Chapter 3: Passing the Bridge
"2… 4… 7, I spot about seven of them. No idea what kind, but all of them are male."
Dov spotted all the vampires through his senses while they both were hiding behind one of the stalls on the Hazinite Bridge.
Wooden made. With tons of merchandise still hanging since the owner left in hurry. Racks of what appeared to be filled with magically possessed toys were scattered near the wall around them.
Like most shops you'll ever meet, their wall completely blocked the view to the back. Even a 3-meter lycan will get completely hidden from any eyes lurking in the center.
"Affirmative."
Though standing behind it wasn't a smooth ride for her. Lots of boxes and barrels were there, tiny storage to resupply the running business. Some of the stalls even have pots of tiny trees and flowers to make their shop feel more alive.
The village or residential section of Hazinite is located around the bridge and river underneath it. While the market or trading section is located above the bridge, with a wide street in the middle and a line of stalls on each side.
At the very center of the bridge, stood tall pillars of torches painted with purple flames. The vampires seemed to be storing their plunder— maidens, foods, and riches— at these pillars. They were smiling like a maniac, in contrast to the noble and luxurious outfits worn on their pale body.
"It didn't seem to be the first time the vampires ever raided Hazinite." Said Dov.
"How'd you know?" Celene curiously asked.
"None of the maiden captured are demons or dark elves." The two observed a bunch of physically dazzling girls tied up to the pillars. "The ones who got victimized are the visiting customers, not the locals."
"Are you planning on rescuing them?" The lycan wondered.
"Not at the moment." Dov quickly replied. "Though seeing the local can safely escape, mean there's a way for us to sneak through—"
"Or at least those were the things I would love to say." Their gaze then shifted to the roaming ghouls. "In reality, a lot of the ghouls are locals… so even those who're familiar with the place find it difficult to get away."
"Can we just swim under the bridge?" Celene glanced at the river below.
"Negative. This river is connected straight to the Abyss under the Floating Isles through its waterfall, so there are a lot of strong giant aquatic monsters living in this water."
"Wha— really!?" The lycan got tremendously shocked. "How did they end up making a market and fishermen's village at this stupidly dangerous place!?"
"Mind that later, let's move through here."
Dov was done with his observation. Carefully, he led his partner through the back of the stalls, right beside the bridge's fences.
The vampires didn't seem to be scouting this part of the bridge at the moment, whether they were done doing so or unbothered. Either way, as long as the two can move from stall to stall unnoticed, crossing the danger isn't supposed to be a problem.
Not to mention how dark it is behind the stalls since the light came from the center of the bridge, where the torches stood tall.
"Are they fully satisfied? None of the vampires is out for the search." Celene mentioned as the two moves.
"Hopefully that's the case, we have no intel on what these ghouls are capable of."
Unlike the vampires who are busy admiring their captured maidens away from the stalls, the ghouls were walking here and there randomly. No one knows what they're thinking or what they're seeking, except for the vampires themselves. Even the Guild has trouble determining whether they are alive or not.
Though something is certain. They're aggressive and feed on corpses.
"Ugh… sneaking with a cape is so annoying…"
With all the obstacles in the way, Celene took the idea to wrap her black cape around her neck. *Clank!* However, with how big she and her clothing were, it's unavoidable for that cape to hit something from one of the stalls. And it was metal to make it worse.
"!?"
The two quickly froze their movement as they sensed one of the ghouls stepping closer towards them, warned by the sound of a falling object. Dov and Celene's positions right now were separated by a gap between two stalls, which serve both benefits and losses.
As the ghoul too close, Celene slowly reached the grip of her ax out of panic. But Dov quickly raised his hand with opened palm, telling the lycan to stop. If she ended up swinging that heavy weapon, the whole bridge will get alerted.
Celene saw the sign and pulled her hand away. Dov then moved his palm close to his own neck, instructing her on what to do next.
She nodded understandingly.
When the ghoul went away from the light of the streets, Celene quickly grabbed his face with her giant hand, covering both his mouth and nose. She then lift that ghoul high, till his feet could no longer touch the ground.
Now as vicious as she was silent, her other hand gripped onto his neck and squish it so vigorously strong, his neck folded to a state thinner than a tree branch.
We might not know whether a ghoul is alive or dead, but that guy is definitely dead, by both definition and motion. Celene then quietly put his body behind her, right at the back of the stall she was hiding.
"Come! Before the vampires grow suspicious." In a low voice, Dov ordered.
"Understood."
As the threat has been neutralized, they both proceeded to continue their way sneaking through the back of each stall.
Being a Hunter, meaning they have passed the 6 metal ranks of adventurers, and sneaking is one of the skill sets that one must have to come this far. Aside from being able to get stronger both physically and magically.
Most of the commissions adventurers get are to kill monsters, and some of these monsters are far too strong for even high-level adventurers. So they are required to know how to be stealthy to survive. Then pull a strategy to defeat them.
With that being said, the two were supposed to have no trouble crossing this bridge. If being sneaky is the only hurdle that is…
"Hold!"
As feared, trouble soon came after. Dov's senses felt something being too active around their right side, which was very weird since the bridge fences are located in that direction. There's nothing beyond it for creatures to step on.
That information can only lead to one thing, those feelings of unease came from a flying object. Bats. Not big but many. Not strong either. But they can pinpoint where you are.
"Celene, quick! Unwrap your cape and cover both of us with it!" Dov quietly but firmly shouted to the lady, as he jumped as close as possible to her.
Celene got confused about what happened, but she know fair enough that Dov won't just instruct her without reason. So she did what she asked without any questions thrown.
"Don't move… control both your breathing and heartbeats." The lycan nodded a slight to it, then statued herself as ordered.
Right now, Dov was basically sitting on her giant lap, twice the size of his. They both were attached to each other to make sure every bit of her cape covered both her and the masked Hunter.
However, during all this, something bothered Celene. And no, it's not why Dov instructed her to do this.
As said, they're currently glued to one another, it was as close as it gets to a hug, but… Celene somehow didn't feel any warmth, in fact, she felt an eerie sense of cold right now.
"They're gone, we can move on." Dov backed off after a while and proceeded with the sneaking.
"What was that?" The lycan asked in whispers.
"Vampire bats. They can detect objects with echolocation. Lucky for us, only the first sonar reached us before we started wrapping, cause the second one is a lot more detailed, that it can even read texture." Dov explained as they both move.
"No, I mean… why was it so cold back there?" Celene actually stopped for this question. It was such a bizarre experience that she really need to know the answer.
"Their nose can detect heat, are you uncomfortable?" Dov calmly questioned.
"Not really, but how did you—"
*!!!*
Sad for the lady, the situation didn't give her time for chitchat. Both of them suddenly felt something staring daggers in their direction, pushing them to quickly hug the wall of the stalls they were hiding behind.
"Oy Theron, we got another one. I can smell her~" One of the vampires said in a playful manner. Even without seeing him, both Dov and Celene can hear how wide that blood-sucking creature's smile was.
"Huh? Then just go get her, you're ruining my meal." Another vampire angrily replied.
"Alright alright~" The cheeky vampire then leisurely walked towards where Dov and Celene were at. They can smell the scent of blood coming from him growing thicker with each step.
"Slow… and quiet." The masked man hinted to keep on moving.
"Boo!" The vampire suddenly jumped, but he found nothing behind the stalls. *Sniff* *Sniff* "You can't run from me~"
Dov and Celene were already hidden beside another stall, away from the sight of both the hunting vampire and the ones around the captured maidens. And not to forget, the ghouls as well.
"Dov, he's coming again!" Celene quietly reported as she heard his light steps. Hearing her, the blue eyes on Dov's mask turned dim. He was sensing the other remaining vampires, analyzing whether they'll notice him and Celene or not.
"On me."
Dov initiated a route through the main street, running as far away from the hunting vampire and the ghouls. Luckily the other vampires who were not chasing seemed to be distracted by the spoils of their hunt.
With that, the two kept on their pace from stall to stall, as fast and silent as possible. However, no matter where they hide, no matter where they run, the hunting vampire seemed to be able to chase and found where they were at.
It came to Dov's attention, that they were running from a creature who know exactly where they are. With just a bit of push, they're bound to get found.
"He he he~ I got you now!"
The air turned red as the vampire began casting his spell. Particles of water came floating around him and grow thicker as time ticked. They gathered and combined as a pool of blood, a huge one at that.
"Giant waves for a giant maiden."
The blood kept piling, enlarging itself till it became as wide as the street and taller than the pillars of torches. As he said, it was a giant wave.
"Devour, Scarlet Tsunami!"
Chanted, the waves went charging to where both of the Hunters were. It was so thick and massive, that it shadowed the ground where they stood till it turned dark.
But in the face of danger, Dov didn't falter, nor did he flinch at that terrifying sight. He simply lifted his index to the front and let it touch the tsunami.
[Lineage Skill]
"Purge."
The massive wave suddenly stopped, as if it got itself frozen in time. Seconds later, those red and thick liquids turned into particles of dust, glimmered in the air, then swiped by the night wind.
"What… just happened?" The vampire dumbfoundedly stared at what was once his beautiful piece of art. Now all he sees is but an empty street, with none of the Hunters to be found. His body went shocked and unwilling.
*
As the two Hunters finally saw the end of this bridge, Dov realized the reason why that vampire was able to corner them so much like this.
"Oy Celene, be honest with me…"
"What?"
"Are you… a virgin?"
"Huh…?" Celene quickly got lost for words, she was left frozen solid.
"Vampires can smell a maiden's blood. That's why he kept chasing us."
"Well yeah… but can you phrase it better? Have you no sub… tle… ty—"
As they banter with one another, they realized a man was standing right next to them. Long silky black hair. Red eyes. Noble fancy outfit. Skin pale as a corpse. He stared at them, with a calm yet disturbing smile. His fangs were shown to the world. Sharp, not to mention, bloody.
*Gasp!*
Quite frightened, Celene quickly grabbed onto her ax, ready to swing it at that vampire… yet Dov rushingly jumped to stop her hand from moving.
"Relax, Celene! He's our broker." His mask hid it quite well, but the way Dov was panting showed that he was a bit panicked that Celene gonna ruin their mission.
"Huh? Broker?" The lady was confused, and she still keeping her guard as high as possible.
"Seems like you two got stuck in a pinch." The said Broker lifted his right hand as he calmly spoke.
*Snap!*
After the sound of his snapping fingers, a black circle sparkling with little stars began to surround them. Later darkness came to coat them and devoured them whole till there's not a single trace of them left from the bridge.
Such a convenient spell that was. Teleportation.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone