Chapter Twenty-Three: Strange Air Raid

The young moose calves bounced about, eagerly nibbling at the plants we brought them. Yet their habit of relieving themselves wherever they pleased was a constant headache; we had to clean up frequently, though Yune's ventilation system was a godsend. They no longer feared us, unaware that we were the ones who had slain their elders.

I knew nothing about their habits—how should I tame them? Perhaps there was a zoo nearby, some ancient records left behind that we could consult.

At night, we continued to camp in the open wilderness. Along the way, we gathered more supplies and piled them in the cargo hold, making it far more crowded than before.

A ranger named Johnson said, "Who wants to go out for some fresh air?"

Masaru laughed. "I need to step outside anyway, might as well take a look at the stars."

Ferlheir sighed. "Those girls in the tunnels—I finally understand how they felt. Cooped up in this iron can for so long, I'd be willing to fall for a trick just to glimpse the stars."

I called out, "We live in a black coffin as it is! What's there to complain about?"

Sisyphus replied, "At least the air in the coffin is fresh, not polluted by these little creatures you brought in."

"Be careful out there," I warned. "There are demons about."

Masaru said, "Commander, demons don't dare approach Yune, and we'll keep a close watch."

The word 'commander' brought a secret smile to my lips. "Fine, anyone who wants to step out may do so, but stay alert."

Bella said, "I'll let these little ones run around with you." She took the statue, and together we opened the hatch and stepped outside. The moose calves happily wandered everywhere, heedless and wild. Were it not for Bella's swift hands, they would have been impossible to control. Sometimes, Bella gently toppled a calf, and its panicked expression made her laugh out loud.

In that moment, she was entirely a mischievous teenager, not some blood-sucking outsider.

"Careful," I said. "You should leave the statue inside the vehicle."

"I can't help myself," Bella replied. "It feels so mysterious, so exquisite, with that... ancient, eternal quality. I don't know why, but I'm desperate to unravel its secrets."

I stepped back, caught a calf, and said, "You haven't fallen under the spell of the Ikes sisters, have you?"

"If I were bewitched," Bella said, "shouldn't I be obsessed with suicide?"

"Or convincing others to end themselves," I answered. "Either way, nothing good."

The evening breeze played with Bella's golden hair. She brushed aside the stray strands, moonlight casting her in a hazy glow, making her seem like a sprite of night and moon. "There's still another one, somewhere out there," she murmured.

"It's best if we never find it," I said. "I always fear something will happen if all the statues are gathered."

She said, "The statue can transform a person into one of the blood clan—it's simply incredible to us."

"Incredible? The statue carries a virus. Prolonged exposure is bound to infect you."

Bella gently turned a moose calf back toward its group, smiling. "It's good to let them roam, at least they'll relieve themselves outside. And the blood curse isn't a virus."

---

"I believe it's a bloodthirsty form of rabies, transmitted through blood," I said.

"Nonsense," Bella snapped. "Do you know how we create our own kind?"

I didn't really want to hear, but curiosity won out. "How?"

Bella leaned in, her teeth hovering near my neck. Cold sweat trickled down my back as she spoke softly, "I drain all the blood from your body—it takes only a few minutes, and you die. Then I transfuse a third of my own blood into you. You will return from death; your heart will no longer beat, may even vanish, replaced by a lump of flesh. You'll never need to breathe again. You will hunger for blood more desperately than any starving tiger, so much so that the craving drives you mad. Then you will be one of us, what we call 'blood kin.'"

Her teeth pierced my skin, painful, and I cried out, "Stop..."

She laughed. "Don't flatter yourself. The magistrate has ordered that we must never create more of our kind."

She moved away, giving me a sense of relief as if escaping death. "Perhaps it requires a massive exchange of blood..."

"Your prejudices are stubborn, Longinus," she said. "Think what you like, but as far as I know, there's no way to create blood clan except through that ritual. Yet this statue goes beyond my understanding—it might be tied to the origin of our kind, letting us trace back to the very first blood kin."

"You say Cain was the first, don't you?"

"Cain... is just a myth. We believe it, but there's no certainty."

"But I've seen Abel with my own eyes, and so have you."

She laughed. "You don't believe in the curse of the blood clan, but you believe that man was Abel?"

Thinking it over, she had a point. Perhaps the end of magic is science, and the end of science is magic.

I looked down to see the moose calves circling me, no longer running wild. Bella laughed. "These idiots—have they taken you for family?"

I sent them toward Bella, and they actually understood, letting her stroke their heads. "Animals are simpler than people, more lovable. They're foolish, and don't even remember your faults. Don't you think?"

"In comparison to most people, yes," I said. By now, it seemed their exercise time was up, so I called out, "Everyone, back to the cabin!"

Suddenly, a steel cable silently dropped from the sky, binding Bella tightly. She screamed, releasing the statue, which she tossed to me.

I saw the cable came from a deep blue giant octopus, floating six meters off the ground, body nearly two meters across, three tentacles each about three meters long. No time for surprise—I summoned my fishbone spear, wielded my mind-blade, and cut through a tentacle. Bella fell beside me.

The octopus lashed its remaining arms. I grabbed Bella and dodged, but couldn't avoid being ensnared—its tentacle wrapped around my legs, hoisting me into the air. I tossed Bella aside, dangling helplessly, unable to use Stonespruce—my skills not yet mature. I threw the statue back to Bella.

"Why are you all just standing there?" Bella shouted. "Shoot it!"

At her command, bullets struck the octopus, but its body seemed made of steel—the rounds left only shallow marks, inflicting no harm. Bella broke free, using her supernatural speed and chopping hand to sever the cable. I crashed to the ground.

The octopus stabbed with its remaining tentacle, killing a ranger. I saw the other two tentacles regenerating—not as cables, but as flesh. Its exterior was either armor or skin.

My leg was injured, so I injected a healing serum. The octopus drifted after Bella, its arms grabbing at her. Bella dodged left and right, then suddenly leaped, kicking the creature and knocking it off balance. It crashed to the ground with a screech of metal. Bella stood atop it, her eyes fierce, raining blows until its iron armor split and she began tearing its flesh apart piece by piece.

---

Seeing her victorious, torturing her vanquished foe, we ceased firing.

But suddenly, a man emerged from within the octopus. Flames shot from his fingertips, setting Bella alight. She screamed in terror and pain. He was a hunched, gaunt old man, plain-looking, wearing sunglasses and a strange academic cap. In his hand was a wooden stake, which he drove into Bella's heart. Her body froze, and he used some peculiar skill to extinguish the flames before picking her up.

I thought Bella was dead, shocked, but then remembered Vasilisa had also suffered a grievous wound to the heart from Abel yet survived, though unconscious.

We fired at the old man, who took cover behind the octopus. "Flank! Flank forward! Get in close!" I shouted. Suddenly, the wind howled, and bat-like wings sprouted from his back. In an instant, he soared into the air, carrying Bella away toward the distant hills. We unleashed a volley, but our blessed rounds were long spent. He took several hits, but his movement was unimpaired, vanishing behind the mountains.

Sisyphus cried, "We must rescue her, or we'll all be dragged before a military tribunal—and that means certain death!"

I roared, "Which idiots wanted to go out for fresh air?"

Post said, "Now's not the time to shift blame, besides, you're the commander. Whatever happens, you bear full responsibility."

Frustration threatened to overwhelm me, but I forced myself to stay calm. "Everyone, get inside Yune. No more going outside!"

"And Bella?" Post asked.

"I'll rescue her. Don't get in my way!"

Warden shouted over the broadcast, "Chase them with Yune—it'll be faster!"

"Enough! Shut up! Take care of the moose calves!" I snapped, ignoring them and sprinting toward the mountains.

My injured leg was minor, and pain was nothing now. Among all the scavengers, I was the fastest runner—when I went all out, I could sometimes catch a wild hare.

I took Odin's Eye—the potion allowed me to sense activity dozens of meters away, but the old man was far beyond that range, hidden within the octopus. I only knew the general direction. If he changed course, my speed would only carry me further astray.

Ahead, I heard demons crying out. I quickly drank Amon's Water, but soon realized they weren't reacting to me, but to the old man skimming low, disturbing them.

I moved toward the demons, who ignored me. I skirted their group and pressed on, running as fast as I could. At that moment, I felt strength flowing from the Hand of Radiance, banishing my fatigue and making my legs stronger.

Yes, Ferlheir had said the Hand of Radiance would improve my constitution—now I finally saw he was right. I ran as fast as a horse.

After half an hour, my confidence wavered. I searched desperately, and by great fortune spotted a drop of blood reflecting the moonlight, almost dazzling in the dark.

It was Bella's blood—she retained some consciousness and hadn't tried to heal her wound. This was her clue for me.

A two-meter iron fence blocked my path. I jumped and deftly vaulted over.

Amid dense woods, I saw immense, pitch-black cages.

The devil take it—this was a zoo.