Chapter 5
Fatal Wound
1
It was forty minutes later when they arrived at the farmhouse at the bottom of the cliff. The "Swordsman" followed Greylancer and Gallagher calmly as they exited the carriage with a dismayed look on their face.
Regardless if they were Noble or Half-Human, even now, he couldn't believe they had successfully scaled down an almost vertical cliff without a gravity controller.
But the two of them did it. Shizam's body remembered the violent sensation of the carriage and the howling winds in his ears. Then, they were calmly knocking on the door of a small house of the same color as that of darkness.
Soon, through the intercom--
"Who is it?"
Asked a fierce male voice.
"It's Greylancer. Open it up."
That instant--
"Don't be ridiculous. I will kill you."
That was the proper response.
Though it was a mere touch, when Greylancer pushed the door, it flew inward with the force of an explosion.
"W-what's going on?"
The man groaning and crushed under the door was a middle-aged burly man. It appeared the valley floor wasn't a safe zone as he only had on a shirt, pants, and shoes. In his hands was a double-barrel gunpowder firearm.
"What's wrong, father?"
Jumping out from inside the home was a red-haired girl donning similar clothes, who stood still when she saw Greylancer.
A white bandage was wrapped around her neck. On the other hand, Greylancer put his hand on the door edge and lifts it up with ease, putting it to lean against the wall.
"Stay strong, father."
The girl lifted her father up and sets him aside on a chair beside her, and glares at Greylancer bravely with her anger quickly disappearing--
"Who are you?"
She asked in a frightened voice.
"I am Greylancer. Are you Charlotte Cody?"
The daughter hesitated for a moment--
"I am."
She answered. Only then did her eyes open widest upon realizing the situation.
--Ho? What a beautiful face.
Shizam's will was filled with admiration in this situation. A Noble, much less an Archduke would not be able to suppress the desire to cling to these white necks. If it were a Human, they would helplessly be attacked partway through their advances.
The girl was thin and was perhaps fifteen or sixteen years old yet strangely had sensual eyes and lips.
"I came here for something I ask from you. I even have the time right. Four days ago, you had your blood sucked by an old Noble, correct?"
That was the sudden main topic. The daughter, Charlotte, could not afford to conceal it.
They watched the redhead nod.
"Prior to that, there were people who had poisonous substances put inside them. Quite a number of people, in fact. Do you have any clues regarding this matter?"
Greylancer stared at the daughter in the eye. Despite trying to avert her eyes several times, the daughter stood there as though she was charmed by magic.
"You don't know anything, Charlotte. Don't you remember that? So keep quiet."
The father screamed with a pale demon-like expression. When he turned to face Greylancer, he held his gunpowder gun in hand.
"It seems he had his blood sucked for certain, your Lordship. And I'm sure there are many others like him as well."
"It appears so. Many others with poisonous blood have also appeared. However, seeing that this has happened means these pests have lost the value of their existence."
Both father and daughter stared at one another. They turned over to Greylancer with a face of death that was looming near.
"It won't be poisonous as long as it's safe to put inside of you. Thus, you'll remain the same pests even if it's extracted out of you. We can do that. What I want from your daughter, however, is the name of the person who mixed the poison in her blood so until you have permission, you, the father, will not speak."
"My Lord..."
Charlotte collapsed on the spot.
"I don't know...nothing..."
"You mean to say you know of nothing?"
"Our investigation has been running smoothly. If what you and your father say turn out false, you both will sentenced to be torn apart."
If one thought about it, it made sense that not all Humans would know the fear of the Nobility--that of the Vampires. There were some humans who'd go about their entire life without ever knowing about how terrifying they are, and Charlotte was one of them. As such, they were the kind of people who would easily succumb to the Nobility than those who were not, Ah, with a groan, Charlotte knelt on the spot.
"Stop."
"Father......I don't like......any of this."
"Stop it!"
Suddenly, the father's upper body turned towards his daughter. The sound of a hammer hitting against a steel plate was made. Charlotte was blown away by a human-shaped mass and was thrown to the wall.
Even prior to that, her father's long gun was knocked out of his hand. Shizam had stepped out and knocked him in the jaw with his elbow, knocking him out. Then he turned towards Gallagher, who was standing behind him.
"You're slow."
He said.
The "gunsman" silently put away his right-handed firearm--a flintlock pistol in his holster by his waist. What he meant by slow was him being slower than the father shooting his daughter.
"Let me, my Lord."
Greylancer nodded. Shizam walked over to Charlotte, who was lying on the ground. He checked for her pulse and examined her eyes. Standing up,
"An instant death."
He said.
"However, the father remains."
"Correct. Get him to his senses immediately and interrogate him."
"Understood."
The father was put on a chair and roused awake with a bucket of water.
The reason he was not tied up was unneeded, for there wasn't any way he could escape.
"Your daughter is dead."
Shizam stated coldly.
"I'm a human being myself. I don't want to hurt you, but I can't help it seeing as I'm receiving my payroll from Him. I want to ask you if you can tell us who put poison in your daughter's blood. Tell us, and I won't have to put both us through the trouble you'll be facing."
"I don't know what you're talking about, I--"
"You don't know, yet you shot and killed your daughter. I know that you know something, so don't waste my time."
"I swear, I don't know anything. Please, this is my home. Please leave this instant."
"Then you've left me no other choice. I'll have one of the soldiers stationed outside come in to suck your blood, then throw you into the middle of the village. I'm sure you know how 'half-humans' are treated, yes? At best, you'll be locked up for the rest of your life. At worst, you'll be tortured to death. Would you prefer that to a quiet life or elsewhere?"
"I don't know, I know of nothing!"
"I see. Then you've given us no choice. Lopez, come take a sip."
One of the soldiers who waited in the back behind Greylancer waited for him to nod before entering.
The soldier was already licking his lips, no doubt imagining the taste of warm human blood.
"No, stop. I don't want my blood to be taken!"
Shizam pushed the father down as he tried to stand, exposing his neck,
"It'll be just a bite."
The soldier approached and bent down at the scruff of the father's neck.
"Stop it already!"
The next moment, the father was up in flames.
Both Shizam and Gallagher stood there stunned for 3 seconds. What remained on the chair was white ashes, and the room's temperature, which rose rapidly, cooled down.
"What was that?"
As expected, Shizam immediately reacted and analyzed the spot where the human was 3 seconds ago.
"Hey, Doctor. Come look into this."
He ordered the soldier behind him while ignoring Lopez, who was still standing there. A military android came through, who was an android. Other Lords have soaked themselves in transformation solution or covered in artificial skin to make themselves look like Nobility. This was due to being targeted first in battles, but Greylancer admitted it was disgusting for such machines to take on the same appearance as them by exposing their machinery. Their fingers which deposited the white ash, with its body jutting out the analysis plate and pulls it back with the white ash on it shined black in all of its machinery.
Both of their eyes shined red.
"This human body was turned to ashes. The human was cremated by heat generated from within. Temperature was 100,000 degrees Celsius. The cause is thought to have been by ingestion of combustible substances beforehand."
"How could they have been set on fire?"
Shizam was only staring at the remaining arm on the chair.
"It appears to have been set in advance by calculating his metabolism and arranging it so that the changes in his body would ignite the combustible substances the moment he broke out of his mental taboo state. It's possible to input a suggestion through hypnosis by saying a certain word and causing the heart to stop. This here seems to have been the case."
"There have been examples of this phenomenon happening in the past."
Greylancer's voice silences everyone in the room.
"It's called [Pyrocation]. However, this was likely an artificial phenomenon, something humans couldn't have done on their own."
"Then it was the OSB."
Yunus stared at his Lord.
"No. Let's search the house."
Greylancer commended.
"Since he defied a Noble's orders, he must have received some compensation. Find it."
Three other android soldiers appeared and scanned the room.
It was in a closet in the bedroom.
Shizam whistled and picked up a pile of gold coins from the leather bag spread out on the table.
"A thousand gold coins. Roughly a thousand--enough to get half of a Frontier."
He nodded, and bit the end of the gold coin.
"Is this how much the humans have collected?"
Greylancer asked his Lieutenant.
"It's impossible. If these weren't counterfeits, they'd have to steal them from a Noble's storehouse--"
"Perhaps it was a Noble who provided them this."
"It would appear so."
"The remnants of Cornelius's party has been recovered. Yunus--trace the source of the gold."
"Yes."
"Also, have Pados submit to me a list of every person who entered to and from the Central Zone in the past six months. Even if they are OSB, it's impossible for them to secretly enter nor leave from there."
"Very well. I'll go."
Greylancer turned on his heel and walked breezily through the small home without touching a thing. Outside, Nobles and Android soldiers were stationed. They saw Greylancer and parted in both ways.
Only darkness lay ahead. From beyond, an arrow flew and accurately pierced the Great Noble's heart.
2
An android soldier, who is incapable of being surprised was the first to stand in front of the large being who was kneeling down on one knee.
Shortly after, the living soldiers built a wall around Greylancer and carried him into the house.
"Gallagher, the enemy is a [Ghost Archer]. He took a shot from the top of the cliff on the other side. You're up."
There was no response to Shizam's cry.
As for what the "Gunsman" was doing, he was still in the living room. Greylancer's movements were too nimble for him to follow.
Soon as he heard Shizam's voice, he took out a "target crystal" from a pouch on his waist and placed it on the table. He raises the hammer of his already loaded rifle and faces the door, his face being as serene as a monk's with both eyes shut tightly.
The crystal ball rotated slightly, and within a few seconds, the owner's desired target was reflected within it. It was a black shadow wearing a magnetic-floating device that ascended as though searching for the moon. It was a woman in a black coat.
"Distance is 5 kilometers. Altitude, 200 meters--and still steadily climbing at 300 kilometers per hour."
Who would have imagined that a thin man could curse and bring about a miracle? He points his rifle at the door and pulls the trigger.
Pishu, it rang.
The bullet flies. But beyond the doorway was a wall. The door was of stone, and so too the open door. The flintlock rifle had a maximum range of 2 kilometers and the range of it was on the right--with an effective range of about 500 meters. That moment, Shizam and several other soldiers sensed bullets flying overhead. Gallagher came through the room where Greylancer was carried over, with said room being in a pool of boiling excitement.
"How'd it go?"
Asked Shizam.
"I got a hit."
The "Marksman" replied in his own unique way.
"However, the enemy is clad in bulletproof clothing. What I hit was a flying device. We should go there. The drop point is--"
Soon as Gallagher finished, turned on his feet to follow after the android soldiers.
"Where are you going."
"The enemy is a [Ghost Archer]. If they're using electromagnetic arrows, they can kill the android soldiers, and their effective range is 5 kilometers. They'll kill us before we can see them. I have no choice but to go."
"That's it?"
Gallagher turned to Shizam's pale face,
"Don't make it a habit of trying to get yourself killed."
Gallagher chuckled.
"Never thought I'd hear that from you."
He turned away again with a raise of his left hand, and walks down the hallway.
"Shizam."
Greylancer called out.
"The one who targeted me--did Gallagher kill them?"
"No."
"What did you say?"
"With all due respect, my Lord,"
Yunus took over.
"The underling is the most important person in uncovering this conspiracy. I think it would be best to take them in alive."
"Gallagher is a clever little man. It is but a fool's errand to keep someone who has harmed this Greylancer alive. Bring him here."
"He's actually on his way to apprehend the underling."
"Hmph. He is a man that takes life."
Soon as he said that, he collapsed on the bed.
"You need rest, my Lord."
The android doctor slid his palm to stroke it, which had a sensor on it.
"How is he?"
Yunus asked.
"He's been struck in the heart."
"Then--"
"Yunus."
He was called out.
The aide stood by the bed trying not to look somber as he sensed the inaudible but anguished voice.
"Is this my deathbed?"
"It's nothing. The arrow missed a vital point. The fact that you're alive is proof of that."
"You're capable, yet I'm too injured to be a commander. You're so terrible at lying."
"The enemy is a [Ghost Archer]. They could not have missed, and I wasn't wearing any protective gear."
Yunus was speechless.
He felt as though the ground opened up and swallowed him whole.
This Great Noble was destroyed by a single arrow. That very well could have happened. It was to be considered. But why? Only He could not perish--that was the thought of all who followed Greylancer. It was almost like that of faith.
"Yet, humorously enough, I have yet to turn to dust."
Yunus felt the ground return to its normal state. That's it. Any Noble would have instantly perished by getting shot through the heart. But was this man an exception to it all?
"I learned an interesting trick from someone last year. It involved instantly arranging your organ's positions."
"I've only tried it three or four times, but it's helped a little. Just a little."
"Then how were you still hit in the heart?"
Asked the military doctor who was across from Greylancer.
"What was hit is the aortic arch. It's no different from the heart."
Yunus glared at the black alloy face.
"It's too early to call it safe."
Said the military doctor moving his lips up and down.
"According to my information, if the heart is struck, even just the aortic arch, a Noble will perish. The relationship between the heart and Nobility is an idealistic one that does not follow the laws of physics. However, You are an exceptional survivor. We're currently collecting data but even after all we've found, we could not understand this. Perhaps this must be another supernatural phenomenon related to the Nobility."
"Then, can He be saved?"
"My Lord--how do you feel?"
Greylancer just placed a hand on the arrow when the military doctor faced him.
"It's nothing major. Can I take this out?"
"I don't know how to tell you this."
"What?"
This time, it was both Shizam and Yunus who were panicking rather than Greylancer.
"It's unclear whether his Lordship will be secure even if it is removed."
Replied the military doctor.
"Perhaps this is likely a miracle permitted only to you. As a doctor and android, I cannot tell what will happen if you try to interfere it from the outside."
"Then you're saying we should just leave it be?"
Yunus' face was filled with stupor.
"I cannot tell you that either."
"You stupid robot!"
Shizam spat out.
As for the bed-ridden Greylancer,
"How are you feeling, my Lord?"
"That was impolite."
Yunus' expression seemed to have changed--or so he thought, but his paleness remained the same.
"Good."
Greylancer responded while putting pressure on his arm.
"Such a thing could not even called a wound. I'm taking it out now."
"Please cease, my Lord!"
Yunus rushed over and seized his arm.
"All of you, come help me."
"That's not helping me. Stay out of the way!"
Greylancer stopped his hasting servants with a wave of his other hand. At the same time, he snapped off the arrowhead leaving behind half an inch of the shaft.
He slammed his hand on the floor and stood up while vomiting fresh blood from his spot.
"My Lord!?"
"Hmm, it's not perfect. Moving just a little of it will make it look like this."
"Please lie down. I'll be getting an autodyne for you."
"Do not call for it. One word out of the comms device, and you'll be a private starting tomorrow."
"..."
"Besides, the assassin who could have harmed this Greylancer would easily fall to the hands of soldiers. Lead the way."
There was a wave that passed on like a hard sound. Everyone from Yunus and below pressed on their heels together and stood erect with a salute.
Rather than fear of absurdity, his face was one of a color of emotion.
After all, He was special.
He had not turned to dust despite being shot in the heart.
Greylancer was a true hero--a true immortal.
"There is no more use of us being here. Everyone, follow me."
The soldiers let out cries of joy and ran out the room, following the dark blue cape who started walking with the sound of footsteps.
3
The "Marksman" Gallagher was hiding in a rocky area about 4 kilometers southwest.
The Nobility soldiers and androids who accompanied him were decimated by the rain of iron arrows by the time he got there.
Usually, Gallagher's [Target Crystal] would have projected invisible enemies for him to fire back on, but it took time for it to search a target he's never seen before and it was taking even longer each time. He attempted a shot off the top of the carriage, but his shot clashed with an iron arrow and was destroyed. Gallagher concluded that the enemy either had unidentifiable sights or clairvoyance. Otherwise, they would have never been able to shot down enemies they never seen before, such as the soldiers and androids.
There was a large gap in power and range between a bow and a gun, but in terms of rapid fire ability, a single-shot rifle just couldn't keep up.
Fortunately, both the enemy's arrow that struck Greylancer and their iron arrows that clashed with his bullets were visible to the naked eye and crystal ball. Thus the enemy's attacks can be intercepted, while they themselves could not fully comprehend what they're doing.
In the most extreme terms, two [Magic Shots] that clash with one another would have no other choice but to lose. There was simply no winner in it. However, what can kill or injure the target is nothing more than a wood, iron, or lead bullet tip fired with string and gunpowder. For [Magic Shots], their maximum speed is maintained until they make contact but the power alone cannot penetrate a tank's armor.
Thus, if an archer covers themselves completely in a strong protector or barrier while carrying out their mission, all [Magic Shots] will be nullified.
They still survived as humans cannot completely remain in a defensive position for 24 hours a day. Once a shooter and mysterious archer become aware of the target's flesh by remote clairvoyance, they could stand back to back and fire, having it circle around the planet and pierce the heart of their target from the front. It was a sniper's attack, a magical shot that cannot be properly defended.
And there existed a strange [Rule] that exists for archers who mastered this shooting technique.
That is--
"You must not wear armor."
And so--
It's not clear as to when this [Rule] came to play regarding those in life and death, so it was considered a a sort of custom. However, the reason as to why they're forced to comply is those who break the [Rule] dies within a few years with no exception. Due to the small number of archers, it took officials five hundred years to figure out that this was a sort of [Will].
Thus, while its true identity remained unknown in an unknown mist, the [Ghost Archers] [Magic Shot] remain and they are still being used for sniper shots in the dark world.
Gallagher had all of these questions through the whole way. The enemy had to be equipped with remote clairvoyance, yet why did he survive?
The crystal began to shine in rainbow colors.
Its function hasn't restored yet.
Gallagher wondered if he could shoot it off only to give up, quickly pulling the trigger with the image of his target in mind.
He looks at the crystal ball.
There was a reflection.
A few black streaks--nay, dozens of them.
"A rainbow arrow?"
He groaned and clicked his tongue.
This wasn't possible. They had to have shot several times.
"That's it. No wonder I couldn't see it."
It was then did Gallagher noticed.
The enemy did not possess clairvoyance, so it was impossible for them to spot an individual. But they were able to spot and shoot the android soldiers, who all sported the same look. The reason they were also able to kill those of flesh were also due to them dressing as soldiers. In that case, the probability of hitting was much lower as each soldier took several direct hits. The dozens of arrows that were launched did not aim at Gallagher but rather at the android soldiers and were aimed in that area.
"Then I'll just have to get off from here."
Gallagher was moving fast compared to his grumbling voice.
He shoved the crystal ball into his pocket, grabbed his rifle and shoulder bag, and ran.
Five seconds, he muttered.
It was an instinct. Four seconds. About a hundred meters away.
The CEP--Circular Error Probable, was three hundred meters away. There was just over sixty left.
"One second."
He kicks off the ground.
He jumps headfirst into the invisible border.
Behind him, the rain of iron digging into the earth continued.
It appeared he escaped just in the nick of time.
Just as he took a moment to breathe, Greylancer appeared from the street riding atop a cyborg horse.
The horse was stopped with a beautiful slide, and he stared at the chest of the Great Noble before him.
"My Lord, what of your chest?"
The "Marksman", who was a man of few words, couldn't help himself to ask this.
"It's nothing. Do not speak of it again."
He commanded.
"What of the enemy?"
Gallagher looks into his crystal ball.
"They've been dealt with."
"Did you kill them?"
He can feel his eyes become stern.
"The gun before me can't fire rapidly, so I could only fire shots. It's less lethal, but they shouldn't be able to move if they took a hit."
"Can you take me to them?"
"I understand in doing that, but the horses from the front lines are unable to drive the carriage due to being killed."
"We have this horse here."
"But it's only one."
"It'll be enough for the carriage. Come on."
"Hold on a minute. You don't mean to use the same horse as yours by any chance?"
"Do you have a better idea?"
"No, but I'm having some back pain so I don't think I can directly ride a cyborg horse."
"You're being delusional. My riding skills have not broken the spines of Nobility, nor would they have killed a human."
"..."
"You're eyes--what are they afraid of? Hurry, get on."
"--No."
At the same time his voice was heard, his body was lifted up by the scruff of his neck and sat on the saddle.
Before him was the huge body of Greylancer, who grabbed him and without a single word, the cyborg horse began to gallop.
When they reached a corner of the wilderness, the enemy had vanished. They dismounted,
"Did you not say the enemy was here?"
He shuddered by the rather quiet question from Greylancer.
"There's no doubt about it. It might be a member of the enemy--"
Gallagher looked around.
"They're here."
It was Greylancer who noted this, with the two looking up above their heads at the same time. Gallagher was only "half human".
Two figures carrying flying gear on their backs approached from a corner of a sky and landed about ten meters away from them.
Because they used magnetism, there were no flames and it was silent.
There was no way they could not know who Greylancer was, and since they were so bold as to appear before him, this meant they had absolute confidence in themselves.
"Don't let your guard down."
There was neither surprise, disrespect, or nervousness in the voice that said that, Gallagher marveled.
Was this man not humbled by an enemy who was not afraid of him? On the contrary, he seemed to be enjoying this.
One was a man wearing a jacket made of dark blue and green treads woven with silver threads, and worn-out boots. His looks weren't any different from a Great Noble. The long spear hanging in his right hand was bright red, and from his lips, which were dyed in deep crimson, also bore white fangs--this was surely a Noble.
The other one had long dark hair and dark rounded glasses with multiple scarfs around his neck--he also bore fangs.
The wind stopped. The two enemies silently took a step forward,
"State your names."
Said Greylancer.
The two stopped. His voice was low, yet was like the roar of a thunderbolt.
"As expected from a Noble among Nobles."
Smiled the one with the long spear.
"Seems we've come to a bad start. I'm Elektra, a [Lancer]. He's Hansen, a [Gunner]. You may remember me as a mere shadow of Nobility."
"I am Greylancer. And this here is, heh, also a [Marksman]. His name is Gallagher."
The enemy stare at one another.
There was a strange glint in Greylancer's eyes.
"Never thought he'd call himself in his name. Seems his common name as the Warrior isn't such a lie, after all."
Elektra's eyes began to shine brightly.
"Then you must understand why my eyes are shining bright and my teeth are clattering. I'm glad, Greylancer. This will be a battle between warriors. I'll be returning you for my reward after I turn you to dust..."
"Who is giving it to you?"
"I'll tell you when you turn to dust. By the way, that wound on your chest wasn't a handicap."
That was when Gallagher felt the air shift. He was furious. Greylancer was angry. Words like handicap must have set the proud warrior off.
"Of course..."
As soon as he said that, the large body kicks off the ground. There was no such thing as a ten meter distance.
Wind and lance flew above Elektra's head. Greylancer was above him on the other side.
Elektra parried the long lance that was thrust down vertically with his left arm. His arms were covered in iron armor from the fingertips to shoulders.
A muffled gunshot rang out.
Hansen and Gallagher shot at the same time.
The two shots collided halfway between the two and scattered in all directions. Both held their faces and retreated, as they were hit by shrapnel.
Upon descending, Greylancer stabs into Elektra's heart.
The long lance had reared up at his feet, which he barely avoided like a storm, and another thrust was sucked into his overturned body.
Fear and atonishment spreaded across Elektra's face. Never could he have imagined he'd be so defenseless. The power and skill of the Great Noble himself surpassed him in every way.
"You won't be able to strike again."
Greylancer calmly noted while making ten moves in a second.
"That said, you will live with this for the rest of your life so consider this matter settled. Bear in mind that you were an excellent Lancer, Elektra. But you were no match for Greylancer."
The long lance that was supposed to pierce Elektra's heart without hesitation was pulled back, but was shifted slightly to the left and crushed his left shoulder.
Greylancer grabbed something flying in the air with his left hand. It was a single arrow.
"It's fortunate that you live. But you've failed again."
He shouted angrily.
"You, Archer, who shot the heart of Greylancer. Wait for me, for I will rid of these fellows here, then I will award you."
That was a blood oath on the battlefield. As a warrior, he must fulfill his mission. However, this required more time.
A fierce wind and sand lashed out, directly hitting Greylancer.
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