2025-01-25 13:13:29Amores watched Alkan with a curious gaze as he stood in front of her. "You’re quick," she remarked, then reached under the desk to grab something. "Write your name here and answer the questions."
She handed him a folder, and as he opened it, he saw the personal details he needed to fill out. His eyebrows subtly raised in surprise. He hadn't expected such a system in this town. After filling it out, he returned the folder to her. She then gestured for him to follow her to his first station at work. He was taken aback as he took in the full view of the place. There were beings lying on beds with tubes attached to their arms. At first glance, he knew they were having their blood drawn. What confused him was why these beings needed to be drained of blood. Back where he came from, it made sense if the blood was for patients in need, but this was different. The Tribal wasn’t like that. It was home to creatures from legends. These beings didn’t need blood unless there was an emergency, and according to Gio, the Tribal’s residents could heal their own wounds and ailments. "Your job now is to wait for new recruits," Amores said. "You’ll need to lay the newcomers on the beds and connect the tubes to their arms. You must collect several bags of blood before nightfall. And once it's afternoon, come find me at my station so you can leave the factory. Got it?" Although confused, Alkan nodded. That was his job, after all. He had thought he’d be the one lying in a bed. He went to the spot Amores had indicated and waited for the new recruit. It wasn’t long before a man entered the large room. Alkan’s eyes widened in recognition—it was the man he had encountered earlier on the street. He still wore the same clothes, and his eyebrows were furrowed in a frown. The man scanned the room and their eyes met. He walked over to Alkan and looked him over from head to toe. "Not bad," he said before lying down on the bed. For a moment, Alkan stood frozen. The man smirked. "What? You just gonna stand there? Hurry up!" he barked. Alkan’s worry grew as he feared the creatures in the beds would wake up from the man’s loud shout. But after a few moments, none of them stirred. The man’s frown deepened. "What’s taking so long?" That snapped Alkan out of his daze. He quickly moved to the man’s side and attached the tubes to his arms. He winced as the smell of blood, sour and metallic, filled the air. "If you can’t handle the job, get out of this town and move to the next one," the man said coldly. Alkan said nothing as he returned to his spot. The man didn't speak again, and after a few moments, Alkan heard his steady breathing. It seemed he had fallen asleep on the bed. Alkan frowned in confusion. Was there a sleeping aid in the tubes? More new recruits arrived, and Alkan connected tubes to their arms just like the man before. Fortunately, there were plenty of empty beds in the spacious room. Soon, the large clock above the door chimed. It was afternoon. He turned to look at the creatures who were now waking up. He hadn’t even gotten close to one before they ripped the tubes from their arms and left without a word. Alkan blinked in surprise. Only the man he had seen earlier remained in the room. He looked at Alkan and said, "Get out. Go find Amores so you can leave the factory." Without hesitation, Alkan left his station and headed to Amores’ spot. As he was about to leave the factory, he paused and glanced back at the room he had come from. He hadn’t seen the man leave. But he pushed the thought aside. Amores had been giving him a stern look earlier, and he didn’t want to risk angering her. Before he could step out, a voice came from behind. "What’s with that face?" It was Ambong, grinning at him. Alkan stopped in his tracks and turned around. "What’s going on in the factory?" he asked, his tone guarded. Ambong’s grin widened. "You know the price you pay for asking that question." Alkan’s lips pressed into a line as he glanced around, seeing only darkened houses with no lights on. Where were they supposed to spend the night? "It’s not safe to spend the night outside," Ambong suddenly said, his eyes gleaming. "Follow me." Alkan didn’t hesitate. He followed Ambong through the darkened streets, glancing nervously at their surroundings. The darkness had swallowed the area, but they kept walking, heading somewhere Alkan couldn’t yet understand. When the moon rose in the sky, a chilling noise came from behind them. Alkan’s thoughts immediately turned to the factory. "Don’t look back if you don’t want to be eaten by a night creature," Ambong warned. Alkan’s muscles stiffened at the warning, but he fought his curiosity. He realized he was in a land full of legendary beings. Every corner of the Tribal was dangerous for someone like him. "Do you know what kind of creature lives in this town?" Ambong asked. Alkan didn’t answer, the words trapped in his throat. Sweat beaded on his skin as the cold wind blew. This wasn’t like the evening breeze back in San Roque; this one carried the metallic scent of blood. "They’re creatures that feed on flesh and indulge in blood," Ambong said, his voice light with amusement. "They’re called Vampires, the second strongest tribe in the Black Wing Tribe’s alliances." "Vampires?" Alkan furrowed his brow. "Is that why they’re draining blood from the creatures inside the factory?" Ambong laughed. "You’ve seen the vampire’s lair. The beings in those houses are escapees from the White Wing Tribe or creatures who lost their homes after the Black Wing Tribe took over the western parts of the Tribal." "So the ones lying in the beds aren’t vampires?" Ambong paused, thinking, before replying. "No. They’re the ones who moved to this town. In exchange for living in the vampires’ territory, they must give enough blood. The creatures in the factory are vampires, which is why the others have to leave before nightfall—if they stay, they’ll be eaten by the vampires if any of them are left behind." Ambong let out a long breath. "For someone with sawikin blood like you, don’t even think about giving blood to any vampire. Sawikin blood is special, part of the original inhabitants of the Tribal. It’s rich in magic and faith. If a vampire gets a taste of your blood, hide, because they won’t stop hunting you. Once they taste it, nothing else will satisfy their thirst." Alkan swallowed hard. "What do vampires look like?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "They look like normal people. But you’ll know they’re vampires by the color of their eyes. Vampire eyes are silver." Alkan’s mind raced, thinking about the silver eyes he had seen earlier—on Tayon. If he wasn’t mistaken, Tayon was a vampire. "There’s one…" His voice faltered as his heart raced. "One of them might’ve tasted my blood." Ambong stopped dead in his tracks, turning to face Alkan. His brows knitted together, but then he shook his head and laughed. "So that’s why the ruckus," Ambong said with a sigh. "If you weren’t so important, I wouldn’t have to babysit someone as ignorant as you." "W-What?" Alkan’s eyes widened. "What’s so important?" "Really ignorant," Ambong muttered under his breath. Before Alkan could process what was happening, Ambong picked him up effortlessly. Two shadowy wings sprouted from Ambong’s back, and in an instant, they soared into the dark sky, Ambong holding Alkan securely in his arms. "Don’t ever step foot in this town again," Ambong warned. "If you're lucky, the vampires won’t chase you. But if you were born unlucky, you’ll be hunted for the rest of your life. Your only choice is to kill the vampire who tasted your blood or join them." Ambong clicked his tongue. "Why do you always go looking for trouble?" Alkan had no chance to respond when he heard rustling behind them. When he looked back, his heart stopped. Tayon stood there, smiling at him. Their eyes met, and Alkan watched as Tayon’s eyes turned blood-red. "Alkan Buena," Tayon called. Cold dread gripped Alkan as he saw two wings sprout from Tayon’s back, with five other vampires following. Just like Tayon, their eyes glowed red, their thirst for blood unmistakable. The vampires sped toward them, surrounding Alkan and Ambong, and under the full moon, Alkan saw Tayon’s claws extend, black as night. "And who is this with you, Alkan? A shadow?" Tayon laughed. "Come with us, and you won’t have to worry about running anymore. We won’t hurt you. I just want to taste the blood of the sawikin that runs through your veins." Ambong narrowed his eyes, his grin widening. "Looks like the vampires are getting bold. Don’t you know that the Witch Tribe is keeping an eye on you?" Tayon’s smile grew. "But your precious Witch Tribe isn’t doing anything against us vampires. No matter what the witches try, they won’t change the laws of the alliance." His eyes narrowed. "Now, kid, give me the creature you’re carrying. We won’t hurt you if you do as we wish."
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Ambong tightened his grip on Alkan, and in an instant, the shadow dropped from its position in the sky. Alkan gasped and clung tightly to Ambong's sleeve, cursing repeatedly in his mind. Tayon's eyes widened, and he quickly flew toward them. A mischievous grin formed on Ambong’s lips before he suddenly darted off in a different direction. Alkan heard Tayon curse before swiftly pursuing them. As Ambong laughed in the air, Alkan’s face turned as pale as paper. His heart had been pounding relentlessly, painfully even. He kept taking deep breaths, but before he could steady himself, they were once again surrounded by vampires. Unlike earlier, Tayon’s brows were now creased. His gaze toward Ambong was sharp, but it became even more piercing whenever it landed on Alkan. "Don't even think about escaping. No matter what you do, you won't get away. You're in vampire territory," Tayon smirked. "Haven't you noticed? No matter where you go in this place, there's always a vampire watching. Sto
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Her gaze shifted between Alkan and Ambong. After a few seconds, she smiled at him."New faces in the palace. Who are you, and how did you get in?"Alkan was about to answer, but Ambong pulled him past her. Celya only let out a soft laugh as she watched them leave.Her amusement faded when she saw the way Ambong looked at her—cold and guarded. How annoying. She didn’t like it when men ignored her, especially those who should have been on their knees, enchanted by her beauty.“Celya,” she heard a voice call from behind her. A fellow vampire approached, worry on his face. “Why are you out here? Your father is looking for you.”She clicked her tongue in irritation but turned gracefully. “I was just welcoming our guests. Did he say what he wanted?”“He just told me to fetch you. You should hurry back.”Celya sighed but obeyed. However, as she walked away, her thoughts lingered on the man who had stared at her so intently—Alkan. Unlike the others, he had looked at her with fascination, yet
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Alkan opened the door, and two male vampires stood before him. He raised an eyebrow upon seeing them."Do you need something?" he asked.The vampire on the left spoke. "The king is summoning you. The king of the witches is here."Alkan froze at the statement. After a few seconds, he glanced behind him, where he saw Ambong with a dark expression.There was nothing Alkan could do but follow the two men. Ambong walked beside him, silent all the while. He kept his head down, staring only at the path ahead.It wasn’t long before they reached the vampire king’s throne room. And the two men were right—there, seated on a step just below the throne of the vampire king, was Surikong.Surikong looked in Alkan’s direction, and their gazes met. A smile formed on his lips."Alkan Buena," he greeted.It felt as if a bucket of ice water had been dumped on Alkan. A chill ran from his head to his toes, and cold sweat formed on his skin. He knew Surikong was involved in the strange events that had plagu
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Surikong grinned widely. “That’s a good decision. Get ready, we’ll be leaving soon.” Celya happily turned around and stepped back toward the door. But she stopped in her tracks when she passed by Alkan. She looked at his face and smirked, as if challenging him. Then she rolled her eyes and continued walking. He ignored the princess’s actions and turned to Surikong, who was still smiling at him. His lips pressed into a thin line before he turned away and left the room. He could still hear Surikong’s voice behind him, saying, “You should get ready too, Alkan. We’re leaving soon.” Alkan clenched his fists. He really didn’t like being told what to do. However, he wanted to get out of that palace, so he decided to follow Surikong’s orders without arguing. As the sun neared the western horizon, Alkan found himself standing outside a factory. The king did not accompany them, but he had sent two large men to escort them to the entrance. “We can only go this far, king of witches,”
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Before he could process what was happening, several women ran in his direction. He was rooted to the spot, startled when one of them grabbed his arm and pulled him away from the scene. "Move! The Black Wing Tribe is coming!" she gasped. Her face was pale, her breathing ragged. He could feel the cold tremble in her hands. "They’re all dead! There's nothing left for you there!" He didn't know whether to laugh or cry at her words. He hadn’t come to that settlement looking for family. Still, he let her pull him along. So that she wouldn’t fall behind, he took hold of her arm instead and ran at the front of the group. He heard her sharp intake of breath but noticed she didn’t complain—she simply ran, trying to keep up with him. Alkan's ears had perked up at what the woman had said. The Black Wing Tribe is coming? Did that mean they were the ones responsible for the burning village? He glanced at the woman beside him. He couldn't tell which tribe she belonged to, but she didn’t seem
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Alkan flinched and quickly looked ahead. The three men were already frowning at him. But because of the light he had seen, his earlier plan to leave now seemed unlikely. He needed to find out which tribe the child belonged to and why it was surrounded by light. He cleared his throat. "What tribe are you from?" The three men narrowed their eyes at him and slightly lowered their heads into a stance ready to attack. A chill ran down his spine, and he quickly raised his hands. "I mean no harm. I just want to know if you're allied with the White Wing Tribe and if that’s the reason the Black Wing Tribe attacked you." At the mention of the White Wing Tribe, the tension in the air slightly eased. He couldn’t quite read the three men’s expressions, but he noticed the women averting their gazes. Soon, the man in the middle straightened his stance. He looked Alkan over from head to toe. "We are not allies of the White Wing Tribe, but neither are we enemies of the white sawikin. We have li
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Yes, there were times when he could control the shadow without knowing that it had a mind of its own because of Ambong. But now, Ambong was no longer inside his body, so he didn’t know how to summon the shadow. "I am not part of the witch's lineage. There was someone who taught me how to manipulate it..." His lips pressed into a thin line. "Besides, if the black sawikin had sent me here, the women would have already been lying lifeless on the ground." "Then show me your ability!" the man demanded. With no other choice, Alkan closed his eyes. He focused on himself until he felt the creeping cold from his soles, rising up his legs, arms, neck, and finally to his face. His muscles shivered with dread. This was the familiar sensation whenever the shadow touched his body. And it seemed his suspicion was right when he heard a woman scream. Footsteps followed, scurrying away from him. He knew the women had taken refuge in a corner. When he opened his eyes, even he was taken aback.
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The arms and legs were chained to the floor, and the body was covered in lash marks. The long hair obscured the face. The skin was as pale as paper, and the figure was emaciated. This was the state in which Alkan found the tribe’s leader. He swallowed hard. “At first, the leader was not in this condition,” Yuli said with a sigh. “But ever since the dragon appeared in the East, the monster within him has become more aggressive. Even during the day, he can no longer recognize the people around him. He only wants to consume flesh and bones, so we decided to restrain him. He is no longer in his right mind.” Alkan frowned. “Why does he have lash marks on his skin?” Yuli looked at where he was pointing and dropped his shoulders. “That’s what we don’t know. Every morning, his skin just ends up like that, but no one has been seen entering this place. The guards say they haven’t seen anyone come inside—except for a stray cat.” “A st
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The Diamond Woman brought him to a secluded tribe in the southernmost part of the land, far from the Black Palace. When he opened his eyes, he found himself in a forest beneath the scorching midday sun. He let out a deep sigh and closed his eyes again. "Master?" the Diamond Woman called when she saw that he remained lying on the grass. "Later," he muttered in a low voice. "I just want to rest." The Diamond Woman created a barrier to shield him from the sun. Then, she sat beside him, watching the peaceful dance of the leaves as the wind passed through them. They remained in silence for several minutes before Alkan suddenly opened his eyes, recalling something. "When will you restore Pilak and Anino to their human forms?" he asked. The Diamond Woman turned to him, lost in thought for a few seconds. "I could restore them now, Master, but some beings are approaching. It wouldn’t be safe for the two flames to tran
Chapter 78: Fought again (2)
"Master, use my power to destroy the dragon’s barrier," the Diamond Woman urged. Alkan wasted no time. The green glow of his sword turned pure white. The dragon howled in agony, struggling to shake him off. His sword plunged deeper between its eyes, and he heard something shatter within. His wings flared open, emitting a crimson light. "Mortal! What are you doing?!" the prince’s voice bellowed in his mind. Sweat beaded on Alkan’s forehead from the pain, but he fought against the prince’s attempt to seize control of his consciousness. "You will not win," Alkan growled, pouring out his power. The red light from his black wings intensified, forming ancient symbols that adhered to them, making them even stronger. "No! Don’t do this!" the prince screamed inside his mind.
Chapter 77: Fought again (1)
With the arrival of the dragon in the Tribal lands, the first war led by Alkan was set to unfold. The three kingdoms—Fairy, White Sawikin, and Black Sawikin—mobilized to destroy the dragon that was spreading terror in the East. Although the three tribes did not see eye to eye, they fought together against the dragon. "Who is that Black Sawikin flying in the sky?!" shouted some White Sawikin, who were battling corpses rising from their graves. "I don't know! But he's the only one among us who can fly! Our wings are useless against the force emanating from the dragon!" "Is that Black Sawikin trying to get himself killed?!" "Yes!" Manuel swung his sword and looked up at the lone Sawikin still airborne. His eyes narrowed as he stared at the familiar figure of the Black Sawikin. A corpse charged toward him, reeking of rotting flesh. He
Chapter 76: The prince and the dangers in the East (2)
The man smiled and looked into the distance. The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a peaceful dawn across the sky. "I do not wish to refuse your request, especially since this is the first time in nearly a hundred years that someone has sought help from the Immortal Tribe. What makes it even more amusing is that a mortal is the one asking for help. Isn't that an interesting story to be written in history?" In the future, Alkan would realize that leaving the female exorcist in the care of the Immortal Tribe was the right decision. After bidding farewell to the woman, he flew back north, to the forest where the necromancer’s power kept the land in its grip. He landed and summoned the Diamond Woman. He cleared his throat. "The sorcerer said you can restore Pilak and Anino to their human forms. I want them to take shape so I can communicate with them more easily." The Diamond Woman fell silent for a few seconds before ask
Chapter 75: The prince and the dangers in the East (1)
Alkan and the female exorcist landed outside the gate. They were quickly surrounded by guards. When the guards saw Alkan and the female exorcist, they were shocked. "A mortal?" one of the guards asked in astonishment, lowering his raised weapon. "You haven’t returned to the White Palace in months. Many things have happened that you are unaware of." He then turned his gaze to the female exorcist standing beside Alkan. The guard's eyes narrowed, and after a moment, they widened in shock. "Mortal, why are you with the traitor? Get away from her!" he shouted, raising his sword in front of the female exorcist. Alkan's vision darkened. "Where is Manuel? Inform him that I want to speak with him," he said through gritted teeth. "But, mortal—" "Do as I say!" Perhaps due to the force he released, coming from Menandro, the first king of the White Palace, the guards quickly moved. They lowered their weapons and stepped b
Chapter 74: Giving back what was stolen
He took a deep breath and nodded. Kneeling beside Valeria, he gently brushed his fingers against her cheek. She remained unconscious, showing no signs of waking anytime soon. From the corner of his eye, he saw the female exorcist slowly open her eyes. He turned to her and spoke. "How are you feeling?" She scanned her surroundings before looking at him, then lowered her gaze to her swollen belly. "The prince’s child is still here," she whispered. Alkan followed her gaze. "Do you want me to…" "No." The exorcist shook her head and sighed. She lifted her head and glanced around. "Where are we in Tribal?" "Near the North, in the middle of a vast forest." The exorcist stood and took a deep breath. Her gaze fell on Valeria. "The mortal…" Her eyes narrowed. "Why does Valeria look so pale?" "A curse has awakened in her soul," Alkan replied, his expression dark. "The only way to break it i
Chapter 73: Unbreakable curse
After a few minutes, Alkan slowly descended. He opened his eyes. The whites of his eyes had turned black, and a strange smile played on his lips. In a blink, his expression and eye color returned to normal. The diamond noticed but didn’t question it—she simply smiled at him. “Master, you have successfully obtained the third power. Now, you can fully manifest your black wings.” “Black wings?” he repeated in confusion, glancing over his shoulder. He saw nothing there. The diamond chuckled. “Why don’t you step out of your consciousness first, Master?” she suggested. Alkan withdrew his awareness from within, and as soon as he did, a sharp pain seared through his back. He had felt some discomfort earlier, but he hadn’t expected it to be this painful once he was back in his physical body. He clenched his jaw and turned to look behind him. There, he saw the black wings. He stood up straight, a grin curving his lips.
