Antony reached the end of the town, confusion etched on his face as he looked around. The location on his screen didn't match any visible building or hut that could house a swordsmith.
"Where is the swordsmith?" he muttered, growing frustrated.
A local man approached him, noticing his bewilderment. "Hey, are you new to this town? Are you finding something?"
"Yes, I am!" Antony replied. "Can you tell me where the swordsmith is?"
The man's eyes lit up with understanding. "Oh, swordsmith! You can't find him like this. Come with me! He's living underground. There's a secret way to enter his place."
Antony followed the man to a spot where he lifted an iron gate from the ground. "It will lead you inside," the man said, pointing to the opening.
As Antony approached the entrance, the system chimed: THE LOCATION IS LEADING TO THE SWORDSMITH!
"Couldn't you have shown this way before?" Antony grumbled at the system.
Suddenly, the familiar voice of the little air creature piped up. "Hey, hey! Now you're alone! Why are you not listening to me now?"
Antony sighed. "What's the point of talking to you when the system is going to act like this whenever I ask a question?"
"Hey, hey! I can't hear! Say what did you just say?" the creature persisted.
Ignoring the creature, Antony descended the stairs. As he reached the bottom, he found himself surrounded by men pointing swords at his neck.
"Who are you? How did you enter this place?" one of them demanded. "Are you a vampire? Or a monster? Even if you are either of it, get out!"
Antony raised his hands, trying to appear non-threatening. "I'm really indeed a vampire and only a vampire. I'm not a monster. And I'm newly awakened, so I need to have a weapon, which is why I've come here."
The men remained unmoved. "Whoever you are, it doesn't matter. The swordsmith is not going to listen to all this crap. He's not making swords for outsiders."
Desperate, Antony blurted out, "I-I actually came here with Matthew Bramble!"
The men's expressions changed instantly. "Matthew? Matthew Bramble? The one who lost his brother? And killed the higher up?"
Antony, sensing an opening, continued, "I don't know the details, but he indeed lost his brother and now he has returned to the town to find something. He's the one who told me to come here and take help forging my sword."
The men exchanged glances before lowering their weapons. "Ok! Come inside!" they said, pointing towards an inner chamber.
Antony sighed in relief as he followed their direction. "Gosh! I didn't know I had to go through a check-in just to meet the swordsmith," he mumbled to himself. "But was it always so guarded, or is it recently added into the game?"
As if in response, the system chimed: YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY GAINED THE FAVOR FROM THE SECURITY!
Antony shook his head, marveling at the complexities of this world as he prepared to meet the elusive swordsmith.
Antony mumbled, looking at the screen. "What's next, System?"
THE LOCATION IS SET TO THE SWORD SMITH!
"Yeah, yeah, from an hour it's been leading me to the swordsmith without telling me what's next. What a trash system!" Antony cursed, rolling his eyes.
THE PLAYER IS TRASH HIMSELF!
"Woah! Now it's testing my patience! Now even the system is mocking me. Such a useless system knows nothing but talk back," Antony said, his frustration growing.
As he reached the swordsmith, who was sitting at the end of the stairs, the system chimed again: ANTONY COLE HAS REACHED AT THE LOCATION!
The security men presented Antony to the swordsmith. "Swordsmith! Someone has come to meet you."
The swordsmith, a frail-looking man, shook with fear despite his anger. "A person! How many times have I said not to bring anyone here? No one listens to me here. Even with the security, you both are useless, even as guards!"
The security men explained, "We've already checked whatever we needed to check. And this person is not a monster but a vampire who is newly awakened."
The swordsmith's fear grew. "So what? Don't you know that newly awakened vampires have no control over their blood thirst? No matter how much they try, they can even eat their own kin if they're thirsty enough. They can eat the entire village at once."
Antony, annoyed, finally spoke up. "Actually, can I say something?"
"I was brought here by Matthew Bramble. I think you know him, right?" Antony asked.
"Matthew? Matthew Bramble?" the swordsmith asked.
"Yes!" Antony replied.
The swordsmith's anxiety grew. "But he doesn't know where this is located because I've shifted my place. My life was at stake. Even monsters keep coming here to make them something in catalyst form so that they can be even superior and powerful than the other vampires and rule them. Then how on earth did you enter this place?"
Antony explained, "I met a man outside. He said your place is not visible to outsiders and opened the door for me from the ground. That's how I was able to get inside."
The swordsmith asked, "Did you lift up the iron gate or the man?"
Antony replied, "I lifted the gate with my hand. He's the one who only pointed the location to me."
The swordsmith's questions continued, leaving Antony wondering what was going on. "What is going on? Why is this swordsmith asking me questions nonstop when he could only just take the material and make the sword I want for myself? He's being so cautious even to a vampire when he's been living with vampires for years. Why? Did I perhaps stumble upon the right track of the quest?"
Just then, the swordsmith's expression turned panicked. "Hey, lock the doors! They're here! They're here once again, and this time they have found the scapegoat to enter into the secret chamber!"
The swordsmith ran towards a small door in the corner, which seemed to be made for storing weapons.
VEIL OF BLOOD: THE AWAKENING DIVIDE PART 1 HAS STARTED!
As the system announced, "VEIL OF BLOOD: THE AWAKENING DIVIDE PART 1 HAS STARTED!" Antony couldn't help but smirk. "So the quest has finally started!"
The security men, panicked, urged Antony, "Quick, hide! You will not be able to handle them! You're newly awakened!"
Antony's suspicion was piqued. "Why? Can you know what my level is now?"
The men admitted their limitations. "We're not that strong to know their aura and level. But you seem weak, so keep hidden inside. If they don't sense you, they'll leave without finding others."
Antony stepped forward, challenging their assumption. "What if I say I can fight this?"
"You'll die if you don't move!" they insisted.
Undeterred, Antony pressed on. "I won't. Just tell the swordsmith to make a sword for me at any cost. Or I won't be able to handle this for long."
"Sword? But what about material?" the men asked, confused.
"Yes, I have material," Antony said confidently as his inventory screen appeared before him.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO WITHDRAW THE MATERIAL FROM THE INVENTORY? 'YES' OR 'NO'
"Yes!" Antony commanded, and the Inferno Heart materialized in his hand.
The security men gasped in shock. "Inferno Heart? Where did you get it?"
Antony brushed off their question. "That's not the issue here. Just make sure to give it to the swordsmith. I want the weapon at any cost if you all want to be saved." He took his position at the entrance, wielding his wooden sword.
"Ok, we'll be right back!" the men said, rushing to the swordsmith as loud noises began to echo from the stairs, shaking the entire place.
Antony steeled himself, marching towards the stairs. "I will get this. This will be my kill at any cost."
Suddenly, a deep, menacing growl resonated through the chamber. "GROWL!" It sounded similar to Kael's but lacked the same depth.
As the growl grew louder and the shaking intensified, Antony gripped his wooden sword tighter, ready to face whatever was coming.