“Hmm…” Maybe I’ve been a bit too hard on the boy, but I shouldn’t worry about it now…I guess I’ll go back and apologize as soon as I get that Shadowbane. And I hope that I won’t be able to fight the Star Dragon Sword itself to get it.

Three hours passed, it was near the evening and soon I found myself standing in front of the cave entrance, grabbing my pickax I picked the rocks out from the cave entrance, soon enough I was able to enter the cave.

“Hmph, another day, another, dollar, another cave to explore. Now let’s get that Shadowbane…” I said, whispering to myself to make sure that the monsters didn’t hear…

“So many monsters…” I whispered, ducking, sliding from here and there to avoid the dangerous abominations. After walking a bit more in the cave, I came across boulders of rocks, I could hear winds blowing from the other side, I pushed the first boulder with all my strength, and soon after wards I was able to get across the other side without difficulty.

I came across the final room, where the Star Dragon Sword lies…

…I walked a little closer…and closer…and…

“RARGH…huh?” The pedestal where the Star Dragon Sword lied wasn’t there…

“Where’s the sword?” I shouldn’t be thinking about that…I should be thankful that I would not have fought that cursed sword…maybe Viktor took it?

I walked toward the pedestal of rock, I kneeled down…I didn’t even know how to obtain this Shadowbane or whatever…

“Hmm…” I touched the surface of the pedestal, the rock glowed with a shining holy light.

“Ugh!” It blinded me, I couldn’t see…soon the light disappeared, and the Shadowbane was floating right in front of me. Shining with a bright light…so bright…so holy.

“The Shadowbane…according to the tales of my ancestors, it can only be used by those of the Marley family, it has a portion of the power of the Star Dragon Sword, probably enough to send Neclord back to eternal hell.” I stood in awe as the Shadowbane was vibrating and shining…I reached my hand to it, then the sword stopped it’s shining and vibrating. The Shadowbane…the weapon of my ancestors, now in my hands to do as I please…

I heard clapping, slow clapping from behind me.

“Well done Marley…boy…well done…” It was the vampire from yesterday, the one that nearly killed me, this is my chance to get even.

“Who are you? One of Neclord’s servants…?” I yelled. Disgraced not only the fact that he nearly killed me…but nearly killed Tyler.

“You don’t recognize me do you Kahn?” The vampire gestured.

“Should I? How do you even know my name?!” I yelled.

“I guess the adventuring life took you away from your childhood memories eh Kahn?” The vampire said.

“No…it can’t be…you were killed…in Harmonia…” I recognized this man, this vampire. He was called Ashton…he was my childhood friend long ago when I was the ward of Gorion.

“So you remember your old friend, eh Kahn?” Ashton gestured. “Yes it’s me Ashton, your only friend in the world.”

“How…? Did Neclord do this to you?” I said.

“Actually…no. To tell the truth I didn’t die when your hometown was burned down, I was still alive, soon afterwards I was able to have the power of immortality. But then you perceive me in this form, a vampire…” Ashton said.

“What do you want from me Ashton?” I said.

“Let me think. Money, no. A sword? No. Maybe blood…give me your blood Kahn…” Ashton’s eyes soon were fierce, his rune and anger is getting to his highest peak. Soon I saw him drawing his old sword he used while he was training with me in Harmonia.

He charged at me with fast speed, pointing his sword at me heart, I quickly blocked with my new Shadowbane weapon, the sword vibrated and shined a little as soon as it blocked the attack.

“Ashton stop this nonsense, we’re friends man!” I said.

“I can’t…Kahn…I need blood…” Ashton drew his rune.

“NO!” I said. I covered my head with the Shadowbane, his magic attacked me, but I didn’t feel any wounds. The Shadowbane must be protecting me…

I quickly charged at Ashton, I thrusted the Shadowbane, Ashton blocked the attack. We were fighting, I never thought it to be like this, fighting my friend…

…he attacked again, and again, and I kept blocking the attacks.

“Ashton…Stop!!!” I drew my resurrection rune, with enough force Ashton plummet against the wall.

“Blood, is too hard to get from you Ashton…I need to get blood from other people. Maybe your…new friend…eh Kahn?” Ashton said.