2 Bloodbound Domain (2)
Chapter 2: Bloodbound Domain (2)
While the conversation between host and possessor continued on, reconfirming for Carl that he was in the universe of Highschool DxD novel, based on how crazy the backstory of the Historical incidents from the life of the Warlord, Vlad Tepes, sounded.
Yet, 'Nosferatu' was not like how he expected him to be, a crazy psychopath whose life was commanded by the thirst of blood and the idea of seeing his enemy die in agony, far from it. He sounded like a mature gentleman, friendly but also a bit Stern when he pointed out that once they are out of this place, he would give him tasks to achieve.
But, he had a company he long wished to have in this year of solitude that twisted his mind.
Making his way up from the Crypt, his enhanced senses alerted him about the presence of living beings with high quantities of blood compared to the vermin he used to funnel his dried body.
Approaching those beings akin to a snake that had infra-red vision centered on the heat released by its prey, Carl willed out his Sacred Gear's power and the energy he collected from the vermins he devoured in the Crypt bellowed out.
Unbeknown to anyone in this Castle, a Slumbering Monster had awakened and was set on vengeance, but Carl didn't lash out immediately as he overheard a conversation from the two Guards that watched over the Crypt entrance.
"I heard that the abomination will be Executed next year after he gets further weakened. How much is truth the maids spoke to bullshit us?"
"The quicker that Krassius bastard dies the better for Carmilla's future…"
"There's no point in being scared about that half-breed monstrosity, even if it took the join effort of Lord Karnstein, Lady Isolde and Lady Lysandra to suppress that murderous bastard. Just hearing his pleas and beginnings all this months was like music to my ears."
"Shhh, don't speak or young lady Elmenhilde will hear you. You know how much she cared for that Krassius bastard."
"For the future of the Carmilla Faction, we need to take out those irregular abominations."
Carl who eavesdropped on their conversation without the Guards even noticing his presence, heard some familiar name dropping, but it wasn't to the point he cared about his future actions, as he approached the unsuspecting Guards.
"Hmm? It got damp all of a sudden?" Looking around himself he didn't notice anything out of order, but once his eyes dropped down, he noticed a large pool of blood from which a 'Monster' lunged out with his shriveled hands that had beastly claws.
"Impossible!"
"What's wrong man?" inquired another of the Guards wearing a confused expression on his crimson eyes.
He saw the monster impaling the heart of his comrade with those beastly hands, striking directly on the Main Vital Point of a Vampire, the heart with a ruthless and bloodthirsty aura, and before the second Guard could do a thing, from the blood pool under his feet the 'Monster' created a sword that he used to piece his heart.
"Krassius Bloodriver. But how? The Seal should have been unbroken even by the likes of you."
The Guard glanced at this person in fear while puking a mouthful of blood, and before his dying eyes, the mummified monster started to regain vitality in his flesh at the expense of the blood of his comrade and his own.
"Not even saying 'Sorry' for imprisoning an innocent person for so long. I guess your death is deserved."
"Innocent? You bastard, you dare say that after attempting to kill the Heir of the Queen. You deserve to die."
"That's all you had to say in your last breath?"
"I wish you an excruciating death, impaled by the Church dogs and washed in Holy Water."
Carl who used his 'Bloodbound Dominion' to absorb the blood of his targets, as one of the main abilities of this Sacred Gear which enhanced his already innate Blood Absorption powers as a Vampire, started to regenerate his past appearance.
His hair that lost its luster as it got silver, rejuvenated as it got as dark as night, while his crimson eyes glowed with newfound power.
[You are quick to adapt to the Sacred Gears abilities, but don't grow reliant on them. Usually only my children could use Blood Magic but that type of magic drains one's body too quickly. However, with Bloodbound Dominion, you can use such Blood Magic at a low cost.]
'Mhm, this sensation running in my veins is quite addicting. What else can the Sacred Gear do?'
[You're still too early on the introduction for Bloodbound Dominion. I told you about 'Blood Manipulation' which it seems you're natural at, then another ability would be 'Blood Absorption'.]
[For now stick with the Basics, since you don't have the control for the rest of Abilities.]
'Understood. Based on those unique abilities, it feels that this Sacred Gear is quite high on the chain-food.'
[Of course. Bloodbound Dominion is a Longinus that was granted to the first sinner, Cain. Once you tap on all of your potential, you might be stronger than those lizards who ravaged the lands in Europe.]
Cleaning up the mess, leaving only skeletons wearing clothes, Carl didn't linger too long around the entrance of the Cryth as he chose to shift his clothes into those of the Guards and proceed infiltrating.
His choice of actions made 'Nosferatu' grin as he was reminded of the times he had to employ such tactics to get deep in the enemy lines to wreak carnage on the Devil worshipers.
Satiating his bloodthirst just a bit for his lucidity to return, he paused and reconsidered his set of actions, since it wouldn't be a 'Brilliant' idea to slaughter everyone here, he might not even be capable of pulling that off with only one day of wielding his Sacred Gear.
Monstrosity or not, those Guards made it clear to him that he was defeated in the past, and him being stuck in that coffin in confinement was the result of his past-self recklessness
'I'll be damned if I allow those assholes to imprison me. Let's make my way out of this building, before they discover my absence.'
Nosferatu took on a silent stand as he wanted to see Carl's abilities and what his worth was, and it wasn't like his assistance was needed by the young man whose physical abilities returned to a state that his past life body couldn't achieve even after working out for years.
Carl had to be careful and not appear suspicious in his movements, thankfully for him his features were obscured by the Guard Attire that was reminiscent of a Knight. He passed along the hallways and reached the entrance hall guarded by a series of guards.
"Maggot, what are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be on watch at the Crypt?"
"..."
'I can't seem to escape without a fight. If I speak to him, he might pick on the fact I'm not one of the Guards.'
'From this point on, I can sense many of those Guards stationed ahead at the entrance of the building, but they are mainly centered on the upper floors of this building. So, the big shots should reside there. It'll be wise if I don't stir up the wasp nest too much.'
'As much as I want to kill those bloodsucking mosquitos, I'm not retarded to believe that I am the Hero that brings salvation to the World.'
Carl gazed coldly at the Guard who questioned him, and choosing option A in this dialogue selection, he remarked casually. "I want to take a break from standing watch over the Crypt. My partner is there on watch in case something happens, but is unlikely. That abomination, Krassius Bloodriver has been sealed away."
"Lazy bastard, just because that crazy fuck was sealed doesn't mean things are all smooth. After your small break, you better return on watch, less your Head's roll before Lord Karnstein for slacking."
Carl passed by, reaching for the entrance of the Castle, but was stopped by the Guard's words once again, who reminded him in a casual tone. "Ohh, I got some news for you two Crypt maggots. Queen Carmilla will visit that Krassius bastard. The saying goes that she wants to recruit him after she tamed him for the incoming war against Tepes."
"I will see it done and clean around the Crypt for Her Majesty."
Having said everything that was on his mind, the Guard ignored Carl who was closer and closer to his freedom, and with the encompassing expanse of the Mountain Scenery in his vampiric sight, a voice, alarmed, was the one to stir up the nest of wasps.
"Close the Gates of the Castle! This is an emergency! Jonas, Henrich have been killed, the Crypt is empty! Krassius Bloodriver has escaped his Prison!"
The reactions of the Guards at the Castle's Gates were one of confusion, especially for the Guard who spoke with Carl moments ago, as he spoke to the rest. "What the hell is that Ulrich talking about? Wasn't that maggot who wanted some fresh air, Henrich?"
"Oy, Henrich, is that some prank?"
Nevertheless, before anyone could react, the Guard 'Henrich' made his way out from the interior of the Castle, and from his initial quick walking pace, they tried to get his attention, but to no avail, he didn't respond nor turned back.
Alerted by this change in behavior from the Guard, they set on to apprehend Carl who by now exploded in speed, his blood-red pendant flashing with crimson light.
"CLOSE DOWN THE BARRIERS! BLOODRIVER IS ON THE RUN!"
Carl noticed a tangible magical barrier surrounding the Castle starting to shrink down in closing, acting like a guillotine to his chances of survival in this wretched world as a Vampire.
'The hell if I'll allow myself to die without a fight!'
He split open his palm while his expression was twisted in dark emotions, allowing blood to flow rapidly instead of waiting for his 'Bloodbound Dominion' Sacred Gear to activate to generate blood using his constrained mana reserves.
The Guards stationed on watch over the Castle's Barrier noticed Carl rushing with blood circling around him like autonomous guardians. Taking out their swords they wanted to buy some time for the Barrier to enclose, but something shocking happened when on Carl's back a pair of wings morphed out of blood.
Akin to a Fallen Angel, he exploded again in speed, propelled by his wings crafted by this Sacred Gear 'Blood Manipulation' ability, but in his spite, he turned some of the 'feathers' into razor-sharp blades that he sent toward their necks, decapitating them in the process.
[What are you doing? Why waste your mana by killing those insects?]
'I know is dumb, but I wanted to do that and remove some tension from my body. I think I got some more juice in me before I'm drained. But heck, I don't even know where I am. Any ideas, mister Dracula?'
[Let's see… With the features of those mountains… The lake? We're either in Swiss Cantons, Savoy, Millan or the Habsburg Territory of Tirol or Styria.]
Getting a list of possible locations from 'Nosferatu' wasn't helpful to Carl whose option at hand was to continue flying like a bird of prey, and his eyes dropping on a spring, he took on an aerodynamic position like 'Superhero' and followed this spring that would spill into a river.
He only turned his head once to gaze at the Dark Castle, and it brought a sense of familiarity that wasn't part of himself. That's when he felt a piercing headache that caused him to lose control of his Sacred Gear ability and later on free skydive and collapse like a meteor.
He felt pain all over his body, with some of his bones being broken, but miraculously nor not for this Vampire, he was alive, breathing heavily.
'What's going on? What's with those memories? Childhood memories? Some good, but mainly bad… Half-Vampire Krassius Bloodriver. Son of the Vampire Lord Bloodriver…'
It felt as if looking into a photo album initially, but the memories continue to flow sending the watcher into a movie of life experiences.
Unbeknown to Carl for how long he had crushed down, he assimilated all of the memories of the one known as the 'Abomination' and grimacing as he moved his limbs, he cursed out loud.
"Poor bastard."
'You've been treated worse than a dog, and still expected some affection from your rotten mother. How unlucky of you to be born from the union of a Vampire and Magician... and to add insult to injury, not even meeting your father. Always under the control of 'Dear Mommy'. This smells of a conspiracy. I'll get to the truth in the future, not to worry about it.'
'You're also only 16 years old. So young for a kid to experience all of those horrors. Tsk, tsk, nasty psychopaths, just because he's a half-breed, doesn't mean he's worse than you. Now, this reminds me of Gasper Vladi from the series. But he escaped quite young thanks to his friend, Valerie Tepes, and got picked up by Gremory.'
[Boy, are you there? You've been nonresponding for one hour. Shouldn't you get going before your enemies catch on you?]
'Ahhh, it was that long? FUCK! Good to know that I remember where we are.'
[Hmm?]
'Styria. Hochschwab to be precise.'
Getting up, he put in place his bones before activating his 'Bloodbound Dominion' to manipulate his blood and repair his messed-up organs. It didn't take too long for him to depart, following the spring, and as time passed inside the Castle of Hochschwab, the residence of Vampire Lord Karnstein, a commotion was on stage.
"You imbeciles, how many times have I told you not to get inside the Crypt without reinforcements! How many times have I not told you to not listen to his cries and pleas, that he'll reform and get in line!"
"Who was it? Who let that thorn out from his coffin!?"
"..."
Silence, no one was willing to answer the middle-aged man with blonde hair, it was until a young girl, short in size climbed the stairs down to the commotion, her crimson eyes slightly displeased by all of the chaos.
"What happened, Father? Has that fool, Bloodriver, made another scene?"
She looked with contempt at the Guards, and even at the middle-aged man, her doll-like appearance a strange contrast between her cold tone.
"My Elmenhilde, this is nothing you should worry about. It's just a small inconvenience, and I've already sent my hunting dogs to catch up with Bloodriver."
"If Lady Carmilla hears that you've lost Krassius, it will be hard to appease her fury, father. Consider yourself indebted if you don't catch Krassius." remarked the young girl, playing with her light blonde hair, as she formed a smirk on her petite lips.
Returning back to her private chambers on the upper floor of the Castle, she gazed with her crimson-eyes in the distance, and couldn't help but chuckle at the thoughts running in her mind.
"It's either our misfortune or fortune that you escaped. Time will tell if a half-bred like you would amount to something. Only know that I will miss your departure, elder brother."
