HPDBC Chapter 407 Metal Mug
Chapter 407 Metal Mug
Sweat and blood mixed down Vick's forehead as he muttered, "What do you mean by pure energy?"
Moments later, a roar echoed from behind Sanguina, accompanied by spit flying past her and splattering around the crowd of soldiers, both injured and standing. The soldiers flinched as the vile substance hit the ground, sizzling upon contact.
As the spit approached her, it disintegrated into thin air. Sanguina smirked, her confidence unshaken. "Do we have a deal or not? I'll kill all these pesky creatures, and in return, you hand-deliver me to Nanako. Sound fair?"
Vick swallowed hard, his voice trembling. "Sure, if you want to give yourself a death sentence, go for it."
"A deal's a deal," she stated, towering over him at 6'3". She turned around to face the grotesque creature sprinting toward her. Its soulless eyes locked onto her, and as it advanced, the ground beneath it cracked and splintered. She noticed the monsters she had killed were being replaced by new ones springing to life around it, with even more emerging from the shadows.
The creature's massive frame cast a shadow over Sanguina as it charged, its claws tearing through the earth. The soldiers behind her braced themselves, their expressions a mix of awe and fear. The air was thick with tension, the distant sounds of battle now drowned out by the beast's guttural growls.
Sanguina's eyes glowed with determination. She raised her hand, summoning a sphere of pure energy that crackled with raw power. The sphere pulsed, illuminating the area with a bright, white light. She hurled it towards the creature, the energy blast hitting it square in the chest. The beast staggered, its roar turning into a howl of pain as the energy seared its flesh.
"Go rest, I'll handle this," she called out to Vick and the soldiers, her voice steady and unwavering. They hesitated for a moment, then began to retreat, trusting her words.
As the creature reeled in pain, blood started pouring from the wound in its chest. The flesh, though, began to knit back together, healing slowly but surely.
With a deafening roar, it rushed toward Sanguina. She sidestepped gracefully, her movements fluid and precise. In one swift motion, she brought her sword up, a single stroke of her wrist slicing through the air. The creature's legs were severed cleanly, and it crashed to its knees, its massive form trembling.
She looked back at him, her expression softening for a moment. "A drink would be good. Let's regroup and then head to the cave."
They walked towards the makeshift camp, the soldiers around them tending to their wounds and gathering the precious crystals.
Sanguina took a seat on a wooden chair, crossing one of her legs and putting a hand under her chin. Vick approached with a metal mug, offering it to her. "Sorry, we don't have any fancy wine glasses or anything lady-like that. We make do with what we have. Thank you, though. I'm not sure how much longer we could have held out; we've already lost thousands of men."
Sanguina nodded, taking the mug. "Yeah, just a lucky coincidence I was here. I don't mean to be rude, but I don't care all that much. I am glad I was able to help a bit. How long have those crystals been spawning, anyway?"
Vick nodded, understanding. "Understandable, but thanks regardless of your motives. The crystals, though—why are you so worried about them? The history books state they have been here since the dawn of time, with the first spawn of the monster. Well, the original monster and the first curse to ever be sealed by the original Hero using his divine Keyblade to seal him away."
Sanguina leaned back, pondering his words. "I see. Something doesn't add up. I know of certain creatures who can conjure and embed these types of crystals to birth creatures, but no creature sealed away could control or spawn them. It's likely whatever it is, it's still alive and free, perhaps in a weakened state."
Vick's expression darkened. "If that's true, we might be facing something far worse than we imagined."
The two sat in silence for a moment, the weight of their conversation sinking in. The camp around them buzzed with activity as soldiers tended to wounds and prepared for the next wave of attacks. The air was filled with the scent of smoke and the distant clamor of battle.
"We need to find Nanako and figure out our next move," Sanguina said, breaking the silence. She stood up, her resolve firm. "Let's not waste any more time."
Vick nodded in agreement, rising to his feet. "Agreed. Let's head to the cave and get to the bottom of this."