Relying on Each Other

After the Astral Rift was completely opened, the psionic energy around Cadman City rapidly dissipated, or perhaps it was more accurate to say it was crushed by the more violent Astral Psionics.

The entire city was currently being dragged from the Material World into the Astral Plane.

This process might be slow, but it was steadily advancing. The clash of psionic energies, coupled with the constant bombardment of Dimensional Meteorites, caused the surrounding land to experience unpredictable earthquakes and landslides.

The Old Ma that Murphy was riding refused to move forward as they neared the city's edge. The beast's senses made it fear the rapidly changing city even more than Murphy's whip.

Under these circumstances, Murphy decisively dismounted and proceeded on foot.

Before him, the massive city gate of Cadman City had already been torn apart by the rift that cut through the city. Black wisps of Astral Psionics, gathered like a spiderweb, coiled around the ruins lining the streets, plunging the entire city into an oppressive darkness, as if a massive sandstorm sweeping across the desert had obscured all light.

Astral Psionics were still psionic energy, so they did not affect the casting of skills by psionicists. In fact, because it was so wild and disordered, it could even enhance the destructive power of their spells.

This was, of course, provided that psionicists, "coddled" in the Material World, could withstand the mental defilement that accompanied Astral Psionics.

Murphy, gripping the Blade of the Desire Scion, moved forward quickly. When he encountered obstacles, he would wave his hand and unleash an Enhanced Dark Blast, blasting away whatever blocked his path.

But the deeper he went, the more he could hear strange hissing sounds in his ears.

These phantom sounds had existed before when he cast spells, but now their echoes were clearer, and within the deep shadows around him, distorted creatures not of this world were watching the young vampire.

They had been "flung" into the Material World when the Astral Rift opened. Although they would eventually return to the Astral Plane, they didn't mind adding a "snack" to their unexpected journey, to taste some "otherworldly flavor."

However, at this moment, the chaotic city was filled with panicked crowds.

Compared to souls carrying the delicious scent of fear, the vampire before them, with a fire burning in his heart, was clearly not an easy opponent. After weighing their options, the gazes watching Murphy from the shadows diminished.

But this was not a good sign.

The clown's exit often signaled the imminent arrival of true danger.

Given the scale of the Astral Rift overhead, it was impossible that only these small fry had been flung into the Material World.

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

What was previously a disadvantage, being unable to live in the inner city occupied by vampires due to his fallen status, now became an advantage. It meant that if Murphy could act quickly, he could escape with Triss before the situation worsened.

"Roar!"

A low growl that pierced the soul, accompanied by a foul wind, attacked from behind. Murphy turned and thrust his sword, simultaneously using a dodging sidestep to evade the assault.

This fluid and agile swordsmanship was clearly not the style of Blood Vulture Swordsmanship, but the "Shadowy Step" that came with the unique sword techniques of the Shadow Elves was indeed well-suited for dealing with sneak attacks.

The vampire stood his ground, looking at the attacker behind him.

It was a completely black panther.

However, instead of eyes on its face, there were two strange tentacles extending from its neck, covered in chitinous scales. The tips of these tentacles, which opened like a Venus flytrap, shimmered with light, locking onto Murphy's position.

This creature with its bizarre skeletal structure was clearly not something that could be born in the Material World.

Murphy didn't want to get entangled with it. As he retreated, he threw a Psionic Shockwave forward, which turned into a gale, whipping up dust and debris from the street before he flashed back to a safer distance.

The strange black panther, having failed its sneak attack and been grazed by Murphy's sword, realized its prey was difficult to handle and wisely disengaged, not continuing the pursuit.

"This won't do!"

Murphy frowned, surveying his surroundings amidst the dim ruins.

Astral Psionics were still pouring into the Material World. If this continued, there would only be more monsters in the city. Even if he rescued Triss, it would be difficult to get out of the city safely.

He had to clear a safe escape route in advance.

With this thought, Murphy immediately grasped the core orb hanging around his neck, injected psionic energy into it, and activated the communication between the orbs.

Before he could even speak, Miriam's shriek came from the other end:

"Murphy, what kind of hellish luck do you have! Why is something like this happening just as you arrive in Cadman City? Where are you now? Maxim is going into the city to find you, and I can't stop him!

Your crazy warriors are still fanning the flames nearby, constantly urging us to go into the city!

Are they insane?

Who in their right mind would go to a place that's being destroyed?"

"Calm down!"

Murphy's head ached from Miriam's sharp voice, and he couldn't help but shout. The other side immediately fell silent.

"Listen to me now! Give Maxim an orb to help him activate it. I need him to maintain a safe passage on the east side of the city gate. The city wall there has already collapsed, so this task isn't difficult. My warriors will cooperate with him.

I'll meet you all once I find Triss.

Remember, absolutely! Do not enter the city casually!

There are many Astral Creatures hiding in the shadows in the city, ambushing the living. They are very troublesome and dangerous, not something my warriors can handle right now.

Do you understand?"

"Oh, okay."

Miriam was quite reliable in critical moments. She responded and went to act.

Murphy also made some adjustments to the core orb. A few seconds later, the operational orbs of the little players who were still outside the city, sharpening their weapons and gearing up in the "Black Storm," all emitted a soft "ding."

A mission from Murphy had been triggered.

Main Quest Prologue: The Last Night in Cadman City

Quest First Stage: Escape!

Description: The leisurely vacation of the heroes from another world has been ruined, as Cadman City has encountered a calamity from the Astral Plane for unknown reasons.

There's no time to rest, you must act immediately!

The summoner Murphy, who carries a mysterious destiny, hopes his heroes can carve out a temporary safe passage by the collapsed city walls under the leadership of his servant Maxim, so that Murphy can safely retreat after rescuing his esteemed elder.

Heroes unwilling to bow to disaster, report to the loyal Maxim immediately!

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

Reward: A certain amount of money, subsequent main quest unlocked.

Warning!

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

Hint!

This is a series of quests. The final reward is: Accessory·Blood Vulture Clan Midnight Hunter Ceremonial Robes·Set [9/9]

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

Brother Wu Miao raised the Blood-colored Halberd in his hand and swung it forward.

Eleven players, like wild dogs breaking free from their leashes, excitedly ran to the anxious Maxim. The loyal servant didn't say much and led them charging towards the collapsed city walls in the dim environment.

Millian didn't want to get involved in this mess.

But staying here alone was basically suicidal, so she could only follow the players with her hunting rifle, acting as a "Support NPC."

However, these guys were in too much of a hurry and seemed to have forgotten something.

In the carriage they left not far outside the city, Madam Adele's coffin was making creaking sounds. The erosion from the rampant Astral Psionics had caused Madam Adele to awaken prematurely.

"Bang!"

After a muffled sound, the entire coffin lid flew off.

The immense force of the attack even broke through the carriage's roof, and Madam Adele, lying in the coffin, sat up rubbing her forehead.

Her last memory was still the battle scene with Jopan Makchi in Smuggler's Woods. She was completely unaware of what had happened in the past two or three days, only vaguely recalling fragments of the First Embrace process.

She blinked her now scarlet eyes and scanned her surroundings with her enhanced senses. She found neither her esteemed elder nor Miss Femis.

Had she been abandoned here?

What was going on with these rampaging psionics around her?

Adele got up and walked out of the shattered carriage. Then, the pupils of her eyes widened in shock. She saw Cadman City being dragged into the Astral Plane and the abnormal environment around them, realizing that something terrible had happened.

Although she hadn't fully adapted to her new power, she knew she had to set out.

"Huh?"

As Adele retrieved her Sting Sword and Handgun from the coffin, she suddenly felt some knowledge appear in her mind. It seemed to be the Summoning Arts bestowed upon her by her esteemed elder.

This butler lady, with her fiery figure and cold expression, hesitated for a moment before attempting her first summon.

She thought it would be difficult.

But in reality, it was as effortless as eating and drinking, a natural instinct that completed the entire process without any obscurity. With a loud wolf howl, an Astral Wolf the size of a hound appeared at her feet.

This incorporeal creature circled Adele twice and licked her fingers in a fawning manner.

"You've arrived at just the right time."

Madam Adele took the young lady's Notebook from the nearby coffin, let her Astral Wolf sniff it, then waved her hand forward, commanding:

"Take me to find her."

"Cough, cough..."

Triss, lying amidst the ruins of the manor, coughed weakly. Thick blood spewed from her mouth, indicating her dire condition.

Beside Triss lay a massive, decomposing corpse. It was a bizarre creature composed of horrifying tentacles, blackish-gray chitinous shells, and crab-like pincers.

It was fierce and strange when alive, and even after death, it continuously released foul energy that assaulted the minds of nearby life.

Defeating this thing had almost exhausted Triss's last bit of psionic energy, making it difficult for her to even move.

Triss felt like she was dying.

Of course, for a vampire, this might be a hallucination caused by "anemia."

Her body had already gone numb from the stinging pain. To make matters worse, it even started snowing in the sky, which had already darkened like a sandstorm.

It was black "snow."

It fell piece by piece onto the ground, then turned into psionic embers and disappeared.

Triss, once a Psionic Master, knew this was a strange environmental phenomenon caused by the Astral Psionics assimilating with the Material World. This indicated that the land was being merged into the mysterious and dangerous Astral Plane.

She had to leave quickly, or she would face the tragic fate of being assimilated.

But Triss had no strength left at the moment.

She lay on her back amidst the black, snowy ruins, her disheveled hair falling around her as her alluring red eyes stared wide at the magnificent, swirling sky above, like an energy vortex.

This was a rare sight in the Material World.

Perhaps it was the mental shock from the Astral Creature that had just attacked, but Triss had some strange thoughts at that moment.

She vaguely recalled

that it was also a cold, snowy day more than a year ago when she found Little Murphy.

That day, she had just completed the First Embrace for a wealthy magnate who traveled between here and Shardo Port for business. The man, who had specifically come to Cadman City to visit her, had obtained the "eternal life" he so desperately desired. In return, the magnate gifted Triss one-third of his fortune.

Triss had intended to use this windfall to buy a wine cellar and renovate her Manor.

Then, she saw Murphy on the street, on the verge of starving to death.

It was snowing that day, and it was very cold. Eighteen-year-old Little Murphy was wearing only a thin shirt as he lay on the road. It was the eighth year of the Ten Years' War, and refugees like Murphy were everywhere. People starved to death in Cadman City every day.

Triss had already forgotten why she brought Murphy back.

Perhaps it was a whim after getting drunk that night, or perhaps she had a sudden burst of kindness.

Perhaps she couldn't bear to see such a cute life taken by death. In any case, it seemed that in the blink of an eye, she had another child.

Just like before, the money she earned was quickly spent.

But this time, the foundling was different from all her previous children. He actually didn't leave her, like a gentle dream that would never end.

"Triss… Triss, are you okay? Don't scare me, open your eyes! It's me! Triss…"

The familiar voice seemed to come from the ends of the earth, drawing Triss's dazed consciousness back to the Material World bit by bit.

She vaguely saw Murphy's handsome and cute face again.

But she knew this was just the lingering effect of the mental pollution from that Astral monster. The illusion she saw at the end of her life was actually this little guy…

But Little Murphy was already gone!

That child had listened to her and left Cadman City forever for a safer place. He had avoided her and avoided misfortune, so how could he possibly appear beside her now?

The black snow in the sky fell harder and harder.

This was a sign of greater danger approaching, but she no longer intended to resist this damned fate.

Her life had never gone smoothly!

She had been unlucky from childhood to old age, and she was truly tired of the four hundred years of mockery from fate.

"Triss!"

Another call rang out, greatly irritating Triss, who wanted to close her eyes in the snow.

She struggled to reach out, trying to dispel the illusion before her, but the next moment, her raised hand was grabbed, and then she was pulled into an embrace that was warmer for a vampire.

He knelt in the black snow, holding her tightly, as if holding the most precious treasure in his life.

"Thank goodness, Triss, you're alive. I'm back, Triss, Murphy is back. I'm sorry I'm late. I'm so glad you're okay…"

This embrace, so real it was unsettling, jolted Triss back to her senses.

She shook her head vigorously, feeling her body being lifted from the ground. She finally understood everything, but then a surge of anger rose from her heart.

"Didn't I tell you to leave?! Why did you come back! You disobedient child!"

She scolded him, reaching out to slap Murphy's face, but in the end, she was too weak to complete the action, and could only let Murphy drape the Midnight Cloak over her and then carry her on his back.

"Don't be afraid, I'll take you out of here. Hold on!"

Murphy whispered to Triss on his back.

He took a step forward, heading towards the collapsed city wall against the increasingly heavy black snow. Behind him, the weakened Triss buried her head in Murphy's shoulder.

Unfortunately, in the battle just now, her eyes seemed to have gotten sand in them, and they were uncomfortably secreting some kind of weak substance.

Fortunately, vampires don't cry, so no one could see her miserable expression at this moment.

Otherwise, she would surely be ridiculed, right?

After all, the world of vampires she was familiar with was far from as gentle as Midnight's Blessing and this embrace.

"Little Murphy…"

"Hmm?"

"I want to drink."

"What kind of time is this to want a drink! Bear with it! I'll find you something better once we're out."

"No… if I don't drink, my wound will hurt."

"Is this why you're addicted to alcohol? Why didn't you say so before? Fine, I'll look for some on the way, just hold on."

"Okay."

Under the dark, gloomy, frenzied, and dangerous sky, the vortex of Astral Psionics, like a black sun, emitted a dark and sinister light amidst the falling black snow, stretching Murphy's figure as he moved through the snow, making Triss behind him almost merge with his shadow.

It was as if they could never be separated again.

Hmm, Triss's last child in her long life seemed to be truly different from those ungrateful ones.

Perhaps all the luck she had accumulated from a lifetime of misfortune was used up on that cold night a year ago?