The Crimson Reaper-Chapter 73: Panel or Noa

"What’s so bad about Noa? They are the elite. One of their hunters is stronger than Luciel and me combined." Scarlet argued. It was foolish not to ask them. If someone could help them, it was them.

"That’s the problem." Luciel looked at Alex from the corner of his eye. He heard a lot about those guys from his friend, "Where were they when we battled against Alukah."

Everyone went silent once Luciel said those words. From those five options, they were only left with a Panel. It was a fifty-fifty chance that they would help them given their cold, calculative nature, but it was to be expected from the home of the scientists.

Helen frowned at the mention of Panel. She tried to forget about that place.

Even if she wasn’t going, the mention of the Panel brought bad memories. It was a place where she studied and gained crucial knowledge that served as a base for her further research.

But she had to leave that cursed colony because she couldn’t stand her coworkers and the cruel experiments they would do. Sometimes, they would even do human trials, making her question their ethics.

If the Church hadn’t approached to join their ranks, then she would have left on her own.

Alex on the other hand had a somewhat similar experience, except that he was cast out from his colony.

Noa was made from the best of the best and he... Was not it. He showed talent, after all, everyone was extraordinary, but he still lacked in their eyes.

He couldn’t help but feel a surge of frustration and unease whenever memories of that grim, dark, environment would resurface.

The heavy air weighted down on his shoulders whenever he would recall conversations with his parents. The relentless training sessions followed by endless scoldings - it was a place where only strength mattered. There was no room for dreams... It was a ruthless jungle, where the strong trampled on the weak.

"We should still ask," Scarlet commented with a stern voice. Just like Helen, she also didn’t have good memories of that place that she didn’t want to think about.

"No, Panel is better. Asking Noa is just a waste of time." Luciel tapped his chin, looking at the map, squinting his eyes.

"As much as I hate to say it, try to make contact with Panel. They are closest to us. If they refuse, then maybe the best option would be to head to Ark. " Helen explained, saying her reasoning.

They needed help. Going to the Panel and back if they refuse to help would be just a waste of time. If Noa was questionable, then it would be better to prolong the trip and get guaranteed help.

Ark was something like a sanctuary. A colony that would accept every human without discrimination, protected by hunters with all kinds of backstories.

Most of those hunters were average in strength, but their true power lay in their numbers.

"I agree with Helen," Alex stated, thinking that this was the best course of action, even if a trip to Ark would take them around three weeks.

"Since we are already out, we might as well come back with the results."

"The situation is dire, we should make it count." Luciel was the final person in the group to speak. He raised his head from the map and looked at his team with everyone nodding in union. The decision had fallen.

"Finally... I’m gonna go and take some rest." Melisa sighed in relief, moving her hands behind her neck, glad that this was finally over.

She stayed quiet for most of the part since she had nothing to do with this. Supernatural shelters won’t help due to the way humans were treating them and if worst comes to worst, the vampires could always move out.

"I’m gonna go and get some sleep. See you tonight." Melisa yawned, covering her mouth with her hand before walking out, heading toward Scarlet’s room.

"I should go after her to make sure that she doesn’t cause any trouble." Scarlet sighed, placing her hand on her forehead before rushing after the vampire that she had to babysit.

Luciel yawned as well, he was getting ready to leave and get some sleep as well since he would constantly get interrupted, but before he could say anything, Alex placed his hand on his shoulder.

"Say... Care for a little spar?" He challenged him, wanting to let go of some steam and hang out with his friend, to see how he was doing lately.

The last time Alex saw Luciel was when he was down and depressed after becoming a vampire, but he seemed to be doing better now.

"A spar? Now?" Luciel looked uninterested as he gave a ’really’ look to his friend who just nodded excitingly with a smile.

"Yeah, it’s been a while and who knows when we’ll get a chance to spar in the future," Alex explained, trying to persuade Luciel.

"Fine..." Luciel agreed with a sight after a small consideration. He didn’t feel like doing it, but he needed to punch something after everything that had happened. "But you will let me sleep after that, understand?"

"Yes!" Alex exclaimed, clenching and raising his fist in a victory style.

"Ugh, boys." Helen rolled with her eyes, "I’ll be in my room if you need me." She added before leaving those two alone, giving Luciel some space.

"Or a lab," Luciel commented to Alex once his wife left, causing both of them to snicker.

"Let’s go then and get this over with." Luciel smoothly waved his hand and started to navigate the hallways.

"Um... Luciel, don’t you maybe want to hide... You know..." Alex asked him, walking right beside him as he observed an unwelcoming glare of every hunter that would walk past them.

The only reason why no one had their sword against his neck was because everyone got the news about the two vampires roaming around and the description of their appearance.

Meanwhile, the civilians were left confused and scared. Everyone heard that Luciel was gone, yet he seemed to be fine, walking among them, that was until they noticed his crimson eyes.

"What for?" Luciel asked him, extending his claws so he could drag them against the wall in frustration before retracting them, leaving only visible scratch marks behind.

"All right man, what got you so riled up?" Alex raised his voice slightly, wanting to know what happened.

"Didn’t you hear?"

"No, did I miss something or?"

Luciel stared at Alex for a little bit, feeling confused before he remembered that his friend could not hear as he could.

Only a month had passed and he already started to feel comfortable with his new abilities like he was born with them.

He let out a sigh before starting to explain the whispers that were going around, how many of them were asking why he still had his head on.

Some already started to plot how to kill him and put him out of his misery and then some started to hate Helen and Alex as well since they were the closest ones to him.

In their eyes, he was just another vampire to be killed. With vampirism, his identity died as well.

"If they want a monster, then I’ll give them one." He finished with his eyes flashing vibrant red before they returned to normal.

"But I mean... You did kill that woman back there, didn’t you?" While supporting his friend, Alex was leaning on the human side as well. He could understand all the hate that Luciel was receiving.

"I couldn’t help myself, you know that as well." When Luciel spoke those words with a low tone, Alex decided to shut up, especially after seeing a furious look in Luciel’s eyes.

When Luciel finally reached the small training area that was below the church, everyone turned their heads toward them, starting to comment about Luciel and how they wanted him gone.

Luciel threw daggers at those who decided to speak against them, making them shut up as he approached the wooden sword rack.

"Let’s start then." He said with a grin, throwing one wooden sword at Alex who barely managed to catch it.