Relying on Each Other

After the Astral Rift had been fully opened, the psionic energy around Cadman City rapidly dissipated—or, more accurately, it was being crushed by the far more violent astral psionic energy.

The entire city was now being dragged from the material world into the Astral Plane.

The process might have been slow, but it was steadily advancing. The clash of psionic energies, combined with the relentless bombardment of dimensional meteorites, caused sudden earthquakes and landslides to erupt across the surrounding land.

The old horse Murphy rode refused to go any farther as they neared the city outskirts. Its animal instincts made it fear the city's upheaval more than the whip in Murphy's hand.

In this situation, Murphy decisively dismounted and continued on foot.

The enormous gates of Cadman City before him had already been torn apart by the rift that had cleaved through the city. Black wisps of chaotic astral psionic energy gathered like cobwebs over the ruins lining the streets, plunging the whole city into darkness, as if a colossal sandstorm had swept across a desert and blotted out all the light.

Astral psionic energy was still psionic energy, so it didn't interfere with psionicists using their abilities. In fact, its wild, chaotic nature even increased the destructive power of their spells.

That was, if the psionicists, pampered by life in the material world, could withstand the mental corruption that came with astral psionic energy.

Clutching the Blade of the Desire Lineage, Murphy hurried through the streets. Whenever something blocked his way, he waved a hand and fired an enhanced Dark Blast, blowing the obstruction aside.

But the farther he went, the more clearly he heard a strange hissing in his ears.

He had heard such phantom sounds whenever he cast spells before, but now they echoed more clearly. Twisted creatures that did not belong to this world were also watching the young vampire from the deep shadows all around him.

They had been flung into the material world when the Astral Rift opened. They would eventually return to the Astral Plane, but they didn't mind "grabbing a bite" during their accidental trip, just to sample some "otherworldly cuisine."

The chaotic city was full of panicked people, though.

Compared to souls carrying delicious fear, the vampire before them, a flame burning in his heart, was clearly much harder to deal with. After weighing their options, fewer and fewer eyes watched Murphy from the shadows.

But that was no good thing.

When the clowns left the stage, it usually meant that real danger was about to appear.

Given the size of the Astral Rift overhead, those flung into the material world couldn't possibly be just minnows and small fry.

The only good news was that Triss's estate was not far from the city gate.

In the past, being too poor to live in the inner city where the vampires held sway had been a misfortune. Now, it was an advantage. As long as Murphy acted quickly, he could get Triss out before things worsened.

"Grrr!"

A low growl that seemed to reach straight into his soul came with a gust of foul air from behind. Murphy spun around and thrust his sword as he slipped aside, dodging the attack.

This agile, flowing swordplay was clearly nothing like Blood Vulture Swordsmanship. But the "Shadowstep" that came with the shadow elves' unique sword techniques was perfect for dealing with ambushes.

The vampire stood still and looked at his attacker.

It was a pitch-black leopard.

But it had no eyes. In their place were two strange, tentacle-like feelers extending from either side of its neck, covered in chitinous scales. Their tips opened like a Venus flytrap and glimmered as they locked onto Murphy.

It was obvious at a glance that this bizarre creature could not have been born in the material world.

Murphy didn't want to get tangled up with it. He retreated, launching a Psionic Impact that became a Gale Blast. It swept up dust and debris from the street as he darted farther away.

After its ambush failed and Murphy slashed it with his sword, the strange leopard realized its prey was no pushover. It wisely gave up and didn't pursue him.

"This won't work!"

Murphy frowned as he surveyed the surroundings in the dim ruins.

Astral psionic energy was still pouring into the material world. If this continued, the number of monsters in the city would only increase. Even if he rescued Triss, getting out safely would be difficult.

He had to clear a safe escape route in advance.

At once, Murphy grabbed the core orb hanging around his neck and infused it with psionic energy, activating the communication link between the orbs.

Before he could even say a word, Mirian's shriek came from the other end:

"Murphy, what the hell kind of luck do you have?! Why did this happen as soon as we got to Cadman City? Where are you now? Maxim's going into the city to find you, and I can't stop him!

"Those lunatic warriors of yours are egging him on, urging us to go in!

"Are they crazy?

"What sane person would go to a place that's being destroyed?"

"Calm down!"

Mirian's shrill voice gave Murphy a headache. He couldn't help shouting, and the other end immediately fell silent.

"Now listen to me! Give Maxim an orb and help him activate it. I need him to maintain a safe passage east of the city gate. The wall has already collapsed there, so it shouldn't be hard. My warriors will help him.

"I'll join you once I find Triss.

"Remember, do not—under any circumstances—go into the city!

"There are lots of astral creatures hiding in the shadows and ambushing the living. They're extremely dangerous and difficult to deal with. My warriors can't handle them yet.

"Do you understand?"

"Oh. All right."

Mirian was still dependable when it mattered. She answered and got to work.

Murphy also fiddled with the core orb. A few seconds later, the calculation orbs on the players who were still outside the city, gearing up and itching for a fight in the "Black Storm," chimed in unison.

A quest from Murphy had triggered.

Main Quest Prologue · Cadman City's Last Night

Quest Stage One: Escape!

Description: The otherworldly warriors' relaxing vacation has been cut short. For unknown reasons, Cadman City has been struck by a calamity from the Astral Plane.

There's no time to rest. You must act immediately!

Murphy, the summoner bound to a mysterious destiny, hopes his warriors will follow his servant Maxim and establish a temporary safe passage beside the collapsed city wall. This will allow Murphy to retreat safely after rescuing his elder.

Warriors who refuse to bow their heads in the face of disaster, report to the loyal Maxim at once!

Objective: Hold the safe passage until Murphy and Triss return safely.

Rewards: A sum of money; unlocks the next main quest.

Warning!

This is a main quest. Failure will have serious consequences.

Tip!

This is a quest chain. The final reward is: Cosmetic · Blood Eagle Clan Midnight Hunters Uniform Set 9/9

"Damn! The main quest is here, and there's an exclusive outfit reward too, brothers! Charge!"

Meow Brother raised the blood-red halberd in his hand and swung it forward.

The eleven players ran excitedly to Maxim like unleashed dogs. The loyal servant didn't waste words. He led them through the dim surroundings toward the collapsed stretch of wall.

Mirian hadn't wanted to get involved.

But staying behind alone would basically mean certain death, so she could only follow the players with her hunting rifle and play the part of a "support NPC."

But in their haste, they seemed to have forgotten something.

In the carriage they had left not far outside the city, the coffin containing Lady Adele kept rattling. The corruption of the violent astral psionic energy had woken Lady Adele early.

"Thump!"

With a muffled crash, the entire coffin lid flew off.

The force of the blow even smashed through the carriage roof. Lady Adele, lying inside the coffin, sat up, rubbing her forehead.

Her last memory was of fighting Jopan Makchi in Smuggler's Wood. She knew nothing of what had happened over the past two or three days, though she vaguely remembered bits of the Embrace.

She blinked her now-crimson eyes. Her sharper senses swept over the area, but she could find neither her elder nor Lady Femis.

Had she been left here?

And what was going on with all this rampaging psionic energy?

Lady Adele got up and climbed out of the wrecked carriage. Then her eyes widened in shock. Seeing Cadman City being dragged into the Astral Plane and the utterly abnormal surroundings, she realized something terrible had happened.

Though she had yet to fully adapt to her new powers, she knew she had to set out.

"Hm?"

As Lady Adele retrieved her rapier and flintlock from the coffin, she suddenly sensed new knowledge in her mind. It seemed to be a summoning spell bestowed on her by her elder.

The fiery-figured, cold-faced housekeeper hesitated, then tried her first summoning.

She thought it would be difficult.

But the whole process came naturally, as easy as eating or drinking. With a ringing howl, an astral wolf the size of a hound appeared at her feet.

The bodiless creature circled Lady Adele twice, then licked her fingers as if ingratiating itself with her.

"You came at the right time."

Lady Adele took the young lady's notebook from the coffin beside her and let the astral wolf sniff it. Then she pointed ahead and ordered:

"Lead me to her."

"Cough, cough."

Triss lay amid the ruins of the estate and coughed weakly a few times. Thick blood spilled from her mouth, a sign that she was in the worst possible shape.

Beside Triss lay the massive, disintegrating corpse of a creature assembled from horrifying tentacles, blackish-gray chitinous armor, and crab-like pincers.

It had been vicious and bizarre while alive. Even dead, it continued releasing corrupt energy that battered the minds of all living things nearby.

Defeating it had used up the last of Triss's psionic energy. Now she could barely move.

Triss felt like she was about to die.

Of course, for a vampire, this might have been just an illusion caused by "anemia."

Her body had gone numb with pain. To make matters worse, snow had started falling from the sky, already as dark as a sandstorm.

It was black "snow."

The flakes drifted down to the ground, then vanished into psionic embers.

Triss, once a psionic master, knew this was a strange environmental phenomenon caused by astral psionic energy merging with the material world. It meant that this land was being absorbed into the mysterious and dangerous Astral Plane.

She had to leave at once, or she would suffer the wretched fate of being absorbed.

But Triss didn't have the strength to move.

She lay on her back amid the black, snow-covered ruins, her hair disheveled and her enchanting red eyes staring up at the swirling sky, as magnificent as a vortex of energy.

It was a rare sight in the material world.

Perhaps the astral creature's assault had damaged her mind. At that moment, Triss found herself drifting into strange recollections.

She vaguely remembered...

It had also been a cold, snowy day when she'd found little Murphy, more than a year ago.

That day, she had just helped a wealthy tycoon who did business between the local area and Chardo Port complete the Embrace. The man had made a special trip to visit her in Cadman City, and she had given him the "eternal life" he'd dreamed of. In return, he had gifted her a third of his fortune.

Triss had planned to use the windfall to buy a wine cellar and renovate her estate.

Then she had found Murphy, nearly starving to death, on a street in the city.

It had been snowing that day, and bitterly cold. Eighteen-year-old Murphy had been lying in the road in nothing but a thin shirt. It was the eighth year of the Ten-Year War, and refugees like Murphy were everywhere. People starved to death in Cadman City every day.

Triss had forgotten why she'd taken Murphy home.

Perhaps she'd had a drunken whim that night. Perhaps she'd suddenly felt charitable.

Perhaps she couldn't bear to let such a lovely life be snuffed out by death. Whatever the reason, it seemed that in the blink of an eye, she'd gained another child.

As before, the money she'd earned was quickly spent.

But this one, unlike all her previous children, hadn't left her. It was almost like a gentle dream she would never wake from.

"Triss. Triss, are you all right? Don't scare me. Open your eyes! It's me! Triss."

A familiar voice seemed to come from the edge of the world, gradually drawing the dazed Triss's consciousness back to the material world.

In a haze, she saw Murphy's handsome, adorable face again.

But she knew it was only the lingering effect of the astral monster's mental corruption. Somehow, the phantom she saw at the very end of her life was that little brat...

But little Murphy had already left!

The child had listened to her and left Cadman City for somewhere safer. He had stayed away from her and escaped misfortune, so how could he possibly be here beside her?

The black snow fell harder and harder from the sky.

It was a sign that an even greater danger was coming, but she no longer intended to fight against this damned fate.

She'd never had an easy day in her life!

She'd been unlucky from childhood to old age. She was truly sick of fate mocking her for more than four hundred years.

"Triss!"

Another call rang out, irritating Triss as she tried to close her eyes in the snow.

She struggled to lift a hand to dispel the illusion before her. But the next moment, her raised hand was caught, and then she was gathered into a warm embrace—warm, at least, by vampire standards.

Kneeling in the black snow, he held her so tightly, as if she were the most precious thing in his life.

"Thank goodness, Triss, you're alive! I'm back, Triss. Murphy's back. I'm sorry I came back so late. I'm so glad you're all right."

The unfamiliar sensation of being held, so real it almost hurt, brought Triss back to herself.

She shook her head hard. Feeling her body being lifted from the ground, she finally understood what was happening. Then anger surged up inside her.

"Didn't I tell you to leave? Why did you come back? You little brat! You never listen."

She scolded him and tried to slap Murphy's face, but she was too weak to manage it. She could only let Murphy drape the Midnight Cloak over her, then carry her on his back.

"Don't be afraid. I'll get you out of here. Hang on!"

Murphy spoke softly to Triss over his shoulder.

He strode toward the collapsed wall, braving the increasingly heavy black snow. Behind him, the weakened Triss buried her face against his shoulder.

Unfortunately, she must have gotten sand in her eyes during the fight. They felt terribly uncomfortable, and something weak and watery was welling up in them.

Fortunately, vampires didn't cry, so no one could see how awful she looked right now.

Otherwise, people would surely laugh at her, wouldn't they?

In the end, the vampire world she knew was nowhere near as gentle as the Midnight's Blessing or this embrace.

"Little Murphy..."

"Hmm?"

"I want a drink."

"You still want to drink at a time like this? Hold on! I'll find you something better once we're out."

"No. If I don't drink, my wounds will hurt."

"Is that why you got addicted to drinking? Why didn't you say so before? Fine, I'll look for something along the way. Just hang on."

"Oh."

Beneath the dim, gloomy, mad, and dangerous sky, the vortex of astral psionic energy shone like a black sun, casting a sinister, eerie light through the drifting black snow. It stretched Murphy's shadow long across the snow, while Triss behind him seemed almost to merge with it.

As if they could never be separated again.

Well, it seemed that the last child of Lady Triss's long life really was different from all the other ungrateful ones.

Perhaps all the luck she had saved up through a lifetime of misfortune had been spent on that cold night a year ago?