CH 19: Mission 1

After hours of flying, they finally reached their destination—a massive fortress built into the side of a jagged mountain. Its dark stone walls loomed ominously, and the faint glow of torches flickered in the distance.

Ikari landed gracefully on a rocky outcrop, waiting for Zang to catch up.

"This is it," Ikari said, pointing toward the fortress. "Our first mission starts here. Ready?"

Zang landed beside him, his hammer resting on his shoulder. He took a deep breath, his resolve firm.

"Let's do this," he said.

Ikari smirked, his eyes glinting with excitement. "That's the spirit. Let's show them what we're made of."

And with that, they descended toward the fortress, ready to face whatever challenges awaited them inside.

The fortress loomed larger with every step Zang and Ikari took. Its dark stone walls were veined with a faint crimson glow, giving the structure an ominous, living aura. Jagged spires jutted upward, piercing the blood-red sky, and the faint sound of heavy chains creaking echoed through the desolate canyon surrounding the stronghold.

Zang tightened his grip on his hammer, feeling the weight of anticipation settle in his chest. "So, what's the deal with this place? Who are we supposed to deal with?"

Ikari walked ahead leisurely, his hands tucked behind his head. "It's a den of low-level demon insurgents. Think of it as a training exercise. They're tough enough to give you a decent workout but nothing too dangerous. For me, at least." He flashed a cocky grin over his shoulder.

Zang frowned. "For you? What about me?"

Ikari stopped and turned to face him, his expression softening slightly. "Relax, kid. You're ready. Just trust your instincts and remember what I've taught you."

They continued toward the fortress, the air growing heavier with each step. As they approached the massive iron gates, Zang noticed faint runes etched into the metal. They pulsed rhythmically, emitting an unsettling hum.

"Is that a barrier?" Zang asked, pointing at the runes.

Ikari nodded. "Yep. Basic warding magic. Keeps out the riffraff. But it's not strong enough to stop us."

He raised his hand, and a dark red glow surrounded his palm. With a casual flick of his wrist, the runes shattered like glass, and the gates creaked open, revealing a dimly lit corridor.

"After you," Ikari said, motioning for Zang to step inside.

The moment they entered, the doors slammed shut behind them with a deafening clang. Torches lining the walls ignited in bursts of crimson flame, casting long shadows across the stone floor.

Zang's eyes darted around the corridor, his grip tightening on his hammer. "This feels like a trap."

Ikari smirked. "That's because it is."

As if on cue, a dozen demons emerged from the shadows. They were grotesque, twisted figures with jagged teeth, glowing red eyes, and claws that scraped against the stone as they advanced.

Zang instinctively stepped back, but Ikari remained calm, cracking his knuckles. "Alright, kid. Time to show me what you've got."

The demons lunged forward, their guttural growls echoing through the corridor. Zang swung his hammer with all his might, the impact sending one demon crashing into the wall with a sickening crunch. Another came at him from the side, but he ducked just in time, countering with an upward swing that shattered its jaw.

Ikari watched from the sidelines, leaning casually against the wall. "Not bad. But don't get tunnel vision. They're trying to surround you."

Zang glanced around and realized too late that more demons had closed in behind him. One swiped at his back, its claws grazing his armor. He stumbled forward, gritting his teeth.

"Focus!" Ikari called out. "Use your environment!"

Zang spotted a loose stone on the floor and slammed his hammer into it, sending shards flying in all directions. The demons recoiled, giving him enough time to reposition himself.

One particularly large demon, easily twice the size of the others, stepped forward. Its muscles bulged under its dark, leathery skin, and it let out a thunderous roar before charging at Zang.

Zang braced himself, planting his feet firmly as the creature closed the distance. When it was within striking range, he swung his hammer upward with a burst of endo-enhanced strength. The impact sent the demon flying backward, its massive body crashing into the wall with enough force to leave a crater.

"That's more like it!" Ikari shouted, finally stepping into the fray. "But you're still too stiff. Let me show you how it's done."

Ikari moved like a blur, his strikes precise and devastating. He dodged claws and teeth with effortless grace, delivering devastating counterattacks that left the demons crumpled on the ground.

Within minutes, the corridor was littered with the bodies of their enemies. Zang leaned on his hammer, catching his breath as Ikari stretched lazily.

"Not bad for a warm-up," Ikari said. "But we're just getting started."

The next room was larger, a vast chamber with high ceilings and a glowing red crystal suspended in the center. The air was thick with malevolent energy, and Zang could feel his endo reacting to it.

"What's that?" Zang asked, pointing at the crystal.

Ikari's expression grew serious for the first time. "A core. It's what's powering this place. Destroy it, and the fortress collapses."

"Sounds simple enough," Zang said, stepping forward.

"Not so fast," Ikari warned, holding out a hand. "There's no way they'd leave it unguarded."

As if on cue, the chamber shook, and from the shadows emerged a massive creature—a demon lord, its body covered in jagged armor-like scales. Its glowing red eyes locked onto them, and it let out a deafening roar.

Zang's grip tightened on his hammer. "Guess this is the real challenge."

Ikari smirked. "You take the left; I'll take the right. Let's see what you've learned."

The demon lunged, and the battle began in earnest. Zang and Ikari moved in tandem, their attacks complementing each other as they chipped away at the creature's defenses.

Despite its size, the demon was fast, its movements unpredictable. It swung its massive claws at Zang, who barely managed to dodge, countering with a powerful strike to its leg. The creature stumbled but quickly recovered, letting out another roar.

Ikari darted in from the side, delivering a flurry of punches enhanced by his endo. The impacts sent shockwaves through the chamber, but the demon barely seemed fazed.

"Keep up, kid!" Ikari called out, dodging a swipe from the demon's tail.

"I'm trying!" Zang shouted back, sweat dripping down his face as he delivered another powerful blow to the creature's torso.

After what felt like an eternity, the demon began to falter. Ikari delivered the finishing blow, a devastating uppercut that sent the creature crashing to the ground.

Zang collapsed to his knees, breathing heavily. "Is it... over?"

Ikari walked over to the crystal, his hand glowing with dark energy. "Not yet."

He unleashed a powerful blast, shattering the core. The chamber began to shake violently, and the walls started to crack.

"Time to go!" Ikari shouted, grabbing Zang by the arm and pulling him toward the exit.

The fortress collapsed behind them as they made their escape, the sound of crumbling stone echoing through the canyon.

As they reached safety, Zang looked back at the ruins, a sense of accomplishment washing over him.

"Not bad for a first mission," Ikari said, clapping him on the back. "But don't get cocky. We've got a lot more work to do."

Zang nodded, a small smile forming on his face. "Bring it on."

The flight back to Ikari's palace was quieter than usual. Zang stayed close behind Ikari, his face betraying his thoughts despite his best efforts to appear calm. The blurry faces of his friends who he hadn't seen In what felt like forever brought a whirlwind of emotions.

Ikari noticed Zang's tension but chose not to comment. Instead, he smirked as they landed on the polished, obsidian-like platform outside his towering palace. His aura flickered like a calm but dangerous flame as he turned to Zang.

"That little detour earlier? Just a warm-up," Ikari said, leaning casually against one of the giant stone doors leading into the palace.

Zang tilted his head. "Warm-up? That thing was a leviathan, and you obliterated it like it was nothing."

Ikari grinned, rubbing the back of his neck. "Exactly. You'll learn that monsters like that are just appetizers in this line of work. Now, for the real deal."

Zang's unease grew. "What's the mission, then?"

"The Demon King himself sent word. We've got a band of middle-tier vampires who defected and fled to the middle realm. They've set up camp in some place called a mega mall in Germany , and it's time we're gonna flush them out."

Zang's jaw tightened. The middle realm—there was a chance he could run into people from his past. He didn't want to dwell on it, but his expression betrayed his worry.

Ikari paused, giving him a sidelong glance. "You're thinking about something. Maybe someone."

Zang tried to shake it off. "I'm fine. What's the plan for these vampires?"

Ikari laughed, pushing open the massive door to his palace. "Plan? We don't need a plan. Find them, kill them, report back. Easy enough."

As they entered the palace, Zang followed Ikari down to a part of the castle he'd never seen before—an enormous underground chamber glowing faintly with red and black light. Pillars of dark stone lined the walls, and at the center of the chamber was a swirling portal, crackling with raw energy.

Ikari stopped before the portal, turning to Zang. "Oh, one more thing, I think you're ready for the next step. In your next fight try to channel your endo into your artificial arm. That arm is infused with my endo so it lets you mimic my negative endo blasts. But," he added, his tone sharpening, "but don't get cocky. Stick to small bursts unless you want to blow yourself up."

Zang nodded, clenching his artificial fist. The weight of the mission was setting in, but there was also a flicker of anticipation.

Without another word, Ikari stepped through the portal. Zang followed, the sensation of falling and disorientation washing over him as the world shifted.

The two emerged in the middle realm—high in the sky. Zang yelped in shock as they started plummeting toward the ground.

"Ikari! What the hell?!"

Zang groaned but concentrated, channeling his endo , he stabilized and managed to fly alongside Ikari.

As they soared over the middle realm, the landscape changed from lush forests to sprawling cities and desolate plains. Finally, they spotted their target—a massive mega mall that had been converted into a fortress. Vampiric banners hung from the roof, and the surrounding area was eerily quiet.

Ikari and Zang landed outside the mall, immediately confronted by a swarm of low-ranking vampires—around 100 of them. The vampires hissed and lunged, their crimson eyes glowing in the dim light.

"Think of this as a warm-up," Ikari said casually, cracking his knuckles.

Zang didn't hesitate. He rushed forward, swinging his hammer with precise, devastating blows. Each strike sent vampires flying, their bodies crumpling like paper. Zang's endo-enhanced strength made quick work of the weaker enemies, but their sheer numbers forced him to stay on the move.

Ikari, meanwhile, fought with a mix of grace and brutality. He moved like a ghost, dodging attacks effortlessly and countering with devastating strikes. Occasionally, he would unleash small bursts of negative endo, obliterating groups of vampires in a single blast.

Within minutes, the swarm was reduced to ashes.

Inside the mall, the true threat awaited. At the center of the building stood Lucien, the Vampire King's son, flanked by his twin younger brothers, Seamus and Samuel. The twins were eerily identical, their movements synchronized as they stepped forward, their auras radiating malevolent power.

"You dare invade our territory?" Lucien said, his voice cold and sharp.

Ikari smirked. "We're here to clean up trash for the king. No hard feelings eh Lucy?"

The twins snarled, their bodies beginning to shift and contort. Within seconds, they fused into a monstrous, two-headed form—a hulking vampire demon with claws like swords and glowing red eyes.

Ikari turned to Zang. "I'll handle the twins. You take on Lucien. Don't die."

Zang nodded, his grip tightening on his hammer.

Ikari walked into the mall's central atrium, his bare feet crunching on broken glass and rubble. The two vampire twins, Seamus and Samuel, stood on a raised platform, their crimson eyes glowing in the dim light. Identical in appearance, both wore dark cloaks, their pale skin shimmering faintly in the ambient light. Their smirks were mirrored, wicked and sharp, as if mocking the very idea that someone would dare challenge them.

"Well, what do we have here?" Seamus sneered, his voice dripping with disdain.

"Another fool," Samuel added, tilting his head, "or perhaps just a lamb to the slaughter?"

Ikari rolled his neck, a faint cracking sound breaking the tension in the air. "Lamb? That's cute. I don't think you've ever met anyone like me."

Seamus raised an eyebrow, and Samuel chuckled darkly. "Oh, we've dealt with plenty of your kind. Overconfident, reckless, and all too easy to break."

Without warning, the twins sprang into action, their bodies moving in perfect synchrony. They teleported in a blur, appearing on either side of Ikari. Samuel swung a blade of condensed blood at Ikari's neck while Seamus conjured a whip of crimson energy, aiming to ensnare him.

Ikari didn't flinch. His eyes darted between them, his senses heightened to their fullest. In a flash, he ducked under the blade and sidestepped the whip, his movements smooth and effortless.

"Is that all you've got?" Ikari taunted, a cocky grin spreading across his face.

The twins didn't respond. Instead, they increased the intensity of their attacks, their speed and coordination making them a blur of crimson and shadow. Ikari weaved through their onslaught, his body a masterclass of fluid motion. Every attack they threw at him was either dodged or parried with precision, his movements almost lazy in their confidence.

Growing frustrated, the twins leaped back, their auras flaring with dark energy. Their bodies began to shift and contort, muscles bulging and bones cracking. They let out guttural roars as they transformed into their monstrous form: a twin-headed vampire demon. Their combined body stood over twenty feet tall, their four glowing red eyes locked onto Ikari with predatory hunger.

"Well, that's new," Ikari said, his grin widening.

The massive creature lunged at him, its claws swiping with enough force to tear through steel. Ikari jumped back, narrowly avoiding the attack. The ground shook as the claws tore through the floor, leaving deep gouges.

"You really are a handful," Ikari muttered.

The twin-headed demon roared, releasing a barrage of crimson energy blasts from its mouths. The attacks exploded around Ikari, filling the air with fire and debris. Ikari emerged from the smoke unscathed, his cocky demeanor intact.

"All right," he said, cracking his knuckles. "Let's see how you like this."

Ikari extended his hand, and his signature weapon appeared in a flash of dark energy: a scepter pulsing with red, purple, and black light. He twirled it casually, its destructive power radiating through the room.

"This," Ikari said, pointing the scepter at the twin-headed demon, "is my miracle weapon. With it, I can blow apart small solar systems. But lucky for you, I'm feeling generous today."

The twins roared and charged, their massive claws reaching for him. Ikari leaped into the air, spinning his scepter. A concentrated beam of dark energy shot from the weapon, striking one of the heads. The head exploded in a burst of blood and gore, but the wound began regenerating almost instantly.

"Oh, come on," Ikari groaned. "You're really going to make me work for this?"

The twins roared again, their speed increasing despite their size. They began teleporting around him, their claws and teeth coming at him from all angles. Ikari moved like a blur, dodging and countering their attacks with controlled precision.

At one point, the demon managed to land a glancing blow, its claws grazing Ikari's chest. He staggered slightly, looking down at the shallow cut.

"Okay," Ikari said, his voice low and dangerous. "Now I'm annoyed."

Ikari planted his feet, his aura exploding outward in a burst of red and black energy. The sheer force of it caused the twin-headed demon to stumble. Raising his scepter, he began channeling an enormous amount of energy, the weapon glowing brighter with each passing second.

The twins sensed the danger and lunged at him, their claws outstretched. But Ikari was faster. He slammed the base of the scepter into the ground, releasing a shockwave of destructive energy that sent the demon flying.

"Time to end this," Ikari said, his voice calm but cold.

He pointed the scepter at the recovering demon, and a sphere of condensed energy began forming at its tip. The sphere grew larger and brighter, its power shaking the very foundation of the mall.

The twins roared in defiance, charging at him one final time.

"Too slow," Ikari said, releasing the attack.

The energy sphere shot forward, striking the demon square in the chest. The resulting explosion was massive, a controlled yet devastating blast that disintegrated the twins in an instant. The shockwave tore through the mall, shattering windows and sending debris flying.

When the dust settled, Ikari stood alone in the ruins, his scepter resting casually on his shoulder.

"Guess they weren't so tough after all," he said with a smirk.

Zang stood opposite Lucien, the Vampire King's eldest son. The oppressive atmosphere inside the mall seemed to darken, as if Lucien's very presence was pulling the light out of the air. His crimson aura pulsed like a living thing, distorting the air around him.

"You've made a grave mistake coming here," Lucien said, his voice smooth and laced with menace. His glowing red eyes locked onto Zang. "You're no match for me."

Zang tightened his grip on his hammer, his knuckles white. He wasn't one for long speeches, and he wasn't about to let Lucien's theatrics rattle him. Without a word, he surged forward, his hammer trailing a faint glow of yellow endo.

Lucien smirked, disappearing in a blur just as Zang's hammer came crashing down, the blow splintering the tiled floor. Lucien reappeared behind him, a crimson blade of blood extending from his hand. With a flick of his wrist, he slashed at Zang's back.

Zang barely managed to twist out of the way, the blade grazing his armor and leaving a shallow cut. He swung his hammer in a wide arc, forcing Lucien to leap back.

"You're slow," Lucien taunted, casually inspecting his blood blade. "Is this really all you've got?"

Zang didn't respond. Instead, he rushed in again, feinting with his hammer before pivoting and driving a knee toward Lucien's ribs. Lucien blocked it with his forearm but winced slightly, the impact stronger than he anticipated.

"Oh? A bit of fight in you after all."

Lucien's aura flared, and he vanished again. This time, Zang was ready. He closed his eyes briefly, focusing on the faint ripple of endo energy that accompanied Lucien's movements. The moment he sensed Lucien's presence behind him, Zang spun, swinging his hammer upward.

The hammer's head collided with Lucien's hastily formed blood shield, shattering it and sending Lucien skidding back across the floor.

Lucien's smirk faded, replaced by a look of mild irritation. "You're more annoying than I thought," he said, his voice colder now.

Lucien raised his hand, and the blood that had pooled on the ground began to rise, forming dozens of crimson spikes. With a flick of his wrist, he sent them hurtling toward Zang like a storm of deadly projectiles.

Zang planted his feet, gripping his hammer with both hands. He spun it in front of him, creating a barrier of forceful endo. The spikes shattered against the barrier, though the effort left Zang's arms trembling slightly from the strain.

Lucien appeared above him, a massive scythe of blood forming in his hands. He brought it down with a ferocious swing, forcing Zang to roll out of the way. The scythe cleaved through the floor, leaving a jagged scar in the tiles.

"You can't keep dodging forever," Lucien said, his tone mocking.

Zang gritted his teeth, his mind racing. Lucien's teleportation and blood constructs made him unpredictable, and his speed was overwhelming. But Zang wasn't about to give up. He needed to turn the tide.

Focusing his endo, Zang channeled it into his artificial arm. The arm began to glow faintly, the energy building within it. He extended his hand toward Lucien and unleashed a small but concentrated blast of negative endo.

The dark energy shot forward, catching Lucien off guard. It struck him square in the chest, sending him crashing into a pillar. Dust and debris filled the air as the pillar crumbled around him.

Zang didn't waste the opportunity. He charged through the debris, his hammer raised high. As the dust cleared, Lucien emerged, his face twisted in anger. His crimson aura flared violently, and he thrust his hand forward, releasing a shockwave of blood magic.

The force of the shockwave sent Zang flying backward, slamming into a wall. He coughed, the wind knocked out of him, but he forced himself to stand.

"You're persistent, I'll give you that," Lucien said, his tone laced with venom. "But persistence won't save you."

Lucien began to hover, his aura intensifying. The blood around him coalesced into a swirling storm, forming blades, spikes, and whips that floated in the air, ready to strike.

Zang tightened his grip on his hammer, his mind racing. He couldn't afford to be reckless. He needed to be smarter, more strategic.

As Lucien unleashed his storm of blood constructs, Zang moved with precision. He dodged and weaved through the onslaught, using his hammer to deflect the smaller projectiles while avoiding the larger, more destructive attacks.

He spotted an opening—a momentary gap in the storm. Channeling his endo, Zang propelled himself forward, closing the distance between him and Lucien in an instant. He swung his hammer with all his might, aiming for Lucien's torso.

Lucien reacted quickly, forming a blood shield to block the blow. The impact sent shockwaves through the air, the force cracking the shield but not breaking it entirely.

"Impressive," Lucien admitted, his voice strained. "But not enough."

He released a burst of energy, forcing Zang back. Before Zang could recover, Lucien teleported behind him, slashing with his blood blade. Zang barely managed to parry the attack with his hammer, the clash of energy creating sparks.

"You're outmatched," Lucien sneered.

Zang smirked, surprising Lucien. "Maybe. But I'm not out of tricks."

Zang channeled his endo into his artificial arm again, but this time he didn't release it immediately. He let the energy build, his arm glowing brighter and brighter. Lucien noticed the change and narrowed his eyes.

"What are you doing?"

"Testing a theory," Zang said, a grin spreading across his face.

Lucien lunged, aiming to stop whatever Zang was planning, but Zang anticipated the move. He sidestepped and released the built-up energy in a concentrated blast, directing it at Lucien's legs.

The explosion wasn't large, but it was precise. It struck Lucien's knee, causing him to stumble.

Seizing the moment, Zang rushed forward, slamming his hammer into Lucien's side. The force of the blow sent Lucien flying, crashing through several walls before finally coming to a stop.

Zang approached cautiously, his hammer at the ready. Lucien struggled to his feet, his aura flickering. He glared at Zang, his composure finally shattered.

"This... isn't over," Lucien growled, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth.

Zang raised his hammer, his voice steady. "It is now."

With one final swing, he brought the hammer down, the impact creating a shockwave that shook the entire mall. Lucien collapsed, his aura fading as his body disintegrated into ash.

Zang stood over the remains, breathing heavily. He was battered and bruised, but he had won.

From the shadows, Ikari emerged, clapping slowly. "Not bad, kid. Not bad at all."

Zang glared at him. "You could've helped."

Ikari shrugged, a grin on his face. "And rob you of the chance to prove yourself? Where's the fun in that?"

Zang rolled his eyes, slinging his hammer over his shoulder. Despite his exhaustion, he couldn't help but feel a small sense of pride. He had faced a powerful opponent and come out on top.

"Come on," Ikari said, turning toward the exit. "Let's report back to the Demon King."