Chapter 22 - New Age

The cold rain drenched his already wet muddy body. Nico blankly stood there. Something in the back of his mind made him wonder if he was even in the same world.

The trees were too weird and there was that huge ass ant. It was totally out of the world.

"I should have captured that ant. Maybe I can make a scientific contribution to this world…..Rue would laugh at my face… gosh I miss that girl. Wonder how old she is. She must be in her forties."

He giggled. "I'll drop by and call her old lady. She is going to go crazy.. haha…"

His stomach kept growling loudly. He needed to eat something fat or else his stick-like body will collapse.

Nicolai just blindly walked around. It felt like he was walking in circles. Of course, his horrendous sense of direction did not help him in this situation.

"Did dad just dump me here and leave? What is he even thinking? fuck… I hate this…" he mumbled, pushing past really bushy fern.

Suddenly, there was a small sound to his right.

He froze. Right in front of him was a huge moose. It was standing in the puddle of water chewing on something.

Nico licked his lips hungrily. He knew that taking down a moose was too much for him while his body was in this state… but one could only wish right…

He searched for a weapon or anything he can use.

There was absolutely nothing. Not even a fucking rock. The sticks he found were very brittle.

"Fine, I'll do it my way," he grumbled softly.

He can use his blood lust to put it in a trance. But since he was very much blood-deprived himself. He was not sure if it was going to work

If the trance failed, the moose could easily take him out.

Nico knew not to underestimate these peaceful creatures. They had long legs and elegant posture but when provoked they will attack ferociously. With their hoofs and huge antlers, they can easily stomp and stab down their predators.

He slowly walked out of the bushes.

The moose turned its head his way. Its antlers spread wide for about a meter with wispy stuff hanging off of it.

It was an elk.

"Hey…" he spread about his blood lust out. The moose froze for a second. "Don't move… become my prey today.. I'm sorry that…."

The moose charged at him and pushed him down into the bush.

"He was stuck in an odd angel with branches wrapping him. "Fuck this. I knew this was going to happen.." he checked his body. He was not wounded in any way. Just a few scratches marred his face and hands.

He struggled out of the bush and peered at the annoying moose's ass. It was silently eating something at the root of the tree.

"Ah I'm so hungry…"

Suddenly there was a swooshing sound and the moose was hit by a huge spear.

"schreeeee…" the moose cried loudly and collapsed to the ground.

Nico froze in shock. It was all too soon.. The blood smell permeated the air.

he could not hold back the urge to take a sip.

Nico ran out of the bush and took a sip off its wounded neck. The blood tasted fresh and slightly sweet. Feeling the warm blood fill his stomach, he sighed loudly.

"What is this?" a voice whispered.

Nico glanced back. Three men stood dressed in brown. "Oh sorry, I was taking just a sip. You can have the moose it was my prey, but…."

A spear whooshed towards his face. He hurriedly stepped back and stumbled on a protruding root.

Sitting on his ass, he looked at these men in shock. "hey! You didn't have to attack me for that. It was just sip of blood!"

"Vampire! Brother, do you think we can fetch a nice price for him in the market?"

"yes, but.. He is dressed weirdly. Maybe we can sell it to those with special preferences."

"hmm…a few gold…"

The three of them talked between themselves.

"Are you guys talking about selling me right in front of my face? Are you being serious now? Fucking shit.. This is annoying as fuck," he stood up patting his back. "Listen you annoying humans. Before you can even touch the tip of my hair, I can dislodge your heads off your neck,"

Another spear charged at him.

Nico dodged down and ran towards them.

These three were definitely hostile towards him. He did not need to be cordial any longer. He sucker-punched the one nearby and the next one, he tripped him down and pinned him by his head.

The other one took another spear to attack.

"Oh no you don't," he back kicked him right where the sun doesn't shine.

"oomph…" the man held his crotch and knelt on the ground.

Nico smashed his fist on his face until he too collapsed. Only the one pinned under him was conscious. He was struggling hard with fear clearly in his eyes. But there was also another subtle emotion in his eyes.

He saw disgust.

Nico let his blood lust spread into the air. His eyes started to glow. "You! Tell me! Where are we.."

In a trance, the man spoke. "Iqaluit,"

"Um, where is that? Which state?"

"Nunavut,"

Nico was more than confused. He was always been bad at geography but being stuck in this situation just made him feel worse. "Where is that place now? Which country? We are still in green land right? I hope we are."

"Janada." The man dazedly looked at him.

"Jana.. Canada? Do you mean Canada?"

The man confusedly looked at him.

"Answer me,"

"Janada…. it was renamed five hundred years ago,"

"Five.. Five hundred?! Don't play with me human! How… .. What year is it?"

"900 Na,"

Nico sat up straight. This man did not use AD anymore… "What.. what does Na mean?"

"New age…."

Nico stood up hurriedly. "You're lying… you… you must be acting like my trance is working. It must be a lie….. did my father put you up for this…"

The man blankly stared at him. His trance was working well.

That could only mean….

"When… when did it change to NA…."

"Nine hundred years ago…."

Nico sat down, breathing loudly. He could not control his pounding heart. "wh.. what happened nine hundred years ago…"

"Nuclear war,"

Nico was faint.