Back with Jack's group…
The three of them had stopped in a sparse forest, scattered tree shadows falling upon a ground thick with decaying leaves and ash. A small fire crackled in the clearing, its flickering light reflecting on faces that were all tired and pensive.
It looked like they had traveled quite a distance from the fortress.
Jack and John sat side by side, poring over an old map spread out on a flat rock. They spoke in low voices, their expressions serious, fingers tracing locations on the map as if marking their path step by step.
In another corner, Mira slept. Her posture was far from comfortable—limbs curled, back propped against a dry tree trunk, breathing steady but face pale. Clearly, her body was still fighting against the cursed virus. To continue their journey, they needed one thing—liquid Silverium. Without it, Mira wouldn't survive for long. They had to suppress the Vampire virus in her body before it took deeper root.
Jack pointed to a spot on the map, his voice quiet but weighted:
"Here, Hollowrest town. It's where I heard there might be Silverium. This area is currently under Imperial control."
John nodded, stroking his chin as if contemplating something.
"Then we're probably not far from there. But to get there without encountering the Lesser Vampires… that'll be difficult. They're everywhere."
His eyes narrowed, serious. "We should attract as little attention as possible right now."
The "Lesser Vampires" he mentioned—they were the mindless undead. No longer human, not entirely Vampire. Just wild, bloodthirsty beasts, roaming the shattered world, ready to pounce on anything living and tear it apart. Jack frowned, taking a deep breath as if suppressing something within.
"I think… about my disappearance… the high-ranking ones probably know. And they're definitely investigating."
His voice dropped, his hand clenching slightly.
"The bodies we left behind… are too clear a clue for them."
John didn't reply. He just stared into the burning fire. His eyes seemed to reflect nothing but exhaustion and regret.
"That's what I feared…" he said, his voice husky, brows heavily furrowed. "If they learn more about the sword… we'll be at a huge disadvantage."
He bit his lip, silent for a moment. The firelight reflecting in his eyes seemed to bring back something very old, very painful.
"That's why… I couldn't save so many people."
His voice choked.
"Just to protect the sword's secret…"
Jack glanced at the Last Light resting beside his feet. The firelight reflected off the blade, giving it a faint, cold golden sheen. He exhaled softly, then spoke, his voice calm yet resolute:
"John. You've done very well. Don't blame yourself anymore, it's not your fault."
He looked up at the old man, his gaze more serious than usual.
"Listen… everything's different now. You don't have to bear it all alone anymore. Let them know… and let them fear."
John flinched slightly, but his eyes remained pensive. He looked into the fire for a long time, then sighed, his voice husky:
"You don't understand, kid. If this secret gets out… they'll hunt you down. Your head will have a bounty… at least a hundred thousand Blood Cores."
No sooner had he finished speaking than Mira—who had seemingly been asleep—suddenly opened her eyes wide, sitting bolt upright as if struck by lightning.
"Nani…? What!?"
She opened her eyes wide, almost screaming.
"A hundred thousand?! That much… that could buy an entire city, you know!?"
Mira lunged forward, her face a mix of shock and curiosity. She braced her hands on her knees, leaning close to John, her eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"Old man… what exactly is this sword??"
John began to sweat. He raised a hand to wipe his forehead, his gaze awkwardly avoiding hers. He looked down, saying nothing more. But his silence… was the clearest answer. Jack noticed his discomfort. He glanced at Mira, then back at John, a faint smile playing on his lips:
"Humanity's last hope."
Jack spoke each word evenly.
"Didn't you once call me and the sword that? If it's true… then of course it has to be incredibly terrifying, right, John?" He patted the old man's shoulder.
John gave a faint laugh, the kind that was a mix of relief and helplessness:
"Uh… Uh… yes… yes, that's right…"
Mira crossed her arms, puffing out her cheeks, looking at the two men taking everything so seriously. She let out a long "Hmph," then stood up abruptly.
"Hmmmm… You two are so boring."
She turned her back, pulling her thin cloak over her head.
"Anyway, I'm going back to sleep. You guys… just make sure you find that Vampire virus inhibitor for me. Otherwise, I might turn into a real Vampire tomorrow, and then I'll eat you both clean before you know it."
Her voice was lazy but held a hint of mocking humor. With that, she sat down, curled up in her fabric, eyes tightly shut within three seconds.
John sighed, leaning back against the large tree trunk behind him. His voice was hoarse, but still gentle:
"Alright, Jack. Let's rest. I'm tired too. We set off tomorrow morning."
Jack nodded. Without another word, he pulled his jacket over himself, his eyes slowly closing, his breath slowly blending into the sounds of the night forest—a quiet sound that always held a hint of malice.
…
Wait.
Did you hear that? John just said: "We set off tomorrow morning." But… there's no "morning" left in this world, is there?
If you remember—it was mentioned in earlier chapters.
This world hasn't lost its sun.
It's still there, hanging high above, like a forgotten symbol of hope. But humans no longer see it… because it's been obscured.
Red Sky—the hellish phenomenon that has enveloped Aetherion's entire atmosphere. A colossal blood-red curtain, staining the sky, hiding the sun from this world for over seventy years.
The light is still there. But it no longer holds its purifying power.
No longer capable of incinerating Vampires. No longer a symbol of life. Only a deathly red hue, the dim glow of a sun chained by sinful hands. And night—is no longer true night. Only a period when the sky is darker, colder… but never completely black. And day—is when the red hue becomes dazzling to the point of hurting the eyes. Time… still passes. But the concepts of "day and night" are merely habits in the words of those who once knew the sun.
One day… the true secret will be revealed. But not yet.
The sky is still red. And the light is still not enough to stop the surviving nightmares.
At the same time…
Biz had arrived.
Before him, spread out like a canvas both magnificent and horrifying, was Crimvale Citadel—the largest city and the beating heart of the Ashengrave Kingdom.
The seat of the Blood King.
Where Vampire power reached its zenith.
And where the name Max Draventhal—The Ice God of Aetherion—echoed!