Hunt In Reverse

Moonlight draped the world in a silvery veil.

A broad-shouldered figure stood silhouetted against the moonlit sky, his gaze fixed on the procession of over a hundred bloodsteeds thundering out of Seattle.

"So, someone actually volunteered to follow him," Arnold Stark mused, glancing at Chloe, who sat beside him, her bare feet dangling over the edge of the roof.

They were both Vampire Hunters; the news from the bell had reached them both.

Granny had been recalled to temporarily fill the Admiral's position. She couldn't ignore a disturbance of this magnitude.

Chloe stretched, stifling a yawn. "I've been away for so long," she said, a hint of weariness in her voice. "I've lost track of these squabbling sects and families."

"You've been tracking the Blood Moon Vampire King for centuries," Arnold countered, his voice gentle. "How could you possibly keep up with the petty quibbles of these mortals?"

The strength of a Harmonizing martial artists was relative. Yet, no matter how one categorized the different stages – Crystallization Harmonization, Spiritualization, – it was still just the Crystal Realm. Against a Vampire King, a being comparable to a Ward of Nature, they were as helpless as infants.

But Cascadia needed constant vigilance against such threats. With the Admiral confined by the boundaries of Cascadia, this task fell to the three Golden Bell Vampire Hunters.

"The Blood Moon and the Admiral have maintained an uneasy truce for decades now," Chloe's usual playful smile vanished, replaced by a grim expression. "The twelve cities and 205 counties of Cascadia are the boundary. The Blood Moon stays out. The Admiral stays within. But there's a new threat on the horizon. That young vampire... its growth is terrifying, its ambition blatant. It already styles itself the Ascendant King. Arrogant, cunning... We've tried to eliminate it, time and again, but it's proven too elusive. Once it reaches maturity, we'll have two Vampire Kings to contend with. Cascadia will be in grave danger."

"The Admiral has petitioned the capital three times, to no avail." She continued. "It seems the situation elsewhere is just as dire as in Cascadia."

Years spent hunting the Ascendant King, living in constant danger... it took its toll. Whenever she returned to civilization, she indulged in her emotions, laughing and crying with abandon, like a child released from a cage. But now, her face was creased with worry.

Arnold Stark frowned. "They have the Ascendant King. We have Aisha Patani," he reminded her. "The outcome is far from certain."

A rare look of respect flickered in Chloe's eyes. "Ah, Aisha Patani..." she murmured. "She returned recently, you know. Read Rose Hightower's report, glanced through the files from Pinewood County, gave me a couple of tasks, then rushed off to Vancouver without a moment's rest."

Eleven H.A.R.M. generals had all taken shortcuts, Harmonizing the power of faith. They were guardians, not warriors.

The only exception was the one who had taken over after the death of the Sacrament General. She followed the Path of Nature.

Cascadia did not have enough population to support two Seekers of Redeemer.

The Admiral had become one, wielding uncanny powers. But his physical body was frail. He needed someone to stand before him, to hold back the Vampire Kings.

After autumn comes winter. And in that winter, someone had to stand against the tide.

From the moment the Admiral had taken Aisha as his disciple, bestowed upon her a new name, her destiny had been sealed.

She would be the one to stand alone against the vampiric hordes, protecting the twelve cities of Cascadia, a lone warrior against the encroaching darkness.

… …

Arnold suppressed his admiration and turned his attention back to the city gates.

"Should I handle this myself?" he asked.

"He's doing good work for Cascadia," Chloe chided. "Can't you stop trying to steal newcomer's credit? There are only two rules—try to follow them, for once."

"Follow the rules?" Arnold scoffed. "Which rules? The H.A.R.M. rules? Those don't apply to me. And as for the Vampire Hunters' code—well, he hasn't requested my help or even reported the situation. Clearly, he wants to handle this alone. As a fellow Silver Bell Vampire Hunter, I wouldn't dream of interfering with his prey."

He turned to Chloe, doubt flickering in his eyes. "But does he have the strength to handle this, Granny?"

It was an unspoken rule among Vampire Hunters: unless someone explicitly requested assistance, or willingly withdrew from a hunt, others couldn't interfere.

One must weigh the risks against the rewards. If you lack even that basic judgment, you're better off giving up your bell and finding a safer profession.

"Oh, please," Chloe scoffed, rolling her eyes. "You're far too polite. You're my granny."

She rose to her feet. Arnold, recognizing his misstep, turned away, grumbling under his breath.

"Fine, fine," he conceded. "A Gold Bell can't order a Silver Bell around, but grandma can certainly order her grandson. I'll do as you say."

Chloe stretched languidly. "I may be new to all this," she said, "and perhaps not the best at playing Admiral, but this happened on my watch. I'd rather not face the Admiral's wrath when he returns. Do me a favor, will you? I know you've been eyeing my Gold Bell for ages, but you don't need to steal his merits."

She leaped from the rooftop, her voice echoing through the night. "Just this once. If he misjudges the situation, it'll be a lesson he won't soon forget."

… …

Arnold Stark stood alone on the rooftop, his hands clasped behind his back.

A wry smile played on his lips. How could the Admiral fault Granny for this. The Vampire Hunters weren't under H.A.R.M.'s jurisdiction, after all. She was just using this as an excuse.

Hesitations! Exceptions!

Granny was getting old, just like Skyler Grant. They needed that sharpest sword in Cascadia, the one who could lead the new generation and finally supplant those clinging to power.

He thought of that cold, determined face, and a wave of admiration, bordering on fanaticism, washed over him.

… …

Mount Defiance, Seattle, in the early morning.

The first rays of dawn painted the eastern sky with hues of rose and gold, casting a soft glow over the mountain peak.

Over a hundred H.A.R.M. agents reined in their bloodsteeds, the powerful half-vampire horses pawing the ground, their impatience evident.

Chandra Banerjee dismounted and joined Kane, along with two other colonels. their faces grim, their eyes filled with a mixture of anticipation and apprehension.

This was an elite force. The two Purge Division colonels were veterans, their experience surpassing even Chandra's. Both were at the late stage of Wave Realm.

And the hundred and twenty agents? All two-stars, the best of the best.

Even Chandra was surprised by the sheer strength of this retinue. This wasn't simply a result of General Grant's reputation. The old man's influence, though considerable, was largely confined to Vancouver. He rarely interfered in Seattle's affairs.

These men had come for Kane. The rumors circulating through the ranks, combined with his decisive actions at the Kongo Shintai Temple, had cemented his authority. He was more than just a figurehead, a mere personal attendant. He was a leader in his own right.

"Seal the mountain!" the colonels barked. "No one leaves!" Though the agents hailed from different divisions, they moved with practiced efficiency, their positions and formations established with a mere glance, each agent instinctively knowing where to stand and what to do.

I gazed up at the imposing mountain, its peak shrouded in white clouds, its slopes covered in verdant pines and cypresses. It was indeed a picturesque location. I activated the Aura Observation technique, my eyes glowing with a golden light. My vision shifted, the world becoming a hazy canvas of white essence, interspersed with flickers of gold. But there was no trace of vampiric energy.

… …

I deactivated the Aura Observation technique. I wasn't surprised.

If Kongo Shintai were truly infested with vampires, they wouldn't have lasted this long.

Leading the colonels and twenty vampire-hunting specialists from the Purge Division, we ascended the mountain with practiced ease, the treacherous path no match for our honed physiques. At the summit, bathed in the soft light of the rising sun, a modest temple awaited us, its simple architecture a stark contrast to the opulent pagoda in the city below.

As we approached, a low, rhythmic chanting reached our ears, a soothing melody that echoed through the stillness of the dawn.

"Through the delusions of a billion kalpas, transcend the cycle of rebirth, and attain the Dharma body. May I achieve enlightenment, become a Buddha, and guide countless beings to salvation."

Two novice monks stood before the temple doors, their shaved heads bowed, their fingers tracing their mala beads.

They glanced up, their eyes widening as they noticed the approaching figures. Before they could react, two vampire-subduing chains snaked out, wrapping around their necks and yanking them backward with a sharp jerk.

"Stay put," the Containment Division colonel growled, pinning the monks to the ground. Chandra stepped forward and with a powerful kick, sent the Temple doors crashing open.

CRASH!

The doors flew open, revealing a scene far different from the violent confrontation I had anticipated.

The dimly lit hall was filled with a hazy smoke. There were no guards, only a large clay statue of Buddha, its head bowed serenely.

Scores of elderly pilgrims sat on cushions, their wrinkled faces etched with a peaceful serenity. They chanted rhythmically, occasionally sniffing the air, their eyes filled with blissful contentment.

"Mercy... Mercy..." They chanted, their voices a hypnotic drone.