‘What the hell is that? Why is my life flashing before my eyes?’ thought Moodeen.

  “What’s wrong with him?” a caretaker asked, looking at the child sitting in the tree’s shadow.

  “Did you not hear about it? He’s the one who witnessed his mother killing her husband.”

  “Oh, I see.”

  Children were running in the sun, playing a game of tag. All the kids were under sixteen, because that was the age at which you could start working. The girls were dressed in colorful dresses. The vibrant clothes were flashing in front of his eyes, the eyes of Denir. Boys were fighting with sticks, as if they were fighting with swords. The sun was ruthless, yet that didn’t discourage them from going outside. Moodeen held a book in his left hand. “The Human Biology” with an undisclosed author. The orphanage workers were concerned about him, especially about the thing he was reading. Their worries faded away when Denir replied with: ‘I can’t read, I use it to keep the sun away’. It was a fluke; he was well aware of the things described in the work.

  ‘I don’t understand. Why aren’t they bothered about their future? On average, a Carolan lives 66 years. That isn’t much time. I can’t waste it with such pitiful activities,’ he thought, lying down on the blanket.

  ‘Yeah. I was a strange kid, that’s not a new thing,’ the butcher thought, remembering things.

  “Denir, do you want to play with us?” a boy asked, glancing at him.

  The youth took a deep breath, slowly looking in his direction.

  “What are you playing?”

  “Fights!” he replied, smiling with his cracked teeth.

  “Yeah… No, thanks.”

  “Oh, I see. How about—”

  “Leave me alone. I’m not an interesting guy; there are others you can play with.”

  “You don’t get lonely?”

  “Hm… I guess not, I do not.”

  “Okay…”

  ‘That was the last time I talked with anyone other than caretakers in the orphanage. I wanted to become a doctor. But I became a confectioner instead. I didn’t have the money to pass the medical exams. Rich privilege… I guess that’d be it. It was good while it lasted, now I’m going to meet that creature again. The so-called God, Will. I await you…’

  “Earth Wall invocare!” shouted Solisia.

  As soon as she said the last word, the girl coughed up blood. The summoning amortised his fall, shattering into countless pieces. The half-conscious confectioner glanced at her, frowning.

  “Why did you do it? I can’t fight anymore, I’m worthless to you,” he complained.

  “You saved Laudis and me. We have a healer in our team, she’ll be able to heal your injuries in no time—”

  “Look at yourself. You’ve got a broken leg and mana deprivation. The kid is on the verge of losing consciousness, fighting on pure adrenaline. Don’t you think you should be healed before me?”

  “B—But…”

  “Look, even if I survive, I don’t have a reason to live. I killed my father, my mother committed suicide, and my house is in ruins. Look at me, do you see a real human in me?!” the butcher responded, banging on his armour.

  The girl looked at him. The man was thin. His armour, originally grey, became dirty crimson. His vampire eyes were dripping with blood. His face was covered in scars. Just by looking at him, you could tell that he was empty, inside and outside. The butcher lacked any will to live or to die. He was unbothered by both concepts. The Earth Sorceress tried finding any sign of emotions, but there weren’t any. He wasn’t sad, angry, happy, or content. He was existing. Denir was a lifeless vessel.

  “Despite your appearance, you are a human," she stated.

  “I see… Only at my deathbed can I be recognised by a stranger as a human. Come closer, I can’t feel my left leg. I think my nerves were damaged.”

  “Why?”

  “Just come.”

  The girl, hesitant, crawled to him. He took off his left gauntlet, revealing his burned hand. Vampire Butcher laid it on her shoulder, giving out his mana. As soon as she noticed it, Solisia jumped away.

  “What the hell are you doing, huh?! Are you trying to kill yourself?”

  “Yes,” he said, smiling, and blood started to pour down his exhausted face.

  “That was something nice. But I guess your friend can’t do it twice. Are you strong enough to kill me?” mocked Sloth, rushing at Laudis.

  “Sword Technique No.2: Cage of Sword.”

  The Flail of Sands bounced off him, opening a spot for an attack. The youth rapidly stopped the technique, damaging his knees. The Sun Blade cut the chest of the vampire, but to his surprise, the steel actually went through his skin. The undead distanced himself, freezing the wound.

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  ‘How? I froze my skin, so his sword shouldn't hurt me. How the hell did he cut through it? The main upside of Ultimate Ice is that it’s as hard to cut through a one millimetre thick summoning as a ten-metre one. How?!’ the Upper Hand wondered, looking at him.

  Suddenly, déjà vu pierced through his mind. He felt like he already fought with him. A man in a purple robe appeared, wearing a golden necklace with an X appeared next to the youth. The seeing merged with Laudis, giving the vampire an uneasy feeling. The boy rushed at him, taking a swing. The steel was trapped in ice. The vampire grinned at him, striking him with the whip. Crimson Eye used his wrapped forearm to parry. The weapon got stuck in the material, giving him the needed upperhand. He threw a punch at the undead.

  “Ha! Do you think I’ll be damaged by—”

  The Upper Hand collapsed in complete shock. He glanced at Laudis, taking the Sun Sword out of the summoning. Now, another image flashed before his eyes. A man wearing steel armour with slicked back hair and a long beard stood next to him, as if he was protecting him.

  ‘What’s that?! I could kill him right now, but I can’t. Is he really there or what? I can sense two mana sources. Dammit,’ the vampire thought, standing up.

  This seeing merged with Laudis. Sloth realised it. The youth had borrowed mana from them.

  ‘But who the hell are they? I don’t remember them… Wait, I have royal blood in me. Did someone from the Tenbrenum lineage meet those two?’

  “Are you ready?” the boy muttered, taking a rather odd position.

  He let his arms swing freely. His legs were slightly bent, but ready to run. The thing that stood out the most was his hair and eyes. His hair covered his sight, which wasn’t ideal for any fighter. Nevertheless, the general sensed something wasn’t right. He attacked him, summoning spikes all around him. The projectiles flew like arrows, cutting through the air with ease. The youth stood still, not even blinking. Sloth raised his Whip of Sands, but it was too late. Before he was pierced with the steel, he heard only one thing.

  “Sword Technique No.4: Shadow Step Back."

  He coughed with blood, dulling his vision. His limbs grew heavy, and his head felt empty. An unnaturally large puddle of blood started forming around his body. The undead knelt in pain. His empty sight wandered at Laudis; he was kneeling, also. Both men were exhausted and unable to continue the fight, or so it seemed. The vampire froze his chest, blocking the bleeding. With his last ounces of strength, he stood up, supporting himself on the melting ice structure. He was hissing, trying to catch a breath, yet he couldn’t. His lungs were pierced and began to fill with blood. He had little time to live.

  ‘I don’t know why I decided to join the army. My family was murdered by humans. At their funeral, I didn’t grieve at all. I wasn’t killing humans for revenge. In reality, I was trying to fill my empty flesh with something. I decided to fill it with the blood of the mob, giving me gratification from others. I know now that it was pointless. No man will grieve at my funeral, nor will I be remembered. Even though I was born a vampire, and I should be proud, I couldn’t accept it. If I had a choice, I’d want to be born a human. I’d live a normal life in the village, harvesting the crops. Dammit. I can’t die without killing him. Laudis, I am sorry,’ thought Sloth, summoning a large spike.

  The summoning started spinning. After a while, the projectile gained velocity and was flying towards the youth. The boy looked at it helplessly. He had accepted his possible fate long ago. Suddenly, something flashed in front of Laudis. Thuck! The ice spike was nullified by Denir, piercing through his armour. The ice melted away in a moment. His stomach was open, and his guts were hanging out of him. Solisia turned away in horror.

  “Why? Why did you defend him?! It’s not like he’s your friend or family! Why the hell did you sacrifice your life?! What’s your plan, Vampire Butcher?!”

  Moodeen smiled in pain.

  “He’s got something to live for; I’ve got none. His life is more valuable than mine. You see, I was similar to you. But somewhere along the way, I decided to rethink my entire philosophy. I was seeking revenge, but for whom? For one man? That was foolish narcissism. Instead, I tried helping the others. I didn’t care for the form, but for their soul. See you soon, Philip Lawrence,” the butcher replied, breathing shallowly.

  The vampire cried silently, closing his eyes.

  “Philip Lawerence, I haven't heard that name in sixty years. Sadly, that vampire is long dead. On the date of his death, Sloth was born. I am truly the Upper Hand representing Sloth, because I didn’t care to think about my life. I have lost,” the general whispered, and with every word, his voice grew quieter and quieter.

  With the last word, the undead fell, creating a cloud of sand. Sloth died.

  The boy glanced to the side, observing the half-living man.

  ‘Take it,” the confectioner muttered, giving him a glass flask.

  “Take his blood till it’s warm. It has magical properties, trust me,” he continued.

  He crawled to the corpse, slicing his wrist. He filled the bottle, sealing it with a wooden cap.

  “Why did you save me?”

  "Laudis, if you saw your reflection, it'd probably look like me. The sole difference between us is our pathways of living. You and I, we're the same, yet different. I’ve killed 503 vampires and 3 humans, yet that didn’t satisfy me. I realised that murder isn’t the right answer. Laudis, find the right one for yourself, please. Now, I only have one last wish. Don't forget my name, Laudis. It’s Denir Moodeen, the Vampire Butcher," the man stated, losing consciousness.

  "Yes, I've drained my flesh till there was nothing left. This is the end. Goodbye," he whispered, accepting his fate.

  His eyes closed on their own, and his body gave up. Denir 'Vampire Butcher' Moodeen lost everything he had been working for in one night. The morning sun shone on him, paying its last respect to him. Denir died, yet his smile didn’t fade away. He ended his life happily.

  “So you’re here,” stated Will, looking at Denir.

  “Yes, I’ve done what I wanted. Can I go to hell now?” he replied with a smile.

  “Why do you think you’re going to hell?”

  Will's notorious smile faded into a mere smirk, almost into a sorrowful frown.

  “I was killing people, lying, and living two lives. I don’t deserve salvation or redemption. I am a wicked man, I want to suffer for my sins.”

  “I see. But why are you wearing your working clothes?”

  “I’ve grown attached to them.”

  “I see… Shall we go there?”

  “Yes.”

  The two figures faded into the white abyss. Denir’s mana emissions slowly faded away, and after a while, they vanished. That night, two creatures lost their lives. The first wanted to become a monster, and the second wanted to become a human.

  “It was hard, wasn’t it?” asked Dantenium, laying his hand on Laudis.

  “Yes, it was. Where have you been?” he replied, and his eyes started glazing.

  “...”

  “You won’t answer, huh? That’s typical of you. I’ve got one wish. Drag my body to the hotel…”

  Laudis lost consciousness.

  Best regards,

  Rimerosu

  Artworks for the chapter