The Citadel's towering walls loomed ever higher as they approached. Black stone glimmered faintly red beneath the moonlight, spires stabbing the sky, each crowned with blood-red
banners that rippled though no wind stirred.
Chen Le instinctively eased off the throttle, eyes widening. Majestic as hell… this seriously looks like the opening shot of a dark fantasy anime. His battered scooter growled uneasily, as if it knew it didn't belong in a place this grand.
Lia dismounted with calm elegance, patting her horse's neck once before the twin saddlebags began to quake violently. From within, two severed halves spilled out—waist down, chest up. The legs strode forward on their own, while the torso scrambled ahead with clawing hands. The upper and lower halves stopped after a few paces, pausing as though waiting for the missing head not to fall too far behind.
Alvara's head still clung tightly to Chen Le's shoulder, her black hair wrapped around him like iron cords.
Alia stepped down from the scooter, standing tall and regal, her presence carrying the weight of vampire nobility.
At the gates, two figures awaited. A tall man in a sweeping black cape, his face sharp as a blade. Beside him, a woman in a blood-red gown, eyes burning cold, the threads of her dress shimmering as if woven from living strands.
"Father. Mother," Alvara's voice was flat, dripping with pride.
Chen Le swallowed hard. Oh, hell… final boss parents.
The vampire lord gave only a curt nod. The mother, however, strode forward at once, seizing Alvara's head straight off Chen Le's shoulder. Her daughter's black hair slid from his neck and arm in a swift rush.
Once she held it—
SLAAP!
A sharp crack across Alvara's cheek. Then a second, harder blow. "Foolish child! Deserting your post, disgracing our bloodline!"
Chen Le's jaw dropped. Damn… slapped by your own mom, in public?!
"Payment," the father said curtly. Two guards stepped forward, handing over bulging pouches of glowing crimson stones. "For the Riders."
Lia accepted hers with a calm nod. Chen Le fumbled his, nearly toppling from the sheer weight. He peeked inside—dozens of scarlet Mana Cores blazed, their heat so intense the air shimmered with steam.
"H-holy crap… that's a lot…"
Alvara pulled herself free from her mother's grasp, face burning with fury. "Mother, stop— Hmphhh…" She pouted briefly, then snapped, "Bring forth two high-condensation cores!"
The guards left, returning with a small chest. When opened, only two stones lay within—but their brilliance was so dense the air itself trembled.
[ Mana Core (High Condensation) x2 ]
Chen Le nearly choked on his spit. "T-these… are really for me?!"
Alvara's gaze softened slightly, her voice quiet but firm. "Take them. They are your due."
Lia pocketed hers without a word. Chen Le shoved his into the right side of his jacket, then glanced at the Living Eye still floating nearby. Guess it doesn't bother them, he thought, snatching it up and stuffing it into his left pocket.
Behind them, a blue portal hissed open wide. Lia mounted her horse once more and entered without hesitation, pausing only for a brief glance back before vanishing into light.
Chen Le exhaled, twisting the scooter's throttle. The old engine coughed once, then roared.
But before he could move, a pale hand gripped his jacket. Alia stood close, her face cold, but her eyes flickered with something strange. Her voice was soft, yet it pierced like a blade.
"I… want that cute little mount."
Chen Le's eyes went wide. "H-huh?! My scooter?!"
The portal widened, its pull growing stronger. Chen Le kicked up the side stand. "Sorry, Princess. Not for sale."
Vrrrooom—!
The scooter shot into the portal, leaving Alia behind before the Citadel gates, crimson light washing over her pale face. Her lips moved in a whisper, drowned by the night wind.
"I will have it… no matter what it takes."
---
Chen Le and Lia finally returned to the parking lot. The system chimed again in Chen Le's head, system panel popped up again.
[ Delivery Co-Op Complete ]
[ Reward: 500 EXP, 50 Karma Points, 500 Upgrade Points ]
[ Bonus Item Acquired: Mana Core (High Condensation) ]
[ Level Up! ]
[ Level 1 → Level 2 ]
[ Level 2 → Level 3 ]
[ Congratulations! Rider has reached Level 3 ]
[ New Feature Unlocked: Modify Upgrade ]
- Simple Upgrade → Distribute Upgrade Points as usual into Rider/Scooter stats without targeting specific components.
- Modify Upgrade → Channel Upgrade Points into specific scooter parts (tires, brakes, suspension, headlights, exhaust, dashboard, etc.).
----
Chen Le kept staring at the floating panel, his eyes bulging.
"Damn… 50 Karma Points?!" He nearly dropped his helmet. "That's… that's a ton, right? I was only level 1 and I already got this much?!"
He quickly turned to the side. "Hey, Lia… where's your panel? Why isn't it showing up? Shouldn't you be getting the same notif as me?"
Lia had already tied her horse, her movements calm as ever. She glanced at him briefly, as if his question were nothing unusual.
"My panel will not appear in your vision."
Chen Le froze. "Huh? What do you mean? We did this Co-Op together—shouldn't it be one screen, like a split-screen survival game?"
Lia shook her head slowly. "I don't get your strange term, but..." She let a long sigh, her tone steady and clear. "If it's not about Co-Op thingy, the system only shows individual panels. Even in Co-Op, each Rider can only see their own panel. I cannot see yours, and you cannot see mine."
Chen Le gaped. "Hmmm.... got it."
"Yes," Lia replied curtly, patting her pocket. "I've already received mine. But that's my business, not something meant to be displayed to you."
Chen Le scratched his head, mumbling under his breath. "Makes sense. Privacy."
Lia merely raised an eyebrow, then turned back to ready her horse.