章 1: The forage has started
In the vast expanse of Veridian Astralis, a world that serves as a commercial hub for intergalactic travelers to restock their goods and rejuvenate their weary bodies, an unexpected contrast emerges. Despite the world's bleak and dreary atmosphere, it boasts a considerable population of magical undead and creatures leaning towards the darker side. However, due to the unique nature of this world, its inhabitants are remarkably intelligent and more trustworthy than humans. As a result, Veridian Astralis becomes a popular destination for those seeking security and a fresh start, as its inhabitants refrain from deceiving any customers.
However, our story doesn't commence with the grandeur of Veridian Astralis but rather on the edge of the loch city, where a modest yet classy bar stands. Behind the counter is the protagonist of this particular tale, Rogue Vladarica, stifling a yawn as business fails to boom for her. The bar, with little to no customers, sets the stage for an intriguing adventure in a world where trust and intelligence prevail over the ominous shadows that loom in the background.
"I'm bored," she declared with the most low-effort start, the first dialogue uttered in this tale. "And the drinks I conjured lacked variety... the last foraging, how long has it been... Ahh... I can't recall." She stretched her body, unveiling pale skin embraced by a hunter garb that draped gracefully around her. Intricate designs and patterns adorned the attire, infusing a touch of sophistication into her appearance. Atop her head rested a wide-brimmed Hunter Cap, framing her face and adding an air of mystique with its feather ornament. Adorning her hands were the Hunter Gloves, providing both protection and the dexterity required for wielding weapons or casting spells. Completing the ensemble were the slim-fitting Hunter Trousers, blending practicality with a stylish flair.
She seized her notes, scanning the inventory of her drinks. "Zombie Essence Ale, Lurking Shadows Whisky, Accursed Amber Nectar, Parasitic Elixir Fusion... only these four libations remain. I suppose I could close the bar for the meantime," she muttered. She hadn't expected her creations to be drained so swiftly. Truth be told, she hadn't anticipated the sudden influx of beings. The Blood Rite had slipped her mind, and she bore the brunt of it. Well, it's not prudent to cry over spilled wine, but now she had a reason to explore other planets.
With a snap of her fingers, a bird, somewhat monstrous and hideous, materialized and dropped in front of her. She paid it no pity; it was neither alive nor dead but in a curious state in between. She retrieved the parchment from the bird's mouth and began filling it out. The paper served as a formal request to peacefully depart from the planet without attracting the attention of the sky striders. With blood serving as ink, she meticulously composed a letter that succinctly conveyed, 'I'm leaving, so please accept this middle finger as a token of sincerity.' Placing the parchment back into the bird's mouth, she watched it take flight, disappearing from her sight.
Humming a tune, she rhythmically tapped the counter. With a slight movement to the side, a bloodied spear descended to her former position, a permit strapped onto the hilt. "As efficient as ever..." she muttered with a smile.
She longed to touch it, but caution prevailed. Retrieving her trusty flintlock pistol from behind, she took aim and fired at the permit. The resounding sound mimicked shattering glass. "Such a petty prank..." she remarked wryly, not expecting such antics from her supposed friend. She smiled, reloaded her gun, and shot again. The glass shattered once more, but this time, it was her wine glass that succumbed, not the permit. She cursed, laying blame on her friend, refusing to acknowledge her own error.
The process of piecing the glass back together with a highly rated glue imported to her location was meticulous and painstaking. Despite her efforts, she knew perfection was elusive. Tiny shards littered the ground, some irretrievably lost. Nevertheless, she painstakingly repaired all the glass broken by the bullet and the fall.
When she heard familiar footsteps approaching, she hissed at the unwelcome newcomer, "How dare you show your face in front of me."
A woman adorned in a more regal attire entered, her features mirroring Rogue's—pale complexion and crimson eyes. The vast fields seemed to be the only thing separating the two. "It seems my predictions were accurate," the woman muttered, conjuring blood-red chess pieces that she discarded into her pocket. "Does my suffering amuse you? Knowing you, it's a mutual sentiment. But let's not dwell on that. Anyway, what brings you here? Or rather, what do you intend to extract from me?" Rogue inquired, clearly displeased with the encounter.
"Oh wait, No, I should mind my manners... Your Royal Highness, what brings your majestic self to this poor commoner and her humble abode?" Rogue added halfheartedly, despite acknowledging the significance of the person before her. "Rogue, it has come to my attention that we have some unresolved misunderstandings since you conveniently disappeared the moment I summoned you to the court," the princess stated, causing Rogue to scoff at her words.
The princess observed Rogue, who clearly wasn't in the mood for amicable terms, her spikiness on full display. Undeterred, the princess reached into the red void and produced a glass that piqued Rogue's interest. Flicking the glass, it emitted a clear, bell-like tune that made Rogue moan in delight. She moved closer to the princess, resembling a royal dog awaiting a treat from its owner, and the dog was about to receive it.
"You truly dote on me, Your Highness. This lowly peasant will be forever grateful," Rogue exclaimed with genuine adoration, fawningly rubbing her cheeks on the glass. The distinct sound of the rub reverberated, accentuating Rogue's increasingly depraved expression.
"Until now, I still can't believe you value a glass more than anything else..." The princess sighed heavily, unable to comprehend how a glass held more significance than her in every conceivable way. The notion of top-class hunters having a glass fetish struck her as somewhat comedic.
"Anyway, since you have calmed down, I would like to accompany you on your forage once again," the princess suggested, prompting Rogue to look at her with an expression that hinted at the anticipated outcome. Several thoughts flashed in Rogue's mind in a blink, and true to her position, the princess addressed all potential questions before Rogue could voice them.
"It doesn't disrupt Astralis as a whole; all the beings in their positions are competent enough to know what to do. Yes, no, yes, yes, because I wanted to, and I know you too well, that's why I could predict your questions," the princess explained. Rogue, feeling somewhat helpless, simply nodded. It wasn't as if she desired company, too.
"Sure... then let's go," Rogue declared as she grabbed a device that resembled a distorted polygon glitching. "As per routine, I would explain this curio in my hand. I call this a failed teleporter. It could potentially send you to a space anchor that has been ruined—either we are going farther beyond our galaxy or going to a nearby destroyed one. So, basically, a roll of fate... and that's why I have the most unique wine that ever grasped..."
The princess sighed, already anticipating that this adventure would be more hectic than ever.
Wordlessly, the princess grabbed Rogue's hand as glitching light flashed and swallowed them both, leaving nothing. The entire bar pulsed red as an unpleasant crawling noise became more prevalent, red blood maggots seeping from the cracks, falling from the ceiling, crawling from the floorboards, and reappearing from the display. They gathered in the center, forming a humanoid form.
"It seems Master forgot to close the bar again..." the amalgamation spoke, its voice seemingly created by intense rubbing and squeaks. "If I closed it, maybe Master would praise me." The creature started to proceed to close the bar properly.
In the icy plains of a distant frozen space anchor, its hum echoed forcefully as it awakened from slumber. A rift in the fabric of space tore open, and two figures gracefully descended from above.
"Great, a Stellaron-stricken environment," Rogue exclaimed with glee, anticipating the abominations created by Stellaron. She knew these usually rated B in taste on her palate, offering the potential for S-tier blood.
The princess surveyed the area and noticed a vast ocean that remained unfrozen, the currents still flowing. "Approximately, it's been 1000 years or more since the Stellaron took root here. I would say the populace has been wiped out, unless they gained the gaze of Qlipoth," the princess explained, providing a historical account of the planet's fate. She knew that earning the pity of Qlipoth was unlikely, but perhaps their followers could be swayed.
"The Aeon of Preservation... I would like to know how they would taste. Though I know I am no match for an Aeon, an emanator probably will do," Rogue expressed with longing. There was an instinctive attraction, a fascination with the idea of tasting the blood of the Amber Lord that surpassed her expectations, making the concept of tasting a rock strangely enticing.
The princess observed Rogue, who was fervently digging for a rock, seemingly lost in the tangent of contemplating eating another one. "Do not eat an ordinary rock," the princess cautioned, bringing Rogue back from her fantasy. She gave a sheepish smile, and they decided to move on, searching for creatures that piqued Rogue's interest.
As they ventured into the frozen wonderland, the relative peace was appreciated by both Rogue and the princess. There were no signs of life that assaulted their ears this time.
In a snow-covered forest, Rogue and the princess spotted flying creatures made of ice, seemingly soaring aimlessly. "A drink for you in a second," Rogue declared with a smile, her hand reaching for her trusty rapier on her belt. Its pristine shine reflected the light, forcing the princess to avert her eyes and focus on the creatures. Soft footsteps left a trail, and Rogue was already beside the creatures. She swiftly sheathed her blade, and the creatures bled in clear blue. Shrieking, they disappeared as if melting into the snowfall.
The mysterious blue blood hovered in the air as Rogue manipulated it. Retrieving the newly acquired glass from her personal space, she gathered some of the blood from the air, filling the crystal glass halfway. Compressing ice from the ground into a packed form, she added it to the glass. The remaining blood was directed into a blood-red space, which absorbed it until nothing remained.
Rogue extended the glass towards the princess. "For you, Your Highness," she offered graciously. The princess accepted it with gratitude and drank without hesitation.
The cold, sweet taste flowed into her, akin to frozen sugar enjoyed by many mortals on hot days. For her people, there was no concept of cold; they couldn't feel it. Nevertheless, the drink surpassed her biology, allowing the princess to experience the sensation. "It's cold and sweet," she remarked, confusion evident. She could deduce it was Rogue's specialty—making everything bleed, defying any laws imposed on her.
"Indeed, but for me, it's a B- grade blood. It's not that good in my standards, yet nonetheless, it's very popular. I like to call the raw drink 'Glacial Blood Wine,'" Rogue explained as she motioned for them to continue walking. The princess nodded, and they resumed their journey through the waning landscapes of this frozen world.
Their exploration led them to an abandoned town, the clear water damage in the buildings indicating that it had been deserted for far too long. Jumping onto the rooftop, Rogue materialized a chair, as if they were on vacation. The princess looked at Rogue, asking a question, "Rogue, do you want to find the Stellaron?" Rogue shook her head. She had encountered many Stellaron, but despite their danger, they couldn't produce more than 50 liters of blood. Rogue found the Stellaron on a planet more attractive since they could passively generate monsters, significantly increasing her harvest. However, Stellaron hunters came and seized her farm without her knowledge, leaving Rogue with a lasting grudge.
"Rogue..." the princess began, intending to mention that she could allow Rogue to see the past. However, Rogue was a dreamer. She preferred imagining scenarios rather than experiencing them herself. Perhaps it was a way to shield herself from potential disappointment or to avoid being disappointed in herself. Rogue was a realist who viewed the world through rose-tinted glasses, and she disliked it when someone tried to remove them—a truly conflicted individual.
"Rogue, did you forget my name?" the princess finally asked, a question that had been lingering in her mind for too long.
Rogue's mind raced, and she responded with a pick often used by main characters in visual novels. "I like to call you Princess because you are the princess in my kingdom. Also, you are and always will be the princess in my eyes," Rogue declared without batting an eye. It felt awkward to say yes, as she sensed that the princess might be disappointed and hurt by her words.
Discreetly, Rogue retrieved a letter from her storage, hoping to catch a glimpse of the princess's name. It would be awkward if the princess asked her name, and Rogue didn't know it. Elizabeth Sith Dracula—Rogue immediately stashed the letter away. The Dracula family, a royal bloodline among their kind, was strangely popular in other worlds. Rogue felt relieved and attempted to memorize the name swiftly. Elizabeth noticed this subtle movement and sighed inwardly, but she understood that it was just a name. The time they spent together was a testament that they didn't need such trivial things to feel close. Elizabeth didn't know she was just coping at this point.
Rogue and Elizabeth resolved to continue exploring the frozen planet, but this time, Rogue had a specific goal in mind. "I want to raid a cavern of corrosion," she declared. A cavern of corrosion bore the marks of fragmentum, the result of Stellaron's corrosive impact on reality. Essentially, it served as a portal leading to an unknown space filled with fragmentum creatures and relics trapped by time, presenting glimpses of the past in the present or something equally significant.
For Rogue, she referred to it as a dungeon—a prime spot for harvesting blood from creatures due to the overwhelming numbers within. However, such caverns were not common; they were quite rare but likely to be found in a Stellaron-stricken planet. As they continued their journey, Rogue repeatedly drained blood from the same fragmentum creatures they encountered. In the distance, they spotted a humanoid shape.
"It's a fragmentum creature... a former human replaced by corruption," Rogue observed, gripping her rapier. However, she decided against killing the creature in one stroke.
To maximize her yield, Rogue needed to make several lacerations. She approached the creature leisurely, and the humanoid entity slowly stood straight, readying its weapon. Its posture and stance still bore the remnants of its former host, a militant of some sort. It rushed towards Rogue, but before the creature knew it, its limbs started to falter.
Blue liquid began to coagulate from the sudden cuts, defying natural laws. Properties akin to smoke emanated from its body, floating in the air. The creature couldn't move another inch; despite not experiencing pain, its entire body refused to cooperate. More and more cuts appeared as Rogue didn't cease making shallow incisions. The creature grew weaker with each passing moment, the blue liquid continuously siphoned by a crimson shroud engulfing it.
Finally, the creature's body dissipated without a trace, leaving only Rogue's satisfied expression as she bled it dry.
"The very fact that this type exists means there are still living humans here," Elizabeth analyzed the probability of human survival, easily deducing, "The architects were here." The followers of Qlipoth had one goal: to preserve civilization. As Qlipoth had once quoted, 'build some goddamn walls'—those might not be the exact words, but the idea was clear. Rogue's eyes revealed a hint of desire. Perhaps she could drink a diluted blessing of preservation from here, or encounter a path strider of preservation and take a little bite.
The best scenario would be if the original architects were still alive, but their descendants would suffice. Maybe there were remnants of Qlipoth's blessings in their bloodline. This wasn't her home world; the laws didn't apply here. She looked at Elizabeth, and Elizabeth shattered her hopes.
"You cannot hurt humans, Rogue. You should get their consent if you want their blood," Elizabeth stated, making Rogue want to argue. She couldn't quite comprehend Elizabeth's compassion, but she accepted it. It wasn't the first time Rogue had to convince a human peacefully.
They observed a path that seemed frequently used and decided to proceed cautiously, ensuring they stayed inconspicuous. If they encountered a human, they could easily make themselves imperceptible, but the snow trails could spoil that plan. They opted to move among the trees and cliffs on the path, avoiding stepping onto the snow to avert suspicion. They couldn't afford to reveal themselves, considering this area appeared to be the last bastion of surviving humans.
Reaching the peak of the hill, they beheld a city enclosed by a wall.
Rogue whistled at the sight. "Less than 100k, that's pitifully low," she commented on the city's population, especially since everyone seemed concentrated here. "There are people underground too," Rogue muttered, using her hunter instincts to gauge the city's population.
Her eyes widened as she located the Stellaron on a cliff next to the city. She sensed that it was sealed, but the seal was quite old, and its influence seemed to be growing stronger. However, that wasn't what surprised Rogue the most—the cavern of corrosion was inside the city.
Rogue glanced at Elizabeth, who thought for a moment. With a simple tug, a native bird fell towards them. Rogue sank her teeth into it for a split second, and with a crimson puff, she transformed into the exact bird that Elizabeth had killed. Elizabeth did the same, sinking her teeth into the exact spot where Rogue had, and transformed into a bird.
"I'll probably stay inside the cavern for several days. Do you want to do something else?" Rogue questioned Elizabeth telepathically.
Elizabeth responded, "I want to learn more about this planet. I might sneak into the castle and gather information. If Astralis is going to become more robust, I need to personally learn about other cultures, maybe sneak in and grab blueprints from the architects themselves."
Rogue flew towards the outer part of the city, while Elizabeth headed towards the inner part.
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