Second World

"Tell me, are bloodshot eyes one of the characteristics this blood army has?" Jack asked.

"That's correct," Horatio answered. "You shouldn't underestimate these blood troops. Because of the demonic possessions, these troops are stronger than what their level and grade indicated. They can easily defeat an opponent of similar level and grade to them."

"You said before this blood army is tied to this capital?"

"Yes. That's because once activated, the Chalice of Blood has to be stationary," Peniel answered. "If it is forcefully moved, all the enslaved subjects are freed."

"The enslaved subjects also cannot stray far from the artifact," Horatio added.

"So, they can only stay within this capital," Jack concluded. Jack thought this blood army was similar to the tethered puppets.

"Wait! This blood army can die, right?" Jack asked.

"They can, but they are harder to kill than your average soldiers because of the demonic possessions," Horatio said.

"Do you know where this Chalice of Blood is located?"

"Are you thinking about taking the chalice away?" Horatio asked. "It is protected by a strong defensive rune diagram in a restricted area in the palace's basement. That basement is guarded by the strongest within the blood army, the blood guards. They only allow my father in."

"I see… Tell me then. If all your siblings are still alive, what is your original plan to overthrow your father?" Jack asked.

"First, we gather all the clans that support us to lay a siege upon this capital," Horatio answered. "Once the capital's soldiers, the blood army, and the country guardian were lured to deal with the rebels. We will act from inside the palace and assassinate our father."

"He is not leading the defense against the rebels sieging the palace?" Jack asked.

"He won't do that," Horatio answered. "He will coop up in the basement, inside the same room where his precious Chalice of Blood was. In safety while his subjects and slaves do the dying for him."

Jack sensed the disgust in Horatio's tone. This vampire prince truly hated his vampire father.

"How do you get past the blood guards? I believe they won't join the blood army that is facing the rebels, won't they?"

"They won't," Horatio answered. "We figured that at that time, our father should have not yet known about our involvement. We will have no problem entering the palace. With all twenty-four of us, we should have no problem taking care of the blood guards."

"Twenty-four? You have twenty-three siblings?" Jack asked in surprise. He knew Emperor Marcus turned many humans into vampires during his long life. He just didn't expect it was that many. A vampire of Marcus' caliber was known to be very choosy when turning someone into a vampire. Sometimes they won't even turn one in a century.

"This means Marcus has executed twenty-one of his offspring?" Jack said. "That is nuts. I guess vampire sees offspring differently than humans do."

"My father just sees us as his property," Horatio said. "No more than his other slaves."

"How many and how strong are these blood guards?" Jack asked.

"There were fifteen of them. Fourteen are level 70 rare elites. The leader is a level 75 mythical," Horatio replied. "But remember that they are all possessed by demons. They are stronger than those levels indicated."

Jack thought about the matter for a while. He then took out his King Badge.

"Can you and your remaining two siblings carry on with this original plan? I mean calling those clans to rebel and siege the capital?"

"We can," Horatio answered. "But it won't mean anything if we can't take out my father. Just with us three siblings, even with your help, I don't think we can take out the blood guards. The rebels won't be able to get into the capital with the blood army and the country guardian guarding it. When the remaining army that is loyal to my father arrives, then our rebellion is finished."

"You said this lockdown preventing me from teleporting out, didn't you? This means I also cannot teleport someone from outside into this capital?"

"No, you can't," Horatio answered.

Jack tried it anyway. He tried summoning Duke Alfredo. A notification voice informed him that the summoning was blocked.

"The way I see it, we have one problem if we are to continue with your original plan," Jack said. "The rune diagrams inside the palace. Those rune diagrams will keep Marcus alive, won't they?"

"They will, but I can deactivate the rune diagrams," Horatio said.

"You can? What about the lockdown? Can you deactivate that also?" Jack asked.

"The lockdown is using a separate device outside the palace," Horatio answered. "I will get found out if I deactivate either the lockdown or the rune diagram. I won't have the chance to deactivate both of them. We can only pick one."

"I see… The rune diagram then. We can't kill Marcus if the rune diagram is still active," Jack said. "Wait! Are you still allowed to roam around the palace freely to deactivate the power source? I mean, with how Marcus is suspicious of you?"

"As I said, my father is not willing to do anything to me yet without evidence. Plus, when the rebel army attacks, most of the force in the palace will be drawn to the city wall. There won't be that many soldiers inside the palace to bar our way. Our problem remains with the blood guards. You say you can take care of them if I deactivate the rune diagrams?"

"I have an ace in the hole," Jack said. "As long as I am allowed to use my summon. I will take care of those blood guards."

"Can you show me? Carrying out the plan means no going back. I have to make sure that you can truly do what you claim."

"I can only do it once," Jack said. "Unless you have 50,000 mana cores you are willing to give me, you will just have to trust me."

Horatio sighed. "All right then. I'm out of options anyway. The more we delay, the more likely my father is coming after me."

"Too bad we can't deactivate the lockdown also. Otherwise, I will be able to summon my royal agents and my companion," Jack said while showing his King Badge and Companion Token.

As he did, he noticed the information shown in his companion token. Although he didn't know where the exact place Arlcard was, he knew the companion's general whereabouts from the token. The token said that Arlcard was in the Sangrod empire and was pretty close to him.

'Is he in this capital as well?' Jack thought.

"Didn't Arlcard tell you before to let him know if you ever come to Sangrod?" Peniel said.

"I don't think I have the time to deal with his quest at this moment, do I?" Jack replied. But it was right that he should at least inform his vampire companion that he was in the country.

"If someone is already in this capital, then his summon won't be blocked by the lockdown, will it?" Jack asked.

"No, it won't," Both Peniel and Horatio answered.

Jack used his companion token then. Arlcard appeared next to them.