Underworld - Scorching Sun: A LitRPG Series

by Apollos Thorne

  I abandoned mind-speak because it felt too impersonal and let them hear my distress. “I’ve imagined countless times what it would be like to join the Tir Family indefinitely. Abandoning my human form wouldn’t bother me. Neither would going without eating physical food, as bleak as that would’ve once sounded.” I laughed dryly to myself. “I even think I could abandon my friends, for a time—just to live in a place of moderate safety amongst good people. It’s like a dream.”

  I switched back to mind-speak for what I said next. “If it wasn’t for my friends and a thousand-year-old succubus—if Aeris wasn’t doing everything she could to keep the other girls safe…”

  They were quiet, and even Alexandria was looking at me. I regretted healing my wounds so quickly. At least the physical pain had given me something else to focus on. Then I could pretend the pressure in my eyes was from Jale’s fist instead of held back tears.

  “I’d stay,” I said, giving Sai a wistful grin. I looked past Jale, to give Alexandria a bow of my head, but ultimately looked back at the Tir Princess. We held each other’s gaze for an unknown length of time. Then I said aloud, “I’d stay with you.”

  The leftover anger fell from her face like water from a windowpane. She looked more fragile than she ever had, and it wasn’t just the concern of a friend looking back at me, but heartfelt longing.

  It was as if a bomb exploded in my chest as my fears imploded. She really didn’t care that I was human…

  “Enough!” Shamash shouted through mind-speak so that it blasted in all of our ears. “We have been found out.”

  “Alexandria, please take them out of here,” I pleaded. “I don’t want there to be a chance for the Tirs to be incriminated in what I’ve done.”

  She nodded even as Sai and Jale stepped forward to object.

  It was then that four flying figures came into view. Everyone spun to see who was coming.

  “Men from House Gul,” Alexandria hissed. “It doesn’t look like they’ve involved anyone else yet.”

  I quickly observed them to find that all four of them were in the low 40,000s.

  “I’ve been eager for a fight anyway,” Sai said, ignoring what I’d said and placing himself in front of me.

  I stepped forward as Crimson Incubus covered my hand, and grabbed his shoulder. As I was about to force him away, Jale stepped around him and punched me square in the chest. It wasn’t rage glaring back at me, but her unwavering conviction.

  “They’re more than twice your level,” she rebuked. “Don’t overestimate yourself just because you won a little tournament. You’re still not my match. You need our help.”

  Her aura began to rise off of her like slow moving smoke. Its pressure forced me to take a step back as some part of me quaked inside. I knew in that moment that she was telling the truth. Even in my Primordial Cat Form, it was really possible that I still couldn’t defeat her.

  “Even if your master did kill four people at a similar level,” she said lightly. “That was in an enclosed space where it was difficult to run away. This is completely different.”

  She’d already turned away from me to face the incoming Gul intruders.

  “My master didn’t kill them,” I said as my own energy started to intensify.

  Both Sai and Jale snapped their heads back to look at me as they took a step to distance themselves.

  “I have no doubt that you could beat me, Jale.” I tried to grin, but it didn’t take. “At least, you could beat what you’ve seen of me up until now. But Blue Magic is only one of my talents and arguably my weaker one.”

  My body from the neck down started to take on its Solar Form. I kept my skeletal armor equipped on my upper body so that it would harm them as little as possible, but my hands and neck shone with more light than they could handle without warning.

  “Alexandria,” I cried.

  Sai and Jale were already stumbling backward as their escort finally swooped into action. She grabbed them both by the waist with her tiny arms and dragged them through the air like weightless luggage. The rock to the side of the path had a shallow burrow. She didn’t take them any further for it was too late to leave without making a scene.

  As Alexandria cast some kind of group-encompassing Shadow Step that lessened their presence, Shamash arrived before them a moment later. He didn’t say a thing to me. Stepping into the shadow covering, he reinforced it with his own barrier and disappeared with them.

  Thankfully, I’d had plenty of time to regain my base MP while at the Hallow Exchange. Master Light Magic Orbs had already entered my hands and were being unraveled by Vampire’s Might as it filled me with mana at a new invigorating rate.

  I’d dropped In The Buff earlier, but instead of recasting it, 13x Mind Buff replaced it. What I needed now, more than anything, was as much mana as possible. With an additional 7,800 Intelligence and Wisdom, my MP shot up by 3,900,000 and I had more than 73,000 Mana Per Minute remaining after its 614,400 MPM cost.

  Through Shamash’s barrier, the four incoming vampires would be able to tell someone was here, but they’d be blind to most of what was going on. Still, seeing me in my human form as soon as they arrived was a little much. If they sensed my Light Magic too quickly, they’d just leave and return with more people to kill the shiny human.

  Almost instantly, my left hand returned to its normal human state and tossed a Rog smoke bomb out to cover the area within the greater barrier that was still covering this place. I gathered most of the smoke around me and hardened it so that I had twenty feet of the stuff surrounding me in all directions. Only above my head were the layers thinner.

  The four vampires stopped just outside the barrier before pushing through it. Like the membrane of a drum, the barrier vibrated back into its original shape as each passed through.

  Through Mana Sight, I easily traced their movements as they flew in and hovered over where I stood not ten feet away.

  “Zerin of Tir!” He seemed to be looking right at me. “You killed our young master and must pay with your life. Are you really going to pretend to hide there in plain sight?”

  The four of them hovered there shoulder to shoulder. The range was good, but Jale was right. This level of enemy could survive long enough to run away to get more people because of the surroundings.

  The vampire who spoke reached out his hand and began to gather Dark Mana as if to execute me.

  The Smog behind them rose up with the speed of a mighty storm in the shape of a hulking monster that was more than thirty feet tall. This surge in mana caught their attention. Three of them turned, but the man who was channeling mana charged toward me instead. Super dense Dark Magic claws suddenly covered his hands like a demonic glove. From ten feet away, covering the distance was almost instantaneous.

  Thankfully, the Crystalized Fog had done a good job, not just hiding my Solar Form, but also my Artificial Sun that was already larger than I was. The hill of fog parted as I lifted my right hand to meet the charging vampire. A mountain of light rose up just as quickly without restraint and completely smothered the vampire’s form.

  He was already too committed to his attack, so he slipped out of the growing sun a moment later looking like a smoking match. He was blinded but slashed out anyways.

  Four Master Light Discs had already taken shape behind me. I narrowed my focus to the vampire’s throat and a disc plunged into it. I’d also turned to dodge, but he was already going too fast. Four claws tore through my skeletal arm and the solar layer of my body into the more material part.

  It was a stabbing pain that nearly made me vomit light particles, but I didn’t bother to heal myself even though 1,000,000 of my 5,560,316 HP disappeared in a single attack.

  The vampire’s momentum took him straight to the ground and he skidded away while leaving a trench. I didn’t chase him, but charged toward the other three vampires that had been blindsided by my Artificial Sun. I skirted around it, because I felt the attacks they were launching blindly into its now house-sized mass.


  When I arrived at its flank, I saw the three vampires had retreated more than ten feet and were facing the giant light orb while trying to defend and attack at the same time. They weren’t in good shape, but they weren’t dying either.

  Just as I let loose of my remaining discs, the disc that had caught in the vampire’s throat went off, sending a tremor through the immediate area.

  It startled the remaining vampires. Blinded or not, they still hadn’t retreated, but switched to defending, so I cast a second lesser Artificial Sun behind them to encourage them to stay. Before it even had the chance to form, my discs arrived.

  The closest vampire, despite the shield of Corruption Aspect he held in front of him, was flanked by my disc with a perfect shot in the neck. The other two were at much trickier angles. One caught a disc in the shoulder, where the other was grazed across the scalp.

  Even without the Dark to Light reaction, the closest vampire dropped from the air holding his neck. It was only a matter of time before his life ended. The vampire that was grazed on the scalp was actually in the best shape even though he’d been struck on the head, for the vampire with the Light Magic Disc stuck in his shoulder pulled it out then tossed it away quickly. Too bad it was already covered with Dark Mana-rich blood.

  The two discs exploded as one.

  I lifted my arms to cover my face but was still able to see that the closest vampire had died instantly while the two remaining wounded ones were caught between both explosions.

  Rushing forward, I commanded the Artificial Suns to move until they completely covered the two fallen monsters, and merged the suns as one. My mana was more than half gone but relying on the discs to kill was making me much more proficient even if they cost more than 1,000,000 MP each.

  My Ascended Human Form returned to me as I focused on just sustaining the Artificial Suns on top of them. With the two vampires on the ground, I was able to pinpoint where they lay with Light Vision. Minor Light Discs began to form at breakneck pace. As soon as one was ready, it flew at the struggling vampires. Soon it was like firecrackers were going off.

  I knew they were dead as soon as I received experience from both of them. I’d received 2,221 levels, bringing me to 16,049… Without hesitation, I dropped both Artificial Suns and returned to my Vampire Form to Drain them. Before I did, I stopped myself because I remembered what Alexandria had said. I now had enough high rank vampire blood to reach Trueblood, so, if it was just this once, it was an acceptable loss to make it easier on them.

  “That’s incredible,” Sai said, running over to look at the light-charged bodies of the four level 40,000 vampires. “Can you imagine if you would’ve fought Manu Shah like this? Zerin?”

  For some reason I suddenly felt dirty. This was my true form, my most powerful talent, yet letting them see it mortified me.

  I dared to look at Jale only to find her just standing there staring at me like a frightened little girl. She was a few steps outside of the barrier they’d been taking shelter in. It wasn’t just what I’d just done that scared her. She knew vampire history better than I did. The last time someone like me had appeared in the Vampire Realm, how many thousands of vampires died? Or was it millions…

  “I have to go,” I said without any further explanation. “Don’t follow me. Please.”

  Since I was already in my vampire form, Shamash dropped his barriers and waited for me to join him.

  My Crimson Incubus wings sprouted from my back and I quickly reached him.

  “Zerin,” Jale said sternly, finding her strength. “You can’t go alone.”

  I turned back to her with the fullest smile I was capable of at the moment, but Alexandria responded first. “Jale, stop it. Have you not seen enough? Master Lich. Would you be gracious enough to reveal yourself?”

  She knew? How long had she known? Before I’d wiped the shock from my face, Shamash took his true form. For the second time in less than ten minutes Sai plopped down on his rear with an awed look on his face.

  Jale had been about to say something but now her mouth snapped shut. Whatever argument she’d been concocting had burst apart. There was nothing more she could say.

  The lich returned to his vampire form and we prepared to take off. There was nothing more that could be said.

  Before we left, Alexandria called out and threw something at me that resembled a coin. When I snatched it from the air, I looked at its face to see an odd symbol with Tir written at the bottom. I could feel mana contained within.

  “I suspected much, but never would I have guessed what you’re really capable of,” she said with a firm tone. “Most vampires would see you as our greatest threat. In the future, especially with a lich at your side, you could destroy us all. But with this token, House Tir will always be open to you. Any of the branch families will treat you like one of their own, and if you return to us, or come to the branch family, we will help you.”

  “Aunt?” Jale said at barely a whisper.

  “Today’s matters are settled. In the day that you come into power, please remember our willing friendship.”

  Alexandria led them both away and began lecturing them.

  “Wait,” I said, while taking out the gifts I’d prepared for them. “How could I ever forget?” I tossed a magic bag to both Jale and Sai, who caught them. Both bags were filled with Master Orbs. Most of them were Dark Aligned. For Sai, I’d given him 100 of them, plus 1,000 Advanced Orbs. It was a ridiculous amount of wealth for a single person. Except for exceptionally rare goods like Trueblood, there was now nothing he couldn’t afford. Hopefully, it would help him quickly find his own footing and grow stronger as fast as possible.

  As for Jale, there were 1,397 Master Orbs, 2,006 Advanced, and 4,519 Intermediate. They were mostly Dark, but there was also a mix of different elements. Except for those I kept for my own training and devouring, I’d given her everything I had left. It was the kind of wealth that I imagined even the Hallow Exchange would have made exceptions for.

  They were both dumbstruck. Alexandria flew up to look over Jale’s shoulder at the magic bag’s inventory and was as stupefied as they were.

  As they looked up at me, I had no idea what else to do, so I let Shamash lead me away. I was in as much of a daze as they were. Alexandria had spoken as if I was destined to return to the Vampire Realm to destroy it…

  We’d already flown more than fifty feet when there was a massive explosion of energy from the direction of Hallow, forcing us to glance back. An indistinct cry raged from the far side of the city, but I could already feel it getting closer.

  “Grandmaster,” Shamash said. “With your current mana, it’s impossible for you to win. Running is the only option.”

  “Go!” Alexandria called out to us. She was still standing there with Jale and Sai by the burrow in the wall. “The Tir family must answer tonight’s blatant attempted murder anyway. Since he’s lost his son, it’s very unlikely Ogaan Gul will give us peace.”

  She was walking by herself to the middle of the road where Ogaan would have to pass. “Niece. There is a time for mercy, and a time to be ruthless. This is not a time for mercy. Stay back and watch carefully.”

  It was a name I’d heard before. Ogaan Gul was the leader of the Gul family and Parth’s father.

  “What can we do?” I said, grabbing two Master Dark Orbs to drain.

  “We leave as she requested,” Shamash replied.

  “But there’s no way she can win. They’ll all be hurt or killed…”

  “No.” He shook his head. “Watch.”

  Ogaan was drawing near, and, as if to get his attention, Alexandria showed off her aura. The very cliffs surrounding her shook as her neutral energy rocketed upward to reach higher than the two peaks to either side of her.

  I’d used Creature Observation on her before, but she’d been around 40,000. Powerful, but not grandmaster level. Casting it again, I hardly believed what I saw. Level 57,903… She’d been hiding her true power all this time.

&
nbsp; Jale had grabbed Sai and jumped from the main path into a dip in the landscape beside it. Her own aura grew but stayed tight to her body. She was shielding Sai even though he was also a melee fighter.

  “You’ve seen many powerful casters,” Shamash continued. “But never a grandmaster equivalent in the melee arts. They are rarities amongst the vampires, but not nearly as rare amongst the beast-feeders.”

  “Will she win?”

  “Tonight Ogaan will die. The Guls will lose one of their better recent leaders and one of their more powerful members. They should have stuck with what they’re good at. If Jale wasn’t in Hallow with her aunt, this might have been handled more diplomatically.”

  “Alexandria is that powerful? More so than the elders here?”

  “Yes, but not just because of her level. Her talent is a rare one that I think Jale also shares. Her ability to circulate energy and compress it is much greater than normal. The branch family of the Tirs are capable of things that defy reason. It’s really a top tier talent. If they are given enough time to grow, their family might break into the upper echelon of the vampire realm. The closer they get, though, the more likely someone will find reason to knock them down. Many of the great families take offense to lesser ones trying to rise up in the world. Especially unorthodox ones like beast-feeders. But come. We must use the time she has given us. If the Guls have any more people that show up then we may still find ourselves being chased.”

  Alexandria had flown up and placed herself before Ogaan, blocking his path. No punches had been thrown, but every word he said was a shout. I took one more look at Jale and Sai. Jale seemed to feel my gaze and looked back one last time. Perhaps one day I really would see them again…

  We quickly made it to full speed as we fled the city. I now had the tools I needed to complete the Head Mistress’s mission. When I’d left Sanctuary after being forced out, I wanted nothing but to return. Now, there was a part of me that couldn’t bear to leave the Tir family’s side.