ATAPOW Prologue
Roughly half a century ago, a mysterious ice blue meteorite fell from the sky.
At the same time, a calamity descended. A colossal demon army, headed by vampires attacked. Almost as if a group of Satans had came out of hell, they began to burn, kill and pillage, mercilessly trampling the achievements mankind had established for several thousand years. Under a hastily made alliance, the human governments from all around the world dispatched their allied army, which was utterly defeated like a landslide by the demon’s overpowering assault. The human civilization had been dealt a devastating blow at that moment.
Scarlet blood dyed every city’s sewers and water sources, while the blood and fire filled wasteland were crammed with rotten and festering corpses.
That was, until the desperate humanity found an opportunity and miracle. The meteorite landing had not only brought those satans from hell; it was also accompanied by hope and a new dawn.
As of present, the world had already been separated into two by the demons. However mankind was no longer powerless against the calamity. It was because a new role that was focused on dealing with the calamity had been born amongst them—the holy warrior.
The sacred martial arts academy that was blossoming over human society and the maturing sacred martial association symbolize the power human possessed to contest equally over the demons.
As the few pioneer heroes that stood at the forefront during the disaster, the ‘Radiant Knight’, Ji Bai has always led the charge with his soldiers, and was the first line of defence opposing the demons. However, he was defeated in a battle against the vampires and was captured by the enemy.
……………..
Vampire castle, in an underground jail cell tinted with dark gray and red colors.
The bloodstains had already dried up on the black iron chains.
There was a youth with a delicate and pretty appearance bound firmly above the dark gray inverted cross. The numerous, complicated and heavy black iron chains was wrapped 3 layers around his limbs and body. He shut his eyes. The outfit that was draped around his body could not be considered clothing; Rather they were a few damaged pieces of cloth. Hideous scabs and scars covered every place of his body.
Ji Bai had already forgotten how long he was in this place, imprisoned like a living coffin. He felt his mental state edging towards collapse. His consciousness was growing distant and blurry. His body odor, the bloody smell coming from his wounds, and the smell of his sweat were coming together and forming a subtle, unique and foul smell. Ji Bai felt bored to death; it was an extravagant hope even if he wishes to move his body around a little. Due to his fatigue and frailness, even the act of raising his head will require a considerable strength.
Apart from that, Ji Bai didn’t understand why the vampires hadn’t executed him yet and was instead giving him a minimum amount of food and water, allowing him to survive.
“Du du du… “A series of graceful footsteps resounded in the quiet prison, waking Ji Bai’s weakened consciousness up. He strained his eyes open and look ahead; astonishingly, the large doors of the underground prison was open. A few rays of light poured into the dark prison akin to daybreak, dazzling his eyes that were accustomed to the dark environment.
“Bang!”The gray metal doors that were filled with blood stains closed once again, yet it felt like someone had entered.
Ji Bai, who had regained his vision a few seconds later, squinted his eyes ahead of him, yet he was unable to find anything.
“Nice to meet you~ My beloved ‘Radiant Knight’, I have long heard your distinguished name.” A voice that was soft, puerile yet filled with charm called out.
Ji Bai was slightly stunned. He couldn’t help but narrow his eyes as he moved his vision downward.
It was a silver haired loli wearing a set of gothic-styled woman dress. Her skin tone was morbidly white, and her smile revealed a pair of sharp canine teeth. A pair of bat-shaped hair clips was tied to her smooth, silky and silver hair, turning it into twintails dragging on the floor like running water.
A pair of scarlet pupils, that seem to harbor some sort of feeling behind it, was sizing up Ji Bai. Her delicate and small face seem like that of a porcelain doll.
“My name is Lilias Lasombra, the 26th scarlet queen of the vampires. It’s a pleasure to meet you~ ” The silver haired loli in front of him raised her long skirt and nobly saluted.
“…You are! Cough, cough, cough… V-Vampire Queen!”Ji Bai’s squinted eyes were now opened wide, the twinkle within them revealing traces of astonishment.
“Exactly. Well, my honorable knight, I have already introduced myself. Shouldn’t you introduce yourself now?”
“Haha!” Ji Bai chuckled sarcastically twice and closed his eyes, remaining silent.
“Well, it’s fine even if you choose not to speak~ I know your name, it’s Ji Bai. Am I right?” Lilias carried a mysterious smile as she walked over step by step, her hands clasped behind her back.
“Hmmmm??!” Ji Bai felt an ice cold sensation, similar to touching a cold jade, appearing on his face. He opened his eyes unconsciously, only to see the silver haired loli very close to him, using her soft little hands to gently caress and stroke his cheeks.
“Tch…Take your dirty hands away from me, or else…don’t blame me for being impolite!”
“Oh? Impolite? And how are you going to be impolite to me?”After listening to the empty bravados bellowing from Ji Bai, it was as if Lilias had discovered an amusing toy. Her moist eyes were curiously staring at Ji Bai’s face.
“Will you rush forward and drive a sword into my heart~ or will you cut my limbs off and reduce me to a maltreated captive?” Lilias had a smile on her face so innocent, it was as if she was harmless to both humans and beast alike. The sense of shame she should rightfully possess was completely absent as she said those words.
“No, that will dirty my hands.” Ji Bai pursed his lips, and deliberately conveyed a contemptful expression.
“Hmm, while you’re lacking in other skills, you are surprisingly talented in using your sharp mouth.”Lilias licked her small lips. There wasn’t a single bit of anger in her expression.
“Tch…” Seeing Lilias didn’t fly into a terrible rage then execute him as he expected, Ji Bai decided to raise her ire by turning his head away, yet the little girl ahead of him had forcefully held onto his chin and returned it to his former position.
“Hey hey, it’s rude to turn your head away when someone is talking to you. Seems like I will have to spend a lot of time training you.”Lilias sighed quietly.
“I am just a convict, there’s nothing for us to talk about.”
“Oh？So you’re complaining about a lack of subject, aren’t you? Well, I got one right now. For example, the incident where you kill the great duke vampire.
“Hmm? Huh, I was still wondering what you’re going to talk about. So it’s that incident, huh. What about it?…It was me who chopped off that pervert geezer of a vampire. Are you planning to avenge him?” Ji Bai narrowed his eyes, the corner of his mouth slightly raised to form a smile.
“No, not at all. It’s none of my business even if you chop his corpse into pieces. On the contrary, I would have clapped my hands and cheered you on if I was at the scene.”
Looks like the inner workings between vampires aren’t as united as I thought. Ji Bai thought.
“However…”
Lilias’ smile was gradually infused with a trace of bloodlust.
“Boom!”
“Urk!…” Ji Bai felt the insides of his abdomen had suddenly turned over. He, who was in extremely poor health to begin with, immediately spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.
“The maid of the great duke vampire that you killed, she was the one and only interesting person that I can only talk with.”Lilias’ tone had shockingly carried a degree of coldness in them. She slowly withdrew the fist that she had landed on Ji Bai’s abdomen.
“Cough, cough, cough… M-murderers should be prepared that they will be killed as well….”Ji Bai said while gritting his blood stained teeth. It had taken him quite some time to catch his breath.
“Pft! That’s lame. The law of the jungle is the truth all along! Humans or whatever, it meant nothing when they are killed!”
“You’re right! That’s why she deserved it!” Ji Bai continued to viciously provoke Lilias with his words.
“He, heheh…If you wanna do something, act now! Come! It’s up to you if you want to kill me or strip the skin off my flesh, I will not be your grandpa if I even blink once!” Ji Bai no longer had any misgivings in that instant; he had already foresaw the outcome that was waiting for him. He began to hurl abuses without a care in the world. Ji Bai knew that he would no longer have a chance later if he didn’t do it now. No matter what, he had to curse to his heart’s content now!
“Huh! Your chest is just like an iron plate. Did something went wrong during puberty that caused your hormone secretion to be overly low? Just this bit of assets are not enough to seduce me.”Ji Bai had become a bit addicted to scolding at that moment.
“My my~ Curse me, continue to curse me okay? As long as you don’t mind the pain later.” There was a deep meaning behind Lilias’ eyes as they concentrated their focus on Ji Bai’s body.
“Pain? What a joke! Wouldn’t my scab be just a bit bigger than a bowl when my head falls off? Who’s afraid of a little vampire?!”
“Death? Hehe, in your dreams~I believe you have misunderstood my intentions. I have to~tally no intentions to kill you. Rather, if someone was to lay their hands on you right now, I will pinch them into pieces.” Lilias unhurriedly kneaded her twintails.
“Oh? Do you wish to force a confession from me?”
“Is there anything I can pry out of your mouth? I am not bored to do that~”
Ji Bai knitted his eyebrows slightly and felt he couldn’t make out what this vampire in front of him was thinking.
“Now onto the main question. Say, has Mr.Knight ever heard of how vampires reproduce?” Lilias smile had a hint of profoundness in them.
“What else could it be? Isn’t it the same as humans?” Ji Bai had obviously answered her question in an impatient tone.
“That only applies for the rest of the vampires. Do you want to know how the vampire nobility passed on their next generations? ”
“No thanks.” Ji Bai uncivilly rejected her.
“Hey? Don’t give me that attitude, okay. I am just doing it for your own sake. Because…” Lilias licked her sharp canine teeth.
“You will personally be a living textbook specimen in a moment. Why not take the chance to properly understand it and adopt the right learning attitude beforehand?”
“?? What do you mean?” Looking at Lilias’s smile, Ji Bai suddenly felt a chill in his back. A bad premonition was surfacing in his heart.
“Hehe, are you willing to listen?” Lilias tapped Ji Bai’s nose, then began to walk with her hands clasped behind her back, as if she was taking a stroll in the courtyard. “Every generation of vampire queen has a chance to convert someone into their heir by giving them their ‘virgin embrace’. While the vampire queen can also carry out reproduction the way humans do, the bloodline will be impure…Whereas using their ‘virgin embrace’ to pass down their heir will allow the heir to completely inherit every heredity genes their mother has. As every generation of vampire queen only has one chance, the selection of their heirs is especially important …”
“What’s the purpose of telling me all these?” Ji Bai puckered up his brows.
“Of course there’s a purpose, because…” Lilias’s smile gradually became nasty. “You, will become my successor from now on~ My cute, daughter?”
“What the hell?!..” Ji Bai was completely dumb founded when he heard it.
“Oh I forgot to give you a TL;DR. A virgin embrace is a type of ceremony that turns a human into a vampire”
“…!!?? Wait!! Are you planning to!?” Ji Bai understood everything in an instant. Why the vampires hadn’t executed him for so long after keeping him in captivity here.
“Oh my, What a shame~ A cute knight is about to become the race he hates…” Lilias’ smile was absolutely beautiful, like that of a blossoming lily. But in Ji Bai eyes, that smile was practically the evil grin of a devil.
“…No! There’s no way! To turn humans into things like vampire,h-haha… “
“Skeptical? That’s alright, I will. Prove. It. To. You. Right. Now~. “ Before Ji Bai had the chance to react to her words, a petite figure began to fly towards him. A cold, itchy pain began to spread around his neck region.
“Ahhhhh!!” A silver haired loli was currently hugging him. Her sharp teeth had punctured his skin, and penetrated deep inside his skin and flesh. A numb and limp feeling that was comparable to a countless number of ants eating him began to spread.
Ji Bai struggled with all his might, but the iron chains had firmly refrained him while the silver hair object that was attached to him was like sticky candy—it was impossible to shake it off.
“Ahhhhh!! You wr-, wretch! Just wait. Wait til I get out! I will definitely XX you then XXX!! “ Ji Bai who was tormented by the pain on the verge of going mad, was roaring with all his might. Yet he didn’t realize that his tone was gradually becoming sharp and delicate.
Sure, as long as you still have that ability later.
Lilias thought naughtily.