User:Nextoy/Book of 100 Warriors/Vampires 1

Even in the modern age, a world of technological prowess, exists magic and monsters. Creatures of the night never died out, they just learned how to hide where even moonlight won’t shine. Conversely, there are those who know where these creatures hide and still hunt them out.

Those who hunt monsters shrink in number each year, yet the monsters grow ever stronger. But not all hope is lost, as those who survive train others to aid them in the fight. Such training is often hidden in plain sight. Easily accessible for whoever knows how to look for them, wielding profitable disguises, and nestled where social gatherings naturally occur. The growth of these organizations and passing down their training is almost as high a priority as the jobs they perform.

Unfortunately, sometimes risks must be taken.

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“Why is it every time there’s going to be some raid on a Vampire stronghold its on a cold, moonlit night?” A three man group, spread out in a wide fan, looked through the trees at what seemed to be a decrepit mansion. Overgrown with vines and moss, not a single light flickering past torn curtains, the walls cracked, and whatever remained of the paint it once had was no more.

“Would you rather it was raining?” The three were physically young, being in their mid twenties. They were dressed in loose clothing who’s earth tones and dark greens blended in with the environment around them. The outfits were not unlike martial arts uniforms, but this was merely part of their disguise. They adorned themselves with boots and gloves, but wore no belts.

“Can you two not swing your dicks at each other for once?” The sole woman among them was accustomed to the back of forth of the men, but this was an important mission. Their hometown had become a playground of vampires under their nose. This was disgraceful and embarrassing to the leader of this trio, who had lived far longer than his appearance would suggest. This is why he attended to this raid personally.

“She is right, we must move quickly.” The leader walked from tree to tree, attempting to keep himself out of view from the windows. Though it may seem run down, all three of them knew that this was the home of their enemy. The balance between caution and momentum was their top priority. Especially as they didn’t know how many eyes were watching them.

Their approach was not unlike the way one might scale a rocky cliff. Rather than heading straight to their goal, they bounced between trees and rocks that would conceal their presence. Remaining separated until they came upon their goal.

Yet, they met no resistance. While some hunters may feel relieved, for these three the tension only grew. It was their leader in particular who was the most uneasy, as ultimately whatever was about to happen would fall would be his responsibility.

Once there were no more trees between them and the mansion the two students looked to their teacher. He took a deep breath, energy welling inside of him, before releasing it around him. His clothing became that of a burnt orange bodysuit, his boots and gloves melding into the new armor, and his head became completely covered by a helmet not unlike those meant to be worn while riding a motorcycle in design.

As the now armored master approached the door, one of his students took this moment to take off his shirt and stash it nearby. Beneath he wore a form fitting shirt, with a bandoleer of darts across his chest. The other student blushed slightly upon noticing, but kept her focus on the mission.

The teacher opened the door as quietly as he could, noticing the rusted hinges would make total silence all but impossible. With nobody immediately inside, he motioned for the other two to come join his side. The three noticed the sleeping ducks scattered about inside the mansion, and nodded to themselves. An organic alarm system, no doubt.

The inside of the mansion was nothing like the ruins disguising its outer walls. The floors were the only thing that was dirtied, no doubt by the ducks, while everything else was kept in pristine condition. Everything was dipped in white, the walls wore a floral pattern, wooden desks held ornate lamps, a chandelier decorated the roof, and support columns framed a strip of carpeting on otherwise tile floors. The carpet lead to a grand staircase, split in two with an entranceway between them and a balcony above that.

And from atop the balcony something had shot needles at the three. Those aimed at the master stuck into his armor, and the female student was able to channel her energy into a shield to catch what came flying her way. A grunt of pain from the second student was sign enough that he wasn’t able to defend himself properly.

“Jokin, are you alright?” The master asked as the three darted back outside the mansion. They hunkered down next to the door, making sure to be clear of the windows.

“Yeah, I’m cool.” The student answered, picking the needles out of him. “Hey… Magpie, you’re a nurse, right?”

“What’s up?” The other student asked. Though she didn’t like the nickname now wasn’t the time to voice frustrations. Jokin tossed the needles to her, being careful not to expose himself to the open doorway.

“Is it just me, or is this hair?” Magpie looked them over before squinting at them. It was indeed hair, as far as she could tell, but she gave no vocal answer. A mere nod and a small, panicked jerk as she heard needles bounce off of their master’s helmet when he looked in.

“Mister Sandman…” A rugged voice sang out from inside the mansion. The students exchanged confused looks as the master stepped in front of the doorway. “Bring me a dream…” The voice sang out again, riddling the master’s armor with more of the needle like hairs. Though it did hurt him he was able to hide it. His armor didn’t stop any of the attacks, but merely softened the blow.

“Make it the slowest that I’ve ever seen…” Another wave of hairs shot out as the master stepped back from the door.

“Margret, can you keep your shield up?” The master looked over to see a hesitant nod in response. His voice was slow and he idly clicked his tongue a couple times before continuing. “Would you be comfortable shielding Jokin while he took out the guard?”

Her hesitation was plainly shown with a wide eyed look and parted lips. It wouldn’t take long before she nodded and the two students prepared for their master’s gambit. It was risky, but it was better than waiting it out until morning. The night being the domain of monsters didn’t detract from it being the best time to strike. Monsters were better at hiding during the day, and people would notice their disappearance.

Both students took deep breaths, channelling their energy, and Jokin drew his darts. Magpie moved in front of the door and channeled the energy into a shield. Jokin was quick to stand behind her and prepare his shot.

“Won’t take two shots, unlike roses and bullets…” Another wave of hairs fire into the energy shield. Unlike the previous slavo she blocked, this time it was focused upon Magpie. The energy wavered under the pressure, and Jokin needed the moment to aim.

“So tell them they’re living nights are over.” The rugged voice didn’t sing that last line while firing off the slavo of needle like hairs. Some of them pierced through the energy shield and dug into Magpie’s flesh. The cloth did little to stop it, but gave Jokin ample chance to imbue his dart with energy and toss it at where the voice had been singing.

“Shit!” They heard the rugged voice call out. Footsteps confirmed it had fallen back, though oddly none of this had woken up the ducks.

The students went back to their hiding spots outside the mansion. Their master allowed Magpie to take the time to heal both herself and Jokin with her energy. After all, the entire reason she learned to manipulate her body’s flow of energy was to become a better nurse. If she could heal her patients with deep breathing and gently bringing her hands over them then she’d be just that much closer to leading a fulfilling life. At least, that’s how she felt.

Once Magpie finished her healing the three once again entered the mansion. Even though their cover had been blown, the master insisted that they kept to the shadows. Stealth would at least be needed to keep the ducks from waking up, at the very least. Its value would prove irreplaceable should they be able to sneak up on an enemy without being noticed.

Despite its pristine appearance, the air was thick and a musky scent hovered around them at all times. Like the aura of age betrayed it’s carefully maintained aesthetic. Were it not for the caffeine tablets each had taken on their way to the mansion, such an odd aroma would be the only thing keeping the students awake.

Many directions lay before them from the foyer. The stairs, a hallway between them, and open doors to either side. They knew nothing about the layout of the mansion. Monsters lurked within these unknown walls, hidden behind the faux beauty and sleeping birds. It was up to them to figure out what direction would lead them to their target, and what would keep them safe while getting there.

Silently the three examined their options. The upper floor was immediately ruled out, as they figured that examining the bottom floor would be advantageous before moving on. That left the doors to their flanks and the hallway ahead of them. A quick glance between master and students, each nodding their head, and they followed the wall to their left.

Carefully they walked into an equally pristine room. If the ducks awoke, no doubt they’d be at a disadvantage. The three had dealt with these ducks before. Zombified, merciless, and seemingly endless in number. Any one duck may be weak and frail, but they could easily overwhelm lesser hunters.

Although Jokin was always amused at the ridiculousness of them being concerned about being attacked by ducks. Even now it took everything to suppress a laugh at the situation.

Suddenly the master held up his hand and stopped moving. The two halted and looked around, finding a fourth pair of footsteps had stopped soon after theirs. One that was both heavier and softer than theirs. Another hand motion and the two walked up close to him.

“Otosu, what is it?” Jokin feigned ignorance to the unseen adversary. It was not yet time to show their hand.

“Split up.” The master responded, smiling under the helmet at their understanding of his scheme. The three separated out to head towards different parts of the room; Otosu heading forward, Jokin heading across to the parallel wall, and Magpie headed diagonally away from both to create a triangular formation between the three within this room.

Though the footsteps did not continue, the three weren’t convinced it was in their head. They each looked around the room. It was once a parlor, no doubt. Small tables surrounded by chairs, a desk with its own stool and covered in different places to open it up, a fireplace with more chairs beside it.

Jokin stood next to the fireplace and noticed that it was still covered in ashes. He grinned and slowly opened up the wireframe cage in front of it, catching the attention of his allies as they watched in confusion.

“Hey boss, I think I saw something in here.” Jokin’s false explanation for his actions drew out the footsteps again, attempting to hide itself by stepping in rhythm with Magpie; who didn’t know what it was her friend had planned.

Jokin listened carefully to the footsteps. Ash was being pushed and combed into one spot, making an illusion of him searching for something, while it filled one of his hands. The footsteps grew closer and moved further than Magpie. Soon enough, it would be upon him.

“Pocket sand!” Jokin shouted out. A wide smile and excited eyes danced along his face as the ash covered their invisible foe, sticking to it. She was a dainty, looking almost fragile despite the crimson eyes characteristic of vampires.

“Jokin!” Otosu hissed in reply to the battle cry before taking a deep breath. As his energy channeled around him, the armor’s true nature appeared. Life takes many forms, as they say, and the life energy that flowed through Otosu turned into electricity once it touched the shell that had been formed around him. For now the lightning was controlled, silent and invisible, while it raced throughout his body.

But this vampire took advantage of the situation. It was as fast and clever as they had anticipated, but figured out a weakness they had hidden.

She darted over to Magpie, wrapping one arm tightly around the nurse and produced a knife in the other hand to hold against the neck of her newfound hostage.

“Maggie!” Jokin moved toward her, but a single step was enough for this vampire to push up the knife to gently bleed her victim.

“Not another step.” It ordered, causing both Jokin and Otosu to halt their advance. “Unlike the others, I can be reasoned with. Let’s make a deal.”

“What deal would we have with vampires?” Otosu carefully gauged the situation. He could make his lightning hit the vampire from a distance, but it would also hurt his student. It was doubtful Jokin could pull something clever without the same risk as well. She was on guard, and keeping herself positioned so that Magpie would be bodyblocking her.

“Leave and I’ll let all three of you live. No strings attached.” The vampire looked between the two as she spoke. In truth, she was just as scared as the girl within her grasp. Jokin noticed the trembling, and Magpie could feel it against her back.

“You know we can’t do that.” Otosu crouched down and the vampire turned to face him specifically.

“Would you really sacrifice this girl just to fulfill your stupid agenda!?” Her voice betrayed her just like her body did. Shaken, uneven, and panicked were her cries.

“That was never my intention.” Otosu slammed his palm onto the floor, sending a rolling spark of electricity forward. It hugged the floor while bouncing towards it’s target, just slow enough for Magpie to lift up her legs, and just fast enough where the vampire had to release her hostage to dodge it. She opted to throwing Magpie off to the side before running into another room.

As she never left that transparent state, merely dusting off the ash was enough to conceal her further.

“Jokin, watch over her. I’ll give chase.” Jokin did as he was told, staying at the side of his friend, while Otosu ran off after the ash covered vampire.

“Precious, isn’t she?” A voice asked as someone walked into the parlor room. A tall man, dressed in renaissance nobleman attire. His blond hair was combed back to trail behind him in a glorious mane. He truly looked like a man who stepped out from the pages of a novel or history book.

“That Muse. Her naivete is something to be treasured, wouldn’t you say?” The man held a rose in his hand, gently waving it around. “Not unlike this flower. Were it a white rose I’d make comment on her purity, but sadly that had been robbed from her long ago.”

“Okay, who are you?” Jokin held Magpie gently in his arms while glaring down this new arrival.

“You may call me Predator. It’s the only name I know.” The vampiric nobleman placed the rose in his breast pocket, walking parallel to the hunters as he crossed the room. Every step he took felt purposeful, almost elegant in its inhuman flow, despite the man having no true destination in mind.

“Predator? What kind of name is that?” Jokin asked, getting softly elbowed.

“Better question is why are you being so friendly?” Magpie asked, getting up and standing to face this new arrival.

“Because the best hunters are the ones that do not need to stalk their prey.” Predator answered, turning towards them now that the two were far from arms reach of each other. They weren’t quite on opposite ends of the room, either, but definitely far enough away that Jokin would need to rely on his darts if anything happened.

“Tell me, what do you know about cats?” The vampire suddenly asked, holding his arms out wide while keeping his elbows close to his body. The two squinted at him before slowly sharing the same sideways glances with each other. The man chuckled before speaking further. “Cats are the ideal hunters. Their camouflage is entirely invisible. For, you see, instead of hiding themselves they trick others into believing them to be harmless.

“The cat will approach its prey, infect them with a mood altering parasite, and then play with their food until they’re ready to eat.” Predator began slowly walking directly towards the two, each squaring up to him. “Even when facing other hunters who are on guard, the cat’s influence is difficult to resist.”

His strides were long, his footsteps slow, and his arms rose up into the air. However, just before he was within arms reach of the two, he stopped walking. They kept their guard up as his arms rose further into the air. They lowered back down, each wrist near his head and starting to go limp. His fingers lazily curled as he grinned at them with wide eyes. The hunters’ confusion hit its climax when the vampire meowed at them.

“See? I’m a harmless kitty cat.” Predator began to bounce in place, his whole body moving side to side, and wave his hands up and down while keeping them positioned like ears. “Look as I dance, dance, dance.” His voice grew soft, even melodic as he spoke. The tone still had a rasp to them, his eyes hungry, and his grin beginning to reveal the iconic fangs of his kind.

“But here’s the thing about a kitty cat…” Suddenly the mouth opened in an excited snarl to show a full view of his teeth, the eyes widened and glistened, and his nails rapidly extended to be straight and a foot long each. “We have claws!” His voice distorted into a deep growl as he spoke.

The two scattered to either side to avoid the sudden lunge. They had the vampire in a pincer, but Predator didn’t seem concerned. He merely held both hands to either side. They neither faced towards their victim, nor kept straightened out. With one foot in front of the other, Predator stood there like a scarecrow.

The two, unsure how to approach such odd behavior, decided to capitalize. Deep breaths, readied stances, and then both lunged out. Jokin threw an energy charged fist high, while Magpie attempted for a standing sweep at the vampire’s legs. He spun around, ducked underneath Jokin’s, and lifted up one leg. One hand clawed at Magpie’s midsection while the raised foot collided with Jokin’s jaw.

Jokin stumbled back and fell over, while Magpie was barely able to backup in time. Predator continued his momentum until he was once again standing upon two straightened legs. One hand was limp wristed and held outward, while the other cocked back near his head and raised with the palm completely opened and aimed towards Magpie. He stared right at her, hips twisted so his shoulders faced her despite his legs still pointed the same direction they had before his spinning flourish.

“What, scared of a little kitty cat?” Predator asked, having returned from his wild snarling to a small grin. Magpie braced herself and stood legs apart, arms up in a defensive posture, and hands left open. The two stared at each other, Predator knowing this was a stall for time, before the vampire lunged forward. His forward arm went limp and his open hand moved forward. Magpie brought up her energy in a guard, only to find the claws rake against her midsection.

His lunge was a feint, with the true assault coming from his body twisting inhumanly to fling the limp arm upwards with the momentum alone.. He continued to spin around and leaped off the ground. His face distorted into that snarl again as Magpie could fall backward.

She clutched her bleeding stomach as his claws went sailing overhead. If she hadn’t given into the pain, she would be dead. But now she was at the mercy of this deranged vampire. Predator landed on his hand, lifting himself into a handstand. First one leg came down and gently touched the ground in front of her.

“When a cat is finished playing with it’s prey,” He looked hungrily down at her, one leg raised high into the air, “It gives a surprisingly remain kill and enjoys the meal!”

Predator catches a dart in his leg as he brings it down into an axe kick. The leg starts to fill with life energy, dissolving the inhuman tissue to the point where the heel harmlessly bounces off Magpie’s head and sends the now dismembered foot flying. The vampire lets out a screech of pain, ripping off the rest of the leg before the energy can spread too far into him.

“Forget someone?” Jokin asked, tossing another dart. It flew straight, infused with his life energy, as Predator turned around. The last thing that vampire saw was the dart headed straight for his head.

But he died smiling. The last thing he heard was a cry of pain from his victim and the look of panic from her protector.

“Meg!” Jokin dropped the pet name as he rushed to her side. She had already begun healing, but her breath was ragged. Jokin held her, one arm around her shoulders and the other atop folded hands that lay above the injury. With unstable breathing, Magpie wouldn’t be able to heal herself properly. It’d be slow and painful, which is the last kind of healing she wanted. Both as a doctor and as a patient.

But she was happy to have Jokin at her side.

In another part of the mansion their master continued his chase. It had led him to a den, housing collections of animal hide and head from all over the world. Some things he didn’t even recognize. Perhaps extinct animals lay here, or things distorted by the vampires into being a unique trophy.

“This room has only one exit.” The female voice rang out, coming from no visible body.

“Then why lead me here?” Otosu asked, focusing his breathing and channelling his energy. This vampire had a plan, but what it was he didn’t know. To prepare for nothing was something he learned how to do long ago, and something he’s had difficulty training his students to do.

“Tell me, how does one respond when a spider invites them to her parlor?” The voice asked, as the girl begun to emerge behind the teacher. Her body seemed to almost fade into the world. Otosu wouldn’t have noticed were it not for the mirror in front of him. The man dived forward, a knife swung down, and the two faced off.

But she would fade away just as she faded in. This time with a smile on her face that only a hunter could give. Worst part is, Otosu knew better than to book for the exit. Whether or not it was locked, it would be where her biggest trap was laid.

“You’ve already accepted the invitation. Go on, amuse yourself.” The voice rang out again, echoing through the cramped room. Otosu centered himself. Calmed, relaxed, and waiting for his opponent to show themselves.

Vampires do not breath, their hearts are stopped, and they often needed no weapons. However, this one still had footsteps he could track. It walked cautiously around him. Otosu couldn’t tell if she knew what he was doing or not, but it hesitated to attack. He could simply wait, however, and channel his energy.

But she could not allow him to simply build power.

The vampire attacked from behind him in haste, having sensed this man’s energy, and he retaliated with an elbow strike. She caught it in her chest. Otosu turned to capitalize, threw his arm around in a backfist to her jaw, and watched the vampire stumble back. She turned invisible again, but that trick didn’t work on Otosu.

Part of her knew that it wouldn’t. But this had to be done. If he couldn’t be killed, he could be weakened. She owed her Lord at least that much.

Otosu closed his eyes, energy beginning to crackle around him like electricity. When he struck the vampire, he noticed something odd. Not only did it feel like striking a frog, but where he hit her had its fading delayed. If it was what he thought, a mucus turning her invisible, then he could finish this in a single shot.

She knew this was happening, as well. The next move had to matter. Both had a silent agreement that this would be their final exchange, as her abilities wouldn’t work on him. Without the element of surprise the vampire had nothing to bring to the table.

“What a terrible knight I am.” She mused, catching Otosu’s attention. It wasn’t enough to throw him off guard. If anything, it helped him hone in on her. He thrusted his fist forward with a kiai. Electricity crackled between the two of them, the mucus conducting it around the vampire, when Otosu’s fist landed into her chest. No cry of pain was heard from the vampire as she seized violently from the shock. Her body was in no position to make any actions beyond

Otosu walked over and crouched down, slammed down a single punch to the vampire’s chestand heard it crumple beneath his fist. This satisfied him enough to leave. The door wasn’t trapped, but his mind was.

“What was she talking about?” The thought rattled in his head as he moved through the halls to catch up with his students.