Another stretch of the descending staircase led them to a monolithic silver door, its surface shimmering despite a thick layer of dust. Intricate carvings twisted across its face, exuding an aura of ancient authority. Directly in the center was the emblem of a sun, its sharp rays radiating outwards like pointed spears.
Jack frowned slightly. This image… felt familiar. It was as if he had been here before, or seen it, or… something.
Jack: "This is…?"
John: "One of the strongholds of the Solar Order—the Vampire Hunters' Guild."
Mira's jaw dropped.
Mira: "Whoa… I never imagined there'd be such a massive base underground!"
Jack stepped closer, his hand unconsciously reaching out to touch the door. But the instant his fingertips brushed against the pure silver surface, a jolt of searing pain shot through his skin.
Jack recoiled, his hand snapping back, but in that fleeting moment… a shard of memory flashed in his mind.
A similar place… Another silver door… Figures clad in white cloaks with the sun emblem emblazoned on their chests…
Had I been here before?
The pain from the silver dragged Jack back to reality. He looked down at his hand—the patch of skin that had made contact was already blistering, a wisp of smoke curling upwards.
Mira stood with her arms crossed, a smirk playing on her lips.
Mira: "Look at that, the 'chosen one' is still just a bloodsucking fiend, huh? I can practically smell the barbecue."
Jack paused, a shadow crossing his face, but he didn't reply. He was used to her sarcasm… and sometimes, he wondered the same thing himself.
John paid no mind to their exchange, his gaze fixed on the sun emblem on the door. He placed his hand in the center of the symbol and intoned in a low voice:
"Silver makes you die, the Sun makes you burn."
Instantly, the sun emblem blazed with a brilliant light, radiating a dazzling golden glow.
RUMBLE…
The massive door shuddered, hidden gears grinding into motion. A gust of cold air rushed out from the other side as it slowly creaked open.
John narrowed his eyes, peering into the darkness ahead.
John: "It's been a long time… So nostalgic."
Jack and Mira exchanged uneasy glances. What secrets lay hidden within the Solar Order stronghold?
—
Inside the Solar Order Stronghold
John lit several old oil lamps, the flickering flames casting dancing shadows on the cold stone walls. The scene that unfolded was one of desolation.
In the center of a large hall stood a massive round table, covered in scattered documents and papers, all worn by time and coated in a thick layer of dust.
Jack ran his hand across the table, leaving a clean streak in the grime.
Jack: "This place has been abandoned for quite a while."
Mira crossed her arms, her gaze sweeping across the surroundings.
Mira: "Of course. After the Apocalypse, hunters became the hunted. I figured they were all dead… Who's the predator now, I wonder?"
John paused slightly, the girl's sharp words hitting him like a physical blow.
He lowered his head and sighed. "…Yes. The Apocalypse was cruel. Ever since the Red Sky shrouded the world, all hope vanished. There was no escape for anyone…"
Jack spoke slowly, his eyes distant. "We called it the Red Sky."
Mira and John turned to look at Jack simultaneously.
Jack realized his slip. He scratched the back of his head, offering a sheepish grin. "Ah… I mean… back when I was a Vampire."
John said nothing, his gaze fixed on the cavern ceiling, a pensive look on his face.
John: "Indeed… a sky as red as blood."
And then, he began to recount that horrifying day.
John's Memory - The Day the Red Sky Began
It was a beautiful morning. The sun shone brightly, a gentle breeze rustling through the bustling city streets.
In a large plaza, people laughed and chatted, merchants haggled, and children played by a grand fountain. A scene of peace, breathtakingly beautiful.
It was a time of prosperity and growth for humankind…
But then…
The sky darkened abruptly.
A chilling wind swept through the air. Crimson clouds billowed and churned, rolling in like a storm of blood engulfing the world.
Terrified citizens stared upwards at the ominous sky.
Then…
Chaos.
Screams erupted.
A street vendor, who had just been laughing with a customer… suddenly lunged, sinking his teeth into the neck of the person beside him.
His eyes glowed with a malevolent light.
Blood gushed. A gaunt beggar shakily rose to his feet—but not to flee.
He grinned. And then, sharp fangs glinted as he plunged them into the throat of a woman.
Vampires. Bloodsucking Fiends!
They had always been there. Hidden beneath the guise of humans. Under cloaks, behind ordinary clothes… they had been waiting for this moment.
The day humanity would fall. Within minutes, the plaza transformed into a sea of blood.
Those who were bitten… changed instantly. They rose, their eyes burning red, and lunged at new prey.
The Vampire plague spread faster than any pandemic in history.
Nothing could contain it.
Humanity… Despite their desperate attempts to fight back… the very atmosphere they breathed, under the "Red Sky," became the ideal breeding ground for the Vampire race.
With no sunlight left, nothing could truly stand against them.
John took a deep breath, his voice dropping, filled with a simmering hatred.
John: "Dracula… he's the one who caused all of this. I'm certain of it."
Inside the Solar Order Stronghold - The Decision
Silence hung heavy in the air after John's tale.
Jack clenched his fists.
Dracula.
The name wasn't just a shadow looming over this world; it was a part of his own memory. An immortal king. A nightmare that couldn't be overthrown. A name that made every Vampire on earth tremble with fear and respect for the literal progenitor, the King of all Vampires.
Jack spoke in a low voice. "Dracula is the supreme ruler of the current empire… But even when I was a Vampire, I heard whispers… there was still one place he couldn't touch. Fortresses like the one above us were only a matter of time before they fell into his hands."
John nodded slowly, a flicker of hope seeming to ignite in his eyes.
John: "That's right. The Mountain—humanity's strongest and last bastion. Sunlight still touches that place. And it's my home."
Mira's mouth fell open. "Sunlight?! Wait… there's still sunlight? I know about The Mountain, but I never knew that! I've only ever heard stories about the sun since I was born, never actually seen it."
Jack smirked. "Oh, I know. The Vampires know too. It's the only bright spot on this bloodstained map… The last place where humans hold absolute power."
John looked directly at Jack, his voice filled with determination. "And we have to go there. We need to tell them about Last Light. About you. About humanity's last hope."
Jack stopped, surprised. "Wait… You mean, take a Vampire to humanity's last stronghold? You're insane! They'll kill me the moment they lay eyes on me."
Mira crossed her arms, glancing at Jack with a knowing look. "Yeah, right. A Vampire Butcher walking into The Mountain? You'll get a thousand silver stakes the second you step through the gate, not to mention the sunlight – you'll be toast."
Jack growled. "Do you think I want to?"
John remained calm, his eyes filled with unwavering belief. "You don't understand, Jack. You're not a normal Vampire. You're what I've been waiting my whole life for. We have to go there. I have a plan for you there."
Jack frowned, his voice turning cold. "You have a lot of faith in me, old man. I'm no hero. I just want to find my family. There are countless Vampires out there a thousand times stronger than that one upstairs. You think this sword can defeat all of them?"
John smiled faintly. "If Last Light isn't enough… then humanity is truly finished."
A heavy silence descended upon the space.
John stepped closer to Jack, placing a hand on his shoulder, his voice dropping. "Jack… trust me. I've spent my entire life waiting for you. And we absolutely must reach The Mountain."
Mira blinked, her expression turning serious. "Your entire life? Old man, are you really the person from the legends? Are the stories they tell about you… true?"
"And who exactly are you?"
John looked into the flickering flames of the oil lamp, the light reflecting off his wrinkled face.
"What do you think?"
The three of them fell silent.
Outside, the red sky still shrouded the world.
But… deep beneath the earth, a fragile spark of hope had just been ignited.