Chapter 23 The Journey Continues
(***Soma POV***)
Soma had been in constant battle ever since coming to the castle. He had no battle experience but as he continued to travel through the fight he found that strangely he could use most bladed weapons with ease like he had had years to practice. The deeper he traveled into the castle the stronger that the unknown part of him grew. He was slowly becoming a different person and he didn't mind so long as he could escape this place with Mina.
Soma was battling some disturbing monster that looked like a colorful bird with the torso and face of a beautiful woman. They screeched in an inhuman tone and called more and more of these creatures to appear. Soma had absorbed many souls including the soul of this type of monster so he used his new ability gained and screamed in an inhuman tone disorienting the creatures causing them to fall to the ground. He then rushed the bird with a sword in hand and slashed them killing them.
Looking at the corpses of these monsters Soma found his heart beating with excitement as if he was enjoying the act of taking lives. This feeling scared him as he felt by the time he reached the area Genya had told him to go to he would cease to exist. As he was walking he came across a man with gray hair, and gray eyes wearing a white suit with a purple tie and ceremonial scarf.
"Hello there." said the man dressed in white
"H-hello y-you're human aren't you?" asked the confused Soma
"Relax yes I am human. My name is Graham. Let's just say I'm a missionary." said the man in white
"I'm Soma… Soma Cruz" replied Soma
"Did you get here thru the shrine?" asked Graham
"I'm not really sure." answered Soma
"I see" said Graham with a smile
"Can I ask you a question?" asked Soma
"I don't mind" responded Graham
"Is this truly Dracula's castle?" asked Soma
"Yes" answered Graham
"Isn't Dracula's castle supposed to be in Europe?" asked Soma
"Dracula did own a castle in Europe but his true castle exists elsewhere and we're in it." said Graham
"His true castle?" asked a confused Soma
Graham proceeded to give a lesson on vampires and Dracula. Soma was shocked to learn that history was covered up by the Vatican church.
"So Dracula has resurrected?" asked Soma
"No Dracula died in 1999. A prophecy about him was left behind though." said Graham
"Nostradamus' great prophecy?" asked Soma
"That's right. This prophecy stated that Dracula would resurrect in the past. He did and was destroyed by vampire hunters. They sealed his remains within his castle to make sure he wouldn't regenerate. The castle itself was then sealed away inside a lunar eclipse." said Soma
"And we're inside that eclipse right now?" asked Soma
"Yes. The prophecy also stated in the year 2035 a new master would come to the castle. That person would inherit all of Dracula's power." said Graham
"That's!" a shocked Soma was unable to finish his sentence
"I must be going now. Do be careful and have a good day." said Graham as he walked away without looking back.
Soma stood and pondered what he had just heard. Dracula's castle being unsealed now could not be considered a coincidence. This meant the prophecy was most likely true and that someone in this castle was the new master of this castle.
Before he could think any further he heard screeching as more bird-like women flew towards him
(***Graham POV***)
"Soma Cruz he seemed to have gotten a little stronger than the last time I saw him." said Graham
Graham continued to walk as he arrived at a location far from where he left Soma. He then proceeds to teleport to an unknown location. He then released pulsing red energy that began to wrap around him like a cocoon. The cocoon slowly changes color from red to purple and hatches.
A white-haired young man emerged from the cocoon. He then pulled some clothes out of nowhere and changed out of the white suit. This young man was Zero who had used his chaos transfiguration to transform into Graham to push the story along since he had already killed Graham.
Now that he had met Soma and helped him get some answers and Graham was supposed to do he would be free to handle his business. He continued toward the Inner Quarter had vases and curtains fall from top to bottom, often accompanying French windows. Mirrors and swords were placed all over giving it both a French and Victorian feel. The Inner Quarters section held most of the souls that he was after for his plan. As soon as he entered the room was filled with hundreds of beautiful women dressed as witches and seductive devil-winged women. The winged woman had beautiful glistening red hair, bat-like devil wings, and was completely naked.
RACE: SUCCUBUS
SOUL: BEWITCHING DEMONIC SOUL
SOUL RANK: C
LEVEL: 29
ATTRIBUTES: DARK, ILLUSION
STRENGTH: 198
SPEED: 510
MAGIC ENERGY: 20,000
VITALITY: 5,000
SKILLS: DARK MAGIC MASTERY, DARKNESS RESISTANCE, LIFE DRAIN, MANA DRAIN, ILLUSION MASTERY, DREAM WALKING, SHAPESHIFTING, FLIGHT, DEATH KISS, LESSER DEMONESS PHYSIOLOGY
RACE: WITCH
SOUL: DARK WITCH SOUL
SOUL RANK: C-
LEVEL: 2
ATTRIBUTES: DARK, FIRE
STRENGTH: 95
SPEED: 375
MAGIC ENERGY: 22,000
VITALITY: 3,000
SKILLS: DARK MAGIC MASTERY, FIRE MAGIC MASTERY, MAGIC BARRIER, SUMMONING, NECROMANCY, LEVITATION
These enemies would be easier to kill than the knight and the Arc demon but they would be more cunning which was troublesome. They specialized in magic which was Zero's weak point currently. They looked at Zero as he entered the room and giggled as they imagined all the things they wanted to do to him. A succubus approached Zero and reached and placed her hands around his neck and seductively looked into his eyes and she tried to kiss him. Before her lips reached his a shadow blade appeared and pierced her head killing her instantly while Zero had an indifferent look as he threw the body off of him. Zero then sent the succubus' body into his soul dimension because he would need the body later.
The witches and succubi stopped giggling as they saw their comrade killed before their eyes. They began to take Zero seriously with the witches preparing a multitude of fire and darkness spells and the succubi began casting illusion magic hiding themselves and the witches from Zero's sight. With no idea of where his enemies were hidden Zero used all his mana to spread his shadow across the floor of the room and then produced a multitude of shadow spikes killing many witches and succubi. The bodies became visible and dropped into Zero's shadow, reappeared next to him, and were promptly put within his soul dimension.
ZERO DEMON TARGET LIST
SOULS NEEDED
CHRONOMAGE X 2
VALKYRIE X 999
ERINYS X 999
LILITH X 999
SIREN 130/999
TINY DEVIL 310/999
NEMESIS X 999
WITCH 218/999
CURLY X 999
DRYAD X 999
ARC DEMON X 100
DEMON LORD X 100
ALURA UNE X 999
MANDRAGORA X 100
ALASTOR X 999
SUCCUBUS 298/999
FLAME DEMON X 100
FINAL GUARD 2/999
SHADOW KNIGHT 2/999