Chapter 20: My Kiss, My Sanctuary
"Focus, focus," I muttered to myself. Taking a deep, invigorating breath, I felt it filling my lungs, fueling every cell in my body, and releasing a surge of newfound energy. The wind caressed my face as I darted forward, a cool contrast to the heat of the battle and the adrenaline coursing through my veins. Each stride felt powerful, the ground almost springy beneath my feet, propelling me forward with an athleticism I had never felt before.
Confronting a zombie, my movements were fluid and swift. The blade in my hand cut through them as if they were mere tofu, slicing through the head, then the torso, each time with minimal resistance. Their lifeless eyes couldn't track my speed. And every time I cried out, "purify," it wasn't just a command, but a release – a release that, miraculously, didn't drain my mana. Instead, it seemed to send waves of energy back into me, a cycle of give and take that made me feel invincible.
The zombies lunged and swiped, but their attempts were futile. They were too slow, too clumsy against my heightened agility. I was a blur, moving five times faster than my usual pace, perfectly attuned to my surroundings. The harmony between my mind, body, and the very air around me was intoxicating. I felt a rush, a sense of power and freedom so overwhelming that, for a fleeting moment, I believed I could launch myself into the sky and soar above this chaos.
A heady mixture of power, speed, and control made me feel more alive than I had ever felt.
Bathed in the harsh midday sun, the grand structure towered above everything else in the cityscape. Even from this distance, I could see it was at least 30 floors high, maybe more. The building's shadow sprawled across a large portion of the city below, providing a brief reprieve from the sun's searing heat.
As I approached, my focus was drawn to the ground level. A swarm of zombies ambled aimlessly in the building's spacious parking lot, their groans a stark contrast to the elegant grandeur of the skyscraper. Every now and then, a glint of sunlight would reflect off a window, momentarily blinding me.
Feeling a bead of sweat trickle down my temple, I readied myself. "The largest building in the city is about 30 floors. There are a lot of zombies roaming in the parking lot. What can I do to make this place a sanctuary?"
🕊️ [Find the pinpoint of your place and do the prayer.] 🕊️
Nodding in acknowledgment, I darted forward. Each zombie I encountered was dispatched with ease, my blade slicing through them like butter. At one point, a particularly aggressive one lunged, teeth bared, but my armor absorbed the impact, leaving me unscathed.
Suddenly, Dea's voice cut through the chaos, "Master, the five vampires are already coming."
"Please do something like you did before, slowing the time."
"I am sorry, Master, I can't do it unless it's really an emergency because each time you use it there is a risk that your nerve can be broken by overloading information."
"Then you should have said that before."
Heart pounding, I sprinted through a dense swarm of zombies, each step a calculated dance between life and death. My hands gripped my weapon tightly, slashing and striking at the decayed bodies that lunged at me. Each swing was precise, fueled by desperation and the will to survive. As I battled through the horde, my eyes locked onto a weathered door ahead, appearing as a beacon amidst the chaos.
I cleared a path, taking down a few more zombies that stood between me and the door. The groans and shrieks of the undead grew louder behind me, spurring me forward. I lunged for the handle, pushing through just in the nick of time.
But the relative safety was short-lived. Almost immediately, the room was filled with the horrifying sound of glass shattering from above. I looked up in time to see five sleek, pale figures crashing through the ornate stained-glass windows near the ceiling. The impact showered the room in sparkling shards. Vampires. Their eyes gleamed with malevolent intent, their fangs bared and ready. The day had just become infinitely more dangerous.
One of the vampires, agile as a panther, darted out from the shadows and delivered a thunderous kick that connected squarely with my chest. The force of the impact sent me spiraling through the air, my senses briefly overwhelmed by a whirl of faces and limbs. I collided with a group of zombies, the sickening crunch of bones echoing in my ears as I plowed into them. The world around me spun as I tumbled, every fiber of my body screaming in agony.
Regaining my orientation, I forced myself to rise, tasting the metallic tang of blood on my lips. "How many meters to the center of this building?" I managed to gasp out, my vision slightly blurred.
"According to my counting, it's 100 meters to the front," Dea's voice rang clear despite my disorientation. Wiping the blood from my mouth with a grim smile, I launched myself forward, pushing through the pain with every step.
"Stop him! He's trying to do something!" A voice echoed behind me.
With 80 meters to go, a vampire, her skin pale as moonlight, appeared on my right. Her elongated nails, sharp as razors, aimed for my throat. My katana met her assault, deflecting it, but barely a second later, a powerful force struck my left side. Another vampire, his kick connecting with my ribs. I heard the unmistakable sound of bones cracking, a sharp pain radiating from the impact point. Yet the armor, thankfully, bore the brunt of it.
With each stride, the world blurred around me, the gusts of wind stinging my cheeks and lending wings to my resolve.
"He's probably trying to run away," one mocked, his voice dripping with derision, failing to fathom my true intent.
The tantalizing promise of freedom was but 30 meters away. Yet, like a tempest given human form, she emerged. A vampire whose allure was as spellbinding as her malevolence. Swift as lightning, her icy hand shot through my abdomen, re-emerging, slick with my lifeblood, from the other side.
"Stay with me," Dea urged, "I can staunch the bleeding."
In the midst of our turbulent clash, our eyes locked. Despite the pain wracking my body, her mesmerizing allure couldn't be ignored. Her eyes, a whirlpool of emotions, ensnared me, the atmosphere around us thickening with palpable intensity. "You are a vision," my voice barely above a whisper, as I drew her near, succumbing to the gravitational pull of her magnetism. "Bestow upon me a kiss."
Her smirk was pure sin — alluring and captivating. Sunlight danced upon her visage, painting her features with a divine luminescence. Teasingly, she moistened her lips, making them gleam invitingly. Gently cupping my face, she drew me in, the world receding as our lips inched tantalizingly closer.
Our lips entwined in a fiery dance, straddling the line between life's fervor and the seductive pull of oblivion. With each heartbeat, the surrounding cacophony dimmed, as if the universe itself held its breath in reverence to our connection. The bittersweet tang of blood lingered, binding us in a tempestuous waltz of hope, love, and impending doom.
Pulling back just enough to see into each other's soulful depths, emotions surged, raw and unbridled. My voice, imbued with a desperate need for salvation, murmured, "SANCTUARY!"
🕊️ [Thus, It Came to Be] 🕊️
The word's power resonated, a symphony of intent that sent ripples throughout the cosmos. From the abyss, a celestial light descended, shining with the brilliance of countless stars. This divine radiance cast away the shadows that had sought to ensnare us, painting our world with hues of hope.
Drawing her close, my heart spilled its plea. "Promise me, love me for an eternity."
From the vast expanse above, angelic voices serenaded us, their notes pristine and soul-stirring. This heavenly ode sang of redemption, second chances, and dawn's first light. The very air pulsed with serenity, every note a balm for our weary souls.
The all-consuming radiance seemed to have an appetite for malevolence. One by one, the nefarious vampires, those shadows of the night, were enveloped and purified, reduced to mere wisps of their former selves.
Blinking into my vision, notifications flashed brilliantly, signaling new horizons and growth. 'Level Up', they proclaimed, beckoning the next chapter of our saga.
[You leveled up]
[You leveled up]
[You leveled up]
[You leveled up]
[You leveled up]
[You leveled up]
A smirk found its way onto my face. Leaning against the cold, polished marble of the building, feeling its chill seep through my attire, I chuckled and murmured,
"Oh, I really do love this beautifully messed up life."
[ you have finished your first Apostle Quest! ]
[ Please check your reward ]
[ Please check your daily check in ]
[ Please choose your Santuary name.]
And I can never bring myself to leave this sanctuary ever again.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone