"Young master, I could not find my sword!" Gideon called out to Pier with a loud voice as he was trailing back at the top of the mountain with the two bone monsters.

"Let's go back," Pier spoke as he departed from the dance with Ciaran.

The man gave his arm one last squeeze before nodding and letting go of him.

"Can I... keep the music box?" Pier asked as he turned his head to look at the box that Ciaran had brought for him.

The man did not verbally reply and simply nodded his head.

"Thanks!" He had a smile on his face as he went to grab the music box placed on the spot where the stone had been.

It was the man's first gift for him after all.

"Young master- oh!" Gideon spoke when he saw Pier holding a box.

"Young master, did the vampire propose to you already?" Gideon asked in a whisper-like manner as he eyed Ciaran with an angry glare.

He thought that the box was a container for the wedding ring Pier was wearing.

Gideon's eyes then started to drift from glaring at Ciaran down to Pier's hands and indeed.

Gasp!

"Young master! Please do not get married yet! It is still too early! You need to learn more about having intercourses with- hmpf!" Pier immediately covered Gideon's mouth.

Even though the knight was whispering, he knew Ciaran could still hear Gideon's blabbering mouth.

He turned to look at Ciaran and indeed, the vampire prince had an obvious smile on his face as he looked at another distance, trying to avoid Pier's own.

"Young Master, the ring in your hand looks very expensive, however, do not be swayed by jewelry! I have seen countless nobles suffer in marriage because- ouch!" Pier now smacked Gideon's face lightly so that the knight would shut up.

"Ciaran did not propose, idiot," He replied and Gideon's eyes widened.

"Oh my, is that so, young master? Then a promise ring? Aww," Gideon had another set of puppy eyes on his face as he stared at his master with dream-like expressions.

He was thinking it was some sort of promise between two individuals that they would get married soon.

"Shut up"

"I see that the vampire is still your fiancé, young master hehe- achk!"

Pier could not contain it anymore as he choked Gideon.

---

Thud!

Thud!

Thud!

The giant skeleton monsters marched their way from the fifth mountain back to the fourth mountain where Ciaran had instructed the vampires to wait for him.

Gideon was on one skeletal monster as he was inspecting how to pierce the bones of the giant monsters even without a sword.

On the other one were the young master and the vampire prince.

"Hmmm... I think I need to have a new sword that is better and can pierce your skull," Gideon spoke as he had one hand below his chin as if he was solving an all-time problem in mathematics.

"Your knight sure is noisy," Ciaran commented as he leaned on his hands while his body was leaning back as well.

Pier laughed as he watched Gideon run around the head of the burning monster.

"He is," he replied.

Melfar's magic was truly magnificent. It was able to control two skeleton monsters like this and give them unlimited life as long as the creature desires it.

It even allowed them to ride on top of the monsters without them burning themselves but instead, dowse in the phoenix's healing powers.

The sun was now about to rise and the news of Nightfall's victory against the raging monsters on the Mir Mountains will soon be known by everyone.

Ciaran gazed at the white-haired noble who was busy laughing at his knight who was also trying to keep his balance on top of the skeleton monster.

"Pier..." he called out but the thudding noises of the skeleton monsters covered his voice that Pier was not able to hear him.

He then thought about it.

There's no reason for him to hold Pier back anymore.

The noble would leave soon the Mir Mountains and back into the kingdom where he rightfully lives.

Ciaran could not keep Pier beside him.

If he did want to have Pier for himself, he still needed to achieve many great things so that he can be called worthy for the powerful young master.

All he could do right now was stare silently as Pier laughed wholeheartedly with Gideon's antics.

He wanted to memorize everything once more.

"Young Master, we're back at the entrance!" Gideon spoke and the three all looked in the direction where they had just been this morning.

Pier smiled in satisfaction.

It was finally done.

It was a fun adventure for him. He did almost die in many instances but the experience he got was worth it.

He then looked at his palm and a wind orb manifested in it.

He also gained a new level with his magic.

'Should I show my magic at the kingdom?' He asked himself as he stared at the wind orb that was creating gusts of wind around it.

Instead of the white and transparent wind orb that he used to have before, it was now glowing white.

'Well, I don't think I should yet,' He thought as they now reached the entrance.

"They did say save the best for last," He smirked as the monsters stopped directly at the spot where they were standing when Gideon unintentionally entered the fifth mountain.

"Young master, aaaah! It's so good to be back... hic..." Pier eyed Gideon in a disbelieving manner as he watched the knight wipe the non-existent tears in his eyes.

"Why are you crying?" Pier asked and Gideon sniffed as he got off the burning giant.

"Because... hic... because I missed these berries!" He spoke as he immediately went to the bush where some red berries were growing.

Pier stared at Gideon as he was contemplating what he should do with his childish knight.

"Oh, those berries are poisonous," Ciaran spoke as he walked past Gideon.

The knight's eyes immediately widened as he watched the man's back and his gaze shifted onto the berries on his hands.

He stopped chewing and the berries fell down the ground.

"Pwe! YOUNG MASTER! AAAH! I'M GOING TO DIE!" Gideon screamed and cried as he let go of all the berries and ran towards Pier.

"YOUNG MASTER! PLEASE TELL MY FAMILY I LOVE- ahck!" He stopped midway when he saw the flaming sword directed at him.

"Ah... hehe... I'll just... die peacefully here... hehe..." He faked a laugh as he slowly backed off from his intimidating young master.

"Those aren't poisonous. He's just scaring you," Pier spoke and Gideon had a look that screamed 'what?!' on his face.

Gideon's eyes squinted and his hands fisted.

"HEY THERE YOU UGLY VAMPI-" However, before he could call the actually not so ugly vampire, he stopped midway.

Pier looked at him as if he had lost his mind because Gideon had a terrified look on his face.

He then slowly turned his head to the direction his knight was looking at and behold.

"WE GREET OUR CHIEF'S RETURN!"

Pier also had a surprised expression on his face when he saw a seemingly endless sea of black cloaks lined up in front of them.

"Young master! Do you know them? They look like they eat despair for breakfast!" Gideon whispered in Pier's ear and the latter resisted the urge to smack Gideon's face.

'This is not the time to joke around but this idiot seems like he doesn't know what's going on,' Pier thought as he glared at Gideon angrily and the knight held up his hands in defense.

The vampires all watched as their chief stood proudly in front of the fifth mountain's entrance.

They have seen what had happened a few hours ago.

The blazing fire that shot up straight into the fifth mountain's skies instilled fear inside their minds and they were wondering what caused such overwhelming power to be displayed.

"We have successfully destroyed the stone" Ciaran announced and the breaths that the vampires were holding were finally released.

Their gazes softened and were replaced with relief.

"I KNEW IT! CHIEF, YOU ARE THE BEST!" A loud voice in front of the lines spoke and everyone stared at the person who had just spoken.

It was Hex.

The vampire with long lilac hair had a grin on his face as he approached Ciaran.

"I KNOW YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO DO IT, SHADOW!" He cheered as he continued to march towards Ciaran.

However, Ciaran only sighed as he watched Hex.

Hex eyed the stranger who had a cloak covering his head completely stand beside a human who wore armor.

"HAH! I GUESS YOU NEEDED TO ASK FOR HELP WITH ANOTHER HUMAN BECAUSE YOU COULD NOT DO IT LIKE OUR CHIEF!" Hex exclaimed enough for the swarm of vampires in the fifth mountain's entrance could hear.

Pier could feel all of the gazes directed at him.

Sigh

He let out a breath of disappointment as he watched everyone get swayed with Hex's words.

'They're vampires but they're just like humans when it comes to believing things,' He thought as he brushed his hair inside the cloak so the strands won't show.

Gideon's eyebrows immediately furrowed when he heard the statement.

"Young Master, they dare disrespect you!" His nostrils flared and veins started to show on his neck.

"How dare such creatures speak to my master like that!" Gideon clenched his fists in anger.

'If only I have my sword!' He gritted his teeth.

However, the young master beside him had a calm appearance.

"CLOSE YOUR MOUTH!" Ciaran exclaimed and Hex immediately did so when he heard the chief's loud and intimidating voice.

"I DO NOT WANT TO HEAR ANY MORE OF THIS DISRESPECT TOWARDS THE GUEST WHO HELPED US!" Ciaran's eyebrows were furrowed and his glare created fear on the vampires.

"Hex," Ciaran called and the vampire flinched when Ciaran called him.

"Kneel in front of the guest or I'll have you killed,"

"Wha-"

"SHADOW!" Clone immediately jumped into the scenario when she heard Ciaran's words.

"NOW!" He raged and dark magic started to spread from Ciaran's feet.

Everyone watched in horror as countless crows and formless shadows started to manifest on the area where Ciaran's dark magic could reach.

It was like the depth of darkness.

Hex could hear the groans and moans of the shadows that were trapped inside Ciaran's magic and he gulped.

It was true, was it? That their chief was the one who achieved all of the things that happened.

"SHADOW, WHY?! WEREN'T YOU THE ONE WHO FINISHED THE JOB?!" Hex was also angry as he stood stiff a few inches away from Ciaran's dark magic.

"W-WEREN'T YOU THE ONE WHO DID ALL OF THE TASKS SO THAT STRANGER COULD DESTROY THE STONE?!" He had a nervous grin on his face as he watched Ciaran start to rage in front of all the vampires.

'Why's he like that?' Pier observed as Hex screamed his lungs out while pointing an accusing finger at him.

'Didn't he see me clear out all the monsters on the second mountain and fourth mountain?' He asked himself.

Why was the vampire whom he only knew by name acting like a total scumbag?

"SHADOW! STOP!" Clone also spoke as the dark magic started to creep towards Hex. The latter was also starting to inch back to avoid Ciaran's creeping magic.

Pat

Ciaran turned his head in the direction of the pat he had just got and he saw Pier.

"Is he someone important to you?" Pier asked and Ciaran stopped for a moment.

"He... he is one of our strongest warriors..." Ciaran spoke and Pier nodded his head.

"And are you willing to kill your strongest soldier?" He asked again and this time, Ciaran froze in his spot and his magic stopped moving towards Hex.

Pier watched Ciaran's green eyes.

"That's correct, you don-"

"Yes,"

His eyes widened at Ciaran's answer.

"Anyone who dares to mock you shall die," Ciaran spoke in a low voice before he held his hand out and the dark shadow that contained his countless formless shadows and crows started to creep towards Hex faster.

Clone and Hex were both busy fending off the countless shadows that were trying to drag the latter inside Ciaran's seemingly endless pit of darkness.

Pier could only stand there unmoving as he listened to Ciaran's answer.

'He's... tsk' He clicked his tongue inside his thoughts as he touched Ciaran's shoulders.

"Ciaran, that's enough. I should handle this one," He spoke to the man and Ciaran hesitated.

"Enough" and he did. The darkness creeping towards Hex stopped.

"HA! YOU REALIZED IT NOW, RIGHT, SHADOW?!" Hex screamed as he immediately started to move towards them at an incredible speed.

"YOU REALIZED I WAS RIGHT ALL ALO- hmpf!" However, before he could even fully reach Ciaran and Pier, a hand smacked his face and dragged him a few hundred meters.

"Ungrateful!" Gideon spoke as he clutched Hex's face in his hands and he slammed the vampire again on the ground.

The area shook when Gideon slammed the vampire down and it created a crater.

Slam!

Slam!

Slam!

Gideon continued to slam Hex's head on the ground as he grounded his teeth in anger.

"I do not have my sword but I could just pound you into pieces, right?" He laughed as he held Hex's bleeding head tightly again and continued to slam it on the ground.

"You dare talk to my master like you're better?" He laughed again and everyone could only watch as the ground continued to shake while their most powerful warrior was continuously getting pounded on the ground as if he was a roach.

"BE"

Slam!

"GRATEFUL"

Slam!

"THAT"

Slam

"IT"

Slam!

"IS"

Slam!

"NOT"

Slam!

"MY"

Slam!

"MASTER"

Slam!

"WHO'S"

Slam!

"TEACHING"

Slam!

"YOU"

Slam!

"A"

Slam!

"FUCKING"

Slam!

"LESSON!"

Gideon gritted his teeth as he continued to pound Hex's bleeding head on the ground.

The vampire could only scratch the human's hand that was holding his head as he struggled to get out of the man's grasp.

Hex's skull was broken and his entire head was shattered as Gideon let go of him.

However, the knight was not satisfied with just slamming the insolent vampire's head on the ground. He grabbed Hex's arm and stepped on it.

Crack!

"AAAAGH!" Hex screamed when the pain of his arm getting broken after Gideon stepped on it climbed in his head.

"HELP! SOMEONE! AAAGH!" He screamed in pain but Gideon did not listen.

"IS THIS WHAT MY MASTER IS FACING WHILE HE SAVED ALL OF YOU?!" He screamed in anger as he turned his head to look at the thousand vampires who were silently watching him.

He went back to step on Hex's head and he applied force on his foot.

The ground broke as the vampire's head continued to get buried on the ground.

"A BUNCH OF DISGRACEFUL BEINGS!" He screamed as he stomped on Hex's face.

Swish!

Gideon immediately held his hand and the sharp object bounced off of his armor.

"Get... get your feet off of my brother's face!" Clone had a terrified look on his face as she watched her brother get beaten into pieces by the unknown human.

"Oh... haha... you mean this?" Gideon grabbed Hex's hair as he lifted the vampire's body and showed it to Clone.

Hex's condition was worse than getting mangled by the monsters.

What was once a beautiful face now turned into an indescribable figure and the face was so disorganized that it looked like it had been stomped on by a giant creature.

Clone shrieked when she saw Hex's face and her eyes immediately glowed red as her fangs bared.

Gideon smirked as he continued to grab Hex's hair.

"I bet you won't see him alive even before you reach me," He spoke as he held the vampire's body in his hands and was starting to apply force in it.

Tap.

"Gideon, that's enough," the young master spoke beside Gideon.

The knight closed his eyes as he contained his anger and followed his master's commands.

"As you wish, young master," He spoke as he let go of Hex's body and it plopped to the ground like a dried grape.

Clone could only kneel in relief as she saw Hex out of the man's grasp.

"I think my knight did too much damage. Tsk," Pier spoke as he watched Hex lay on the ground with his skull shattered and blood spread out in different directions.

Clone turned to look at Ciaran but the man only stood there unmoving with a stoic face.

"Now, apologize nicely, Hex," Pier spoke with a soft smile on his face as he crouched down to meet the vampire's eyes.

"..." Hex stared at him as his body spasmed a few times with the repercussions of his head getting slammed on the ground by the knight.

Who are they?

Hex feared for his life.

Who was that person? Why couldn't he get out of that human's grasp?

Why was the human with armor so strong?

'And he called this... master?' He thought as he watched the guest covered with their cloak.

"Are you having a hard time speaking? It's alright if you can just say 'sorry'!" Pier spoke again still with a smile on his face.

"I-...." Hex tried to speak but his crushed jaw prevented him from doing so.

"I...I'm....n-..."

"Hmmm?" Pier hummed as he was curious as to what Hex was trying to say since it didn't seem like he would apologize.

"I.... crack... I'm... n-not.... s-sorry!"

And as the vampire spoke the words, a shadow that was as fast as lightning immediately sped past Pier.

His coat flapped as his eyes widened and his body froze.

"H-AHAHA-HAHAHA!" Hex laughed even though he could barely form words as he watched the hooded stranger's coat being cut off by his sister.

Clone watched as the stranger's cloak flapped along with the gust of wind she had created as she ran to cut the hood of the stranger's cloak.

"HAH- cough- HAHAHA....ha..."

The hood of the cloak plopped on the ground and the stranger watched with silent eyes as it did so.

However, Clone also froze when she saw what was underneath the hood.

All the vampires

Ciaran

Gideon

and Hex who was laughing as if he had won all stopped as they stared.

They all stared at the now revealed face of the stranger.

Hair as white as snow.

Porcelain skin that looked so fragile.

Dazzling and striking blue eyes that seemed to represent the skies.

Symmetrical and partially full lips.

Straight nose.

A jaw that seems like it was chiseled by a god.

"..."

Sigh

Pier sighed as the soft smile on his face disappeared.

"And I thought I was giving you a chance after Gideon turned you into a pulp," the stranger spoke.

All of the vampires gasped in awe as they watched the being who possessed ethereal looks speak.

"This..." Hex had wide eyes as he was also tranced by the person's beauty.

Pier raised his hands as he motioned something to come.

Everybody wondered what it was.

Thud!

Thud!

Thud!

The giant skeleton monsters revealed themselves from inside the fifth mountain as they marched towards Pier.