Summoning the Holy Sword

Erin gazed at the Darkness Capital and felt increasingly anxious. Before she arrived, she was more or less doubtful about Garcia’s words. She suspected that Garcia was over-exaggerating. But after she entered the Darkness Capital, she realized what he said was right. At a glance, the entire Darkness Capital was in pitch-blackness and clouded in a dangerous aura, where even the spiritual flames on the watchtowers were non-existent. In the past, the Darkness Capital felt just like a graveyard where it looked incredibly peaceful on the surface, but overflowing with undead aura on the inside. And now, the Darkness Capital was completely different, like a battlefield filled with a lifeless atmosphere. Such a feeling could only be felt in massacres. But now, Erin actually sensed murderous intent surrounding the Darkness Capital, which went to show just how many people died. She became increasingly concerned.

Not only that, but Erin also discovered that the guards patrolling and defending the Darkness Capital were nowhere to be seen, be it on the city walls, streets, or plaza. The guards standing around the heavily-defended palace entrance also vanished. The gates were opened as though everyone had already fled, leaving behind an uninhabited city. But due to that reason, it made Erin feel even stranger. The contrast of the feeling of emptiness to the soaring undead aura made her heart palpitate with terror.

“…”

Erin landed silently at the entrance of the palace, staring inside alertly. Under the illumination of blue spiritual flames, the corridor was so quiet as though there were no traces of people around. Despite that, the undead aura was incomparably dense and thick, pouncing on Erin’s face as though it were substantial. Erin couldn’t help but feel a shiver run down her spine. Her expression changed slightly and her eyes glinted in vigilance. She let out a sigh before entering the palace.

Thud… Thud… Thud…

The sound of footsteps echoed in the corridor crisply, but Erin’s heart sank deeper. She didn’t see any guards along the way. Usually there should have been someone greeting and welcoming her by now. But this time, no one showed up. Not only that, but after Erin let loose of her consciousness, she also discovered that no one was inside this huge palace, be it the living or the undead. In an instant, it gave Erin a misconception that she was abandoned by the world. She felt increasingly nervous but despite that, she sauntered in a calm pace, taking heavy steps as she headed to her big brother’s study room.

As soon as Erin reached the study room, she twitched her brow and leaped back in retreat suddenly. At the same time, four spooky, shadowy figures appeared in front of her, stopping her path ahead.

“Who are you people?!”

Gazing at the four shadowy figures, Erin couldn’t help but pucker her brow and shriek. She stared at the figures who didn’t seem any different from humans in terms of appearance. They wore luxurious costumes, but their white hair, blood-red eyes, and elf-like, pointy ears revealed their true identity.

Vampires.

Looking at this scene, Erin yelled and raised her right arm. Along with this movement, a dazzling magical radiance coalesced around her, metamorphosing into a blinding light beam that burst ahead. None of the beings expected this quick attack from her and were flustered for an instant. In a series of loud explosions, the sleek, marble corridor became completely tattered by the bombardment. The violent airflows dispersed, resisting the beings who were trying to stop Erin. Erin shifted her gaze away and dashed toward the door in a trail of afterimages.

Swish!

Right before Erin left, the tightly-sealed door shattered abruptly and a pitch-black ray of light shot toward her from the back. Facing this ambush, Erin turned around swiftly, raising the sword in her hand and slashing it backward.

Her razor-sharp blade clashed with a pitch-black ray of light.

Clang!

The deep, thunderous impact sounded, shaking the ground violently. Erin stood quietly in the middle of the corridor. On her left and right, the sleek marble floor and walls were smashed to pieces by that formidable black energy. But Erin made light of the situation. She widened her eyes and gazed cautiously at the familiar yet unfamiliar figure strolling out of that tattered door.

“Big Brother…”

Ion didn’t seem to hear her calling. He swept a glance at Erin before turning coldly to one of the vampires at the side.

“Didn’t I ask you to stop her?”

“Apologies, I…”

Pfff!

Before the vampire finished his sentence, Ion extended his arm abruptly and smashed the vampire’s skull into bits. The headless corpse swayed left to right, before crumpling to the ground and turning into ashes that disappeared into thin air. Ion didn’t seem to mind at all. He didn’t even bother to look at the vampire and let out a snort.

“Worthless.”

Ion grunted, lifted his head to look at Erin, and displayed a gentle smile.

“Come here, Erin. Let me have a good look at you.”

“Big Brother, what exactly is going on?”

If it were in the past, Erin would be delighted to witness Ion’s smile. But now, she shivered from head to toe because even though Ion was smiling, his eyes were ice-cold. That wasn’t a form of disguise, but was as though he didn’t know what he was doing instead. This strong contrast instinctively made Erin feel an unprecedented threat. She thought Garcia was over exaggerating earlier. But now, she was certain that there was something wrong with her big brother’s consciousness.

“What are you talking about? Come here, Erin. Let me have a good look at you. Where have you been to? Share with me.”

“… I will tell you about it when the time is right. Right now, I’m more curious about what you’ve been doing all this while, Big Brother. I heard the happenings from His Highness Garcia… So why did you do that, Big Brother?”

“Ha, ha.”

Ion laughed at her question and shook his head. Then, he looked at Erin with a gentle expression and repeated.

“Come here, Erin. Let me have a good look at you. Where have you been to? Share with me.”

“B-Big Brother…?”

“Come here, Erin. Tell me… This is an order! Get over here right now and tell me where you’ve been to! Now!”

Boom!

Along with Ion’s insane snarls, he raised his arm suddenly. Erin sensed an unparalleled force brushing past her and smashing onto the wall beside her. At that moment, Ion had lost the peculiar smile completely, only to be replaced by a twisted, malevolent, and furious expression. It was as though it wasn’t his younger sister standing before him, but his father’s murderer instead. Upon looking at his gaze, Erin couldn’t help but shudder. Then, upon realizing something, she evaded to the side. A few seconds later, a dark column of light descended from above, blasting the spot where she stood earlier.

“Erin, I told you to come here…!” Ion’s eyes were bloodshot. He gnashed his teeth and raised both arms, snarling crazily at the young lady. “… If you don’t… then go to hell… You’re disobedient! You’re not my younger sister! I need to find my younger sister!”

“Big Brother!”

At that moment, Erin knew that anything she said would not go into his head. Facing this strange Dark Dragon, she was at a complete loss. She thought Ion would have a nice discussion with her. But now, he seemed just like an insane person!

In this situation, perhaps nothing I say will get into his head!

At this thought, Erin turned grim, before darting toward the outside.

“Capture her! Kill her! I need to purify her and turn her into my younger sister!”

“Oooooh!”

Along with Ion’s bellows, thousands of undead creatures appeared from the shadows suddenly, letting out high-pitched, terrifying screams and pouncing on the young lady. Looking at this scene, Erin gritted her teeth and swung the blade in her hand abruptly. The blade rays flickered in a shimmering brilliance, slashing the undead creatures that encircled her into halves.

But this was only the start.

“Siad!”

Along with a hoarse chant, spells filled with undead auras penetrated the gaps, aiming straight at Erin. Her expression sank. She waved her right arm and in a vociferous explosion, powerful gusts of wind erupted, turning into a barrier that deflected the spells in all direction. In an instant, the explosions enfolded the entire palace. Smoke and dust dispersed, shrouding everyone’s vision. At the same time, Erin’s expression changed abruptly. A few moments ago, when she clashed with the attackers, she sensed an absolutely familiar presence in the undead creatures’ spiritual powers! Erin hesitated no more. She darted toward the statue on the side. A blade ray flashed and immediately after, blood spurted out from her right wrist, splashing on a statue that was fortunate to not be destroyed. The instant her blood spattered on it, the statue distorted and a dark cave appeared from it. Without any hesitation, Erin dove right into it and vanished into the darkness.

As soon as the smoke and dust dispersed, Erin was no longer around. Looking at this scene, Ion’s fanatical grin twisted and turned as he glared at the uninhabited place. After a few moments, he swung his arm abruptly.

“Nasui!”

Along with his growl, the entire palace became pitch-black. The spiritual flames that lit up the corridor had extinguished entirely. In an instant, everything was enveloped in darkness, leaving only the scarlet eyes of undead creatures emanating from the shadows. At that moment, Ion laid down both arms slowly.

“Search for her! She is still in the palace! Capture her! Kill her! I want to turn her into my younger sister again!”

Even though Ion’s words weren’t methodical, the undead creatures seemed to understand what he meant. Shortly after, the scarlet eyes in the black background vanished gradually, blending into the darkness and disappearing from sight.