From Human to Skeleton: Revived with Infinite System Crystals

"Sounds good. Also, should any of you mortals announce my name, it is to have Lady next to it. I am the daughter of the Vampire King Dracula, and you will make sure to note the nobility behind it. Is that understood?" she stated, her eyes narrowing slightly as she spoke.

Vick nodded before replying, "I am not sure who this Dracula is; it is not a name I have ever heard of, but out of respect for your strength, I will honor your wish, Lady Sanguina," he stated, giving a slight bow. His eyes showed a mix of confusion and respect.

"Also, your beauty is hard to put into words. Your fire is as lovely as a bed of roses, but your killer touch is as painful as all the thorns in one," Vick added, his voice carrying a touch of admiration.

Sanguina chuckled in response. "Well, thank you, but cute jabs have never won my heart, dear mortal. Now let's get a move on. You can bring anyone you want or keep everyone here. She's in that cave, right?"

Vick glanced toward the cave entrance, shrouded in shadows and emitting an eerie glow from deep within. "Yes, she's in there. We'll need to be cautious; the cave is filled with traps and more creatures."

Sanguina stood up, her presence commanding. "Very well. Gather your best men. We move out in five minutes."

Sanguina walked out, watching as more creatures spawned and began shambling toward them. Their grotesque forms moved sluggishly, their soulless eyes fixated on her. After a short five minutes, Vick approached, his long purple cloak billowing slightly in the wind. "I am ready to go," he stated, adjusting his cloak.

She smirked, noticing he was alone. "I see you didn't bring anyone with you."

"Lady Sanguina, I feel none of them are ready to march forth into combat after all they have been through. I also don't think you would like my men to slow you down. I have elected to leave the other Royal Guard in charge in the meantime, and they will handle any loose creatures that spawn after we leave," Vick explained.

"Also, we could use Bracken for a ride once she finishes refueling," he added.

Sanguina raised an eyebrow. "Bracken?"

Vick chuckled. "She's the pilot of our flying train. It's an impressive piece of technology. It doesn't need tracks and can maneuver through the air with ease."

Sanguina smirked. "A flying train? That's a new one. Why not just have smaller, more maneuverable vehicles?"

Vick shrugged. "The train can carry more supplies and troops, and Bracken is the best pilot we have. You'll see."

As they spoke, Bracken approached. She was a tall woman with short, jet-black hair and a confident stride. Her mechanic's uniform was marked with oil stains, and she carried an air of competence.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"The train's ready," Bracken announced, wiping her hands on a rag. "She's all fueled up and good to go."

Lady Sanguina nodded. "Thanks, but no thanks. Though I do love your hair, but for another time. I see those creatures are already coming back up from the ground, so I will go ahead and move on foot and strike them all down. Besides, the cave is barely a few miles of travel, which would be a bit wasteful on resources, I assume."

She turned to Vick, her gaze steady. "Vick, if you want to come, you can. Otherwise, I can probably move on alone from here as all I have to do is go inside that cave. But I do wonder about the crystals and the source... But I suppose that's not my issue to worry about."

Vick placed his hand over his chest and stated, "Lady Sanguina, I advise against going alone. They might not trust you if you run into anyone without Lady Nanako in tow, and I can speak reason to any of them inside the cave."

"I see... well then, come along. I am leaving now," she declared, striding confidently down the center of the field. As she walked off, she turned her head back and spoke, "Lady Bracken, I do look forward to seeing the train one day, even if it sounds like a waste. Surprise me, okay?"

Bracken, arms crossed, watched Sanguina's retreating figure with a mix of curiosity and bewilderment. "Who is she, really?" she murmured, her eyes narrowing as she took in Sanguina's imposing stature and commanding presence. "And how is she so tall?"

The nearby soldiers exchanged glances, clearly as mystified as Bracken. One of them, a young man with a bandaged arm, shook his head. "I've never seen anyone like her before. She's... something else."

Another soldier, adjusting his gear, nodded in agreement. "There's definitely more to her than meets the eye. Just hope she's stays our side."

As Sanguina began to walk off down the long field, she stated to Vick, "To make sure you don't get killed or something, just stay behind me for now, okay?"

"S-sure, but I attest I can hold my own against these fodder creatures… or at least I can for a bit when I'm not fully drained from days and days of fighting. My weapon is actually very useful."

"I see, and what did you say your 'ability' was again?" Sanguina inquired, her interest piqued.

"Anything my blade strikes slows down by 0.25 seconds," Vick explained. "Not a lot at first, but in a long, drawn-out fight it can add up, and usually, enemies don't realize until it's too late. I do take great pride in my swordsmanship and classify myself as one of the best of my generation. Even if I'm nearing 30, I can still keep up with the young ones."

"Oh? Is that so? Well, prove yourself useful and I might just kidnap you from the Demon King. We always need more useful fighters back in my realm anyways," Sanguina teased.

Vick nervously laughed as they walked. "No demon rules over me or my kingdom, Lady Sanguina. I'm still not sure what you speak of, but I will deliver you to Nanako, or at least do my best effort."

They talked for a good twenty minutes as time moved, and Sanguina struck down every creature in her path. Blue tiny crystals left their bodies as they decayed back into the earth. The crystals shimmered briefly before sinking into the soil, a fleeting reminder of the unnatural foes they faced.

As they came within twenty feet of the cave's entrance, the air grew colder, and an unsettling silence fell over the field. The entrance loomed before them, dark and foreboding, guarded by towering rock formations. An unnatural darkness seemed to seep out, wrapping around them like a shroud.