Surviving in my Own Unpublished Failed Novel

Similar to every "known" race spread throughout the charted world after the occurrence of the astronomical phenomenon that was known as the Emergence, the Vampire Race, even before they were transported against their will in an unknown world of Earth, had already an established societal hierarchy, divided into Twelve Vampire Clans.

Every Vampire Clan was ruled by a Vampire Lord, and under the Vampire Lord was a Vampire Grand Duke; then there exists the Vampire Archduke, Vampire Duke, Vampire Marquis, Vampire Earl, Vampire Viscount, and Vampire Baron.

The above-mentioned, except with the existence of either a Vampire Princess or Vampire Prince, depending on which Vampire Clan they belong to, was the royalty or nobility occupying the high status of the Vampire Race.

Below this, there exists the Vampire Army with also an established hierarchy – the highest among the ranks would be the Vampire Grand General, then there was the Vampire Major General; Vampire General; Vampire Commander; Vampire Knight or Wizard, and the Vampire Soldiers, where the so-called scouts belonged to.

The striking difference between the Vampire Knight or Wizard and the Vampire Soldiers was that the former received proper training and possibly belonged to a noble family, while the latter were mostly, if not all, obligated to serve as they were either commoner who swore an oath for service just to feed themselves or slaves waiting to die. In simple terms, if a war broke out, the vampire soldiers were to be considered cannon fodder and fleetingly die on the front lines.

However, this didn't mean that they were easy to subjugate, especially if the attackers possessed around the same strength as them.

"Freya, look out!"

Amelie shouted as she bashed her Staff of the Lost Spade to the other vampire scout that Russell had sighted in the area, causing this one to be unconscious. On the other hand, the vampire scout that Freya beheaded, who was supposed to be dead, was still alive as this one's body twitched and the head that should have touched the nature's soil by now instead slowly floated back and gradually re-attached itself to the vampire's body.

"It's blood magic, be careful!"

Thessalia, one of the Elves that was tasked by the Elven Commander to assist the Umbra Mercenary, firmly spoke, but seeing the spectacle just now, Tsarra was certain that mere vampire scouts wouldn't pose a threat to this young mercenaries, especially if the vampires were caught off guard.

"Remember, if the vampire isn't struck in the heart, they won't die. But a vampire in that condition, before it fully attached itself back, will be at disadvantage because of being rendered immobile during that process, so it gives an opening to completely eliminate it."

Thessalia added as Freya and the others were silent for a moment, watching the vampire scout's head in the process of reattaching itself.

'I know that much because Oppa told us, except Samantha though, but I appreciate it, Thessalia.'

Freya inwardly said as she thrust her sword into the vampire scout's heart, then three to five seconds later, the vampire's pale body gradually turned dark grey before dissipating, becoming ash and one with nature.

'There's no notification, it means they're not considered monsters.'

She thought before glancing below where some of them watched what just transpired. Based on what they've learned from the leader of the mercenary group, Freya and Amelie could have struck the heart of the vampire from behind, making it an act of assassination, but Russell told them not to do that as it would make them appear that they knew beforehand the vampire's critical weakness.

Aside from that, they were advised to get used to the sight of peculiarities of vampires, such as what just transpired just now, so that if it happened later on, especially in a large-scale war, they wouldn't be surprised, causing them to space out or even falter during a possible crucial moment.

"Um... what should we do with this one?"

Amelie asked, hearing Russell's movement, together with Samantha, Amery, Ken, and the other three elves, Lusha, Iefyr, and Keryn, leaping on the trees as they approached her and Freya.

"Excuse me, leader. Although you are human, I feel like this mission wouldn't be handed to you if you lack knowledge about vampires…"

Without waiting for Russell to make any reaction or say anything, Thessalia, the seemingly oldest among these Elven soldiers, continued:

"It may be presumptuous of me, but may I ask the true purpose of this mission?"

Before coming out of the border of Northern Elnira to proceed in the dim forest, Russell had explained to the Elves the mission entrusted to them, which was to capture a vampire, but seeing that Freya had killed one, while Amelie had just knocked out the other, which was supposed to be potential captures in a sense, Thessalia thought there might be more than their temporary leader was hiding.

"Alright. Since you've sworn to the Elven Goddess that you'd assist us no matter what happens, I'll tell you."

Russell didn't let Thessalia respond as he continued:

"The mission remains the same, which is capturing a vampire, but I think this will bear fruit if we capture a Vampire Commander.

"In other words, we would be capturing the one that's probably giving this vampire scouts orders."

'I'm technically saving some Elven soldiers with this attempt.'

Russell inwardly said as myriads of reaction were painted on the Elves' faces.

Based on his unpublished novel, which the Goddess of Night had told him to trust before going to a state of slumber, this particular situation would still happen, but only during the time when the war had already broken out between the Vampires and the Three-Way Alliance.

Obviously, considering the deviations that already transpired and deviations that were about to come just to bite him, Russell, after some contemplation, realized that it would be better to be proactive, creating the situation in his and his Chaos Companions' favor.

With bewildered and incredulous expressions drawn on the faces of the Elves, Russell continued as his mercenary members watched silently.

"Apart from that, I don't know since all we've been told was to capture one vampire, at least."

"B-but why a Vampire Commander? According to what we've been taught, a Vampire Commander is around A- to A+ rank, and under him, there are perhaps Vampire Soldiers around C to B+ rank.

"In addition, although it's possible to subjugate one, the problem is the approximate location where one is camping."

Thessalia said in a reluctant manner.

"I have good eyes. We can probably locate their base from afar.

"Of course, if there's any sign of danger, we'll at least kidnap an ordinary vampire soldier or even just a scout."

'Also... this one helps.'

Russell thought as a series of System messages resounded in his head.

[You have summoned your familiar, the Chaos Goblin, "Met"!]

[You have transferred the Mask of Night to the Chaos Goblin, "Met"!]

One thing he discovered by raiding Chaos Dungeons with his Chaos Companions several times, was that Met, apart from being able to learn skills and grow stronger, could also wield artifacts.

<Met, advance, but be careful.>

<Yes, Master.>

Utilizing the ability of the Mask of Night that could let one blend into shadows, Russell's summon disappeared, and started to explore the area far ahead in a discreet manner.

"We trust you, but according to the role you previously told us... I mean, is that truly enough?"

This time, it was Lusha who voiced her opinion reluctantly.

She's an elf with stunning beauty, possessing orange eyes, blonde mid-back length hair, and supple snow-white skin. On the other hand, Thessalia had light green eyes, green long ponytailed hair, and fair skin.

During the short meeting they had before proceeding in this mission, Russell had also told them the role they were assigned to. In this way, he basically admitted that he could peek into their Status Windows.

"Yes, it's enough, but just as Miss Thessalia said, we need to locate first a Vampire Commander.

"My good eyes aside, this is one way to poke him."

At that moment, using the mysterious, unnamed sword after combining the scythe and sword weapon during raiding the Tower of Growth, Russell thrust his sword at the forehead of the unconscious vampire scout.

All of them watched in silence, taking the distance between each other as they were standing on different branches of the ginormous trees.

[You have interrupted the "Blood Link"!]

[The connection it upholds will be severed!]

Blood Link, a mark of subordination that every lowly vampire soldier possessed, was used to avoid deserting. It's a military-grade item of the vampires connecting the commander and the soldier.

In other words, it's used to detect the lifeline of the subordinate.

"Eh? Isn't that a Magic Stone...?"

Freya wondered as she looked at the spot where the other vampire scout dissipated. There she saw an inch crystal, glowing dimly in crimson.

It's the reason why she thought the vampires were considered monsters because it appeared when the vampire scout died by her hands.

"It's the Crimson Crystal."

Thessalia replied to the puzzled Freya while scrutinizing Russell's action.

"There's a fault in this piece of technology.

"If the vampire soldier with it dies, the commander won't be notified, unless the Crimson Crystal becomes out of range."

The silent Keryn, an Elven man with short blonde hair, yellow eyes, and a well-built body, shared information based on what he had learned in his early days in the Elven Army.

"If Crimson Crystals can be used to attack whom it's connected to, it'd be the best outcome, right?

"But it's futile since we, the Elves, never found a way to utilize it even after thousands of years of conflict with these bloodsuckers."

Keryn continued, but Russell was only silent as he beckoned his younger sister.

"Give me that one."

Russell said, causing Freya to hand over the other Crimson Crystal.

"Yeah, you're probably right. But even if it can be utilized, perhaps it's not to kill to whom these are connected to, rather..."

An indescribable smile appeared on Russell's face, and what followed was a message from the Chaos Goblin, Met.

<Master, I've located a fortress. Around five hundred meters from your location.>

<Good job! Go back now and be prepared.>

"Everyone, get ready."

After his smile, a serious expression was painted as he spoke in a serious manner.

[You have injected Chaos into the Crimson Crystals!]

[Your Trait: Nihility has concealed the Chaos in the eyes of the Elves!]

[The severed connection of the Blood Link is being recreated!]

[The Crimson Crystals are reacting!]

After a few minutes, when everybody was in their position, an intimidating, almost suffocating aura was approaching quickly their position.

The Elves looked at each other, feeling the nearing presence of an unordinary vampire.

A few moments later, as the Crimson Crystals were vibrating on Russell's hands, they heard a deep, oppressive voice.

"Killian! Hendrik! You dare to attempt to desert the Vampire Race?!"

The names, which perhaps referred to the two vampire scouts, entered the ears of everyone.

"What?"

What the presumed Vampire Commander found was two crimson crystals laid on a thick branch of a towering tree, where the two vampire scouts named Killian and Hendrik were previously taking their leisure time.

Without even processing everything he was seeing, his instinct told him to dodge.

It was because a sword in a woman's hand was aimed straight at his neck from behind.

Slash-! Slash!

The vampire's head was cut off, rendering the individual completely immobile.

<Sam, be careful, alright-! It's coming!>

Russell notified everyone, including the Elves, via telepathy, but it's not through his connection as the Mediator of Chaos with his Chaos Companions, but due to a high-ranked telepathy skill he bought to Azalea.

At Russell's words, Samantha dodged the attack by hairsbreadth from behind.

Another vampire was there, the one with a heavy, chilling atmosphere.

The one they needed to capture alive.

The Vampire Commander.

"You foolish humans and elves won't be able to fool me."

The one that Samantha had cut off was only acting as commander.