Aircraft Combat

The next day, after breakfast, the three of them prepared to continue their journey to find the fortune teller they were looking for. Rovan, although still weighed down by recent events, seemed slightly better. Perhaps this journey would give him time to reflect and ease his anxiety. Nathan and Diana also hoped it would bring him some peace.

This time, their journey to a farther city was made aboard a zeppelin—a large, comfortable, and luxurious airship. They sat back in the spacious cabin, enjoying the view of the vast blue sky through the window. Nathan, unable to escape his thoughts, still felt uneasy about what they would face upon reaching the fortune teller. Diana, on the other hand, appeared a bit calmer, though she occasionally glanced at Nathan and Rovan with concern.

However, their peace did not last long. Suddenly, chaos erupted from the middle of the zeppelin. Wooden boards creaked, screams filled the air, and hurried footsteps shook the atmosphere. Nathan immediately became alert.

"What's going on?" Diana asked, slightly panicked, seeing several passengers begin to run.

"It looks like trouble," Nathan replied briefly, then turned towards the commotion. At that moment, several zeppelin guards, appearing to be military personnel, rushed to the scene, trying to calm the crowd.

But within seconds, they fell one by one, powerless. Panic started to spread, and Nathan knew exactly what was happening.

"Vampires..." Nathan muttered, his eyes quickly scanning the crowd.

The vampire appeared amid the turmoil, moving at a speed incomprehensible to ordinary humans. It did not resemble the usual ones they had encountered, but its swift and agile movements indicated that it was a lower-class vampire—a ripper. Though of a lower rank, it was by no means to be underestimated.

Nathan quickly opened his suitcase, pulled out the revolver he always carried, and sprang from his seat. "Diana, stay behind me!" he ordered firmly as he rushed forward. Diana, slightly frightened, moved closer to Rovan, who seemed to be trembling.

Nathan fired a shot to divert the vampire's attention. The bullet struck the wall near the creature, creating a loud bang. The vampire turned, its glowing red eyes locking onto Nathan. It snarled and moved more aggressively, leaping towards Nathan with incredible speed.

"Stay back!" Nathan shouted, firing again. But the vampire was already too close, slashing at him with its sharp claws.

Nathan stepped back, narrowly dodging the strike that nearly grazed his face. The vampire grew more ferocious, moving in an unpredictable pattern. With lightning speed, it punched one of the guards who tried to intervene, sending him flying to the side.

"This is no ordinary opponent," Nathan thought, his face serious. Even though it was a lower-class vampire, it was cunning and formidable.

Behind him, Diana clutched Rovan's hand, who appeared increasingly anxious. "Rovan, we have to help Nathan! Come on!" she urged, trying to encourage Rovan to act.

But Rovan remained frozen, his eyes empty with fear. "I... I can't... it's too fast," he choked out. He was still haunted by deep-seated terror.

Diana tried to reassure him, but seeing Nathan struggling alone, she knew they had to act fast. "Rovan, we don't have a choice! Nathan needs us!" she insisted, almost pleading.

Yet Rovan remained motionless. "I... I'm scared..." he whispered, his voice trembling. The overwhelming fear paralyzed him, trapping him in a deep state of helplessness.

Nathan, briefly glancing at Diana and Rovan, refocused on the fight. The vampire kept attacking with its claws and fangs, and though Nathan tried to shoot and evade, the creature's speed made it difficult. He was starting to feel overwhelmed, searching for his next move.

"I have to... finish this quickly," Nathan thought, narrowing his eyes with focus.

Nathan moved swiftly, circling the vampire to distract it. The vampire grew increasingly frustrated, struggling to predict Nathan's agile movements. He continued dodging the vampire's rapid strikes, but just as he momentarily let his guard down, the creature lunged with unexpected speed and closed the distance.

With one swift motion, the vampire struck Nathan. The force of the blow was immense, sending Nathan flying across the cabin, crashing into several seats before collapsing near Diana and Rovan. The entire zeppelin cabin fell into chaos, the impact reverberating through the room. Diana and Rovan gasped, seeing Nathan's body hit the floor hard.

Diana ran frantically to Nathan, who lay weakly on the ground. "Nathan! Nathan, wake up!" she cried, her hands shaking as she checked his injuries. She did her best to keep him conscious, though her fear grew stronger.

Rovan, watching in silence, felt utterly useless. His heart was heavy with guilt, his mind clouded with turmoil. "I... I couldn't protect him..." he thought to himself. His gaze was hollow, and he felt like nothing more than a burden to his friends. Slowly, he lowered his head, despising himself. "Why can't I do anything..." he murmured, his voice filled with self-loathing.

Nathan, barely conscious, forced his eyes open. Diana's anxious voice sounded distant, but he tried to focus. Weakly, he reached for Diana's hand, struggling to speak with a hoarse voice. "Rovan... finish this," he whispered, barely audible but clear enough for Rovan.

Those words struck Rovan like a wave of emotion—pain, sorrow, and shame all mixed together. He felt as if he had been shaken awake. "I have to... I have to do this!" he thought. Though fear still gripped him, something inside him stirred. He had to fight—not just for Nathan, but for himself.

With determination, Rovan forced himself to stand, gripping his weapon tightly, and stepped forward to confront the vampire. He gathered every ounce of strength within him and engaged the creature. However, even with his newfound resolve, the vampire's power was overwhelming. Each of his attacks was met with greater speed and force from the vampire. Moments later, the vampire's claw came at him with terrifying speed, nearly landing a devastating blow.

Suddenly, a loud sound rang out—not an ordinary gunshot, but something charged with electricity. The vampire's body convulsed violently as the energy surged through it. The creature stumbled backward, its balance disrupted, struggling as if something was coursing through its body, rendering it almost immobile.

"Who was that?" Diana exclaimed, turning toward the source of the shot. From the darkness of the cabin, a mysterious old man emerged. He wore dark clothing, and his presence radiated authority. Without wasting words, he approached the staggering vampire.

The vampire, now struggling to move, attempted to resist, but the earlier attack had drained its strength. The old man swiftly and mercilessly plunged a dagger into a marked area on the vampire's body—a symbol that seemed to be its core.

"This is the end for you," the man whispered, as if he knew exactly what he was doing. As the dagger struck deep, the vampire let out a strange noise, its body emitting black smoke, and within seconds, it crumbled into fine dust that drifted into the air. Only ashes remained, signifying its demise.

Silence filled the zeppelin cabin. Everyone was stunned, processing what had just happened. Rovan stood still, his eyes wide in disbelief at what he had witnessed. Diana was similarly speechless, staring at the old man standing near the vampire's remains.

The man took a deep breath, then turned to Nathan and Diana. "Are you all right?" he asked in a rough, yet concerned voice.

Nathan, still weak but fully conscious now, nodded slightly. "We're fine... thank you for arriving in time," he answered, though his voice was hoarse.

The man gave a faint smile. "I'm glad I could help. Don't worry, you are not alone in this." His eyes held a deep meaning, as if he had more to say.

Diana, still shaken, asked, "Who... who are you?"

The man smirked mysteriously. "I am a vampire hunter, like you. I just make sure you're safe."

Nathan, hearing that the man was also a vampire hunter, struggled to stand despite his pain. Every movement sent waves of agony through his body, but he refused to give in. With trembling hands, he approached the man and asked in a hoarse voice, "Do you know more about vampires? Do you know how to defeat them?"

However, before Nathan could stand upright, a sudden dizziness struck him, and his body almost collapsed again. Diana, seeing this, quickly moved to catch him, preventing him from falling too hard.

"Nathan, be careful!" she cried, worried about his condition.

The man also acted swiftly, approaching Nathan to support his body and prevent him from falling further. With careful movements, he steadied Nathan, ensuring that his body didn't hit the floor too hard.

"Calm down," the man said in a firm yet soothing voice. "You need to rest first."

Nathan tried to stay upright, even though his body felt extremely weak. "Please, answer my question," he said with determination, despite his labored breathing. "What can you tell me about them? Those vampires... and the symbols on their bodies?"

The man nodded slightly, understanding the importance of the question. "I know a lot about them," he replied in a serious tone. "The vampires you encountered are not ordinary vampires. They belong to a far more dangerous group. Every vampire that bears that symbol on their body is among the strongest of their kind."

He paused for a moment, giving them time to absorb his words. Diana and Rovan listened intently, eager for further explanation.

"That symbol is their weak point," the man continued. "When it's pierced, their bodies will disintegrate, turning into dust, just as you saw earlier. That is the best way to defeat them."

Nathan exhaled slowly, processing the man's words. "So… every vampire with that symbol can be killed the same way?" he asked, seeking a deeper understanding.

"That's right," the man confirmed. "However, not all vampires bear the same symbol. Some older and stronger vampires can even hide their symbols or move them to places that are harder to reach. That's what makes them more dangerous."

Nathan nodded slowly, trying to commit the information to memory. "So, we must always be careful and learn more about these symbols. Thank you, you've been a great help to us."

The man only gave a faint smile, as if he understood exactly what Nathan was thinking. "It's no problem. I'm only doing what I should. Now, you all must stay alert because there are still many dangers lurking out there."

Diana, whose fear had begun to subside, finally spoke. "Thank you so much. We don't know what would have happened without your help."

The man nodded. "Be careful. Don't trust everyone you meet, and always stay vigilant." After saying that, he stepped back, giving them space to continue their journey.

Nathan, though still tired and in pain, managed to nod at the man. "We'll remember your advice. Thank you again."

With that, the man walked away, returning to his place inside the zeppelin, leaving Nathan, Diana, and Rovan to continue their journey. But even though they had received help, the shadow of danger still loomed over them. They knew that the battle was far from over, and this journey had only just begun.