Raid

Despite their decision to have a little fun before reporting to the mine, Greem and Mary were the first group to reach the rendezvous.

Kevin and his team hadn't arrived yet, leaving just the two of them to their own devices. Both of them shared a knowing and questioning look, one they'd both come to understand as an inquiry on whether to engage in the blissful joining of flesh.

For Greem, his endless stamina and ability to achieve a permanent erection and no refractory period meant he was always rearing to go. He would never say no to the vampire if she wanted to get drunk on his blood and cock.

As for the vampire in question, Mary had become a fully realized addict.

Her nature as a vampire meant her thirst for blood intensified anytime she entered a state of arousal, and it didn't even have to be intense. Something quite as simple as cupping one of her boobs would see her breath quicken and those pointy bloodsuckers elongate from her jaws.

This aspect of herself, combined with Greem's potent allure—so much like her own Charm—and his endless, divine tasting blood, had shaped the current version of her, one that would seize any opportunity she got to jump his bones.

Because doing so meant she'd get to feast on the premium quality blood and also enjoy the best, mind-bending sex she's ever had, both for the entire duration of the activity.

So when she discovered that their new teammates from the elite training camp were absent, the inquiring look in her eyes was a resounding, "Yes. Let's do it."

Greem saw the shiny, star-like eagerness and lust in his girlfriend's eyes, and a part of him, one that would've roared to attention like a dutiful soldier were it not for his supreme self-control, woke up and screamed at him to say yes.

He however ignored it, tamped down its loud yells, and said no, quickly explaining to the dejected vampire that they needed to take the job seriously and make themselves useful since this was their first mission with Black-hand's squad.

Besides, what would happen if they were seriously "engaged" and their teammates or worse, fallen apprentices stumbled onto them? 

With the former, they might suffer only embarrassment, but in the latter, they might end up fighting for their lives or send the weak apprentices packing, but it would still be awkward as hell. 

The vampire who was gradually learning moderation understood that her boyfriend had a point. Thanks to her relationship with him, she had grown more self-aware, understanding more about her strengths and flaws. 

She knew of her tendency to relentlessly pursue and get lost in whatever she found empowering and pleasurable, disregarding anything that wasn't related to the object of her desire.

In this case it was… no it was Greem. That much she could admit. She simply couldn't get enough of him. If their relationship hadn't started less than a month ago, she might have thought herself helplessly in love.

But that… didn't seem so bad when she thought about it. If she really was in love with Greem and he loved her back, didn't that mean she'd have him all to herself forever?

There was no need to be dejected then.

Greem had promised to stay by her side no matter what happened, and since the beginning of their partnership, he'd never once lied to her. So she'd continue to believe and trust in him and his judgement, while striving to be the perfect partner in return.

Nodding to show she understood, she cleared away the feelings and expression of dejection on her face, certainty and contentment replacing them.

"What do we do while we wait? I'm sure you've thought of something. Mister I always have a plan."

Greem laughed and raised an eyebrow. "Huh? Where did that come from?"

Mary rolled her eyes. "What do you mean where did that come from? Do you think I haven't noticed anything? You always seem to know more about things and always have a plan when a problem crops up. Hmph. Do you think I'm blind or dumb?" She said, ending her minor rant with a pout. 

Smiling that damned smile that made her all hot and bothered, Greem approached her calmly and cupped her face, rubbing her cheeks and sending shivers through her.

He could feel the minute climb in her body temperature and the slight quickening of her breathing and heartbeat. However, he pretended he didn't notice and looked her straight in the eyes. 

"I've thought of you as many things. Reckless, headstrong, a little perverted, sure. Blind or dumb was never one of them. In fact, it's the opposite. 

Remember the alligator king? That was all you. I didn't tell you how to defeat it. And also the fight with the elite training camp apprentices. You proved them wrong and defeated one of their strongest in less than a minute.

Tell me, does that sound like a dumb person to you?"

Mary just responded by burying her face into his chest and eking out a muffled, "No."

Greem hugged her back and smoothed her hair. "I know I do some strange things. I just ask that you bear with me and trust me for now. One day, I'll tell you everything."

Pulling back to gaze up at his face, Mary responded with a resolute expression and a nod. "I trust you. And I'll still trust you even if you don't tell me anything. Just… Please don't leave me."

Filled with hope and terror at the words she uttered at the end, Mary closed her eyes and hugged him tighter, wishing to death that a hole would appear and swallow her up.

Completely aware of what his girlfriend said and how it possibly made her feel, Greem said nothing and reassured her with his actions. 

He increased the strength of his hug to match hers and rubbed her back, letting silence and his unspoken affection for her reign in the darkness.

 ☀☀☀ 

Upon his arrival at the rendezvous with his team, Kevin was met with a fully mapped out report of their mine pit. 

The crystal ball Greem passed to him contained everything; the number of miners, the positions of the defending forces—both teams of underground creatures and apprentices—the location of any tunnels and secret entrances and exits.

Apparently Greem temporarily gave his golem to Mary and had her sneak into the mine, keeping the clay construct below ground while she flew out of a small aperture in her bat form.

She flew soundlessly and sightlessly throughout the target location and gathered all this data before storing it in the crystal ball in his hand.

Black-hand received and digested the data with a pleased and appreciative expression, however inwardly, he was sweating bullets. The two new recruits were too terrifying. 

First, Greem had revealed an ability to traverse the Underground world as though it were his backyard. 

Now Mary, who they assumed was just super fast and could heal through drinking her enemies' blood, had just shown that she could ambush and kill any of them and they wouldn't know how they died.

Equal parts elated for having the foresight to snag such people into his camp and equal parts terrified at their prowess, Kevin praised them for their good work and quickly laid down their goal here today and the plan of attack.

Mine Pit 7 was a Blood Stone mine. 

It produced quite a number of resources, but with Blood Stones being the most abundant one in it, the powers that be decided to name this resource site after it.

These stones that were definitely not made of blood had a variety of effects on certain processes that made them sought out by apprentices and Adepts alike.

In its raw form, it served as a potent catalyst and was compatible with nearly all kinds of magical experiments. When reduced to a powdered form, the material could be applied to magical medicines using a special process. 

When used during the creation of these medicines, it fully extracted the potency and efficacy of the herbs or whatever medicinal substance was being used.

Despite the amazing description of the clearly profitable material they'd just heard, Greem and Mary soon found out they weren't here for them. Rather, they were here for the gems that accompanied the formation of these stones: Blood Garnets.

The reason was simple. 

One kilogram of harvested Blood Stones went for 10 magic crystals. One kilogram of Blood Garnets, however, sold for 20 times that. Why undertake this risk for less money if they knew more of it could be made?

Apparently, Hulk had gotten word that the miners had stockpiled a good amount of the profitable resource over the last half month, and he wanted it, hence their presence here.

"Is that all clear?" Black-hand asked and looked through the gathering at everyone's face. 

He received nods of confirmation from everyone and nodded himself. "Good. Remember, you can attack the enemy as much as you want. You even can chase them down and kill them. Just make sure not to destroy the mine. If that happens, there is no force on this plane that can protect you from the Adepts."

This little nugget he just dropped was also part of the unwritten rules. 'You can fight and kill each other as much as you want. Just don't destroy the thing we're both benefiting from.'

It would not surprise Greem that the Adept families and fallen Adepts would join hands to deal with whomever was foolish enough to do that. After all, what was enmity in the face of benefits?

Due to the nature of the mine and the large cavern where its entrance was located, Black-hand's invading group did not sneak into the place and launch hidden attacks.

Since the frequent battles that took place was general knowledge, those who found themselves defending the pit were always on guard and hovered near each other as it was not a matter of if but when someone would come to try and take the mined resources.

Hence, when the group of elite apprentices barged in and started throwing attacks at the defenders, the members of the latter group responded with calm but urgent movements.

They fired back attacks of their own to intercept the fireballs, arrows, and other projectiles sent their way while some too generated shields while moving into position. 

The Underground native Ratmen responsible for the mining ceased all their activities and scurried away to where they knew they wouldn't be attacked.

As for the mercenary force stationed here, they moved quickly and gathered themselves in front of the defending apprentices, their role as disposable meatshields plain for all to see.

They wore shabby, tattered leather and cloth, wielded wooden clubs, small knives, and rotting wooden shields. 

From his and his teammates' position at the end of the cavern opposite the defending force, Greem noted the multiple splotches of dried, hardened blood dotting the floor, the scattered and broken stalagmites and stalactites, and the uncountable number of black marks and craters on the walls. 

He could only imagine how many people had died here.

What he didn't have to imagine was what consisted of the enemy forces and what the repeated battles in this place meant. The cavern was strong; probably reinforced by the powers that be to facilitate these battles and to prevent a cave-in from blocking access to the mine. 

It meant he could use his special, explosive arrows. 

Without missing a beat, he tapped his belt and summoned his bow and quiver, finding himself enjoying how the former settled into his grip. It had been a while. 

Since he feared causing a cave-in, he had removed the special arrows from his arsenal for the Underground missions. In this place though, he could finally let loose, trusting in the integrity of the cavern that had seen centuries of repeated battle. 

Quickly joining his attacking teammates, he raised the bow and aimed at the howling and advancing werewolves, letting his first arrow of the night loose.