Hunt In Reverse

A nondescript carriage rumbled along the road outside Seattle, its wheels kicking up dust. Inside, two figures sat facing each other.

Arnold Stark, his gaze fixed on me, withdrew a swirling mass of essence from his silver bell, the air around it shimmering with a myriad of colors.

"Take this," he said.

I accepted the swirling mass, my brow furrowed in curiosity.

"What is it?"

"One hundred and twenty-three traces of Crystallization stage vampire lords," Arnold explained, "and seventeen of Harmonizion stage. This represents the combined efforts of every Vampire Hunter who has ever set foot in Cascadia. Each of us carries a copy. It's a comprehensive record of nearly every Crystal Realm vampire in the region."

Arnold let out a heavy sigh, his gaze lingering on the swirling mass of essence, a hint of sadness in his eyes. Countless Vampire Hunters had given their lives for this knowledge, including his friends and family. It was this information that allowed them to instantly detect any vampire that dared trespass within the twelve cities.

"Consider this a gift," Arnold said, withdrawing another wisp of essence, this one faint, almost imperceptible, yet tinged with purple. "Vampire King Blood Moon. If you ever sense its presence, run. Your survival will depend on sheer luck."

"Vampire King?" my brow furrowed.

"The fourth realm of a warrior is known as Ward of Nature, or Seeker of Redeemer," Arnold explained. "For vampires, it's the Vampire King. Put simply, a Vampire King could kill the Admiral before he could even blink if they got within three feet of each other. Only within human settlements can a Seeker of Redeemer hope to challenge a Vampire King."

A flicker of fear crossed Arnold's face at the mention of the Blood Moon Vampire King.

"So many Crystal Realm vampires," I mused, storing both the purple wisp and the larger mass of essence within the silver bell. "What about human experts?"

These traces were old, diluted by being split so many times. They lacked the clarity and immediacy of the connection I'd felt after consuming the Leviasaur's core, but they were better than nothing, a valuable tool for identifying potential threats.

"The twelve generals, and the three of our Gold Bell Vampire Hunters, are all the Harmonizion stage experts," Arnold replied. "The Four Families and Six Organizations likely have a couple more hidden away. The Crown Mountain's ancestral sword, for example, though weak against Redeemed Spirit, could still hold its own against a Harmonizing vampire lord. And then there are the senior Silver Bell Vampire Hunters, and the generals' personal attendants. Perhaps forty or fifty Crystallization stage experts in total."

As Arnold spoke, I realized that Cascadia was far more precarious than I'd imagined. The disparity in strength between the humans and the vampires... it was alarming. Like a house of cards teetering on the edge of collapse.

Forty or fifty Crystallization stage experts might sound like a lot, but this was a vast prefecture, home to tens of millions. On average, each city had less than five Crystal Realm experts to protect it. And yet, they guarded their Crystallizing techniques so jealously...

Arnold, noting my surprise, smiled faintly.

"The vampires aren't a unified force," he explained. "There are factions and rivalries among them, just as there are among humans. Exploiting those divisions is one of the few pleasures we Vampire Hunters have." He chuckled, a dark humor in his voice. "If you include the experts from the noble families, the balance of power is more or less even. But those families are a fickle bunch, each with their own agendas, their loyalties shifting like the tides. H.A.R.M. has to keep a close eye on them."

"That's why all the first-rate forces have methods similar to that ancestral sword," he continued. "They use blood contracts and training grounds like the Crown Pool to bind their disciples. H.A.R.M. only needs to control the faction leaders to keep the rest in line." It was a delicate balancing act, a constant struggle for control in a world teetering on the brink of chaos.

Arnold's words were a subtle warning to me: in Cascadia, there was no such thing as unchecked power, no matter how one reached the Crystal Realm.

"I have high hopes for you," Arnold said, his expression turning serious. "The Admiral will return soon. Your position, your Silver Bell... he'll be impressed, no doubt. But these things were given to you. You know that better than anyone. You know how that Leviasaur died. You know how you acquired that bell."

"Your achievements are considerable, yes, but they don't quite measure up to your current status." Arnold straightened his posture, his gaze unwavering. Though he considered me an equal, my age and inexperience inevitably colored his tone with a hint of paternal instruction. "Prove yourself worthy of this position," he urged. "Don't rely on the charity of others. Earn your own glory."

My eyebrows arched in surprise. I noticed a shift in Arnold's demeanor. It was... odd. As if I were being assessed, evaluated.

"Naturally, you also need to show me," Arnold added, a subtle emphasis in his voice, a challenge in his eyes.

"I'm taking you to Bellingham County to familiarize you with the process," he explained. "But don't expect me to share the credit. I trust you understand." He paused, a glint of mischief in his eye. "However, if you wish to undertake something on your own, and you're not afraid of a little risk... well, I won't stop you."

The Vampire Hunters weren't like H.A.R.M. There were no shared rewards, no collective merits. Once they left the city, they were colleagues, yes, but also rivals, each vying for glory.

He'd expected some measure of disappointment from me, but I remained unchanged, my expression impassive.

"No objections here," I replied, my eyes closed. I needed to conserve my energy. Arnold hadn't summoned me for a leisurely stroll. As for the merits... I'd deal with that when the time came. Even if I couldn't claim the kill for myself, I could at least assist.

Arnold chuckled, a low rumble in his chest. Perhaps he'd been a bit too eager.

True, Kane was exceptional for his age, but Arnold was a Crystal Realm expert. And this young man wanted a share of the spoils from a vampire hunt that required my level of capability?

He pushed those thoughts aside and focused on the task at hand.

"We've received intel," he began, "that the Mountain Lord of Chuckanut Mountains has commenced another trial for his offspring."

"As the saying goes, 'Among every three tiger cubs, one will become king.'" A grim smile touched his lips. "These beasts are using the large counties as their hunting grounds, competing to prove their strength. We were caught off guard last time, allowing them to escape after they'd had their fill. It took considerable effort to track them down again. This time, however, they seem to have set their sights on Bellingham."

"Bellingham, while not one of the twelve cities, is one of the largest counties in Cascadia," Arnold said, his eyes hardening. "It even has a Crystal Realm expert living there." This could mean only one thing—those tiger cubs, strengthened by human elixirs and years of experience, had grown both powerful and brazen. They were targeting a Crystal Realm human, a daring move that could upset the delicate balance of power in the region.

The carriage jostled beneath me as I asked, "Since this is a trial for the Mountain Lord's offspring, how did you come by this information?"

"I'm not entirely sure." Arnold admitted, closing his eyes. But his voice held a hint of excitement, a thrill of the hunt. "Even if the information is unreliable, it's worthwhile to check it out. You're new to vampire hunting. You wouldn't believe how rare it is for a vampire to venture into a large town like Bellingham."

The vampire lords of Cascadia were a cunning bunch. They either possessed exceptional concealment techniques, formidable defenses, or the natural protection of the Pacific Ocean.

An opportunity like this, a vampire venturing out of their territory, its movements known in advance... it was too good to pass up.

I remained silent. Arnold had misunderstood me. I wasn't questioning the veracity of the information, merely its source.