Chapter 38: Acceptance.
Kazuka, as if just thinking of something, froze for a moment with a bit of cunning. His voice changed slightly.
"You give it to me, then I will speak well of this place to the old wolf. Is that okay? I think it's reasonable, right?"
Narlok was silent, thinking for a while.
—"Maybe I should just indulge them. When they go outside, they will be even more unguarded. That will make it easier."
"Fine. But you must speak well to that old man."
Kazuka laughed loudly, as if successful in the transaction.
"Of course. I will remember."
Narlok with a contemplative look, stroked his chin. His rough hands and long nails scraped his skin, a ghastly sound but since it was his, he didn't care.
—"These brats are not normal either. Facing me without fear. Though a bit bewildered at first, it vanished. These kids are formidable."
On Airi's side, they still sat silently watching. Airi turned to Takeshi and said:
"You go down too."
Takeshi pointed at himself, puzzled:
"Me?"
Airi: "Do you see anyone else around?"
Takeshi hesitated. He was a bit afraid looking at those monsters with hideous and giant shapes. Didn't know what they were thinking and if they could kill him.
"I'm afraid those monsters will kill me."
Airi remained calm; she already knew Narlok's intent.
"No need to worry. He will protect us until the cave mouth."
Takeshi with a confused face, frowned.
"He has no scheme? I keep feeling something's wrong."
Airi's voice became small, leaning close to Takeshi's ear.
"He will exploit us when we exit the cave mouth and escape outside."
Takeshi's eyes widened in surprise. He froze for a bit, then nodded as if understanding.
"I see. Then let me go down and fight."
Takeshi was about to stand. Airi pulled his hand back. She had some next intentions to create a small opportunity for the group and avoid confronting the strongest creature here.
"Wait. Later, down there, use your ability to turn this place into a deep hole. We will collapse this arena."
Takeshi sat back and listened. He showed clear difficulty at Airi's request, but then pushed it aside. Knowing currently Airi was the hope to escape here.
"This is quite hard. But I think I can do it."
Takeshi stood up, as if clear-headed and knowing what he needed to do in this difficult time. Narlok also noticed and turned.
Takeshi jumped down and shouted:
"I want to fight too!"
Takeshi pointed up at the stands.
"I want to fight that stone golem."
Narlok turned back and flicked his hand. The stone golem standing with the other monsters jumped down to the arena floor.
BOOM!!
The ground shook as a massive stone block landed like a meteor. Dust flew, making them squint.
Kazuka ran to Takeshi.
"Hey, I'm fighting."
Takeshi replied calmly:
"Let me play too. You play alone?"
Kazuka sighed, letting his friend play. He yielded to Takeshi, also sensing the two sitting up there had already discussed a plan.
"Fine."
Kazuka jumped onto the arena wall and sat watching.
Back to Airi, she had a very tense face, thinking.
—"Earlier Raiga came down probably because the old wolf opened the barrier. When I jumped down, did I just jump? Was it a normal barrier?"
—"Whatever, for now, assume the barrier must be opened to leave."
—"But the problem is I still don't know his actual strength. If I tell those two to challenge him to fight, he might realize I'm probing. That would be very dangerous."
—"So for now, assume he cannot be killed, only stalled. I need a chain of plans."
—"Now if I just sit and watch, he might think I'm planning. But if I go down to fight, he might also think I'm executing a plan."
—"Must gamble. I know a bit about sealing, but Blood Seal Inversion consumes massive energy. I haven't drunk blood for two years. Performing complex things is very hard."
Airi stood up and jumped to the arena. Her eyes shone with determination and hope the plan would succeed.
Before her, Takeshi and the stone golem stood staring at each other for a while.
Narlok also observed.
—"Sitting still until now, and now going down? Is she planning something?"
Airi walked near Takeshi and raised a hand.
"Wait. Fighting like this is boring."
Airi turned her head toward Narlok.
"Do you want to fight us?"
Narlok still sat on the chair. He smiled craftily, knowing Airi's group had a plan.
—"These brats have a plan? To me currently, the only plan is exploiting them and going outside. Well, I'll play along and see what they want to do."
"Fine."
He flew down slowly like a ghost. Where he hovered had no light, a deep darkness.
"You want to fight?"
Airi was still very calm, as if nothing was wrong.
"Let us consult first."
—"I will show you the most dangerous technique of a vampire."
Then her thoughts shifted to contempt and disgust, as if wanting to wipe away everything she had before.
—"Though I am not proud of it."
Narlok was also deep in thought:
—"They want to combine forces to kill me? You think you can kill me? Brats."
The three huddled and whispered. After a while, Kazuka with eyes full of battle spirit:
"Alright. Start then."
Takeshi and Kazuka stood in front. Airi stood behind as support.
Narlok smiled with intent.
"Then try. Let me train you."
Takeshi tensed energy around him. Energy pressure made the ground crack. Takeshi launched extremely fast, tearing the wind. Entire hand straightened, an energy spear point stabbing toward Narlok.
He let out an "oh," then tilted his body, raised his left hand. Takeshi, while rushing, was caught by the hand with long fingers and nails.
Takeshi frowned, not expecting to be caught so easily.
"Huh?"
He redirected Takeshi's attack. Takeshi flew back and slammed into the arena wall, making it explode. Dust flew. But he didn't care to look back.
Without knowing when, Kazuka was behind Narlok's back. Intending to behead him, the sword swung in a diagonal line. But suddenly, an arm behind his back grabbed Kazuka's hand. His eyes widened in surprise.
Another arm from the back launched a punch straight into Kazuka's stomach. Pupils dilated, face grimacing in pain. At the same time, the arm holding his hand released him, sending him flying far away.
Airi rushed right before him. Her two hands were two bright red blood swords. Closing in and launching two slashes at once, vertically from top to bottom, but suddenly he vanished from sight.
Airi was surprised and looked around.
—"What the hell? Vanished? I didn't blink, how did he vanish?"
From behind Airi, he appeared without making a sound, mouth close to her ear, whispering.
"I'm here."
Airi immediately turned and swung the swords back in panic, but he vanished and appeared behind her back again.
—"How? Fast movement must make sound or make wind or dust fly!"
Kazuka from afar scrambled up and shouted:
"Airi, he crawls out from your shadow!"
Airi immediately looked down at her shadow, then turned back. She immediately ran forward, wanting to keep distance, but it was useless.
His voice was a bit mocking.
"I can appear in your shadow. Keeping distance is useless."
Takeshi from the rubble, hands slightly scratched, stood up slowly and glanced around. Narlok was standing right behind Airi and she could do nothing.
Tensing once more, from behind Narlok, Takeshi rushed.
On the ground, Takeshi's shadow was rushing at Narlok's shadow. When the two shadows touched and vibrated like a pond surface disturbed. Takeshi in the air was thrown backward as if something just attacked his stomach. He grit his teeth trying to endure the pain without understanding where it came from.
Flying far away, Takeshi painfully held his stomach. Blood flowed continuously. His energy, just pierced, was trying to mend and recover the wound. He grit his teeth in confusion.
"What the hell? Why was I hit? When exactly?"
He had escaped from Airi's shadow. She jumped far away to keep distance.
Airi observing and linked the events.
"It's shadows. His ability is shadow-related. So Takeshi's blow was reflected back?"
Kazuka from afar swung his sword down. The blade touched the ground, splitting it in two. An energy slash blew up dirt and dust, aiming at Narlok.
Airi also rushed parallel to the crack Kazuka created. The two blood swords vanished. Airi threw two bright red blood balls like solid blood clots toward him. Kazuka followed right behind.
His hands reached forward, still very calm and disdainful as if these blows were nothing. As his hands rose, his shadow did too. When Airi's two attacks rushed in, the shadow of the two balls touched his shadow. The two balls in flight immediately vanished. Right after, two balls of similar size but purple suddenly appeared from mid-air and shot toward Airi.
Airi immediately ducked and dodged both. She looked up at the series of glowing stones embedded in the cave ceiling.
—"What the hell? The glowing stone chandelier above should have put his shadow behind him? Meaning he controls shadows, not simply uses them."
Airi rushed, her eyes fixed as if finished determining everything. Suddenly she changed direction, not confronting directly nor attacking, but running behind him.
Kazuka running, teeth grit, launched a horizontal energy slash toward him.
He smiled faintly, disdain clear in that smile.
"Too many openings. Like this, you die even if I do nothing."
He tilted and dodged Kazuka's energy slash. The slash continued flying and aimed straight at Airi. She was wanting to circle back and ambush him. Kazuka's slash struck Airi. The slash cut into her stomach. she grit her teeth hard against the pain, spitting blood.
A large mouthful of blood splashed onto Narlok's body. Then Airi was blown backward.
Kazuka erupted energy. His body was covered by extremely thick energy. Two legs like large springs. A powerful stomp on the ground made the floor crack. Instantly, he rushed, forcing smoke and dust to part for him.
—"Must be very fast."
Narlok also felt the energy behind Airi and Takeshi, but he didn't turn back, only glanced. As if he already knew.
"Want to pincer me? But you're still green."
Kazuka closed in on Narlok. Suddenly he changed direction. He didn't predict it and glanced after.
Airi shouted: "NOW!"
All three rushed and aimed for the cave exit, sliding past the monsters before they could understand. The ground beneath his feet collapsed. He panicked, looking around.
"What? A trap?"
All three rushed and ran into the path leading out.
BOOM!!!
Inside, where they stood cracked and shattered. All the monsters along with Narlok fell with the rubble.
He knew he had been tricked, grit his teeth and shouted:
"Cursed brats!"
He tensed. Energy enveloped his entire body.
"You think I can only stay on the ground?"
His arms combined into a pair of thin wings like giant hands. He flapped hard and flew up. Suddenly, from behind his back, light shone. Red light caught his attention and he turned.
"What the hell is this?"
A circle was written around by very strange characters, with a bat image in the middle.
"What? My body? Energy? What is happening?"
His eyes widened as he realized.
"It's a Vampire Energy Inversion Seal."
"Earlier that girl splashed blood on me, it turns out she carved a seal on me."
He grit his teeth, eyes wide in rage at being trapped.
"Damn it..."
Kazuka's group was running very fast. Suddenly Airi fell. Her body slid long on the ground. Mouth spat blood. Her beautiful face had turned thin and haggard. Pink skin turned pale white. Eyes heavy as if wanting to close. She looked like a dying patient.
Takeshi and Kazuka panicked and stopped. Both ran back.
Kazuka: "Airi!"
Takeshi: "Airi!"
—"Why did Airi faint? She's so strong?"
Takeshi immediately helped Airi up and carried her on his back, then continued running. Kazuka slowed to observe Airi on her back, seemingly unconscious.
"She fainted. Her face looks like she's sick."
Airi still had some consciousness.
—"That damn seal... If I pass out, the seal will stop. Then he will recover."
But Airi was exhausted. Her eyelids were heavy as if hanging a thousand Veyls and gradually closed. Then she fainted.
By now, they successfully ran outside and stood at the bottom of the hole looking up. Light from above shone into eyes long in darkness, forcing them to squint.
Takeshi grit his teeth looking up.
"Damn it. This hole is too deep. Not sure if we can jump up."
Narlok was lying at the bottom of the deep hole Takeshi created, showing no sign of movement. The red light from the seal was fading, blinking continuously.
He awakened. Rage and bitterness surged. He grit his teeth. Energy surrounded his body once more.
"The seal is weakening?"
He sprang up like a spring. The arms combined again into wings. They flattened and thinned. He flapped his wings like a storm and flew upward.
Kazuka stood still, eyes closed in high focus. His energy radiated and aimed toward the cave. Kazuka's eyes widened. Expression clear in panic and urgency.
"Takeshi, quickly take Airi up. He has escaped!"
Both were very urgent. Voices nervous and worried.
"But I'm nearly out of energy!"
Kazuka: "A bit left, right?"
Takeshi: "Yeah, a little, but cannot climb up."
Kazuka urgently ran close. He knelt and cupped his hands together, wanting to act as a lever for Takeshi to jump.
"Step on my hands. I will launch you up."
Takeshi with urgency, nodded without hesitation.
"Fine."
Takeshi stepped his right foot on the hands Kazuka cupped.
Kazuka: "Charge remaining energy into your leg!"
Takeshi: "Understood."
Energy surrounded Kazuka's whole body. He grit his teeth, eyes wide, pupils dilated, tensing all strength. Takeshi applied strong force down on Kazuka's hands, crouching to perform a jump. His right foot stepped hard and sprang up. Kazuka launched Takeshi upward.
Takeshi flew up and hovered over the hole mouth. The old wolf was sitting under a tree watching flowers, immediately saw it.
The old wolf stood up and jumped to catch Takeshi carrying Airi and flew to the other side of the cave mouth. Then placed them on the ground.
The old wolf felt something was wrong.
"Where is the boy Kazuka?"
Takeshi, having just laid Airi down, panicked.
"Oh no, how does he get up?"
The old wolf frowned at Takeshi.
"Something happened?"
Takeshi fearfully pointed down into the hole.
"An extremely strong monster wants to exploit our escape to get out. It's chasing right after Kazuka!"
Below, Kazuka was thinking. He urgently tried to think of something but found nothing. The worry of Narlok's arrival enveloped him.
"Damn it, how to get up now?"
At that moment Kazuka glanced to the right. It was Raiga. It crawled up the wall smoothly and was wanting to get up.
Kazuka was very surprised Raiga was still here. He glanced gradually up following its upward crawling movement.
"Huh? Raiga, it's still here?... Dammit, it can take care of itself. Take care of yourself, Kazuka!"
His head was currently extremely confused.
"Think of a way, think of a way."
"I also don't have enough energy to jump up. This rock cliff..."
Kazuka froze as if he just thought of something.
"Wait. I've been climbing cliffs all this time. What is this low rock wall?"
Kazuka ran near the hole wall and began climbing. He looked above his head; Raiga was crawling very fast upward.
"Raiga, wait for me!"
Narlok rushed out of the cave. He scanned everywhere. Kazuka was halfway up. He flapped his wings and flew up toward him.
He roared in insane rage.
"Damn it! You don't get out without me!"
He nearly reached Kazuka. Suddenly a shadow flashed from above, making Kazuka vanish from his sight. He froze in confusion.
"What the hell?"
He looked down. The old wolf had leaped from the ground and flashed past his face. On the right, he was holding Kazuka by the waist, and on the left hand holding Raiga. The old wolf wore a triumphant smile.
"Yo, long time no see."
He recovered and chased. The old wolf successfully jumped out of the hole mouth. Narlok rushing right after slammed his face into the transparent barrier and fell. He had a confused thought.
"Huh? What the hell? I was right after him? Why couldn't I get out?"
He didn't fly, but fell. He opened his mouth wide and screamed with hatred that couldn't be released.
"DAMN IT...."
One morning, Airi with a pale face and bloodless lips opened her eyes with heavy eyelids.
The old wolf, Kazuka, and Takeshi were standing right by the low stone bed Kazuka and Takeshi usually lay on, but today she was the one lying there.
The old wolf coughed loudly and spoke.
"Alright Airi, I told you many times. Refuse to drink blood, and this is what happens."
Takeshi approached and slowly helped Airi's head up.
"I've told the boy Takeshi already. He will let you suck blood."
"But the question is currently are you conscious?"
Airi nodded with difficulty. Her voice was extremely heavy and weak like one knowing death was near.
"Final way?"
Takeshi sat beside and smiled.
"Don't worry. Just bite me."
The old wolf with a serious look, voice dropped low.
"You are not allowed to use vampire venom, understand? Otherwise, this boy will become a vampire."
Kazuka immediately raised his hand to volunteer.
"I want to be a vampire too."
The old wolf swung a punch at Kazuka's head, making it swell a lump.
"Brat, you'll never be one."
Kazuka got angry.
"Cursed old man, want to challenge me?"
Airi opened her mouth wide and leaned close to Takeshi's neck, which was offered.
Airi's four sharp fangs sank into Takeshi's neck. Takeshi grimaced slightly in pain, but he still smiled.
—"I don't want to drink blood anymore, I don't want to be a vampire at all. It looks truly disgusting."
The image of Kazuka and Takeshi smiling at Airi appeared.
—"They eat cooked meat and do beautiful things, and yet I drink blood, a truly disgusting act."
Airi released her teeth from Takeshi's neck. Her face returned to its usual beautiful state, red lips and pink skin.
Takeshi touched his neck and laughed.
"Truly hurts. But I find it quite interesting."
On Takeshi's neck were clearly the bite marks Airi left. Four large holes from her fangs left on Takeshi's neck.
But she wasn't happy; she moped, lowering her face. Eyes full of sadness. Kazuka ran to sit beside Airi and Takeshi. He laughed like an idiot.
"Haha. Come on, don't be like that. That old dog wolf told us already."
The old wolf stood there with annoyance at being called a dog. Eyes twitching repeatedly, but knew this wasn't the time.
Kazuka's voice turned into scolding her.
"Did you forget what we said to each other? We are friends. We will always accept you. No need to worry."
Airi gripped the blanket covering her, tears falling. Her voice trembled.
"So ... I thought too much?"
Takeshi moved near Kazuka. Both nodded and "yeah" at the same time. Kazuka was the first to laugh loudly. Then Takeshi and Airi also laughed along.
"What are you guys laughing at?"
"I saw you laugh so I laughed too."
"Hahahahahaha"
The old wolf stood behind, smiling with clear satisfaction.
—"What should I say? Children?"
Airi glanced back at the old wolf, wondering:
"Did you take down that Narlok?"
"Ah, I heard these boys tell it. Actually, no need to take him down. Because I myself am a part of the barrier. Long ago, my disciple and I caught them. Instead of the barrier linking to a strong object or using energy for maintenance after a while, I carved the barrier directly onto my bones. I suppress them easily."
"As for your plan, actually my barrier only lets humans in and out, and strictly forbids the demon race from going out."
"In fact, you only needed to trick that guy. For example: tell him to go with you, then you go out, while he gets stuck, because I only forbid the demon race."
Airi smiled.
"I see. No wonder when we reached the hole mouth, we just jumped in. I thought because you were there and you permitted us to enter that we could."
"But it's fine. You worked as a team and planned very intelligently. Very commendable. Generally, this training was very successful."
"I thought that Narlok was dead. Long ago I dropped a stronger one in. Seems Narlok killed it already."