Chapter 373: Unexpected Situations

Words : 1731 Updated : Oct 15th, 2025

After leaving the room where Sara's head was still dangling in her hand, Rogue headed straight for the Eclipse Guild vault, where she knew the real power was stored. The room, located on the lower floor of the guild, was well protected, but with the fall of the leader and the disorganization that followed, no one would dare try to stop her. Upon entering the vault room, Rogue didn't need much effort to locate it. It was a sturdy metal door, with gears and protective runes scattered all over its surface. Rogue examined the door with a critical eye, and then her golden eyes shone with intensity. She stepped forward, her fingers transforming back into sharp, precise claws. With one swift movement, she sliced through the protective runes with ease, shredding any remaining magical defenses. The sound of the gears disintegrating was almost imperceptible, but to Rogue, it all seemed like slow motion. She loved the moment of tension before a big blow. When the door opened, the safe revealed a room full of treasures, with piles of gold coins, rare artifacts, and documents proving large-scale illicit dealings carried out by the Eclipse Guild. Rogue smiled mischievously, her teeth slightly exposed. She knew that, as well as material riches, this vault contained vital information that could be used to further dismantle the Eclipse Guild and ensure the Osiris Guild's total control over the region. She approached the piles of gold first, pulling out the heavy bags and tossing them aside, oblivious to the mess she was making. Her claws cut through the thickness of the walls of some chests, revealing jewels, enchanted weapons and other priceless items. Nothing would go unnoticed. "If it's to be a total conquest," Rogue muttered, "I won't leave anything behind." She then turned to the document racks and, with a single fluid movement, scattered all the papers on the floor. Business letters, alliance contracts, and records of shady guild transactions were now exposed. Rogue rummaged through them quickly, recognizing important names and places that could ensure that no one else tried to challenge the Osiris Guild. Finally, she picked up a heavy chest that lay in a far corner, a chest that seemed to be protected by ancient, reinforced magics. Rogue examined the lid carefully, her eyes sharpening as her mind searched for the most efficient way to open that even more secure chest. After a few seconds, she used her claws to cut the chains sealing the chest, and when she opened it, a golden, magical glow emitted from within. It was an artifact of considerable power, possibly an item of immeasurable value to any guild or faction wishing to control this area. "Now everything will be mine," Rogue whispered, picking up the artifact and carefully putting it away. Then... with a space ring... she cleaned out the entire vault. With the vault clean and the riches taken, she headed for the exit. Before heading out the door, Rogue took one final look at the room full of gold and power. The Eclipse Guild no longer had a future. She had destroyed everything that could mean resistance. The mission was accomplished. With the bags of treasure in hand and the powerful artifact well guarded, Rogue withdrew from the Eclipse Guild with her typical deadly elegance. She left behind a trail of destruction and a clear message to all who dared defy the Osiris Guild: no one would escape Rogue's wrath. ... [Scarlet's house] The scene unfolded quietly, the room lit only by the soft moonlight coming through the windows. Strax was relaxed, lying on the bed next to Scarlet, both still wrapped in a lazy embrace after a moment of intimacy. The silence was comfortable, but there was something in Scarlet's eyes that suggested her mind was far away, somewhere more distant. She moved slightly, resting her head against Strax's chest. For a moment, the soft sound of his breathing seemed the only sound in the room, but soon she broke the silence. "Strax," she said, her voice low and full of an emotion he couldn't ignore. "You intend to go to Vorah, right?" He looked at her, a soft smile playing on his lips. It was clear that he wasn't surprised by the question, but even so, something about the seriousness in Scarlet's tone captured his attention. He nodded slightly in confirmation. "Yes," he replied, his voice deep and quiet. "I have business there. Nothing you need to worry about." Scarlet lifted her head slightly to look him straight in the eye. "You know I'm coming with you, right?" She spoke with a firm tone, but there was a slight tension in her gaze. "I... I was thinking. It's time for me to completely disengage from the vampire realm. I don't want to be tied down to this place anymore, Strax. I want to be with you." Strax was silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on Scarlet. He knew that, in making this decision, she was severing deep and long-standing ties, but he also knew that she would never be someone who could stand being tied down to something that wasn't what she really wanted. "You know what that means, don't you?" Strax finally said, his voice calm but with a hint of concern. "Do you really want that?" Scarlet smiled, an almost defiant smile. "I don't care about that anymore. Not when I'm with you." She lay back down beside him, her head resting gently on his chest. "I know what I'm doing. And to be honest, what's more important than going with you to Vorah? I can't live forever in the shadows of my own past." He looked at her for a moment, a soft, loving look, even though his mind was processing everything she had said. He knew that Scarlet was much more than just an ally or lover. She was a woman with whom he shared something deeper. Her decision wasn't easy, but she was willing to cut what held her back. And that, for Strax, meant more than any alliance. "Are you really willing to give all this up?" Strax asked, now with a softer tone, almost in a whisper. "It's not something you can go back from." "I've already made my decision," she replied firmly, the determination in her voice undeniable. "I'm going with you, it's going to take time to deal with it, but I'm going to stick to this plan, me and my daughters." Strax remained silent for a moment, reflecting on her words. He knew what it meant to her. But at the same time, he also knew that with this decision, they were approaching something big and unpredictable. He held her hand firmly, like a silent promise, and said with a smile, "All right then. Whatever happens, we'll face it together." She smiled, satisfied, and snuggled closer to him, feeling the security of being with him, ready for whatever the future held. That night, the future seemed far away, but at the same time, the path they had chosen was clear: together, they would face whatever came, for Vorah or wherever it took them. ... [In Vorah...] In the Duchy of Vorah, where Albert Vorah's mansion stood imposingly in the middle of a serene landscape, with rolling hills and vast green fields all around. Inside the mansion, the atmosphere was calm and decorated with a cold sophistication typical of the Vorahs. Albert was sitting in his study, the soft light of the fireplace illuminating the features of a man already matured by experience and the weight of the power he carried on his shoulders. He was engrossed in some papers when a messenger entered with a sealed letter in hand. Albert looked at the messenger, somewhat surprised by his visit, but gestured for him to come closer. The messenger handed him the letter without saying a word and then left. Albert, curious, broke the seal on the letter, revealing a familiar handwriting, but still something unusual in tone. He read the words carefully, his gaze becoming more intense as the words of Kryssia, the General of the Empire, took shape before his eyes. The contents of the letter baffled him. "Albert," he began to read quietly, as if reflecting on each sentence. "I know that our relations have not always been easy, but the current circumstances demand your urgent attention. Something has happened in the Empire, something big. The Emperor is becoming increasingly unpredictable and his will is being dominated by external forces that we can no longer control. The situation is out of control. You need to act. The Empire must be stopped before it's too late." Albert paused for a moment, his eyes narrowing in concentration. The tone of the letter left no doubt about the seriousness of the situation. Kryssia, a woman known for her coldness and determination, was clearly desperate. Something serious had happened within the Empire, and she believed that Albert, with his position and resources, was the key to preventing the chaos from spreading. "If you value the balance of power, Albert, and everyone's safety, do whatever is necessary... The Emperor is becoming a threat not only to the Empire, but to the entire world. I don't have much time for further explanations, so I'll take my measures." Albert let the letter fall slowly to the table, his gaze fixed on the paper as Kryssia's message echoed in his mind. He knew that the General was not someone who would send a letter of this magnitude without a very serious reason behind it. She had always been ruthless in her actions, and if she was asking for help, it meant that the Empire was on the verge of collapse. He leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes for a moment, pondering. The situation was more serious than he had imagined, and he knew that any move now would have implications not only for the Empire, but for the entire continent. The decision to stop the Emperor was not something he would take lightly. "And now, what should I do?" he muttered to himself, his mind beginning to plot the next steps.

Chapter 373: Unexpected Situations

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