Capítulo 78: Chapter 77: A Goal Towards Growth
Next Morning,
In a throne room, the interiors decorated with the most serene features one could ever see, still managed to take a back seat to a glorious golden throne.
On this throne sat Morgan leaning on her hand, gazing at Ricky standing on the luxurious floor beneath their feet.
"Oh for f*cks sake!" Ricky yelled, seeing this god forsaken hall once again along with the beautiful woman perched on the golden throne.
By now, reliving this dream felt like torture, as Ricky was always forced to watch the scene unfold however, this time, when he glanced around for Percival, he realized something.
Instead of Percival, Ricky saw that only he and the beautiful woman seated on the throne were present in the grand hall.
As he touched the surroundings, patting the objects around him and realizing his hands didn't phase through them, a lecherous smile crept across his face.
"Finally, I'm lucid for once." Ricky, thinking this was a dream, popped his collar as he walked toward the woman he had dreamt of countless times but could never touch, always finding her seated and just out of reach.
"Man, I swear, every time I had this dream, I always begged to be able to cup those balloons strapped to your chest-"
*BOOM*
*BAM*
A mere second later, Ricky was thrown into the wall, his eyes widening as the pain he felt within his own dreamscape was all too real.
"So this is the new Black Knight, almost a spitting image of Percival." Morgan raised a brow, observing his pervy behavior as, even when his eyes fluttered open, they immediately landed back on her chest.
"Ow~" Ricky slowly slid down the wall until his butt hit the floor, still gazing at Morgan's chest, who rolled her eyes at him.
"It seems you didn't inherit Percival's chivalry, but that doesn't matter." Morgan smirked, rising from her throne and slowly swaying toward him.
"What matters is that sword of yours." Morgan's eyes flashed green as she gazed at Ricky, who responded with a smile.
"Baby, if you wanted to play with my sword all you had to do was-" Ricky immediately took her offer as a suggestion for something else, only to be interrupted by a sharp glare.
"Listen to me young Black Knight" Morgan suddenly offered her hand, which glowed with a green light.
"Swear loyalty to me and serve your rightful queen, or die by my hands." Morgan's eyes dared him, and Ricky couldn't help but raise the corners of his lips into a smile.
"How exactly would I serve you, like in your chambers-" Ricky genuinely asked, only for his words to be interrupted once again.
"ENOUGH!" Percival appeared, ripping apart the dreamscape, as Morgan clicked her tongue and shot a glare down at Ricky.
"Brace yourself young Black Knight, for we shall meet again."
[Mission Received: Agatha Harkness.]
Difficulty: Medium
Character Sheet: S
Description: Agatha is a witch that governs over one of the most powerful witch covens in the world and has been around America since Salem. However, although Agatha is a woman of immense magical prowess and strength within her community, at times she becomes overwhelmed with stress and looks for ways to relieve it.
Objective: Help Agatha relieve her stress and give her a gift with it
Reward: 100,000
Main Mission:
Impregnante Once:
Choose: 150 Gacha or Agatha's Magical Powers
Impregnate Twice:
Rewards: 150 Gacha or Agatha's Proficiencies in Magic
Additional Missions:
Sleep with her within your first encounter with Agatha(Complete):
Reward: Legendary Coupon
Impregnate Agatha within her coven(Incomplete):
Reward: Legendary Coupon
Completely mind f*ck the witch who is known for her arts in mind control(Complete):
Reward: Legendary Coupon
Bonus Missions:
Turn the tables on her sadistic tendencies during any of your encounters.
Reward: 50,000 IP
???????????????????
???????????????????
Overwhelm Agatha while she was in control(Complete):
Reward: Epic Armor Coupon
???????????????????
???????????????????
*GASP*
"What the-" Ricky gasped awake, sitting up only to see Agatha putting on her clothes from the side.
"You were under a spell, do you need some time to recover?" Agatha asked as she put on her leggings, having witnessed Percival rip apart Ricky's dream right in front of him.
"Yeah, give me a minute." Ricky held up a hand, rubbing his head as he regained his composure.
'First, open the coupons.'
*Ding*
Received:
(Epic Armor) Lightbringer Shinguards: A radiant set of armor that glows with holy light. It is designed for Paladins and enhances their healing abilities, making them formidable support characters in the heat of battle.
- Effects: Increases any healing magic and or holy magic used when equipped.
(Legendary Skill) Ethereal Chains: The ability to create mystical chains that can bind or restrain targets. These chains could be unbreakable or possess other mystical properties though that is only up to the power embedded into these chains by the user.
(Legendary Skill) Ethereal Sanctuary: The ability to create a protective sanctuary that shields allies from harm. This sanctuary might be invisible or take on a specific form, providing a safe haven in the midst of battle.
Condition: Only the user's allies are able to take refuge in this Sanctuary and in doing so, are completely protected for up to an hour
Condition Two: The user is only able to use this skill once per day
'Alright, I guess I chose Agatha's magical powers.' Ricky thought about how this was only the second time he had ever picked powers over gacha, the morning sun shining down on his face.
*Ding*
Received Powers:
+25 Mana
(Innate) Witchcraft Energy: The ability to use the powers and energies related to witchcraft.
(Innate) Soul Manipulation: the supernatural power to interact with and control the intangible essence of a person's soul. Users of this ability can perform actions such as extracting, transferring, enhancing, or damaging souls, often possessing a profound understanding of the spiritual aspects that define an individual's identity.
(Innate) Magical Awareness: The user is able to sense magic and to be aware of anything that affects her and her surroundings.
(Innate) Mystic Resistance: The user has an innate resistance against the mystic arts due to their witchcraft magical prowess.
(Innate) Witch Sight: The user can see things beyond what normal humans can such as the aimless ones.
(Innate) Voice Manipulation: The user now has the ability to manipulate voices to sound like others.
Ricky gritted his teeth as he let out a deep breath as it felt as if his heart was expanding and confessing as Agatha's eyes snapped open.
'What is my status now?'
[Status]
Name: Ricky Luciano
Titles: Deadbeat, Royal Thug, Prodigal Son, Witch's Gigolo
Age: 15
Born: October, 27, 1918
Race: Human
Strength: 34 (Lower realm of Superhuman strength)
Stamina: 30 (Lower realm of Superhuman.)
Vitality: 36 (Lower realm of Superhuman.)
Agility: 28(Above peak adult male)
Dexterity: 32(Lower realm of Superhuman strength)
Intelligence: 7 (You've grown but that doesn't mean your not an Idiot)
Mana: 30→55 (Middle realm of Superhuman.)
Charm: 31 (Your charm is at the peak of humanity and at the cusp of superhuman)
Appearance: 32 (A superhuman appearance that transcends humans.)
'Wait, I'm a Gigolo-'
"You." Agatha lunged toward him, her curiosity overshadowed by something deeper as her hands grasped his chin and turned his face toward her.
Her eyes glowed purple while Ricky smiled, captivated by her bouncing, perky breasts.
"Me." Ricky caressed her hips, momentarily forgetting about his problems in the heat of his lust.
However, as Ricky played with her body, Agatha was completely oblivious, her eyes confirming something that should have been impossible.
"So, we're not going to talk about how you're a witchkin now?" Agatha spoke up, squinting as she positioned herself on top of Ricky to catch his full attention.
"Can we have a little fun first?" Ricky asked until Agatha rested her hand on the shaft of his cock and squeezed tightly.
"Darling, putting aside how such a high-tier dream spell was cast on you, I need to know how you became a warlock." Agatha squeezed, and not in a good way, causing Ricky to clench his teeth while raising his hands in surrender.
"Something just awoke within me after we did the dirty, I swear," Ricky said, sort of lying, as Agatha's eyes lit up in purple, only to become even more confused.
"How are you telling the truth-"
*Knock*
*Knock*
"Uh Slick, we have a problem." Chores knocked on the outside of his door, prompting Ricky to frown.
"Can it wait?" Ricky asked, considering there was a busty beauty literally grabbing his cock while perched on top of him.
"Abraham's gone." Chores' voice came through the door as Ricky let out an aggrieved sigh.
"Give me 20-no, 30 minutes." Ricky started to speak, intending to say twenty, but Agatha pointed her thumb up, interrupting him.
"Whatever." Chores let out an aggrieved sigh before walking away.
Agatha raised an eyebrow at this but then pressed the tip of his member against her pussy lips, kissing the tip of his cock before sliding down onto it.
"Ah~"
30 minutes later,
*Huff*
*Huff*
*Huff*
Ricky was huffing out breaths of air as Agatha let out a refreshed sigh, lightly patting his chest after literally draining him dry for the last thirty minutes.
"So, how do you know Abraham?" Agatha finally asked, walking off the bed and grabbing a tissue to wipe away the oncoming flood.
After she finished, she snapped her fingers, and a black dress materialized around her.
"He was supposed to teach me magic, but now that I've got a busty witch, I think I'll be just fine." Ricky flashed a toothy smile, only to watch her cackle with laughter at how ridiculous his words sounded.
"Darling, back in the day, Abraham was the strongest mortal magic core user and was said to be at the pinnacle of his craft," Agatha suddenly revealed, surprising Ricky since to him he looked nothing more than a homeless bum.
"He was that strong?" Ricky asked as Agatha tossed his pants at him while nodding.
"Not only that, but even some deities within the magic realm feared his potential." Agatha said, then sat on the edge of the bed.
"I can teach you everything you need to know about witchcraft, but compared to Abraham, even as the most powerful witch, I'm severely lacking." Agatha explained, considering how she would feel if she were in his position.
"What happened to him, he can't even-"
"No one knows." Agatha let out a small sigh and shrugged, leaning back while looking up at the ceiling.
"One day, the Van Heislings were finally on the verge of slaying Dracula, and the next, Abraham became the last of his kin," Agatha said, recalling the day Abraham turned into a hollow shell of his former self, as the Van Heilslings didn't hide the fact that Dracula had been plaguing them for centuries.
"The next time I saw Abraham, he was but a mere hollow shell of his former." Agatha side-eyed Ricky, speaking highly of Abraham and looking a little disappointed that Ricky didn't share her views.
"There are many theories but the only thing that is confirmed is that Abraham had his heart and core ripped out by Dracula who now uses it as a conduit." Agatha finished her explanation of everything she knew, then stood up as a purple portal appeared.
"Here." Agatha flashed a small smile and threw a purple necklace at him.
"Whenever you want to learn about your fellow witches and warlocks, imbue your innate magic into it until it breaks." Agatha waved, swaying her hips in a way that made Ricky's eyes follow her from side to side.
"What if I want to use it for a good time?" Ricky asked, only to see Agatha pause at the helm of the gates.
"I'll find you, darling," Agatha winked at him, her small smile turning lustful before stepping into the portal.
Ricky bit his knuckle, his eyes glued to the beautiful curve of her ass as he shook his head.
"God, the women here are so goddamn hot," Ricky thought, shaking his head as he put on his clothes and walked out of the room, the orb still pointing in a random direction.
'It's unfortunate but you won't be able to run Abraham.'
3 hours later,
Meanwhile in the city of Aprilia Italy,
Abraham stood on a train car, looking out the window while rubbing his eyes as he had left the tavern after sleeping for five hours and had spent the rest of the time on the train.
"Sorry kid, but you're better off with that witch-" Abraham let out a light sigh, gazing out at the beautiful scenery.
"I don't know about that; she said you were the best, after all." Ricky spoke from the side, causing Abraham to freeze and slowly turn his head, revealing a horrified expression.
"Hello," Barko said as he hopped into the seat next to Abraham before moving around.
"Hello, Abraham." Chores nodded, following Ricky as he sat in the aisle seat to block any chance of escape while Ricky took the seat in front of him.
"So, where are we headed?" Ricky asked curiously, pulling the ticket out of his shirt pocket.
"Young Ricky seems to be in a state of distress." Alexander noted, and Ricky nodded as Percival floated above them.
"Ah, Aprilla, I've had many battles here." Percival recollected, with Alexander nodding in agreement.
"H-How did you-"
"I have my ways, Abraham." Ricky chuckled as Henry landed on Abraham's head and tilted his head.
Abraham wore an ugly expression, feeling like Ricky was a flea he couldn't swat away no matter how hard he tried.
"I'm not teaching you-"
"Yes, you are." Ricky quickly corrected himself just as Alexander delivered a swift hit to his neck as if trying to kill a fly swarming at his neck.
"You want another teacher already? What about us?" Alexander asked in frustration, and Percival didn't need to speak to understand his words.
"You shouldn't be so hasty about learning so much at once," Percival said as Ricky merely shrugged though Abraham thumped his head against the chair in exasperation.
"Why do you even want me to teach you magic when I can't even use it?" Abraham questioned, playing his last card, but Ricky wasn't buying it.
"I already know you had magic before it was ripped away by Dracula," Ricky said, watching as Abraham's eyes dropped in sadness.
"I-"
*SIGH*
"Fine, you want the truth, kid? The real truth?" Abraham said, looking up at Ricky, whose expression read 'finally.'
"Yes, I mean it feels like you've been keeping this story all to yourself, and I'm curious as to why. From what Agatha said about you, at one point, you were able to kill Dracula, and then the next, you lost." Ricky pressed, watching as Abraham covered his mouth while rubbing his prickly beard before turning his gaze back to him.
"I always see that day whenever I close my eyes." Abraham whispered, shutting his eyes as the images replayed on his eyelids like a projector.
"On that day, I was sure I would free the Van Helsing name, and everyone who shared my curse believed it too." Abraham said, his gaze distant as the image of over thirty people huddled before a mysterious castle flickered in his mind's eye.
"We stormed Dracula's castle, and although some of us fell, we outnumbered him ten to one," Abraham's voice trembled, recalling the next scene with a haunting clarity.
"In our last battle, I destroyed his magic core, forcing him into a corner. I thought-....I thought that if I kept pushing, we'd finally be free." Abraham said, his voice heavy with regret, as the next scene unfolded, threatening to bring tears to his eyes.
"We should've known that Dracula wouldn't play by our rules. When he retreated towards his throne room we arrived soon after to the sight of all of our loved ones already there, chained and bound." Abraham continued, the smile on Ricky's face fading completely.
"Before the battle even started, as we were breaching the gates, Dracula discovered where we were hiding the non-combatants and kidnapped the ones he hadn't already killed." Abraham said, his words heavy with sorrow. His hands trembled as the haunting images flashed in his mind, each one more vivid than the last.
"Then he shattered our morale by transforming them into ghouls before our very eyes. My cousins rushed to save them, only to fall into his trap." Abraham's voice trembled with anguish, and Ricky felt a jolt of realization strike him like a thunderclap.
"Corpse-"
"Corpse explosion, the only members still alive were my son and daughter-in-law," Abraham said, his voice breaking as tears streamed down his cheeks.
The weight of his words hung heavily in the air, a painful testament to the loss that haunted him.
"My whole life, I always thought about the greater good. It was all I ever preached," Abraham said, his voice trembling as he raised his shirt to reveal the jagged scar etched across his chest.
"But when I saw the last of my family blown to bits and my son bound before me, I cracked." Abraham uttered as the raw emotion in his voice shattered the façade he had built, exposing the deep scars of his past.
"I f*cking cracked." Abraham slightly broke down that stubborn facade, each word resonated with the weight of his shattered world, a haunting reminder of that fateful day.
"It was stupid but I made a deal with Dracula, in return for giving my core that he would let my son go and-"
"He didn't follow through, did he?" Ricky ventured, his voice a soft whisper in the heavy silence that enveloped them.
Abraham remained quiet, his gaze fixed downward, the weight of unshed memories pressing down on him.
Tears streamed faster down his cheeks, each one a testament to the pain and loss that had haunted him for so long.
"Not only did he break his promise, but he tortured them both to death right in front of me," Abraham said, his voice low and trembling with suppressed anger.
"And just when I thought my misery would end, he ripped out my own son's heart... and put it inside me." Abraham's hand clenched tightly over the scarred skin above his heart, the pain of the memory still fresh in his mind.
"He knew-....he knew that I wouldn't be able to end it all if I had my son's heart," Abraham muttered, his voice barely audible, as if the weight of the confession was crushing him.
In that moment, he seemed like an entirely different person, broken and vulnerable.
Ricky looked at him in silence, unable to muster even a hint of sarcasm or humor, the gravity of Abraham's pain too overwhelming to mock.
"That day, I lost everything. I went from the most powerful magic user to the most pathetic," Abraham admitted, his voice hollow as he took out his flask again, swallowing his sorrows with another long drink, the weight of his past pressing down on him.
"I should've waited-...made sure my loved ones were safe before acting. I should've been stronger, but I was too eager and stupid," Abraham muttered, his voice cracking under the weight of regret.
His broken facade slowly reformed into the familiar mask of the alcoholic, as he drowned himself in his flask, numbing the pain that gnawed at him relentlessly.
"I'll only end up failing you, kid. That's what I do best," Abraham muttered, slumping in his seat, his eyes distant and heavy with self-loathing.
Ricky frowned, watching the man who once seemed completely uncaring to anyone's words crumble under the weight of his own.
In that moment, Ricky saw a reflection of his future self in Abraham as the more he tried to deny it, the clearer the vision became, a haunting glimpse of what he could become if he never left New York.
The weight of that realization pressed heavily on Ricky's chest, the fear of reverting to who he once was frightening him more than the prospect of dying in that very moment.
Change is hard, the hardest part being the constant struggle to keep moving forward, even when climbing the mountain seems impossible.
Sometimes, you will stumble back down, but it is how you keep getting up and pushing toward the summit that defines who you are.
A sudden, seemingly foolish thought bloomed in Ricky's mind and yet, as ridiculous as it felt, he knew he couldn't return to New York without proving to himself that he wouldn't end up like Abraham.
The fear of failure and self-destruction loomed, but he was determined to overcome it and with slight breath, he faced Abraham/
"Help me hone my core magic, and I'll help you kill Dracula," Ricky said, his voice firm and unwavering.
For the first time in his life, Ricky was committing to an uncertainty he wasn't sure he could overcome.
But this time, he was willing to face the unknown, no matter the outcome.
"And I'm supposed to believe that? How do I know you won't just run off after I teach you everything, leaving me to face Dracula alone?" Abraham asked, his voice laced with skepticism.
Ricky paused, thinking for a moment as the question was fair, and trust wasn't something easily given, especially after what Abraham had been through.
"Because I don't want to wind up like you when I finally go back home," Ricky replied, his voice steady as Abraham frowned.
Abraham's situation felt eerily similar to his own, and the thought of becoming a reflection of that future, lost and broken, actually started to terrify him.
It was a motivation as strong as any, pushing him to seek a different path, one that would force him to grow rather than take the easy route.
Ricky knew that facing challenges head-on was the only way to avoid the fate that loomed over him like a shadow.
Abraham looked at Ricky, feeling a deep-seated resentment for the young man who reminded him so painfully of what he once was before he lost it all.
It was as if Ricky represented the life he had squandered, the potential that had slipped through his fingers.
But in that bitterness lay a flicker of hope; if he could redeem Ricky, perhaps he could find a way to redeem himself as well as his heart steadied at the thought, grappling with the duality of his feelings.
"Fine, but I still don't trust you," Abraham said, holding out his hand as Ricky grabbed it firmly, a grin breaking across his face.
"Me neither." Ricky laughed, officially gathering his third teacher, and with it, a chance to forge a new path.
"Then let's go hunt a vampire."
3 months later,
In the brisk of night, a cool breeze swept through the air, carrying with it the scent of damp earth and distant echoes of nocturnal life.
"Are you sure about him?" Ricky asked, watching as Abraham nodded and slipped on a familiar cross-like necklace.
Abraham had actually swiped this from Father Sebastian before his departure, unable to resist the allure of such a powerful artifact.
"I don't know, but we'll find out," Abraham murmured, determination glinting in his eyes as he stood up, glancing back at Barko, who was still savoring his food.
"Come on, Barko, you're with me." Abraham led the way, striding purposefully toward the man seated across the way, a young girl sitting nearby.
Barko quickly shifted gears, transforming into a playful, lovable dog as he bounded over to the girl, tail wagging and eyes sparkling with mischief.
He playfully nudged her leg, eliciting a delighted laugh as she reached down to pet him.
Meanwhile, Abraham leaned in closer to the man, his voice low and steady as the man fidgeted, unable to meet Abraham's gaze, his eyes darting nervously around him.
Over the past three months, Ricky had immersed himself in the intricate world of magic, steadily unraveling its mysteries.
Each day had brought new lessons, each encounter deepening his understanding of spells, incantations, and the delicate balance that governed the arcane arts.
Learning magic was an entirely different beast compared to practicing with the sword or bow; it compelled Ricky to confront his greatest challenge, his own mind.
Magic demanded that he learn, understand, and strategize, placing his mental acuity at the forefront of every endeavor.
This mental rigor not only expanded his knowledge but also catalyzed profound personal growth, pushing him beyond his previous limits and forcing him to transform into a more capable and introspective individual.
Intelligence: 7→12
Ricky's mind was finally beginning to flourish, each breakthrough in his magical studies contributing to a steady enhancement of his cognitive abilities.
With every spell he mastered and every incantation he practiced, he felt a newfound clarity and sharpness taking root within him.
All the while, he continued to hone his skills with the sword and bow. His swordsmanship had evolved from that of a common beginner to an uncommon level of proficiency, a significant leap in skill.
Meanwhile, his archery had blossomed into a rare expertise, allowing him to hit targets with precision that few could match.
Alexander and Percival were strikingly similar in their dedication to training Ricky, yet their approaches to combat were vastly different.
Percival, a master swordsman, excelled in direct confrontations, his skills far surpassing Alexander within the realm of the sword.
This expertise made him the natural choice for Ricky's swordsmanship training.
However, Percival's method was not to impose his own style; rather, he aimed to help Ricky discover and cultivate his own unique fighting technique.
In contrast, Alexander's brilliance lay in his strategic mind, honed through years of leadership as a general.
His teachings extended beyond mere weaponry and hand-to-hand combat; he focused on how to navigate the complexities of battle itself.
Alexander imparted lessons on situational awareness, teaching Ricky how to respond effectively to various scenarios and claim victory against overwhelming odds.
Through this comprehensive training, Ricky learned to maneuver with all the tools at his disposal, blending tactical insight with his growing martial skill.
Amidst all this, Abraham's approach to magic training emphasized the importance of integration rather than domination.
He believed that magic should enhance Ricky's fighting style, filling in the gaps of his other skills rather than overshadowing them.
While Alexander and Percival concentrated on offensive capabilities, Abraham shifted Ricky's magical focus toward defensive tactics and supportive spells.
By honing Ricky's ability to use magic for protection and assistance, Abraham aimed to create a well-rounded fighter.
This perspective not only diversified Ricky's combat strategies but also empowered him to adapt to various challenges, making him a more formidable opponent on the battlefield.
Initially a poor learner, Ricky faced numerous challenges in his magical studies.
However, with Abraham's patient guidance and unwavering support, he gradually transformed into a competent practitioner.
Not only did he become proficient in the basic uses of magic, but he also learned to control elemental forces.
This newfound mastery culminated in the development of his skill: (Uncommon Skill) Elemental Control.
"This isn't going to work," Chores said, his expression disgruntled as he stood there dressed entirely as a mime, complete with white face paint and a black-and-white striped shirt as the absurdity of the situation weighed heavily on him.
"I concur; this plan seems ludicrous," Percival added, hovering just above Ricky, his arms crossed in disapproval as his tone dripped with skepticism, clearly unamused by the unfolding antics.
"No, don't listen to them, young Ricky. This plan of yours is sound and will come to fruition," Alexander said, patting Ricky's shoulder with an approving gaze as his encouragement bolstered Ricky's confidence, igniting a spark of determination within him.
"Hey, you were the one who drew the short straw, so stop complaining and don't mess this up," Ricky retorted, a playful smirk dancing on his lips as he glanced at the brutish-looking Chores.
With a resigned sigh, Chores stepped into the road, preparing to begin the peculiar performance that lay ahead.
*Pffft*
Ricky couldn't contain his laughter as Chores began his mime act in the bustling square.
The contrast between Chores' imposing stature and his exaggerated, silent gestures was both absurd and captivating.
As the hulking figure moved with unexpected grace, the curious onlookers started to gather, their faces lighting up with intrigue.
"KILL!"
"Arck." Ricky let out a grunt, a slight twinge of pain shooting through his skull as he pressed a hand against his head.
The sword at his side vibrated ominously, responding to the disturbance as Percival, hovering above, frowned at the unsettling display, his concern palpable.
"KILL!"
"KILL!"
"KILL-"
"One more kill out of you, and I swear I won't ever unsheathe you again," Ricky whispered hatefully to the sword residing in his mind.
"....."
Ricky glanced down at his troubled sword, which thirsted for blood with an insatiable hunger, like a father grappling with the bitter truth about the truth that his innocent daughter was nothing but a common whore.
The ebony blade's craving intensified with every life not taken and every drop of blood not spilled, a cruel consequence of its dark nature.
Each moment he resisted its call felt like a weight pressing against his sanity, a reminder that failure to quench the blade's thirst could send his psyche spiraling into chaos.
With a flicker of resentment, Ricky glared at the sword as its relentless demands gnawed at him, twisting his thoughts and taunting his sense of control.
Even when he wielded the sword, he felt like a puppet strung along by an insidious force, and the more he fought against it, the stronger its grip became.
At the dead of night, the sword would suddenly lodge itself and vibrate in his hand, jolting him awake, and its persistent restlessness was starting to infuriate him.
Each time it throbbed, Ricky could feel the blade's insatiable hunger reverberating through his bones, almost begging him to kill and quench its thirst for blood.
He couldn't shake the curiosity about the enigmatic woman he had learned was Morgan le Fey, the half-sister of King Arthur.
Yet, despite his pressing questions, Percival remained tight-lipped as the only response Ricky ever received was a cryptic promise: 'When it is time, I will tell you everything'.
It was frustrating, but Ricky decided to leave it at that, knowing he had to focus on his training and the battles ahead, even as the mysteries of his past and the sword's true nature loomed over him like a storm cloud.
"We'll kill some vampires, so calm down and be a good bloodthirsty sword," Ricky muttered, tapping the sword's handle with a mix of irritation and resolve.
He peeked across the bustling street, spotting Barko skillfully leading the seemingly hypnotized girl away, his charm working wonders.
Meanwhile, he caught sight of Abraham, steadying his grip on the crossbow, his expression a blend of focus and determination.
"TO ME, MY GHOULS!" The vampire screeched, a high-pitched wail that echoed through the night as it hurled Abraham to the other side, sending him crashing into a nearby fruit stall.
Ripe oranges and apples tumbled to the ground, splattering juice across the cobblestones as the stall collapsed under the sudden impact.
"Dammit!" Ricky rushed forward, unsheathing his sword with a swift motion, the blade gleaming ominously in the dim light.
He could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on him as he prepared to face the vampire, whose eyes glinted with malevolence.
With a feral snarl, the vampire leaped onto the roof of a nearby building, flames gathering beneath its feet as he rushed forward.
'Come on!' Ricky cheered himself on, feeling his flying training improve as he was lifted into the air, the ledge drawing closer.
"I DID IT-Ah~" Ricky cheered, but his triumph quickly turned to pain as he banged his knee against the ledge of the building, causing him to stumble forward.
"YOUNG RICKY TO YOUR RIGHT!" Alexander yelled from his shirt pocket, his voice filled with concern as he saw Ricky clutching his knee.
*CLING*
Ricky instinctively swung his sword, his reflexes kicking in as Alexander let out a startled screech as the vampire turned its gaze toward them, a predatory glint flashing in its eyes.
"It's you!" The vampire's grin widened as it took in Ricky's black knight attire, its eyes glinting with a mix of amusement and hunger.
"Have we met or something?" Ricky narrowed his eyes, curiosity mingling with defiance as the vampire attempted to push his claws further into him.
The ebony blade, however, stood resolute, acting as the sole barrier against the attack as its dark sheen shimmered, absorbing the malicious intent of the vampire's assault.
"Dracula has put a bounty on your head." The vampire's eyes glinted with greed as he surveyed Ricky, viewing him as nothing more than a prized bounty.
"Oh yeah, how many untainted virgins did he offer?" Ricky kicked the vampire away, creating a momentary distance between them as he steadied himself, the ebony blade raised defensively before him.
Ricky smirked, his bravado evident as he tossed the question out, feigning nonchalance.
The vampire paused, a flicker of surprise crossing its face, momentarily taken aback by his words.
"Thirty-five. How did you know about the reward? It's only talked about in the vampiric circle." the vampire replied, a mix of surprise and suspicion in its voice.
Ricky tilted his head, a smirk playing on his lips as he realized he had hit the nail on the head.
"Huh, would you look at that?" Ricky mused, a mix of surprise and amusement flickering across his face.
"Anyways, why are Dracula's vampires in Germany?" Ricky asked, probing for the information that Abraham had been eager to uncover.
The vampire's expression shifted, the playful banter giving way to a more serious tone as it contemplated the question.
"What does it matter? You-"
*SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEE*
The vampire was poised to unleash a snide remark, but before the words could escape his lips, Ricky engulfed himself in flames, a display of his pyrokinesis that sent the vampire screeching in agony.
Desperate to escape the searing heat, the vampire attempted to retreat, only to collide with Ricky's force field.
"AHHHHHHHH!" The vampire let out a bone-chilling scream as Ricky, with a swift and precise motion, sliced through both of his legs in a single fell swoop.
The once-menacing creature collapsed to the ground, writhing in agony, his severed limbs pooling crimson against the cobblestone.
"Alright, you got two options." Ricky forcefully slammed his foot onto the vampire's back, pinning him to the ground.
He rested the bloodthirsty sword on his shoulder, a menacing grin spreading across his face as he surveyed the crippled vampire.
"Either I can make your last moments filled with excruciating pain, or we can save all this trouble and I can send you off with one clean slash to the head." Ricky declared, his tone laced with a chilling calmness.
The vampire's eyes widened in fear as he bit his lip, weighing the grim options presented before him.
"C-Can I-"
"No, you have to make the decision right now." Ricky spoke, decisively stomping out any chance the vampire had to consider his options as Alexander shook his head from his shoulder.
"Save yourself some trouble young Ricky, he won't-"
"I don't know much, but all I know is that it's called Weapons Plus!" The vampire blurted out, panic creeping into his voice.
But before he could finish, a blood-curdling scream escaped his lips as Ricky plunged the sword into his heart, silencing him forever.
The light faded from the vampire's eyes, leaving only the darkness of the night to bear witness to the brutal conclusion.
However, instead of meeting a quick end, the vampire's eyes fluttered open to a calm eyed Ricky who stood over him, sword still poised and ready.
"I TOLD YOU EVERYTHING I KNOW, YOU SAID-" The vampire screeched at Ricky, his voice dripping with hatred as he hurled insults and curses, Ricky, unfazed, merely shrugged.
"Yeah, but this sword keeps rambling on about torture, blood, and killing, so I thought I'd pacify it here rather than later." Ricky remarked, his voice dripping with dark humor as he relentlessly stabbed the vampire beneath him, who screamed in agony.
The night was filled with the sound of metal meeting rotten flesh, echoing through the rooftops.
After three long minutes of torment, the vampire finally faded into obscurity, and Ricky felt a sense of satisfaction as the ebony blade quieted, its thirst temporarily sated.
With a swift motion, he sheathed the sword and hopped off the building as Abraham, grumbling softly, massaged his old joints as he rose to his feet, the weariness of battle evident in his movements.
"They're involved in something called 'Weapons Plus,'" Ricky informed Abraham, who frowned in thought while rubbing his chin.
"I haven't heard of it, but good work," Abraham replied, nodding in approval and just then, Barko strolled over to them.
"Should I tell Chores that he's good to go?" Barko asked, glancing toward Chores, who was surrounded by a captivated crowd, fully immersed in his miming performance.
"Nah, I saw him practicing for so long, so we should let him have his moment," Ricky replied with a grin, nudging Abraham playfully.
Abraham chuckled, the tension from earlier melting away as they watched Chores revel in the spotlight, clearly enjoying the attention and the art of performance.
2 hours later,
"So I mimed for another two hours, and you already finished after five minutes!" Chores shouted, flinging his black beret onto the ground in frustration as they entered the dimly lit bar.
"Whoa there, big guy, that's not how a mime should act." Ricky teased, raising his hand to calm him down, while Barko turned away, trying to suppress his laughter.
*Sigh*
"I need a barrel to drown away this embarrassment," Chores sighed, shaking his head in exasperation as he strode past them, making a beeline for the bar and Barko trailed closely behind, sharing a knowing grin.
"Your six," Alexander whispered, his voice barely audible as Ricky subtly shifted his gaze toward Abraham, who caught on without a word as Ricky straightened, taking a cautious step forward.
"No need to be afraid, gentlemen. I'm only here to talk." The man said, his tone calm yet firm. The man in the corner of the bar, a shadowy figure cloaked in a dark coat, immediately sensed he'd been detected.
He raised his hands in a gesture of peace, a smirk creeping onto his face as he assessed the room.
Abraham and Ricky approached a booth where a man sat dressed in a fine suit, a fedora tilted low over the upper half of his face.
As they took their seats, the man greeted them with a warm smile, lifting his head just enough to reveal a pair of piercing eyes glinting with mischief.
"Kid, don't listen to anything he says," Abraham warned, his scowl deepening as he glared at the devilishly sharp man across the table.
The man, unfazed, shifted his attention to Ricky, a sly smile playing on his lips.
"Now, now, don't let him discourage you." The man said, his voice smooth and enticing.
"I am-"
"A piece of sh*t." Abraham finished the man's words before he could, resulting in his eyebrow twitching with disdain.
"I am-"
"Known by many names, most commonly as a demon, Satan, but I prefer to go by Mephisto," Abraham rolled his eyes, his irritation palpable as he completed Mephisto's self-introduction with a sarcastic flourish
"Never heard of you," Ricky remarked coolly, leaning back in his seat, the polished black armor of the Black Knight glinting faintly in the dim light of the bar.
"Then I've done a splendid job." Mephisto replied, his voice smooth and enticing.
"Since in my line of work, we tend to hide in the shadows." Mephisto raised the edge of his smile, his eyes locking onto Ricky with an intensity that sent a shiver down the young knight's spine.
"I have information-"
"We're good." Abraham interjected, drawing Mephisto's gaze away from Ricky and onto him.
"Oh Abraham, do you think so little of me?"
"Yes."
Abraham took a swig from his flask, his disdain evident as he regarded the man before him, convinced that even the lowest scum had more integrity than this figure in front of him.
"Listen, kid. He's here because, in short, he wants your soul." Abraham warned, gesturing towards Mephisto, who raised his hands in mock surrender.
"Guilty as charged; I do want both of your souls," Mephisto admitted, uncaring in his shamelessness for their souls to belong to him for eternity.
"However, I'm willing to part with valuable information for a worthy price, items of significance." Mephisto gestured towards the two, while Abraham frowned, rummaging through his coat, and Ricky began scanning his inventory for anything of worth.
Ricky, glancing at the trinkets in his inventory, hesitated before pulling out a particular item he hadn't used before.
A blue pendant glimmered in the dim light of the bar, its intricate design catching the eyes of both Abraham and Mephisto.
"May I inquire as to what that object is?" Mephisto asked, a spark of curiosity lighting up his eyes.
Despite its appearance as a simple pendant, he could sense the intricate carvings held secrets of a civilization he had yet to encounter.
"It's a pendant that contains the knowledge of the ancient civilization known as Cortaj," Ricky replied, waving it in the air.
Mephisto's eyes gleamed with greed, the allure of untapped wisdom igniting a hunger within him.
"That will suffice-"
"Only for some information." Ricky pulled the pendant back, a cautious glint in his eyes, causing Mephisto to frown.
The demon narrowed his gaze, suspicion flickering across his face as he assessed the young warrior's hesitation.
"Then what do you think is adequate?" Mephisto gestured, his voice smooth yet tinged with impatience as Ricky paused, contemplating his next move carefully.
"By the way, Percival," Mephisto continued, shifting his attention to the spectral knight hovering nearby.
"How is your descendant faring as the new Black Knight?" Mephisto surprised Ricky by acknowledging the presence of the ghost of the first Black Knight, a feat few could manage.
Percival, however, responded with a scowl, clearly unimpressed by the demon's casual tone.
"Do not be intimidated; he does not know of your identity," Percival interjected, preemptively crushing any bridge that might form between them as Ricky tilted his head in confusion, sensing the underlying tension.
"Do you two know each other?" Ricky asked, his curiosity piqued. Mephisto's grin widened, a flicker of amusement dancing in his eyes as he leaned back, clearly enjoying the unfolding drama.
"Of course I know Percival, we've made many deals back in the day." Mephisto politely smiled as Ricky looked up at Percival who sighed.
"Even I have made a deal with Mephisto." Alexander popped out of Ricky's shirt pocket, and Mephisto's eyes widened as he gazed at the gerbil before immediately recognizing him.
"Alexander!" Mephisto exclaimed, a look of genuine surprise crossing his face as he stood up and tugged the small creature off Ricky's shoulder.
"I thought you'd be in Hades' underworld! How did you end up inside the body of a gerbil?" Mephisto's shock was palpable, his brows raised in disbelief.
"It's all thanks to my young protégé that I ended up in this situation," Alexander explained, a hint of disdain in his voice.
"But I've learned to adapt and make the most of my circumstances." Alexander swatted Mephisto's stretched finger, who was utterly amazed by the unexpected turn of events.
The demon's eyes glimmered with curiosity and intrigue, captivated by the thought of a legendary figure now embodied in such an unassuming form.
"It's been nearly 1,700 years since we forged that deal, hasn't it?" Mephisto asked, his tone a mix of nostalgia and amusement as Alexander pondered the question, his mind drifting through the corridors of time.
"Yes, I suppose so." Alexander finally replied, a hint of weariness in his voice and with a graceful leap, he hopped off Ricky's shoulder and settled into the comfort of Ricky's shirt pocket.
"I must say, young man, you are quite the intriguing fellow." Mephisto remarked, his eyes gleaming with a sinister red light.
"If only we had met under different circumstances, say, without that damned armor, then I might truly know who you are beneath the façade." Mephisto's smile widened though he was clearly annoyed while Ricky thoughtfully rubbed his chin.
"Alright first tell me about this weapons plus-"
"That is not how I operate; the terms of the deal must be clearly laid out before I offer any of my knowledge," Mephisto said, shaking his finger playfully as a shimmering contract began to materialize beside him.
The parchment glimmered with an otherworldly light, and the words seemed to writhe as they awaited Ricky's decision.
"Fine, then," Ricky replied, his tone firm and unmovable while trying to hold a conversation with one of the oldest demons.
"I want to know about Weapons Plus and what it is, why everyone attacked the Vatican that night, and who is after me." Ricky outlined all his demands, but Mephisto erupted into a cackling laugh, his amusement filling the air..
"That is completely-"
"Then I guess we're done forming a deal." Ricky spoke as he returned the lorestone pendant to his inventory, realizing it was entirely useless to him after he had worn it the first time.
'A man by the name Fyuuuti, a commoner born, used to be notorious back in his day for stealing purple panties.'
The lorestone pendant was indeed a fascinating artifact, but Ricky found himself frustrated by its chaotic nature.
Rather than offering coherent insights, it delivered a jumbled message every minute, each one seemingly random.
Containing the entirety of Cortaj's history, the pendant felt more like a torrent of information than a source of clarity, leaving Ricky sifting through the noise for something of value.
"Wait." Mephisto raised his hand, his expression shifting to one of contemplation as he weighed the implications of the deal.
"Fine, but I'll only tell you five names, not all of them," Mephisto replied, a mischievous smile curling at the corners of his lips.
"Five names that hold equal weight to Abraham, and you've got a deal," Ricky countered, pointing firmly at Abraham.
Without missing a beat, Mephisto snatched the pendant from Ricky's grasp, his eyes glinting with a mix of greed and delight.
"Weapon's Plus is a program that Nazis are using to create powered individuals. However, the vampires are leveraging it to rid themselves of their weaknesses." Mephisto explained, his tone laced with a sinister glee as Abraham's expression darkened, reflecting the gravity of the revelation.
"They attacked that night to eliminate the source of the disruption in the field of magic. Once they realized it was you, their intent shifted. They would have likely aimed to kill you and steal your core." Mephisto added, a predatory smile playing on his lips as Ricky's brow furrowed in concern.
"And the five individuals who have taken an interest in that, people who are equal to or even above Abraham in power, are Selene, Dracula, Morgan Le Fey, Agatha, and me," Mephisto continued, leaving the implications of each name hanging in the air. Abraham's eyes widened in shock, the weight of Mephisto's words sinking in like lead.
"Selene, the Selene?" Abraham's voice quivered slightly at the mention of her name, his complexion paling as dread seeped into his expression.
"Indeed." Mephisto confirmed, standing up from the booth with an air of nonchalance. He began to walk toward the door, his posture relaxed yet purposeful.
"It's always a pleasure, Abraham. And for you, young Black Knight." Mephisto glanced back at Ricky with a knowing smile.
"I'll see you around, if you survive, that is." Mephisto left them with his laughter that echoed in the dim bar as he strolled out, leaving behind a heavy silence.
"Who's-" Ricky turned towards the pale Abraham, gripping his face with a firm yet concerned hold.
"You're f*cked."
Author's Note: Long chapter cause school's restarting and my upload schedule will change from Mon-Fri to Thurs-Sunday and that means 4 chapters a week. I also kinda want a break so I'll see you all next thrusday.
Capítulo 79: Chapter 78: Confrontation Over Weapons Plus
Author's Note: For those who were lost in the sauce and didn't read the last author's note, I changed my upload schedule to thursday-sunday.
"..." Ricky stood in silence for a long moment, watching as Abraham slumped deeper into the booth and one question weighed heavily on his mind, echoing in the stillness around them.
"Is she at least hot?" Ricky leaned in, his eyes dead serious as they locked onto Abraham.
He crossed his arms in front of his face, his expression unreadable, yet the question lingered with an odd gravity, cutting through the tension.
"Smoking."
"Oh, alright then." Ricky shrugged, figuring that if people were out to kill him, at least he could take some comfort in the fact that they might be a hot, busty babe.
"Selene is the strongest magical being and she's a mutant on top of that." Abraham said, shaking his head with a slightly aggrieved tone.
"Even the gods keep their distance after what she did to Apollo." Abraham informed Ricky, rubbing his arm as goosebumps crept up, the mere memory sending a chill through him.
"At best, she'll recruit you into her weird club; at worst, she'll kill you." Abraham's voice wavered slightly, betraying just how unnerving the tale of Selene truly was.
"Well, putting that aside, what do we do now? With everything going on, what's our next move?" Ricky asked, scratching his chin in slight curiosity as Abraham leaned back, downing the rest of his flask before letting out a heavy sigh.
"We wait." Abraham screwed the lid back on, his tone foreboding as he pocketed the flask.
"For what-"
*BAM*
"For that," Abraham muttered, pointing at the door just as it burst open, revealing a swarm of vampires slowly trickling in.
"ABRAHAM!" A man in an expensive suit with slick, pointy black hair roared, his voice cutting through the almost desolate bar.
Vampires filled the empty space with disdain, their gazes fixed on Abraham, who wore a confident smile in the face of their growing hostility.
"Eliphas, it's good to-"
"SHUT YOUR MOUTH!" Eliphas screeched as his face contorted into a hideous visage, resembling a common vampire but far more grotesque.
"Ugh, what the hell is that?" Ricky exclaimed, a look of disgust spreading across his face as he stared at Eliphas's morphed features.
"He's a man cursed by Selene," Abraham whispered, glancing nervously at Eliphas, whose ears perked up at the mention of her name.
"Jesus, what the hell did he do to deserve that?" Ricky wondered aloud, rubbing his face in disbelief as he focused on the foul creature before him.
"If your filthy mouth ever mentions her glorious name in front of me again, I'll rip out your throat myself." Eliphas growled, his tone icy as he stalked over to the booth.
Ricky's expression twisted into one of confusion and unease, caught between disbelief and the palpable threat emanating from the grotesque figure.
"Wait, she made your face like that and you still actually like her-"
*BAM*
Eliphas lunged forward, ready to punch Ricky, but was suddenly halted by a psychic barrier that materialized between them.
He looked down, scorn etched across his grotesque features, his vampiric form radiating anger as he glared at Ricky, his fury barely contained.
"I love her; don't confuse the two." Eliphas said, his voice dripping with intensity as Ricky burst into laughter, clearly bewildered.
"What is so funny?" Eliphas tone was slow and menacing, recoiling backwards and squinting his eyes.
"It's just that, I wouldn't even love my own mother if she gave birth to me and I looked like whatever the f*ck you are." Ricky gestured at Eliphas's grotesque vampiric features, showing his immense hesitance to accept such a fate given to him.
"Do you think you're funny by belittling my appearance?" Eliphas asked, his tone icy and his gaze unwavering. He showed no sign of being perturbed by Ricky's insults.
"No, I think it makes me hilarious," Ricky shrugged, a grin still plastered on his face as Eliphas let out a hollow laugh, tinged with scorn, the sound echoing in the charged atmosphere.
"In what world would anyone consider your words hilarious?" Eliphas placed his hands on the table, staring Ricky dead in the eye.
"I guess one with your mother in it?" Ricky blurted out, knowing he could have come up with something better but deciding to roll with the dice he'd cast.
"My mother is dead," Eliphas replied flatly, his tone devoid of emotion as he turned his attention back to Ricky.
"Then I guess the underworld must be filled with laughter." Ricky countered smiling slightly since his own words made him crack a smile.
Eliphas regarded him in silence for a long moment, his gaze intensely analyzing Ricky, seemingly ignoring Abraham entirely.
The situation was growing increasingly tense, the air thick with unease. Chores began to move cautiously from the side, but four vampires quickly stepped in his way, squinting at them.
"No one meets the boss of their own volition, especially mutts." The vampire sneered, casting a subtle insult towards Barko, whose ears slowly drooped in response.
"He's not a mutt; he's a human. His name is Barko, and-" Chores interjected, annoyance creeping into his voice as he wasn't in the best mood after spending two hours as a mime.
"I don't care." The vampire scoffed, shoving the giant slightly but Chores stood his ground, an immovable object despite the vampire's bravado.
"I didn't finish; please do not interrupt me." Chores's tone remained calm and polite, yet the gentle giant's eyes flared with a smoldering anger fueled by years of abuse and frustration.
His towering figure loomed over the vampire, strength radiating from him and although he typically preferred a peaceful approach, today, his mood had shifted toward the unreasonable.
"You'll regret any actions you take." The vampire warned, sensing the situation boiling toward a fight.
His fellow kin slowly began to walk behind him, but Chores merely clenched his fist, the knuckles Ricky had given him standing out starkly.
"Chores, it's not worth it-" Barko started, trying to defuse the tension.
"Oh, come on, Barko, if you let people treat you like a dog, then that's all you'll ever be!" Ricky chimed in, fueling the flames from the sidelines as he was growing bored with how Eliphas kept staring at him without uttering a word.
"Apologize." Chores uttered this hateful word towards the vampire who merely laughed at his statement, potining his burly chest.
"Or what, huh?" The vampire sneered, seeing Chores as nothing more than a large meat bag. In his mind, vampires were the pinnacle of existence.
This perspective was common among most vampires; as they fed on humanity and other creatures, they began to see them not as competition but as mere prey.
Just as a human wouldn't fear a cow, vampires adopted the same mentality, applying it to the races they consumed.
They believed themselves to be at the top of the food chain, a notion that only deepened their arrogance.
"You and that mutt are the same, so who cares if I hurt the feelings of some big meat bag like you?" The vampire continued to poke his elongated fingernail into Chores's chest, provoking the giant further.
Chores slowly grasped the vampire's hand with his own, which was five times larger.
"Release my hand at once-"
*CRUNCH*
Without a moment's hesitation, Chores clenched his fist, the grotesque sounds of flesh and bones cracking and tearing filling the air.
"AHHHHHHHH!" The vampire screeched, falling to his knees as he desperately tried to pry his smashed hand free from Chores's grip. But Chores remained silent, squeezing even tighter.
"YOU DARE-" The vampire began to threaten, but Ricky slammed his sword onto the table, cutting him off.
"The second your friends join in is the last time you'll see them alive." Ricky warned, narrowing his eyes at Eliphas, ready to back Chores if needed.
Eliphas merely raised a hand, while the other vampires exchanged frustrated glances.
"Davide, resolve this, now." Eliphas ordered, side-eyeing his struggling brethren who clawed at Chores's unyielding grip.
"I-I-DAMMIT, I'M SORRY!" Davide shouted, directing his apology at Barko.
The moment the words left his lips, Chores released his grasp, letting go of what was left of the vampire's mangled hand, which now resembled a grotesque ball of flesh.
"You know, they call him the gentle giant, but people still forget he's still a giant," Ricky quipped, leaning back in his chair, trying to lighten the atmosphere as Eliphas finally took a seat across from him.
"Why did you think it was wise to kill someone from my ancient sect?" Eliphas's voice turned deadly, and Abraham nodded, understanding the weight of the question.
"We need safe passage into Germany-" Abraham began, attempting to sidestep Eliphas's ire, but the glare he received silenced him.
"And I need to find Selene, but it seems we're both unlikely to get what we want," Eliphas scoffed, sitting down across from the two, his demeanor shifting to one of reluctant resignation.
"Here." Abraham placed a bottle of blood on the table, its crimson contents catching the light and drawing the attention of all the vampires in the room.
Their eyes widened with hunger, a collective instinct kicking in as they focused on the offering, momentarily forgetting the tensions that had just flared.
"The blood-"
"Of the Pope himself," Abraham declared, revealing the prized bottle of blood he had taken from the Vatican's weapons vault.
The room fell into a hushed silence, all vampiric eyes fixated on the vial, gazing at such a pure substance in its consumable form.
Eliphas, however, remained steady despite the rising hunger in the air as his gaze bore into Abraham, unyielding.
"What of my kin?" Eliphas inquired, his voice steady but laced with tension.
"He was in cahoots with the Kregier Sect. Why do you think I was able to track him down so easily?" Abraham shrugged, casually acknowledging the implications of his words as the Kregier Sect, under Dracula's control, was a group Abraham had long kept a close watch on.
Eliphas held his silence for a moment, seemingly digesting the information while his frown deepened, and he began to tap the table with his elongated fingernail, each tap resonating like a countdown, the tension in the room palpable as everyone awaited his response.
"Any day now-"
"Shut it tin can." Eliphas snarled, his patience wearing thin as he regarded Ricky's nonchalant attitude, paired with his unapologetic display of disgust, grated on Eliphas's nerves like sandpaper against flesh.
Each casual remark and dismissive gesture from Ricky only deepened Eliphas's irritation, fueling an undercurrent of tension that crackled in the air between them.
"Seriously, though, does this knight outfit make me look dorky?" Ricky asked, his voice laced with genuine uncertainty as he glanced around the room.
"At first, I didn't mind it, but every time I catch my reflection, I feel like I'm just playing dress-up." Ricky spread out his arms and asked the room, his internal conflict bubbling to the surface as Abraham shook his head, letting out a weary sigh.
"I think it looks very dashing." Percival remarked from above, earning a nod of agreement from Alexander.
"It also makes you appear more chivalrous." Alexander chimed in his own two cents, agreeing with the floating ghostly form of Percival.
Ricky frowned, his earlier comment about looking like a dork echoing in his mind as he realized their words only reinforced his self-doubt.
"It is unlikely that I will be able to get you since Germany is not only locked down from the mortal view but the supernatural as well." Eliphas said, disregarding Ricky entirely as he turned to Abraham.
Abraham frowned at the statement, this only reinforced his belief that something significant was happening in Germany, as even he couldn't pry any information about what was transpiring there.
The fact that Eliphas was equally in the dark suggested that his suspicions might be accurate as he knew he needed to keep tugging at that thread of mystery until he unraveled the truth.
"Now, the vial," Eliphas demanded, extending his hand, prompting confused expressions from both of them.
"Is that some vampire way of agreeing to something?" Ricky asked Abraham, who shook his head.
"No, he's probably confusing conversation with compensation." Abraham clarified, making Ricky chuckle at the absurdity of it.
"You killed one of my men-"
"I did you a favor, Eliphas," Abraham pointed out, his shame evident.
"Yeah, seriously, you should be a bit more grateful," Ricky added, shaking his head in disbelief at Eliphas, who opened his mouth slightly in response to their shrewdness.
The vampires nearby watched in disbelief at the two mortals' arrogance toward Eliphas, as they regarded him as one of the fiercest beings in all of Italy.
"This is going to get ugly." Alexander shook his head with a sigh and crawled back into the nook of Ricky's armor, while Henry hovered in the air, curiously looking down below.
"You dare walk into my territory, kill my men, and then demand my thanks? Do you not understand your position right now?" Eliphas's eyes ignited with a fierce red glow as he stood up, only for Ricky to reach under the table.
"I overlooked the deaths of my men and the incitement upon my territory, but I will be damned if I let you prance around without paying a price." Eliphas's words dripped with menace, his hands pulsating with power as he prepared to pounce on them.
"GIVE ME THE VIAL-"
In the next instant, Ricky interrupted Eliphas's statement as the table splintered in two, the tip of his blade thrusting forward.
"You are strong, but that is all." Eliphas remarked, raising an eyebrow as he caught the sword within Ricky's grip, pressing it against the cusp of his throat, surprising Ricky.
Gritting his teeth, Ricky attempted to push the sword even an inch further, but it remained firmly in place.
"That was a poor swing," Percival chimed in, just as Eliphas flicked his wrist, directing a swift motion the flicked the sword away as his other hand shot towards his body.
*Crack*
Ricky instinctively raised his barrier, only for it to crack under the strain as he felt a mental backlash; Eliphas merely raised an eyebrow in response.
"Hmmmmm." Eliphas flicked his armor, sending Ricky stumbling backward onto his rear, puzzled as he realized he had been flicked like a child.
"Ha!" Ricky's eyebrow twitched, laughing out in slight frustration while seeing Eliphas was clearly looking down at him.
"Alright, I kind of had that coming." Ricky stood up, cracking his neck and laughing at the irony of it all, before his glimmering green eyes shifted to a serious light.
Flames began to materialize around Ricky, but Abraham placed a hand on his shoulder, calming him down as he pointed at him.
"The deal still stands," Abraham chimed in, prompting Eliphas to assess the situation as he glanced at his underlings, who seemed oblivious to the danger they were in.
Eliphas recognized that while he could take on Ricky, the real uncertainty lay with Abraham.
He had never been able to predict Abraham's actions and didn't know whether he would fight alongside the new black knight or assist that brutish figure in eliminating his underlings first.
"We accept. Meet us here in exactly one month." Eliphas's words surprised everyone as they watched him stride out of the booth, the other vampires gazing at each other in confusion before following in suit and trickling out behind him.
"Your magic mentor saved you; that man before you is a formidable creature." Percival remarked, while Alexander peeked his head out and nodded in agreement.
"It's true; your arrogance is seeping into your fighting style, and it shows," Alexander pointed out, prompting Ricky to frown as he assessed his earlier actions instead of shrugging them off.
This was a lesson Ricky had been slowly integrating, as Alexander had taught him not to simply dismiss a win or loss, but to learn from it.
He encouraged Ricky to reflect on events that had just transpired and strive to better himself should a similar situation arise.
"You can't beat Eliphas. I only brought you because I knew he'd bring his subpar lackeys, and knowing his soft side, he would be swayed once he realized he might win but at the cost of his subordinates." Abraham scoffed at Ricky, who widened his eyes in surprise at how much thought Abraham had put into this encounter.
"Let's go." Abraham stood up, turning to a surprised Ricky, his expression shifting into a frown.
"Just because I'm an old drunkard doesn't mean I'm not smart," Abraham scoffed, accurately reading Ricky's thoughts from his mere gaze alone.
"...." Ricky was about to retort but decided to remain silent, knowing it would only annoy Abraham further and instead, he glanced to the left for affirmation only to see both Chores and Barko whistling.
"F*cking kids these days, no respect for their elders." Abraham said with disdain as he walked out of the bar.
Later that night,
*Huff*
*Huff*
*Huff*
Ricky lay sprawled across the bed, utterly spent, while Agatha sat up beside him, her red lips glistening.
With a slow, sultry motion, she flicked her tongue over them, savoring the remnants of their encounter.
Over the past three months, Ricky hadn't had much time to fill his bed with random women.
The grueling training sessions with Abraham, Percival, and Alexander left him aching throughout the day and sore at night.
It led him to keep his head down, focusing intently on his training since women were always a distraction for him.
However, that didn't exclude the occasional visits from witches who would teleport into his room for some late-night company.
While some might consider it a waste to focus solely on his training, Ricky was still benefiting from his encounters with Agatha.
His IP had surged from a modest 10,000 to nearly 170,000, all due to his frequent interactions with her.
"How was that, darling? Has my form improved?" Agatha asked with a tinge of humor laced within, kissing the tip of his cock gracefully before crawling over to his side and sliding her finger along his chest.
Agatha had been almost cold toward Ricky when they first met, viewing him as nothing more than a toy; however, over time, she began to warm up to his personality.
"By leaps and bounds." Ricky replied, stroking her hair gently as he rested his head against it, feeling her slowly lay down on his chest.
"So, how is the coven?" Ricky asked, aware that Agatha had made it painfully clear that her position as coven leader always came first, while their fun was a distant second.
"Stressful, to say the least. The elders can't agree on a new criterion for the younglings, and my nerves are suffering for it." Agatha sighed heavily, resting her head further onto his chest as he pushed the hair falling over her face to the side.
"It's why I needed this, our encounters always relieve my stress." Agatha patted him lightly, kissing his chest before winking at him in a playful manner.
"Well, being an outlet does have its benefits." Ricky shrugged, Agatha chuckling at his words before tracing an ouroboros on his peck.
"How are you? The last time we spoke, you were struggling with the sword." Agatha asked, checking in on him with a thoughtful gaze.
She remembered that the last time they held one another, it wasn't her relieving stress, but Ricky's frustration with swordsmanship that always seemed to linger.
*Sigh*
"It's just f*cking hard sometimes. The way Percival and Alexander talk, it's as if it's the easiest thing in the world, but I can barely manage my form at times." Ricky pinched the bridge of his nose, frustration evident as he struggled to learn how to wield a sword.
"Things like that take time. Be patient, and I'm sure you'll succeed," Agatha encouraged him, remembering how difficult it had been for her to learn magic at first, but Ricky's self-doubt was clear when it came to swordsmanship.
Everything else seemed easy for him, but with swordsmanship, it felt like it took ten times the effort to learn one thing compared to the average person.
"Yeah, I don't know if I have a knack for the sword-"
"Darling, listen." Agatha grasped his cheeks, turning his face toward her so he could gaze into her firm purple eyes.
"Strength, true strength, does not come to you suddenly out of nowhere." Agatha said, drawing from her own experience as she understood how frustrating it could be to struggle while others excelled.
"It requires time, focus, effort, and you're giving your training all of that and more." Agatha assured Ricky, trying to ease his doubts as over this time, she had grown emotionally attached to him.
"You're going to be fine. Remember that the ebony blade chose you for a reason." Agatha patted his cheek lightly before resting her head back on his chest.
"Yeah, it chose me for a reason." Ricky laid back on the bed, repeating Agatha's words while stroking her hair gently.
But as Agatha drifted into sleep, Ricky remained wide awake, staring at the ceiling above him.
What unnerved Ricky the most about his swordsmanship, compared to everything else, was that he was putting in significantly more effort.
Usually, he would shrug off such feelings, but for once in his life, he genuinely cared about improving himself and felt a deep sense of insecurity.
It wasn't new for Ricky to have things come easily to him; he had grown accustomed to it but this blade was different.
Sometimes, on a rare occasion, he felt as small as he did when he was on that ship headed toward the Vatican when holding the ebony blade.
From the outside, Ricky always appeared to be in control, his sleazy smile masking the turmoil within and yet, the feeling of slipping always lingered in his mind.
No matter how much he practiced, swinging it in a subpar manner or battling the spiraling, murderous thoughts that coursed through his mind, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was losing his grasp on it.
That feeling persisted in his chest until he glanced to the side, where the moon hung high in the sky, and realized that three hours had already passed.
Gently removing himself from Agatha, Ricky laid her head softly on the pillow and as he sat up, he felt a pair of watchful eyes open in the darkness.
"I take it I won't be receiving any cuddling throughout the night?" Agatha's purple eyes sparkled, shimmering like stars in the dim light.
"I just can't sleep, but I can stay-"
"No, it's alright. I have things I need to attend to as well." Agatha stood up, snapping her fingers as her clothes materialized around her, perfectly fitted and elegant.
"And Ricky." Agatha said, suddenly turning serious as a purple portal formed beside her, swirling with energy as she smiled reassuringly.
"It's going to be alright." Agatha left him those warm parting words before stepping into the portal, leaving Ricky alone in the quiet of the room.
He rubbed the back of his neck while letting out another sigh before walking toward the backyard, shirtless and clad only in a pair of shorts.
Holding out his hand, the ebony blade suddenly lodged itself into his grasp, and Ricky felt that gnawing murderous intent creep into his consciousness.
"Can't sleep?" Percival hovered nearby, crossing his arms as he watched Ricky practice his form.
"Obviously not if I'm here rather than in the arms of a beautiful woman." Ricky side-eyed Percival, clearly annoyed with the overly chivalrous man.
"Well, you're not the only one who lies awake at night, contemplating whether you're still in control," Percival replied, a smile creeping onto his face as he saw through Ricky, who turned his head forward.
"But remember, perseverance through those thoughts means not giving into the temptations of killing, steeling your heart in a shield of chivalry-"
"You know, I've had my thoughts about that." Ricky suddenly stepped out of his form, turning back to face the ghost.
"It seems like every single black knight you talk about in your examples of chivalry, the same ones who followed your advice, ended up the same way: out of their f*cking minds." Ricky pointed the sword at Percival, who looked down at his stubborn descendant.
"Keeping your mind pure and your code in your heart-"
"Gets you dead either way. So why should I dedicate myself to these stupid chivalrous teachings that lead nowhere but to the ground?" Ricky asked with a mocking laugh, seeing Percival's constant words of chivalry as nothing more than a dead art.
"Because that is what defines the good from the bad." Percival spoke from the heart, believing in his way with all of his heart.
"I think that's just a cop-out, an excuse to distract from the real truth." Ricky waved his finger at Percival, unable to see the light of this ghost's words.
"And what is that?" Percival raised his gaze at Ricky, watching him sheath the ebony blade.
"I think you liked it, being the black knight and cutting through everything in your path." Ricky's words caused Percival to squint, his gaze turning serious and unnerving.
"Using this act of chivalry to defend yourself from the piercing eyes of others? But I'm not like you; I don't f*cking care what others think of me just because I do what I need to survive." Ricky then turned his back, losing his appetite to train.
"You're walking a dangerous path young descendant-"
"Better than walking the same path as all the others who slowly lost their minds." Ricky waved his hand, determined to wield the sword according to his own values rather than those of a dead man.
Walking into the house, Ricky tossed the sword onto a nearby chair and made his way into the kitchen, which was filled with people.
The owners of the house were currently vacationing, and Ricky had learned from Abraham to take advantage of these vacancies, so he helped himself to their wine cellar.
"So, you're Alexander the Great?" Barko asked in amazement as the gerbil, wearing Ricky's translation ring around its waist, nodded in response.
When Ricky didn't need the ring, he would give it to Alexander so that he and Percival could communicate.
However, after much consideration, Ricky had begun to trust Chores and Barko, deciding to let them in on some of his secrets.
"I am young Barko, I am." Alexander puffed out his furry chest, while Barko shook his head in amazement.
"Slick, can we talk?" Chores asked, approaching Ricky just as he was about to pour himself a glass.
"Sure, why not." Ricky nodded, standing up as he noticed Chores wanted to speak privately.
Chores led Ricky to a secluded room before turning around and rubbing the back of his neck.
"What's up?" Ricky asked as he sat in a chair and took a sip of the freshly poured glass of wine.
"Listen, Slick, I know you've been going through a rough patch, and I understand that you've dealt with some heavy stuff," Chores began, though Ricky didn't feel anger since he knew it was true.
"And I think it's great that you're finally taking the necessary steps to improve yourself. Me and Barko have been giving you your space, but-" Chores's expression grew serious as he recalled their time spent with Abraham.
"But I think you're putting too much trust in him, Abraham that is." Chores said honestly, observing Ricky's confused reaction as he raised an eyebrow.
"What are you talking about, Chores?" Ricky asked, sensing Chores struggling to find the right words.
"I know you believe you're using him, that you're only following him because he 'said' he'd teach you magic, but you're underestimating what you bring to the table." Chores finally said, prompting Ricky to let out a small sigh.
*Sigh*
"I know that most of the time I'm thrown into situations with strong vampires, but most of them are because Alexander wants me to get more practice in fighting," Ricky explained as he usually took the lead on these missions to hunt vampires instead of just following Abraham.
"That's not what I'm trying to say. I'm saying you're not leveraging your strengths enough, at least not in my eyes," Chores clarified, sharing his observations over the past three months.
"I understand that the whole magic thing is important and might bear fruit later, but Abraham has been using you to eliminate almost the entire heavy cavalry and consistently putting you in these situations," Chores said, his assessment ringing true in Ricky's mind as he started to contemplate Chores words.
Over the past week, Ricky had been under Abraham's tutelage, concentrating on battling the strongest vampires they aimed to hunt down. While Abraham would also engage in the fights, the effort he would need to expend against the vampires Ricky faced would be nearly ten times less.
"That Eliphas guy really clouded my judgment, especially after Abraham used you as a decoy to manipulate the immensely strong vampire into his agreement," Chores expressed his thoughts as Ricky frowned deeply, finally realizing the extent to which he had been used.
"I don't mean anything by this-"
"No, thank you for not just following me around and being a yes man," Ricky said, dismissing Chores with a wave as he genuinely appreciated being called out.
Abraham had essentially dragged Ricky into a fight without consulting him, a fact that now irked him to no end.
He stewed over this for quite some time until Abraham finally returned to the safe house, carrying a bag of blue crystals.
"Oh, hey, kid." Abraham flinched, clenching the bag tightly before letting out a sigh, recognizing it was Ricky.
"We need to talk." Ricky remarked, noting Abraham's raised eyebrow as he scanned the area, realizing that the usual group was nowhere to be found.
"Is this about my drinking?" Abraham asked, but Ricky shook his head with a laugh.
"The only problem I have with your drinking is that you don't share." Ricky stood up from his chair, and Abraham returned the laughter.
"This is about earlier with that Eliphas guy." Ricky pointed, and Abraham rolled his eyes while letting out a dismissive breath.
"He wasn't going to do anything to you-"
"That's not the point; you led me into a losing situation without even a lick of context." Ricky pointed, and Abraham raised one of his hands.
"Fine, I apologize-"
*BAM*
"Ugh!" Abraham fell to the ground as Ricky formed a mini psionic cannonball and shot it at his stomach.
*COUGH*
As Abraham began to cough, Ricky moved gracefully toward him, bending down to his level.
Abraham looked up, his face flushed from the coughing fit, as if he were the one who had been wronged.
"Listen, Abraham. I respect you as a mentor and appreciate the experience you bring, and I'm grateful you took me under your wing in terms of magic," Ricky said, gripping Abraham's shoulder with a fierce gaze, smiling amidst Abraham's coughing fit.
"But that was your last warning cause I'm getting tired of this same charade. The next time you lead me into a situation with an overpowered vampire without giving me a heads-up, I'm going to hurt you, got it?" Ricky's voice was chilling, mirroring the tension of his past encounter with Xarus, and Abraham could see just how furious Ricky was.
"Got it," Abraham said, a little out of breath, as Ricky pushed him aside and walked away with Abraham's flask.
"Little sh*t-"
*TINK*
Ricky, reacting swiftly, turned and hurled the flask at Abraham's head, prompting him to roll on the ground in agony.
"F*CK!" Abraham exclaimed, clutching his forehead in pain as the metal flask clattered to the ground beside him.
"Goodnight, Abraham." Ricky waved, a smirk playing on his lips as Abraham sneered through his discomfort.
"Go f*ck yourself."
The next day,
In the morning, Chores was busy cooking breakfast while everyone gathered at the table. Abraham held a bag of peas against his forehead, wincing at the lingering pain.
"Did you have to throw my flask at me, jackass?" he asked, shooting Ricky a disdainful glare.
"I didn't have to; I just really wanted to," Ricky replied with a shrug, a smile playing on his lips as he bit into a piece of bacon.
Just then, Alexander scurried over to Abraham's plate and snatched a piece of bacon for himself.
"Give me my bacon-"
"YOU DARE!" Alexander exclaimed, spinning around to point at Abraham, who flinched at the sudden confrontation.
"You dare make demands after the stunt you pulled with my disciple, you scum," he scoffed, nibbling on the stolen bacon.
"You think I've never eaten gerbils before?" Abraham shot back, his voice growing cold.
"Do you think I've never killed giants before?" Alexander smirked, unfazed at the threat and with that remark, he took a bite of the bacon right in front of Abraham.
The silence that followed was palpable until finally, Abraham nodded in respect, and Alexander continued to walk away.
"I respect it," Abraham said, crossing his arms and leaning back in his chair.
"So let's iron out the details of how we're going to Germany to see what Dracula's up to, or else that little sissy over there will start whining-OW! DID YOU JUST THROW A PLATE AT ME?" Abraham yelled, looking incredulously at Ricky, who merely shrugged as if he didn't know what he was talking about.
"That Eliphas guy said to meet him there after a month; we'll start planning after he tells us how the hell we're getting there, but even then, I don't trust that guy." Ricky first pointed out, seeing something really fishy in that guy but Abraham shook his head in denial.
"Eliphas is a lot of things-"
"I don't care; I don't trust him, nor do I trust you as far as I can throw you outside our training." Ricky outright insulted Abraham, who gnashed his teeth.
"You know, I've had enough of you being such a little sh*t to me when it was YOU WHO FOLLOWED ME!" Abraham yelled, only for Ricky to jump to his feet and point back at him.
"BECAUSE YOU WERE PUT IN CHARGE OF ME-"
"OH F*CKING PLEASE, YOU THINK I CARE WHAT SEB SAYS-"
"YES, LITERALLY HE IS THE ONLY PERSON I'VE SEEN YOU LISTEN TO!" Ricky yelled, forcing Abraham to retract his words since they were indeed true.
"And besides, you owe me for leaving me for dead." Ricky held onto that grudge as Abraham crossed his arms.
"Oh my god, when are you going to stop being such a sissy and let that go?" Abraham scoffed, not caring in the least for his previous actions.
"When the chips are down, I'm dying, and you don't leave me behind." Ricky countered, watching as Abraham rubbed his forehead in frustration.
"So what, you want me to train you to help you get stronger, is that all?" Abraham plopped down in his seat, munching on his breakfast.
"Uh, yeah?" Ricky replied, a bit unsure if that was the right answer, but Abraham merely scoffed.
"Young people, I swear. You crave strength and power, yet you haven't even begun to grasp what true overwhelming power really is." Abraham leaned back, munching on his bacon while downing it with his flask full of bourbon.
"What is it-"
"Responsibility!" Abraham yelled at Ricky, frustrated that the kid wanted all the benefits without acknowledging the drawbacks.
"You think you can just gain power and get whatever you want? Well, you can't, at least not in this world." Abraham laughed, his tone laced with the weight of experience.
"There are many powers lurking, not just in this world, but beyond, things I haven't even encountered, and I was at the pinnacle of magic in my era!" Abraham exclaimed, his voice heavy with the weight of unspoken fears.
"I've wielded power the likes of which you've never seen, and sure, it's nice. But strength always comes with opposition, and opposition leads to conflict. It's a never-ending cycle that just wears you down." Abraham let out a pained sigh, recalling a time when he wasn't locked in a struggle against Dracula
"Sometimes I regret being so strong, but what I don't regret is having the true power to control my fate because I'm glad that there wasn't some random cosmic entity that was looking for a challenge and tried to seek me out. Because if you think that your really strong, wait til you realize that the universe f*cking huge-"
*SIGH*
"It's just so annoying." Abraham thumped his head against the counter, his frustration evident as Ricky watched him with a plain expression.
"Is that a yes or-"
"Just go outside; I'll be there in a second," Abraham sighed, his face pressed down against the counter.
Not thinking much of it, Ricky walked out, and Abraham leaned back in his chair, catching sight of Chores cooking breakfast for himself.
"Yeah, Chores, right?" Abraham asked, glancing over at the big guy, who turned to him without a hint of concern.
"No, thank you." Chores replied, setting the plate down and removing his apron, only to notice Abraham giving him a strange look.
"What do you mean I didn't say anything-"
"You were about to say something about how I'm not strong enough, that Slick will abandon me or get me killed if I stick around for too long," Chores stated, preemptively answering Abraham's unspoken concerns, leaving the latter somewhat shocked.
"I know, but even so, I would've died if Ricky hadn't come to my rescue when he did, so I owe him my life," Chores continued, his conviction clear, but Abraham shook his head in disagreement.
"And what, you've accepted your fate, just like the kid?" Abraham asked, gesturing toward Ricky, who was stretching in the sun, barely clothed.
"Abraham, you continue to think that you and Ricky are the same but in reality, like I said before, you are only similar." Chores dabbed his mouth, gazing at Abraham with a calm expression.
"Ricky is a selfish womanizer, yes, but unlike you, I believe he makes a difference, whether it's for himself or against others, he causes change." Chores explained, sharing his reasons for staying and his high opinion of Ricky.
"A difference? You're kidding. What difference has he made that wasn't just for his own ambition?" Abraham protested, but Chores shook his head.
"If a man starts a fire just to watch it burn, does that change the fact that he set fire to all the obstacles surrounding himself?" Chores countered, posing a question that truly stumped Abraham.
"Ricky isn't a good person, I'll agree with you on that. But even when he does wrong, he somehow manages to do right by those backing him, or at least he tries." Chores explained, pausing to reflect for a moment.
"It's hard to put into words, but once you spend enough time with Ricky, you'll see what I mean." Chores finished his plate, rinsed it in the sink, and then walked outside.
Ricky settled into a meditative pose, recognizing that magic training differed vastly from weapons practice.
Unlike the physicality of combat, mastering magic demanded inner focus and spiritual alignment.
There were many types and areas of magic, but Ricky, like Abraham, harnessed core magic, drawing upon the mana within his own body.
Mana, an ethereal and potent energy, served as the lifeblood of all magical practices.
It flowed through the veins like an invisible current, circulating throughout the user's body and it was exceedingly rare for humans to be born with magic, and even rarer for them to contain this mystical power within themselves.
Those few fortunate enough to possess magic from birth did not automatically form a core, a fact Ricky learned the hard way when Abraham called him a 'dumbass' for assuming otherwise.
For his practice, Ricky had to feel the flow of his magic within the core of his heart, a glowing nexus of mana he visualized as a pulsating, radiant sphere.
From there, he needed to learn to channel this energy, moving it throughout his body with precision and intent.
This process demanded patience and acute self-awareness, as the mana responded to his emotional and mental state, requiring a delicate balance between focus and relaxation.
Spells were even harder to master, as they necessitated precise calculations and a deep understanding of magical mathematics.
Each incantation required not just knowledge but a harmony between intention and execution, ensuring that the energy he summoned would manifest exactly as he envisioned.
Ricky inhaled deeply, centering himself, feeling the warmth of his core pulse in sync with his breath.
With every exhale, he focused on releasing distractions, allowing the mana to flow freely through him.
He knew that even a moment's lapse in concentration could lead to unintended consequences.
Ricky, who was terrible at math, struggled immensely with this aspect of his training. The intricate calculations required to manipulate mana were a formidable challenge for him, and despite his best efforts, he found himself overwhelmed by numbers and formulas. Each attempt to channel his magic felt like scaling an insurmountable wall, with his mind often drifting back to simpler pursuits.
Yet through all his patience and relentless determination, he had managed to learn four basic elemental spells, each one a testament to his perseverance in the face of his numerical challenges.
Fireball: A swirling sphere of flame that burst forth from his fingertips, igniting anything it touched.
Wind Slash: A sharp gust of air that could slice through obstacles, its blade as sharp as the focus of its caster.
Water Surge: A wave of water that could either heal or hinder, a wide-cast array spell used for fights with multiple comrades or enemies.
Earth Wall: A large protective barrier that rose from the ground, a spell formed for defensive purposes.
It wasn't that Ricky lacked the desire to learn more; he was eager to expand and use cool magic that everyone seemed to be able to wield.
However, when faced with the complexities of an advanced spell requiring knowledge of Calculus, he quickly became overwhelmed.
Frustrated and disheartened, Ricky decided to abandon the effort of learning more complex spells for the time being.
Instead, he chose to concentrate on mastering the three basic elemental spells to their fullest potential.
He understood that a solid foundation was crucial, and he hoped that by refining these spells would help prepare himself for more advanced magic in the future.
"Tsk, listen, kid. I get it—you don't want to learn advanced arithmetic until you've fully mastered those basic spells. But they can only take you so far," Abraham said, frustration seeping into his tone.
"Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm~" Ricky hummed, slipping into meditation as he tuned out Abraham's voice. The old man's expression soured further, his teeth gritting in annoyance.
"Fine." Abraham huffed, waving a dismissive hand.
"It's not like I care if you end up killing yourself." Abraham, with a scoff, he settled himself off to the side and picked up a newspaper, flipping through the pages with exaggerated disinterest, all while casting occasional glances at Ricky, who remained blissfully unaware of the world around him.
The Van Helsing meditation method, renowned for its ability to refine and amplify the flow of core magic, demanded a grueling two hours of intense concentration and absolute stillness.
"So about magic relating to math-"
"You ain't got what it takes, Barko." Abraham flipped the newspaper, his expression shifting to one of disappointment.
"How dare you, a rancid old man, speak down to my furry comrade!" Alexander, clad in his imposing armor, brandished his spear menacingly at the indifferent Abraham.
"Listen, furball." Abraham shot back, not bothering to look up.
"Unless you feel what magic is like, you'll never be able to wield it." Abraham turned the page of the newspaper, dismissing Alexander's indignation.
Despite the insult, Barko perked up, his ears standing tall as if sensing the tension.
"F-FURBALL-"
"It's like asking a blind guy to paint the ocean," Abraham elaborated, his tone matter-of-fact.
"Can you really expect him to know what it looks like or even get the colors right? Of course not." Abraham glanced at Barko, who nodded thoughtfully, the weight of the analogy sinking in.
"Then, the reason you can manipulate magic-"
"It's because I already possessed it, mastered it, and memorized its textures well enough to wield it." Abraham explained to Barko, who listened intently, deep in thought as he tilted his head in contemplation.
"Then if I am to assume that those vials are magic in its liquid form, how do you always possess such vials if you cannot-"
"I've got a guy," Abraham said, quickly flipping to the next page of the newspaper, shifting the conversation's focus as Barko nodded in understanding as Percival hovered nearby.
"Abraham, it is uncommon for a black knight to possess magic. May I ask for your opinion on young Ricky's progress?" Percival inquired, his curiosity evident as he met Abraham's gaze, a rarity among the others.
Despite Abraham's many flaws, he held a grudging respect for a select few figures, one of whom was the legendary first black knight.
"Honestly, Ser Percival," Abraham said, his tone surprisingly earnest.
"It's best to minimize his weapon training for now. It's imperative that he strikes while his core is still malleable." Abraham looked up at the floating ghost, who nodded in understanding.
"It's surprising that someone so undeserving possesses such a vast range of powers, but if Ricky continues to act without properly honing his skills one at a time, he'll become nothing more than a hollow shell of a once formidable figure." Abraham offered his honest assessment to Percival, who rubbed his chin thoughtfully, deep in contemplation.
"None of us are masters of the mind," Abraham stated bluntly. "Ricky must learn to harness his psychic powers independently while simultaneously mastering three weapons. On top of that, he needs to grasp the intricacies of wielding magic." Abraham's words hung in the air, Alexander felt a surge of resistance rising within him, but he couldn't shake the truth of what Abraham was saying.
"I was the same at his age, but Ricky is well—.......Ricky." Abraham stated, unsure how to explain it, but both Percival and Alexander immediately understood.
A collective sigh escaped the group as they turned their gazes toward Ricky, who remained focused on his practice, seemingly unfazed by the discussions around him.
"It's best that his main focuses are his psychic abilities and magic for the time being, until he gains a better grasp of them." Abraham continued, his words causing Percival to frown heavily.
"But the ebony blade-"
"Can wait, I ain't gonna tag along forever like you two might." Abraham continued, revealing that eventually they would split up.
"I agreed to help Ricky learn magic until he finds out what Dracula is up to; that's the agreement we reached after the train." Abraham revealed, outlining the limits of their deal as Percival nodded in understanding.
"But wasn't the deal to help kill Dracula?" Alexander inquired, but Abraham scoffed, glancing over at Ricky and shaking his head.
"The kid can't kill Dracula. Only I can, but I need to do it alone. Once I've gathered enough of Mother Mary's tears, I'll be ready." Abraham's gaze fell on the five vials sitting on the counter, the same ones Ricky had threatened to smash months ago.
"I've been preparing for twenty years, ever since that day," Abraham said, his grip tightening around the vials before he tucked them back into his trench coat as he met Chores's steady gaze, noting the intensity in the big man's eyes.
"Then you plan to leave after Slick helps you uncover the truth, correct?" Chores asked, his voice steady and unwavering, betraying a mistrust that lingered unlike the others in the room.
"Correct."
Status de energia semanal
200+ Ranking de
Poder 
470 Pedra de
Poder Você também pode gostar
Comentário de parágrafo