"I couldn't think of anything better, mate, don't bug me about it," h.e.l.l said with a defeated tone. He wasn't sure if he would get used to calling them his knights. He drank some of the smoothie the vampires made for him. It was surprisingly delicious, but he didn't know any of the ingredients in it. "It's still better than calling them "Sons of Shadow" though, isn't it so?"

"Is that so?" Virgil asked standing at the door threshold, looking amused.

"Ah, it's not like that," h.e.l.l said, scratching the back of his head. His blunders were unending since facing Dmiria and the guy called Neil yesterday, he also didn't know how to lead at all, but called out to Virgil for a secret meeting upon Theperes' advice.

Leon was laughing with a slightly reddened face. He had found the alcohol stocks of the vampires, but unfortunately, they did nothing to h.e.l.l with his Poison Resistance. He would have to consume unimaginable amounts of alcohol for it to have any effect, h.e.l.l was thinking. Leon wasn't a lightweight, but also definitely not a heavyweight in drinking either, he was already more than tipsy from a few bottles of what tasted like beer, albeit a tad stronger than the usual ones, and became talkative and cheery right away.

"No need to worry about it, I get what you mean, to an extent," Virgil said and sat on a cus.h.i.+on on the opposite side of h.e.l.l, at the other edge of the table.

"Where are the girls?" Virgil asked.

"Leila went out with the girls, Theperes and Vaun, to explore the base!" Leon said loudly, laughing.

"Aaand you are drunk," h.e.l.l said and snapped his fingers as a vampire volunteered for the role of h.e.l.l's butler had appeared.

"Do you need anything, sire?"

"Please take Leon to his room, he will need some rest."

"Of course, sire," the butler said and disappeared soon after taking Leon with him, who sounded like he threw up on the vampire after they turned the corner.

"You seem to be getting used to being a ruler?" Virgil asked, seemingly uncomfortable on the cus.h.i.+ons.

"Yeah, sorry Virgil, this room seemed great for relaxing, so I made this place mostly for myself to stick around in. Isn't it better than a soulless room with some chairs and a table?" The room was decorated with cus.h.i.+ons and a long, low table with various fruits, drinks and some snacks on it. h.e.l.l didn't know what most of these fruits were, and what he knew of turned out to be something completely different after trying it out, betraying his expectations. It wasn't like he'd get sick over it, so he tried them all, pleasantly surprised at the fragrant smells and delicious taste of some of them.

"I am not used to sitting on the floor, but I'll make do. Now, you asked for my advice?"

"Yes, I'm planning on creating a training regime for the ones that stayed behind with me, I can't explain how, but I have a way to boost their abilities to an extent. Stronger they are, more effective the boost. And before we attack another-"

"Sire?" the same butler was seen at the doors.

"I'm busy, dude!" h.e.l.l yelled. "Close the door!"

"Yes, but I must inform you that we have retrieved an unknown weapon from a corpse from Lord Dmiria's-" the vampire quickly corrected himself, "former Lord Dmiria's chambers. It seems unusual, so we thought we'd bring it to you right, away."

"Oooh!" h.e.l.l suddenly exclaimed. "Virgil, you're going to want to see this," he turned to Virgil and said, then turned to the butler and added: "Bring the weapon!"

Another vampire entered the room with a weapon in her hands, came before h.e.l.l and presented it, kneeling on the ground.

"Thanks, bye!" h.e.l.l took the weapon and threw it to Virgil who caught it in the air as the vampires left the room.

"This is extraordinary. Someone else had this on himself and not Dmiria?" Virgil said as he examined the weapon, also testing its strength by cutting his hand slowly.

"Well, it's a not-so-long but a bit of a confusing story. Do you know who Player Killer is?"

"Player Killer? He Is an enigma." Virgil said. "Not much is known about him, all we know is that both us and the demons under Lucifer have orders to stay away from the greenskin tribe. Player Killer was only seen at the camp a few times in the last 300 years, so unfortunately even I know too little about him."

"Sounds like the b.a.s.t.a.r.d. He is kind of dead." h.e.l.l said, thought for a moment with a pause and added: "That vessel he had there kind of exploded into flesh and organs, but he seems to be existent in another place and can communicate me through this sword," h.e.l.l said and took the sword out again, feeling its unsuccessful try at intruding his mind the moment he did. h.e.l.l always remembered to steel his mind before summoning the weapon from his inventory.

"A primordial force? Could be. Neither our libraries or vampires would have anything on it." Virgil muttered to himself. "So, what does he have to do with the guy you killed?"

"Right, so this guy made me his lackey in return of sparing us, and it turns out we have to fight one another until there is only one left."

"And then?"

"No idea."

"So that guy was one of those lackeys, and he came to kill you? I see, you killed him and then forgot the weapon there. Do you know what else that weapon can do?"

"Not yet." h.e.l.l said and loudly muttered the words: "Identify."

*Dagger of Nature's Wrath: This dagger was created by Mother Nature to defeat its aggressors. It secretes a paralysing poison when stabbed into something. +80 attack*

"I know what it does now," h.e.l.l said with a smile.

"So just loudly saying 'Identify' allow you to actually identify things? What is this magic?"

"I don't really need to say it out loud, but yes, that's pretty much how it works."

"Interesting. Do you chant anything else beforehand, maybe think some magic words?"

"Nope," h.e.l.l said. "Nevermind that, this blade secretes a paralytic poison if it's stabbed into something. Do you want to give it a try?"

"Why don't you?" Virgil asked with a giggle as he took the dagger.

"I have resistance against poisons, unfortunately."

"It'll be easier to find what you don't have, really," Virgil said as he stabbed his hand, after sticking the knife there for a few moments, his eyes opened widely, and he quickly threw the dagger away. Although the dagger was taken out of his hand, he suddenly went limp and fell on the floor. h.e.l.l watched Virgil for around 30 seconds until he could get up again.

"That is one strong poison," he said. "Not much manages to take me down for so long."

Virgil also seemed to be a bit frustrated after staying so defenceless in front of h.e.l.l for so long. He would like to examine the knife further to see its durability as its sharpness was already at an unfathomable level. He could only describe the weapon as "top-notch".

"Training regime, you were saying?" Virgil asked after taking a moment to compose himself.

"Yes, is it possible for you to give me some of the Sons of Shadow? I don't think any problem could occur with me so closeby, probably. I am not actually sure how far I am from you."

"A day's worth of travelling." Virgil said and continued, "I'll give you Aurus and Anton, in that case, does this seem plausible?"

"Well, I don't mind, but Aurus seems to be hating me a bit. It could be a problem for him."

"He is just very loyal, I doubt he actually hates you. And in that case, it is decided, I'll send them to you in a few days," Virgil said and added: "is it possible to use that boost on them, too?" Virgil knew it was not something you would ask from an ally, give out his secrets. He did take a liking to h.e.l.l, but today's friend could very well be tomorrow's foe. If the spell or whatever h.e.l.l had was cast on Aurus, there was a chance they could study and try to replicate it.

"It is. I would love to. But there is a prerequisite."

"What is it?" Virgil asked, intrigued after learning of the possibility of h.e.l.l's generosity. Even without any ulterior motives, he would love to find a chance to strengthen himself and his team.

"You have to accept becoming my underlings."

"What do you mean?"

"It is similar to a contract, you have to actually accept being my subordinate, I think."

"So if I say I take you as my liege, I'll get a bonus to my abilities?" Virgil said after a slight pause. "Without you casting any spells and such on me?"

"Yes. But I doubt it would work if you officially accept me."

"What kind of bonus are we talking about here?" Virgil asked.

"60%."

"60%?!" Virgil was stupefied. "What aspects of a person can you strengthen?"

"Your strength, agility, mana capacity, stamina, toughness and vitality," h.e.l.l truthfully answered.

"All of those aspects, by 60%?!" Virgil wouldn't believe it if it was not h.e.l.l telling these to him. He could tell h.e.l.l wasn't a liar. Virgil thought about what he should do, would it be too bad if he actually accepted something like this? He originally only wanted to grow his territory and overthrow the djinn because he believed she was unworthy. What if-

"Hey, you alright there?" h.e.l.l asked after the quiet that ensued following Virgil's shocked reply.

"What? Ah, yes. I'm quite alright," Virgil said, composed himself once more and asked: "h.e.l.l, what do you plan to do if you manage to conquer this world?"

"What I plan to do? Well, I'll move onto another and face stronger enemies, I guess I could say. I'm not sure, yet."

"So, you may just leave this place and never come back?"

"I doubt I will be able to return, but d.a.m.n, didn't know I was so unwelcome here!"

"It's not that," Virgil said. "What will you have your soldiers do after you conquer this place, then?"

"I have no plans whatsoever," h.e.l.l answered.

Virgil took a moment for himself to think this over, h.e.l.l still didn't seem to be picking up the hints that Virgil himself could perhaps want to follow h.e.l.l for one such bonus. It looked like a sweet deal, but it would be too hard to ascertain if there were things unsaid or if there were some side effects to this "contract". It would also seem that he would have to accept h.e.l.l as his ruler from the bottom of his heart, it was unknown if a half-a.s.sed pledge would have any effect.

"h.e.l.l, I'm willing to follow you," Virgil said suddenly, taking h.e.l.l by surprise.

"Huh?" h.e.l.l could only mutter. "What do you mean, to where?"

"I am willing to become your 'underling' as you said," Virgil replied.

"Look, man, I don't think it'll work if you are trying to do that just for that bonus I mentioned, it won't work."

"No, let's make a deal."

"A deal?"

"Yes," Virgil said with resoluteness in his eyes. "We'll follow you, but I want a favour from you in return."

"Sure, whatever I can do to help. What is it?" h.e.l.l kept a straight face, but he was elated beyond words. "What luck!" h.e.l.l was thinking. He didn't expect Virgil to go this far, but he understood why, if he could get a 60% bonus to his own abilities, he would also try to get it.

"Sons of Shadow will train your soldiers, and I guarantee that in one year, every one of them will be more capable than the average soldier. But you also have to train Sons of Shadow every single day as well. Do you accept?"

Sons of Shadow also had a lot of room for growth, they just couldn't grow much even with Virgil training them one by one, it would help them exponentially grow even without the 60% bonus they could get.

"Sure, I'll have my copies fight them," h.e.l.l said, and before Virgil could ask what that was, h.e.l.l used the ability for the first time, making 5 copies of himself. They all wore the same clothes he was wearing, and had the same dagger on their hands. It was a feeling beyond what could be described as "odd". h.e.l.l felt an immediate mental connection with all those copies, it felt like he would always know where they were and could faintly sense their thoughts. They felt like just another limb h.e.l.l always had. It was neither confusing nor annoying. h.e.l.l numbered them in his mind and relayed that information to them mentally.

"I am Pseudo h.e.l.l 1!"

"Pseudo h.e.l.l 2!"

"Pseudo h.e.l.l 3!"

"Pseudo h.e.l.l 4!"

"Pseudo h.e.l.l 5!"

Each one introduced themselves as, just as h.e.l.l asked them to. Virgil got closer and touched Pseudo h.e.l.l 1.

"Slow down there, mate, maybe buy dinner first, eh? Pseudo h.e.l.l 1 interjected as he jerked away.

"Amazing," Virgil said. "How long can you sustain them for?"

"If there was only one, I believe for around 18 hours if I didn't really use my mana for anything else."

"Can they fight?"

"Can we fight?!" Pseudo h.e.l.l 1-5 interjected all at once, clearly offended.

"Can you fight any of us, mate?" Pseudo h.e.l.l-3 said, and the others nodded.

"Hey guys, shut up a bit, this is getting confusing," h.e.l.l said.

"It really is," Virgil said.

"Well, still, do you want to fight one of them?"

"Of course, let's go to the meeting hall."

"Do you know where it is?"

"Not really, but this base is at least as large as mine there should be a hall as such, right?"

"Ah, yes, there is," h.e.l.l said, nodding and lead the way. h.e.l.l ran toward what he thought as the meeting hall, or "fighting grounds" he dubbed it, but reached the kitchen. The vampires in the kitchen, seeing h.e.l.l, all bowed at once.

"Welcome, Lord h.e.l.l!"

"Continue with your jobs, good work!" h.e.l.l said in a solemn tone and left the kitchen right after, met with a Vampire Lord with question marks on his mind.

"Is this not the place?" Virgil asked.

"Nope, I guess I just wanted to check out my kitchen staff a bit?"

"Is that so?" Virgil said with a giggle. Anyone could make mistakes, after all, but what surprised him the most was when h.e.l.l turned to his copies and asked:

"Do any of you guys remember where the fighting grounds was?"

"No idea, boss."

"Nope, not at all."

"Don't think so."

"Perhaps if we went this way…"

"I do."

h.e.l.l was elated to hear the response of Pseudo h.e.l.l-5. "You do? Show us the way, then!"

"Yes," Pseudo-5 answered and lead the way in top speed.

Virgil found out that he couldn't keep up with the copy that dashed forward, perhaps these things were more complicated than what he thought them to be. He felt that they were even faster than h.e.l.l who was running beside him.

"Are your copies stronger than you?" Virgil asked as they were running, this was crucial information, and he was horrified by his callous answer.

"No, they are weaker."

Virgil contemplated the possibility that maybe h.e.l.l was always this strong. The chance was slim, his non-quickened speed in the berserker state was slower than the copies'. The answer was obvious, and Virgil knew it. He had gotten faster again. At this rate, h.e.l.l would be a creature stronger than Lucifer who only wouldn't attack the vampires himself because of Djinn Queen's ability. Queen and Lucifer had an agreement as to not interfere in the war of their subjects. Both sides would be ma.s.sacred otherwise.

They soon pa.s.sed in front of the fighting grounds, so h.e.l.l stopped right away, and dispelled Pseudo-5 with a disappointed look.

"Dumba.s.s didn't know where the hall was either. But how did he pa.s.s by this place and didn't notice the doors?" The doors of the fighting grounds were decorated as per h.e.l.l's orders. There was Sword of Blood engraved on the doors. The sword had a unique design, one would not confuse it with another after seeing it once.

"Should you call a copy of you a 'dumba.s.s'?" Virgil asked in a sarcastic tone.

"Oh, shut up, mate, let's just pit you against one another inside," h.e.l.l replied as he opened the doors. There was someone inside, one of h.e.l.l's elite 5, one of the knights, Porter.

"Porter?" h.e.l.l asked. "Dude, weren't you here last night, too?"

The knight did not answer, he was focused entirely on shadow fighting.

"Hey!" h.e.l.l yelled, only then was he noticed by Porter.

"I'm sorry, my Lord!" Porter yelled in fervour, this was a man with pa.s.sion present in each word he spoke. "Please forgive this daring fool for ignoring you!"

"It's fine, you don't have to worry," h.e.l.l said and saw Porter kneeling on the ground.

"Rise, Porter. Your hard work pleases me."

"Thank you, my Lord," Porter said and turned to Virgil: "Welcome to our base, Vampire Lord Virgil!"

Virgil was also pleased to see his friend having such a loyal soldier, he thought h.e.l.l could have his own Aurus in his hands, soon, too.

"Porter, don't leave the fighting grounds. You will now watch a few fights here."

"Yes!" Porter replied.

"Come," Virgil said as he beckoned Pseudo-3. He would fight one of them and see if they were enough. Pseudo-3, as soon as he saw Virgil beckoning, lunged at him with Quickening. His limited mana pool only allowed for few uses of the skill, so he would spare his remaining mana for his regeneration ability. It would be no good if he couldn't regenerate in a fight against Virgil.

He wanted to stab Virgil with the dagger and paralyse him, and he did succeed to do so as his speed with Quickening was much, much faster now, keeping the dagger for more than one moment for it to secrete enough poison, however, was another matter entirely. Virgil took the dagger out with his claws as he also bled the area he was stabbed in to get the poison out before it could be absorbed into his insides.

"You will have to keep the dagger there longer to make it work," Virgil said and clawed at Pseudo's face. It was a slight graze on his face as his base speed was better also. Being able to dodge once, he was confident to do it again and didn't waste his mana on Quickening. He drew a short arc in the air targeting Virgil's throat to disable him in any way he can. Virgil managed to dodge with ease and stabbed through Pseudo's heart.

"Should I deal the killing blow to them?" Virgil asked, holding onto his heart as Pseudo tried to heal himself. He laughed uproariously as he went to stab Virgil, making use of the distance, but his heart was ripped out at that moment when Virgil heard the following words from h.e.l.l:

"Go wild."

Pseudo-3 fell dead on the floor, unable to get up and began melting into nothing.

"My Lord!" Porter yelled in confusion. It already took everything he had to not ask the bizarre scene in front of his eyes, there were four of his Lord, and one of them had been killed just now. He brandished his claws and was ready to die trying to stop Virgil.

"It's alright, Porter, that's my ability, see?" h.e.l.l said and summoned another copy of himself. Since he no longer held the knife in his hands and it was in his inventory, this one came to be unarmed.

"Oh, okay," Porter said and stood down. It was a fight that lasted only a few seconds, but he couldn't follow with his eyes at all. Lord Virgil was definitely not as fast as the copy of his Lord, but he was still victorious in the end.

Virgil pointed at the three copies and beckoned again. "All three of you, come!"