Chapter 50 - Another Dungeon

"Valerie!" Raphael called out anxiously. The explosion was quite large, but did not completely destroy the club building. There were still empty spaces full of ruins that could still be passed. But Raphael couldn't ignore the strewn bodies he passed. They were all vampires, but they could still be injured or even die from an explosion.

Raphael had not been able to guess what weapon could cause such an explosion. Usually, the Avalons use gunpowder or petroleum. They have many scientists and technicians capable of making advanced weapons with great damage. But it was not their nature to attack vampire civilian settlements. Especially in the center of the state of Lapella which was inhabited by the majority of vampires with high economic power.

Avalon also had a lot of interest in Lapella. They shouldn't want Lapella to become a war zone. In addition, Caesar Petrovsky was also busy dealing with the giant Shadows earlier. It seemed that there was another party involved in the events this time.

Raphael found Valerie standing still with Apollon's sword drawn. Her eyes focused on a single point in front of her. A large room with a dome-like roof was now in front of her. Dozens of gilded silver cages installed in every corner.

Each of those prisons contained sleeping Shadows.

"Valerie, are you okay?"

"Psst!" Valerie raised her finger to her lips asking Raphael to speak more quietly.

"Why is there a place like this here?" Raphael was still holding Demetria wary.

The Shadows still closed their eyes in their cages. The explosion didn't do any damage or even wake them up. Avalon has created a pretty strong prison. It would be difficult to let go of those Shadows.

Those sleeping were unique Shadows just like the ones they had previously encountered. They were extraordinarily strong and may also be able to talk.

"You foresee this place?" Raphael said, referring to Valerie's ability to see the future. The girl nodded.

"At first I wasn't one hundred percent sure, that's why I wanted to confirm it with Caesar,"

"That's why you met him today? So you two aren't really dating?"

"I'm a lady, everyone knows I'm dating you, sir. Besides, Caesar seems to have important information regarding my brother."

"Jasper? What's with him?"

"Caesar mentioned the Devil's DNA, did you know about it?"

Raphael thought for a moment. He realized he wasn't that careless with his body condition. He had also occasionally heard of it although he hadn't really researched it.

"I guess I know, but we'll talk about that again later..So, what are we going to do with them?"

"They belong to Avalon, there shouldn't be their military base here. According to the rules, this place should have been confiscated by the Florentian knights. About what and how you guys treated them-"

"Lady Valerie?" Caesar greeted from a distance. The girl immediately hid Apollon under her clothes.

"Sir, Caesar. That explosion made me fall into this place. What is all this?" Valerie asked as if she didn't understand anything.

"Yes, Caesar. How come Avalon's cursed dungeon can be in Lapella? this is Florentia territory," Raphael responded furiously.

"I'm not here to take care of this. Would you believe me if all this time I thought this place had not been touched by the Avalons?" Caesar's response.

"So Avalon knows nothing about this?"

"If I say no, will you believe it?" Caesar responded again.

"Then, did you know about the Shadows invading this place?" Raphael urged.

"Raphael, I won't answer anything without consulting the generals of Avalon," Caesar shook his head firmly.

"Then Florentia will confiscate this place and take you to the interrogation center, sir Caesar," said Raphael again.

"Think about it. You don't want to break the truce so quickly do you? There's no evidence that we attacked first," Caesar responded.

Raphael folded his arms and was about to argue. But Caesar acted as if he didn't want to talk about it at this point.

"Lady Valerie, what's wrong with your leg?" Caesar crouched down in front of the girl and was about to check on her. Raphael glared at him.

"Valerie will be fine," said the commander as he hugged Valerie away.

Then something fast and large struck its long arm towards the three of them with killing intent.

Swoosh!

"Watch out!"

The instincts of the trained vampires detected the attack and immediately bowed. Raphael pushed Valerie until she fell on the stone floor to avoid being hit. Raphael was now on top of her. Valerie felt a little awkward about it. They were so close they could feel each other's breath.

"Sorry," Raphael said nervously as he stood up. He then drew back his Demetria. Caesar had already started to attack. They faced another Shadows monster which had a wide face resembling an ape with irregular sharp fangs lined inside its wide mouth. Like the other Shadows he also has long, hairy arms.

It was not as big as Glutton but its attacks were faster.

"That's the first Shadows that make a hole in the club!" Valerie shouted while hiding behind a sturdy pillar. She couldn't carelessly use her powers because there was Caesar around.

Valerie was confused why the Shadows were not seen earlier? Maybe he had just done something that was beyond their sight.

"Cursed weapon wielders, huh? Wrath feels lucky," said the monster happily. It smirked. It didn't make it look any cuter.

Caesar was trying to slash Vulcan at him. However he picked up an injury after his tough fight with Glutton. His leg was broken and it wasn't a wound that could heal right away. As a result, his attacks became less precise. He gasped against the pain. The Shadows named Wrath then stabbed his palm with deadly sharp nails into his stomach.

Blood spurted from his mouth with a choking sound that sounded painful. Caesar bowed. He fell with his legs crossed. He used Vulcan to keep him from actually falling.

"Sir Caesar!" Valerie quickly ran to him and put her arm around him to take him away from Wrath's second attack.

Valerie takes Caesar to safety. The man still half-closed his eyes in pain. The wound was quite large. He needed immediate treatment, but Valerie didn't know where to find fresh female blood around here. But Caesar was an Avalon, he must be strong enough to handle it because he only drinks human blood.

All Caesar needed to do was lie down and rest. And make sure the bleeding in his stomach stops.

Raphael immediately ran to face the Shadows with his drawn Demetria. When the tip of his sword missed as Wrath quickly dodged—he hit the stone wall behind him. Then the stone turns weathered and crumbles easily like wood eaten by termites.

"Thousand Thorns!"

The commander launched his attack again. Demetria shone bright orange at this time and thorn-like plant tendrils sprouted from the ground around the Shadows. Quickly thousands of thorns pierced the body of the Shadows without mercy. It roared in pain but Wrath used its claws to pluck the strings of the thorny tendrils from its body.

The attack inflicted many wounds but his vampire powers healed him quickly. He was still just as ugly even though his scars have completely disappeared.

It was its turn to attack. It focused on Raphael and aimed for his head. Its long reach made it difficult for him. Moreover, it was very fast. Raphael knew, if for once he let his guard down—He could die. He was a vampire, but losing a head wasn't an incurable injury.

He had to do this quickly. Demetria showed her strength once again. Then the tendrils of the plant wrapped tightly around the Shadows' legs. He fell down with a loud sound. He roared to get up.

Rumbling was heard all around. The blows from his fists that barrage have caused a local earthquake. Even though he didn't have any cursed weapons.

Raphael didn't want to be distracted nor was he flinched by it. He jumped up and stabbed the tip of his sword into his neck. Then Wrath's head turned into a neat dry dirt. Raphael stepped on it and now it had lost its head. Its body still shook for a few seconds before falling silent for good.

Raphael gasped. He was used to facing Shadows, but nothing like them. Even though Caesar and Raphael were once wielders of cursed weapons, they were still strong enough to deal with them—but those Shadows could give them no light injuries.

Raphael held his arm which had a gaping wound. He winced trying to forget the pain. With a slight limp he walked over to Valerie. He had already won, but his instincts couldn't immediately calm down.

"Raphael!"

Valerie called. Behind him, a great roar was created. The room containing the Shadows shook violently and collapsed. The solid stone floor was now gaping and the rubble fell into a bigger hole below.

There was one more Shadows who was thin and smirked at them. Raphael didn't know if he could deal with it. He was too weak to use Demetria's power to its full potential.

"Sayonara," said the Shadows before disappearing and falling down with the cages containing the sleeping Shadows.

Raphael gave chase and looked down. Apparently below there was a large and swift water tunnel. The cage fell afloat guided by the skinny Shadows earlier and followed the rushing water and disappeared.

"Let them go!" Caesar shouted to stop Raphael who seemed to want to catch up swimming after them.

"They are Avalon's business, we will pursue them," said Caesar again.