Shifter - Infinite Transformation-Chapter 98: Vampires & Demons

For a moment, it looked like I was caught up in an illusion. It did not seem like we were just about to be attacked by...what even were those? Instead, it was more like the fortress unraveled itself before our eyes.

The walls did not fall apart. They opened in hairline cracks that spread across the walls like veins before something beneath began to move. But not outward or inward–through the wall. The surface softened, like the compressed earth had forgotten to stay solid. And from those shifting seams, shapes began to press through.

Hands came first, but they were too long and too thin. Fingers bending at too many joints clawed their way out of the stone without breaking it. Then came the hideous grimaces, stretching through the surface like reflections in disturbed water.

They were disfigured and couldn’t have looked more atrocious even if they had wanted to. None of them were the same.

"Demons." Clove grunted, momentarily eyeing the Trickster Demon.

Even though I couldn’t smell the demons, I didn’t doubt Clove for a moment as figures of all sizes unraveled from the fortress’ walls and the houses within. Some demons were massive, all muscles and jagged edges, their bodies covered in bulging masses of flesh or in plates that looked like fused bone or cooled magma.

Others were smaller but no less unsettling–thin, twitching things with elongated limbs and erratic, insect-like movements. A few didn’t even seem fully solid, their forms flickering between shapes as if they hadn’t decided what they were.

But the demons were not alone. Where the demons were loud, rumbling creatures that seemed barely capable of containing their wild instincts, the humanoid figures emerging among them were silent and watchful.

Vampires.

They looked almost human. They had pale, crimson eyes that seemed to have seen more than their physical features suggested. None of them rushed. Instead, they observed, their movements precise and controlled as they advanced alongside the walls.

The eyes of what I could only imagine to be the oldest Vampire saw right through me. What it saw did not seem to impress it all that much, because it turned away–but not before tearing the space around it open.

Darkness flooded from a distortion in space, and from within emerged more Vampires. They wore tattered clothes rather than the noble attire the older Vampires seemed to wear. Their bloodlust was more prominent but also less restrained, just like the power oozing out of them.

While the other Vampires were in perfect control of their bodies, power, and bloodlust, the newcomers felt more like the demons unraveling before them. They were almost like–

What did I call her again? Tiffany? No, it was something else. Trixie? That...could be it. I did not quite remember. Too much had happened in the last few months, and I’d almost forgotten about the kidnapping. As traumatizing as it was, I survived and made something out of my life. As for Trixie, she was different.

She’d been just like the other Vampires, with their bloodlust exactly the same.

Old Vampires leading their younger creations into battle, alongside demons...against the Forea Alliance...was that it?

"What the fuck?" I cursed, pumping Essence into my pathways. The empowerment was not massive, but it ought to be enough to face the younger Vampires. For the most distinguished Vampires, I couldn’t tell. How strong were they?

I certainly didn’t feel like I was strong enough to deal with them. And considering Clove’s tension, he did not appear confident either.

"Go." One of the older Vampires waved, breaking whatever had restrained both the young Vampires and demons. They burst into action, some heading to us while others spread outward.

Screams rang in my ears from all around the fortress, telling me once more that we were not the only ones in danger. Gareus Gaia was not in Cintre, and neither were his strongest subordinates. Bork was the strongest left behind, and even he had to leave the fortress often to ensure the farms’ protection. I didn’t even know if he or most of his guards were in Cintre right now.

How did nobody notice that clusterfuck?! I wanted to scream, but the first demon was already upon me.

Rather than shifting into the Gale Wolf or yet another monster, I kicked the ground and triggered Burst. Essence flowed out of my Core as the replicated Power triggered. I accelerated to top speed and beyond in a moment and wove around the first demon’s claws, attacking a moment later.

A glistening sword materialized in my hands as I used enough Essence to empower Blade of Astor. Stronger than most regular weapons would be at the 1st Tier, the blade carved easily enough through the demon’s chest. Darkness flooded out of the demon when I struck him, but instead of pulling back, I executed a quick second strike, beheading the demon.

Lesser Demon(Toxica) has been defeated. Shift has been updated.

New Race has been recognized. System updated due to Shift’s influence.

What?

The System’s update caught me by surprise, but I did not have the luxury to check it out. I distanced myself from the darkness as soon as I caught a glimpse of the first message.

A group of young Vampires was upon me a moment later, but they clawed the space before me. The Trickster Demon screamed something I should not understand, yet I did just that. He helped me with his trickery, creating an afterimage of me.

Now how do I kill fucking Vampires? I cursed, slashing at one of the ferocious creatures. His arm was severed, flung uselessly through the air, yet the young Vampire neither screamed nor did he bleed. He just attacked, looking like no physical wound could hurt him.

They attacked again, but by the time the Trickster Demon’s illusion faded, I was no longer there.

In my stead, a Lesser Wisp floated into one of the young Vampire’s nostrils.

Then, I did the only thing I could do as a Lesser Wisp; I drained my target.