough to watch at this point. Arche could feel her arms shaking, questioning how she could help in this battle. Looking over, Hekkeran, Roberdyck, and Imina stood waiting with her all too scared to try rushing at the cultists again.

More than this, she could see the same strange energy around the ogres earlier around all of the cloaked defenders. It felt sick and vile though this power was nothing to the magical power flowing off all three Adamantite adventures. Now watching them, they were in the realm of hero’s capable of crushing this army with just three of them.

“What should we do, Hekkeran?” Arche almost pleading an answer from the leader of her team. But he stared at her, unsure how they could help.

She almost missed the shadow flying overhead, spotting a frost dragon. It was followed by two other dragons landing just outside the fort, breathing out a cold breath followed by the screams of the soldiers on the other side.

“Don’t worry, Kyuketsuki will be taking care of those.” Hearing the voice, she turns to lady Tearus standing close by glancing behind Tearus to see the remains of the army of cultists most dead and a few of them retreating back into the mines.

“Those were three dragons flying over how is there nothing to worry about!” Arche demanded of the noblewoman whose voice seemed unconcerned about dragons! Only feeling the smile of Lady Tearus from under that mask.

Staring into those red eyes under the mask. “Dragons are Kyuketsuki’s favored prey to hunt. Also, those dragons are not strong enough to pose a real threat to my lord.”

She couldn’t focus on those words, instead choosing to help her team treat the wounded while they waited to find out what happened as the screaming stopped, it was silent outside the fort. None of the soldiers had the morale to try rushing into battle a rare sight. Considering the strength and determination, the imperial soldiers were known for in the annual war with the Re-Estize kingdom. Yet here they were scared, guarded, and passively waiting to react to what entered the fort.

Finally, Arche stopped near Roberdyck, seeing a familiar huge power walk through the missing gate of the fort. As Kyuketsuki and the other battle maid led in the others, many being either guided or carried into the fort. Arche was feeling far less confident about this last mission seeing three orders of knights 30,000 professional soldiers get reduced to half of what they first saw. Many wounded, dead, or missing as foresight worked to help those they could. Though the rest of the day, Arche's thoughts lingered on Kyuketsuki and his deal. His team was strong; they could protect her sisters; it wasn’t even a question. After never seeing the three dragons again after they landed out of sight. She wasn’t brave enough to ask how the battle went for Kyuketsuki, and his whole team didn’t even have a scratch on them.

-Next day-

Six of the original thirteen adventuring groups had been killed in the battle, and one Arche found out had been revived by the vultures but refused to go on with the mission. Leaving only seven left for the lackluster meeting in the morning. The imperial army would not be supporting them any further, due to low morale and having to collect the dead along with injured to tend to. General Coilin himself, surviving only thanks to Kyuketsuki’s intervention, was seriously wounded by the dragon’s breath and still recovering. Unable to even explain things to them, which Is why a messenger explained things briefly.

She could only assume some kind of deal was reached regarding the bodies of the dragons as they were not even talked about by this messenger.

The travel through the tunnels was without incident though most of the tunnels were flooded with knee-deep water. The candles which lit the way where all missing or broken, leaving the seven teams to choose their path down to the ruins.

Kyuketsuki’s group was traveling with Foresight, only the sound of splashing water echoing around the caverns. All the cloaked humanoids that retreated into the mines where nowhere to be seen. Much to Arche surprise no ambush, no traps, not even any sight of magic with her all-seeing eye spell.

Arche didn't like the feel of the atmosphere as the ruins came into view. The ruins looked like an old castle or keep built underground. However, parts of the machicolations and towers had fallen or crumbled in on itself. The grand glass windows were cracked or missing. Leaving rusting bars where light poured out of the castle.

Even still, it was relatively large for a castle; nevertheless, a lot of its infrastructure showed signs of falling apart. Not helped by the waterfall pouring on to one tower of the castle. As the knee-deep water flows out through the front gate.

Kyuketsuki cast [fly] and flew up to the waterfall, followed by velvet. To Arche, once he was close enough, he just froze the waterfall solid. Stopping the flow of any more water altogether before breaking some ice to enter through the top.

Though Arche's eyes track to Kathrin, who was looking ahead for a few moments before turning to her group. “Lord Kyuketsuki has chosen to go on ahead, his order is for lady Tearus and Clem to search the area for the stragglers from yesterday.”

“What about waiting for the other groups they could back us up for-Hekkeran was halted mid-sentence by the withering glare.

“They will only slow us down; my power is more than enough.” Kathrin stared at them, all daring them to say otherwise. Arche glanced at Hekkeran and Imina, who were still unsure about this action after yesterday’s battle.

Reluctantly they all walked up to the front gate of the castle. Kathrin simply raised her hand, saying [corrosive cannon], watching as a sickly green orb launched at the entrance. It took seconds to fully melt the rusted metal away as if it was never there.

Walking through the gate under the arrow holes above into the courtyard of the dead plants and a rancid smell permeating the area. Passing quickly through the dead garden into dimly lit halls of the castle with no visible sign of where the light was coming from.

The halls were littered with skeletons of humans and not so human creatures, armor, weapons, and torn banners of some strange symbol caught Arche's eyes, though it was hard to make out being worn by time. As Kathrin came over and eyed it for a few seconds. “I see this is where it went.”

Arche wondered, did she know what this place was? She must have by the familiar tone of voice. “You know this place?”

Watching Kathrin closely as she bent down to pick up the banner banishing it into a void. “Nothing you need to worry about. Though now I see why Kyuketsuki went ahead.”

Kathrin didn’t linger, moving on unwilling to share what the banner meant. Still, the adventurer seemed happy about this discovery. There was little in the way of gold most of the armor and weapons where magical. Each room they passed looted, bear, or already ransacked long ago. They did find a few odd gold coins with a tree with a dragon circling it and a woman with long hair on the other side.

Arche couldn’t ignore the grim air of this place like a battle had taken place long ago. Moss growing along the walls, the further they went in along with more visible signs of the water eroding the stone walls around them. Not helping the chilly cold air of this abandoned keep.

She almost didn’t notice a flash of blue light-emitting out of a room to her right. Looking in there was a magic circle on the ground dimming as the floor caved in, Arche had to stabilize herself as water rushed into the hole, clearing out the knee-high water. Arche noticed only Roberdyck was still with her.

“It looks like a teleportation trap probably somewhere else in the castle.” Arche could agree with Roberdyck. As they move through the first floor, forcing less on finding treasurer and more on seeing their friends. Finding the stairs to the second floor of the castle by a room filled with rotting wood and broken tables. Arche had to be careful climbing the stairs as the damage seemed to get worse as they went up.

Whole steps were lost or just missing with scorch marks and charred wood all the way up the steps. Upon coming to the second level, Arche had to cover her nose and mouth at the horrible smell. The smell of long dyed and rutting blood filled the air with a nauseating copper smell. As she recoiled, from the shock of the smell, the sight was far worse. The stone walls and floor where covered with black viscid ooze moss and fungus were growing out of the old long dried blood.

She struggled to take the lead, guiding Roberdyck to pass the reek of this area. Not daring to peek in any of the rooms as the smell was ten times worse near each doorway, the wood doors rotted off the hinges. Several times Arche had to fight back the bile from her stomach coming up. What truly scared Arche was the sight all the black viscid ooze radiated magic as if still alive. It appeared to pulse and move slightly if she looked at it too long. Both of them practically sprinted pass most of the floor to the stairs to the third floor.

Arche halted about where the stairs should be. Only it was destroyed. Rubble blocking their path up much to Arche’s dismay at staying on the second floor any longer. Before she could ask Roberdyck what they should do, a spot of black viscid ooze pulsed and moved into the vague shape of a human-like creature.

“That way is not safe; much water flows this way, then again neither is here.” The voice of the black viscid ooze was sluggish and sleepy.

Arche was on guard her staff between her and this slime-like creature. “What are you, and what do you want.” She knew this thing should be long dead; still, it didn’t seem to be hostile, only angling its head at both of them.

[Turn Undead] Roberdyck spoke, letting a bright light wash over the black viscid ooze being. only it just giggled as if tickled looking at the healer in amusement. “This one can’t be banished by such weak power. Hum are you, intruders, as well… stopping as the slime person moved closer, sniffing them both.

“Oh, this one didn’t know you brought the great one with you.” It moved back, tapping its chin in thought. Glancing at the rubble blocking their path, Arche didn’t know if she should attack or not. Sharing a glance with Roberdyck, neither knowing if this slime thing was an enemy or not. Who was this great one? Before they could ask, the viscid ooze gathered around it as it grew larger. The viscid ooze in this room was all in the giant slime thing In Front of them. Moss and fungus still growing on its top layer.

“The stairs are not safe though this one knows another way up. if you promise to tell great one, this one humbly asked he come to visit.” The round orbs it had as eyes narrowed on them with a friendly smile.

“Sure, so what is this other way.” Arche felt scared as at the slight grin of the slime.

Only about to watch with a sickening feeling as it shifted and twisted slamming into the ceiling. Arche almost vomited at sight, smell and sound of the stone floor above them being broken and dissolved in the boiling tower of moss, fungi, and black viscid slime.

Luckily it only took a few minutes before the slime to halt and shift again into squishy and sticky stairs. Neither Arche or her friend wanted to step on it, they still need to find their friends. So, with great reluctance, they accessed them the steps, hearing a giggle every step.

Once on the third floor, a slime head popped out of the top step of the stairs. “Remember to tell great one to visit this one. Or this one will hunt down and assimilate you to this one’s mass in 100 years.” Arche was very disturbed at the childish happy voice threatening whatever horror it promised, giggling as the head sank down, staying as stairs.

She could still feel some of the slime sticking to her shoes, no matter how much she tried to scrape it off. They both took a few minute’s breathing fresh air again before moving on.

This castle was huge; they must have quickly passed a hundred rooms by now. It didn’t help that all the halls looked the same; it was like a maze. She and Roberdyck did find more odd gold coins along the way. This was not to say they had an easy time moving through the third and fourth floors. With so much damage done by the water, both Arche and Roberdyck had to watch out for falling stone or collapsing walls. They really hoped they find them soon. They didn’t want to risk going on the fifth floor.

Passing through a hall, Arche spotted Kathrin talking with Hekkeran and Imina. Only they were different than before. Both having cat ears and tails with a similar color to their natural hair.

“You’re ok! What happened to you?” Arche asked as they both glanced at Kathrin with her own black ears and cat tail, before replying.

“We found an item Which gave us all cat ears and a cattail. It broke after we found it, though.” Arche found it odd though accepted it even if Kathrin was watching them all with keen eyes. As if searching for something she didn't like before smiling.

-Kyuketsuki and Velvet-

Once again, he checked the vault to make sure no trace of Yggdrasil coins remained. It was a reasonably small pile only a little more than a million coins, yet why where they here? Why did this room look familiar? Turning to the door again, he had to move down. It had been an hour or two now.

Yet every time he tried to leave, a great dread began to fill him, making his legs hesitate like he wouldn't like what he would find. Finally, Sitabus gathered his courage and floated down where the stairs should be. Landing on the unstable stone floor into a throne room, there was once a few halls, but now all the walls had fallen any distinguishing features of this place were washed away by the waterfall.

There were large chunks of the floor missing along with half the back wall to the throne fallen. Revealing the dark cavern outside a message crudely carved into the wall. Being cut off near where the wall was missing.

{Though we have failed to fight off the pretenders of greatness, our great treasure was stolen. Please father of vampires-.}

He felt his rage boil as the horrible realization this was the Gland Latherin castle of the village, which supplied his personal lab in Nazarick. There would have been 300 native NPC here guarding the place.

None were in sight, not even a body, the regret, and rage grew as his vision tinted red, punching the throne over the edge. ‘I'm sorry I failed you too!’ He took out his rage on the crumbling room, unable to calm the storm of emotions.

As if looking for someone hoping this too has not been another distraction. Which would mean more murders of the covenant while he was fighting monsters? Blinded by self-loathing the covenant of crows, it seemed had outsmarted him again. Did they know what this place meant to him had they taken whatever treasure they spoke of? Could he have done anything to help them?

“Where have you hidden you dam crows come out so I can fight you!” He screamed out in his true form.

Raging at the room, angry with himself, why couldn’t he pin them down. He was so sure they might be here they wanted revenge but against who the army, the nobles, or the Baharuth empire? What was the covenant of crow’s real target?

His mind worked for an answer as he let loose his rage on this dead ruin. He needs to destroy it in vain, hoping it would make the guilt vanish, so it would be another failure another reason why he should have never been transferred to this world. If it meant he couldn't even protect those few people.

“Lord Kyuketsuki! I know you are angry; however, this floor is unstable any more damage, and it might collapse.” Velvets loud and soft voice spoke over the sound of breaking stone.

He snaps over to glare what did it matter this place needs to vanish. Not just for his own sanity but so it couldn’t be linked to Nazarick. Even if most of such evidence was washed away in however many years those ruins had been around, Possibly all the way back to the time of the demon deities over 200 years ago.

“I know that velvet I want it to crumble to dust! I won't let this mark of failure stand!” Smashing one more pillar with a punch.

Which shook the whole castle, the ceiling above them caving in as huge stone blocks started to fall.

Velvet throws up a barrier of chains and magic before giving a loving gaze to her master. “Then what about the foresight team and Kathrin she had reported being on the level below this one.” She spoke even while holding up the barrier

Despite the veil of rage blinding him, Sitabus realized Velvet was right; however, it was too late to undo the damage the castle was crumbling. As the floor gave out under them, they fell down to the fourth floor. As velvet worked to delay or slow the process of the two floors above them from completely falling in.

Turning still in his true form, the hallway ceiling was much closer, being eight feet tall. To Sitabus shock, foresight was standing there, bracing themselves as the castle shook violently.

Arche and others quickly drew their weapons ready for a fight. Though Kathrin stopped them turning to Sitabus with a questioning gaze. Lucky, she wouldn't attack him no matter the situation, which would make this next part harder.

“Lord Kyuketsuki, why are you in that form did something happen.” Kathrin steps closer to him, not concerned with the unstable castle around them.

Calming his rage as he shrunk down to his humanoid form, for now, he couldn’t afford to be angry. Rushing up and pulling Kathrin into a kiss. “Sorry, no time to explain right now this place has been weakened too much by the water. It is coming down, so we need to move.”

Opening a gate near them, Sitabus decided he couldn't keep hiding under the guise of a human adventurer, no matter the repercussions. He wouldn’t be tricked a third time.

Ushering the very concerned and troubled foresight team through the gate. Waving velvet over to step through the gate. Taking one last glance back before stepping throughout to a few yards away outside the crumbling keep.

With Clementine and Shalltear nearby giving a bow to them. “The area is clear of any cultists it appears they fled out the back tunnels lord Kyuketsuki.”

Kyuketsuki attention fell onto foresight, which was all looking at him with betrayal and apprehension. Though oddly Hekkeran and Imina were not, then he noticed the cat ears and tails. ‘Really Kathrin, this wasn’t part of the plan. Then again, neither was destroying the ruins.’

“You’re a vampire is that the real reason for offering the deal. For our blood or to turn us into vampires?” Arche lost any comradery she had before. Still too afraid to fight him, she knew that would mean death.

Sitabus felt trapped, looking away to the castle as it broke each floor, collapsing to the floor below till it stopped on the second floor. Did he even feel like playing this ruse any longer? It had not helped him on his search for the group he was after clenching his fist. His eyes landing on the water, seeing that dark shadow smiling at him, its red eyes filled with glee. Its red mouth smiling wide

‘Just turn her, it will make things easier. It's not like your human anymore. Just look around you. This facade of yours has gotten that poor village wiped out. What do you gain by holding this petty morality anyway? Just let me show them why all should fear us!’ The shadow laughed at Sitabus failure glaring at the shadowy reflection.

Unintentionally he let his [blood lust aura] seep out around him, bringing everyone splashing to there knees at the sheer pressure of his power. Even the water around them seemed to be pushed back. ‘what should I do? What would help me find this group?’ Sitabus felt empty. He didn’t want to hear that name again. He wasn’t great, nor was he a king of vampires. He tried to forget it. Maybe then he could find his prey. Chuckling, ‘Maybe this mask needs to fade along with Kyuketsuki?’

His gaze lingered on the crumbling castle then to the ceiling of the cavern with a smile. Turning to the others still trapped under his [blood lust aura]. He pulled out a bag of gold coins along with his Adamantite adventurer metal. Letting up on his atmosphere with a fanged smile.

“Take this gold. It is all I have right now. I don’t need it anymore, it should be more than enough. The rest shall come later. As for my price, tell them that the adventure Kyuketsuki has died here. Know we will meet again. Maybe then you will understand.” He tossed the bag to a very confused Arche.

Pointing a hand at the ruins, feeling a presence he had missed before now calling it over. To Arche, it was a shock to see the black ooze it was eating all the rubbles of the ruins into its mass, growing in mass with each piece of debris it dissolved reeking of death and decay. Once it had eaten every last brick, it rushes at them faster than something that size should be able to move.

The ooze steamed and smoked as it crossed the water, changing the murky water tar-black. As it approached, it pushed team Foresight out of the way several feet back. As it concealed those around Kyuketsuki.

Pulling herself up to watch as this black sludge spins and swirled violently at high speed. Before blood-curdling screams could be heard as the sludge let out a black mist.

“Thank you, humans, for returning us to the true supreme one again. This pain fills this one with such joy to serve again!” It shrieked almost in pain and pleasure, Arche thought. If not for what Arche assume was this sludge eating them.

Shrinking down in size unseen behind the thick smoke and steam to foresight. Sitabus scowled at the pain the elder slime seemed to be in while touching the water. Still, it would make it all the more convincing casting [ghostly howling] to make it sound like they were being eaten alive.

As he opened a gate, feeling the drain to his mana, turning to his group. “Aright through the portal. I have a new rule stop calling me Kyuketsuki for now. Just call me Kettor. Also, Kathrin, be sure to pick up Rita and Bardic later.”

Kathrin, Shalltear, Clementine, and velvet all walked through the portal, leaving Sitabus to rub the Slime. “I’m sorry I didn’t find you sooner though I don’t know your name follow through the portal. If you still think I’m worthy of being your master.”

With his peace said, he stepped through the portal greeted by the harsh winds of the mountainside overlooking the city of Lograth. With his group waiting already, Kathrin had left to gather the other two.

Turning his eyes back to the portal as slowly, the dark red mass slid through the portal. It had not been an original NPC from the village. Instead, it was a mass of negative energy, undead blood, and souls of the original 300 NPCs. It was a mid-level 50 Elder Ooze higher than any of the NPC of that castle, so Sitabus could only guess what had happened to bind them up like this.

“Hello, master this one has waited for so long to be near you again- Sitabus toned out the slime consumed by these thoughts once more.

Guilt and shame shined in his eyes, he could not have helped them; he knew that much. Still, was he really doing the best he could, he had tried to save as many as he could. Even then, it didn’t feel like enough, he thought he could do more. The shadow scared him the most it wasn’t an illusion; Was it this vampire body driving him mad. Either way, it was right about something he had to change his approach, no matter how much he hated to admit it.

He knew what he would need to do, but it felt slimy and twisted. ‘Isn’t that how I played in Yggdrasil through deception, charm, and utterly crushing guilds from the inside.’ No, it was different now. These where real people, and when he killed them, there would be a chance they might not come back if killed even with resurrection magic.

Turning his sites past the city below off into the distance where the capital lay. Hearing the chuckle of the shadow in his head. ‘Don’t act like some saint. This must be done to protect them. This is old hat for us! Is it not how many times have we changed names, roles, and masks. To hunt our pray, they shall know our pain.’

Velvets gentle touched his shoulder as the voice quieted, vanishing into his mind again. “Don’t lose yourself, lord kyu-Kettro.” Confused by the cryptic words, Sitabus was not sure how to react.

“Speaking of my lord, what shall we do now do I still have to wear this mask,” Shalltear asked mostly because she was tired of being held back to only casting spells, among other things.

Clementine only smiled, licking her lips. “I don’t mind any order you have for me, my lord. I love the blood of our enemies.”

“Kathrin has rejoined with her kitten and the dwarf. It appears another noble family was brutally murdered the same way as the last city while we were away.

Sitabus turned to them. He hated to pull out this plan so much. Yet he couldn’t think of any other way to find out who these noble families being killed was, only the emperor seemed to have this knowledge.

“We are going to Arwintar. I have an emperor to talk with. We are leaving in a few minutes all of us.” Sitabus grimaced for this next part; still, this had to work. He wouldn’t let another part of the covenant plans be reached by playing the role of a human adventurer, this time they would lose hard.

-End of Chapter-