Nightmare System

Virgil was bothered. He could tell Hell wasn't a stupid man per se, but who would accept such a meeting with so little information at hand? Did he even know where the ancient mountains were? Questions rushed through his head.

Hell suddenly deciding to face an army by himself was, although worrying at first, it was an optimal way to stop any possible rebels from appearing amidst their ranks. Vampires instinctively bowed to strength. They respected it, but also feared it. And killing an army of thousands by himself was surely an overlord one did not wish to displease. Even he, himself, felt some fear deep within.

He could tell that even though the soldiers were celebrating their King's victory, their hearts were churning with fear against him at the same time just the same.

On the side, not knowing what to do next, Praneo and his army were still awkwardly standing with seemingly nowhere to go.

Hell turned to the King with a smile: "I'm spent, want to go and drink something? I'm sure Virgil and Nile will sort things out."

The Menaroan King felt more relaxed and finally agreed, leaving with Hell. "You better have some nice ale here! You are due to meet a legendary figure in two days, you need to relax a bit!" He had a hearty laugh.

"Oh, we have some top-shelf stuff that my Knights saved for me, I assume, since they worship me and all. I was planning on drinking after the battle to let off some steam." But Hell still wondered about their sudden appearance and finally asked: "By the way, how did you guys end up here?"

Praneo quickly summarised how Leon and Leila ended up in his palace, and that they had been trying to get a portal close to Pandora's City after they found out about Hell's next target. They had also learnt that it was possible to push-open these portals without a catalyst using Leon's power thanks to an accident caused by the siblings when they reached the palace. It required a bit of effort, but it was not impossible to replicate the scenario from a distance.

"Does that mean we could directly travel to Medusa if we wanted to?" Hell was quite anxious in recent days, he felt as if something would happen to his little brother while he was here. "I wonder if Devlin is okay…" he then murmured.

"I doubt the portals there would be large enough for an army to pass. Otherwise, we'd be sending everyone one by one to be slaughtered. Also, it took us a week just finding one of the closer portals to you. It may also not even be possible to directly go there."

"Not unless we send the elite forces first to clear the path and protect the army until it came out. Come on, you must have had some ideas about it, considering it works."

Praneo sighed and looked at Hell with some reluctance. "I am not willing to bet my people's lives on a gamble like that."

"Why would it be a gamble?" Hell asked. "You may not be able to do it yourself, but my side is plenty strong now as you can see. In fact, let me show you my army inside."

"Sure," the king sighed once more. As Praneo followed quietly, he finally asked: "Who is Devlin?"

"Oh, that's my little brother. The cutest and the most handsome prick you'll ever see! You see, one time…"

They kept walking into the city as Hell took the King who was once called "The Bloodhound" hostage with his unending love for his little brother. Virgil took off and stopped following the duo as soon as he heard the word "Devlin" leave Hell's mouth. He would ramble about his little brother whenever he found the chance.

…

"What does it mean they can't do it?" Ralio roared. He directly addressed any issue in their expansive empire as the right-hand of the Queen and as the absolute authority amongst Vampires, since Medusa herself never bothered with the various affairs unless a war with the Demon of Pride broke out.

"You are saying that a few hundred vampires attacked and destroyed a force greater than them including the Vampire Lord Pandora? They shouldn't have the strength to fight against that much of a force!" Ralio took a moment to take a deep breath and composed himself. "Send word to the surrounding kingdoms, they either send their armies, or we will personally devastate them, too," It was just a puny human child that did so much damage, too! How embarrassing!

After a brief silence, it was Uriel who stepped forward, finally. "Sir Ralio, I fought him and I must say that he is still strong enough that I had to… strategically retreat. I am not quite shocked that Pandora lost to such a monster. I doubt any of the weaker Vampire Lords would be a match for him. Furthermore, I sent word to two of the nearby kingdoms as soon as I left that place, they must have already struck a blow to them."

Another vampire stepped into the large hall they were in, marble columns shined with l.u.s.tre. "I have a report, if you'll allow me!"

"Speak." Ralio didn't even turn to look at the vampire, locking his eyes with Uriel's with a questioning gaze.

"One of our seers managed to get an image of the circ.u.mstances there."

"And?" Ralio finally turned his head to the nervous man delivering the report.

The vampire took a long breath, and continued: "They saw twenty identical men in the middle of a mortal army, and that army was almost wiped out. Unfortunately, due to the distance, it was hard to see what happened after that."

Ralio was a tall man reaching 2-metres in height with a pink skin and wild aura around him. There was a chain wrapped around his body and a handle for the said chain on his belt. His long face and sharp green eyes threatened to tear one apart. He had a green faux hawk haircut, piercings in the right corner of his upper lip and left nostril. His upper body was completely exposed aside from the chains covering his body.

"Interesting," Ralio said, a frown etched into his face. "I will go meet him myself."

"Sir Ralio, that's too-" Uriel tried to change his mind as he was interjected.

"-too dangerous?" Ralio asked and faced him. "I have been by the Queen's side since before you second-rate replicates existed, you think a brat with that bit of strength will be able to challenge me?"

Ralio's looks and his demeanour quite differed from one another. He was, after all, a very old creature. "Furthermore," Ralio added. "Those bases are only there to halt invasive forces, he may be a useful addition to our forces if he plays his cards right."

Uriel gulped loudly and took a step back. "Of course not!" he yelled suddenly, correcting his unruly behaviour. "But please allow me to accompany you!" Uriel knew he was absolutely no match for Ralio. As vampires intrinsically looked to challenge others, Ralio would allow any new vampire recruited into the base a chance to challenge himself. Some would be brutally killed as a result, some would have fear etched into their bones like Uriel.

"Fine, you may. We'll leave tomorrow. Gather the required portal stones so we don't leave the Queen's side for long."

"Understood."

…

The envoy of the Demon of Pride left in speed after their exchange, as Hell and Praneo proceeded to drink and celebrate with his army. He was greeted with cheers from a thousand vampires at the gates. Their fear had turned into excitement in the blink of an eye. As scary as their ruler was, they were now fighting for him.

Hell's Knights and Sons of Shadows all congratulated Hell in his victory. He nodded and then called Aurus to his side, whispering something in his ear.

"Understood," Aurus nodded and left, as well.

The two continued to drink, however, it was still early. Annette was the only one who stuck around as Hell kept telling stories about his little brother. Everything about his life with his little brother was utterly unimpressive to everyone else, considering their daily lives of carnage and war. But Annette loved these stories, she loved how much love King Hell was bursting out with. It gave her butterflies in the stomach just listening to him talk with a genuine smile on his face.

After a while, Praneo asked: "Hey, Hell, listen, when you entered his treasury, did you-"

"Treasury?" Hell asked, obviously puzzled.

"Yes, it is in Pandora's palace. There's this item, you see, that was actually stolen from us Menaroans," Praneo explained further with a somewhat apologetic face. "It would surely bring the morale up if we could somehow retrieve it."

"Ah, sure, take whatever. After all, we're friends, aren't we?"

"Are you serious?!" Praneo jumped up in utter shock. "Yes, of course! But will you really just give that item to me?!" His quick, shallow breathing showed his excitement and impatience.

"Right, I'll just have another of this delicious c.o.c.ktail thingy and we'll go right away," Hell ordered one of the vampires around himself to get himself another c.o.c.ktail.

"No!" Praneo yelled, causing a bout of silence. "We'll get that brought to the palace! Let's go!"

"All right, then." Hell wondered what was this item Praneo was so anxious to see. "Jack!" Hell yelled for his Knight.

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

Two vampires answered the call, one of them a younger vampire with his usual messy hair and some blood on his clothes already. It was Hell's Knight. The other, wearing a red shirt and looked to be in his 20s with jet-black straight hair. Jack Tenem, Sons of Shadow.

Hell, slightly tipsy, laughed his heart out which caused everyone to stop talking and look at their King. "I totally forgot there were two of you! I have an idea!" Hell then found a sheet of paper and tore it to four pieces, writing something on each of them. He then showed the pieces blank sides to the two Jacks, telling them to choose. The two vampires were taken aback, but they did.

"Okay, your name is now…" said Hell, pointing at his Knight. "Spade!" He then turned to Jack of Sons of Shadow. "And we will call you Diamond."

Annette was giggling in the corner, already thinking of ways to mock Mr Spade.

Both Jacks suddenly had a sour taste in their mouths with a sullen look. Diamond stepped forward with an embarrassed look, begging. "King Hell, what if we used my last name and Jack can still, well, be called Jack? You can call me Tenem, if you wish?"

"Why the sour face, Diamond, isn't that a cool name?" Hell also giggled and continued: "Fine, we'll call you Tenem, then."

"Jack, show us to the treasury, we'll have a look."

"Sure, Hell," Jack nodded with a smile. Some were taken aback with his casual address to King Hell, but no one brought it up. Jack knew the ins and outs of the palace after going in to purge anyone still alive there, after they slaughtered most of the city.

They left the inn and promptly moved toward the Palace. All Praneo could see was destruction here on. Any citizens left on the streets were either dead or crying inside their now broken homes. He decided against asking about it, as Hell didn't seem disturbed at all.

The palace was a structure of stunning design and had fine craftsmanship, even Praneo was taken aback by the luxury. "They must have used mortal settlements to finish this," Praneo mumbled as he went inside following Jack.

"Now that I think about it, I can just hoard lots of gold here and go back to my world a tycoon!"

"Your world?" Praneo asked. Annette was similarly wondering the same thing.

A shrill voice was heard in the air. "None of you even know, there are more worlds out there! My buddy Hell here is actually from-"

Hell flicked Nitio's head and berated him. "Go back to sleep, you weird imp. I didn't call for you." He then kept walking and added: "Never mind that, is that the treasury?"

Nitio seemed to be cursing Hell under his breath as he rubbed his forehead with his small hands.

"I believe so, yes," Jack affirmed. It was a door glazed with numerous jewels and was made from solid gold. Even this door by itself would be worth a fortune. As nice a dude as Pandora seemed, it seemed he didn't hold back while hoarding gold like a dragon.

Praneo held his breath as Hell turned the knob and opened the door. What they saw inside, however, was a mountain of gold and various precious items. It ranged from swords and shields to silver crossbows and full suits of armour. Hell told them to take whatever they want as he also went to identify each item. He was just as happy to have seen such loot. It was crazy he forgot to even check this place!

The Bloodhound's nose finally caught the scent of a certain artefact at the centre of the room, behind some piles of treasure. He walked toward the item with sure steps. It was a heart made of glass, however, it was still beating. Praneo very carefully wrapped his hands around it. "Heart of the Wise King," he whispered.

"Was that what you were looking for?" Hell asked with a curious voice. "What does it do?"

Praneo's eyes stood stuck on the heart in his hands, he embraced it and started speaking:

"This is an artefact that I need for the Sacred Oak to acknowledge me as the next Menaroan King."

"Aren't you already a king, why do you need an item?"

"You don't understand," Praneo said, gulping. "Thousands of Menaroan tribes still trying to survive by themselves would have no other choice but to join me once I am acknowledged by the tree. I may have gathered some fighting force, but it won't compare to what I can do with this."

"Why didn't Pandora use it, then?" Hell asked, wanting to learn more about the item. The rest of the weapons and armours in this place were just shiny metal to him, he didn't seem to find anything specifically useful, so he gave up on even checking up on the rest.

"I don't know, maybe he feared the Sacred Oak wouldn't accept him. I must set out at once."

"To the tree? How far is it?"

"It will likely take more than a month��s journey. I should be able to manage by myself. Menaroa will be joyous to have heard this and we'll finally grow into a force by ourselves."

"Does the ruler have to be a Menaroan?" Hell asked with an innocent tone. However, someone who had the power to snatch his precious artefact asking a question as such, Praneo's eyes almost popped out of their sockets.

"I will never be a threat to you," Praneo said after a second of thought, dismissing the idea of drawing his weapon. "Unless you become a threat to my people."

"Right, you seem to be quite excited, so I'll let that pass. I can even give you Roro and Brynhild to help you in this quest of yours." Hell said, trying to dismiss Praneo's thoughts. "We are friends, aren't we?"

"Yes, yes, of course." Praneo could barely compose himself, his life goal finally in his hands. He has always known he was the person to rule Menaroans, but it was almost impossible to gather the tribal Menaroans who believed very strongly against uniting under a king. The only exception could be if someone, using the Heart of the Wise King united them under a perilous situation for their entire race. As they were nigh-invincible in the forests, neither of the two behemoths pursued them to extinction, it was a waste of manpower to do so.

"That damn Pandora was granted his pseudo status here after stealing this artefact from us. Just what you should expect from a damn Half."

"Half?"

"Half Menaroan-Half Human," Praneo replied. "That's what we call them."

"That's awfully racist of you," Hell replied.

Praneo ignored Hell and turned his back to him, heading toward the exit. "I'll leave in an hour, I hope our paths cross again."

"No, wait a second."

"What is it?" Praneo stopped and turned his head to look at Hell with the corner of his eye.

"Are you taking that army with you? We are at war here, you know."

Praneo contemplated for a time before answering. "I will leave the majority here with Nile in charge, I am hoping you will treat them kindly in my absence."

"I won't use them as cannon fodder, then. Take Brynhild and Roro as I said before. They should be helpful."

"I will," Praneo replied with a serious countenance. "I won't forget this kindness."

"Good guy. Too serious, though," Hell talked to himself as he saw Jack puncturing some golden gauntlets he took a liking to when he grew his claws while wearing them. He tried to subtly get rid of them when he accidentally locked eyes with Hell.

"They were like that when I found them," Jack tried to quickly explain, breaking his usual composure.

Hell had a hearty laugh. "Do whatever you want with anything here. Tell Leila and others to take whatever they want, too."

"Right, thanks, Hell."

A sweet voice suddenly piped up. It was none other than Annette who had been standing at a distance at the door, unlike Jack. "It's King Hell. Or Your Majesty. Address King Hell properly!" Her blue eyes looked inviting and kind, unlike Hell's ice-called eyes.

"That's quite all right. Why don't you pick something, too? Take whatever!"

"King Hell, I want nothing but to follow you. Please rule over us forever!"

"Well, even I will die one day, after all. But I guess I can do some more time."

"If you require a heart for a smoother transition I will rip my heart out right n-"

"No!" Hell suddenly yelled. "I already have your innate healing abilities to an extent. However, what if Devin thinks I'm creepy for drinking blood?"

Annette could barely make sense of why someone who could bathe in the blood of his enemies would think drinking it would be creepy, but she had another problem with that. Her voice slightly quivered as she asked: "Do you think I'm creepy?"

"Huh?"

"Ah, nothing," she quietly said.

"Right, we should probably head toward these Ancient Hills or whatever soon. I'll just have to handle something else first."

"Ancient Mountains," Jack said, now in a full suit of shining armour he donned while they were speaking.

"Hey," said Hell. "Can you even move in that?"

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