Chapter 1175: Trapped
Erin gazed at the Darkness Capital and felt increasingly anxious. Before she arrived, she was more or less doubtful about Garcia’s words. She suspected that Garcia was over-exaggerating. But after she entered the Darkness Capital, she realized what he said was right. At a glance, the entire Darkness Capital was in pitch-blackness and clouded in a dangerous aura, where even the spiritual flames on the watchtowers were non-existent. In the past, the Darkness Capital felt just like a graveyard where it looked incredibly peaceful on the surface, but overflowing with undead aura on the inside. And now, the Darkness Capital was completely different, like a battlefield filled with a lifeless atmosphere. Such a feeling could only be felt in ma.s.sacres. But now, Erin actually sensed murderous intent surrounding the Darkness Capital, which went to show just how many people died. She became increasingly concerned.
Not only that, but Erin also discovered that the guards patrolling and defending the Darkness Capital were nowhere to be seen, be it on the city walls, streets, or plaza. The guards standing around the heavily-defended palace entrance also vanished. The gates were opened as though everyone had already fled, leaving behind an uninhabited city. But due to that reason, it made Erin feel even stranger. The contrast of the feeling of emptiness to the soaring undead aura made her heart palpitate with terror.
“…”
Erin landed silently at the entrance of the palace, staring inside alertly. Under the illumination of blue spiritual flames, the corridor was so quiet as though there were no traces of people around. Despite that, the undead aura was incomparably dense and thick, pouncing on Erin’s face as though it were substantial. Erin couldn’t help but feel a s.h.i.+ver run down her spine. Her expression changed slightly and her eyes glinted in vigilance. She let out a sigh before entering the palace.
Thud… Thud… Thud…
The sound of footsteps echoed in the corridor crisply, but Erin’s heart sank deeper. She didn’t see any guards along the way. Usually there should have been someone greeting and welcoming her by now. But this time, no one showed up. Not only that, but after Erin let loose of her consciousness, she also discovered that no one was inside this huge palace, be it the living or the undead. In an instant, it gave Erin a misconception that she was abandoned by the world. She felt increasingly nervous but despite that, she sauntered in a calm pace, taking heavy steps as she headed to her big brother’s study room.
As soon as Erin reached the study room, she twitched her brow and leaped back in retreat suddenly. At the same time, four spooky, shadowy figures appeared in front of her, stopping her path ahead.
“Who are you people?!”
Gazing at the four shadowy figures, Erin couldn’t help but pucker her brow and shriek. She stared at the figures who didn’t seem any different from humans in terms of appearance. They wore luxurious costumes, but their white hair, blood-red eyes, and elf-like, pointy ears revealed their true ident.i.ty.
Vampires.
Where did these vampires come from?
At this thought, Erin’s expression remained unchanged albeit her focusing all her attention on them instantly. She knew her big brother had always detested vampires. Ion thought they were incapable and often stirred trouble behind his back. That was why vampires had a lower status in the Country of Darkness. Ion also wasn’t willing to let them get too close to him. But now, the vampires actually stood outside his study room and stopped Erin from entering?
“Apologies, Your Highness Erin.”
One of the vampires said, revealing a gentlemanly smile.
“His Majesty Dark Dragon is handling important affairs now and is unable to meet anyone. Please wait for a moment.”
“Important affairs? Unable to meet anyone? Then why isn’t anyone around? Also, where are all the guards?”
Upon hearing his words, Erin narrowed her eyes immediately. She sized up the vampires, and confirmed almost instantly that they weren’t descendants of large, ancient families. If not, she would have recognized them straight away. The four vampires looked young and unfamiliar to her… If Erin weren’t certain that her big brother was powerful enough, she would have suspected that he was kidnapped or threatened by someone. But in the Dragon Soul Continent, there were only a handful of people who were stronger than her big brother, so it was impossible for that to happen. In the Country of Darkness, Erin refused to believe that anyone would dare to defy her big brother’s orders. It wasn’t due to the vast difference in strength for that to not happen, but due to the deep-rooted hierarchical power in the country instead. Even if Ion was powerless, he was still the Dark Dragon and no one dared to lay a hand on him. Of course, unless his powers were sealed off like Lilian’s had been, that basically was impossible.
Facing Erin’s question, the four vampires smiled and didn’t answer.
“Please wait for the time being, Your Highness.”
“I came to report to Big Brother. Can’t you guys convey the message to him?”
Looking at the four vampires’ expressions, Erin’s face darkened. She took a few steps forward, put her right hand on the statue of the dark dragon on the side, and glared at them. Even though she appeared stern, deep down she was startled because up until this moment, she couldn’t sense their presence. Although they clearly stood before her, she just couldn’t sense their presence apart from the information perceived from her vision, which was really unusual. Vampires were undead creatures with the densest undead aura. But the four vampires standing before her didn’t exude any undead aura at all, which baffled Erin greatly. She swept glances to the surroundings before s.h.i.+fting her gaze forward and to the ground.
Upon hearing her command, the four vampires remained silent with smiles across their faces. But at the next moment, their expressions changed dramatically.
The instant Erin looked at the ground, she swung up her drooping left arm all of a sudden. In the blink of an eye, an exquisite sword appeared in her hand, slas.h.i.+ng down from above. Along with this movement, dozens of biting-cold blade airwaves exploded like a bud blooming in all directions with Erin in the middle.
“Argh!”
In a series of blood-curdling screams, a shadowy figure leaped back from behind her. At the same time, Erin turned around, flipped her left wrist around, and pointed at the fleeing target with the s.h.i.+mmering blade. Shortly after, a dozen blade lights shot forward as though they were attracted by an unknown force. In the blink of an eye, the shadowy figure was devoured by the blade airwaves, letting out deafening screeches as pitch-black, filthy blood splashed. Then, the shadowy figure died a horrible death.
“What do you think you’re doing?!”
After Erin flourished the sword, she retreated immediately and glared at the four of them. Erin attacked blindly earlier because she detected a shadow flitting behind her. That was why she struck first to gain the initiative and it seemed like her decision was right. If she didn’t beat that figure to the draw, who knew what would have happened!
“We just want you to wait for a moment, Your Highness. His Majesty Dark Dragon is busy right now and isn’t available to meet you. Please keep calm.”
Although the vampire sounded calm, Erin noticed the restlessness in his tone. She leaned against the wall, wielding the sword in her left hand and scanning the surroundings. As she expected, a dozen figures appeared around her, blocking off her retreat. Erin also discovered several lichs among them.
“You guys are audacious!”
Looking at this scene, Erin yelled and raised her right arm. Along with this movement, a dazzling magical radiance coalesced around her, metamorphosing into a blinding light beam that burst ahead. None of the beings expected this quick attack from her and were fl.u.s.tered for an instant. In a series of loud explosions, the sleek, marble corridor became completely tattered by the bombardment. The violent airflows dispersed, resisting the beings who were trying to stop Erin. Erin s.h.i.+fted her gaze away and dashed toward the door in a trail of afterimages.
Swis.h.!.+
Right before Erin left, the tightly-sealed door shattered abruptly and a pitch-black ray of light shot toward her from the back. Facing this ambush, Erin turned around swiftly, raising the sword in her hand and slas.h.i.+ng it backward.
Her razor-sharp blade clashed with a pitch-black ray of light.
Clang!
The deep, thunderous impact sounded, shaking the ground violently. Erin stood quietly in the middle of the corridor. On her left and right, the sleek marble floor and walls were smashed to pieces by that formidable black energy. But Erin made light of the situation. She widened her eyes and gazed cautiously at the familiar yet unfamiliar figure strolling out of that tattered door.
“Big Brother…”
Ion didn’t seem to hear her calling. He swept a glance at Erin before turning coldly to one of the vampires at the side.
“Didn’t I ask you to stop her?”
“Apologies, I…”
Pfff!
Before the vampire finished his sentence, Ion extended his arm abruptly and smashed the vampire’s skull into bits. The headless corpse swayed left to right, before crumpling to the ground and turning into ashes that disappeared into thin air. Ion didn’t seem to mind at all. He didn’t even bother to look at the vampire and let out a snort.
“Worthless.”
Ion grunted, lifted his head to look at Erin, and displayed a gentle smile.
“Come here, Erin. Let me have a good look at you.”
“Big Brother, what exactly is going on?”
If it were in the past, Erin would be delighted to witness Ion’s smile. But now, she s.h.i.+vered from head to toe because even though Ion was smiling, his eyes were ice-cold. That wasn’t a form of disguise, but was as though he didn’t know what he was doing instead. This strong contrast instinctively made Erin feel an unprecedented threat. She thought Garcia was over exaggerating earlier. But now, she was certain that there was something wrong with her big brother’s consciousness.
“What are you talking about? Come here, Erin. Let me have a good look at you. Where have you been to? Share with me.”
“… I will tell you about it when the time is right. Right now, I’m more curious about what you’ve been doing all this while, Big Brother. I heard the happenings from His Highness Garcia… So why did you do that, Big Brother?”
“Ha, ha.”
Ion laughed at her question and shook his head. Then, he looked at Erin with a gentle expression and repeated.
“Come here, Erin. Let me have a good look at you. Where have you been to? Share with me.”
“B-Big Brother…?”
“Come here, Erin. Tell me… This is an order! Get over here right now and tell me where you’ve been to! Now!”
Boom!
Along with Ion’s insane snarls, he raised his arm suddenly. Erin sensed an unparalleled force brus.h.i.+ng past her and smas.h.i.+ng onto the wall beside her. At that moment, Ion had lost the peculiar smile completely, only to be replaced by a twisted, malevolent, and furious expression. It was as though it wasn’t his younger sister standing before him, but his father’s murderer instead. Upon looking at his gaze, Erin couldn’t help but shudder. Then, upon realizing something, she evaded to the side. A few seconds later, a dark column of light descended from above, blasting the spot where she stood earlier.
“Erin, I told you to come here…!” Ion’s eyes were bloodshot. He gnashed his teeth and raised both arms, snarling crazily at the young lady. “… If you don’t… then go to h.e.l.l… You’re disobedient! You’re not my younger sister! I need to find my younger sister!”
“Big Brother!”
At that moment, Erin knew that anything she said would not go into his head. Facing this strange Dark Dragon, she was at a complete loss. She thought Ion would have a nice discussion with her. But now, he seemed just like an insane person!
In this situation, perhaps nothing I say will get into his head!
At this thought, Erin turned grim, before darting toward the outside.
“Capture her! Kill her! I need to purify her and turn her into my younger sister!”
“Oooooh!”
Along with Ion’s bellows, thousands of undead creatures appeared from the shadows suddenly, letting out high-pitched, terrifying screams and pouncing on the young lady. Looking at this scene, Erin gritted her teeth and swung the blade in her hand abruptly. The blade rays flickered in a s.h.i.+mmering brilliance, slas.h.i.+ng the undead creatures that encircled her into halves.
But this was only the start.
“Siad!”
Along with a hoa.r.s.e chant, spells filled with undead auras penetrated the gaps, aiming straight at Erin. Her expression sank. She waved her right arm and in a vociferous explosion, powerful gusts of wind erupted, turning into a barrier that deflected the spells in all direction. In an instant, the explosions enfolded the entire palace. Smoke and dust dispersed, shrouding everyone’s vision. At the same time, Erin’s expression changed abruptly. A few moments ago, when she clashed with the attackers, she sensed an absolutely familiar presence in the undead creatures’ spiritual powers! Erin hesitated no more. She darted toward the statue on the side. A blade ray flashed and immediately after, blood spurted out from her right wrist, splas.h.i.+ng on a statue that was fortunate to not be destroyed. The instant her blood spattered on it, the statue distorted and a dark cave appeared from it. Without any hesitation, Erin dove right into it and vanished into the darkness.
As soon as the smoke and dust dispersed, Erin was no longer around. Looking at this scene, Ion’s fanatical grin twisted and turned as he glared at the uninhabited place. After a few moments, he swung his arm abruptly.
“Nasui!”
Along with his growl, the entire palace became pitch-black. The spiritual flames that lit up the corridor had extinguished entirely. In an instant, everything was enveloped in darkness, leaving only the scarlet eyes of undead creatures emanating from the shadows. At that moment, Ion laid down both arms slowly.
“Search for her! She is still in the palace! Capture her! Kill her! I want to turn her into my younger sister again!”
Even though Ion’s words weren’t methodical, the undead creatures seemed to understand what he meant. Shortly after, the scarlet eyes in the black background vanished gradually, blending into the darkness and disappearing from sight.