บท 54: Dark goes into slumber
The sun raised on the corners of a forested zone, somewhere in a kingdom of South Blue.
In those lands, there was a boy who carried on his back what seemed to be a corpse-like body while beside his body walked a dark cat-like creature with the head of an eagle. But the boy's expression was totally different from what one would expect when having a corpse on their back. He held a worried face and also showed signs of exhaustion from walking inside the forest for what could be seen an entire night while having to carry on his back someone.
The cat-like creature would look around himself and direct his path while following by his legs. Sometimes this creature would jump on the person's body on the fainted person to check on him.
The boy had a bag filled with something tied tightly for fear he would lose it, while this boy's steps turned a bit slow, but they were steady. The person on the boy's back seemed to breathe deeply in and outs, almost like his body was screaming for recovery and large portions of air to supply his recovery. His face seen from the boy's shoulder was white pale and seemed weakened, like he was definitely suffering from a sickness.
However, Robert and especially Aerius knew the reasons for this change, that Vlad most likely used his Blood Powers to the limits of his body, and right now was suffering the brunt of the powers. However, others who would meet Vlad in the future would probably guess that he was suffering from some nasty illness.
His back was covered by his long hair, masking the scars that his body still had even after eating the devil fruit.
As Robert was slowly walking on the path that Aerius was telling him towards, Vlad was currently busy with other problems that happened inside his mind.
While he was unconscious, Vlad's inner world shifted towards a world filled red and black, and in the center of that inner world rested someone on a throne made of blood that resembled Vlad. Around him circled two swords, one red and the other one that was black, that kept on switching positions around the seated Vlad.
Then as Vlad, who was in his inner world, extended one of his hands while seated on that throne, the black sword that circled around him arrived after fighting a while against Vlad's will right on his hand.
Checking the black sword, Vlad noticed that the substance the sword became created was similar to the dark energy that kept bothering him. Feeling that freezing sensation on his hand, he looked more deeply at the sword and only said.
"So this is what it feels to handle this power without having to be bothered by the effects it holds. Hmmm, interesting. But how come I can now handle this energy this freely? It's because everything happens in my mind while I went unconscious. Heh, this is what it's like inside my mind. It's surprisingly quite ordered around here. Blood and Black, do those colors represent the powers I have control over? Then what about that Haki thing? Where could it be? Or don't tell me, had this curse of mine fused with the energy slumbering inside this body? Sigh, how could I even know? I need to test those ideas of mine when I'm awake."
As he said that, he gripped the black sword tightly, and as if he wanted to shatter the sword, it began crumbling, turning in the energy he experienced getting a hold over his body. Then the dark energy released from the shattered sword began entering Vlad's body. As it made its way inside Vlad's body which got rested on the throne, he started feeling a cold chill that felt refreshing when the dark energy entered inside of him.
'Good, this really feels as refreshing as a bath inside iced water. Now let's see what's with the blood-red sword.'
With his extended hand, as if he was calling the red sword to made his way inside his grip. The sword acknowledged the call and, without any resistance, got inside Vlad's grip. Looking around the sword with focused eyes, he could see a bit the structure of the sword containing some bindings that he had no idea they were. His knowledge of blood, aside from the basic things, was limited. That's why he felt that he needed more knowledge on the subject.
In the end, he did the same thing he did with the black sword, shattering until it turned to a blood energy string that he guided that blood-red in his body. The feeling of the blood energy was more balanced compared to the dark energy in the sense that he felt more comfortable handling that energy. A bit cold at times, but also warm, similar to the body temperature.
Then as he stopped contemplating on the both energies, he rose from his throne and walked slowly towards the red and black world that surrounded him.
Looking on the horizons, he could see a bright light that started shining in his inner world, something that outshined the blood energy and dark energy.
Meanwhile, while everything that was going in Vlad's mind played out, the young man, Robert, began noticing the sun rising and lighting the path that Aerius was guiding him towards.
He continued walking without stopping. Similarly, it could be said for Aerius the little gryphon. Yet, as he walked and began getting out of the forest, he started seeing the shadow of a large valley that was surrounded by marble-like mountains.
As he got closer, he noticed the astonishing silhouette of a castle or, more said, a palace of great dimensions. The castle figure was towering the valley of emerald as its peak reached the heavens, touching the clouds at 100 or more meters.
The royal castle's spikes and roofs were covered by tiles of deep shining blue, offering a spectacular display created by the contrast with the pure white marble.
When the castle revealed itself, Aerius stopped all of a sudden and jumped directly on Robert's, and pointed at the castle while keeping some of his excitement in check.
Yet this didn't stop the little guy from grabbing some of Robert's strands of hair with his beak and say.
"Look, buddy, can you see that giant castle. This is unbelievable. It's really looking as close as it did 900 or so years without any changes to the structure. That castle is the crown jewel of the kingdom, Wisdom."
"Wisdom? Why does the castle even needs a name, and especially such name?" asked Robert, the gryphon with a confused face as he walked forward.
"Hmm, I think I remember the reason. When Louis's grandfathers settled in these lands, they built a smaller castle right in that spot. They named it Wisdom so all future kings, ruling and overlooking the kingdom, would get the wisdom of the earlier generations."
"Wow, to think that such a place actually has this much history. But the castle looks like there's no sign of time passing. How did they do it?"
"To be honest with you, Robert, I got no clue. Maybe someone with powers like Vlad's in the past helped Louis to reinforce the castle and turn the structure into something untouchable."
"Hmm, that could make sense, but I doubt that. Anyway, it seems we're getting closer and closer to our target."
Yet, Robert still thought while moving forward with some split attention on the castle.
'How was it possible to construct such a piece of architecture in the ancient times? This is clearly a type of architecture that resembles the newer version of castles. Don't tell me that the technology we use for construction those ancient people had it too? This information would send the old geezer to the high moon. This place is ancient, probably as close as that time he was researching about the Void Century.'
Finally, after who knows how long time, Robert began seeing signs of civilization as he slowly exited the forest.
Following the marked path, the castle view began to distance itself, and now he could barely see its shadow. What awaited him was the enclosing encampment or city that looked in the same style as the chaotic zone of the mining camp.
The order of the buildings was disorganized, he could see from a distance some large buildings of 3 stories, but that was it. He could also hear the sound of people, from curses to laughs, to women scream, the man screams, gunshots. He thought that maybe Vlad got the direction wrong but was surprised to find how wrong he was. He arrived close to what one would call a slum of a city.
[Inside Vlad's mind]
Vlad kept constantly walking towards the bright light as if he was a bee drawn on nectar, walking towards it. Not knowing how much time he walked in the world of red and black, he began seeing himself getting closer towards that bright light.
He got closer and closer, until all of a sudden, the bright light began to die out slowly. And not long after that, the bright light gradually transformed themselves into sinister and creepy dark tentacles. The echoes of dying people from man to women's, cursing people, desperate laughs, moaning women, handgun exploding left and right. With all those dark emotions, the once bright light turned more morbid, looking closer and closer to a dark star rather than a bright shining light.
'What is happening with my mind? Why do I hear those sounds while I'm alone here? Why did the bright light shift towards the opposite spectrum? Don't tell me it's shifting according to my state of mind?'
Then as he thought that, while hearing the constant sounds echoing in his mind, he started frowning and his eyes chilling a bit. He was still calm, but when he listened to the sounds of little children's screams of pain, and their drowning cries, made Vlad's expression crumbled instantly.
The space of his mental world started shaking hard. The blood and dark energies began shining brighter and stronger than before.
As if no longer wanted to hear those dark emotions assaulting him, especially the ones of the kids, made him think of breaking this world apart.
The shaking continued in his inner world as he said in a high tone. "I'm the master of this place, you dark curse. I'm also your master so stop trying to influence me. I already got to experience how this power works. Do you think that by flooding me with the suffering and dark thoughts of others, I will just let myself be controlled? Never, I'm Vlad Dracula, Prince of Wallachia, now future King of Atlas, how can I be subjected to this antics? Stay there quiet and prepare yourself to drop your head to your monarch, you damned curse."
Ended Vlad saying that while his body released blood and dark energies, while one could see some bright light coming a little bit from his heart. However, Vlad didn't notice that being focused on taking control over the situation, he was now against the dark curse attacking him.
Vlad's will began spreading itself in this world, making the dark star shrink continuously before not long disappearing. Yet before it disappeared, a voice that could be said to be Vlad's was heard. "That will remain to be seen, oh future master. Don't get happy just because you have tasted the energy of darkness. You've only seen the tip of the iceberg. Hahaha, I'll look forward to seeing you control me, my master. Don't get in a situation where I have to wipe your ass as it happened this time."
"Hmph, just get in your hole already and stop annoying me. It would be benefic for you to behave and act upon my will, or I'll find a method to annihilate you just like my bastard nobles."
Vlad's darker tone laughed in the shacking world, only saying. "This will be fun to see. Don't worry, master, you're the boss. The rules of the game have already been set in place since immemorial. However, I like to play around with my future wielders. I'm not like that dumb light who only lets himself be controlled by whoever, as long they have a good soul. We're the bad guys, dear master. Always remember that. You got abandoned by the light because, deep down, you enjoy killing people and creating chaos. Ahem, enough with my ranting. I'll stop playing with you for a while. I'll go into a deep state of sleep until I recover. I can't say awake for more because of that annoying energy you got inside of you that pisses me off."
"Don't get killed. Neither you nor I want to disappear from this world, so keep your head on your neck this time."
The dark ball on the sky suddenly scattered, turning the sky again in his red and dark color.
Then feeling a weird feeling of dizziness, he woke up from his fallen slumber and looked slowly around himself to check his surroundings.
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