The Everlight party got themselves a place to stay for the night, there are spare rooms at the second floor so there is no need to spend cash on inn. Will had been thinking to himself about the conversation they had with the vampire hunters, Cynthia Lorez and Miljana Rowetch.
The 'Dead City', during the third century, this land was owned by a filthy rich man who has owned many other lands too. The land here was very cheap as in very for this land is close to the vampires territory. Similar to the demon king, vampires has their own ruler though they don't operate the same. There are many ruler of vampires for different territories. In this territory, the ruler of vampires has been in a single bloodline until this day.
The rich man bought over this land for a cheap price and let people stayed there. As expected, vampires would come out and hunt for food once every three days and at first, many lives were lost. Few more times happened to the folks back then, vampires terrorizing the land and killing people. Still, people stayed in this city for its cheap and easier to afford for young people who just gotten into society. The folks had to endure the relentless assaults from the vampires until one day it changes. A man who was a follower of the sun god for he is blessed by that deity since birth. He was traveling south and passed by this hopeless city.
The sun god he worshipped is different from the SUN god the SUN Cult worshipped, the SUN Cult's 'SUN god' is a non proof god made up by the SUN Cult while the sun god worshipped by the man is the actual sun god alongside with the goddess of death and the creation god.
Back to the point, he decided to stay for a night despite the residents warning him not to. "What's so dangerous about this place that the residents feared?" That man thought to himself as the third night arrived. The vampires as usual terrorized this land for food, the residents tried to hide but they were still caught in the hands of the vampires. Though this man who was also a swordsman came up and challenges the vampire.
"Dare come and face me you scoundrel?"
He threatened the vampires by drawing out his sword pointing at them. The vampires were snickering and mocking that man's courage. They too are also a thrill seeker so they accepted the man's challenge and fought him head on. Unfortunately for them, the man was a follower of the sun god and was also blessed by his power, granting him the power of the sun, and sun is vampires's only weakness. Just that night, he took down dozens of vampires, giving the people hope and vampires something to fear. For a few more days, he continued slaying vampires and finally slaying the first ruler of the vampires of that territory. Before he left, he taught down the technique of slaying the vampires which is passed down through generations known as the 'vampire hunter'.
"Though this place is still terrorize by vampires, residents of this city still chooses to stay here, maybe because of the cheap rent, maybe because this place somewhat feel like home,"
Cynthia explained the whole backstory of the founding vampire hunter.
"Wait, so which of you are blood related to the first vampire hunter?"
"That's Cynthia nya~ I only join in as a favour for her,"
Miljana said as she wags her tail.
"Are there more vampire hunters other than you two?"
Raye asked again which Cynthia laid back and drink a bottle of wine.
"There are more, or else who's gonna continue this job to protect this city, just that we two are the current presidents of this guild,"
"Cynthia is the president while I'm the vice prez nya~"
"You always have to end your sentence with a cat sound huh,"
Al said as he also join in for a cup of wine.
"What you mean? Maybe beause I'm a cat, you guys must be influenced by Purrine since she adapts to human speech and speak less like a beastfolks nya~"
"Let's cut to the chase, we need your help Everlight party,"
Cynthia took a shot and suddenly turned serious.
"We have heard about your great feats, defeating one of the warlocks of calamity and somehow taming the Pale Jade Dragon, we need your help on our tomorrow battle against the vampires,"
What? A word flashes in Raye's mind as he continues to listen to Cynthia's request.
"Recently, this one month, the vampire seems to be not attacking or less came to attack, as if they were fed up of this place, maybe because they know that they can't beat us, or maybe that they are planning something, something that we should take precautions,"
"Well, why don't you slay the ruler of the vampires of that territory? That way there's nothing to be feared of,"
Al suggested the most retarded idea the vampire hunters ever heard.
"The ruler of the vampires is no easy joke, while vampires are invincible, their only weakness is sunlight, the ruler of the vampires are granted with high durability towards attacks filled with the power of the sun god, besides, they seldom attack this city in person but sent vampires to gather food for them, the ruler of vampires can last until seven days without consuming,"
"Back to the point, we made some analysis and there is no signs of vampires attacking other village or city, a few cattle were found dead but no humans were harmed then, we suggest that they are planning something to destroy our city and our people, but one thing we can't confirm is when they would attack,"
"So you're saying that you want us to help you tomorrow on defeating the vampire?"
"You catch on fast Raye Winston,"
Cynthia praised Raye for his quick thinking and then continued with their request.
"Of course we would reward you with 50 gold coins of Ferria currency,"
Raye did not hesitate but answered quickly.
"We'll help you, if it is for the sake of the people or the vampire hunters, we will be willing to help,"
Will nodded and added on.
"Vampires are tough opponents but we are able to do so,"
Will kept staring at that bag of gold coins.
"Oh? Is it for the money or out of your good will?"
Cynthia teased Will but he remained expressionless and did not answer. After that conversation leads to where the Everlight party is now.
Will stares at the ceiling and thinks to himself.
Vampires huh, they are brilliant beings that has very high critical thinking skill, they make a good strategist in the demon king continent. There were vampires that lived in the demon king continent that is under the demon king and not the ruler of their kin. There's one vampire who's brilliant and a strategist in the Demon King's castle.
Vampires are pretty much invincible if not for sunlight, though it's hard to beat them even if you have the blessing power of the sun god. After all, they are very brilliant and it is hard to interpret what they are planning right now. All the Everlight party could do is help analyze tomorrow situation and help stop the vampires if needed to.
It's no use thinking about it now, might as well sleep for the night and think about it tomorrow. Will turns sideways and doze off, sleeping in the quiet and peaceful night.
The next day, Raye rubbed his shoulders to his forearms as if he is heating himself from the cold morning. Despite the scorching hot sun glaring at this city, the mist lowers the sea and turned this place to a breeze.
"Here,"
Cynthia handed Raye a grey sweatshirt, telling him to warm himself up by the fireplace while wearing it. Despite twice the heat, Raye still felt cool from the morning breeze.
"Breakfast's ready!"
Miljana brought out breakfast enough for Cynthia, her and the whole Everlight party. It was an English breakfast where sourdough bread, scramble eggs, sausages, ham, baked beans and mushrooms. The rest of the Everlight party members soon woke up to find themselves a hearty meal ready for them.
The fire at the fireplace crackles as the Everlight party and two of the vampire hunters enjoy the meal. After that, Raye and Amethia went out for a jog while Will decides to explore the place again. As for Al and Auoun, they went and watch the vampire hunters training.
Auoun watches every moves and technique produced by the vampire hunters. 'The lordr of the sun, may you gift us the power to overcome our foes, lighting a path to continue forward,' The vampire hunters chanted as they swings their sword.
"You're interested?"
Auoun looked up to see Cynthia standing right beside him. He look at the training and nodded his head. Cynthia chuckled and tossed him a wooden sword.
"Here, I'll show you, though it won't be free,"
Auoun rummages through his pocket and found nothing in his pockets. Al who was sitting right beside Auoun sighed and took out few silver coins in currency of Ferria and handed it to Cynthia.
"Should this be enough?"
"Oh? You're helping your friend despite showing not a single slight of interest?"
"Let him learn what he wants, he has been stuck in a cave for 50 years,"
"...,well then, I might as well teach you too,"
"...do I have to pay again?"
"No,"
Al thought for a while but agreed to do so.
"Well, it's better to be prepared for an upcoming event that is gonna happen tonight,"
"Here, take this,"
Cynthia then tossed Al a wooden sword too as she help herself pick up one. She then stand in a stance and chanted:'The lord of the sun, may you gift us the power to overcome our foes, lighting a path to continueforward,'. A yellow beam from the sword slashes down, borrowing the power of the sun, the attack releases a burn smell before slashing down onto the ground. The ground shook for a moment. A moment of silence came with a round of applause by the vampire hunters. Oddly, despite borrowing the power of the sun, the wooden sword was left unscratched, maybe a few burned mark overall.
"That's it, though you have to be a follower of the sun god like us to truly use its full potential,"
"What if I'm the follower of the goddess of mercy and remedy? Am I be able to produce what you did?"
Cynthia thought for a moment before answering Al.
"You can be deem worthy by the sun god by facing a trial, fortunately, the trial is easy and you may achieve it before sunset,"
"Alright, so what's this trial about?"
Cynthia took a few steps backward. Al and Auoun moves to the side while the vampire hunters stop what they are doing and stood still, watching their president acts.
Cynthia close her eyes and took a deep breath in. She raises her wooden sword and chanted the spell.
"With sheer will and determination, 'The lord of the sun, may you gift us the power to overcome our foes, lighting a path to continueforward!' "
Bright yellow beam, brighter than the one she produced before, as same, the sword produced a burned smell as it the heat of the power was burning. Though the heat of this attack was hotter than the one she previously produced. She then swings the wooden sword down, creating a strong beam of yellow light onto the ground, breaking it while also exploding a beam of sunlight.
"What you need to have is sheer will and determination, without it, you can't even produce a tiny fraction of it, let's start with you first,"
Cynthia pointed at Auoun who was holding the wooden sword, staring at it. He then tossed it aside and took out his dual hammers from his back and raised them.
"Remember, you need to have sheer will and determination,"
'The lord of the sun, may you gift us the power to overcome our foes, lighting a path to continueforward,'
Auoun chanted as he swings down the hammers onto the ground, same as the one Cynthia produced, bright yellow beam appear at his hammers before swinging down, heat started forming at the core of the hammers and when it swings down it creates an explosion of a beam of sunlight.
"Congrats, you successfully did it on your first try,"
"But I don't feel any powerful from the one you did,"
Auoun doubt himself and look at his hammers.
"That's because we are the follower of the sun god, just using it without the lord's blessing would only give you the access to just partial of it,"
"Next is your turn,"
Cynthia pointed at Al who was quite the lazy one. He picked up the sword and went forward to the centre.
"Remember, sheer will and determination,"
"Ye ye I heard it for the first time,"
Al raises the wooden sword and chanted the spell.
'The lord of the sun, may you gift us the power to overcome our foes, lighting a path to continueforward,'
Al swings the wooden sword down but fails to produce anything. He then raises his sword and chants again. Yet another failure occurs.
"I said you need to have sheer will and determination, or else you can't produce it,"
"I know,"
"You don't seem to have it, if this keeps on, you might not able to achieve even after sunset,"
Al grumbles and was about to give up after a few more attempts. Cynthia looks at him and sighed.
"How about thinking of something or someone, like you're doing something for them, or think about something you really want to do and use the sheer will and determination to power your attack,"
Al thought to himself about what he desires first. Maybe a smoke right now? Or a bottle of wine? Though none of these were enough to be called sheer will and determination. He then thought about someone who could give him the sheer of will and determination, maybe Raye Winston? He did save me countless time. Al then suddenly remembered a line Raye had told him before, that line Raye told him before fighting the warlock Enceladus Lauren.
"If you ever doubt yourself as a burden, just do it for me, forget about anything later on about what I would say or anything,"
Maybe that's all he needs, maybe that should be the one that will be his sheer will and determination. Al thought to himself as he raised the wooden sword up and chanted the spell.
'The lord of the sun, may you gift us the power to overcome our foes, lighting a path to continueforward,'
Bright yellow beam gathered around the sword as Al swings it down. Although it didn't shook the ground, a bright yellow beam exploded, proving that Al has achieved to use this spell.
"Congrats, you successfully did it, and you also got a strong will and determination,"
"I guess you could say so,"
"So what do you think of this power? Pretty good right?"
Cynthia snorted as she places both of her hands as her hips. Al looks sideway as he speaks, trying to avoid Cynthia's gaze.
"It's mana consuming and the power isn't strong, I rather just stick to healing,"
"Don't make me strip that power of you, you little shit,"
Sun was setting as the Everlight party and the vampire hunters were ready for the night. They all held their weapons tightly, awaiting for the vampires. Cynthia tossed Al a dagger and said:
"Even if you're a priest, self defense is something not to be neglected,"
Al nodded as he grab onto the dagger. Cynthia walked forward and stopped right at her track beside Miljana. She drew out her sword and waited for the arrival of the vampires.
Night fall as the cloud covering the red moon dispersed from it. There reveal a blood moon. The red moon light shines faintly on the ground. A minute has passed and so on. No sign of vampires at all.
"Do you think they won't come today? Just like the past few nights?"
"We can't be sure, lets wait for a little longer,"
Ten minutes has passed yet no sign of vampires.
"Maybe they won't come,"
Cynthia hesitated for a while and pointed at a female vampire hunter.
"Jen,"
"Yes ma'am!"
"Go and check, then report back to us,"
"Yes ma'am!"
She ran forward and look around. The surrounding was covered by mist so it's hard to interpret what's behind the fog.
"I don't see anything ma'am, no sign of vampi-"
The girl was split in half all of the sudden. This shocked Cynthia and Miljana. The Everlight party also notices and gets ready for battle.
"They're here,"
Miljana took out her revolvers and pointed at the mist. Cynthia broke a sweat and yelled loudly to a vampire hunter next to a large bell on a tower.
"Ring the bell, inform everyone to take shelters! The vampires are here!"