Chapter 409 Arien's Moment
Sanguina took a deep breath, the cool night air filling her lungs, carrying the faint metallic scent of blood and the earthy aroma of the field around her. The setting sun, illuminating the countless creatures writhing in the distance. Her eyes, sharp as a hawk's, scanned the horizon, watching the grotesque figures claw their way out of the ground.
"Well, let's get going now, why don't we? Don't want to keep my Father waiting too long… Besides, I need to find Erebos before he does any more damage," she said, her voice steady and authoritative.
Vick nodded, his expression one of determination mixed with exhaustion. "Sure, I will do what I can."
As they approached the cave entrance, the ground beneath them seemed to pulse with a dark, unsettling energy.
Sanguina felt a sudden shift in the air, the temperature dropping sharply.
Her stomach twisted and turned, as if she were on a boat in a stormy sea. Space distorted around her, and in the blink of an eye, the open field vanished.
She found herself in a pitch-black room, the darkness pressing in on her from all sides. The air was thick with the scent of damp stone and mold, mingled with an acrid, almost sulfurous odor.
"Where the hell am I?" she muttered, her voice echoing softly in the confined space. Louder, she called out, "Did I enter the cave?"
A sharp voice cut through the darkness, reverberating off the walls with an almost physical force. "No. Who are you, and how the hell did you get here? Answer my questions, and I might let you live and go back there."
Sanguina's brow furrowed in anger. She could feel the presence of the unseen speaker, their aura a menacing shadow in the void. "You have some nerve threatening me," she responded, her voice dripping with venom. "I could have your tongue ripped from your body and your blood drained dry if I wanted to. Don't think this turning-the-lights-out trick works on me either."
"We will see about that. Master Dagon has left me in charge, and your energy suddenly surged from nowhere. Now tell me your purpose and what you want," the voice boomed, the sound waves bouncing off the stone walls, creating a disorienting cacophony.
Sanguina stood tall, her senses on high alert. She could feel the rough texture of the stone floor beneath her boots, hear the faint dripping of water somewhere in the distance, and taste the bitterness of the damp air. Her fingers twitched, ready to summon her powers at a moment's notice.
"I am Lady Sanguina, daughter of the Vampire King Dracula," she declared, her voice unwavering. "I seek Erebos, and I will not be delayed by the likes of you or your master."
As Sanguina closed her eyes, she focused on her surroundings. When she opened them again, a tint of green flowed across her vision, allowing her to see into the dark room.
The rough stone walls and the faint outlines of mysterious machinery came into view.
Moments later, the oppressive darkness was replaced by blinding lights that shined all around her. She instinctively covered her eyes, momentarily disoriented. "What the actual hell?" she muttered.
A smooth, almost mocking voice greeted her. "Good late evening, Lady Sanguina. I do apologize for the sudden kidnapping. You can call me Arien but If what you say is true, I have an extra favor I must ask before you go into the cave, which I presume is to find Lady Nanako or the beast friend, Todd?"
Sanguina lowered her hand, her eyes adjusting to the sudden brightness. She could now see a figure standing before her, a man with sharp features and a calculating gaze. "I am not sure who Todd is, but I am indeed going in for Nanako. One, because I promised her I would be of assistance, and two, it would lead me to Erebos.
I am short on time, so keep it quick with what you want," she replied, her tone firm.
"King Griswald is the issue... something has been off with him for years, and it all started before Legato went missing," Arien explained, his voice carrying a note of deep concern.
Sanguina listened intently, her sharp eyes catching the subtle tremor in Arien's hands as he spoke. The air around them was cool and crisp, a stark contrast to the heavy tension in the conversation.
"After Erebos surfaced and attempted an assassination on the noble family lines, he was never the same," Arien continued, his gaze distant as if recalling painful memories. "Even before he took over as King, there were many issues. But his obsession with freeing and killing the previous threat has brought forth a lot of speculation.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om
His goals may seem noble, but there are flaws, and many lives are at risk."
Sanguina nodded, the flickering torchlight casting shadows across her determined face.
"Master Dagon is with him, watching over him," Arien added, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "But if anything should happen to Master Dagon, please ensure the truth is brought out."
"I see, I have my suspicions about him also," Sanguina said, her eyes narrowing. "Tell me, what happens to all the crystals that these monsters spawn and drop when they die?"
"Oh, those crystal objects?" Arien responded, looking around the dimly lit room filled with arcane instruments and shelves lined with ancient tomes. "They are usually brought to the research facility and poured into technological advancements. Why do you ask?"
"Hmmm," Sanguina put a finger under her chin, her gaze drifting over the various mystical devices that hummed softly, casting eerie shadows on the stone walls. "Just some floating thoughts at the moment. But for now, I will do what I can. Do you know anything about the cave itself?"
Arien nodded, his expression growing serious. "Yes, the whole reason they went into the cave is to free and kill one of the three curses that plague this planet and make these creatures surface. The King believes killing this one will be the right step forward in stopping them from summoning."
Sanguina's gaze hardened as she processed this information. The air was thick with the scent of burning incense and ancient parchment. "Is that so? Well, I look forward to talking with him and figuring out his thoughts. Something about that seems awfully flawed."