The rumor about Vampires spread quickly, and soon the World Chat was buzzing with argunts. Survivors who had lived through Statham's reign rembered the terror vividly, while others dismissed the sightings as exaggerations.
Of course, many of these people wanted to start a debate, but the World Chat had a limited count per Survivor. Many of them only had 3 Chats per day, while those at higher levels had 7 to 10 Chat counts.
[ Halden (Sector 11): Vampires again? Shane killed Statham, the Vampire Lord. That was confird. The attacks stopped. This is just people panicking over blood‑draining Zombies or sothing… ]
[ Corvus (Sector 17): Exactly. Not every ability that drains blood makes soone a vampire. There are parasite‑type Survivor Skills out there. Survivors exaggerate. ]
[ Elira (Sector 4): Don't dismiss it. I think I fought one myself. Pale skin, red eyes, faster than a Hunter Zombie. It also knows how to retreat. When it bit my comrade, it drained blood and even Spirit Points, you know? That's not a normal Survivor Skill. ]
[ Brann (Sector 1): Spirit drain? That's impossible unless it's a high‑grade talent. Sounds like you're making it up. ]
[ Nyssa (Sector 20): No, Elira's right. I saw one too. Silver knives barely scratched it, but a silver bullet dropped it. That's classic vampire weakness. ]
[ Fenric (Sector 18): Silver weapons again? I thought that business died after Statham fell. If they're working, maybe the rumors are true. ]
[ Oren (Sector 5): Or maybe you think silver works because you're scared. Survivors see what they want to see. ]
[ Liora (Sector 14): Don't forget Shane's fight with Statham was confird by hundreds of Survivors. That wasn't a "zombie with blood skills." That was a Vampire… If one Vampire Lord existed, why not more? ]
[ Garrick (Sector 20): But wouldn't they have attacked already? It's been months. If Vampires were still around, we'd see organized raids. Instead, it's just scattered sightings. ]
[ Maelis (Sector 9): Maybe they're rebuilding. Vampires are patient hunters. Just because they're quiet doesn't an they're gone. Did you not watch Vampire Diaries? ]
[ Thorne (Sector 2): The fuc k is that? I don't buy it. Survivors love drama. Call soone pale with a blood talent a "vampire" and suddenly it's scary. Next thing you know, silver bullets are overpriced again. Right! This must be soone's way to sell silver bullets! When Statham fell, the business owners must have been crying. They spend so much making those and now, they're just rotting in the warehouse. ]
[ Veyric (Sector 16): Hmm… Interesting theory. I like it. However, I'd rather waste Zombie Cores on silver than risk being drained alive. If they're real, we're in trouble. ]
[ Selwyn (Sector 7): Think about it. If Shane killed one Vampire Lord, maybe others stayed hidden. Statham wasn't the only monster out there. ]
[ Idris (Sector 19): Or maybe Alexander succeeded in his evil plan. I heard he's experinting with blood‑draining Zombies. Wouldn't that explain it better if there are too many of them? Zombies mimicking vampire traits. ]
[ Calira (Sector 12): That's worse! Imagine Zombies with vampire abilities. No wonder people are panicking. ]
[ Torric (Sector 13): Either way, the fear is real. Vampires or not, survivors are dying from blood loss. Call it what you want, but the threat exists. ]
[ Joren (Sector 6): I say they're real. But I kinda wanted to obtain their powers as well. Like that Bat Swarm or Bat Transformation… Though I want to be a daywalker. That sun weakness is just too terrible. ]
[ Kestrel (Sector 6): Dream on… Your Talent to grow hair almost infinitely is already good enough. Anyway, I say it's fake. Survivors exaggerate. Until I see fangs and coffins, I won't believe it. ]
[ Miriel (Sector 10): Fangs? Coffins? This isn't a fairy tale. Vampires here are predators, not bedti stories. ]
[ Daxen (Sector 13): Debate all you want. If they're back, Shane will deal with them again. He already proved it once. ]
[ Shane (Sector 20): … ]
[ Travis (Sector 20): LOL! ]
[ Daxen (Sector 13): … ]
[ Kestrel (Sector 6): … ]
[ Torric (Sector 13): … ]
Just like that, the World Chat started a trend because of Shane's unusual reply.
Everyone could only see three dots as soon as they opened the window. Those who were curious could only scroll up, hoping to catch the context.
***
Clang! Clang! Clang!
At this ti, the bells of Smart Haven Shelter's church rang softly…
Their sound carried across the courtyard where a few survivors gathered for morning prayers.
Ezekiel, dressed in simple white robes, moved among them with a smile. Though not the highest in rank, the other priests trusted him.
Ezekiel's days were filled with service.
He tended to the wounded soldiers who returned from battles against zombies, offering blessings and comfort.
With his Skill, his hands glowed faintly with healing energy, enough to nd cuts and bruises, but never enough to restore what was lost.
Missing toes, severed fingers, shattered limbs… those injuries were beyond his reach. He prayed over them instead, reminding survivors that scars were proof of their courage.
When the wounded were stabilized, Ezekiel often walked to the graveyard.
There were rows of simple markers lining the earth, and a stone on top of them.
"May the Sun God guide your spirit," he murmured as he finished presiding over the internt.
Families and friends stood nearby, so weeping, while the others remained silent.
Still, Ezekiel's words gave them solace, even if only for a mont.
Of course, Ezekiel carried his own scar.
He was previously a Combat Priest joining these soldiers outside the shelter.
Unfortunately, his left foot was lost six months ago in a zombie ambush.
Thankfully, technology had replaced it. A perfect-fit chanical limb, crafted by the Ivory Gear Shelter, allowed him to walk normally.
The advanced prosthetic was incredible. It was smooth, responsive, and durable.
Yet Ezekiel never forgot the pain of losing part of himself. He considered the limb both a blessing and a reminder of survival's cost.
The priests often teased him gently about it.
"Brother Ezekiel! Your foot is faster than ours. Maybe you should lead the next hunt." Ezekiel laughed, shaking his head.
"I'll leave the fighting to you. My place is now here, with the wounded and the grieving." His humility endeared him to them, and slowly, he beca their natural leader.
***
Of course, life in Smart Haven Shelter was not all that sorrowful or grim…
They all had so form of entertainnt and all.
The priests shared als together…
They told stories of their childhoods, joked about the quirks of survivors, and spent most of their ti in World Chat and Regional Chat…
But one thing never changed, Ezekiel often listened more than he spoke…
One evening, a young priest asked,
"Do you think Aura can truly be learned by us? We are healers, not warriors."
They just heard about Natalie's plan to send them.
Ezekiel smiled as he doubted it at first, but after seeing what Aura could do, he wanted to learn it no matter what!
"Ahem… I heard from Natalie that the monks described Aura as discipline. Well, healing is discipline too. If monks can channel Aura into their bodies, why can't we channel it? Perhaps Aura will make our blessings stronger."
The others nodded, inspired by his perspective.
In any case, children sotis visited the church, curious about the priests.
They were children of the scavengers, families from the neutral shelters, wandering rchants, and others…
Ezekiel welcod them warmly, teaching them simple hymns and showing them how to light candles safely.
His chanical foot always fascinated them.
"Does it hurt?" one child asked.
"No, it doesn't hurt. It helps walk, just like your shoes help you run." The child grinned, satisfied with the answer.
Weeks passed, and soon, there was finally a confird list of participants.
Twenty priests, most of whom were previous Combat Priests, were chosen to travel to Eclipse Domain.
Natalie had agreed to Shane's condition, and now the ti had co.
The priests gathered in the church hall, excitent and nervousness mingling in the air.
Ezekiel was chosen to lead them. Well, Natalie asked who should lead and everyone pointed at him.
"Alright… It's you then." Natalie said.
Though not the highest in rank, Ezekiel's trustworthiness made him the natural choice. He accepted humbly, bowing his head at the Clan Leader.
"I will do my best, Clan Leader." he said.
"Yes. Say that to them…" Natalie said as she gestured to the remaining 19 priests.
"Of course," Ezekiel said as he looked at his friends. "Let's rember that we'll go there not for ourselves alone. We go to learn, so that all priests may grow stronger."
Natalie smiled, and she imdiately understood why this guy was chosen as the leader. She may not have known these Priests personally, as there were too many of them, but she believed that she could trust this guy.
Preparations began imdiately. The priests packed their items and stored them in their Inventory...
Finally, the day arrived.
In the command center of Smart Haven Shelter, a Portal Hall, previously the Armory Hall, was now ready...
Guards stood nearby, ensuring order.
Natalie herself appeared as she looked at Ezekiel and the other priests... "You will represent us," she said.
"Learn well. Return stronger."
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