The Last Vampire

I'm too late to dodge and she's too fast and strong. On the ground, she easily pins me down. Her grip on my two arms is crushing tight!

"Argh!!!"

"BLOOD!!!"

In my Angelus Frame, I kick her away but her claws nastily scratch my forearms! It hurts! I gotta get out of here! I hear her roar as she chases me down before I could even reach the edge of the platform. Argh! She got me by the shoulder! Her claws are drilling into my joints!

"Let go of me!" I spat.

"BLOOD!!!" she screams again.

She pulls me even closer and her free hand is open with fingers together so her nails form like one blade. She's gonna strike a gaping hole into my chest!

Is this it? I'm dead!

"Huh?" I grunt in confusion as her palm is just against my chest.

She's breathing hard, looking at the floor. Her swear and saliva dripping. She lets go of my shoulder and on the ground, she kneels squeezing her arm.

"No. . .," she growls under her breath.

What's with her? Why did she attack me and stop all of a sudden? Not that I wanted her to continue with it. . . She looks like she's struggling.

"I'm sorry," she says with a weak broken voice. "I didn't mean to. I'm, er. . . Never mind."

"Are you a Daemon?" I ask but keeping my distance. She might pounce at me without warning.

"I am." She swallows after licking her claws covered with my blood. "This is not it," she whispers.

"If so, why are you the only one who attacked me? None of the Daemons I came across did."

"I'm a different kind of Daemon." Different kind? "I'm the last surviving vampire in Shannia."

She's the last of her kind? Interesting. . .

"DON'T COME NEAR ME!!!" she roars. Yikes! I took a step without thinking. I step back three times. "I might lose control again."

"Do you need help?"

"No! Stay away!" Her body turns into smoke and she flies away into the deep darkness.

*Phew*

"That was close," I tell myself in relief.

The last vampire? Who would've thought? Maybe I should look into it. But first, I have to learn how to heal myself. So, I open the File Zaori sent to me and search for a way to heal myself. She says I have to learn it.

<This is by far the most important skill,> she says in the note. <Healing may hurt or do nothing if the healer and the patient aren't using the same type of Frame. You need to learn it in every Frame, especially in your Anthropa. You're the only one after all :P>

The rest is how to access it in the skill tree. In every Frame, I had to upgrade five skills like cooking, basic alchemy, and others. Then I heal myself in every Frame. It took a long time and I don't get why I have to heal my Frames one by one while Lucy, back when we fought the Phantom, she healed all of my Frames in one go.

I check the skill tree again and oh. . . it's a high-level skill. It can only be unlocked once I hit Level 500—which is a long way to go.

Now, where was I? Oh, right. . . I was about to enter this domain. But hell, my level is too low. I just noticed that I can bring a party. That would make things easier. But I have none. Should I ask random people on the street? Or perhaps. . . ask that vampire? She seemed to be strong.

No, I shouldn't. She almost killed me, remember? Why am I so eager to kill myself, huh?

Anyway, let's just go. Those guys in the tavern might just let me come with them. I think it's a good idea.

I leave the platform and feel relieved once I'm out of the sewers. Back to that alley, I walk. I'm like a pervert eyeing people to see if they look strong enough or the type that clears domains. Most people seem to be living simple lives in the city, taking jobs with decent wages, and wearing suits. Clearing domains are not for them.

At last, I'm outside the door of the tavern—or bar? Yup, bar would be the right word to call it. I push against the door and the strong smell of liquor blows into my face. It seems that the guys I saw earlier left now. There is only one guy sitting and drinking at the bar. He's quiet as the bartender cleans the shot glasses with a towel. Everything looks so fancy and relaxing here. The bartender nods at me so I nod back.

"What drink would you like, sir?" he asks.

"Anything under 1000 gold," I say, sitting on the stool.

He looks at me with slight confusion. "Our cheapest would be at 5000, good sir."

"Oh. . ." Crap, that's so expensive! I only have 10,000 with me. But I think this will be worth the shot. If I wait long enough here, somebody with the guts to come with me to clear that domain will arrive. So, "That, please."

"Right away," he nods.

As I wait for my drink, I'm thinking of a way to strike up a conversation with the guy next to me. He's a large orc wearing a brown coat and hat, unlike the typical neon-colored outfits normal people wear. I guess a style like this exists.

Alright, here it goes, "Uh. . ."

He glares at me. I think that means, "Don't bother with me or I'll crush your skull in one hit."

He's not the guy, I guess. Oh, my drink's here. It looks awesome. It's sparkly blue swirling up to become lighter. I take a sip and it tastes so good! Man, my 5000 was worth it. But. . . it's kinda. . . strong. My head is dizzy.

W. . . why is the bartender smirking at me?

Am I. . . in trouble?

I don't know. . .

Ugh. . . I can't. . .stay awake. . . anymore.