A named villain. His name was Kale, he was one of the named villains that left a strong impression in Zeres.

Kale stood quietly beneath the pale moonlight, a cigarette hanging from his lips. The scent of smoke drifted lazily in the cold night air. His coat rested over his shoulders without his arms in the sleeves, swaying behind him with careless arrogance. Sleek black hair combed all the way back, eyes as empty as the void and an indifferent expression.

He walked towards the man who incited the whole incident.

"G-give me one more chance! " The man who pretended to be a Gifted mercenary’s voice cracked, his shoulders trembling.

"I didn’t expect you to struggle against students. I normally wouldn’t intervene but you’re dragging it out" Kale said coldly, his voice slightly distorting before he turned his head to look at them.

"What should we do here? I don’t want to have the Azure tower on my tail" he said calmly, his eyes, empty as the void, stared at them.

Aeliz stepped back, her head snapping at Zeres.

"Zeres, that man, what is he? " Aeliz whispered, her sapphire eyes narrowing.

"A Branded Apostle"

"A Branded? "

"It’s a position within the Covenant of Ash Organization. A Branded has many apostles under his command" Zeres replied, his gaze never leaving the man.

"Ohh? You’re quite knowledgeable about what we are" the man spoke, his voice distorting at the end.

"I won’t ask how you knew such things, we’ll have to get out of here alive first. I can sense he’s as strong as me or stronger" Aeliz muttered. The air around her shifted as tiny sparks of lightning began appearing before her.

"No, he’s stronger than us" Zeres mumbled. The current Kale was already strong, the same Eclipse-rank as him. But the issue was Kale’s master, that bastard had a great Influence inside the Empire.

He didn’t want a figure of that high standing to go for his head while he stays as an ignorant man who knew nothing beneath the buried histories.

Zeres and Aeliz’ heads turned when they heard a sound. The old apothecary had run away, leaving his hut behind.

"I didn’t give you my permission to move, haven’t I?" Kale smiled, his outstretched hand aiming at the back of the old apothecary.

"Fall" he chanted. Then a massive black hand slammed down the ground, flattening the spot as blood splattered.

’This is bad! ’ Zeres felt his blood heated, an insatiable hunger rose within. He turned his head quickly, but it was too late! He was already smiling.

"Aeliz, get out of here. Please" he begged, his hands covering his face as he looked down.

"What are you saying you bastard! " Aeliz snapped, her hands flexed as she’s about to slap him, but then she stopped.

"Ms. Clezen, he’s right. We only need him, I don’t wish to be in bad terms with the Azure tower" Kale smiled, though it didn’t reach his eyes.

"There’s no way I’m doing that—" Aeliz wasn’t able to finish her sentence as a strong force sent her skidding away from them.

"You? " Her voice trembled as she looked at Zeres. His hands were stretched, he was the one who did that.

"Survive, Idiot" Zeres smiled at her before her whole body was sent out of the village.

"You bastard! " she screamed, her hair fluttering behind her back as she landed on the ground. She immediately turned, heading back to the village—but a massive black sphere was already there.

"A barrier? " she tried to touch it, only for it to completely repel her mana.

"You should survive" she mumbled, her voice low as she clutched Zeres’ jacket hanging on her shoulders.

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"You’re an interesting fellow. How about working under me? " Kale stretched his arm, a pleasant smile on his face.

Zeres stared at Kale’s hand, he felt dizzy. The beating of hearts were too vivid, the scent of the old apothecary’s blood mingled with the apostle’s corrupted blood.

"You know a lot about us. Who taught you? " he asked, his voice distorting faintly as he let his whole mana run wild.

"It’s not my responsibility to answer" Zeres replied flatly, even speaking was a luxury for him. His blood was burning, he wanted to tear off his own ears.

"Blood~" the voices he’d heard on the ancient temple appeared again, they echoed on his head. Slowly corrupting him.

"How about it, I’ll give you the position of my right hand in command. Together, we’ll rise, and you won’t be troubled with your bloodthirst anymore" he said loudly, his gaze straight at the moon.

"Sir, offering him wasn’t enough but you’ll grant him higher authority than us? " the Archer woman scowled, her hands crossed as she leaned against a tree.

"How annoying" Kale’s eyes sharpened, then he flicked his hand. The sound of something hitting the ground echoed as the Archer’s head rolled on the hard soil.

The apostles staggered back, panic flashed at their faces. No one daring to speak nor to complain. Because that’s just the way Kale disciplined his subordinates.

’Fuck’ Zeres bit his own lip, the maddening whispers on his head was worsening. His vision felt blurry, then he felt something bulged on his back.

The metallic scent of blood grew stronger, thick enough to make his throat tighten. He could feel his control of his own body being taken over by his beastly nature.

An agonizing pain assaulted him as he felt his skin being ripped apart. Something appeared on his back.

His head turned, massive black wings like that of bat was there. His eyes widened when he heard a chiming sound amidst the maddening whispers inside his own head.

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[Assimilation : 3%]

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"You might be more useful that I thought. I’ve never seen a vampire have wings" Kale smiled, his empty eyes now filled with greed as he stared at the wings on Zeres’ back.

"A hybrid? " One apostle echoed, his head turning at the Archer’s severed head before he went silent.

"You should know how the church hunted your kind. I’ll take you in, we’ll both uncover truths beneath buried histories" Kale offered, his smile never leaving his face.