The Fallen Vampire

Chapter 91: What Makes A Warrior?

The Abbess only needed to give her sect members a single command before they sprung into action.

Though half of them had never seen actual battle before, that mattered very little in the grand scheme of things.

This was what they had trained for here for several decades, and by now they were quite literally built for this conflict.

Instead of shying away from the strife, they sharpened their weapons with blood thirsty zeal, got dressed with only the utmost sense of purpose.

They didn't even bother to ask who the enemy was.

Because at the end of the day, it didn't matter.

Their abbess asked them to prepare, and so they prepared.

Thirty minutes later, this peaceful and beautiful sect had been transformed into a bewitching military base.

There were 149 members of the Drifting Snowfall Sect that had assembled on the two mile long stone bridge after exactly thirty minutes.

After coming together, the sect members took sitting lotus positions as they closed their eyes and waited without saying a word.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

Setsuka walked along the stony bridge with her cane tapping off the ground as she came to stand in front of her assembled forces with a regal and cold demeanor.

She too closed her eyes as she stood like a statue silently, anticipating the inevitable conflict that was to come.

On the roof, Taira and the girls were still standing in the same area as before as they looked down at the entire scene that had unfolded before them.

By now... they were unsure of what they should do.

Setsuka had absolved them of all need to participate, dubbing this a 'family matter' that she believed should have been left up to them.

Meanwhile, they were entrusted to keep Aveena company, as she was rather despondent to see her entire sect going into battle without her among them.

"Do you know...That day was my first introduction into real combat and bloodshed..?"

Since Taira was the only one close to her at the moment, he assumed her to be talking to him.

"That day was...? I find that rather surprising, since you seemed like a warrior with ice in her veins when we first met."

"Hm? Perhaps that was because you aroused me more than frightened me."

*Annoyed grumbling.*

"Yes, yes, I mean no disrespect. It is just the way it is."

Aveena's eyes drifted towards a section of the sect where the training grounds could be seen.

"I was okay at sparring and combat training, even though I wasn't one of the best. The entire time I have been here, I have always felt as if there was something... lacking with my proficiency.

As soon as Taira began to fumble for the words, a sharp chilling feeling erupted throughout the cavern.

Abess Setsuka opened her eyes after what felt like an eternity of patience, and a cold blue light shone purposefully.

'They're here...'

Time slowly ticked by with seconds turning into minutes as the snowy cavern became ever colder.

Eventually, Abbess Setsuka and her members all heard the sound of heavy footsteps coming closer.

A man appeared from the stairwell on the opposite side of the bridge.

With above average looks, pale skin, and bluish white hair, he could have been the grandson of Setsuka if one placed them next together.

"Ah... This is a real cozy place..! Even comes with a whole welcoming party."

More of Duncan's soldiers began to spill out onto the bridge, and they too seemed to be equally impressed by the chillingly beautiful scenery.

"All of you... I assume that you have all come here today to forfeit your lives and visit the lands of life after death." Setsuka said coldly.

Duncan suddenly scowled as he clenched his fists.

"Don't believe that's any way to greet visitors, ma'am. Everyone thinks sects are some paragons of wisdom and understanding in this world. Never expected them to be so rude as well."

"Hospitality is reserved only for those who approach this place with good intentions. You and your ilk fail to fall under that umbrella."

Because he was currently in a less than charitable mood today, Duncan's demeanor only became worse and worse.

"Look here... We came to discuss a...."

At that moment, Duncan's eyes darted over to the women who were still sitting silently behind Abbess Setsuka.

The sight of members of the races of light and the fallen ones sitting around as if they weren't natural enemies was so frustratingly nauseating that he didn't know what to do.

"I see... this isn't the kind of place we can reason with after all. All of you bloody damned heretics should just be frozen offerings for The Great God of Ice!"

"What a stupid human you are. There are no gods here."

Setsuka smiled as she tapped her cane on the ground twice.

In a stunning display of unity and discipline, all one hundred and forty nine members of the Drifting Snowfall Sect opened their eyes and leapt to their feet at the same moment.

Their auras flared, and revealed that even the weakest among them was sitting firmly in the beast realm.

Grateful that he no longer had to be polite, Duncan smiled aggressively as he started to channel an icy energy through his hands.

"Wonderful. This was just the kind of exercise I needed to take my mind off this shitty day! Let the bodies fall where they may, men!"

"YES!"

With Duncan at the head, the army of invaders ran forward with their weapons raised and their hearts filled only with sinister ambition.

However, Setsuka Takashi did not look worried in the slightest, and even had a smile on her wrinkly old face.

'Let the bodies fall indeed, human.'