Return to Jorgaldur Volume V: Reunion (2)

Assimilation

They tried to reach the girl's body, with the remote hope of being able to save her, but it was impossible. Their enemies prevented them from attacking the mana barriers by forcing them to use their strength to repel their attacks.

However, they remained still if the group did so as well. Thanks to this, they managed to meet up with Maldoa, who looked devastated.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I couldn't catch her..." she lamented as her friend hugged her.

"It's not your fault... We should've been more careful..." she tried to console her.

Eldi and Gjaki clenched their fists and teeth. The loss of the girl was a very hard blow, regardless of the failure of their mission.

In addition, Kan Golge had taken the necklace containing the Heart of the Eternal Flame. Unfortunately, they had no way of preventing it from being brought to him.

His son had taken refuge behind his allies, and had reached his father by taking a detour. Kneeling, he had offered the necklace to him. As a reward, Kan Golge had torn out his heart.

"Ha, ha, ha! It's mine!" he laughed, with his hands stained with blood.

Arrows, Fireballs and other attacks flew towards him, but they were met with an extremely powerful barrier.

"Don't waste time. This barrier can withstand even a dragon's attack for hours. You'll never be able to break it. You know, I have to thank you. Without you, it wouldn't have been possible," he turned towards his enemies in a mocking tone.

"Damn murderer! You'll pay for what you've done!" Goldmi exclaimed and fired again.

"I'm sorry for your loss, but it was necessary. Necessary to become a god! Now, those arrogant guardians can no longer ignore me! They'll have to accept my demands, or die crushed under my power! Now, I'm even more powerful than them!" he threatened, clearly exultant.

He had crushed his son's heart in his hand to make it burst. With his blood power, he directed all of his son's blood into the necklace to envelope the gem, while ripping out the rest of the metal. The vampire wasn't interested in the necklace, only the gem, and it had to be stained.

"You won't get away with this!" Gjaki threatened.

"What can you do? You know, if you swear loyalty to me, I could let you live. I could even make your friends my children. They'd make good pawns," he mocked, arrogantly.

"Never!" she refused.

"It's a shame. Although you might change your mind when I capture your friends in that mansion of yours. It'll be fun to see you kneel," he continued threatening.

"I'll kill you!" Gjaki shouted, beside herself.

"Ha, ha, ha! It's entertaining to watch you resist. I'll enjoy subduing you. You have no idea what power you've brought me. Now, you're just ants," he continued to mock.

As he did so, Kan Golge had taken off the top of his clothes and had sat down on the floor. Just as he had done with his son, he pierced his own chest with his hand, with his sharp nails.

When the vampire took it out, he was holding his heart in his fist, or rather, a strange spherical object that had replaced the heart a long time ago. Deep cracks could be seen on its surface, the result of the many wounds suffered by the vampire, and of the abuse of its power. That was his center of power, or had been until then.

"You know, it was hard to get it. I had to sacrifice hundreds of my children, and slaughter the guardians of this stone," he explained with weakness in his voice.

The only reason he hadn't collapsed was his subtle and expert control over his blood. Of course, he wouldn't have acted like that if he didn't have it.

His old core was dropped. He didn't care that it broke in two when hitting the ground. It had already served its purpose, and he didn't need it anymore.

"It had some limitations, but it was enough to take me to an unprecedented level of power. Unfortunately, some couldn't stand it. They joined together to attack me, with the excuse of having slaughtered a few mortals. As if anyone cared about a few ants!" he continued explaining.

It was evident that he wanted to talk. To show off. To boast of his triumph. To contemplate the impotence of his enemies. He found delight in their despair.

They looked around, indecisive, looking for an opportunity, a weakness. However, that barrier seemed truly impenetrable, and they were surrounded. It was certainly a critical situation.

"They managed to hurt me. They searched for me, and harassed me relentlessly. I had to hide in the shadows. But never again! Now, I'll get my revenge! I'll crush them! They'll be the ones who'll have to hide!" he exclaimed, as he took the Heart of the Eternal Flame and put it in the hole where his heart should have been.

Then, he poured a liquid into the wound, which closed at a speed visible to the naked eye. Not only was it a very valuable potion, which he had reserved for centuries for such an occasion, but his natural regeneration was also extraordinary.

For a few moments, he remained still, concentrated, while reestablishing the broken connections. Now, they connected to his new core, of an energy that was supposed to be inexhaustible.

He looked at his enemies again, with a smile full of arrogance and disdain. His aura surged with a force never seen before. It even broke through the shield that had protected him.

"It's time for me to show you my new power, the one I've always deserved! Kneel before me!" he ordered.

All his subordinates did so, although not his enemies. They continued to look at him with hatred and determination. They were willing to die rather than surrender.

"Fools, I'll have to show you the difference in power," he advanced towards them with absolute confidence.

The barrier disappeared. He wouldn't be able to activate it again for years, since the power of the artifact had to be full for that. However, he didn't care, as he could feel his own power surging.

Without a doubt, the group's defiant attitude annoyed him, so he began to concentrate his power in his left hand.

"It'd be better if you surrendered. I'm not sure if I can control my power enough to not kill someone. It'd be a shame to lose subordinates that... What!?" he felt bewildered.

For some reason, the accumulation of power had stopped. Puzzled, he drew power from the gem again, and merged it with his mana. This time, it was even cut off sooner.

It was then that Menxilya's head fell to the ground The impact triggered a sound that seemed thunderous in that silence. It was something that should be impossible. The attack had gone through her stomach, not her neck.

For a moment, the vampire's eyes turned to the lifeless body. What he saw confused him for a few moments. The body was clearly not as he had thought, not that of a guardian child, but he knew what he had seen before.

He then looked at his enemies. They no longer seemed furious and desperate. Gjaki, for example, was smirking, mocking. Maldoa no longer seemed broken, but simply determined. Goldmi brandished her bow, ready, next to her two sisters. Eldi held a spear, no longer indecisive. The time for pretending was over.