Chapter 80 - 79: Train Ride To Sicily

Chapter 80: Chapter 79: Train Ride To Sicily

2 hours later,

"Ugh, alright I'm ready for the grueling sword training-"

"Young Ricky, we will not hold training today." Alexander informed, pointing to one of Barko's cards only to be aggravated to know it wasn't the three of hearts.

"Indeed, we have decided to let you wholly focus on your magical training for a while." Percival agreed, hovering back and watching the interesting game of Go Fish.

Ricky stared at the card game, a bit taken aback as after three months of relentless training, the routine had been ingrained into him, leaving little room for anything else.

"Alright." Ricky shrugged, cracking his neck with a hint of relief as he needed the break.

Ricky then calmly walked back into the house, returning moments later with a glass of wine in hand.

"Hey, old man, how close is Sicily from here?" Ricky asked suddenly, realizing they were actually in Italy and not trapped in the endless cycle of training that brought nothing but pain and stress.

'Might as well learn about my ancestry,' Ricky thought, sipping his wine as Abraham furrowed his brows.

"A day's train ride. Why?" Abraham asked, a sense of unease creeping in as he watched Ricky down the glass.

"Ah~" Ricky let out a relieved sigh, wiping his mouth before tossing the bottle to the side.

"Well, since we've got a month until we know if we can even cross the border, I'm thinking about taking a little trip. Kick my feet up, let loose for a bit," Ricky revealed, walking over to grab the ebony blade.

It surprised even him but in the last three months, he hadn't gotten drunk, not even once.

The closest he'd come was a light buzz, which felt like an achievement in itself and with all the stress he'd accumulated during that time, he figured a trip might be exactly what he needed to shake it off.

"Who's in?" Ricky asked, glancing around as Abraham stood up.

"Kid, Eliphas could change his mind and-"

'Lie.' Ricky scoffed, cutting him off and without warning, he hurled his glass at Abraham, who ducked out of the way just in time.

"How did you even know I lied?!" Abraham exclaimed incredulously, his small deception unraveled in an instant.

"Now that I think about it, you always seem to see through my lies-" Abraham added, staring at Ricky in bewilderment.

"Oh, come on, old man, we're in f*cking Italy, and all you want to do is be cooped up in this tiny villa?" Ricky spread his arms wide, flashing a smile, only to be met with uninterested faces.

"I've already seen enough of this sh*tty country, staying here is the best-" Abraham began to rant, but Ricky had already tuned him out, turning to the side.

"What about you, Chores? Barko?" Ricky asked, ignoring Abraham entirely as he looked at the other two.

"I wish to stay here since this 'magic' interests me deeply, especially after being a man of science for so long." Barko said, adjusting his goggles with a paw, his gaze briefly flicking to Abraham, who didn't even acknowledge him.

Throughout his time with Ricky, Barko often felt worse than useless as his mind, though brilliant, had been honed for research and little else, leaving him without a sense of purpose in the heat of Ricky's world.

Deep down, he longed not only to be taken seriously by Ricky but by everyone around him. Instead, he felt like a walking punchline, comedic relief that wasn't even entertaining.

He often saw himself as a throwaway character in a poorly written story, one with no real impact.

But now, with the introduction of magic, Barko sensed an opportunity as this mystical element, with its endless possibilities, could be his chance to rise beyond the limits of his body and mind, to finally become something more than a mere talking dog.

Side-eyeing Abraham, Chores knew it wasn't wise to leave Barko alone with him. Still, he could easily deduce that Abraham wouldn't leave without Ricky.

Despite the older man's gruff exterior and his constant front of independence, Chores had long seen through it.

Ricky was critical to every one of Abraham's plans, whether he admitted it or not and although he made it clear to Ricky, he still couldn't trust Abraham with anything he said.

Abraham's reliance on Ricky wasn't just for immediate gain, Chores suspected and it went deeper than that, something more calculated.

Abraham was a man who understood how to leverage his resources, often portrayed as a drunken idiot, but everything he did felt meticulously planned, and Ricky was no exception to this pattern.

Chores sensed that Abraham needed Ricky for something deeper, something beyond mere companionship or assistance, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was and it was with the uncertainty gnawed at him, making him wary of their situation.

Ricky could sense this on some level as Abraham's obsession with the so-called weapon plus, along with his mind always locked into what was happening in Germany related to vampires, made Ricky think Abraham was hiding something.

Yet, with all his training, Ricky's focus was primarily on self-improvement rather than constantly probing the motives of those around him.

'What is he up to?' Chores thought since unlike Ricky he couldn't let it go, aware that Abraham needed Ricky for one more thing, but he couldn't quite pin it down.

"I'll go." Chores surprised himself; his conservative and quiet nature made this announcement all the more shocking.

Everyone knew that Ricky's 'trip' was essentially an excuse to let loose, so it genuinely surprised everyone that Chores actually wanted to join.

Ricky's eyes widened in surprise; Chores never joined him on excursions that weren't related to business.

"Hell yeah!" Ricky yelled, slapping Chores on the back and handing him his flask.

"It's about damn time we partied together!" Ricky laughed, a surge of excitement bubbling within him as he envisioned the chaos they would unleash in Sicily.

Grabbing the frustrated Alexander, Ricky led Chores away from the rest while pumping his fist.

"Henry, let's-" Ricky began, glancing to the side only to find an uninterested Henry floating in his birdbath, eyes closed, completely oblivious to his summoner and basking in the sun.

"Young Ricky, what of the vampires lurking around?" Alexander inquired, concern evident in his voice.

"Well, Abraham said that Dracula is up to something, which is why he didn't come to the Vatican back then." Ricky gestured toward Abraham, fully aware that he wouldn't leave if someone of Dracula's caliber was actively hunting him.

"And besides, the only vampires that have come after me so far are low-level. As long as I flaunt this aura and use this sword, I can handle them." Ricky reassured him, easing Alexander's worries as the famed general settled onto his shoulder.

"Do you suppose any trouble shall arise?" Percival asked, taking Ricky's words at face value as he gazed to the side, curious about Abraham's perspective on the matter.

"No, like the kid said, Dracula won't move himself, not yet." Abraham reached for his flask, only to realize that the same one Ricky had handed to Chores was, in fact, his own.

*Sigh*

"Is this basis of magic instinctually-" Barko began to ask, but Abraham interrupted by pulling out his backup flask.

"If Dracula were after the kid, he wouldn't send a night raid; he would've come himself," Abraham said, squinting as he considered the implications. He knew there was a reason Dracula was staying in Transylvania.

"He's up to something, and sooner or later, I'll sniff it out."

Later at dusk,

In Dracula's spiraling gothic castle, the main vampire himself was pulling tubes from his body while casting a glance at one of his servants.

"Master, congratulations on another successful extraction," Baron Blood said, kneeling on one knee and bowing to his formidable master, who was connected to several experimental machines.

Tubes pumped strange liquids into Dracula's body, illuminating the dark chamber with an eerie glow.

"What is it?" Dracula asked, annoyance lacing his voice as he bristled at the thought of others seeing his slightly warped, exposed figure.

Baron Blood didn't dare to look up but smiled at the sight of the grieving ghouls before lowering his head once more.

"The Black Knight has made a move, he is headed onto a train towards Sicily." Baron Blood revealed, Dracula clutching his fist but shaking his head.

"My body is too volatile at the moment for a meeting with the one who possesses the ebony blade even in his fledgling form, especially with Percival by his side." Dracula glanced at the German Nazi scientist, who nodded nervously in agreement, his face pale.

"I need more time for everything to adjust, but it shouldn't be long," Dracula said, glancing at his hand as he watched as it morphed into a claw before reverting back to its original form.

"Then perhaps I could assist my master by confronting this vile blood bag?" Baron Blood suggested though his words only made Dracula frown as he walked through the castle, and Baron Blood fell into step behind him.

"Has Weapon Plus become so stable in its research that it allows you to frolic about?" Dracula asked, casting a sidelong glance at Baron Blood, who quickly ducked his head in response.

"No my master, the vampires and humans have all died but-"

"Do you think I haven't been observing that little fledgling enough to know that Abraham is hovering over him? The second you or any of our vampires try to move in, he'll intervene," Dracula revealed, speaking highly of Abraham as he waved his hand dismissively.

"From our observations, the Black Knight and his followers have boarded the train without being escorted by Abraham or anyone else for that matter." Baron Blood's words caused his master to halt all movements.

"Hahahahahahahahaha!" Dracula erupted in laughter, turning around with a fierce grin.

"Where is Abraham as of now?" Dracula eyes gleamed with delight at this news, and he pressed further, eager for more information.

"Abrella-"

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Dracula cackled, clutching his face as he recalled that horrid creature.

"So that is why you're roaming about in Italy," Dracula said in a somber tone, his eyes glinting with mockery as he stared ahead, already formulating a plan.

"I'll grant you permission to seek the Black Knight's head." Dracula declared, waving his hand. A sinister red aura pulsed around his elongated fingernails as he conjured a bat from the shadows.

"And I'll send a little message to that horrid creature, Eliphas."

"Chores, we got to leave-"

"Arck, Slick I-I-my leg, it's broken." Chores stammered in pain, glancing down to see his leg bent at an unnatural angle.

"F*ck!" Ricky cursed under his breath as he assessed the dire situation.

With the train car blown to bits, Ricky scanned the scene, finding himself surrounded by the confines of a tunnel.

Chores's injury left him more of a burden than an ally, weighing heavily on Ricky's mind and then, a spark of inspiration struck him as he held out his hand, focusing intently.

'Ethereal Sanctuary!' Ricky yelled in his mind as a protective dome enveloped Chores, bathing him in a shimmering green light.

0:59:59

A timer hovered above the dome, counting down ominously as Ricky turned his head back to the figure strolling through the wreckage.

The figure casually lifted an injured passenger, the victim's feeble attempts to resist barely registering.

With a sinister calmness, the figure drained the life force from the helpless soul, blood trickling down its chin, a grotesque reminder of the horror unfolding around them.

"Young Ricky, this foe is more formidable than Xarus, brace yourself." Alexander assessed the situation, his sharpened mind quickly deducing the threat as Ricky sheathed his sword and equipped himself with a bow, gauntlets, and shin guards.

Each piece of armor clinked into place amidst his black knight attire, providing him with a sense of security amid the chaos.

He knocked an arrow, readying himself for whatever horror approached, determination flashing in his eyes as he prepared to confront the sinister figure.

Quickie Armor and Weapon Overview:

(Legendary Weapon) Luminary Sunfire Bow

(Legendary Armor) Gauntlets of the Damned

(Legendary Armor) Constantine Trench Coat

(Epic Armor) Lightbringer Shinguards

"Oh, I will. This damned bastard ruined my steamy night." Ricky's priorities were clear as he drew back the bowstring, an arrow forged from the Solar Flame bow beginning to take shape in his grip.

"Ah, there you are!" The figure laughed, pretending not to have noticed him before tossing the drained female aside and giving a slight bow.

"I am Baron Blood, esteemed servant of my master-"

*WHOOSH*

Baron Blood tilted his head slightly, narrowing his eyes as the arrow whizzed by him, thudding into the wall behind with a resonating thump.

*Boom*

A fiery explosion erupted, sending dust and debris flying in all directions. Yet Baron Blood remained unfazed, merely squinting his eyes against the chaos.

*Ssssssss*

The Luminary Sunfire Bow, a weapon that infused the power of the sun into its arrows, only grazed Baron Blood's cheek, yet the wound displayed its potency as instead of healing, his flesh sizzled, the scorched skin refusing to regenerate.

"That simply won't do~" Baron Blood hummed a sinister tune, snapping his fingers as the corpses around him convulsed.

A dark mist rose from their lifeless bodies, their blood drawn towards him in a grotesque display of power.

"Blood excursion." Baron Blood tested something, launching streams of blood-sharpened projectiles directly at Ricky as each one was tipped with lethal precision, aimed to strike him down.

Ricky didn't even flinch, his senses honed and alert and as the projectiles hurtled toward him, he focused, waiting for his danger sense to kick in.

With a squint of determination, he reinforced his psychic barrier, watching as each blood-sharpened projectile collided against it, shattering harmlessly.

'Full counter.'

A blinding flash of light erupted, and as it faded, Baron Blood found himself besieged by his own spell, amplified and redirected back at him.

He swiped the air in a desperate attempt to deflect the oncoming energy, his expression shifting from amusement to alarm.

"Corpse shield." Baron Blood commanded lightly, his voice resonating with authority.

The drained bodies around him began to swirl together, forming a grotesque mass of flesh that morphed into a protective barrier, rising in front of him like a grotesque wall of lifeless skin.

*BOOOM*

The two spells collided in a violent eruption, unleashing a shower of bloody, gruesome fragments that scattered throughout the cart.

However, as the horrid sight settled, Baron Blood remained unharmed, standing defiantly amidst the wreckage, a sinister smile curling on his lips.

"So my master's assessment was correct; you can reflect magic back, fascinating." Baron Blood let out in an amused manner, tapping his pale chin.

*Sigh*

Baron Blood twirled gracefully, the arrow narrowly missing him yet again, its tip skimming by without leaving a mark this time.

"Must you continue these futile attacks-"

*BOOM*

Baron Blood stared at Ricky with an unimpressed deadpan expression, clearly irritated by the interruption. Ricky frowned as he nocked another arrow, his gaze fixed intently on the bow.

"Why can't I hit him?" Ricky asked Alexander, frustration evident in his voice as he ignored Baron Blood as the gerbil scratched his furry chin thoughtfully.

"Try pulling the bowstring back further." Alexander advised calmly, his tone reasonable. Ricky nodded in affirmation, considering the suggestion.

Gritting his teeth, Ricky's muscles tensed as he pulled the bowstring back, channeling more sunlight into the arrow.

Baron Blood's instincts screamed at him, prompting him to rush forward, sensing the overwhelming power coalescing.

Ricky smirked, releasing the arrow; the air shimmering around the bow as it shot outward at terrifying speeds.

*WHOOSH*

Baron Blood tried to dodge to the side, but the narrow confines of the train hindered his movements as the arrow hurtled toward him with blinding speed, offering him little room to evade.

Despite his best efforts, he couldn't escape entirely; the arrow pierced through his side, leaving a scorched wound and a searing pain in its wake.

"YOU DARE!?" Baron Blood bellowed, glaring at the slight searing hole in his side that refused to heal.

"WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO, TALK WITH THE GUY WHO ALMOST KILLED ME FIVE SECONDS AGO?" Ricky shot back, irritation bubbling over as he struggled to understand why the vampire expected him to engage in conversation after nearly slaughtering him and Chores just two minutes prior.

"NONSENSE, THAT ATTACK WOULDN'T HAVE KILLED THE BLACK KNIGHT-"

"AND NEITHER DID MINE, SO I GUESS WE'RE EVEN!" Ricky screeched, pointing a finger back at Baron Blood as the vampire opened his mouth to retort but found himself at a loss for words.

"Very well, I will acquiesce on this occasion if you'll listen to my proposal." Baron Blood gritted through clenched fangs, straightening up while eyeing Ricky, who frowned but kept his arrow drawn back.

"Fine, let's hear your obvious recruitment." Ricky replied, already anticipating the vampire's pitch as he continued to strain against the bowstring, feeling the tension building in his muscles.

Ricky had never struggled to draw the arrow to its usual position, but extending the flaring bowstring further required immense effort, causing his muscles to tremble with strain.

'I can't believe I didn't think of this before.' Ricky mused, realizing it was such an obvious approach that he had completely overlooked.

"Join Dracula, swear fealty to him, and proclaim him your master so we can finally build the KINGDOM OF MONSTERS THAT OUR MASTER DESIRES!" Baron Blood preached fanatically, his words eliciting a collective sigh from both Ricky and Alexander.

"So you want my master to be some random withered old man?" Ricky frowned at the thought, knowing he might have considered it if it were a busty vampiress with alluring curves instead.

"W-Withered o-old-" Baron Blood stuttered, taken aback that a mere human would dare describe Dracula in such a manner.

"Actually, quick question: are all vampires as weird-looking as you? Because I've yet to see a female vampire, let alone a good-looking one." Ricky asked, eyeing Baron Blood's odd clothing and particularly his unattractive features.

Baron Blood was left speechless by this manner of speech from the self-proclaimed Black Knight, a title typically reserved for the most honorable and chivalrous of knights.

"Teach, level with me,there have to be sexy vampires out there, right?" Ricky's voice held a hint of desperation, and to his surprise, Alexander nodded in agreement.

"Has to be," Alexander said without a hint of doubt, which eased Ricky's tension.

*Sigh*

"Oh, thank god." Ricky let out a sigh of relief, feeling a little better before gazing at the baffled Baron Blood.

"Anyways, back to the fight." Ricky released the arrow, and instead of flying straight, it erupted in a blast, tearing Baron Blood apart in an explosion of flames and debris.

"What the-"

*BAM*