Eternal Undying Chronicles

Chapter 60 Unraveling Darkness

Carrisa's heart remained still as she and Elizalina moved swiftly through the labyrinthine corridors, their footsteps echoing in the cold, desolate halls.

They ventured deeper, encountering chimeras along the way, but none proved as formidable as the one that had used its hypnotic effect on them earlier.

A smoldering fury burned within Carrisa's chest. What she had experienced had exposed a side of herself she hadn't anticipated, leaving her pensive.

The chimera had dredged up her deepest fear—that her enemies would not forget her simply because she had sought refuge in the mundane world. Now, with Alicarde entangled in her conflict, any misstep could doom them both.

'I must not allow my emotions to cloud my judgment. A single careless error, and it would be over for us. I must adopt a pragmatic approach, using any means at my disposal. While this world may offer us some safety, our resources remain painfully limited,' Carrisa pondered, her thoughts cold and calculating.

On the other hand, Elizalina walked in near silence, lost in her own thoughts. She did not wish to dwell on what had happened.

She had left that wretched place behind, and she vowed never to return. She had sworn it on her true name. The misery of her past was exactly that—the past. She had resolved to embrace the light of the present and move forward.

They pushed open a vaulted door, revealing a vast, deathly silent chamber. Elizalina advanced, with Carrisa close behind.

Despite the heavy vault doors, the room was surprisingly empty, save for a few dormant machines. Its fortified appearance had led them to believe they would find something of importance, yet there was nothing.

Carrisa was not so easily fooled. She strode to one side of the room and, without hesitation, thrust her rapier into the wall. A crackling sound of electricity followed, accompanied by a thin trail of smoke. The wall shifted, sliding open to reveal a hidden room stocked with various supplies—and a few startled humans in lab coats.

Carrisa smiled coldly as her gaze fell upon the researchers.

"What have we here? It appears we've stumbled upon some of your sheep, Elizalina. Be a kind shepherd and coax them into conversation."

Elizalina's lips curled into a faint smile, her grey eyes darkening into a glowing crimson as she approached the now trembling researchers.

Without a word, she unleashed her fear- ability, filling their hearts with a palpable, soul-crushing terror.

The five researchers, caught completely off-guard, stood paralyzed by the vampire's gaze. Fear consumed them, rendering them helpless as Elizalina began her methodical interrogation.

She was thorough, extracting every detail she could over the course of an hour. Unfortunately, the information was disappointingly sparse.

These researchers knew little of significance, and to make matters worse, they had regularly consumed Whitewood ash, granting them some resistance to her compulsion.

The entire exercise had proven a waste of time, but thoroughness had its merits. In the end, they learned only what they already knew—Alicarde was on the fifth floor. Rather than kill the researchers, they left them unconscious.

Disappointed but undeterred, Carrisa and Elizalina resumed their journey, cutting through wave after wave of chimeras.

Elizalina couldn't help but marvel at the relentless dedication of the alchemist behind these creations.

"It seems all they are doing is delaying us further," she said to Carrisa, her voice now more measured and composed.

Carrisa nodded in agreement. "Indeed. It is astonishing to think anyone would devote such time and effort to chimeras. There must be hundreds down here—enough to form a small army."

"Now, what do we do?" Elizalina inquired, her tone questioning, though tinged with irritation.

"We will slaughter them all. If one comes, we slay one. If ten approach, we kill ten—until every last one of them is eradicated," Carrisa replied coldly.

"An agreeable plan," Elizalina conceded with a calm smile.

Elizalina paused, glancing at Carrisa with a hint of concern. "I wonder how Amena and the mutt are faring?"

"Let us find out," Carrisa said, producing a small communication device from her dress.

After contacting Amena, they agreed to rendezvous at the fourth-floor elevator, regardless of who arrived first. Resuming their travel pace, the two women fought their way through countless hordes of chimeras.

A flicker of something unreadable passed through Alicarde's eyes, but he forced another grin. "Do I not look well to you?"

"You are bathed in blood—that hardly speaks of sound well-being," Elizalina said sharply.

"No I'm not"

"You are" Elizalina frowned.

Carrisa reached out, her fingers lightly grazing his arm. "You have awakened a true name. Pray, what transpired?" Her voice, though calm, carried a weight of concern.

For a fleeting moment, Alicarde's mask of bravado slipped. Pain and madness flashed through his eyes, swirling emotions barely contained as he gritted his teeth, seemingly trying to suppress the memory of something horrific. But in an instant, he concealed it all with a forced laugh.

"Thanks, guys, but as you can see, I'm fine. We should get out of here."

Elizalina tried to speak, but Carrisa stopped her with a gentle shake of her head. The vampire sighed, her grey eyes betraying an unspoken worry.

The ceiling rumbled as a beam of light shattered it, and two beautiful women descended from above. Alicarde immediately recognized them.

The first was a red-haired woman with a wild, almost feral beauty, her amber eyes glowing faintly with a silver hue.

The second was an expressionless maid with brown hair and deep blue eyes, her features as delicate as an exquisite porcelain doll.

"Wow, you two sure know how to make an entrance. This place does have doors and elevators, you know," Alicarde's snarky voice cut through the air.

Amena's eyes locked onto him, and she instinctively sprinted toward him, only to stop herself halfway, remembering her station as a maid.

Argint had no such reservations. She leaped into the air, landing directly in Alicarde's arms. Anticipating her, he used his innate ability to increase his weight, catching her effortlessly without stumbling.

As he gently set her down, she clung to him, inhaling deeply. "You smell different. Angrier... more hateful. Are you... alright?"

Alicarde rolled his eyes. "Why does everyone keep asking me the same goddamn question?"

With a playful smirk, he added, "So you can smell emotions now, huh? Had no idea dogs had that kind of talent."

Argint frowned, her expression hardening. "I am not a dog."

Elizalina, who had been quietly observing, let out a soft, mocking laugh.

"Well, it appears even Alicarde can see you for what you are—a filthy creature. Perhaps a leash would suit you better."

Argint's glare was sharp as she shot back, "Shut up, you lecherous parasite. Maybe if you weren't so indecent, you'd pass for a proper woman."

Alicarde sighed, watching their bickering unfold with a weary gaze.

Amena stepped forward cautiously, stopping just before him. Her lips parted as if to speak, but no words came.

Smiling softly, Alicarde walked toward her and pulled her into a gentle embrace, whispering, "I'm glad to see you too, Amena."

Though her expression remained stoic, she buried her face in his blood-soaked robe, finding solace in his presence.

Alicarde glanced around at the grotesque scene surrounding them and exhaled. "Let's go home, guys. I can see all your questioning looks. I'll explain everything on the way, alright?"

They exchanged glances before silently agreeing.

Carrisa and Elizalina's eyes met briefly, both sensing the shift. They could tell that something had changed—Alicarde had changed. Though his snarky demeanor remained on the surface, there was a coldness and madness in his eyes that he couldn't fully hide.